DT's B&P: 6 Reasons Why ABC Is Really Loving On Penn Alumni This Week

This week the "The Mouse House" (ABC/Disney) is all about the red and the blue.

From news pertaining to studio heads, actors, producers, and writers, find out what sorts of waves Penn alumni are making this week!

READ MORE - DT's B&P: 6 Reasons Why ABC Is Really Loving On Penn Alumni This Week

Scott Baio Makes a Cameo in His EXTREMELY NSFW Viral Video

From the Penn alum who brought you "The Murray Hill Song" and "I Miss Moranis", DJ Lubel (C'05) has now created a, dare I say, very funny, and very well produced (thanks to Jake Avnet (C'05)) viral video so very NSFW (that's "Not-Safe-For-Work") that I need to have you click the "continue reading" link below to watch this video!

READ MORE - Scott Baio Makes a Cameo in His EXTREMELY NSFW Viral Video

Real Jobs Are Not My Forte: "Don't Get Trapped" (Episode 2)

Last month, we started a new exclusive DT monthly Vlog series documenting the life of 2 Penn graduates who are embarking on a music career, so that others can learn from their experiences.  

This month Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos) talk about:

• their move to Austin
• their new day-to-day life
• their plans for how they're gonna keep eating and living (and how much that costs...). 
• What sorts of gigs don't make financial sense for musicians like themselves.

Watch Episode 2: "Dont' Get Trapped" above!

DT Catch Up:

• RJANMF Episode 1: "Don't Panic"

READ MORE - Real Jobs Are Not My Forte: "Don't Get Trapped" (Episode 2)

Twitteleh: Twitter For Your Jewish Mother

Here's a Rosh Hashananh gift for all of you from the brilliant minds of writer Reg Tigerman (C'07, Mask and Wig) and director/editor DT favorite Matt Johnson (C'99, Mask and Wig).  The piece also co-stars another Penn alum Dov Kogen (C'07).

Reg and Matt put it up this past Monday expecting 10 people to watch it. They're now up to 20,000 after Demi Moore tweeted it last night, and now, barring breaking news, it was supposed to be featured on CNN's Situation Room in the 4PM hour, eastern time (1PM west coast time.)

You should watch it, enjoy it and wear a sweater.

Wishing all of you a happy and sweet new year!

(...If you enjoyed the clip above, then you'll also love THIS clip!)

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From Blogging At Penn to Publishing 200 Gourmet Recipes For Any Budget

In continuing my "Penn Foodies" week, after yesterday's story about this restaurant entrepreneur, today I bring you a post about yet another set of Penn alumni working together. 

Great story here. Two friends (and now dating!) write blog at Penn, get approached by publisher and now have book!

Continue Reading...

Alanna Kaufman (C'08, DP, City News Editor, Kite and Key Tour Guide, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor) and Alex Small (C'08, DP Photo Editor) published a new book called The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: 200 Gourmet Recipes for Any Budget which features high-quality recipes at low costs, and is aimed at cooks at any skill level (or no skill level!).  The idea for the book stemmed from their food blog, Two Fat Als, which they began writing while at Penn.  Both the blog and the book include anecdotes about their experiences cooking at Penn and in Philadelphia.

How did they get started?

Per Alanna,

"After finishing our editorships at the Daily Pennsylvanian, Alex and I had a lot of free time on our hands, and we began cooking.  Though our kitchens were tiny and poorly equipped, we starting making dinner each night and recording our dishes on our blog, Two Fat Als.  The blog was designed to show other college students that it was possible to create tasty and sophisticated dishes on a low budget.  Alex has always been a great chef -- his Colombian mother and Jewish father put him to work in the kitchen at an early age -- so he taught me basics and we continued to develop our skills together. 

Cooking for the blog moved us to explore different food markets in Philadelphia (the farmers markets, the Italian market, Redding Terminal), and we would often have friends over multiple nights per week for dinner. 

After a literary agent found the blog online during our senior year and suggested that we write a book proposal, we found Adams Media and The Frugal Foodie Cookbook was born!"

Alanna and Alex's favorite meals for friends at Penn which they served pre-Walnut Walk their senior year (from their book):
Apricot Brandy Baked French Toast +/-

 

Per Alana, "The day we first heard from our literary agent was the same day as our Walnut Walk during senior week. We were hosting a huge pre-walk brunch for our friends -- we made the apricot brandy baked French toast from the book, as well as cinnamon buns and an asparagus frittata. That was one of our favorite meals for friends at Penn and everyone stuffed themselves in preparation for a long day."

And one of Alanna's favorite recipes (from their book):
Black Bean Soup +/-

 

...And this isn't the first Penn alum who wrote a blog about saving money as a student at Penn and then got discovered.  Remember THIS Penn alum whose blog got turned into a book and then was hired to write on "Scrubs"?!

Get in touch with Alex and Alanna! twofatals at gmail.com

Delicious nuggets from my "Penn Foodies" series HERE

More posts about Penn alumni authors HERE

Other money saving tips from my "Pinching PENNies" series HERE

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Hollywood Bits and Pieces: Their New Upcoming TV Shows & Films

Some recent juicy Penn Hollywood alumni tidbits for y'all...

Click HERE for the scoop!

---

• Elizabeth Banks (C'96) has signed on for a potentially recurring role on ABC's critically-praised new fall sitcom, "Modern Family". More HERE

• Todd Lieberman (C'95) will be producing a film based on the comic book "Alibi". More HERE

• Speaking of Liz and Todd above, have you seen the new poster for their upcoming film Surrogates?

• "Harold and Kumar" creators Jon Hurwitz (W'00) and Hayden Schlossberg will be directing the comedy "One Night Stan".   Per The Hollywood Reporter, '"Stan" plays out a scenario about which many men fantasize on the cusp of marriage. When Stan learns his fiancee, Julie, has had more sexual partners than he, he gets her blessing for one night to play catch-up. Unfortunately, his plans for a sex buffet don't come together quite the way he had hoped."'
  

...Actually, Jon will be working on this project with Mike Karz (C'89, W'89), another Penn alum who will be in part producing the film.

My past "Hollywood Bits and Pieces" posts HERE

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If You're An Aspiring Musician, You'll Want to Follow DT's New Vlog Series! (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

If you're an aspiring musician, you'll want to tune into this post...

What happens when you're in a band at Penn and graduate ...and now only 2 of the members want to embark on a music career full-time?   You embark on your journey in front of all of Penn to watch and learn from in a new exclusive DT monthly video series called "Real Jobs Aren't My Forte".

First, to give you some background, at Penn, Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) (guitars, cowbells) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos) (keyboards, pyrotechnics) were part of the band Satellite Heights which was composed of four Penn musicians, and a non-Penn singer who lived in the area. It was a progressive, modern rock outfit that recorded one album in Brooklyn in the fall of '08. That album was called Launch Sequence, and was released on iTunes in March of '09.  All have graduated and the band is now defunct. Ben and Blake now prepare for their move into Austin's music scene.

This new DT Vlog will document the life of Penn graduates who go on to become musicians, so that others can learn from their experiences. Ben and Blake will be getting into all the gory details that they can once a month on DT in a 3 minute post.

• Where is the money to live coming from?
• Teaching lessons? Gigging? Working at starbucks?
• And how did they acquire the students, or the gig, or the job?
• Are they taking showers in the dark just to save on the electricity bill?
• Are they eating cereal sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner cause they can't afford real food?
• Is the myth that rock musicians end up with a lot of girls really true?
• And any other things they wish they would have known before they started.

Watch Episode 1: "Don't Panic" above ...where Ben and Blake explain who they are, why they're moving to Austin and why you shouldn't panic if you too are embarking on this music journey.



Other compelling Penn Vlogs HERE

Other Penn musicians HERE

More DT stories about alumni working together HERE

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READ MORE - If You're An Aspiring Musician, You'll Want to Follow DT's New Vlog Series! (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Getting You Buzzd: He's Helping You Discover The Nightlife Around You

What do you think a guy who DJed in his senior year (under the name Metafizik) and hosted weekly parties at 4010 Spruce (a house known as "Browntown") went on to do?

While he's not a DJ anymore, Nihal Mehta (C'99, Pi Lam fraternity, see picture to left) is still tapped into everything "nightlife" and is sharing it you with his web based and mobile free service called buzzd.

buzzd is the premier location-sensitive city guide and social network for your mobile phone.  buzzd answers “what’s going on around me right now?™” by delivering up-to-the-minute info on bars, restaurants, concerts and events in a specific set location. buzzd features listings from Flavorpill, Time Out, Citysearch, ZAGAT, Upcoming as well as real-time posts (“buzzes”) from members of the buzzd community. Create a profile, add/invite friends and – if you post a “buzz” – it is sent as a text-message to your nearby friends in the network.

Recently, Nihal released a new BlackBerry application in that has been among the most downloaded apps since its release, and was covered in such outlets like the New York Times. (Mehta received funding from Blackberry Partners Fund, who are interested in funding entertainment ventures that are on the mobile phone. )

On a related note, Nihal had another "nightlife" company before buzzd.  In 1999, Nihal started his entrepreneurial career by co-founding (and later selling) Philly2nite an online nightlife and entertainment portal with fellow Penn alum Vijay Chattha (C'00, see picture to right) while they both lived on the bottom floor of 4010 Spruce (side note: I actually lived exactly there my senior year too!).  Browntown, as the house was known was famous for its many evening gatherings featuring open mic sessions with many future media alums like John Stephens, now John Legend (C'99), Aaron Jones (W'99)  of Hip-Hop Act Dujeous, Ted Chung (W'99), who is running Snoop's Label, DJ Bunnylove,  Paras Shah (C'99), Nimo Patel (W'01) and Swapnil Shah (C'99) of Rap Group Karmacy,  Sumit Bothra (W'99), now President of Embargo Management and Max Blumenthal (C'99), MC and current writer for TheDailyBeast and Huffington Post.

Years later Nihal started the first mobile marketing firm which was bought by Omnicom Group in 2005.  From there, Nihal got the idea for buzzd, which he founded in 2006 which was essentially his first idea: Philly2nite on a phone.

Nihal is yet another example of Penn friends working together as he continues to work with Vijay who is an investor and advisor in the company.



Get Buzzd!: www.buzzd.com

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3 Penn Alumni Win Facebook Competition With Their Free New Web Service

More news of Penn alumni working together.

If you're ever overwhelmed by all the email you get and have to check different accounts multiple times a day, the following 3 Penn alumni have solved the problem with NutshellMail:

• Mark Schmulen (left), Co-Founder and CEO (C '03, SAM/Theos Fraternity, SCUE),  
• David Lyman (center) Co-Founder and COO (Engineering '03, SAM/Theos Fraternity, Penn Engineering in Ghana)
• Nirav Batavia (right), VP of Business Development (Wharton and Engineering '03, Mask and Wig, Penn Engineering in Ghana)

How?

Nutshellmail is a free web-based service that enables users to manage and access all their email and social networking accounts through any email inbox. NutshellMail is designed to help you manage your online life through the place where you spend most of your computing time - your primary inbox. The solution works by sending recurring email updates to any email address on a schedule you choose. Each update provides a snapshot of new messages and activity in your Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and email accounts. Through the Update, a user can retrieve any message directly into their primary inbox without having to access their account provider's website. In addition, the solution is designed to provide a compliant way for employees to retrieve messages when restricted from email and social networking sites at work.

Also, these guys have a popular Nutshellmail facebook app HERE which helps you to keep up with all your Facebook activity including status updates, friend requests, messages, birthdays, and much more directly through your email inbox. It's so popular that it was selected as one of the winning companies of the Facebook Fund competition and have received an investment from the fbFund and are now in Palo Alto participating in the fbFund REV incubator program for 10-weeks.

Per Mark,

"We also closed on our Series A financing. With a healthy balance sheet and an incredible opportunity to work directly with Facebook, David, Nirav and I are very excited about our prospects."

Visit www.nutshellmail.com

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READ MORE - 3 Penn Alumni Win Facebook Competition With Their Free New Web Service

These 3 UPenn Alumni Release a Hot New Futuristic Trailer Starring Bruce Willis

Move over Terminator, another high tech film is coming out this Fall and it looks really cool.

Last week I posted my review (and photo with Betty White!) of Todd Lieberman's (C'95, Mask and Wig, AEPi) The Proposal premiere. (Incidentally, it opened on Friday...go out and support Todd!)

Now Todd, as well as co-producers Max Handelman (C'95, AEPi) and Elizabeth Banks (C'96) have recently released a trailer for their hot new futuristic film The Surrogates. The story is as follows:

"FBI agents (Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves - fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles - enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: In a world of masks, whos real and who can you trust?"

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They're Lawyers By Day, Jewelry Designers By Night

Another case of Penn alumni (lawyers) with other careers!

Former college roommates (in photo to left: l to r:) Jessica Bohrer, (C'99 (technically graduated in '98), SDT) and Rebecca Richards (C'99, Theta) were inspired by vintage pieces handed down from their mothers and grandmothers and fell in love with the idea of taking something old and making it new. After a few months of brainstorming, their company Dalla Nonna (which translates from italian to "from the grandmother") was born!

Just a day after their ten-year reunion weekend a couple of weeks ago, Jessica and Rebecca launched the first collection of their jewelry line on Dalla Nonna: the calendar necklace.  Per Jess:

"Dalla Nonna’s signature piece, the calendar necklace, exemplifies dalla nonna’s blend of tradition and trend. derived from an old tie pin of jess’ grandpa howard, each piece is executed in 14k yellow, white or rose gold or sterling silver, and accented with a sapphire in a color chosen by the wearer to commemorate a date of her choosing (could be a birthday, graduation, anniversary, mother's day (may 10th!), birth of a child or any other important date).  With its sleek and modern design, the calendar necklace is a subtle statement piece that allows the wearer to hold a date that is close to her heart even closer still. The calendar necklace is the perfect way to mark a birthday, bat mitzvah, engagement or wedding and a great way to congratulate a graduate!"

Although they're relatively new to the market, they've already been getting great press; Entertainment Weekly, the "Ellen DeGeneres Show", Daily Candy and Urban Baby have featured them in the past month!

See their collection HERE

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READ MORE - They're Lawyers By Day, Jewelry Designers By Night

These 4 Penn Friends Want You To Lend for Peace

What happens when 4 Penn alumni come together to raise money for a good cause? Ask (l to r in pic in left) David Fraga (C'07, Mask and Wig, Sphinx Senior Society, Performing Arts Council), Allam Taj, (Law '09), Sam Adelsberg (C'10), and Andrew Dudum (C'11).

In February, these 4 created LendforPeace.org, a non-profit microfinance platform focused on the Middle East and was recently featured on Fox Business (see interview clip above featuring David Fraga).

LendforPeace.org was founded by these four Penn students (two Jews and two Palestinians) on the premise that grassroots economic development through microfinance may help increase stability in the Middle East. While the founders disagree about a lot of things, it is hard to disagree about a mission of poverty alleviation and job creation.

Supported by such institutions as the Clinton Global Initiative and Ashoka (the largest association of social entrepreneurs in the world), Lendforpeace.org was launched on February 5th at an event on Penn's campus.

Visit www.LendforPeace.org and their Blog HERE

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How Long Will This Tabard Society Founder Last Against Trump?

When one Penn alum checks in on another Penn alum...

Did you catch the very Penn alumni-filled Apprentice on Sunday night?

Donald Trump (W'68), Ivanka Trump (W'04) and Don Trump Jr. (W'00) were dishing out tasks to the new cast of The Celebrity Apprentice, which included Melissa Rivers (Tabard Founder, C'89).

And although he never made an appearance, Donny Deutsch (C'79) sent someone from his company with a very generous check to buy a single cupcake!

Watch below to see how much he donated and at what point his check finally made its way down to team KOTU!

Other Penn alumnni on Reality TV

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READ MORE - How Long Will This Tabard Society Founder Last Against Trump?

"So Fun, Right?": Alumni Comediannes' Pair Up in New Web Series

Penn Los Angeles stand-ups, Lesley Wolff (C'93) and Jessie Schneiderman (C'05) are in a new web series called "So Fun, Right" about a 30 something out of work writer (Lesley) who moves in with a young hip Hollywood hottie (Jessie).  Lesley and Jessie really are so great in these that watching them will actually make you cringe a bit (in a good way!)

Plus the videos are shot very well ...much like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Office".


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