BRU Craft & Wurst Hosts Pig Roast, Live Bands, Brews and More During Midtown Village Fall Festival

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BRU Craft & Wurst (1318 Chestnut Street) presents BRU FALL FEST this Saturday, October 4, 2014 in conjunction with Midtown Village Fall Festival. Between 12:00pm and 8:00pm, BRU will present eight hours of food, drink and music outside on the 1300 block of Chestnut Street. Look for Bratwurst and Knackwurst on the grill, plus pulled pork sandwiches from a whole pig roast.  Bartenders will pour our favorite local brews, including Troegs Dreamweaver and Hop Knife, Stoudt's Pilsner and Oktoberfest, ShawneeCraft Raspberry Blanche and IPA, and Yards Philly Pale Ale and Brawler.  Inside the bar, BRU will be "gravity pouring" a super rare firkin of Troegs Hop Knife.

On the Oktoberfest stage, get ready for eight hours of music from five live bands and DJS, including:

12:00pm to 1:00pm
Matt Lipshitz (Acoustic guitar solo performing covers and originals)

1:30pm to 2:30pm
No Good Sister (All female trio performing honky tonk, Western, swing, blues and Americana)

3:00pm to 4:00pm
Cultureal (Love-based roots, jazz, reggae)

4:30pm to 5:30pm
Thee Idea Men (Blues, rock)

6:00pm to 7:00pm
The Levee Drivers (Sounds of old country souls being reborn into tomorrow's rock)


7:00pm to 8:00pm
Various DJs (Popular, funk, rock)

In between sets, DJ JAY will spin popular trip hip and down tempo lounge music.  Oktoberfest is free to the public, and 21 and older to drink (with identification). BRU will serve an abbreviated version of the regular daily menu inside, plus pouring from 39 taps. Skip Midtown Village’s beer lines by dropping in for self-serve taps using our Ipad pouring system. 

For more information about BRÜ and a list of other upcoming events, call (215) 800-1079, visit www.bruphilly.com, like www.facebook.com/BRUPhilly and follow @bruphilly on Twitter.  

ABOUT BRÜ

BRÜ Craft & Wurst is a German-style bier hall and wursthaus nestled in the heart of Midtown Village. The bar is bustling with German draughts and Philadelphia’s most aggressive list of American craft beers.  A self-serving station lets customers pour their own beers using special iPads. Other modern twists include ample outlets wired near bar seating for customers who need to be plugged in 24/7.

Executive Chef Andrew Gaspar serves up Bavarian and American cuisine for those who enjoy hearty dishes with big flavors. The menu showcases his experience in classic German cuisine and pub food that he developed from working in kitchens at the Belgian Café, Brauhaus Schmidts, Stateside and Monks Café. The dining room, outdoor seating area and bar are open daily for lunch and dinner.
 

Inis Nua Theatre Company Presents American Premiere of Spy Thriller Ciphers by Dawn King

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Inis Nua Theatre Company Presents American Premiere of Spy Thriller Ciphers by Dawn King

 Inis Nua Theatre Company presents the American premiere of Ciphers by Dawn King, running October 8-26, 2014 at the Off-Broad Street Theatre in the First Baptist Church (1636 Sansom Street). Ciphers is a smart and provocative spy thriller that draws a straight line from today’s terrorist headlines to our age-old struggle to know who we really are.  This British espionage tale opens on Friday, October 10 at 8pm, with previews on Wednesday, October 8 and Thursday, October 9 at 7pm.  Tickets are on sale for $25 and $30 by visiting inisnuatheatre.org or calling 215-454-9776. 

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Nick's Roast Beef Announces Pennsylvania's Tastiest Bacon and Beer Fest in Old City

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Nick's Roast Beef Announces Pennsylvania's Tastiest Bacon and Beer Fest in Old City

Nick’s Roast Beef in Old City (16 South 2nd Street) announces the return of the 2nd Annual Bacon and Beer Fest on Saturday, October 4, 2014, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Bacon lovers will enjoy all new bacon-centric dishes, early fall beer releases, an appearance by Piggy Pat and other surprises. Must-try dishes will include the Bloody Mary Ground Bacon Burger, Warm Bacon Salad, Bacon Crusted Cheesecake, Pumpkin Bacon Chocolate Brownies and more. All dishes and pairings are pay-as-you-go. Admission is free, 21 and up to drink. For more information, call (215) 928-9411, visit nicksoldcity.com, Nick’s Roast Beef Bar and Grille on Facebook, or @nicksoldcity on Twitter.

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Fox 29's Mike Jerrick Announces 24 Restaurants/Chefs for the First Ya Gotta Try This Tasting Party for Second Chance Foundation

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Fox 29's Mike Jerrick Announces 24 Restaurants/Chefs for the First Ya Gotta Try This Tasting Party for Second Chance Foundation

The Second Chance Foundation, along with sponsor SugarHouse Casino, will present the first Ya Gotta Try This Tasting Party, on Thursday, October 2, 2014, at Independence Visitor Center (6th and Market), starting at 6:30pm. Fox 29’s Mike Jerrick and District Attorney R. Seth Williams will host an evening filled with must-try dishes and drinks from 24 local bars, restaurants and eateries, including Noord, Palladino’s, Rouge, Cuba Libre Restaurant Rum Bar, Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, Verdad, Kitchen Consigliere Cafe, Circles and others. Bru Craft and Wurst, U-Bahn and Yards Brewing Company will sample free beer. Southern Wine & Spirits will sponsor the complimentary open bar. Festivities will include music and dancing, silent auction, prizes and much more. Tickets are on sale now for only $50 general admission and $100 for VIP at www.yagottatrythis.com. For more about the beneficiary, please visit www.secondchancephiladelphia.org.

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South Street Celebrates Philadelphia Collection with Giant Open-Air Runway Show

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South Street Celebrates Philadelphia Collection with Giant Open-Air Runway Show

South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) celebrates the Philadelphia Collection with Fashion Under the Shambles, on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, with doors opening at 6:00pm. The Headhouse Square Shambles (200 Pine Street) will be transformed into a giant open-air runway that will showcase men’s and women’s cutting-edge, street styles from 21 SSHD boutiques and salons. America's Next Top Model Finalist Cory Wade Hindorff will preside as master of ceremonies, and architect/couture fashion designer Conrad Booker will debut dazzling new fashion installations. VIP tickets are $25 and include a reserved seat, swag bags, two drink tickets and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Free general admission is available for standing room only. For tickets and RSVP, visit southstfashion.eventbrite.com. For more info, call 215-413-3713 and follow #SouthStFashion @officialsouthst on Twitter.

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

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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.

Community Rallies to Support Students at Emlen Elementary

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Community Rallies to Support Students at Emlen Elementary

Over 500 students at Emlen Elementary School were greeted with a special “back to school” gift courtesy of Mt. Airy Schools Coalition.  On Friday afternoon, the Coalition, along with local government officials, school representatives and community supporters, debuted a brand new computer lab featuring 33 new iMacs to help Emlen’s students engage in technology-infused lessons and become better prepared for the future. Prior to the opening, there were not enough computers in the lab for students to use and existing computers were extremely outdated. In an effort led by the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition, community members raised over $47,000 to provide a new computer lab for Emlen. 

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Diner en Blanc Philadelphia - Public Relations Round Up of Photos and Headlines

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Fox 29's Mike Jerrick and Alex Holley, Photo by Al B For 

Fox 29's Mike Jerrick and Alex Holley, Photo by Al B For 

Diner en Blanc Philadelphia dazzled the city by popping up on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at the secret location revealed to be the Avenue of the Arts.  This year, it was a sea of white as far as the eye could see as 3,500 guests decked out in the hottest white fashions filled Broad Street from Pine and Chestnut Streets.  Aversa PR and Events was proud to again be the official public relations company for the local installment of this pop-up picnic, viral movement and global phenomenon.  

Special thanks to co-hosts Natanya DiBona and Kayli Moran for including us in one of the city's most memorable events. Their attention to detail, grand vision and love for our city produced an event that will never be forgotten. Congratulations also go out to the 100 volunteers that worked hard to ensure a picture perfect evening.  Finally, special thanks to our entire PR team for 2014, including Lauryn Resotka, Gabbi Townsend, Eri Washington and Dash Sears.  

They say a picture paints a thousand words. Indeed they do when it comes to a truly viral event! This year, thousands of gorgeous photos popped up around the globe on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instragram, Google+ and other platforms.  Search for the official hashtag #DEBPHL14 as well as #dinerenblanc and #debphl. Thanks to our sister cities around the globe for sharing our images and all of your support!

For a recap of our favorite photos from the night, visit our official album below featuring breathtaking shots from Johanna Austin, Hughe Dillon, Charles Mosteller, Alessandra Nicole, Inna Race, Patrick Hagerty, and our staff photographers.   

inquirer.jpg

Now in its third year, Diner en Blanc Philadelphia continued to garner interest locally, nationally and internationally. Stories started to go viral 24 hours in advance of the event, and the event trended in Philadelphia for up to 48 hours. Over 100 news stories and mentions included 35 radio and television spots that reached millions of viewers and listeners. Print and online reach nearly doubled that of the year prior, with additional stories to come as we enter September. 

For highlights of photo albums, visit the following: 

Special shout-out to Hugh Dillon from Philly Chit Chat for beautiful photos and great recap of the night's festivities: 

  • Philly Chit Chat - Did I Shoot You? My Diner en Blanc Links and a Few More Photos to Enjoy 

Other highlights include the following - please let us know if we missed your favorite. Post any additional stories in the comments for our review. 

Leading up to the big day, Diner en Blanc Philadelphia dropped by local television studios for a special preview of the magic. Visit below for our favorite shots from the shoots on Fox 29's Good Day Philadelphia and CBS Philly. 

The final destination wasn't the only surprise this year! Co-hosts tapped local talent to design one-of-a-kind fashions for a one-of-a-kind evening.  Check out shots from the initial design consultation and subsequent fittings with Project Runway winner Dom Streater. 

Stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter as the co-hosts roll out the official video for Diner en Blanc Philadelphia, along with time lapse footage, photo booth montages, photo albums and more.  Stay tuned in coming weeks! Until next year, merci and au revoir! 

Grand Opening Photos: Brunch Hot Spot Chhaya Cafe Opens New East Passyunk Location

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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.

Clean Air Council 9th Annual Greenfest Philly Returns to Headhouse Square with Music, Food, Eco Shopping, More

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Clean Air Council 9th Annual Greenfest Philly Returns to Headhouse Square with Music, Food, Eco Shopping, More

Clean Air Council’s 9th Annual Greenfest Philly returns to Headhouse Square (2nd and South Streets) on Sunday, September 7, 2014 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 $30 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.

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