2013 Wall Ball

Last night, the Mural Arts Program 9th Annual Wall Ball was held at Vie on North Broad Street. Funds raised help the Mural Arts Program continue its work beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods with public art. NBA Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia 76er, Julius “Dr. J” Erving (left) was a special guest, with Jane Golden, executive director of MAP, Joseph Goldblum, and Tony Schneider.
 

 
Below: This year’s event honored City Council President Darrell L. Clarke (right), the Philadelphia 76ers, and Tony Goldman, in memoriam. Clarke is with Pedro A. Ramos.
 

 
Below: The Bearded Ladies were on hand to celebrate with Kristen Bailey, John Jarboe, Bob Butryn, Heath Allen and Jimmy Parker. Parker tells me the Bearded Ladies will return and perform at Bastille Day in Fairmount. They added a few more songs and tightened the program. I saw the free performance last year, and it was hysterical.
 

 
Below: Mara Penner, granddaughter of Joe Weiss and Sharon Pinkenson, shows off her signed handprint of Dr. J.
 

 
Below: Daryl Graham, Desiree Peterkin-Bell and Brian Bell. Next Friday, The Roots Mural on South Street will be dedicated, with Questlove, Black Thought, and The Roots in attendance at 11:30 a.m.
 

 
Below: The Steuer family, Gary, Sophie and little Esmé are looking forward to the Memorial Day weekend.
 

 
Below: Connie and Sam Katz. Sam wore a colorful tie for the Wall Ball.
 

 
Below: Sixer dancers Yahne Coleman, Kerri McDonald and Chelsea Stroud helped sell auction raffle tickets.
 

 
Below: Ryan and Rebecca Udell check out the fun items offered in the raffle. Rebecca is hoping she’s going to walk away with the arts and culture package that included tickets to the orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, the Creedence Clearwater concert at Longwood Gardens, and a slew of other fun items.
 

 
Below: Tom and Joan Bang.
 

 
Below: Jamie Blau, Ed Tettemer and Jenny Perkins.
 

 
Below: Sherman Smith, with Henri Moore, and Tony Moore.
 

 
Below: Richard Negrin and wife Karen McRory-Negrin are heading to D.C. for Richard’s upcoming birthday. He told me he’s always wanted to see one of the newest memorials—the MLK Memorial—as well as the Newseum.
 

 
Below: Cliff Schwinger gets his face painted with a Mike Tyson tattoo.
 

 
Below: Jackie Chain, Trish Deeney, Lorraine Deeney and Tom Deeney wait in line for their turn in the CoolPix photo booth, which is co-owned by WMCN-TV’s Phil Andrews, who operates it too.
 

 
Below: City Councilman Mark Squilla.