Ralph's, which opened in 1900 and has remained family-owned, became the oldest Italian restaurant in the U.S. after the May closing of San Francisco's Fior D' Italia, open since 1886.
Seniors recall contagion
Four residents of the Watermark at Logan Square, a senior-living community, recently were interviewed about their memories of childhood epidemics in Philadelphia and New York for an international documentary about childhood contagion. Marty Kesselman, Dorothy Roseman, Gloria Heller and Bob Sigmond taped interviews in Washington Square for the documentary, "Jabbed: Love, Fear and Vaccines," produced by Genepool Productions of Australia and written and directed by Sonya Pemberton. The film, which stresses the importance of vaccinations, will air on PBS.
Local success on 'Millionaire'
Tom Stetina, a math teacher at Pencader Charter in New Castle, Del., won $30,250 on Tuesday's "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire." Bryn Mawr's Christine Correia started the game Tuesday and continues facing off with host Meredith Vieira on Wednesday's episode (12:30 p.m., 6ABC).
A Valanni fashion show
Daily News Sexy Single Arthur Kade, the man Philly loves to hate, will once again host the Valanni Fashion Show, which takes place at 10 p.m. Sept. 19. Spruce Street will be closed to traffic from Camac to 13th, and the runway will extend from Valanni (1229 Spruce) onto the street. Clothing designers Irina Sigal, 611 Lifestyle, Mitchell & Ness, 7 For All Mankind and Denim Habit will take part in the show, themed "Model Citizens."
It's free to watch the show. Food and drink specials will be available for patrons of Valanni and neighboring lounge Social.
Charitably minded
The eighth annual Ride for Kids to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation takes place Sunday in Phoenixville. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and motorcyclists will start the ride from Valley Forge Christian College at 10 a.m.
It's a $35 donation to enter, but more money and rider sponsorships are always encouraged by local ride leaders Steve Falk, a Daily News/Inquirer photographer, and his wife, Deneen.
The ride is one of 40 taking place this weekend nationwide.
For more information, or to donate, visit rideforkids.org.
New label seeking talent
Award-winning playwright Nolbert Brown Jr. will hold open auditions Saturday for artists to sign to his new record company, The Label.
Brown, who is working on a project called "The Sistahs of Soul: The R&B Story," is seeking singers and musicians of all genres to perform for him at Treasures Banquet Conference (5549 Germantown Ave.) between noon and 10 p.m. Saturday. There is a $10 application fee, and artists are asked to bring professional headshots and bio info.
Contact 213-222-8194 or visit nolbertbrownjr.com.
Contact Dan Gross at grossd@phillynews.com or 215-854-5963. Follow him on Twitter @PhillyGossip or at Facebook.com/dangrossphillygossip. Read his blog at PhillyGossip.com, or for his latest columns see philly.com/dangross.
