Dan Gross: Weather Channel pal for Maria LaRosa

WHEN Maria LaRosa starts at the Weather Channel on Monday, the former CBS 3 meteorologist will be reunited with her Penn State pal Jen Carfagno, who's also on air at the Atlanta-based channel.

Carfagno, who grew up in Collegeville, graduated from Perkiomen Valley High in 1994, then studied meteorology at Penn State, where she met LaRosa. The latter left CBS 3 in March and gave birth to her third child, a son, Tyler, on May 3.

Carfagno, who has worked at the Weather Channel since 1998, works Philadelphia into her forecasts as much as possible and expects Jersey-raised LaRosa to do the same.

Out and about

* Danny DeVito and the cast of "It's Al-

ways Sunny in Philadelphia" had drinks in the lobby bar at the Sofitel (120 S. 17th) Monday. A jazz duo performed outside while a DJ played in the bar, where the

actors stayed awhile.

* Jimmy Rollins and wife Johari dined

Monday at Davio's (111 S. 17th), where the rehabbed Phillies shortstop went for buffalo mozzarella salad and gnocchi, and left a very generous tip.

Emmys honor Al Meltzer

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honors local broadcasting veteran Al Meltzer with its Board of Governors award Sept. 25 at the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards gala.

The sportscaster spent 40 years on local TV, many at Channel 3 and later at NBC10 and Comcast SportsNet. He also served for a while broadcasting games for the 76ers and the Big 5.

$$$ for Alex's

Last week's Great Chefs Event, which the Vetri Foundation for Children hosted at Urban Outfitters' Navy Yard headquarters, raised more than $400,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand. Participating chefs included Kevin Sbraga of Rat's in Hamilton, N.J., who was a cast mate on Bravo's "Top Chef"; Jennifer Carroll, of the Ritz-Carlton's 10 Arts, who represented Philly on the last season of the show, and "Top Chef" judge Tom Colicchio. Raffle prizes included a visit with Neil Patrick Harris on the set of "How I Met Your Mother," and dinner for 14 at Marc Vetri's Osteria (640 N. Broad) with Chef Mario Batali.

Director screens 'Up in the Air'

Jason Reitman, the Oscar-nominated director of "Up in the Air," hosts an intimate screening and Q&A session of the film Tuesday at the Franklin Institute.

The event is open only to invited Chase SapphireSM cardholders. Reitman also made "Juno" and "Thank You for Smoking."

Cookin' with Paula