Diner en Blanc Philadelphia Announces Date for 2014 Pop-Up Picnic

From global phenomenon to highly sought-after “secret,” Dîner en Blanc returns to Philadelphia this summer for an unforgettable evening of elegance, beauty and magic. On Thursday, August 21, 2014, 3,400 guests will celebrate and re-purpose a highly-visible public space by enjoying a night filled with food, wine, fashion, culture and music.  This très chic picnic, now celebrating its 26th year internationally, is part mystery tour, part pop-up feast and part je ne sais quoi.  

The wait list to secure an official invitation is now open at philadelphia.dînerenblanc.info. As of today, 5,000+ new individuals have added their name to the wait list. The total number of interested parties for the 2014 event grows to 16,000+ people when you add past attendees and those that signed up for the wait list prior to May.

Adding your name to the wait list does not guarantee a spot to Dîner Blanc Philadelphia. It does ensure that wait list members will be notified when slots for the event go on sale in mid-July. Each invitation includes registration for two people. Past registered members of Dîner en Blanc do not have to add their name to the wait list, as they will automatically receive notice of registration going on sale. 

For more information, follow Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia on Facebook and on Twitter (@debphl).
 

South Street Spring Festival Announces 40 bands, 30 restaurants, Maifest at Brauhaus Schmitz, Family Fun, more

Philadelphia’s largest new outdoor block party returns with eight blocks of food, drink, entertainment, music, arts, family fun, shopping and more 

South Street Spring Festival celebrates the best tastes, sips, sounds and sights of South Street Headhouse District. On Saturday, May 3, 2014, from 11:00am to 8:00pm, enjoy a free, all-ages outdoor party that will close down South Street (between Front and 8th), and also run along the 2nd Street Plaza (between South and Lombard). Forty bands and performers will take to three main stages, as well as eight other performance areas. Thirty restaurants and bars will serve food, cocktails and special brews. Brauhaus Schmitz will host the second annual German Maifest with German beers, dancers and even a May pole. Children will enjoy FREE family fun in the Kids Zone storytelling, arts, crafts, music and performances. Forty artists, crafters and retail vendors will cater to your shopping needs. The Heroes Zone will salute both public service and hometown heroes. South Street Spring Festival is FREE and open to the public (ages 21 and up with identification to drink). For more information, visit www.southstreet.com and follow @officialsouthst #SouthStFest on Twitter.

MAIFEST BY BRAUHAUS SCHMITZ

On the 700 block of South Street, Brauhaus Schmitz will present the second annual German Maifest. Get ready to celebrate a time when flowers are starting to bloom, the winter chill is fading, and consumption of copious amounts of beer is highly encouraged—at least it is in Germany. Strap on your lederhosen and dirndl, and get ready to enjoy this traditional Deutsch festival with:

• May Pole with authentic German dancers between 2:00pm to 6:00pm
• Main Spring Fest stage outside Brauhaus to feature Heimat Klange between 1:30pm and 6:00pm
• In conjunction with Art/Gage and Philadelphia Magic Gardens, make your own fresh flower headbands from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and 6:00pm to 7:00pm (Donation suggested)
• Food will include roasted pork sandwiches, large pretzels, German potato salad, sauerkraut, Bratwurst sandwiches
• Three beer stations will feature six to eight selections of authentic German styles
• Special liter mugs are free when you buy $60 worth of food or drink
• Schnapps station outside with ski plank shots
• Round tables (with umbrellas) for plentiful seating to enjoy entertainment, food and drink
• Special VIP packages for special access to food, drink and inside festivities – this includes access to spring imports!
• All food and drink for Maifest are pay-as-you-go to general public, special pricing/access with VIP ticket

MUSIC

This year’s South Street Spring Festival raises the bar even higher on the quantity and quality of musical acts performing at this free all-day, outdoor music fest.   Music will be heard on three main stages (at 2nd, 5th, and 8th Streets) as well as on every block of the festival at eight street performance locations.  The street will be filled with sounds ranging from accordions, New Orleans jazz, funk and soul, bluegrass, southern rock, indie rock, and blues, to name just a few.  Curated by The Legendary Dobbs, The Twisted Tail and Brauhaus Schmitz, this line-up of musical talent has something for everyone.  If you enjoy great music and dancing in the street this is THE place to be. Over 40 popular local music acts will perform from 11:00am to 8:00pm, including:

2nd Street Stage

• Rowboat Casino
• Kid Felix
• The Great SOCIO
• Zymotic Flow
• Footwork
• The Quixote Project
• Modern Colour
• Downtown Shimmy
• April Mae and the June Bugs 

5th Street Stage

• Stolen Rhodes
• John the Conqueror
• Sweet Leda
• Johnny Popcorn
•  BAAM!
• Cold Roses
• Laura Cheadle
• Gypsy Joe Alves and the Groove Prophets
• Steve Cal Band 

8th Street Stage by Brauhaus Schmitz

• Heimatklange

Performers in other performance areas:

• A Day Without Love (Brian Walker)
• Bastards of Earle
• Ben Abrams
• Blackstars
• Brooks Long
• Cole Campbell
• Cookie Rabinowitz
• Craig / Berto (Great SOCIO)
• Daniel de Jesus
• Greg Sover
• Gypsy Joe Alves and the Groove Prophets
• Joe Jordan
• Justin Gonzalez
• Justin Phillippi
• marc lancaster
• Mike Pays Heat
• Montgomery Streets
• My Man Shafe
• out of the beardspace
• Ovi Horta
• paul st John
• Rachel Schain
• Seth Adam
• skip denenberg
• Tess Emma
• Vanity Plates / Jim Feigan
• Wooden Hez
• xap

FOOD AND DRINK

Spring Festival will close South Street to traffic, and transform this historic business district into one of the city’s largest block parties. At least 30 restaurants, bars, cafes and food trucks will come outside to serve signature food, drinks, and cuisine from around the world. Look for everything from free samples, to special one-off dishes, to signature favorites, to specially priced grab-and-go. Pricing will vary by vendor and ranges from free samples to pay-as-you-go. Participants include: 

• Bistro Romano
• Boyler Room
• Brauhaus Schmitz
• Bridget Foy’s
• Cavanaugh’s Headhouse
• Copabanana
• Delicias
• Fat Tuesday’s
• Headhouse Crab & Oyster Company
• Hot Diggity
• Jon’s Bar & Grille
• Las Bugambilias
• Legendary Dobbs
• Leziz Turkish Cuisine
• The Lite Choice
• Lovash
• Manny Browns
•  O’Neals Pub
• Paddy Whacks
• Pizzeria Stella
• Primo Hoagies
• Redwood
• The Reef
• Rita’s Water Ice
• Steaks on South
• Supper
• The Twisted Tail 
• Woolly Mammoth

FREE FAMILY FUN  

The Kids Zone (located in the 200 block of South Street) will feature engaging activities for the young and the young at heart from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Let your young artists express themselves with hands-on art and craft projects by our community partners, or have a seat for storybook reading. There’s something for everyone, of all ages, in the Kids Zone. The line-up includes:

• Liberty Bellows accordion band
• Performance by Philadelphia Dance Academy
• Martial arts demonstrations by Gracie Academy
• “Discover Your Inner Artist” chalk area
• Storytelling
• Face Painting by Freckles
• Arts and crafts by Fleisher Art Memorial and Queen Village Art Center
• Readings and activities from the Art Sanctuary
• Sand castle art projects
• More to be announced

HEROES ZONE

Join us as we salute both public service and hometown heroes in the Heroes Zone (located in the 600 block of South Street) from 11:00am to 5:00pm, including:

•  Philadelphia Police Department
• Philadelphia Fire Department
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Air Force
• Civil Air Patrol
• Homeland Security
• American Red Cross
• Local Cub Scouts and civic associations

ART/GAGE BY PHILADELPHIA MAGIC GARDENS

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens can’t wait to show its Philly pride for the seventh year with its ART/GAGE initiative! Since 2007, PMG’s ART/GAGE initiative has offered interactive experiences outside of the museum and classroom to enGAGE a diverse audience with ART, furthering PMG’s mission to inspire creativity and community engagement.

Many arts experiences will be scattered throughout Spring Festival to provide an engaging break between the array of street vendors. PMG exhibiting artist Joel Garcia, all the way from Mexico City, will demonstrate his master papier-mâché skills. Francesca Rivetti from Follicle Studio and Conrad Booker will show off their hair-expertise with a live interactive demonstration of fashion and hair wizardry. 

Feeling thirsty? Stop by Brauhaus Schmitz, grab a drink, and create your own flower head-wreath or painted mug while you sip. The Neighborland project will get festival-goers thinking about South Street’s potential with an interactive endeavor that all are encouraged to take part in. Participants can also create their wheat-paste masterpiece to contribute to a community collage. Last but not least, don’t forget to bring a blank t-shirt and create your own Philly-inspired screen-printed fashion statement with Camden Printworks.

During the festival, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens will also be open to the general public to enter its glittering space. Guided tours will take place at 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Call 215-733-0390 to make your reservation!

SHOPPING

Over 40 artists, crafters, and retailers of all kinds will fill the street and our Artisan fair to serve your shopping needs. District merchants from South Street, Headhouse, Fabric Row and more will offer day of specials and other promotions. 

South Street Spring Festival is free and open to the public. For the full schedule and roster of events, visit www.southstreet.com and follow @officialsouthst #SouthStFest on Twitter. 
 

Brat Aid: Hail to the Thief Brings Together Jess Conda's On a Sunday, Birds on a Wire and Teena Geist for Rockin' Benefit

Brat Productions is back for a special one-night-only performance that blends together theatre, rock and dance. Please join us for a special benefit to support the on-going works of Brat Productions. The show will feature a On a Sunday performing Radiohead's Hail to the Thief =Brat Productions mixes a theatre, rock and dance cocktail with Brat Aid: Hail to the Thief on Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street). Brat’s Artistic Director Jess Conda reunites her band ON A SUNDAY to perform Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief album in its entirety, including a special dance collaboration with Birds on a Wire. This special one-night-only engagement will feature the vocal stylings of Conda and the musical prowess of Mike Corso, Peter Gaffney, Zach Poyatt and Evan Smoker.  Bizarre meditation guru Teena Geist (alter ego of Mark McCloughan from No Face Performance Group) will kick-off the mayhem. Doors open at 7:30pm, with the show starts at 8:15pm. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $30 for  tickets that include beer and whiskey. Tickets are on sale now at www.bratproductions.org. Admission is 21 and older. Brat Aid is a special benefit to help support the ongoing work of Brat Productions.

South Street Debuts New Gospel Brunch and Struts Stuff with Mardi Gras Parade

South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) comes alive this weekend with new and old traditions that celebrate Philadelphia’s most vibrant neighborhood. With the warmer temperatures it will be the perfect time to get out of the house for live music, exciting entertainment and great food.

NEW MONTHLY GOSPEL BRUNCH

On Saturday, February 22, 2014, Theater of the Living Arts (TLA), Pyro Arts Solutions and Redwood Restaurant present the first monthly “South Street Gospel Brunch,” at TLA (334 South Street)  with entertainment by Marc Britt & Restored, Thomas TC Clay, Selfless Ministry and Melissa T.  This unique collaboration is the first in a monthly series that will feature a rotating line-up of Philadelphia's best gospel entertainers. Redwood will serve up brunch favorites that include Eggs Benedict, omelet station, homemade waffles, salads, pastries, bacon, sausage, fruit and other dishes. Coffee, tea, orange juice and milk are included. Pay-as-you-go brunch cocktails will be pouring from Wolfgang Puck. Doors open and entertainment starts at 10:00am. Tickets are $40 each for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for youth and $15 for children. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at http://cncrt.ly/1aD4zZQ or by calling 610-784-5426. Tickets will be available at the door.  

30TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS PARADE

On Sunday, February 23, 2014, The Wild Bohemians strut their stuff up and down South Street during the “30th Annual Mardi Gras Parade, kicking off at 1:00pm outside Fat Tuesday (431 South Street) and ending at 6:00pm. The parade route swings by Copabana, Redwood, O’Neals Pub, Paddy Whacks, Downey’s and Café Nola (in this order). The band of revelers, which you are invited to be part of, will dress in bright colored costumes and groove down the street as a huge ensemble of musicians provide traditional New Orleans beats and tunes for their dance moves.  For more information, visit The Wild Bohemians on Facebook, or call South Street Headhouse District at (215) 413-3713.