The barefoot guy running up the stairs of the Chamounix Mansion to his bunk didn't seem to notice or care that there was a party going on to celebrate the building's 200th anniversary. The birthday took place on February 23rd. He was a guest at the Mansion – a historic hostel. It wasn't always a place for backpackers and adventurous travelers though. The Plumstead family used it as a seasonal retreat at the turn of the century (1802, that is) and from there it was used variously as another family's home, a restaurant, boarding house, clubhouse and picnic site until 1964 when a group searching for a youth hostel rescued and refurbished it.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network's first Annual Dinner was held at the Warwick Hotel on February 21st. The small but select crowd was peppered with local and semi-local politicos, like Ed Rendell, former Congressman and area director for the Environmental Protection Agency, Pete Kostmeyer, and current New Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network works closely with the American Littoral Society, a coastal conservation organization, to empower people to take active roles in protecting our waterways.

The Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art held their Annual Black-tie Gala on Saturday, February 2nd, in the grand hall at the Museum – always one of the most beautiful venues in the city. One of our favorites, The Elastic Wasteband, rocked the twenty and thirty-something crowd from start to finish. Mother Grey Goose provided miniature martinis and itsy-bitsy, pink, Cosmopolitans - both a big hit with the throngs. Museum officials swooped down on the party around eleven o'clock, cutting off the liquid supply (them's the rules) so those in the know and all who weren't quite done that early headed for the Rotunda at The Ritz on Broad Street. Cigar smoke swirled blue above our heads and champagne and cognac were passed around as the night aged gracefully.

La Grande Dame of the Social Calendar, the Academy of Music Ball, arrived in style, as usual, on Saturday, January 26th. Some guests made the whirlwind rounds of private pre-party cocktail receptions, while others gathered in the opulent rotunda bar at the Ritz-Carlton to meet up with friends also attending, and to indulge in a glass of two of the lady Veuve before heading over to the concert at the Academy. Once all were seated (the house was packed, not only with Philadelphia notables, but people from all over the country), we were treated to an absolutely splendid concert by the always impressive orchestra. Renowned violinist Joshua Bell performed to the delight of all. Later, we spotted him after the formal dinner at the Hyatt Bellevue, dancing up a storm, twirling his bow tie (and managing to swing it on tempo too). The glamorous flock hopped from one dance floor to another and sipped champagne and wine in all the different rooms. By 1 am, when the bulk of the party had departed, late night revelers, determined to make the night last, clustered in the smoky library or headed upstairs to one or all of several post-parties, some with bouquets of the huge white lilies that had adorned the dinner tables.

Save Homeless Animals Group (S.H.A.G.) threw a fundraising bash for area animal lovers in January at the Rittenhouse Sheraton. SHAG supports pet adoption by raising money for local animal shelters and rescue groups.SHAG is an all-volunteer group that works year round to aid our furry friends in need. If you'd like to lend a helping hand too, visit their website at www.phillyshag.com.