Archives For philadelphia

PHOTOS: A Weekend In NYC With No Work

Ralphie Aversa  —  02/06/2018 — Leave a comment

It was my first weekend without work or travel in over a month, however it was not a weekend without responsibility… or rather, “responsibility.”

My buddy Danny, one of my best friends from Pennsylvania, came in to town for his annual birthday celebration (his actual birthday was the previous Tuesday). What this weekend usually amounts to is three straight days of debauchery. This year wasn’t quite the 5 am-a-night marathon of prior years… at least for three straight nights. Danny had work early Monday.

But all bets were off Friday and Saturday. We met up with my friend Ryan at a private club downtown Friday night where we hung out until last call, then dialed up the venerable West Village dive WXOU Bar for a night cap, followed by a trip to my bodega for sandwiches and wings.

Saturday started with an excellent brunch at Westville’s Financial District location and continued with a few more Bloody Marys at Beckett’s while I screamed at the TV over the Syracuse game (they lost).

After a quick reset at my apartment, we grabbed dinner at Village Yokocho, an awesome Japanese restaurant in the East Village that also contains a speakeasy. From there we ordered a round at Tompkins Square Bar (there was a line at Niagara!) and then met friends at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1. The live set wrapped at 2 am so we walked back to Avenue A and one of my favorite watering holes, Kelly’s, for some late night wings and Blue Lights. Night cap? You bet; it happened up the street at Sophie’s. Danny was craving pizza, so we made that happen at Little Italy Pizza, which is open 24 hours.


Now Sunday started a little differently; I Uber-ed round-trip to Whole Foods to buy the ingredients for my vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip, which I then promptly cooked before hitting the road. We had tickets for the noon Knicks game (they are awful), watching it at The Garden with a round of double-shot Bloody Marys (they are fantastic).

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We bar-hopped a little, with a stop at my old neighborhood standby, The Dead Poet, before hailing an Uber to Ryan’s place so we could watch the Big Game and I could tweet out gems like this.


After the game, none of us could turn away from the live streams of the celebrations (or, rioting) in Philadelphia. Finally at about 1:20 am, we called it and returned downtown.


After all, it was Monday. Danny had work in the morning.

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PHOTOS: I Finally Figured Out My New Year’s Resolution

Ralphie Aversa  —  01/09/2018 — Leave a comment

So it took a rather ambitious travel schedule over the first weekend of 2018 for me to finally realize what my New Year’s Resolution should be.

Here’s a recap of my Saturday and Sunday: I took a 9 am train to Kingston, Rhode Island. From there, I Uber’d 20 minutes over to Newport. A coffee and four mile run later, I met some co-workers at an Irish pub around the corner from our hotel. After drinking two Bloody Marys and watching a horrendous Syracuse basketball loss to Notre Dame, I returned to my room and showered before pre-gaming and heading downstairs to our holiday party.

I hadn’t slept much on Thursday or Friday night and this combined with my early wake-up call on Sunday prompted me to retire from the festivities before midnight. But I was up at 6:30 am the following morning to pack, change and hail another Uber en route to the train station. This Amtrak left at 7:40 am and was supposed to arrive in Philadelphia at 12:30.

The train ran 50 minutes late; by the time I checked my bags at the station, called another Uber and arrived at Wells Fargo Center it was the first intermission. My colleague Dan and his son Justin are diehard Flyers fans and I had never been to a game in Philly. The Sabres were in town and it was a Sunday so we figured this was the perfect opportunity. Dan bought seats three rows from the ice; easily the closest I’ve ever sat for a NHL game. The vantage point definitely gives you a new appreciation for the sport. And the atmosphere in the arena along with the amenities of the venue really made for a cool experience. That said, I would probably only return on one condition.

See, I was rooting for the visiting team and of course I was dressed in full Buffalo gear: my Bills sideline knit hat (don’t get me started) and my Jack Eichel Sabres sweater. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that every single person, starting with the security at the entrance, busted my stones. There were bartenders who half-jokingly refused to serve me, dirty looks from fans and even one guy who went as far as to run in to me while I was walking along the concourse, knocking my Bloody Mary on to the floor in the process.

The game didn’t go much better; the Sabres took an early 1-0 lead but eventually lost 4-1. We returned to Dan’s car with enough time to listen to the end of the Bills playoff game (surprise, another loss!) and then drove to South Street. It was there that I ate my sorrows away with a Jim’s peppersteak while also taking a trip down memory lane, fondly recalling all of the shows I covered at TLA.

I was back in my apartment by around 8 pm and I have to say, despite all of the terrible outcomes with my sports teams, I was in a great mood. I saw the beautiful coastline in Newport and the skyline of Philadelphia and New York, not to mention the spectacular sunrise and sunset witnessed in Southern New England. I ate lobster rolls in Rhode Island and cheesesteaks in Philly. I was surrounded by awesome friends the entire weekend.

I need more weekends like that. The goal for 2018, on a personal level, is to worry less about possessions and focus more on experiences. I truly believe if I can surround myself with great people and eat some fantastic food along the way, I’m in store for an unforgettable year.

And yunno what? If a Bloody Mary or two gets spilled along the way, so be it.

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INTERVIEW: Andy Grammer Talks About His Daughter’s First Concert

Ralphie Aversa  —  01/06/2018 — Leave a comment

Andy Grammer had a pretty fantastic 2017. The “Honey, I’m Good” singer welcomed a baby daughter, Louisiana, with wife Aijia in July. Then in December, Grammer released his third studio album, “The Good Parts.”

Just before the year wrapped, Grammer’s personal and professional world collided when Louisiana took in her first show: Dad’s performance at the halftime of the Orange Bowl in Miami.

“We put the little headphones on her,” Grammer described to me the following night, backstage at Hard Rock Café in Times Square. The singer, who was raised near New York City in Chester, performed in Times Square as a part of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.

“It was cool man! Its like, ‘Aw man, I’ve been playing shows forever. But this is the first show that I’m playing with my daughter here.’ But it was great, it’s amazing.”

Despite the frigid temperatures, Grammer was in a very upbeat mood. He told me that in addition to parenting duties, he’s excited to tour behind and promote the LP in the New Year.

“It’s a personal album,” Grammer explained. “It’s my favorite of what I’ve done so far so, to get to go out and play these songs every night has been so, so sweet.”

“The Good Parts Tour” kicks off March 14 in San Francisco and wraps up on April 15 in Philadelphia at the venerable TLA. The previous night, Grammer will headline New York’s Irving Plaza.

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A Weekend Wedding And The Fresh Prince Of Amtrak Delays

Ralphie Aversa  —  11/03/2017 — Leave a comment

Now this is a story all about how my Saturday got flipped-turned upside down. Royalty and the west coast are not involved but Philadelphia serves as one of the backdrops.

The plan was simple: take an early afternoon Amtrak to Philadelphia, attend the wedding of friend/former intern/past-contributor Jessie Holeva, enjoy the reception and catch a train back to Penn Station that would return me to New York well before either last call.

Things went awry from the get-go. What should’ve been a 20 minute commute on the subway to Penn took over double that thanks to weekend construction. I missed my 2:05 train and rebooked for 3:07. But I wasn’t fazed; I figured I’d use the time to run upstairs to our studio, use the restroom, take a deep breath and then head back downstairs.

Right before I did, I went to the men’s room one more time. Our private restroom by the studio appeared occupied so I used the bathroom that the entire floor has access to. Everything was fine until I flushed the toilet. They’re brand new and so the flusher is electric. But it malfunctioned and wouldn’t stop flushing.

Thankfully I bolted out of the stall before any damage was done to me, but that’s not to say that by the time the toilet shut off the restroom wasn’t filled with a few inches of sitting water. I took the appropriate measure of alerting our chief engineer, put myself back together and made it just in the nick of time to my departing train.

The ride down was smooth, pleasant and scenic. If you’re wondering, Amtrak does have Bloody Mary mix; the food cart offers the serviceable Mr. and Mrs. T’s.

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Upon arrival at the 30th Street Station I was pleased to find out that the convenience store sells greeting cards, a perfect look for the single bachelor en route to a wedding without one. A few minutes after checking out I met my Uber driver, who drove me 20 minutes north of Philly to Cabrini University.

This was my first time on campus and I have to say, I was impressed. It is scenic and close to the big city yet feels somewhat secluded and tucked away, which I enjoyed. The ceremony and reception were fantastic; it was great to reconnect with a few old friends and meet a few more new ones. Jessie looked stunning and of course I’m very happy for her and Justin who fun fact, once put me up for the night after I covered a Young The Giant/Grouplove show in the City of Brotherly Love (another story for another blog).

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The reception wrapped at 11 and so I grabbed another Uber to head back to 30th Street for my 12:05 am departure. Upon my arrival I was greeted by a closed bar inside the station and then just before I thought we were boarding… a delay.

A two-hour delay.

So where did I go? Following a failed attempt to drink a pint next door inside a Irish pub, I ordered another Uber en route to The Franklin Bar, a speakeasy downtown. There I met a patron from Long Island City who was keeping the bartender, her on-and-off again boyfriend, company. I ended up becoming friends with everyone in the place, stayed until last call and eventually Uber’d back to the station where I encountered almost no food options and… you guessed it, another delay.

My train back to New York eventually left after 3 am. I arrived at Penn Station at quarter to 5 am. Following two Uber drivers cancelling on me and a random guy throwing water on me, I hailed a cab.

And I yelled to the cabbie “Yo homes smell ya later!” I walked in to my bodega; I was finally there. Turkey on a whole wheat wrap; Philly can’t compare.

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VIDEO: Celebrating 10 Years At Cumulus Media And On 97.1/95.7 BHT

Ralphie Aversa  —  09/26/2017 — Leave a comment

I’m not sure where to begin on this one.

Yunno what? Let’s start at the beginning. It was August 1, 2007. I was living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Everything was new: the city (a college town that was slow to evolve because of local traditions), the state (running the gamut from the bad: ‘Wait, the state runs the liquor stores and I can’t buy a six-pack at the gas station?’ to the good: ‘Sheetz! Wawa!’) and of course the job.

Probably one of the most frequently asked questions I field, followed by “Who was your favorite celebrity to interview?” and “Which celebrity was a jerk?” is, “Why would you move to Wilkes-Barre for a Top 40 radio show?”

First, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metro is a top 80 market for radio and top 50 for television. Second, the cost of living is low. Third, there’s a venue in the area to host almost any size show. Fourth, you’re pretty close to both New York and Philadelphia.

And so in the summer of 2007, a kid fresh out of Syracuse University with a fake tan, curly afro and questionable soul patch packed up his Kia Rav 4 and drove with his father to Wilkes-Barre. My Dad bought me new furniture and helped me find a studio apartment in downtown (excuse me, Center City) Wilkes-Barre, right by a new movie theater that the locals seemed pretty excited about.

I could have never imagined what would transpire over the following 10 years, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Look, 10 years at any company let alone the first one you work for out of college, is a long time. But 10 years at the same media company… on the same radio station? That’s practically an eternity.

So a few weeks ago, I returned to Scranton and spent a weekend celebrating the accomplishment: a decade on 97.1/95.7 BHT and 10 years with Cumulus Media.

It’s been an incredible journey. Here’s to it not ending anytime soon.


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EXCLUSIVE: Susan Finkelstein Speaks Before Sentancing On Craigslist/WS Tix Scandal

Ralphie Aversa  —  06/10/2010 — Leave a comment

The evening before she was to appear in front of a judge for sentencing on the conviction of attempted prostitution, Craigslist user and diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan Susan Finkelstein said she had no regrets about the situation.

“I feel really comfortable with my body and with my sexuality,” Finkelstein said via telephone in an interview which aired Wednesday on “The Ralphie Radio Show.” She was referring specifically to the topless photos she sent to an undercover police officer who responded to her ad on Craigslist last fall.
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Download the interview


Susan’s side of the story can be read here.
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The post read, “Diehard Phillies fan — gorgeous tall buxom blonde — in desperate need of two World Series tickets. Price negotiable — I’m the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!” After sending the pictures and meeting at a bar with the officer – Finkelstein was arrested and charged with prostitution. The police department held a press conference on the matter – and sent the press in to a frenzy – with Finkelstein’s mug shot appearing across the globe. A jury found her not guilty on the charge but did pass an unprecedented guilty verdict on attempted prostitution.

“That’s actually the first time anyone in Pennsylvania has been charged with it, let alone convicted of it,” revealed Finkelstein. “It really makes no sense because attempted prostitution is prostitution.”

The conviction carries a maximum sentence of one-year in jail. With the way things have played out, Finkelstein is preparing for anything.

“My lawyer and some other legal advisors that we’ve talked to have basically said it’s probably going to be probation,” she said. “But given the craziness of this situation since last October, I’m not taking anything for granted.”

While some things in her life have changed drastically since the incident made international headlines, you might be surprised to hear that other aspects haven’t: yes she was fired from her full-time job, but she’s still happily married to a husband that she says has been “very supportive” through the entire process. Finkelstein has also attended a few Phillies games this year, at the urging of close friends.

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DAILY DOWNLOAD: Chiddy Bang – ‘Opposite Of Adults’

Ralphie Aversa  —  05/07/2010 — Leave a comment

Rapper Chiddy, one half of Chiddy Bang, called in to “The Ralphie Radio Show” to talk about the group’s single “Opposite Of Adults” as well as the video for it – which has received airplay on MTV and approval from the likes of KanYe West.

Part 1: “Opposite Of Adults”


Part 2: Rapper/Producer Relationship

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The Most Unique Defense Used In A Prostitution Case…

Ralphie Aversa  —  02/02/2010 — Leave a comment


Remember the Philadelphia Phillies fan who posted a Craigslist ad last October offering, well, “services”, in exchange for World Series tickets? William J. Brennan, the attorney for Susan Finkelstein, used quite the defense while attempting to protect his client in court last Friday.

What exactly did he say? I’d rather not repear… click here for more.

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FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS w/ Ralphie!

Ralphie Aversa  —  05/14/2009 — Leave a comment

Download the mp3

Forever The Sickest Kids chat with Ralphie on their tour bus in Allentown about the incident regarding Philadelphia Police and upcoming projects.


Read Ralphie’s report on the Philadelphia incident here.
Check out Ralphie’s 2008 FTSK Warped Tour interview here.

Band and crew members of We The Kings and Forever The Sickest Kids were involved in an alleged altercation with the Philadelphia Police Department on Sunday night, following the Bamboozle Road Show at The Theater of the Living Arts. According to Twitter updates from both band’s camps, three people were taken in to custody, some beaten with nightsticks by police who were “abusing their power.” However, a spokesperson for the PPD denied the incident on The Ralphie Radio Show.

What is agreed on by all parties involved is that police were called to the venue after the conclusion of the show to prevent any disorderly conduct from concert-goers. Furthermore, Philly enforces a curfew for people under the age of 18, so authorities arrived at the venue to ensure that teens complied with the law.

The similarities in the stories end there. According to an officer in the PPD’s Public Affairs Office, the involvement of the patrollers ended there. However, Twitter updates by We The Kings front man Travis Clark and Forever The Sickest Kids guitarist Caleb Turman, along with a disturbing online video, paint a drastically different picture.

“Philadelphia cops just beat us up for nothing!” typed Clark on his Twitter account at approximately 8:13 PM. He updated ten minutes later, “Chris V is bleeding from his head, every cop is completely abusing their power!! This is so messed up!”

“Chris V” handles merchandise for WTK. In a video posted to MySpace by production company Artist Approach, Chris is shown face down on the ground, surrounded by police officers. The video ends with a still photograph of the “merch guy” looking up, his upper face covered in blood.

Forever The Sickest Kids’ Turman also “tweeted” during and immediately after the alleged incident, attempting to update fans and build a case against the officers.

“Everyone tweet about the #phillycops and how they wrongfully assaulted us!” wrote the guitarist. “Philly cops just assaulted ftsk and we the kings!”

According to the aforementioned MySpace video, Turman and WTK Road Manager Trevor Fair were the original reasons why police entered the venue. Text in the video states that after cops arrived to clear the crowd, an officer wrote a parking ticket for a trailer belonging to the band Mercy Mercedes. Turman went outside to see what the commotion was about, and a cop immediately withdrew his baton and ordered him back in the building. Fair then followed, only to be forced back inside as well. After Fair repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to open the door, officers entered the venue to arrest him for disorderly conduct. As police dragged Fair out of the venue, “Chris V” can be heard yelling, “Are you kidding me?! F*** you bro, f*** you. What’s your f***ing badge number?” to an officer. Police then attacked the merch handler to subdue him.

WTK lead man Clark updated his Twitter on Monday, assuring fans that all parties involved were okay and out of jail, and that there’d be no interruptions in commitments. Some of the bands on tour attended Monday night’s Phillies game to relax.

None of the three bands involved have released any formal statement – and Philadelphia Police continue to deny such an incident even occurred.

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Poker Face Face-Off!

Ralphie Aversa  —  05/03/2009 — Leave a comment


Two contestants – one grand prize with tickets to see Lady GaGa at her sold out show inside The TLA in Philadelphia and backstage passes to meet GaGa. But who would hold their Pokerface the longest? Find out!

All thanks to Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records & The Ralphie Radio Show on 97 BHT!

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