The Roots Picnic success, Kate Gosselin’s engagement ring

Philly’s hometown heroes The Roots owned the weekend. Along with Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter doing his GrassROOTS “Roots Rock Run 5k” at Lingelbach Elementary school on Saturday morning and Questlove spinning Lee Jones‘ Sundae party at City Tap House, there was The Roots Picnic at Festival Pier. The Saturday show was killer with dynamic performances from Questlove’s sister Donn T, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler (as DJ Windows 98), A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd and Erykah Badu, who welcomed surprise guests The Lox to her set with The Roots.

Backstage, there was Mayor Michael Nutter, Will Smith’s pal Charlie Mack and Philadelphia Music Alliance Vice Chairwoman Mia Tinari, who showed up with a plaque for The Roots induction to Philly’s Walk of Fame on Oct. 26. “The Philly Walk of Fame is something we always aspired to be a part of,” said Trotter.

There aren’t many shops left in The Gallery on Market Street as most of its stores are being thrown out during its re-building/re-branding. Tiffany’s Bakery goes out with a bang, giving away free cupcakes to the first 1,000 customers ton Friday before moving to the main entrance at Jefferson Station on Eighth Street.

Celebrity sightings

Two Broadway legends were given awards in Philly. “Cabaret”’s Joel Grey was honored at the Voices of Summer Gala at the Westin hotel on Friday. Composer Steven Sondheim received the inaugural Master Storyteller Award at the Arden Theatre on Monday.

The TLC Block Party at Penn’s Landing on Saturday did not include the Duggars of “19 Kids and Counting.” But the party went on without them, as the Roloff family and Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro charmed the crowd. “TLC depicts us in the right light — who we are and not who we aren’t,” said Valastro, in what seemed like a veiled reference to the Duggars.

Then there was Kate Gosselin of “Kate Plus 8,” who signed autographs with her bodyguard Steve Neild beside her, as well as a shiny new ring on her finger that TMZ claims could signify engagement to millionaire boyfriend, Jeff Prescott.