The Ritz-Carlton and Philadelphia Magazine hosted a Vodka Tasting off the Rotunda, with no fewer than 10 different Vodka brands on Tuesday, March 4th. Cocktail sippers gathered in small groups for several hours, milling about with their mini Cosmos and Appletinis.

On Sunday, February 9th, The Ritz-Carlton hosted a benefit dinner and auction for the James Beard Foundation in their sumptuous ballroom below the rotunda honoring devoted foodies, Harriet and Shelly Margolis. Guest chefs from six different restaurants joined the Ritz's Philippe Reininger in presenting a six course gourmet feast. Despite someone's (not the Ritz's) poor planning on the timing of the dishes (the live auction was staged between courses, dragging the event out to nearly five hours) when the fare did appear, it was to everyone's delight.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art held a black and white black-tie gala to celebrate the opening of their exhibit, "Degas and the Dance" on Wednesday, February 5th. Ballerinas pirouetted up and down the great stairs underneath giant white balloons that were tied with black ribbon. The dinner, served after a champagne reception, was worthy of a standing ovation in itself.

"Bustiers in the Boudoir" was the theme of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing's kickoff to their Philly Is More Fun When You Sleep Over campaign weekend. The nightclub 32 degrees hosted the party on January 30th with swimsuit models in lingerie, Schooly D, a rapper, and invited guests wearing pajamas.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's 146th Anniversary Concert and Ball was held Saturday, January 25th,beginning with the concert at the Academy of Music featuring guest pianist, Lang Lang. The white-tie event raises funds for the restoration of the Academy of Music, the nation's oldest Concert Hall and Opera House. The Hyatt at the Bellevue hosted the ball after the concert, with eight different bands, library-turned-cigar room, and beautiful floral centerpieces for the 1,800 guests to enjoy. The Young Friends' decorations were a bit bizarre though - a flashlight pointed downward at an upside-down rosebud in a glass vase. There were more gorgeous dresses milling around than at Suky Rosan and Sophie Curson's combined.