Posted on Mon, Jul. 04, 2005





Before and after the show, Ritz-Carlton took center stage

A rock-and-roll connection made the hotel a celebrity hub.

By Michael Klein

Inquirer Staff Writer


While Philadelphia was ground zero for musicians and actors for Live 8, the Ritz-Carlton hotel seemed to be the weekend hub for celebrities and other high-profile attendees.

Spotted there were Jon Bon Jovi, Rob Thomas, Sarah McLachlan, Black Eyed Peas (a suite for each Pea), Keith Urban, Al Sharpton, Linkin Park (six rooms), Jennifer Connelly, Natalie Portman, Don Cheadle, Naomi Watts, Chris Tucker, Destiny's Child (equal-size suites for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams), Alicia Keys, Russell Simmons, Kanye West and Maria Bello. The Four Seasons, on the Parkway at 18th Street, had Dave Matthews and a large entourage. Stevie Wonder had rooms at the Rittenhouse Hotel on Rittenhouse Square, as did Will Smith; both also travel with many people.

All are among the city's poshest joints. But why did the Ritz-Carlton, across from City Hall, seem to get the bulk of traffic?

It's the rock-and-roll connection. Craig A. Spencer, who owns the building, is a partner in the Philadelphia Soul arena football team with Jon Bon Jovi, who was on the Live 8 bill. If it was good enough for Bon Jovi, it would be good enough for them. (Hotel management would not comment for this article.)

During a Friday cocktail party he hosted, Bon Jovi was asked what impressed him about the hotel, aside from his association with Spencer. The rocker looked almost incredulous as he asked a question of his own: "How can you not be impressed by this?" He gestured at the Ionic columns and the marble dome - a re-creation of the Pantheon - 120 feet above the sumptuous lobby. "More important, it's the service. They know what I like here."

Thomas, who has toured both as a solo act and as a member of Matchbox Twenty, said he favored Ritz-Carltons in general. "They let me smoke," he said with a sly smile as he clutched an unlit cigarette.

The hotel's penthouse was unoccupied as another big-name act was booked to arrive yesterday.

Friday night, South Penn Square was congested with limos and stretch SUVS - and with autograph hounds - as guests arrived at the 300-room hotel. Philadelphia police stood by the entrance as well as at the front door on Broad Street.

Saturday morning, before the Live 8 participants left for the show, room service was kept busy, filling orders for scrambled eggs.

After the show, many celebrities did the town. McLachlan and Josh Groban had a table for two at Morimoto, the fancy sushi place on Chestnut Street.

Not everyone was into glitz. Cheadle, a presenter, was seen after the concert in line at the Fresh Grocer supermarket in University City with a TV Guide in his hand.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/ent...8/12049819.htm