New Year's Eve 2003. We spent it at the National Constitution Center at the Glitter City Gala, along with about 1700 other people. Black tie optional made for many interesting interpretations of what "optional" meant – most were creative and fun. With five open bars, no one seemed to care that much anyway. Both floors of the Constitution Center were decked out and jam-packed, largely with a 23 to 35 year oldish crowd.

The Arthur Fennell and Kenny Gamble 3rd Annual Celebrity Billiards Championship was held at the Downtown Marriott on Friday, December 12th. The star studded>> tournament raises money for both the Arthur Fennell Foundation and Universal Companies to further health education and outreach activities in distressed neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

This year Philadelphia Cares' annual Turkey Ball was swankified and held at the Loew's Hotel's Millenium Ballroom. Fun band Cardiac Allstars got the crowd of nearly 300 on the dancefloor. Goodhearted guests brought canned donations to help the hungry, Penne Restaurant and Wine Bar generously donated the food – worth mentioning for their delicious gnocchi. Check out the organization at www.philacares.com.

Twenty-two Philadelphians to watch – the "It List" compiled by Philadelphia Magazine in November's issue – were honored at an awards reception at Tiffany's on Walnut Street on Thursday, November 6th. Jon Bon Jovi, already "it" as far as many are concerned, joined Philadelphia Magazine's It List as a co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, a new arena football team.

The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was the very worthy recipient of funds raised by a benefit designer show house, fetchingly named the DogHaus. Area designers decked out the Dilworth-Turchi house in Washington Square for people to tour. All money raised was given to the SPCA. The preview party was held on Friday, November 21st.