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.

One year ago, Philadelphia Magazine launched a brand new annual tradition for the region's calendar of must-attend events, with the first Philly Cooks! This year, to raise money for MANNA (a volunteer-driven food program for those with AIDS) we once again put the culinary creations of 34 of the regions top restaurants in the spotlight at the Second Annual Philadelphia Magazines Philly Cooks! On Wednesday, January 16th, at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia. The restaurants represented virtually all areas of the community, from city to suburbs, and a wide range of culinary diversity. In a competition for both artistry and taste, Philly Cooks! highlighted the skill and talent of the areas best restaurants as they unveiled theirDish for 2002. Participants provided displays and tastings of their epicurean delights, and a panel of celebrity judges, Chef Georges Perrier and Esquire Magazines John Mariani,to name just two, judged the dishes by category and pronounced the winners.

In honor of an exhibition of modern American design, from 1925 – 1940, organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Federation of Arts, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts held an opening reception on January 12th, 2002. The gathering, which attracted a large crowd of architectural types, artists, and other creatives, featured a Modern Martini Bar that served appreciative guests Cosmopolitans and Chocotinis.

The eight annual Hair of the Dog Gala rocked Philadelphia Saturday, January 5th down by the airport at the Philadelphia Naval Yard's Cruise Terminal. Over 2,000 people partied all night in the huge building to10 bands, their thirst sated at the 22 open bars that were, indeed, open all night. Chorus Communications organized and threw the bash to help raise money for the homeless through the Bethesda Project, and also to benefit the World Trade Center fund. The last song of the night was The Star Spangled Banner, and despite the wild goings on, everyone sang along, many with their hands on their hearts.

By anyone's estimate, December is a heavy-hitting month on the social calendar. The weekend of December 14th and15th, The Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts opened its doors to Philadelphia royalty and loyal subjects, with celeb concerts by Elton John, singers Denyce Graves and Frederica von Stade, cellist Yo Yo Ma, pianist Emmanual Ax, violinist Itzhak Perlman and of course, our own beloved Philadelphia Orchestra. On Friday, after Elton John belted out the last song in his hour-long showcase, the Kimmel Center was open for everyone's perusal. There were scrumptious buffet stations set up all through the vast hall and circular corridors. On Saturday, post-concert and pre-dancing, we sat down to a spectacular four course dinner with wine pairings. The must-see of the weekend, other than the women's luxurious dresses, the soaring expanse of the concert hall and the rushing hither and thither of the guests, was the rooftop garden under the stars. The giant glass dome reaching over the top of it makes one feel as though they might be plucked from their table by the Man in the Moon at any moment.