August 22, 2006

Sean Astin, Actor

Four Seasons, Fri., Aug. 11, 1pm.

On Philadelphia: “Of all the movies, 50 or 60 movies and TV shows, I've done, when people ask me my favorite movie experience, I say Kimberly, which I filmed here for six weeks in the autumn of '97, '98, something like that. We lived in the Korman Suites and shopped at the Whole Foods around the corner. We filmed around the boathouses, where I learned how to row. In the movie four guys fall in love with the same woman, Gabrielle Anwar. She gets pregnant and they all think they're the father. Making the movie just felt like the most easy, comfortable, beautiful experience. Philadelphia is rich with American tradition, in a kind of remote, elevated space in my mind. Rowing was always this Ivy League thing I never thought I'd be able to participate in, so it broke down a lot of self-imposed barriers about life. I'd live here in a second-in a heartbeat.”

Sean Astin was in Philadelphia to discuss bipolar disorder and www.learnaboutbipolar.com

Additional articles by Cassidy Hartmann:

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August 19, 2006

Monte Irvin, Baseball Legend

Free Library, Tues. Aug. 8, 5:15pm.

On Philadelphia: “At 44th and Parkside and at Connie Mack Stadium, we used to play there, and we did pretty well at that time. We drew a lot of fans—upward of 25,000 to 30,000 fans on a given Sunday or Saturday afternoon.

”But I first got acquainted with Philadelphia because I matriculated at Lincoln University, and it’s only about 50 miles south of here on Route 1. Every weekend we’d come in here. We wanted to get away from the campus, have some diversion, so we’d come in and go to the movies, visit friends and so on. So I’m very familiar with Philadelphia.

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August 09, 2006

Justin Long, Actor

Ritz-Carlton, Mon., July 17, 12:45pm.

“I used to come here as a kid. My dad was a teacher and he’d have conferences and stuff at Temple or Penn. It was the first place I ever got lost too—so lost that it traumatized me. It was in Rittenhouse Square and I just remember, you know when you’re a kid, that feeling, like all of a sudden, ‘Oh my God, I’m not part of my family anymore’? They called the cops. I wasn’t used to seeing pigeons and I love wildlife, so I followed one and eventually lost my family. And then I used to be in Boy Scouts because I was an adventuresome nerd, and so I walked the whole Freedom Trail a couple times on my hands and knees. The only people who recognize me lately seem to be like, ‘Oh, hey, the Mac guy!’ Last night I was at the Walnut Room and this girl just walked up to me and said, ‘You know what, I have a PC.’ And then she walked away and I didn’t know if it was like a flirty fun thing she was doing or if it was aggressive.”

Justin Long, currently starring in Apple commercials, appears this month in the film Accepted.

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August 02, 2006

Jodie Sweetin, Actress

Franklin Mills Mall, Mon., July 17, 9:30am.

“I’ve never been here, but it’s been fun. We got to walk around the mall, and we’ve been in the FYE store and stuff. Because I’m leaving tomorrow I won’t, unfortunately, get much chance to see Philadelphia. That’s kind of how it is when you do these things—you go in the mall or wherever and then you leave. I made some friends on the plane who were from Philadelphia, and Bob Saget’s from Philadelphia, and of course I have a good impression from him. I wish I had a chance to get a cheesesteak, do some of the traditional Philly stuff. I would love to come back. We’ll be traveling all over the place, so maybe we’ll make it back to Philly sometime.”

Jodie Sweetin is the celebrity host of the Fuse network’s Get Malled tour, airing in August.

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