Jayonce moving to Philly?
Published reports have the Carters buying a penthouse at 5th & Walnut, but sources say thats false - for now.
HIP-HOP power couple Jay Z and Beyonce have not bought a condo in the 500 Walnut high-rise, despite several online reports and news bits suggesting that they have.
Michael Angelina, from Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (530 Walnut St.), said yesterday, "I can't discuss it," but his website, michaelangelina.com, is splashed with the headline, "Jay Z and Beyonce Purchase Most Expensive Philadelphia Real Estate Ever," and "Sources say it's true!"
According to Angelina's website, the all-glass, floor-to-ceiling, ultra-high-end penthouse condo is closing at a whopping $20 million, with Jay Z and Beyonce the rumored buyers.
The 26-story 500 Walnut had a groundbreaking a couple of weeks ago and is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2017. Reached by email yesterday, Paula Celletti-Baron, vice president of sales and marketing for 500 Walnut, said, "Though it is our policy to neither confirm nor deny who our buyers are out of respect for their privacy, we can say that Jay Z and Beyonce have not purchased the penthouse at 500 Walnut at this time."
So . . . not now - but maybe later?
'Smartest Book' author to appear in Philly
Funny man Greg Proops, from "Whose Line Is It Anyway," will be stopping in town next month to promote his book, The Smartest Book in the World - a spin-off of his hit podcast, "The Smartest Man in the World."
Proops will be doing an hourlong live podcast at Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom St.) on May 10, when he is expected to live up to his title as the self-styled Dean of Hipster Comics.
'Mob Wife' to launch 'women's empowerment boutique'
Next month, former VH1 Mob Wife Alicia DiMichele will cut the ribbon on her new self-titled boutique at the Promenade at Sagemore (500 Route 73 S, Marlton, N.J.) across the river.
She may have made her successful exit from reality television, but DiMichele is trying to embark into fashion retail with the grand opening of her store on April 18 at 2 p.m. The event will showcase her new spring collection.
DiMichele, once married to Edward "Tall Guy" Garofalo Jr., a reputed New York City mob boss, is serving four years' probation for her role in stealing from a union welfare fund. Her husband is serving seven years in state prison for conspiracy to commit murder.
"After I was sentenced, I had a sense of calm, like I made it through my storm and now this is me celebrating all I have been through. XO," DiMichele wrote to me.
"I'm very blessed I was not taken away from my boys."
Gosnell flick gets director
Irish transplant and filmmaker Phelim McAleer, his wife, Ann McElhinney, and Magdalena Segieda are producing the new movie, "Gosnell," about infamous West Philly abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell.
Yesterday, they announced that actor-director Nick Searcy ("Cast Away," "Moneyball," "Fried Green Tomatoes") will direct the film.
Gosnell is "the biggest serial killer in national history," McAleer told me. "You Americans have a fascination with serial killers. You can't get enough of them."
"Gosnell" is the product of a massive Internet crowdfunding effort that has collected about $2.25 million so far, already making it the third-highest crowdfunded movie project ever.
The film will tell the story of Gosnell's house of horrors and his 2013 conviction. McAleer says he plans to do plenty of shooting for the film in Philadelphia. Filming is slated to begin this summer. Check out gosnellmovie.com for more information.
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