HughE Dillon: The KOP Hooters Girls Celebrate The Expendables

On Saturday I braved the insanely heavy traffic of the Schuylkill Expressway to join WMMR’s Preston & Steve’s Marisa Magnatta who hosted the first-of-its-kind Manstravaganza event in celebration of the upcoming release of The Expendables at Hooters King of Prussia! Note the Jimmy Buffett lei on Marisa’s arm, as she was heading to the concert as soon as she could.

Festivities included: a wing-eating contest, two six-foot cheesesteaks, a chance to get a Mohawk from an on-site barber, a muscle car and motorcycle meet-up, and a poker tournament with prizes. Anytime I can have wings from Hooters, I’m there.

ABOVE: Ashley Fisher and Sam Campi came down from the Princeton Hooters to quench the thirst of the attendees. I wish the Hooters girls would wear Daisy Dukes all the time because I can’t stand their orange running shorts.

ABOVE: Barry Gellman, Khenti Pratt and Rob Harvey. Khenti’s belt was made of actual bullets. She told me that earlier in the day she and the guys picked up plants at a mid-summer sale, and after their beers they would be headed back to Rob’s house to plant a garden. I bet she does it with that killer outfit on and doesn’t break a sweat.

It’s not a surprise that they would send these lovelies out to the curb to attract a few customers to the car wash; proceeds benefited various cancer charities. ABOVE: The girls are on their summer break from school and are enjoying their jobs at the King of Prussia Hooters (from left to right): Samantha Bitting, Jessica Hrynkow, and Jasmine McCoy.

ABOVE: Nicole Saphos and Kelly Powers of Allied Advertising hose down bikes for charity.

ABOVE: There was also a special dunk tank featuring the Hooters girls in bikinis. With every ball thrown, Lauren Steele was nervous that she would be dunked.

Steele didn’t have to wait long as Gary DiVencenzo, Jr. dunked her on his second try.

Jaylo, from JustWannaRide.net, told me that the Strongman Bell wouldn’t be hard to ring as she had three kids at home that she always keeps under control. Unfortunately that line of thought wasn’t helpful in swinging the 25-pound hammer, and after six tries she passed it to her friend Mandi Gilchrist (standing behind her). Mandi did a little better, ringing the bell after three tries.

The Expendables was directed by Philly favorite Sylvester Stallone. Making an appearance in the film is Penns Grove, New Jersey’s Bruce Willis. The movie opens on August 13th in our area.

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Happy Birthday to my friend Where Magazine publisher Laura Burkhardt.

Laura’s friends got together and planned a wonderful weekend with events at the Palomar Hotel, Sampan and a Sunday evening cocktail party at Fish, which was just named Best New Restaurant by Philadelphia magazine. Laura’s sister, Lisa, and friend Sue came up from Baltimore for the weekend. ABOVE: Brenda Mendte, Monica Malpass, Laura, Stacy Jorgensen and Keren Ini at the outdoor Graffiti Bar at Sampam. Later the Philadelphia Trolley Works carted us over to D’Angelo’s for a night of dancing with Inga and Sal.

How cool is this communal table serving 12 people in the Graffiti Bar? Other guests sighted at Saturday’s soiree were GPTMC’s Jeff Guaracino, Jimmy Contreras, Matt Vlahos, Lauren Tosti (Independence Visitor Center), Eric Smith (Quirk Books), and the Daily News‘s Dan Gross and wife Holly Maher.

The celebration continued on Sunday at Fish. Peggy Trott flew in from Missouri for the bash. Other guests included: Center City District’s Michelle Shannon, and husband Bruce, Patrick Mullen, Action AIDS’s Michael Byrne (look for Bar AIDS to happen August 26th), jewelery designer John Wind, Kirk Kirkpatrick, Peter Dobezynski and his wife, freelance writer Beth D’Addono (who leaves today to track alligators in St. Augustine for a story), Rouge & 500 Degrees owner Rob Wasserman, Karen Gross, David and Judy Einhorn, Bruce Yelk, Brian Goldthorpe, Steffi and Brian Freedman, James Zeleniak (Punch Media PR), Jenny Hatton (Profile PR), Margaret Hughes, and photographer Chris Gabello.

ABOVE: Jimmy Contreras, Matt Vlahos of VlahosPR (his latest client is my favorite yogurt place Tutti Frutti), Eddie, Mike Toub and Hyatt GM Jeff Miller. Jimmy tells me he’s going be a personal stylist at Pileggi’s Boutique starting next week.

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OUT AND ABOUT

Rapper T.I. was in town last night to do press and attend a screening at the Ritz East of his new movie Takers with fans from Power 99. Watching the movie with him were two up-and-coming Philly rappers Meek Mill and Jahlil Beats. Both guys are managed by Philly’s Charlie Mack. Also spotted were Tony Luke, DJ Shamara, the “midday princess” on Power 99, with daughter Imani Chardae, BFF Marshauna Hinton and Dyanna Williams from Radio One. No word on any sightings of T.I.’s new bride Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. The two got hitched on July 30th. Takers opens in theaters on August 27th.

Talk about radio DJs that I love, formerly of The Beat 100.3, Laiya St.Clair — who hasn’t had a steady gig since being let go from the radio station last year — has taken the situation into her own hands and launched her own blognet radio station Laiyasworld. I’m a huge fan of Laiya’s and her unique take on life, gossip and urban life, and I’m so excited to be able to hear her on a regular basis. She’s the next Wendy Williams; she takes no prisoners.

Kimberly Genkin, formerly on the PR team at Neff Associates and Dawn Elyse Warden, current food editor and contributor at Main Line Today, opened their own company called The Whole Enchilada PR. While the two foodies love restaurants, their company will do all different types of public relations, which is why they chose that name, Kim tells me. The shingle is out, and they already have a few clients.

The economy is looking up: I hear Cashman & Associates is looking for an executive assistant/office manager. Email info@cashmanandassociates.com for more info.

RIP: Patricia Neal. She was on my bucket list to photograph, but I never had a chance during my years as a celebrity photographer in NYC.

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Check out my blog PhillyChitChat.com and follow me on Twitter @iPhillyChitChat for my latest adventures.