Month: July 2019

Elijah Milligan – Cooking for Culture

July 29, 2019 Entertainment 37:47

Elijah Milligan is a chef on a mission. While running his restaurant Stove and Tap in Lansdale, PA, he’s also seeking to shine a light on the skills and accomplishments of African-American chefs in town. He runs a pop-up cooking event called Cooking for Culture, that features local African-American chefs showcasing their skills in various cuisines—just not Soul Food. He’s also hoping that the press and exposure from Cooking for Culture will be an inspiration for young African-Americans throughout the city to consider careers in the culinary world.

In this episode, we sat down with Elijah at Jose Pistola’s on 15th street in Center City. We discussed working with Georges Perrier, running his own kitchen, and life as an African-American in the kitchen of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in Philadelphia.

Elijah has grown up in kitchens. He started out working for his parents’ restaurant as a young boy. He used those skills to work his way into the kitchen at Le Bec Fin. From there, he’s cooked at Stateside, Laurel, and Vernick among others.

He’s looking to expand Stove and Tap into a second location in the near future.

LINKS:
Elijah Milligan: Instagram/Facebook

Stove & Tap

Jose Pistola’s: Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/www

Chris Schwartz: Co-Founder of Philly’s Legendary Ruffhouse Records

July 15, 2019 Entertainment, Music 00:34:46

He paved the way for rappers to tour Europe while managing Schoolly D and made Cypress Hill, Kris Kross, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, and Lauryn Hill household names. He is Chris Schwartz, Co-Founder of Ruffhouse Records, which sold over one hundred million records worldwide throughout the 1990’s.

Chris has a new book out called, Ruffhouse: From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the ’90s Hip Hop Charts, and he sat down with us at The New Wave Cafe in Queen Village to discuss his early days of working with Schoolly D, the mind-boggling success of Ruffhouse Records, and some ups and downs in his personal life, as well as his new book.

Chris didn’t know it at the time, but he and Schoolly D set the blueprint for Gangsta Rap with the release of P.S.K. and paved the way for hip-hop artists to tour throughout Europe. Schoolly was the first U.S. rap act to tour Europe.

He also walks us through the uniqueness of Cypress Hill’s sound and the movie that jump-started their ascension into rap history. Chris talks about not liking Kris Kross’ mega-hit Jump at first and how Rosie Perez actually introduced Kris Kross to the world through a television appearance.

Chris reminisces about first seeing The Fugees and, ironically, not really noticing Lauryn Hill when he first saw the band perform.

This interview also covers the inspiration for the Ruffhouse name, how German music served as the foundation for many hip-hop classics, substance abuse, the end of the Ruffhouse label, and what Chris is up to these days.

This is an interview that any Philadelphian or music fan has to hear.

LINKS:

Chris Schwartz: Twitter/Instagram/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

New Wave Cafe: www/Facebook/Instagram/Twittey

John Bolaris: Part 1: Storm of the Century, South Beach, and Survival

July 1, 2019 Entertainment, TV/Radio 31:22

John Bolaris was a rock star in Philadelphia from 1990 through the early 2000’s. He wasn’t actually a rock star, but a meteorologist with rock star status. He ran in circles with professional athletes and dated models and playmates, all while being the 3rd highest paid meteorologist in the United States. John is currently a luxury realtor in the Philly and New Jersey markets.

Turmoil and scandals, however, seemed to follow Bolaris at every turn during his time as a meteorologist. His wife informed him that she wanted a divorce on the day he made his debut in Philadelphia. Colleagues in Philly did not welcome John with open arms, in fact, someone threw dog feces on his car.

While at WCAU in Philadelphia, John was regularly disciplined by the station for a variety of behaviors that were said to harm his credibility such as wearing a turtleneck, having bangs, or getting a tattoo on his derriere.

In Part 1 of this two-part interview we discuss how a weather-obsessed child from Long Island, who drew up his own weather forecasts, ended up on television in the Philadelphia market. John discusses how his wife informed him of her desire for a divorce on the day of his Philadelphia debut.

We also cover, in detail, the days leading up for the infamous Philadelphia “Storm of the Century” that never came. John walks us through the decisions and interactions leading up to this alleged storm and claims that the “Storm of the Century” was never his idea or in his forecasts and that he even hit the airwaves on the Sunday night before the alleged storms arrival and said it wasn’t happening.

In Part 2, we get in-depth into the infamous Miami South Beach scandal that found John drugged and scammed out of over $40,000 by the Russian Mob through the use of seductive and attractive women.

John talks about the impact coming forward and pressing charges had on his career, ultimately leading to its end. Bolaris walks us through the darkest days of his life following the end of his meteorology TV career and about his daughter being his saving light.  

We also put John through the Philly Blunt round.

This is Bolaris like you’ve never heard him. 

LINKS:

JOHN BOLARIS: twitter

Bolaris’ Black Label Realty: www

The Post Bar: www/Facebook

John Bolaris: Part 2: Storm of the Century, South Beach, and Survival.

July 1, 2019 Entertainment, TV/Radio 0:40:15

John Bolaris was a rock star in Philadelphia from 1990 through the early 2000’s. He wasn’t actually a rock star, but a meteorologist with rock star status. He ran in circles with professional athletes and dated models and playmates, all while being the 3rd highest paid meteorologist in the United States. John is currently a luxury realtor in the Philly and New Jersey markets.

Turmoil and scandals, however, seemed to follow Bolaris at every turn during his time as a meteorologist. His wife informed him that she wanted a divorce on the day he made his debut in Philadelphia. Colleagues in Philly did not welcome John with open arms, in fact, someone threw dog feces on his car.

While at WCAU in Philadelphia, John was regularly disciplined by the station for a variety of behaviors that were said to harm his credibility such as wearing a turtleneck, having bangs, or getting a tattoo on his derriere.

In Part 1 of this two-part interview we discuss how a weather-obsessed child from Long Island, who drew up his own weather forecasts, ended up on television in the Philadelphia market. John discusses how his wife informed him of her desire for a divorce on the day of his Philadelphia debut.

We also cover, in detail, the days leading up for the infamous Philadelphia “Storm of the Century” that never came. John walks us through the decisions and interactions leading up to this alleged storm and claims that the “Storm of the Century” was never his idea or in his forecasts and that he even hit the airwaves on the Sunday night before the alleged storms arrival and said it wasn’t happening.

In Part 2, we get in-depth into the infamous Miami South Beach scandal that found John drugged and scammed out of over $40,000 by the Russian Mob through the use of seductive and attractive women.

John talks about the impact coming forward and pressing charges had on his career, ultimately leading to its end. Bolaris walks us through the darkest days of his life following the end of his meteorology TV career and about his daughter being his saving light.  

We also put John through the Philly Blunt round.

This is Bolaris like you’ve never heard him. 

LINKS:

JOHN BOLARIS: twitter

Bolaris’ Black Label Realty: www

The Post Bar: www/Facebook