Christmas Village in Philadelphia Returns to LOVE Park for 2014 Holiday Season with Festive Sights, Sounds and Shopping

The Christmas Village will again transform Philadelphia’s LOVE Park (15th and JFK Boulevard) into a traditional, open-air German Christmas Market, open daily between Thanksgiving and Sunday, December 28, 2014. Shop for high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Enjoy holiday sights and sounds with thousand of twinkling lights, the LOVE Park Christmas Tree, live music, children’s activities and photos with Santa Claus. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot cocoa while enjoying European and American food and drink. Admission is free, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go. Spread the cheer by following @philachristmas on Twitter, liking Christmas Village on Facebook and visiting www.philachristmas.com.

Now in its seventh year, Christmas Village in Philadelphia has grown into one of the region’s most unique and charming holiday attractions. It expects to attract more than 550,000 people in 2014. Sixty-five international and local merchants and artists are busy preparing high-quality gifts that will be sold in decorated tents and wooden houses that will pop-up throughout Center City’s famous LOVE Park. With toys, apparel, jewelry, decorations, homegoods, artwork and more, there will be something for everyone on Santa’s list.

For the second consecutive year, Christmas Village in Philadelphia is presented by an NRG company.

“NRG Home is once again proud to be the presenting sponsor of Christmas Village in Philadelphia, a growing tradition that brings the community together,” said Heather Farber, Managing Director, NRG Retail Northeast. “We look forward to connecting with consumers at Christmas Village, listening to what their energy needs are, and sharing how NRG Home can help power their holidays both at home and on the go.”

Follow the smell of gingerbread and waffles to a full menu of European food, sweets and drinks, including mouthwatering German bratwurst or schnitzel served on a warm roll (Brötchen). Look for new menu additions this year, including Döner Kebab (a German specialty featuring fresh meat shaved right off the rotisserie spit, placed in a warm pita pocket with tomato, onion, and our delicious homemade sauce). Wash it all down with a warm mug of traditional German Glühwein (spiced mulled wine) or rich hot chocolate.

On top of the great shopping and dining experiences, visitors will enjoy the glorious Christmas Tree in LOVE Park, a Wish Wall in conjunction with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a new kid’s zone on the weekends, theme days and weekends, tasting tours with Chaddsford Winery, live music during evenings and weekends, and other surprises to be announced.

The Christmas Village previews for two days on Thanksgiving Day (9:00am to 5:00pm) and Black Friday (11:00am to 7:00pm). Stop over after Philadelphia’s annual Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday, November 27 and beat the mall crowds on Black Friday, November 28, 2014.

Daily market hours starting Black Friday through the last Sunday in December will be Friday through Saturday 11:00am to 8:00pm, and Sunday through Thursday 11:00am to 7:00pm. Christmas Eve hours are 11:00am to 5:00pm (closed on Christmas Day).

The market will have a Grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, November 29, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  Invite your family and friends to come sing-a-long to holiday selections by local choirs, marching bands and other entertainers. Meet the original Christkind from Nuremberg after she officially opens the market by reciting her traditional prologue and rings in the official lighting ceremony of the Chritmas Village Fountain (not the tree), presented by NRG Home. Take photos with her as she does her traditional walk of the market. In Germany, she is the person that brings the Christmas gifts to the kids, and she won’t be coming to Philadelphia empty handed!

Vendor lists, food and drink menus, theme weekends, special event details and special promotions will be released in mid-November. Follow @philachristmas on Twitter, follow Christmas Village on Facebook and visit www.philachristmas.com for more information.

ABOUT NRG HOME

NRG Home empowers residential energy customers with a new way to think about, buy and use energy. Innovative, exclusive energy products give customers unprecedented choice and control through customized electricity plans with unique rewards and access to emerging energy technology solutions. NRG Home is part of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 250 company that serves almost three million retail customers across the country. NRG Energy creates value through reliable and efficient conventional power generation, while driving innovation in solar and renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology and customer-centric energy solutions.

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.