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The Gabby Guy can’t get enough of the best. Here’s Part II on The Best of Delaware Party, plus rocking for Parkinson’s and some special Delebrity Dish.
(page 2 of 3)
Automatic Winner
In an attempt to outwit mother nature, with her hot flashes and thunderings—all about as predictable as what Joe Biden will say next—Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research national director Debbie Brooks and the Pettinaro Petts—Vicky, Cindy and Tracy—rolled the dice, moving their outdoor block party into the Public House on Wilmington’s Market Street. Wouldn’t you know it? The rain never came. The moral of the story? Don’t guess with mother nature—or Mister V.P.
The hand dealt was a winner, though, Public House’s 50-50 bar-banquette floor plan is just that: public. Everybody showed up for the Parkinson’s fundraiser—singles, soon-to-be singles, the married (happily and otherwise), the older and the much, much younger (as young as 5, in fact).
The bash was a true suburban-meets-urban, family-meets-Market Street fun fest. Ernie and the Automatics, featuring members of the rock group Boston, came prepared to be heard from Rodney Square to Harvard Square.
Outside, beyond the range of the band, we conducted mini gab fests. Ms. Brooks ran down the guest list for Team Fox’s fundraising weekend in Portland, Oregon, the previous weekend. Mr. Michael J. Fox was there, of course. So were NBA greats Brian Grant (who’s father has Parkinson’s disease), Charles Barkley and Pat Riley. Actor Ryan Reynolds attended, as well as longtime Team Fox ally Muhammed Ali. (Wow, Deb, got anything big?) The delicate gold fox charm on her necklace was cunningly cute. “It’s by designer Helen Ficolora, available in sterling too, and all of the proceeds go to T.F.,” said D.B., sly as a—well, you know.
Next to park her Pinot at the door (“No drinks outside, please”) and join us in the relative quiet of increasingly busy downtown Wilmo was Vicky Pettinaro Martelli. Obviously a rock chick from birth, Vicky chose a Rolling Stones-themed bar in red and black for her new 6,000-square-foot home (which also has a shoe cubby that will hold 86 pairs). Vicky and hubby Matt worked with local furniture designers on the bed, chaise and ottoman. “We chose a large-scale, Schumacher print for the couch,” she said. “You just have to see it.” Uchi Design, also of Wilmington, did all the window treatments. “My big sis Cindy hooked me up with her fave fabulosity go-tos,” Vicky said.
Among a dozen other defectors from Ernie’s decibels was Wilmington In-bassador Dawn Rashmeussal, who pumped the Fringe Festival of alternative art. Jeff “Red Mohawk” Blake of the eponymous downtown art and photo gallery-studio tore into us with tales of fringing last year’s leftover T-shirts with a circular cutter.
Tracy Pettinaro Crowley and a clan of kids arrived with BFF Ingrid Yerger and boys Beau and Blaine. Ingrid’s Harley T-shirt was emblazoned with “I love rock and roll.” Back inside, Kathy Boardman was still suffering from prolonged Drink Order Indecisiveness. The tastemaker and shopper extraordinaire admitted missing her boy, who was trekking on the Switzerland-Austria border.
Coincidentally and re-convened on the concrete were Pett parents Verino and Midge Pettinaro with friends James and Brenda Webb of nearby Avondale. We warned them about the drinking and din in the dining room before they turned the revolving door to max volume. Midge (cutest name ever) pointed across the street. “That’s were I used to catch the bus to work,” she mused. “I have such good memories of downtown. It’s good to be here again.” (I just love saying Midge. Midge, Midge, Midge.)
Everybody joined Ernie and the Automatics in the dining room. Public House occupies a former branch office in the old Delaware Trust building. Where Mr. P kiddingly attributed former president Tyler McConnell’s banking success to positioning a pretty woman at the front desk—right where Public House’s host-hostess stand now is. Some things never change.
Ciao for now.
Page 3: Delebrity Dish
