June 30, 2022

Lokal Artisan Foods and Cloud Cups Debut French Toast Bites Gelato During National Ice Cream Month

June 30, 2022/ French Toast Bites at Spruce Street Harbor Park/ Kory Aversa

Lokal Artisan Foods and owner Charisse McGill has teamed up with Cloud Cups and owner Galen Thomas on a smooth and creamy new summer treat debuting just in time for National Ice Cream Month. French Toast Bites Gelato makes its debut this weekend on July 1st at Spruce Street Harbor Park, Cherry Street Pier, Pizza Brain, Manayunk Pizza and Ashley's Deli - as well as at select local street fairs and festivals. The new collab brings together two of the region's celebrated award-winning Black-owned businesses for a new product collection that is a pivot for both businesses as both recover out of the pandemic. Cloud Cups is a local artisan gelato and sorbet company. The Today Show recently named Cloud Cups' gelato top 50 in America. For Lokal Artisan Foods, the new French Toast Bites Gelato, in two flavors to start, is the most recent product for a company that started with an investment from the owner's daughter's lemonade stand, that then created a nationally recognized brand and collection that now includes French Toast Bites shakes, spice, beer, coffee and now gelato.

June 22, 2022

Wag Watch Throws Grand Opening Puppy Pawty and K9 Kegger in Northern Liberties for Doggy Daycare

June 22, 2022/ Wag Watch/ Lexie Fleege

Tails are wagging in Northern Liberties! Wag Watch brings Philly’s fastest growing neighborhood a sparkling new dog daycare and retail boutique. Co-founders Jason Jennings and Brian Kelly invite dog owners and their four-legged furry friends to a free K9 Kegger on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The “pup pawty” will invite local dog owners into their state-of-the-art facility for free daycare, giveaways, goodies, and ice cold beer. The event will feature free tours, meet & greets with the founders, playtime for furry playmates, complimentary beverages, chances to win prizes, and other surprises. Wag Watch is one of seven grand openings in progress in Northern Liberties, following recent openings by Pera Turkish Cuisine, 70SIX Boutique, 1040 Creative Art Center and Gallery and Ray’s Reusables, with many more to come. Wag Watch is located in a brand new building at 807 N. 3rd Street, in Philadelphia, PA 19123.

June 15, 2022

The World's Top Allman Brothers Tribute Live at the Fillmore Brings the 70s Back to West Chester at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center

June 15, 2022/ Uptown! Knauer Arts Peforming Center/ Lexie Fleege

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center welcomes the world’s most popular Allman Brothers Tribute Band and takes audiences back to the 70s. Live at The Fillmore, named for New York’s legendary Fillmore East Auditorium, takes the stage for an evening of classic rock songs like “Midnight Rider” and “Whipping Post” and is one of the most well known tributes to the music of the Allman Brothers Band. This popular act is set to perform Saturday June 25 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Tickets are available online at uptownwestchester.org or by phone at 610-356-ARTS. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is located at 226 N. High Street in West Chester.

June 14, 2022

William Way LGBT Community Center Announces Gone and For Ever Memorial Exhibition to Remember Abandoned Philadelphians That Died of AIDS

June 14, 2022/ William Way Community Center/ Lexie Fleege

The William Way LGBT Community Center and artist/entrepreneur Alex Stadler have teamed up to collaborate on a special exhibition and public memorial service for those lost in the early AIDS pandemic in the city of Philadelphia. Gone and For Ever, part of Remembrance, will remember and honor those who died in our region dating back to the early 1980s. Stadler and collaborating artists have created a one-of-a-kind artist-made exhibition to be displayed at the Center (1315 Spruce Street) during Philly Gay Pride Month, from June 21-24, leading up to the piece’s culminating public memorial on June 25.

June 08, 2022

The Balcony Bar at The Kimmel Center Returns with Stunning Views, Summer Sips, DJs and More

June 08, 2022/ The Kimmel Cultural Campus/ Lexie Fleege

The Kimmel Cultural Campus, Chef Jose Garces and Garces Events are pleased to announce the return of Balcony Bar at The Kimmel. Starting June 15th, The Balcony Bar will feature the city's most breath-taking views each and every Wednesday, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm, for Center City SIPS. The pop-up space, located on the second-tier balcony of the Kimmel Center, overlooks iconic Broad Street and City Hall. Guests will enjoy the city's best views, plus beats from weekly rotating DJs, ticket giveaways, discounted drinks and happy hour bites. The Balcony Bar will offer up not just the vibes, but the best sips deals, with offerings priced between $4 and $6 each. Admission to The Balcony Bar is free, with food and drink pay-as-you-go. All food and drink are presented by Garces Events. After SIPS, guests can head downstairs to Volvér for 15% off their check when they mention Balcony Bar at The Kimmel.

June 07, 2022

Chef Jose Garces Introduces Chef Dane DeMarco as Next Chef in Residency at Volvér

June 07, 2022/ Volvér/ Lexie Fleege

Chef Jose Garces announces Chef Dane DeMarco (they/them) as the next Chef in Residency at Volvér on Kimmel Cultural Campus. Chef DeMarco’s residency is timed to coincide with Philly Pride Month, starting June 15th and running through July 24th. Funding raised during this residency will provide start-up funds for DeMarco to open a brand new restaurant concept called Hanks Sandwich Co., which will offer different sandwiches inspired by international culinary traditions. DeMaro’s menu embraces a diverse range of creations such as Oxtail Terrine, Crab Corn Dog Galette, Cannoli Manicotti, Corner Fried Shrimp, Crab Corn Dog Galette, and Vanilla Krimpet. For the new Chefs in Residency Program, each Chef will showcase their top signature dishes on the Volvér menu for six to eight weeks, alongside Chef Garces' signature French-inspired dishes. Through a special donation program in partnership with the Garces Foundation, each Chef in Residency will have the opportunity to raise money to support their work with their current restaurant, or to use for the start of their next culinary journey. Volvér's hours for the season will be from Wednesday to Sunday, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm, with a special pre-theatre menu served from 4:00pm to 6:30pm, and happy hour from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Reservations are now available at www.volverrestaurant.com, via Open Table, or by calling 215-670-2302. Celebrate the art of fine dining by following Volvér on social media at @volverphl @chefjosegarces and @garcesgroup. All guests coming to Volvér must be vaccinated per Kimmel Cultural Campus policy. Volver is located at 300 S. Broad Street, in Center City, Philadelphia.

June 06, 2022

Brauhaus Schmitz Presents Sommerfest Block Party with Giant Maypole, Live Music, Dancers, More

June 06, 2022/ Brauhaus Schmitz/ Lexie Fleege

Prost! Brauhaus Schmitz presents Sommerfest Block Party and Summer Festival on South Street on Saturday, June 25th, from 11:00am to 7:00pm. The city's award-winning German restaurant will take over the entire 700 block of South Street for a full day of family fun that includes the region's largest Maypole, authentic German dancing, live music, flower crowns, face painting, schnapski tent, games and much more. Brauhaus will pop-up with the city's largest outdoor German Biergarten with seating and shade for 1,000 guests. From the kitchen, Chef Mason Nash will fire up currywurst, roast pork, bacon wurst, brats and pretzels. From the taps, look for 13 different beers pouring, including Kölsch to Hefeweizens, Pilsners, Kellerbiers and Spring Bocks. The Sommerfest VIP Brauer Bund Bierhall will include private access to bathrooms, air conditioning, indoor seating, an all-day exclusive appetizer buffet, a commemorative glass beer stein, exclusive beers and six beer tokens. Sommerfest is free to attend, with food and drink pay-as-you-go. VIP tickets are on sale now for $100 each.

June 01, 2022

Philadelphia Celebrates Philly Gay Pride Month with 45 Events, Fundraisers, Parties, Drag Shows, Art Exhibits And More

June 01, 2022/ Philly Gay Pride Month/ Lexie Fleege

Philadelphia proudly celebrates June as Philly Gay Pride Month. We’ve compiled a list of 45 top ways to celebrate Gay Pride in our amazing city. While the pandemic pressed pause on events last year, Philly Gay Pride has never been stronger and more important. The pandemic has had a profoundly negative impact on our city’s LGBTQ community. Gay owned businesses were forced to shut down. Gay organizations and non-profits lost critical revenue for life-saving programs. The pandemic forced gay teens and college students into quarantine and isolation - losing the safety net of our city’s diverse and supportive larger community. Older gay seniors who sometimes already experience higher rates of social isolation were further isolated during months of prescribed social distancing and staying at home. The list continues as to how the pandemic specifically affected our gay and queer community - and it’s time to look ahead, come together and support one another. From Pride Days at Parks on Tap and Philadelphia Flower Show, to Pride Nights at Philadelphia Zoo and Concourse Dance Club, to LGBTQ Circus and Yoga workshops, to Pride Month events as part of Philly Beer Week, there is something for everyone this year.

May 24, 2022

Glu Hospitality and Temple Announce New Restaurant for Former Draught Horse

May 24, 2022/ The Peabody/ Lexie Fleege

Glu Hospitality and Temple University are proud to announce a brand new modern grill and sports bar in the former home of The Draught Horse. The Peabody will make its grand debut this fall at 1431 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the west side of Broad Street. The 6,000 square foot space will have 40 seats at the bar and another 150 in the dining area. A large private dining space can hold 50 guests and be split into two for private parties. There will also be outdoor seating on Cecil B. Moore. The menu will feature American cuisine presented by Executive Chef Chino Chang with a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, entrees and more. The drink menu will include signature and seasonal cocktails designed by Glu's award winning beverage team that is known for cocktails at Leda and the Swan, Vesper Center City and Figo. In addition to cocktails, look for ten draft lines pouring, plus bottles and cans, with craft beer, popular domestic selections, ciders, hard seltzers and more. The food and drink menus are designed to cater to students, faculty, family, alumni and neighbors. When opened, The Peabody will offer lunch, happy hour and dinner seven days a week, with weekend brunch service.