Media Alert, Philadelphia: East Passyunk Hosts Tree Lighting Tonight at Singing Fountain

MEDIA ALERT FOR EAST PASSYUNK AND SOUTH PHILLY

EAST PASSYUNK TREE LIGHTING PARTY IS TONIGHT AT FAMOUS SINGING FOUNTAIN AT 5PM

PLUS 
WHEN:

TODAY, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Program starts 5:00pm
Lighting to take place approximately 5:25-35pm
Photos with Santa and free goodies 5-6:30pm 
Deck the Ave campaign continues down the Avenue 7-9:00pm

WHERE:
Singing Fountain, East Passyunk and Tasker Ave

WHO:
· Pennsylvania State Senator Larry Farnese
· Philadelphia Councilman Mark Squilla
· EPABID Executive Director Renee Gilinger
· PARC Executive Director Sam Sherman
· Kate Bilo, Meteorologist CBS Philly 
· Bob Marino, President, Delaware Valley Region, Valley Green Bank
· Carolers from Alphabet Academy
· Music by students from Andrew Jackson School
· Santa Claus

WHAT:
East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) and Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation (PARC) kick off the holiday’s with the annual Tree Lighting Party at the Singing Fountain (Tasker and EPA) on Thursday, December 4, 2014, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The free celebration will include carolers from Alphabet Academy, music by students from Andrew Jackson School, a visit from Santa Claus,and holiday treats from local restaurants and eateries. 

From 6:00pm to 8:00pm, the History of Italian Immigration Museum at 1834 E Passyunk Ave will host opening reception for a new East Passyunk exhibit. 

At 7:00pm, revelers are invited to the Deck the Ave kick-off with extended shopping hours, specials and sales, giveaways and other festive surprises. The Joe King Trio will stroll down the Avenue, leading shoppers to seasonal fun. Select restaurants will offer food and drink specials. 
 
PLEASE CONFIRM AND FOR MORE INFO CALL 215-840-9216. 

Philadelphia Neighborhoods Light Up with 2014 Tree Lighting Celebrations by South Street, East Passyunk, Mt. Airy, Glen Foerd

Starting tonight, Philadelphia neighborhoods will light up for the 2014 holidays with festive celebrations, parties, parades and tree lightings by South Street Headhouse District, East Passyunk Business Improvement District, Go Mt. Airy, Glen Foerd on the Delaware and Christmas Village.  All events listed below are free (unless otherwise noted) and open to the public. Make sure to bring your family to one or all of them. Don't forget to bring an unwrapped toy to the events on South Street and East Passyunk as part of the Joy of Sharing Campaign by CBS Philly. 
 

Photo credit: Visit Philly

Wednesday, December 3, 2014
City Hall and Christmas Village

Head to Philadelphia City Hall for the Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting Spectacular with a 35-foot-tall Norway spruce from Linvilla Orchards. Entertainment starts at 6:00pm, with the ceremony at 7:00pm. Tonight is also the first night the Christmas Village Christmas Tree in LOVE Park will be lit. Stop by after today for photos with the twinkling tree and the iconic LOVE Statue.

Thursday, December 4, 2014
East Passyunk's Tree Lighting Party

Kick off the holidays with the annual Tree Lighting Party at the Singing Fountain (Tasker Street and East Passyunk Avenue) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The free celebration will include live music, carolers, holiday sweets, shopping and other surprises. Don’t forget to bring an unwrapped gift for a toy drive to benefit local youth. After the party, stay until 9:00pm for extended shopping hours as the Deck the Ave campaign kicks off with shopping, sales and other festivities during December. 

Friday, December 5, 2014
Go Mt Airy Tree Lighting

Mt. Airy rings in the Holiday Season with events all weekend, kicked off by a tree lighting at the Lutheran Seminary at 4:45pm, with music from the Salvation Army Brass Band, followed by a community run Caroling session down the Avenue. That same evening, take pictures with Santa at Rothe Florists from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  The event is free and includes warm cider, cookies and candy canes for all.  There will be a store-wide sale on all holiday trimmings.

Saturday, December 6, 2014
Gilded Age Christmas at the Mansion

Glen Foerd will partner with Settlement Music School’s Kardon Northeast Branch to bring musical and ballet performances to the family friendly event Christmas at the Mansion. From 1:00pm to 6:00pm the public is invited to experience the mansion in full holiday décor, enjoy performances and children’s crafts. The Dining Car will be selling holiday sweets and cookies. Join Santa at 5:00pm as he makes an appearance at our outdoor holiday tree lighting and joins guests in singing holiday carols, followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30pm.

Sunday, December 7, 2014
Winter Wonderland, Tree Lighting and Headhouse Holiday Market

South Street Headhouse District presents their annual extravaganza Winter Wonderland from 3:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Historic Headhouse Square Shambles on 200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.  Free family fun will include the annual holiday tree lighting, Santa Claus arriving on a firetruck, free horse-drawn carriage rides, performances by Philadelphia Dance Academy and Society Hill Dance Academy, and the Headhouse Holiday Market in conjunction with PHAIR. Brauhaus Schmitz will serve mulled wine and other treats. Before or after the festivities, stroll the district and check out holiday displays at 30+ businesses competing in the Window Wonderland Storefront Challenge. 

UPDATE: EVENT IS POSTPONED UNTIL 2015 
Lantern Parade and FREE Concert

The Christmas fun continues after the trees are lit! Help us light up the city with the Lantern Parade at Christmas Village in Philadelphia: Presented by NRG Home. This German-style Lantern Parade starts at 5:00pm. Bring your homemade lantern and meet at the iconic LOVE Statue. The Snow Queen, along with Gerda and Kai fromEnchantment Theatre Company’s The Snow Queen, will lead the parade of lights around LOVE Park and Center City. The parade will end at the Christmas Village stage with a sing-a-long led by children from East Passyunk’s Alphabet Academy Daycare and a free concert by the The Philly POPS Festival Brass.  Join the parade with your family, or simply come to watch! All lanterns should contain battery-operated candles or lights, no flames.

Aversa PR Seeks a Philadelphia PR and Social Media Assistant for East Passyunk Office

Aversa PR & Events seeks an ultra organized, creative and driven multi-tasker to assist with 10+ client accounts that cover arts, neighborhoods, restaurants, theater, entertainment and events. Position is approximately 25-35 hours a week, with potential for growth in hours and rate. 

We work with small business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders that expect the best from us - including smart and creative results, on a budget, in a timely manner, with measurable results. We're seeking a proven professional with some or all off the following skills: Event administrative experience, day of event staffing and coordination (25% of position) Social media account management and strategy (25% of position) Public relations research, writing, pitching (25% of position) Office assistance, intern management, photo shoots, meetings and planning (25% of position).

Successful candidates will exhibit attention to detail, be excellent communicators, work well under pressure, have a sense of humor, be a team player, pitch in for overall agency activities and be able to generate award-winning messaging on the fly. Experience in managing social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) preferred.  This is a position ideal for someone with 1-3 years experience in PR and social media management. Dependable transportation at all times is a must as clients require store visits, photo shoots, meetings and event support. Office-based position in South Philadelphia. Please submit a formal cover letter, resume and list of social media samples/handles to hr@aversapr.com. Applications will be considered incomplete without all three elements. No phone calls please. If you have applied in the past feel free to apply again for this new position. For more information about us and our company, visit www.aversapr.com or follow us on Twitter at @koryaversa @aversapr @phillylovesfun

Grand Opening Photos: Brunch Hot Spot Chhaya Cafe Opens New East Passyunk Location

chhaya café opened its doors to new larger home at 1819 East Passyunk Avenue on Thursday, August 21, 2014. Chef and owner Varnana “V” Beuria brings her passion for delicious coffee and simple flavorful food to a new kitchen doors away from her original restaurant in the heart of Philadelphia’s restaurant row.

chhaya, which means shelter and tranquility, will now offer nearly double the seating but continue to offer an intimate, warm and cozy atmosphere. The breakfast, lunch and brunch menu still focuses on unique waffle preparations, playful twists on classic dishes, rotating entrees and a selection of seasonal weekend brunch specials. The new location will be open seven days a week, operating Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 6:00pm. The kitchen will close daily at 3:30pm.

chhaya’s new space is nearly double in size (1,100 square feet) and features seating for 50 inside and 10 outside. Despite the expansion, the floorplan was designed to provide guests with the same intimate, quiet and tranquil feel of the former space. Beuria wanted the new chhaya to feel more modern, but preserve a warm and cozy feeling. “I used a lot of wood to bring the warmth in, to make it feel intimate even though the dining room will be much larger,” said Beuria.  

Beauria collaborated with Toner Architects on the unique floor plan that provides for dedicated areas for dining, relaxing, laptop use, working, socializing and more.  The final layout was designed to be set up like a bar, not a traditional coffee shop.  Beuria wants guests to communicate and interact with the baristas like a customer does at a bar.  “The centerpiece of the new location will feature a coffee bar with seating in the front for baristas and customers to interact with each other, not just place to order and run,” said Beuria. “Our employees have always had an intimate relationship with customers, and will continue to in the larger space.”

 Other notable features include:

• Floor to ceiling windows have been installed along the storefront, that open out to East Passyunk, framed in Mahogany with tempered glass, seating will feature comfy chairs with a low table, new outlets spaced between seating for customers that wish to plug in
• Laptop area with live edge wood slab with bark, featuring ample electrical outlets for customers to plug in
• Ambrosia Maple tables and chairs handmade by a family friend; other chairs made from dark Walnut
• New floors made from a combination of White Oak from Lancaster county, plus ceramic tile and concrete
• Coffee bar that will feature seating for up to six people, with no outlets to encourage old fashioned conversations, a dessert and food case, and a striking finished wood top
• Pillars covered with creamy off-white plaster inlaid with a lace pattern to add another layer of texture and warmth
• “Windows seats have always been a favorite to customers,” said Beuria. “I expect the new nook with shelves and books and sofas will become a favorite.”

Expanded space also means additional room for chhaya’s art program. Local and regional artists will be able to hang more pieces on the walls, and chhaya will have space host three dimensional pieces.  The art program will be led in-house, with two long-time baristas taking over the program. Details for the opening show are in development.

chhaya’s opening menu is very similar to the current location, with the possibility of small changes. The breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch menu still focus on unique waffle preparations, playful twists on classic dishes, rotating entrees and a selection of seasonal weekend brunch specials. chhaya’s food and drink menus are simple but carefully crafted with a focus on quality ingredients and heartfelt preparation. chhaya pours organic, fair trade coffee that is locally hand-roasted in small batches and delivered to the café weekly.  Now that the new spot is open, chhaya will announce the arrival of late summer and early fall seasonal dishes in the near future.

Down the road, the menu at chhaya may evolve and grow. Beuria will also explore adding later hours, ramping up baked goods, additional vegan and vegetarian offerings, increasing our popular pie of the day program, and some other surprises in the kitchen.

For more information, visit the new www.chhayacafe.com (coming soon), call (215) 465-1000, follow @chhayacafe and like chhaya café on Facebook.