9th Annual East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival Returns with 140+ Cars, Food, Circus, Music and More

9th Annual East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival Returns with 140+ Cars, Food, Circus, Music and More

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) is revving up for the 9th Annual Car Show and Street Festival on Sunday, July 27, 2014, from Noon to 5:00pm, on EPA between Broad and Dickinson streets.  Over 140 muscle, classic, antique, custom and show cars, trucks and motorcycles will line Avenue, with circus performers, street vendors, rack sales, kids’ activities, live music and the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show in between.  Wine and dine among the cars as award-winning restaurants and food trucks serve street food and summertime drinks. Admission is FREE for attendees and $15 for cars. The rain date is Sunday, August 3, 2014. For information, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com, tweet at @epassyunkave and follow #passyunkcarshow.

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Chef Luke Palladino Celebrates Squash Blossom Season with Must-Try Summer Dish

Chef Luke Palladino Celebrates Squash Blossom Season with Must-Try Summer Dish

After an extremely harsh winter, squash blossoms are beginning their late bloom at area farms. In celebration of the delicate flower’s return, Chef Luke Palladino presents Fiori di Zucca, which features locally sourced squash blossoms stuffed with sweet corn, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmigiano reggiano, tempura fried and tossed with parmigiano reggiano, chives and parsley. This must-try dish will be available at Luke Palladino Seasonal Italian Cooking (199 New Road, Central Square, Linwood, NJ 08221) starting on Monday, June 16, 2014. That morning, Luke will visit Dan Graiff Farm to personally select the blossoms for the evening’s dinner service. Guests that evening will receive a complimentary order plus enjoy a free glass of prosecco.

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East Passyunk Quenches Summertime Thirst with Craft Beer Day and Italian National Day Festival

East Passyunk Quenches Summertime Thirst with Craft Beer Day and Italian National Day Festival

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) serves up a double dose of summertime fun with two festivals on Sunday, June 1, 2014.  Starting at 11:00 AM, Philly Beer Week kicks off with 15 hours of craft beer events during Craft Beer Day.  East Passyunk restaurants, bars and retailers will present opportunities to meet the brewers, try new craft beers, and enjoy beer-infused and inspired foods.  Starting at 11:00am, Italian National Day Festival “La Festa Della Repubblica” will feature a full day of live music, the grand opening of the  “History of Italian Immigration Museum,” Italian draft and bottled beer specials, outdoor food vendors, kids’ activities and a spaghetti eating contest.  La Festa activities are held on East Passyunk Avenue, between Broad and Moore streets.  Events are held rain or shine.  Admission is free, unless otherwise noted. Food and drinks are pay-as-you-go.  For more information about Craft Beer Day and La Festa visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com, follow @epassyunkave or call (215) 336-1455.

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East Passyunk Celebrates Easter with Egg Hunt, Bunny Photos and Spring Brunch

East Passyunk Celebrates Easter with Egg Hunt, Bunny Photos and Spring Brunch

Hop on down to East Passyunk Avenue for a day of ‘egg-citing’ Easter festivities! On Saturday, April 5, 2014, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) presents its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the lawn of the South Philadelphia Older Adult Center (1430 East Passyunk). Children are invited to decorate egg collecting bags with Occasionette, enjoy treats from Beneficial Bank, dance to family-friendly tunes, hunt for prize-filled eggs and meet the Easter Bunny.  Egg Hunt times are staggered by age group, with four and under at 11:00 AM, five to seven at 12:00 PM and eight to ten at at 1:00 PM.  After the festivities, families are invited to enjoy special brunch menus and bakery discounts at participating eateries.  The Egg Hunt is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.visiteastpassyunk.com or call 215-336-1455.

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East Passyunk's Flavors of the Avenue Returns with a Top Chef, New Restaurants, VIP Perks and More

Flavors of the Avenue is back and bigger than ever! East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) welcomes a record-setting 27 restaurants to South Philadelphia’s largest outdoor food and drink festival on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Enjoy a true taste of East Passyunk as award-winning restaurants and bars offer samples of their signature dishes and drinks under the cover of a big top tent between Morris and Dickinson streets. Exciting debuts this year include Laurel BYOB by Top Chef Nicholas Elmi, plus previews of yet-to-open restaurants Townsend and Brigantessa. Outside the Flavors tent, guests will enjoy a free street festival with vendors and live music. At the Singing Fountain, Crafty Balboa presents the annual April Showers craft market from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The event is rain or shine. VIP tickets are $50 per person and include early access and special perks.  General admission tickets are $30.  Tickets are on sale today at www.visiteastpassyunk.com/flavors.htm or by calling (215) 336-1455. Save $5.00 off each ticket when purchased before March 19, 2014 at 11:59pm.  The event sold out last year, so act fast!  

In 2014, Flavors of the Avenue will feature more food and drink than ever before from an expanded roster of restaurants that include:

*  Belle Cakery 
*  Birra 
*  Brigantessa (debut)
*  Cantina Los Caballitos 
*  Chiarella's 
*  El Zarape 
*  Fond 
*  Fuel 
*  Garage
*  Ippolito’s
*  Izumi 
*  Laurel BYOB (debut)
*  Le Virtù  
*  Lucky 13 
*  Mamma Maria Ristorante 
*  Marra’s 
*  Ms. Goody Cupcake 
*  Noir 
*  Noord 
*  Paradiso 
*  Plenty
*  POPE (debut)
*  Stateside
*  Stogie Joe’s
*  Townsend (debut)
*  Tre Scalini 
*  Will BYOB 

Four restaurants will make their Flavors debut, including the yet-to-open Brigantessa and Townsend, as well as recently opened Laurel BYOB by Bravo’s Top Chef Nicholas Elmi.  POPE will also join the Flavors fun for the first time this year.

In addition to the above line-up, EPABID Executive Director Renee Gilinger says, “Stay tuned for an exciting surprise announcement. Guest chef? Special collaboration? New restaurant? You’ll have to wait and see!”

Other exciting news for this year includes an extra 100 VIP tickets on sale, bringing the total to 400 for the first time. VIP perks include early access to the main tent, all-day access to a new VIP-only tent sponsored by Beneficial Bank, plus premium menu items, Pollyodd liqueur samples, and Pinnacle Vodka and Bai cocktails.  VIP tickets are $50 each and include access from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.  As of today, more than 50% of VIP tickets are already sold as a result of EPABID’s Top Chef Finale “Twitter Party.”

Free valet parking for VIP ticket holders will make the food fun even easier, courtesy of ParkOps. The valet stand at East Passyunk Avenue at Morris Street will also be open for general admission ticket holders for only $8.00.

General admission tickets are $30 each and include access from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. All tickets are $5.00 off when purchased before 11:59pm on March 19, 2014 at www.visiteastpassyunk.com/flavors.htm. This event is rain or shine.

In conjunction with Flavors of the Avenue, Crafty Balboa will preset April Showers craft market at the Singing Fountain between 12:00pm and 5:00pm.  Crafty Balboa will feature a record-breakig 40 crafters and artisans this year.

Flavors of the Avenue is an annual benefit to raise funds for EPABID’s public safety programs.  Special thanks to our sponsors Olitsky Family Foundation, Aversa PR & Events, Bai, Beneficial Bank, Gold Medal, Origlio Beverage, ParkOps, Philadelphia Weekly, Pinnacle Vodka, Skinny Girl Wine, South Philly Review, Urban Jungle, UBER, Where Magazine and Yelp.

For more information and directions, like East Passyunk Avenue on Facebook, follow @epassyunkave on Twitter, pin East Passyunk Avenue on Pinterest, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com or call 215-336-1455.
 

SliCE Debuts Shrimp Scampi Pizza for Lent, St Patrick's Twist on Pizza, Plus New Deep Fried Calzone

SliCE Debuts Shrimp Scampi Pizza for Lent, St Patrick's Twist on Pizza, Plus New Deep Fried Calzone

SliCE adds some surprise twists to the art of pizza with new monthly dishes that include St Pat's Day-inspired pizza, a Lent Shrimp Scampi pizza, a new gluten-free pizza and a new seasonal salad. Additionally, SliCE announces a new monthly signature flavor for calzones, stomboli and SliCE-arottis (deep fried calzones) that starts with a spicy hot Sausage and Peppers variety.  Enjoy samples of select pies this FREE Friday, March 14th. Visit the full story for details and the new dishes!

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Chhaya Cafe Will Move to Larger Space on Popular East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Row

Chhaya Cafe Will Move to Larger Space on Popular East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Row

East Passyunk's popular brunch spot and coffee shop Chhaya Café announces that it will moveto a new larger space at 1817 East Passyunk Avenue in late spring/early summer. The current location at 1823 East Passyunk seats 28 in the dining room, with 1,500 total square feet (approximately 800 for dining). The new space will replace Sweet Alyssa, and feature 1,800 total square feet (with approximately 1,100 for dining). Chhaya's seating will expand from 28 to 55 seats in total. (Note: Sweet Alyssa is relocating across the street, FYI.)

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Noir Philadelphia Announces New Owners, Exciting Renovations, New Dishes and Expanded Service

Noir Philadelphia Announces New Owners, Exciting Renovations, New Dishes and Expanded Service

Chef Marco DeCotiis and Donnamarie Motto have something special to raise a glass to this Valentine’s Day.  The foodie couple celebrate their 14th anniversary with the announcement that they are the new sole owners of Noir Philadelphia at 1909 East Passyunk Avenue. DeCotiis and Motto also officially announce  daily lunch service, service on Monday nights, renovations in the dining room and bar, and new menu items. This food coupling started over a shared passion for food – and continues as the two bring their crowd-pleasing Montreal-inspired Italian dishes to Philadelphia’s new restaurant row.

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SliCE Philadelphia Says Be Mine with Heart-Shaped Pizza and Surprise Jewelry Delivery Contest

SliCE Philadelphia Says Be Mine with Heart-Shaped Pizza and Surprise Jewelry Delivery Contest

This Valentine’s Day, love is in the pizza!  Say “be mine” with a specially delivered heart-shaped pizza-gram from SliCE.  Customize your pie with his/her favorite toppings or select one of SliCE’s signature pie combinations.  As a bonus, SliCE will surprise one lucky pizza-gram delivery recipient with a Sterling Silver Hershey Kiss Necklace from Sermania Jewelry. The jewelry contest is valid for delivery only. The winner will be drawn at random based on delivery orders on Friday, February 14, 2014. Heart-shaped pies are the same price as a traditional pies, and they can delivered from all three SliCE locations.

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East Passyunk Hosts Top Chef Finale Tweeting Party for Chef Nicholas Elmi from Laurel

Photo courtesy of Bravo 

Photo courtesy of Bravo 

Show your ‘Passyunk Pride’ during tonight’s season finale of Top Chef Season 11 featuring Chef Nicholas Elmi from newly opened Laurel (1617 EPA). From 9:00pm to 11:30pm (showtime 10:00pm), East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) will host a Twitter party. Stay in during the cold and ice, and join the fun by including @epassyunkave and #passyunk4elmi in your tweets. One Tweeter will win two tickets to sample Laurel’s delicious cuisine during Chef Elmi’s debut at Flavors of the Avenue on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Chef Elmi will be joined by over 20 of his East Passyunk’s colleagues by serving up signature dishes at  South Philadelphia’s largest outdoor food and drink festival. Make sure to save the date for this event that sold out in 2013. Stay tuned for big surprises coming for 2014. Two alternative winners will receive a free limited edition, locally made East Passyunk tote bag. 

Whether you're on Twitter or not, make sure to tune into Bravo at 10:00pm to watch live as we surely won't be able to contain the spoilers on this one! 

Flavors of the Avenue Announced for Saturday April 26, 2014

Flavors of the Avenue Announced for Saturday April 26, 2014

Want even more from our nationally-loved East Passyunk stars? Visit and interact with our newly launched Pinterest board featuring Chef Elmi, the Super Bowl Gecko, Alicia DiMichele (Addiction Boutique) from this season of VH1 Mob Wives and more.

For more about Chef Elmi and Laurel follow @nicholaselmi @laurelepx on Twitter and visit www.restaurantlaurel.com. For More info about Flavors of the Avenue, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com or call 215-336-1455.