Also this issue:

Dreams and Nightmares
Civic groups fight church's plans to re-use Metropolitan Hospital.
-Daniel Brook

Dissent Decree
Protesters complain they get short shrift in media.
-Daryl Gale

"Holy Charge"
Even after 17 years, Elmer Smith considers it a privilege to be a columnist. His new book shows why.
-Deborah Bolling

The Bell Curve
City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

December 5-11, 2002

political notebook

Where It's At

by Mary F. Patel

On Sat., Dec. 14, the Pennsylvania Society will convene for its 104th annual dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan.

The Society, formed in the 1800s, draws a large crowd of state politicians, lobbyists, lawyers, journalists and business types who network and do some major schmoozing.

Despite the fact that the organization is called the Pennsylvania Society, the weekend of political overdose never meets anywhere but New York. This all started because one of the Society's founding members, Pittsburgh steel and railroad magnate Andrew Carnegie, developed the Waldorf and insisted that everyone go there. No one seems to mind, though former Gov. Tom Ridge tried unsuccessfully to move the action to Pennsylvania.

This year's meeting is expected to revolve around Governor-elect Ed Rendell, who always attends the Society weekend with his wife, Federal Judge Midge Rendell.

Lots of Rendellis are expected to attend.

Last year, there were a lot of parties to choose from among the then-wannabe gubernatorial candidates.

Republicans Barbara Hafer and Mike Fisher had receptions, as did Bob Casey Jr.

This year is going to be just as busy.

Here's a look at some of the "it" parties. All of these are invitation-only so if you haven't heard about the parties, chances are you weren't invited.

Things get rolling on Thursday night at National Republican Committeewoman Christine Torretti's party at the swank Club Macanudo on the Upper East Side.

On Friday at the Waldorf, House Majority Leader John Perzel is hosting a reception for Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor, who is considering a run for attorney general in 2004. At that time, Mike Fisher will end his second four-year term.

At the same time, in the Waldorf's "sister" hotel, the Inter-Continental, the Delaware River Port Authority soiree is expected to be in full swing followed by the Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley reception, also in the Inter-Continental.

Carl Singley, a prominent Blank Rome partner, was recently appointed to the executive committee of Rendell's transition team.

Singley serves with fellow Philadelphian, former U.S. Rep. Lucien Blackwell, who was Rendell's Philadelphia chairman for his campaign.

Following the Blank Rome event, another party starts back at the Waldorf -- this is supposed to be the hot party of the weekend.

Hosted by David Urban, Eric Weinberg, Gary Silvi and Gregg Melinson, this party is geared toward the up-and-coming young political professionals.

"This is the 40ish crowd moving up the food chain," said Urban, who is a partner in the international lobbying firm, American Continental Group, based in D.C. Urban was the longtime chief of staff to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter.

In 1996, Urban and his longtime friend, Eric Weinberg, formed the Young American PAC, a nonpartisan organization meant to get young people involved in politics.

Weinberg handled legislative affairs for State Sen. Vincent Fumo before he formed his own international lobbying firm, Hill Solutions. Silvi is a commercial real estate developer and GOP fundraiser and Melinson is a well-known attorney at Drinker Biddle & Reath. The party is expected to last well into the wee hours.

Moving into Saturday, the day begins at 9:15 a.m. with the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association annual seminar and luncheon at the Metropolitan Club, hosted by noted Republican arts patron Fred Anton.

The rest of the day is free for shopping until 5 p.m., when the evening's events become black-tie. The night kicks off with a reception hosted by the firm Buchanan Ingersoll at the Waldorf, followed by a new party in the Louis XVI Suite hosted by David Sweet and his firm Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz.

Sweet was Rendell's campaign manager and is now on the executive board of Rendell's transition team. Rendell mentioned before he was elected that he might consider asking Sweet to be his chief of staff. No word on that yet.

Rolling along, the actual Pennsylvania Society dinner takes place in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria.

As a prelude to the dinner there is a long cocktail party for Society members and their guests in the east foyer of the ballroom.

The Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth Award will be presented to industrialist, entrepreneur, innovator and philanthropist Ray Walker, founder of Bradford Coal Company in Bigler.

Albert R. Boscov, chairman of Boscov's Department stores, will receive the Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement.

After dinner, there will be the usual receptions at the Waldorf.

Insurance magnate Chuck Volpe hosts a party that is popular because of its orchestra for dancing.

Sunoco is having an after-party and it should be big because Sunoco lobbyist Albert Knoll's mother, Catherine Baker Knoll, is the lieutenant governor-elect. When sworn in, she will be the state's first female lieutenant governor.

The weekend concludes with a brunch at the Waldorf hosted by Temple University and First Union.