December 10, 2013

South Street Headhouse District Doubles Holiday Fun with Christmas Village and Santa's Stumble

December 10, 2013/ Kory Aversa

South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) doubles the holiday fun on Saturday, December 14, 2013 with the first Christmas Village and Santa’s South Street Stumble. Enjoy a full day of handmade shopping at the Christmas Village under the Headhouse Square Shambles (Second and Pine streets) from 11:00am to 9:00pm. Festivities will include 30 handmade artisans curated by PHAIR, a visit from Santa, holiday photos at Posey Booth, and food and drink from Brauhaus Schmitz. Christmas Village is a free event, with shopping, food and drinks pay-as-you-go. From 6:00pm to Midnight, SSHD will be filled with jolly laughter and the sight of Santa hats during Santa’s South Street Stumble. Participants pay $5.00 for a special SSHD Santa hat that entitles them to holiday beer and cocktail specials at 13 participating bars and restaurants. Both events are rain or shine. For more information, visit southstreet.com, call (215) 413-3713 or follow @officialsouthst on Twitter.

December 04, 2013

Join us! Aversa PR Holiday Open House + East Passyunk Tree Lighting After Party

December 04, 2013/ Kory Aversa

Aversa PR Holiday Party, East Passyunk Tree LIghting

Get ready to rock your way around the Avenue! On Thursday, December 5th, join us for one of Philadelphia's biggest tree lighting parties followed by our first-ever Aversa PR Holiday Open House/ After Party. Don't miss the festive fun!

Start the party early, from 5-7pm, with the Tree Lighting Party + Deck the Halls Kick-Off at the Singing Fountain on East Passyunk Avenue (at EPA + Tasker Streets). Enjoy holiday music, sweet treats, free food/drink samples, visit from Santa + the lighting of the magnificant tree ABOVE the historic, world-famous Singing Fountain.

After the ceremonies, from 7-9pm, come get your holly jolly on with us as we present our first Holiday Open House /After Party with lite bites, holiday spirits and more. Ms Goody Cupcake truck will have free cupcake minis, The Tot Cart will serve tots and beer cheese and Sum Pig Food Truck will offer sliders, stews and more (all at big discount). Noir Restaurant will offer pasta and rice balls (yum), Bitar's will have new flavored hummus and Middle Eastern platters, candy displays, sweets and treats, more!

The party is free but we're hosting an optional holiday drive for two great organizations. Bring school supplies to support City Year's work in the Philadelphia schools. Donations will go to several classrooms in need of supplies for the second half of the school year. We will also collect toileties, gift sets, toys, etc. for Bianca's Kids to help foster children. Small gift cards are also welcome for Staples, Wal-mart, etc.

December 02, 2013

Media Alert: Former Governor Ed Rendell Honored at FIGHT for Life Gala

December 02, 2013/ Kory Aversa

This Wednesday, Philadelphia FIGHT honors former Governor Ed Rendell at the FIGHT for Life Gala, to be held at the Union League of Philadelphia. The gala supports the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS service organization in the city – and raises funds to support FIGHT’s HIV medical care at the Jonathan Lax Treatment Center. Public support for this year's gala has been tremendous, with attendance projected to DOUBLE last year’s event. Media information - click below.

December 02, 2013

South Street Headhouse District Hosts Winter Wonderland with Tree Lighting, Window Competition and PHAIR Market

December 02, 2013/ Kory Aversa

South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) presents their annual extravaganza Winter Wonderland on Sunday, December 8, 2013, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Historic Headhouse Square Shambles on 2nd Street, 200 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 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 a holiday shopping market organized by PHAIR. Before or after the festivities, stroll the district and check out holiday displays at 31 businesses competing in the Window Wonderland Storefront Challenge. Winners will be announced during the tree lighting ceremony. Winter Wonderland is free and open to the public. For more information, visit southstreet.com or call (215) 413-3713. During the event, follow along on Twitter at @officialsouthst #WW2013.

November 27, 2013

East Passyunk Rocks Around the Christmas Tree with Tree Lighting Party at the Singing Fountain

November 27, 2013/ Kory Aversa

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 5, 2013, 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, holiday cupcakes for sale from Ms Goody Cupcake truck. Free food and drink samples will be provided by Belle Cakery, Black n Brew, Noord, Stateside and other restaurants to be announced. At 7:00pm, revelers are invited to the first Deck the Ave kick-off with free candy canes and treats at the shops, 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 and bars will offer dinner and drink specials, including Noord’s Chef Joncarl Lachman preparing Kabritu Stoba (whole braised goat).

November 26, 2013

Ray's Happy Birthday Bar Celebrates 75th Anniversary

November 26, 2013/ Kory Aversa

Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar, 1200 East Passyunk Avenue, celebrates 75 years of birthday wishes, cheap drinks, familiar faces and jokes of the day. Ray’s, celebrated as one of America’s top dive bars, will host its 75th Anniversary Party on Sunday, December 1, 2013, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Turn back the clock to the late 1930s, where you can celebrate the end of Prohibition, gas at ten cents a gallon, and Ella Fitzgerald serving up "A Tisket A Tasket." Owners Lou and Rose Capozolli will offer drinks at “throw back” 1938 prices (SELECT drafts, whiskeys, more). Lite up your free pack of (candy) cigs as you say hubba-hubba to our Ray’s authentic cigarette girl. Get flapping to live music and jukebox sing-a-longs. Blow out the candles on our special anniversary cake. Chow down on candy and snacks inspired by and originating from 1938. Dress in 30s costume for a chance to win best dressed.

November 23, 2013

Message from CEO: Philadelphia FIGHT Celebrates 20+ Years of Saving Lives

November 23, 2013/ Kory Aversa

Philadelphia Fight for Life Gala Honoring Governor Ed Rendell

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This year, I'm proud to serve for the first time on the host committee for the Philadelphia FIGHT's 2013 FIGHT for Life Gala. On Wednesday, December 4, 2013 we celebrate over 20 years of the FIGHT to save lives and to honor Governor Ed Rendell. I invite you to join me at the Union League and help support FIGHT's important work.

Why is this important?
Not familiar with FIGHT?
Why should you give with all the great causes out there?
Why give NOW?

Good questions! While there are many life-saving and important causes in the city (including many I support), why I signed on is because FIGHT is quietly working behind the scenes, but is in fact the most comprehensive LARGEST HIV/AIDS service organization in our city. It serves ALL Philadelphians, gay, straight, questioning, black, white, latino, homeless, etc. While this is what first got me interested, what sealed the deal my visit to one of their very unique pilot programs, the Youth Health Empowerment Project "Empowerment Center." Homeless youth and young adults can access prevention services and support, take workshops, take showers, have a safe space during the day (and even some night/weekend hours), participate in activities, enjoy two stable and solid meals a day, get tokens, clothes - or simply relax in a safe space away from the rest of the world. I hope to host a free "friend" tour of this amazing space next year!

The other development that shows how FIGHT serves our community is the announcement of a Spanish-speaking HIV clinic to open on Dec. 11 at the North Philadelphia Prevention Point space. FIGHT is proud to open this new facility that is a first of its kind in the city. This hit the news on Thursday and is a top reason to support and give NOW! (For more about this, visit G Philly, WHYY Newsworks and Al Dia.)

FIGHT's other services include the AIDS Library, Project TEACH, Critical Path Project, HIV counseling and testing, computer labs and the Jonathan Lax Center. In the spring, I hope to host some friends on a tour of their facilities, including a stop in the Y-HEP Empowerment Center and the AIDS Library.

While I host many (MANY!) events during the year nearly all of them are free or very inexpensive. FIGHT is one of our hand-picked charities (besides City of Hope) - and this is one of the few times a year we ask you to give and donate out of your own pocket.

Please consider joining us at the event or consider a donation of any size. Auction items are also welcome!

For tickets, click here, call 215.525.0372 or email mmarsico@fight.org. If you want to hear more about FIGHT or take a sooner vs. later tour of FIGHT please let me know!

Thank you for considering, and we hope to eat, drink and BID on great auction items with you on December 4th. Happy Thanksgiving if I don't see you beforehand!

Best, Kory Aversa
CEO/ Aversa PR & Events

November 22, 2013

Spirits and Suds Bar Crawl with Santa Jingles into 14 East Passyunk Restaurants and Bars

November 22, 2013/ Kory Aversa

Forget the cookies and milk! This year, St. Nick is getting his holly jolly on with seasonal craft beer and merry cocktails during “Spirits & Suds with Santa Bar Crawl,” on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Enjoy $3 seasonal craft beers, $4 merry cocktails and $5 discounted snacks (select locations) at 14 award-winning bars and restaurants along East Passyunk Avenue. Five dollar admission also includes a Santa or Elf hat, and a Santa’s Sipping Stamp Card. Collect five or more stamps to be entered to win a gift certificate prize package worth $350.00. Registration will be held at South Philly Bar & Grill (9th and Wharton) from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Stamp cards will be collected at Noir (1909 EPA) at 9:30pm. Advance tickets are on sale now for only $5.00 at www.visiteastpassyunk.com. All proceeds will benefit local needy families this holiday season through East Passyunk Crossing's holiday giving program.

November 21, 2013

Workout for a Cause at Sweat During Fitness for Hope

November 21, 2013/ Kory Aversa

With the holiday season approaching, give yourself the gift of health and goodwill by stopping by Sweat Fitness this Sunday for 14th Annual Fitness for Hope. On Sunday, November 24, 2013, from 10:00am to 1:00pm, at the Queen Village Location (700 Passyunk Avenue), Sweat's best trainers will offer four special donation classes in spinning, wonder track, boxing and personal training. On top of getting your workout on, enter to win a raffle for a Breakaway Bike. Additionally, Santa can check off all the items on his gift list by purchasing a commemorative t-shirt, or winning some items in the silent auction. Donations of any size are accepted for this special event. Raise or donate $50 or more, and receive a gym bag valued at $50. Donation ribbons are also available to write the name of a loved one you want to remember or honor. For more information, visit www.sweatfitness.com or www.cityofhope.org, or call 215-627-5600.

November 20, 2013

Be Merry (And Gay) On East Passyunk Avenue At Holiday QOTA LGBT Party

November 20, 2013/ Kory Aversa

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District invites you to come out for a merry and gay ole time at November's edition of the roving Queers on the Avenue (QOTA) party. QOTA Among the Trees takes over Urban Jungle (1526 East Passyunk Avenue) tomorrow night, on Thursday November 21, 2013, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Enjoy festive fun as you prance, mix and mingle among the spectacular holiday tree displays, still-green plants and festive decorations. Complimentary lite fare and drinks will include Pinnacle Vodka cocktails in fall flavors, Bai cocktails, beer, wine and samples of MANNA's Thanksgiving pies. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Please remember to dress warmly, as Urban Jungle will be selling x-mas trees and the front door will be open! Come out for a merry and gay ole time. For more information visit Facebook, Twitter or EPA's website.