May 12, 2020

Restaurateur Calls on State of PA to Save Restaurants Through Outdoor Dining

May 12, 2020/ Kory Aversa

With the stay at home order just extended to June 4th for Philadelphia and neighboring suburban counties, one local hospitality group and restaurateur is leading the charge to encourage state and city officials to explore new options to save the restaurant industry. Avram Hornik of FCM Hospitality, owners of Morgan’s Pier, Harper’s Garden, Rosy’s Taco Bar, Craft Hall, Rosy’s Taco Bar, Concourse Dance Bar, The Dolphin (as well as lead hospitality partner on Parks on Tap and Trails on Tap), poses the question about when is the right time to permit outdoor dining and how can outdoor dining options be expanded to help save the ailing restaurant industry. While indoor dining restaurants need to use caution and balance how to maintain sufficient patron density while not losing money, outdoor dining options could be the saving grace for one of the hardest hit industries since the start of the COVID19 crisis. With golf courses (and associated hospitality amenities) and construction industries allowed to reopen, plus dozens of counties in PA entering the yellow phase, why wait for restaurants if there is a safe action plan and guidelines that could jump start the economy?

May 06, 2020

Steven Singer Jewelers Launches Mother's Day Campaign to Feed the Frontline

May 06, 2020/ Steven Singer Jewelers/ Kory Aversa

Steven Singer Jewelers helps you celebrate Mother's Day with a special gift that helps you send Mom love while you support local restaurants and healthcare heroes. The man that everyone loves to hate is spreading love by using a portion of sales from Singer's famous 24 karat gold and platinum dipped roses to purchase meals from Philadelphia restaurants and donating them to essential hospital workers and first responders. For owner Steven Singer, this is a win-win that thanks those tirelessly working to treat Coronavirus patients, and to support an industry in crisis during these unprecedented times. For Mother's Day gift ideas, and to order the gold and platinum dipped roses, visit www.ihatestevensinger.com.

May 05, 2020

Philadelphia Zoo Celebrates Animal Moms for Mother's Day and Announces New Babies

May 05, 2020/ Kory Aversa

This Mother’s Day, Philadelphia Zoo (3400 Girard Ave) will honor all of its animal moms living at the Zoo. Spring is in the air and the Zoo welcomes many new babies making this a very special year for the Zoo. The Zoo is proud to introduce the following new babies and their Moms, including Black & White Ruffed Lemurs, Andean Geese, Sebastopol Geese, and of course, the Sloth Bear Cub. Additionally, Kira and Honi are busy gorilla moms raising toddlers Ajabu and Amani. As a special Mother's Day message for Moms here and around the country and globe, Philadelphia Zoo shares a special Mother's Day video spotlighting these new moms and their babies.

May 04, 2020

Philadelphia Guide to Mother's Day: Top Gifts, Special Menus, Delivery Restaurants

May 04, 2020/ Kory Aversa

For Mother’s Day this year, Philadelphia and suburb restaurants, eateries, gift shops and retailers are offering unique and creative ways to celebrate Mom while we all practice social distancing. From Stove and Tap in Lansdale to Steven Singer Jewelers on Jewelers Row, from Hawthornes in South Philly to gifts in Old City District, there’s something for Mom’s of every age, taste and style. Better yet, everywhere below either offers delivery or contactless pick-up. Read on for a list from Cry Baby Pasta, Stove and Tap, Old City District, Steven Singer Jewelers, The Bourse and many more.

May 01, 2020

Grand Opening During Covid19: Hospitality Group Pivots from Nightlife to Fried Chicken

May 01, 2020/ Hunnies Crispy Chicken/ Kory Aversa

Glu Hospitality announces the virtual grand opening of Hunnies Crispy Chicken featuring a full menu of crispy chicken comfort food favorites from Chef Chino Chang. Owners Derek Gibbons and Tim Lu, of Leda and The Swan, Vesper Center City, Vesper Dayclub and Germantown Garden, present their newest food concept that officially launches this weekend on Friday, May 1, 2020. While the nightlife industry is on hold, and their two newest restaurant concepts have had their grand openings postponed, the duo decided to wait no more for their new crispy chicken concept. Hunnies Crispy Chicken will launch this week officially on Grubhub and Door Dash for delivery - as well as for contactless pick-up in Center City. The menu will feature a selection of crispy chicken sandwiches that include Hunnies Crispy, Buffalo, Crispy Caesar and Hunnies Chicken and Waffles. The menu also features Crispy Chicken salads, Crispy Tenders and Wings, Crispy Cauliflower Bites, Fries and other selections. Tofu is also available for all sandwiches as a vegetarian option. All menu items are affordably priced between $3.50 and $10.99. Hunnies will be centered out of the Glu Hospitality kitchen at Vesper, at 223 South Sydenham St.

April 23, 2020

Philadelphia Zoo Launches New Interactive Online Learning Program Philly Zoo to You

April 23, 2020/ Kory Aversa

Philadelphia Zoo, the region's largest living classroom, is happy to announce the launch of Philly Zoo to You, an interactive online learning program featuring a direct line to Zoo experts to answer science questions creating a deeper connection to wildlife discovery. With so many parents and students at home working together to complete online learning activities, Philly Zoo to You provides a mixture of expert support and curriculum-based activities aimed at students from grades K through 4. Students and parents should visit www.philadelphiazoo.org/learn for enhanced learning opportunities. For more, visit the Philly Zoo to You homepage at: https://philadelphiazoo.org/learn/

April 23, 2020

Sugar Stress Relief with Free Cookies at Your Door: 5 Local Businesses Partner Up

April 23, 2020/ Kory Aversa

The only thing better than fresh baked cookies after a night on the town is when they are free and arrive at your front door! Insomnia Cookies announces a brand-new partnership with local restaurants and small businesses to join forces during this time of crisis for the restaurant industry. Insomnia Cookies dishes up the cookie magic by proudly teaming up with Quick Sip Beer Delivery (by Hawthorne's Beer Cafe), SliCE Fishtown, P'unk Burger and Dim Sum House University City to supply free cookies with delivery orders starting today. This week, the first 25 orders a day will find free Insomnia Cookies with their beer and wine delivery through Quick Sip. Next week, free cookies will arrive with the first 25 pizza and food orders per day from SliCE Fishtown. The following week, the first 25 customers a day will find a sweet ending in free cookies with their dim sum order from Dim Sum House University City. The month of free cookies will end with free cookies for the first 25 orders a day from P'unk Burger. For the full schedule, see program details below. For more about Insomnia Cookies, visit insomniacookies.com.

April 16, 2020

Philadelphia Zoo Invites Public to Help Choose Name for Sloth Bear Cub

April 16, 2020/ Kory Aversa

Philadelphia Zoo announced today it is enlisting the help of the public to choose a name for its new sloth bear cub. Selecting from a list of names developed by the cub’s keepers, voters can pick their favorite name for the infant. Born on December 11th, the cub is doing well, growing rapidly, and has become quite adventurous since its outdoor debut in March, shared via Philly Zoo at 2- the Zoo’s new Facebook series. Voting begins on Thursday, April 16th at 3:00pm and will go through Thursday, April 23rd at 11:59pm.

April 14, 2020

Theatre Philadelphia launches $145,000 Emergency Relief Program for Theatre Workers

April 14, 2020/ Kory Aversa

Theatre Philadelphia, the region’s theatre marketing and leadership organization, announces Theatre Philadelphia Emergency Relief as a response to the needs of the region’s theatre workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting with a pool of $145,000, Theatre Philadelphia will award micro-grants of $300 on a first-come-first-serve basis to theatre workers impacted by COVID-19 closures and cancellations. Eligible applicants should live within a 35-mile radius of Philadelphia’s City Hall and work in any creative, technical, service, or administrative capacity in theatre. Applications open on Monday, April 13th.

April 10, 2020

New Tiger King Inspired Beer Roars to Life from Evil Genius Beer Company

April 10, 2020/ Evil Genius Beer Company/ Kory Aversa

Evil Genius Beer Company taps a much needed distraction with the debut of another very serious beer with a very silly (and timely) name. The Philadelphia and Fishtown-based brewer announces the debut of a Tiger King inspired pale ale that pays homage to one of the biggest cultural phenomenons sweeping the nation. Felt Cute, Might Feed My Husband to a Tiger Later IDK is a special edition pale ale 4.2% abv. that is available in growlers through carry-out at the Evil Genius Beer Company Lab at 1727 Front Street. Starting today, Evil Genius also will partner with Quick Sip beer delivery service to expand access to their beer and seltzer to across the city. Quick Sip delivery will mean that to get the new Felt Cute brew you only have to travel from your couch to the front door.