November 04, 2016

Christmas Village Returns To Baltimore's Inner Harbor For 2016 Holiday Season

November 04, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Baltimore, MD -- Christmas Village in Baltimore will again transform West Shore Park (501 Light Street) into a traditional, indoor and outdoor German Christmas Market, open between Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 and Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2016. The Inner Harbor is invited to enjoy Holiday sights and sounds with thousands of twinkling lights, two Christmas Trees, live music at the main indoor stage presented by Condor, entertainment, children’s activities and more than 50 vendors. Shop for high-quality, international and local gifts and decorations. Warm up with a glass of warm mulled wine or hot chocolate while enjoying the great variety of European food and drinks. New additions for the season will include photos with Santa Claus, arts and crafts classes, kidsFriday programming and other surprises to be announced.

October 26, 2016

Universoul Circus Set To Electrify In 20th Season In Philadelphia November 3-27, 2016

October 26, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

UniverSoul Circus announces its return to Philadelphia for its 20th anniversary season in Fairmount Park (next to Mann Center) with 47 grand shows from November 3-27, 2016. Philadelphia will serve as the ultimate finale and serve as UniverSoul’s final stop for their 2016 tour. A big top spectacle of global proportions, this milestone edition is ready to take fans of all ages on an unforgettable journey of light, sound and soul. Get ready for electrifying, edge-of-your-seat performances. Hailed as the most interactive circus in the world, UniverSoul Circus promises to be a show you will never forget. Tickets on sale now for $19 to $30 via Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

October 21, 2016

South Street Scares Up Family Fun During Pumpkinfest, Trick-Or-Treating And Halloween Movies Under The Shambles

October 21, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

South Street Headhouse District has plenty of tricks and treats for children and adults of all ages during the neighborhood’s annual Halloween festivities. On Saturday, October 29, 2016, from Noon extending into the evening, PumpkinFest returns to Headhouse Square (2nd and Lombard). From 12:00pm to 5:00pm, enjoy circus performances, magicians, horse and wagon hay rides, live music, shopping, seasonal bites, straw bale maze, pumpkin decorating, make and take crafts, face painting and new costume contests. Businesses will open their doors for trick or treaters (12 and under) from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. After hours, starting at 6:00pm, the little ghosts and goblins are invited for some fright night family fun with Halloween Movies under the Shambles with a showing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “Beetlejuice.” The frightfully fun day concludes with a special grown-up interactive late night showing of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" starting at 9pm hosted by DJ Robert Drake.

October 19, 2016

Inis Nua Theatre Company Partners With Drexel For Revival Of Dublin By Lamplight

October 19, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Inis Nua Theatre Company will team up with Drexel University’s Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) to present a revival of Dublin by Lamplight by Michael West. Inis Nua’s breakout hit from 2011 will be remounted with some familiar names, a grand two-level stage, and the talents of co-op students working side-by-side with the professional actors. Using commedia dell’arte make-up stylings and Storytellers theatre, the cast of six will portray 40 different characters in the fast-paced tale about the launch of the Irish National Theatre. Dublin by Lamplight runs November 9 to 20th at Drexel’s Mandell Theater (3201 Chestnut Street).

October 12, 2016

Inis Nua Theatre Company Presents Philadelphia Premiere Of Radiant Vermin By Philip Ridley

October 12, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Inis Nua Theatre Company opens their 2016-2017 season at the Louis Bluver Theater at The Drake (302 South Hicks Street) with Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley, with previews starting October 19 and opening set for October 21. From England, this Philadelphia premiere mixes “be careful what you wish for” with a strong dose of unnervingly wicked humor.

October 12, 2016

Valley Forge Casino Resort Announces Grand Opening of Revolution Chop House

October 12, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 First Avenue) announces the opening of Revolution Chop House on Friday, October 14, 2016. Chef Les Bender will debut a menu focusing on classic and big cuts of steak, chops and seafood, with classic steakhouse appetizers, salads, soups, sides and desserts. Revolution Chop House's menu will also feature a revolving menu section where Chef and his culinary team will spotlight seasonal and innovative preparations and showcase use of seasonal and specialized local ingredients. The full service bar will feature specialty cocktails with revolving seasonal flavors that also pay homage to the revolutionary history of the Valley Forge region. The 4,400-square-foot space will seat up to 244 people in the main dining room, two private dining rooms, main bar and lounge area.

October 06, 2016

Food and Drink Guide to Old City Fest on Sunday, October 9, 2016

October 06, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Old City District presents Old City Fest on Sunday, October 9, 2016, from 11:00am to 6:00pm, along N. 3rd Street (from Market to Race) and Arch Street (from 2nd to 4th). Thirty restaurants, coffee shops, bars and other eateries will serve food and drink out on the streets of Old City in the festival footprint. New restaurants to the fest include The Little Lion Amada, Keating’s Rope & Anchor Bar + Kitchen, Wister BYOB, The Olde Bar and La Famiglia. Returning favorites include Buddakan, Continental, Franklin Fountain, High Street on Market, Positano Coast and others. Outside of food and drink, look for live music, two runway fashion shows, a family fun zone, pop-up street performances and a wide array of art, craft and retail shopping, with 100+ Old City vendors participating.

September 13, 2016

Comedians Tracy Morgan and Carlos Mencia to Perform at Valley Forge Music Fair

September 13, 2016/ Kory Aversa

Valley Forge Casino Resort (1160 First Avenue) kicks off their fall line-up with two of the biggest names in comedy, Tracy Morgan and Carlos Mencia. Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alumn Morgan will bring his Picking Up the Pieces Tour to VF’s Event Center on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at 9:00pm. Comedy Central’s ‘Mind of Mencia’ creator Mencia brings his C 4 Urself Tour on Friday, November 18, 2016, to VF’s Venue on Friday, November 18, 2016, at 8:00pm. Both comedians will perform as part of the revival of the 40+ year tradition of Valley Forge Music Fair, that brings top music, comedy and entertainment to the King of Prussia and Philadelphia region. Tickets for both shows are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

September 06, 2016

Les Dames D’escoffier To Honor Culinary Pioneer Esther McManus At Harvest Dinner

September 06, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Les Dames d’Escoffier will honor Philadelphia culinary pioneer Chef Esther McManus on Sunday, September 25th at Outstanding in Her Field, a new annual event to recognize talented women making a difference in the region’s culinary field. The locally sourced harvest farm dinner will be set amidst the vines of Inn of Grace Winery (50 Sweetwater Road, Glen Mills) and paired with its fine wines and will celebrate McManus’ artistry and legacy. McManus is a quiet and behind-the-scenes rockstar in the culinary world - she taught Julia Child how to make the perfect croissant, is considered by many to be the mother of Philly’s artisan bread movement, and currently inspires legions of young cooks at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill. Funds raised from the event will help fund scholarships for women entering the culinary field. Tickets are on sale now starting at $125 at http://bit.ly/tixlesdamesphl

September 02, 2016

Azuka Theatre Launches Pay-What-You-Decide Ticket Model For 2016-2017 Theater Season

September 02, 2016/ Karianna Simpkins

Azuka Theatre invites audiences to pay-what-you-decide for the entire 2016-2017 theater season with an innovative new approach to ticketing. A city that celebrates so many historic “firsts” is the perfect place to launch the only full-season model of this kind in the United States. Audience members will make a reservation for a show, see the production first and then pay what they decide based on the value of the experience. Pay-what-you-decide is designed to bring in new audiences and remove financial barriers to theater. The program is supported by a $55,000 grant from The Barra Foundation. Shows in the new season will include the world premieres of Sh_theads by Douglas Williams and The Arsonists by Jacqueline Goldfinger, as well as the Philadelphia premiere of How We Got On by Idris Goodwin. All performances will take place in Azuka’s resident theater complex at The Drake (302 S. Hicks Street). For more information, visit www.azukatheatre.org or by phone at (215) 563-1100.