Inqlings: Seeing stars all over Phila.
Celeb action is heating up. Yesterday around noon, Bradley Cooper and Renée Zellweger rolled into the Starbucks at Eighth and Walnut Streets. For him: two iced green teas. For her: grande latte with soy, no foam, "extra hot" - and "on one of the hottest days of the year," says photog HughE Dillon, who was tailing the couple.
Celeb action is heating up.
Yesterday around noon, Bradley Cooper and Renée Zellweger rolled into the Starbucks at Eighth and Walnut Streets. For him: two iced green teas. For her: grande latte with soy, no foam, "extra hot" - and "on one of the hottest days of the year," says photog HughE Dillon, who was tailing the couple.
Speculation: Cooper, a Jenkintown native, was visiting with onetime Broadway costar Paul Rudd, who is filming the James L. Brooks comedy.
Friday night's excitement was at Morimoto, where Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal slipped out the back door and hired a cab to get to their SUV parked a block away. That night, Rudd and Owen Wilson huddled on the roof deck at Continental Mid-town, and Jane Lynch (Julie & Julia) had dinner at London Grill.
Do stars have gift cards to the Stephen Starr restaurants or something? Witherspoon has been at Alma de Cuba with Rudd and with Gyllenhaal, and Wilson is a quasiregular at Parc on Rittenhouse Square. (Wilson is seen all the time at Whole Foods at 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and on Sunday played squash at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue.)
Saturday night had Wilson at Alma de Cuba and Brooke Hogan at Morimoto.
Anchor cut
The CBS3 finale for weekend evening anchor Mary Stoker Smith was Sunday night, as the station, citing budget tightening, did not renew her contract. Smith announced her departure on the air. She joined CBS3 in December 2005 from WPHL, where she had been coanchor of WB17 News at Ten since April 2005. Dave Huddleston will solo anchor on weekends.
Mutombo selling in Villanova
For $3.5 million, former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo's seven-bedroom, seven-bath spread on 4.33 acres in Villanova can be yours. Has first- and second-floor master suites, guest house with living quarters and second kitchen, au-pair suite, theater, gym, and high ceilings. Mutombo and wife Rose had the house built in 2001 when he was with the Sixers, and they raised six kids there. Mutombo retired last spring from the Houston Rockets after 18 years in the NBA and the family is relocating.
Foodstuff
Elkins Park kosher restaurant Max & David's will sell hot dogs, brisket sliders and veggie burgers - all kosher - at Jewish Heritage Night at Thursday's Phillies game. The eatery is angling to get a permanent stand at Citizens Bank Park.
Chef Eric Ripert is due at his 10 Arts restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton for tomorrow night's viewing party for Bravo's Top Chef. Northeast Philly's Jennifer Carroll, chef de cuisine at 10 Arts, is a contestant. The event starts at 7 p.m. and runs through the Las Vegas-set telecast. Carroll will be there, though she'll be stuck in the kitchen.
Only 128 days till Christmas
The Kimmel Center will resemble a winter wonderland at noon tomorrow - snow machine, Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn sleigh, elves, Christmas carolers - as tickets go on sale for holiday-season shows including White Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller.