October 22, 2015

South Street Headhouse District Presents New Halloween Tradition with South Street's PumpkinFest on October 31, 2015

October 22, 2015/ Kory Aversa

South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) presents a new fall festival with tricks and treats for adults and children of all ages. PumpkinFest takes over Second Street's Headhouse Plaza between Pine and South Streets, on Saturday, October 31, 2015, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Live music, shopping, seasonal bites and brews, football bungee challenge, straw bale maze, circus performances, horse and wagon hay rides, face painting and more. South Street businesses will open their doors for trick or treating (children 12 and under) from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. PumpkinFest is free, with food, drink and shopping pay-as-you-go. For more information, visit www.southstreet.com, follow @officialsouthst on Twitter or call (215) 413-3713.

October 13, 2015

Valley Forge Casino Resort Hosts Queen of Southern Cuisine Paula Deen as Part of Taste Philadelphia Festival

October 13, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Valley Forge Casino Resort will host Queen of Southern Cuisine Paula Deen for the 17th Annual Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits on October 16-18, 2015. Deen has lost over 40 pounds and will share her favorite recipes lightened up on stage for two demonstrations on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Recipes will come from her soon-to-be-released 15th cookbook, entitled Paula Deen Cuts the Fat. Deen joins over two dozen other top chefs from the region and country including Chef Nicholas Elmi (Top Chef) and Nicole Gaffney (Food Network Star). Deen’s demonstration is sponsored directly by Valley Forge Casino Resort. Tickets are on sale now at www.vfcasino.com.

October 05, 2015

Theatre Exile Presents World Premiere of RIZZO by Bruce Graham from October 15 to November 8, 2015

October 05, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Theatre Exile begins their 19th season by searching for the moral center with the world premiere of Rizzo, by award-winning playwright and South Philadelphia resident Bruce Graham. Based on “Rizzo: The Last Big Man in Big City America” by Sal Paolantonio (published by Camino Books, Inc.), Rizzo brings one of the most divisive figures in Philadelphia’s history to the stage October 15 through November 8, 2015 (opening night October 21) at Christ Church Neighborhood House (20 N American Street). Founding Artistic Director Joe Canuso will direct, with Barrymore Award-winning actor Scott Greer playing the role of Rizzo. Tickets are on sale now for $10.00 to $40.00 at www.theatreexile.org or by phone (215) 218-4022.

September 30, 2015

Old City Fest Celebrates Art and Design, Fashion and Food, Creativity and Culture on Sunday, October 11, 2015

September 30, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Old City District presents Old City Fest on Sunday, October 11, 2015, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, along N. 3rd Street (from Market to Race) and Arch Street (from 2nd to 4th). Activities will include a festival stage with live music, runway fashion show, design showcase installation, family fun zone, pop-up street performances and a wide array of food, beverages, art, craft and retail shopping, with 100+ Old City vendors participating. Admission is free, with food and drink pay-as-you-go. For more info, visit oldcitydistrict.org, tweet @oldcitydistrict or call (215) 592-7929. Old City Fest is produced by Old City District with support from major sponsors Xfinity, Mighty Engine, Kaiserman Company, Colonial Penn Life Insurance, More FM and Where Magazine, plus other sponsors and contributors.

September 24, 2015

Inis Nua Theatre Company Presents American Premiere of Hooked! by Gillian Grattan at Fergie's Pub

September 24, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Inis Nua Theatre Company celebrates the start of their 12th season by presenting Hooked! by Gillian Grattan, from October 7-25, 2015. A dark comedy perfect for the Halloween season, Hooked! brings us a pretty little village where nothing is what it seems. The gossip, secrets and scandals will have you cringing and laughing. Hooked, ensnared, trapped…trick or treat, anyone? The show begins previews on October 7, opens on October 9, and runs for 16 performances through October 25, 2015. Times vary by performance. Hooked! is a site-specific presentation. All shows are upstairs at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street. Tickets are on sale for $25 and $30 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting inisnuatheatre.org.

September 15, 2015

Mt. Airy USA Announces Must-Try Eats and Sips for Street Fare (Formerly Night Market) on Thursday, September 17, 2015

September 15, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Fifty food trucks and restaurants roll into Mt. Airy this Thursday night (September 17, 2015) for Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll from 6:00pm to 10:30pm. The annual fall festival will feature sweet, salty and savory plates, plus cold sips, on Germantown Avenue (between Sedgwick Street and W. Mt. Airy Avenue). Children and adults of all ages will enjoy free activities and entertainment, artisanal crafts, and live music from School of Rock, ReLive, Hennessey Bonfire, Bethlehem & Sad Patrick, Philly Bloco and The Band Sheep. Last year the event attracted 15,000+ hungry attendees, the largest audience ever. For event updates, visit gomtairy.com, call 215-844-6021, follow @gomtairy on Twitter and like “Go Mt. Airy” on Facebook.

September 10, 2015

50+ Food Trucks and Restaurants Return to Mt. Airy for Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll (Formerly Mt. Airy Night Market)

September 10, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Mt. Airy USA announces the return of Street Fare: Sip, Savor, Stroll on Thursday, September 17, 2015, from 6:00pm to 10:30pm. Fifty of the region’s top food trucks and local restaurants will present sweet, salty and savory plates, plus cold sips, on Germantown Avenue (between Sedgwick Street and W. Mt. Airy Avenue). Children and adults of all ages will enjoy free activities and entertainment, artisanal crafts, and live music from School of Rock, ReLive, Hennessey Bonfire, Bethlehem & Sad Patrick, Philly Bloco and The Band Sheep. Last year the event attracted 15,000+ hungry attendees, the largest audience ever. For event updates, visit gomtairy.com, call 215-844-6021, follow @gomtairy on Twitter and like “Go Mt. Airy” on Facebook.

September 02, 2015

Clean Air Council’s 10th Annual Greenfest Philly returns to South Street Headhouse District

September 02, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Clean Air Council’s 10th Annual Greenfest Philly returns to South Street Headhouse District (2nd and South Streets) on Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The tri-state region’s largest environmental festival is bigger than ever with live music, free demos, an outdoor beer garden, organic food and drinks, handmade and green shopping, MOM’s Organic Market Kids’ Corner, a twenty-five foot rock wall, and even edible bugs. Admission is free. Festival “Green Cards” are also on sale at www.greenfestphilly.org for $35 that includes food and drink discounts, a free t-shirt, and eco-friendly swag. For more information, visit the website, call 215-567-4004, and follow @greenfestphilly on Twitter.

August 28, 2015

Welcome Pope Francis to Philadelphia with Papal-inspired Apparel from Philly Phaithful #PopeinPhilly

August 28, 2015/ Kory Aversa

Philly Phaithful welcomes Pope Francis with the release of the new “Philavatican” shirt as part of The Philadelphia Experience collection. The playful tribute to his holiness proclaims, “I turned water ice into wine at the Philavatican 2015.” Other new city-inspired apparel includes “The Great Topping Debate” sure to ignite a jimmies vs. sprinkles war and “Born & Braised” a shirt that honors the city’s iconic pork sandwiches with a not-so-subtle wink to Philadelphia’s son Will Smith. One customer who purchases a shirt from The Philadelphia Experience in August will win free donuts and an exclusive experience at Federal Donuts. A portion of proceeds from sales this month will benefit Broad Street Ministries. All new designs and contest information are available at www.phillyphaithful.com.

August 24, 2015

BRAT Productions Kicks Off 20th Season with World Premiere of The Lid During the Philadelphia Fringe Festival

August 24, 2015/ Kory Aversa

BRAT Productions, Philadelphia’s go-to source for rock 'n roll and theater hybrid performance events, kicks off their 20th season by producing The Lid during the 2015 Fringe Festival. This world premiere theatrical rock opera, written by emerging Philadelphia singer songwriter Pat Finnerty, features 14 originally penned British invasion songs. What’s underneath the lid? Will it change our mundane existence or be more of the same old same old? Find out on Friday September 4, 2015 at 9:00pm (featuring a special after party set by Philadelphia favorite Black Landlord); Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 11:00pm and Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 8:00pm. All performances will be held at the Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are on sale now for $20, or $15 for students and 25 and under, at www.fringearts.org (FringeArts members save 30%).