HughE Dillon: Joe Zuritsky’s Side Business
Writing this column twice a week wasn’t enough for me to report on all the great things happening in Philadelphia that happened in May so I’m going to start June off by writing about a few things that happened last month.
ABOVE: Sapphire Fund President Ryan Maxwell and IBA board member and Merck representative Brent Friedman announce a new scholarship program.
On Thursday, May 13th, the IBA and Sapphire Fund announced a new scholarship program that will benefit a local, undergraduate student enrolled in a business-related discipline in the Philadelphia region. The inaugural award is being presented through a gift from Merck & Co. The scholarship was announced at a fund-raising event where more than $3,500 was raised thanks to a matching gift from LinguiSearch, Inc. Applications are available at IndependenceBusinessAlliance.com. The application deadline is June 25th.
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Lori Wilson hosted the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), Philadelphia Chapter 2010 Paragon Awards on May 19th at the Ritz-Carlton. This year’s honoree was Susan Jin Davis, a Comcast VP, pictured above with her daughter Sophia Jin Malastesta, and NBC10’s Wilson. NAMIC Philadelphia Chapter advocates diversity in the telecommunications industry.
Keynote speaker was Rachel Zimmerman, curator for InLiquid, which works to expand opportunities and exposure for visual artists. InLiquid is hosting a family-friendly, block-party-style art sale called Art For The Cash Poor on June 12 and 13, at Crane Arts Building in Old City. Everything is under $199.
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ABOVE: Parkway Corp. Chief Executive Joseph Zuritsky feeds koi fish at 1706 Rittenhouse’s front garden bordering 17th Street. Zuritsky’s 40-year interest in koi fish morphed from fascination to hobby to a side business called Quality Koi Co. These fish are from his 43-acre farm/business in Carney’s Point. During the winter the pond will be heated at 70ºF; otherwise the fish would hibernate at the bottom when the cold set in. Did you know that 1706 is built on a property Zuritsky’s parents bought in 1956 and turned into a parking lot?
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ABOVE: In mid-May I caught FUBU founder/biz author Daymond John’s discussion/signing of his book The Brand Within: How We Brand Ourselves, From Birth of the Boardroom at Borders Center City. A nice crowd of about 40 people came out, many who knew him from his work on the TV show Shark Tank. Many brought their ideas and inventions with them to get John’s opinion. One such young inventor was 13-year-old Sara Paul of Bucks County, who has been designing cartoon characters for a couple years. She recently starting transferring them onto t-shirts.
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I stopped by the downtown Marriott’s restaurant and lounge The Terrace at 13 last Wednesday for a preview of their Wednesday “SIPS” specials on their outdoor patio, and enjoyed the soothing sounds of singer Crystal Cheatham. My faves from the patio menu: fried pork chicharrons, octopus ceviche, and chicken bahn-mi. Lots of great drink specials! The SIPS menu is available 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday through the summer.
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Check out my personal blog PhillyChitChat.com for daily posts about where I’ve been and who I saw. See you Friday.