Vetri visits Obama

SUPERSTAR PHILLY chef Marc Vetri traveled to Washington, D.C., yesterday to chat it up with President Obama.

"In case anyone was wondering, I was in the Oval Office talking Italian food with the Pres.," Vetri tweeted.

Vetri stood behind the president as Obama speechified on the economy and the tragic events at the D.C. Navy Yard.

Obama referenced the group standing behind him, including Vetri, as those who went through "some real tough times" during the economic downturn, "and in part because of the steps we took, and primarily because of their courage and determination and hard work, they're in a better place now."

Vetri didn't cook for the prez, but, let's be honest, that's Obama's loss. Hopefully Vetri invited him to Philly for a meal.

* Fox 29 has officially made Iain Page the weeknight co-anchor for its 5, 6 and 10 p.m. broadcasts. Joining Page is his 5 p.m. buddy Kerry Barrett.

Page joined Fox 29 in February and has anchored the nighttime broadcasts on a temporary basis since June. Page replaced former Sexy Single Thomas Drayton, who was moved to mornings on a trial basis to the chagrin of some staffers who grumbled behind the scenes about the move.

Drayton, as I told you last week, now pulls a paycheck from Al Jazeera America.

* NBC10's Sheena Parveen will be part of the live broadcast of Pennsylvania Derby Day on Comcast SportsNet from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Joining weatherwoman Parveen is racing commentator Laffit Pincay III, the Daily News' own Dick Jerardi, and veteran racing announcer Mike Battaglia.

Parveen won't be talking weather; instead she'll be doing a feature on the Turning for Home horse-rescue program (featuring one horse who transitioned from the track to the Philadelphia Police Department) and interviewing fans in the stands.

* CBS3 will do some shifting to its Eyewitness News broadcasts when Jessica Dean joins Chris May on Monday for the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts. Chief meteorologist Kathy Orr returns to the 5 and 6 p.m. slots. Kate Bilo fans need not worry, though. She'll stick with 5 and 6 p.m. and add noon to her schedule, as well.

WXPN begins airing the Moth Radio Hour, a 60-minute storytelling session from some of the great yarn weavers of our time, tonight at 10. Fun fact: Philly's own Juliet Hope Wayne was the first woman to win the coveted Moth GrandSlam. In 2011, the Moth won a Peabody Award, one of the highest honors in broadcasting.

XPN Local, which used to run from 8 to 11 p.m. with hosts Helen Leicht and John Vettese, will now run from 8 to 10 p.m.

Philly nightclub Soundgarden Hall took home top prizes at the "Double Down with Don Johnson" (the card shark, not the "Miami Vice" actor) charity blackjack tournament last week at the Golden Nugget in AC. Shane Hort, who repped Soundgarden, won $5,000 for the D.A.R.E. program.

* John Oliver of "The Daily Show" was spotted at Pub & Kitchen (1946 Lombard St.) on Saturday. My tipster said P&K looked as if it was closed for a private wedding, and Oliver was spotted with a crowd outside. Oliver just came off a successful stint filling in for Jon Stewart on the "Daily Show" anchor desk. For his next trick, Oliver will return to the NBC sitcom "Community."

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