Stars of David

January 15, 2009 - Michael Elkin, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Martin Feldstein

Dancing with the "Stars" -- that's what Michael Soyfer is up to. The ice dancer and senior at Lower Merion High joined partner Natalie Wojton in nailing down fourth place at the 2009 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships, moving on to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for "novice ice dancing," beginning this Sunday in Cleveland. "Stars" would wish "break a leg," but given the venue.

Encomium for an economist: Philly minted a real winner the other night at the Global Interdependence Center's award ceremonies, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia -- money maven Martin Feldstein was granted its Frederick Heldring Leadership Award. Given the spiral of the economy, it was probably best that no one yelled out at the presentation, "Come on down!"

Up with Blumstein! Howard Blumstein, M.D., Class of '92, Drexel U. College of Medicine, is the new veepee of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.

Evan Shapiro

When a left-handed compliment is actually the right tact to take: Gary Graffman, past prexy of the Curtis Institute of Music and acclaimed pianist -- whose injured left hand led him to build an outstanding body of compositions solely for left-handed performers -- has been named winner of the Emanuel S. Kardon Award of the Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy.

Channeling success is localite Evan Shapiro, who's been named head honcho of both the Sundance Channel and compadre Independent Film Channel.

Hey, sport! Stealing home? No, just coming home: Ben Shipgel, who covers sports for The New York Times and calls Toby and Joel Shipgel mom and dad, pitches his insider's look at the new baseball season next Thursday in an Old York Road Temple/Beth Am program at the Kitchen Bar, in Abington, where members Toby and Joel won't balk if you stop by and say, "That 'boy' is outta here!"

Carl Dranoff

Who ya callin' Mr. Coffee now? Marty Sherman is not just another cup o' Joe: When the man who makes the coffee leaves his job at Wawa in Jenkintown after more than 10 years -- he was a retired Boeing worker who at first didn't know a brew from a drip process -- there are going to be a lot of customers crying in their ... Brim. (Sorry, but "Stars" owes his allegiance to the blend at the nearby Barnes & Noble Starbucks branch.) Okay, so he didn't reinvent the wheel, but you face those daily headlines without a fresh cup and see how hard it is to roll on without him.

Whenever you're near, "Stars" hears a symphony. Well, you may not be Diana Ross but, Carl Dranoff, you have earned a supreme award. Dranoff's Symphony House -- drum roll, please! -- has been named winner of the Multifamily Executive Award, a major high-five for the Center City high-rise and a big-time compliment in the condo world.

Rachel Simon

All right, OROT! The org, known as the "special needs initiative in Philadelphia Jewish day schools," has this reminder written on its blackboard: Barbara and Jay Satz and their family will be honored for their work and communal dedication at OROT's annual reception this coming spring.

Northeast native son Robert Trebor is one of the special guests at this month's "Xena Convention" -- ask who Xena is and "Stars" will sick Lucy Lawless on ya -- out L.A. way. Sure, friends and family knew Bob early on as Robert Schenkman but those in the know really know him as one of the stalwart stars of the much-missed "Xena: Warrior Princess," or as they called him in that TV wonk of warlords: Salmoneus. (No, he didn't catch it from an undercooked character.)

Love ya! Alexandra Leiband Remy Raevksy, both Class of '09 at Barrack Hebrew Academy, are jump-over-the-net happy. They've both been included in the Main Line Times All-Star Tennis Team.

Abington's Rachel Simon, whose book/telemovie Riding the Bus With My Sister was more moving than any SEPTA trip could hope to be, is now under construction with Building a Home With My Husband, set for publication later this year.