January 8-14, 2004

mixpicks

Hair O' the Dog

by A.D. Amorosi

For nine years, Dan Cronin and Rob Molinaro have made their charitable Hair O' the Dog party the gateway into the New Year: a big, dressy post-Eve bash built for cash and celebration that has hosted upwards of 4,000 giddy guests. To commemorate this, the Hair's 10th anniversary, look back to HOTD's first gig; a suburban romp for 100 peeps at the Tiki Club in King of Prussia. It was a tiny but dedicated audience that, through word of mouth, has built a Moonie-like devotion for the Dog. Since that time, the (mostly) black-tie Dog has traveled to the Naval Base in South Philly and Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park to get charitable monies for varied causes: the World Trade Center Relief Fund (after 9/11), Project H.O.M.E., Habitat for Humanity, the National Constitution Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters. This year, the Dog returns to one of its first, larger-event centers in downtown Philadelphia -- the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue -- and will act as cash cow for the wish-granting Sunshine Foundation, developed by ex-police officer Bill Sample for terminally ill children. Joining hosts Molinaro and Cronin, and the evening's talent (Don't Call Me Francis, DJ Mike Myers) in the mass merriment is the promised addition of exclusivity: There'll be a private "South Beach-Delano" lounge for VIP attendees and limos to its after-soiree at Tribecca. For a 10-year-old Dog, it's still got a lovely coat.

Hair O’ the Dog, Sat., Jan. 10, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut sts., $95-$105 ($150-$160 VIP), 1-866-2-GET-DOG, www.ticketweb.com.

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