Snow Day Philadelphia Specials Sassafras: Four New Reasons to Day Drink #OpeninPHL

The fine gents at Sassafras Bar (48 S. 2nd Street, Old City) are giving you four extra reasons to day-drink during tomorrow’s winter storm.  Sassafras will be open in Philly during the storm!

Stop by starting at 11:30am to preview four new hand-crafted cocktails created by lead mixologist Neill Laughlin.  Mascot John Deer will be dressed in his Valentine’s finest to preside over the shenanigans!   Cocktails will continue to pour for Valentine’s Weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Snow Day and Valentine’s Specials:

• Lavender Champagne -- Dried lavender will be transformed into a simple syrup, mixed with champagne, and served with a sprig of lavender.  $6.00 Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Chocolate Orange Dream Cocktail -- Stoli Orange and Godiva Dark Chocolate are topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. &nbsp;$7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday</span><br></span>
• Rainbow of Love Cocktail – Dry Gin, Cointreau, chilled pineapple, orange juice and grapefruit are topped off with champagne and a strawberry. $7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday
• Winter Love – Malibu Coconut Rum, White Crème de Cacao and Kahlua are topped with warmed whipped cream and chocolate shavings. $7.00 Snow Day Special on Thursday, $9.00 Friday and Saturday

In addition to the above special cocktails, Sassafras will be serving up Sassafras signature Smoking Bishops (featuring slow cooked burgundy wine with nutmeg, grapefruit studded closes, cinnamon, vanilla bean, anise, whole spice, oranges and a few secret ingredients) and items from the newly launched lunch menu. Comfort food classics popular on recent snow days have included:

• Grilled cheese and tomato soup combo (Homemade creamy tomato soup paired with a sharp cheddar, grilled  onion and apricot jam on toasted kaiser bun)
• Beer battered fish and chips with house-made tartar and malt vinegar
• Burgers (sirloin, ostrich, bison, veggie) with lettuce, tomato and onion (add on Gruyere&nbsp;cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon and caramelized onions)

For more information, visit www.sassafrasbar.com or call (215) 925-2317.  For additional updates, please like Sassafras atwww.facebook.com/sassafrasbar.  

East Passyunk Hosts Top Chef Finale Tweeting Party for Chef Nicholas Elmi from Laurel

Photo courtesy of Bravo 

Show your ‘Passyunk Pride’ during tonight’s season finale of Top Chef Season 11 featuring Chef Nicholas Elmi from newly opened Laurel (1617 EPA). From 9:00pm to 11:30pm (showtime 10:00pm), East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) will host a Twitter party. Stay in during the cold and ice, and join the fun by including @epassyunkave and #passyunk4elmi in your tweets. One Tweeter will win two tickets to sample Laurel’s delicious cuisine during Chef Elmi’s debut at Flavors of the Avenue on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Chef Elmi will be joined by over 20 of his East Passyunk’s colleagues by serving up signature dishes at  South Philadelphia’s largest outdoor food and drink festival. Make sure to save the date for this event that sold out in 2013. Stay tuned for big surprises coming for 2014. Two alternative winners will receive a free limited edition, locally made East Passyunk tote bag. 

Whether you're on Twitter or not, make sure to tune into Bravo at 10:00pm to watch live as we surely won't be able to contain the spoilers on this one! 

Flavors of the Avenue Announced for Saturday April 26, 2014

Want even more from our nationally-loved East Passyunk stars? Visit and interact with our newly launched Pinterest board featuring Chef Elmi, the Super Bowl Gecko, Alicia DiMichele (Addiction Boutique) from this season of VH1 Mob Wives and more.

For more about Chef Elmi and Laurel follow @nicholaselmi @laurelepx on Twitter and visit www.restaurantlaurel.com. For More info about Flavors of the Avenue, visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com or call 215-336-1455.

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

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.