South Street Headhouse District Resurrects Philadelphia's Day of the Dead Festival and Parade

South Street Headhouse District announces the resurrection of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Festival and Parade, on Sunday, November 2, 2014.  After a twelve year hiatus, this popular celebration returns to honor departed loved ones while celebrating the circle of life. The unique procession will feature spectacular giant puppets, dancing skeletons, traditional Mexican music, strolling costumed spirits, Frida Kahlo look-alikes and a funeral hearse.  The parade route begins at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (1020 South Street) starting at 1:45pm and ends on the 400 block with food, drink, art and family fun from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. The parade and street festival are free, with food and drink pay-as-you-go. For more information, visit www.southstreet.com, follow @officialsouthst on Twitter or call (215) 413-3713.

“After all these years, we are proud to bring this beloved festival and parade back to Philadelphia,” said Executive Director Michael Harris. “It will be a day to celebrate those we have lost, contemplate our existence and reaffirm our ties with our ancestors.”

Children and adults are encouraged to come in costume and share food, art, music and fun with their extended community, both living and dead.  Starting at 1:30pm, participants can gather at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. While waiting pay homage to deceased family members and friends by writing a chalk message in front of the specially created “ofrenda,” or altar offering up gifts to the dead. The parade kicks off at 1:45pm and feature spectacular giant puppets, dancing skeletons, traditional Mexican music, strolling costumed spirits, Frida Kahlo look-alikes and a funeral hearse (provided courtesy of McGuinness Funeral Home).

Once the procession hits the 400 block, the festival comes to life with music, song and performances from the following:

• * Mariachi Pedro Villaseñor (1:45pm to 2:30pm)
• * Los Straitjackets (2:45pm to 3:30pm)
• * Fuego Nuevo (3:30pm)
• * Tonantzin Coatlicue (3:45pm to 4:15pm)
• * Grupo de Danza Nuevo Mexico (4:30pm to 5:00pm)
• * Grupo Cenzontle (5:15pm to 5:45pm)
• * Ensemble de Folklore de la Escuela de Música del Estado de Hidalgo (6:00pm to 7:00pm)

The world’s number one instrumental combo, Los Straitjackets, will perform a special preview prior to their show at World Café Live that night where they will perform with the legendary Deke Dickerson in promotion of their new album Los Straitjackets: Deke Dickerson Sings the Instrumental Hits. For tickets and more information, visit tickets.worldcafelive.com

Additionally, participants can enjoy face painting, art demonstrations with Joel Garcia from the Eyes Gallery, Frido Kahlo look-alike contest hosted by the Eyes Gallery, skull tile making, and food and drink from Baron Von Schwein, Copabanana, Farm Truck, Las Bugambilias,Tuk Tuk Real and Woolly Mammoth.  All festival activities will take place on the 400 block, which will be closed to traffic.

Leading up to the Day of the Dead, stop by the Headhouse Square Fountain this week to visit an ofrenda hosted by Brujo de la Mancha (artist, musician, and traditional Aztec dancer). This altar will serve as a place for the community to place objects to honor their loved ones and will include a set of pre-Columbian sculptures provided by Nazbalam, Cascada del Jaguar.

The Day of the Dead Festival and Parade is presented by South Street Headhouse District with support from the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia, the Mexican Cultural Center, and in part by grant funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Art Challenge.  Guidance is being provided by original organizers, Isaiah and Julia Zagar of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens and Eyes Galley, and Bill Curry of Copabanana.  

All activities are free and open to the public. Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Beer and cocktails are available for those 21 and up, with valid identification.

For schedule updates and additional activities, visit www.southstreet.com, follow @officialsouthst on Twitter or call (215) 413-3713.

Come Hungry! Mt. Airy Street Fare Announces Full List of Food Trucks and Restaurants for Fall's Hottest Festival

Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll brings tasty bites and beverages back to Mt. Airy on Thursday, September 18, 2014, from 6:00pm to 10:30pm.  Sip and savor gourmet eats and drinks from 50+ of the region’s best gourmet food trucks and local restaurants stationed along Germantown Avenue, between Sedgwick and W. Mt. Airy Avenue. Stroll the Avenue for family fun, live music and handmade crafts. Street Fare is organized by Mt. Airy USA and annually attracts over 11,000 people.  For event updates, visit gomtairy.com, call 215-844-6021, follow @gomtairy on Twitter and like “Go Mt. Airy” on Facebook.

Street Fare will pair award-winning mobile food vendors with notable local restaurants for a night of street eats, craft brews, handcrafted cocktails and wine. Vending spaces for this year sold out in record time. The full list of food and drink vendors is below: 

Bonjour Creperie
Sweet and savory French crepes

Braz BQ
Brazilian barbecue

Calle Del Sabor
Voted Philly's Best Tacos 

Cantina Avenida
Grilled chorizo with guacamole and latin cole slaw on a soft roll

Cupcake Carnivale
Gourmet cupcakes

Curbside Creamery
Ice cream, waffle cones, waffle bowls and ice cream cookie sandwiches

Earth Bread + Brewery
Craft-brewed beers
 
Farm Truck Philly
Farm to table style, seasonally inspired street food. Eclectic menu and accomodates gulten free, vegan, vegetarian

Festival Food Management
Chicken tenders, french fries, funnel cake, lemonade and other beverages

Foolish Waffles
Sweet and savory made-to-order gourmet waffles 

Gigi & Big R
Caribbean Soul Food with jerk chicken, fried chicken, fried fish, oxtail- fresh veggies, greens, cabbage, string beans, red beans, mac n' cheese and candied yams.

Herb Scott Catering
North Carolina pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches

Jimmies Cupcake Company
Artisan cupcakes

Just Jackie's Food Truck
Chef Jacqueline Borelli has competed on Food Networks show Rewrapped. She specializes in using the freshest local ingredients in all of her homemade dishes. Pork Tacos, quesadillas, chicken feta sandwich, seafood burger, beet salad, brie burger melt, smoked brisket BBQ sandwich.

Jyoti
Authentic Indian cuisine

Ka'Chi
Korean with a twist including Korean tacos with bulgogi, michi rice balls, chicken banh mi style sandwich, and rice bowls with self-serve homemade sauces

Kami
Traditional Korean BBQ flavors from scratch with special American twist including Korean Tacos, Korean Cheesesteaks and Bulgogi Burgers

Lil' Pop Shop
Ice-cream and non-dairy popsicles

Mac Mart Cart
Mac n' cheese with gourmet toppings

Mama's Meatballs
Gourmet meatballs

Milk + Sugar
Fresh-baked and made from scratch sweets.

MomMoms 
Polish cuisine with a modern twist 

MomPops
All-natural popsicles

Mucho Bueno
BBQ with a Mexican flare

Nick Merlino Pig Roast
Pork roast (porchetta) sandwiches using Old Italian family recipe, served on homemade foaccacia bread with provolone cheese, broccoli rabe, and long hot peppers

Oink and Moo BBQ
House rubbed and smoked meats using locally sourced ingrediants

Payne Catering
Chicken wings, fried fish, corn on the cob, funnel cake and fried oreos

PB and U 
Homemade all-natural peanut butter creations, including sandwiches, roasted peanuts, peanut butter snacks, shakes, and smoothies

Pbon Phresh Food
Crab cakes, egg sandwiches, sausage grillers, nauti skewers and smores

Phoebes on Wheels
BBQ pulled prok, beef brisket and all the sides

PJ Whelian's
Chicken wings, burgers and fries

Quality Cafe
Middle-Eastern inspired food including chicken or lamb over rice, falafel, chicken or lamb gyro, cheesesteak, french fries, burgers, and drinks

Samosa Deb
Samosa chicken tikka, mango lassi, Thai iced tea, pakora

Scratch Biscuits
American comfort food

Sugar Philly
Specialty macarons and desserts

Sum Pig Food Truck
Gourmet comfort food with buffalo chicken nachos, smoked chicken parfait and pork roll fries

Surf and Turf
Specialty lobster rolls

Sweet Box Cupcakes
Artisan cupcakes

Taco Mondo
Specialty tacos and empanadas

The Cow and the Curd
Fried Wisconsin cheese curds

The Grill Cheese
Vegetarian all grilled cheese sandwiches 

The Hot Diggity
Designer hot dogs including the Kimchi dog, Big Dog with different salsa, a chorizo chili dog and assorted house made chips

The Tot Cart
Gourmet tater tots; gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available

The Whirly Pig
Roasted whole hog, Cubans, BLTs, Pork Belly, pork cheesesteak and a roast duck sandwich with cheese fries

Trolley Car Diner
Hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, chips, and beer.

Undrgrnd Donuts
Fresh, made-to-order gourmet donuts

Vernalicious
Eclectic, seasonal comfort food

Weckerly's Ice Cream
Ice cream flavors will be a mix of late summer ingredients and fresh, autumn flavors

Wonderland Cakes
Rustic individual crostatas (walnut, pear, goat cheese), gourmet bread pudding (warm bourbon brown sugar with pecans), artisan ice pops (in seasonal fruit flavors and fun flavors like milk and cereal) and cake balls

Zsa's Gourmet Ice Cream
Seasonally flavored small batch ice cream, sorbet, and ice cream sandwiches that feature local ingredients including dairy from Trickling Springs creamery and house made inclusions & baked goods

FAMILY FUN AND LIVE MUSIC 

After enjoying eats and drinks, stroll along historic Germantown Avenue, shop from artisans with handmade crafts organized by Renaissance Craftables. Find a stunning new look inside the Smak Parlour Fashion Truck.  Enjoy fun for the whole family inside our Family Area, featuring locally designed temporary tattoos from Mt. Airy-based Kadillac Tattoo, hairstyles from Culture Hair Salon, plus other arts and crafts for the young ones. Entertainment will include live music on two stages from Akil Dasan, Deb Callahan Band, Johnny Showcase, Papo Gely and the Gin Canaries.

“Street Fare is not only a fabulous street festival, it’s a celebration of the continued revitalization of Germantown Avenue,” said Gupta. “Our local neighbors and businesses are excited to play host and the region better come hungry!”

For event updates and additional information about Street Fare, visit gomtairy.com, call 215-844-6021, follow @gomtairy #stfaremtairy on Twitter and like “Go Mt. Airy” on Facebook.

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.