Red Carpet

Gowns in sparkling nudes and vibrant shades were the major red-carpet trends Saturday evening at the 155th Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball. Off-the-shoulder gowns seemed just as popular as strapless ones. And A-line silhouettes were preferred to ball gowns. In fact, Philadelphia's doyennes stepped up the glamour quotient to such heights that some of the dresses were dead ringers for gowns worn by celebrities on red carpets past. For example, first lady Lisa Nutter was particularly radiant sailing up the Academy of Music steps in a deep purple Nicole Miller gown.

NEW YORK - Johnny Weir is ready to give up the fashion shows and the red carpet for another shot at the Olympics. The popular figure skater from Coatesville said Thursday he was returning to competition with hopes of taking the ice at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. Even if it means living what he describes as a "monk"-like life of an elite athlete in training. "I wanted to do this while I still have the time," the three-time U.S. champion said at a news conference in Manhattan.

Thanks to fresh colors, amazing details, and updated plays on classic silhouettes, the Golden Globes were a talker. From Angelina Jolie's Atelier Versace gown to Mary J. Blige's Michael Kors, our social-media feed is still a-twitter about a handful of gowns seen on the red carpet.   Academy Ball, anyone? Sarah Michelle Gellar's blue tie-dyed Monique Lhuillier featured major skirt drama and a little edge, but still managed to give us princess. We love, love, love Lea Michele's body-skimming Marchesa.

There's despicable. And then there's television. If there's a grubby way to make a buck, TV yearns to be friends with benefits. For a few years now, American Idol has been taping contestants at screenings of Fox films that are about to open. It's been a halfhearted promotional scheme, a time-killer on the way to the next Ford commercial. But there is nothing so bad that TV cannot make it worse. Last week on Survivor: South Pacific , the tribe that won the challenge was taken to a brightly lit tropical theater for a screening of the DOA Adam Sandler comedy Jack and Jill . Would you like palm oil on that popcorn?

SPECIAL THE OSCARS. The Grammys. The Emmys. The VMAs. The Geek Awards? You're reading right. Local geeks - as in nerds, dweebs, dorks and brainiacs - walk the red carpet and take home engraved plaques tonight at the first Philly Geek Awards. The sold-out event takes place, not surprisingly, at the Academy of Natural Sciences. It was dreamed up by the guys behind Geekadelphia, a local blog for - you guessed it - geeks. Blog co-founder Eric Smith noticed his fellow, um, technophiles getting cred nationally for their tweets, podcasts, viral videos, science festivals, etc., and asked himself, "Why was no one honoring our local comic artists, video-game developers, Web designers . . . ?"

PENNSYLVANIA Guv's energetic reply The Corbett administration has defended its policies on renewable energy and conservation, and denied that it is putting aside those efforts in favor of Pennsylvania's booming natural-gas industry. The administration made the statements in response to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story that said that the administration is stripping employees from renewable-energy and conservation programs. Patrick Henderson, Gov. Corbett's energy czar, said that the Office of Energy and Technology Deployment in the state Department of Environmental Protection was renamed, not disbanded, and that the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act program, which helps school districts and local governments invest in energy conservation projects, was under review.

PHILADELPHIA - Techies in tuxes? Believe it. A black-tie, red carpet event Friday is honoring the city's greatest and geekiest. The first Philadelphia Geek Awards will be presented to those demonstrating exceptional achievements in the city's tech-savvy community. Trophies will be awarded in 19 categories, including best new podcast, tweet of the year, outstanding contribution to the local indie game scene and , perhaps the geekiest award of the evening , best locally developed iPhone app. "Yes, there's going to be a red carpet, people are getting really dressed up," said Eric Smith, co-founder of the Geekadelphia blog and architect of the event.

The image of the perfect fairy-tale bride is in the midst of a makeover. And fashion has everything to do with it. The shift may be slow, but it's far from subtle: Lacy bracelet-length sleeves are popping up within a dress market once dominated by strapless styles. Sparkling tiaras paired with fingertip-length veils mean baby's breath and cathedral-length headpieces have some competition. Slimmer A-line bias cuts are featured alongside the pretty poufiness essential in the early millennium.

The past few weeks have been like a dream for Louise Esposito, who, along with her husband Michael and sons Michael Jr. and Louis, owns the iconic Chef Vola's restaurant in Atlantic City. "That this happened to us, out of the whole country of restaurants, is so exciting I still can't believe it," said Louise, an animated blond beauty who looks a decade younger than her 62 years. "This" is winning the Oscar of the food world, a James Beard Foundation America's Classic Award saluting "Restaurants with timeless appeal, beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of their community.

It's true! Prince William , 28, and his bride, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (that'd be Kate M. ), 29, will hang out in California from July 8 to 10, St. James's Palace confirmed Thursday. But they won't be bunking at a Motel 6. The London paper the Telegraph says the Planet's Most Important Couple will stay with Arnold Schwarzenegger . It'll be a treat: Kate's never been to America.   Kate's scent sells out Speaking of the lovely Kate, People reports that scent purveyor Illuminum's White Gardenia Petals perfume, which graced Kate on her wedding day (and which first lady Michelle Obama also digs)