Bill Murray makes it a Sixers/Bulls weekend
Comedy great Bill Murray seemed to enjoy a weekend in town with his son Luke even if he watched the Sixers twice beat his beloved Bulls.
Comedy great Bill Murray seemed to enjoy a weekend in town with his son Luke even if he watched the Sixers twice beat his beloved Bulls.
The Murrays caught Sunday's game from Ed Snider's Wells Fargo Center suite, and Friday they sat two rows back from the court where Murray, a Chicago native, slyly tipped his Arizona University cap to the crowd when introduced.
On Saturday afternoon, the former "SNL" player — with too many great movies to list here — and Luke, one of the actor's six sons and an assistant basketball coach at Towson University in Maryland, brunched at Square Peg (10th & Walnut), along with Luke's girlfriend. Murray, who had doughnuts, grits, poutine and banana bread, joked around with Chef Matt Levin and staff.
Roots bride a supportive spouse
Roots keyboardist James Poyser was laughing the other day about the fact that once again the Roots'picnic, June 1-2 at Festival Pier, falls on his wedding anniversary. Poyser says his wife, Toni, to whom he will be married for six years on June 2, "Understands and supports this crazy traveling musician life I live, so she doesn't really stress out." Poyser says he feels bad and hopes to do something special for Toni the week before or after the show. Uh oh, now it's out there, dude is really on the hook for it.
OUT AND ABOUT
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" cast mates Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes dined together at Barclay Prime (18th & Locust) Saturday night. Frakes tweeted that the steak was the best he had ever had. The gang was in the area for a 25th anniversary cast reunion at a Star Trek convention at the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza.
Frankford native Saints lineman Jahri Evans, former Eagle Hollis Thomas and about 10 more Saints players hit up the Epic Saturday party at the Pool After Dark at Harrah's Atlantic City.
Jameel McClain of the Ravens, Carl Nicks of the Bucs, the Vikings' Albert Young and Curtis Brinkley of the Chargers were among other ballers hanging out in a VIP area there. Playboy Playmate Holly Madison hosted the party, dancing with girlfriends in a poolside cabana and posting for photos with fans.
Limo driver to the stars Big Penny took a lot of the players to Friday night's Celebrity Bowling event that Evans hosted for his charitable foundation at Dave & Buster's in Franklin Mills.
She signs celeb book
Yardley native journalist Jo Piazza signs copies of her book "Celebrity Inc.: How Famous People Make Money," at 1 p.m. Friday at the Penn Bookstore (36th & Walnut). The former New York Daily News gossip columnist's book is as well-researched as it is depressing about just how much money reality-TV stars and legitimate celebrities alike can fetch for selling paparazzi photos or even tweeting about products. It's all a racket. But who are we kidding, we are part of the problem. Anyway, Piazza now writes the 411 blog on FoxNews.com and writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal.
Wanna be Miss Kildare's
All Kildare's Irish Pub locations are holding a Miss Kildare's contest on Thursday and on May 17. Finals will be held May 24 at the Manayunk location (4417 Main) and emceed by comedian Big Jay Oakerson. Interested women can apply that night or pre-register at the bar. The winner gets a trip to Cancun and will appear in Kildare's ads for a year.
Read Dan's latest at PhillyGossip.com, email DGross@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5963. Follow him on Twitter @PhillyGossip. Recent columns: philly.com/dangross.