Save the Date: South Street Spring Festival Kicks Off Philadelphia Festival Season with All-Day, All Ages, Free Party on Sat, May 2, 2015

South Street kicks off Philly's summer festival season with a free, all-day, all ages block party on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 11:00am to 8:00pm. Festivities will take over South Street between Front and 8th, plus continue onto 2nd Street Plaza.

Over 30 restaurants and bars will serve food and drink outside on the street.  The district will come alive with music and entertainment from three stages and eight additional street locations. Children of all ages will enjoy free family fun in the Kids Zone. Over forty artists and retailers will cater to your shopping needs. In conjunction with the Festival, Brauhaus Schmitz will host the 3rd annual German Maifest with German beers, dancers, music, food and the city’s largest Maypole.

South Street Spring Festival is FREE and open to the public. Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. 21 and up with identification to drink. Rain or shine. For the full schedule, visit www.southstreet.com, call 215-413-3713 and follow @officialsouthst #SouthStFest on Twitter.

Diner en Blanc Philadelphia Hosts French-Inspired New Year's Eve Party at Down Town Club

Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia co-hosts Natanya DiBona and Kayli Moran have partnered with Cescaphe Event Group to throw a French-inspired New Year’s Eve Party at the Down Town Club this Wednesday evening, December 31, 2014.  The Historic Down Town Club (Public Ledger Building at 6th and Chestnut streets) will be transformed into a beautiful evening in Paris with three themed rooms from Hôtel Costes in the Place Vendôme to Moulin Rouge and Versailles. Live music and entertainment, specialty French cocktails, and top shelf open bar will be available all night. General admission from 10:00pm to 2:00am is $145.00 per person. VIP experience tickets cost $200.00 per person and a special VIP cocktail party at 9:00pm plus a phase one registration to 2015 Diner en Blanc Philadelphia (ticket registration still required). Complimentary valet parking included. Tickets are on sale at www.philadelphianyeparty.com. 

DiBona and Moran are combining their passion for planning unique events with the culinary and hospitality expertise of the Cescaphe Event Group to provide a delightfully Parisian New Year’s Eve experience.  “We know how much Dîner en Blanc guests love the event’s French heritage, so we decided to expand on that really have fun with the theme”, said DiBona. Cescaphe's signature food stations will offer a culinary tour of France in each space, featuring such classic dishes as Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourguignon, Ratatouille, Bouillabaisse and much more.

As with Diner en Blanc, the co-hosts are working with Mole Street to provide the entertainment for the evening which includes New York’s La Vie en Rose and two European-trained DJ’s: DJ Sabeel Chohan (who performed at the inaugural Dîner en Blanc in DC this past September) and DJ Sean Smoove.  Edith Piaf will also make an appearance with members of The Bearded Ladies cabaret.  The Professional Dance Ensemble from Philadelphia Dance Academy will also be performing and fashion illustrator Denise Fike will be sketching guests.  There will be a midnight toast and the Down Town Club’s floor-to-ceiling windows will offer spectacular views of the fireworks on the Delaware River.

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale at www.philadelphianyeparty.com. General admission from 10:00pm to 2:00am is $145.00 per person. VIP experience starting at 9:00pm is $200.00 per person and includes a phase one registration to 2015 Diner en Blanc Philadelphia (ticket registration still required). Complimentary valet parking included.

VIP EXPERIENCE 

Guests may start New Year's Eve at the Down Town Club an hour early! A very special VIP reception will be held from 9:00pm to 10:00pm that includes a tasting of grower champagne, curated by local wine expert Brian Freedman, paired with a pre-party menu from CEG Executive Chef Eric Hall that includes: American Caviar, Crème Fraiche, Golden Potato Blini; House Cured Duck, Mango Compote, Black Pepper Crisp; Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Potato Gaufrette; Seared Diver Scallop with Parsnip Crème, Benton’s Bacon; and Roast Chiogga Beet, Chevre, Apple Chip; and Seared Foie Gras, Sweet Potato and Black Currant Gastrique. Live music, engraved tasting glass and valet parking included. All VIP ticket holders will receive phase one invitations to next year’s DEB (ticket purchase required). Space is limited.

FULL MENU 

** Les Fromages & Charcuterie
An array of French cheeses and charcuterie; Baked Brie de Meaux en Croute with fresh Raspberry filling, Boucheron, Roquefort, Cow Affinois, P’tit Basque, and St. Andre.  Pate de Campagne, Garlic Sauccisons, Smoked Duck Breast, Vegetable Pate, Herbes de Provence Salami.  Accompanied with fig jam, orange marmalade, port wine preserves, Marcona almonds, pistachios, honeycomb, and dried fruits.

** Fruit de Mers
Chilled Shrimp, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Crab Claws, and Canadian Lobster; Freshly shucked Oysters and Clams; Alaskan King Crab Legs and Cold water Lobster tails;  accompanied with horseradish, cocktail sauce, shallot mignonette, and lemon.

** Les Poissons
Chef Carved Salmon en Croute with sauce aux fines herbs, garlic aioli; Griddle Seared “Loup de Mer”, Mediterranean Sea bass with caper and herb olive oil, “Truite Amandine”, crisp Trout fillet with Almond Sauce.  Escargots, sautéed to order in Pernod Butter, served in a pastry shell. Accompanied by Saffron Pilaf, Haricot Verte with red peppers.

** Salades Composées
Salade Niçoise – composed salad of Mesclun greens, Seared Tuna, Haricot Verte, Egg, Tomato, Fingerling Potato, and Lemon Anchovy Vinaigrette, served in a mini martini glass.
Salade Betteraves - Roasted Beets over greens with candied Walnuts, Crumbled Goat Cheese, Pickled Shallot and Aged Sherry Vinaigrette, served in a mini martini glass.

** Les Classiques
Carved Meats:
Carre d’ Agneau Rôti a la Provençale -  Chef Carved Provençale style Rack of Lamb with minted Tomato Coulis;  
Herb Roasted Tenderloin of Beef with Roast Garlic-Horseradish Aioli and Mushroom Demi-glace;   served accompanied with Artisan French rolls
Coq au Vin – Roasted Chicken with bacon, Pearl onion, in a Red Wine Sauce;  
Boeuf Bourguignon – Slow Cooked Short Rib with Root Vegetables, Burgundy Wine.
Bouillabaisse – Traditional Fisherman’s Stew with Scallops, Monkfish, and Shrimp in a Fennel laced Tomato broth, served in a pastry shell
Pommes “Dauphinoise” - Classic garlic and onion flavored scalloped potatoes.
Ratatouille – Provençale dish of slow cooked eggplant, zucchini, tomato and peppers.

** Soupe et un Sandwich
Mini Grilled Brie and Brioche
Mini Croque Monsieur with Sauce Mornay

Served with shooter glasses of:
Fall Spiced Butternut Squash Bisque
Lobster Bisque
Tomato Basil Bisque

** Les Desserts
Fondue au Chocolat – Bittersweet Chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake, lady fingers, apples, and marshmallows
Butlered French Miniatures – A variety of miniatures including Palmiers, Chocolat Pots du Crème, Tarte Tatin, Eclairs, Truffles, Berry Financier, Mille Feuille, and Macrons
Crouquembouche – classic French dessert tower of profiteroles bound with spun caramel.
Crème Brulee – miniature Vanilla Crème Brule, topped with a burnt sugar crust.

** French Signature Martini
Midnight in Paris: AbsolutPear Vodka, Domain DeCanton Ginger Liquor Simple Syrup, Fresh lemon juice

ABOUT DINER EN BLANC PHILADELPHIA

Diner en Blanc Philadelphia is an annual outdoor pop-up dining experience that celebrates community, friendship, public space and "dinner as an artform." It has been held annually since 2012 in such beautiful spaces as Logan Circle, the JFK Bridge over the Schuylkill River and the Avenue of the Arts.   Diner en Blanc Philadelphia will return for its fourth year in the summer of 2015.  For more information, please visit http://philadelphia.dinerenblanc.info or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DinerEnBlanc.Philadelphia.

ABOUT CESCAPHE EVENT GROUP

Cescaphe Event Group orchestrates over 600 weddings per year at five distinctive Philadelphia locations, including Cescaphe Ballroom, Tendenza, Vie, The Atrium at The Curtis Center and The Down Town Club. Learn more about Cescaphe Event Group by visiting http://www.cescaphe.com.

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.