Parks on Tap, 2021 Season, Cherry Blossom

FCM Hospitality announces that Parks on Tap is back for its sixth season with socially distanced blooms, bites and beers just in time for the Cherry Blossoms! Philadelphia’s traveling outdoor beer garden that gives back to city parks will pop-up at two locations outside the Fairmount Horticulture Center Arboretum (100 N. Horticultural Drive) starting on Saturday, April 3rd through on Sunday, April 25th. As in years past, patrons are invited to enjoy fresh food, beers on tap, wine and more set in an outdoor environment with comfortable chairs and clean restrooms. New for this year, Parks on Tap will partner with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia to present the Shofuso Cherry Blossom Viewing. This new campaign includes three weeks of prime Cherry Blossom viewing, socially distanced activities, virtual programming, and new Japanese-inspired fare. Parks on Tap will also feature products from Two Local’s Brewing, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned brewery, and will offer three weeks of free live performances to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Hours and days for Parks on Tap outside the Horticulture Center will be Wednesday to Thursday, from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday from 4:00pm to 11:00pm, Saturday from Noon to 11:00pm, and Sunday, from Noon to 10:00pm. Admission is free. Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Reservations are required, with walk-up reservations being offered if space permits. Masks and social distancing are required. For more information on the Parks on Tap safety plan, locations and directions, please visit www.parksontap.com.

“FCM Hospitality is proud to bring back Parks on Tap for the 2021 season,” said FCM Hospitality Owner Avram Hornik. “We are excited to partner with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia for a special three week campaign entitled Shofuso Cherry Blossom Viewing that showcases Fairmount Park during the most beautiful time of year. Our special relationship with JASGP goes back to 2017 when the two organizations worked together to present Parks on Tap at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. Last year, with the pandemic hitting at the start of the season, many Philadelphia residents missed these stunning flowers. We are grateful for the opportunity to work together and find a socially distanced way to celebrate the return of one of our city’s great natural treasures.”

For 2021, FCM Hospitality announces the return of one of Philadelphia’s most beloved summertime traditions. Parks on Tap is back for the season starting on Saturday, April 3rd at Noon outside Fairmount Horticulture Center (100 N. Horticultural Drive). For the first time ever, guests can enjoy two adjacent locations, each over an acre, located between the Fairmount Horticulture Center and the Centennial Arboretum. The set-up for the beer garden outside the Horticulture Center will be self-contained within roped boundaries, providing its own power, bathrooms, food and drink trucks, seating, shade and lights. This means more money can be raised for park improvements and future programming.

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES

Due to the global pandemic, Parks on Tap will follow all state and city safety guidelines and will adjust as necessary should health guidance change. Safety measures include:

- Masks required for all guests and staff, except when seated at a table
- Social distancing markers posted throughout the garden and its outside area
- Guests’ information collected for contact tracing purposes
- Sanitizing spray and/or wipes available throughout the site
- Tables have a maximum table size of 6 guests.
- Symptom and temperature checks ensure staff are safely able to work.
- Additional cleaning and sanitation completed prior to opening, after closing and throughout the day

FOOD AND DRINK

FCM Hospitality will present a full menu of food and drink favorites - plus new selections that contain a nod to the Japanese cuisine and the celebrated Cherry Blossoms. For food, look for locally-made and sourced fare that includes signature BBQ dishes from Craft Hall, and breads and pastries from Lost Bread Co. From the bar, look for locally made selections from Mainstay Independent Brewing Company, including their Love Your Park Ale which additionally benefits Philly parks. New for 2021, FCM Hospitality is proud to feature canned beer selections from Two Locals, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned brewery. Credit cards are preferred. Selections from the food and drink menus include the following highlights:

Snacks:
Chicken Skewers $9 - Soy Glazed Chicken Thigh
Chilled Soba Noodle Salad $11 (VG) - Local Greens, Ramp Vinaigrette, Peanut, Shiitake
Jalapeno Popper Dip $6 (GF, VG) - Cream Cheese, Cheddar, Jalapeno, Corn Tortilla Chips

Sandwiches:
Pulled Pork $11 - Slaw, B&B Pickles, Lost Bread Co. Seeded Milk Bun
Hoagie $13 - Salami, Lebanon Bologna, Capicola, Provolone, Fennel Vinaigrette
Eggplant Sloppy Joe $12 (VG) - Cheddar, Crispy Onion, Lost Bread Co. Seeded Milk Bun
Brisket $16 - Pickled Jalapeno Aioli, Napa Cabbage, Lost Bread Co. Seeded Milk Bun
All Beef Hot Dog $8 with potato chips
Pulled Pork Sliders $8 with potato chips

Platters:
Brisket $20 - Black Pepper Rub, Sliced Milk Bread, Coleslaw, Pickles
Pulled Pork $15 - Mopped and Pulled, Sliced Milk Bread, Coleslaw, Pickles)

Desserts:
Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies (VG) $6
Cherry Blossom Custard (VG) $6

Drinks:
Blueberry Lemonade $10.00
Cherry Blossom Breeze $10.00
Love Your Park Pale $7.00
Bowline IPA $7.00
Constitution Lager $7.00
Two Locals Prolific - Hazy IPA $9.00
Two Locals Nubian Brown Ale $9.00
Downeast Cider Downeast $6.00
Povero Rose, Rose Wine, $8.00
Fresh House Lemonade $4.00

All credit cards and cash are accepted for food and drink. Reservations are required to join Parks on Tap (with walk-up reservation permitted if occupancy permits). Reservations can be made in advance by visiting parksontap.com.

NEW CHERRY BLOSSOM VIEWING

Parks on Tap and JASGP present a special new campaign called Shofuso Cherry Blossom Viewing, which includes the two Parks on Tap pop-ups, socially distanced activities, and virtual programming throughout April 2021. There are several ways to recover and renew while enjoying Shofuso and Parks on Tap beauty this spring!

From Parks on Tap, look for food, drink, and a relaxing urban oasis in two locations that are located just footsteps from the Cherry Blossoms and Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. From JASGP, look for everything from the debut of the new hand-painted map of Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Ohanami, a Virtual Marketplace, the Cherry Blossom Viewing and Virtual Ohanami, plus a virtual 10K.

As an added bonus for this year, Japanese artist Hiro Sakaguchi hand-painted a new map of Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Ohanami – helping visitors find Cherry Blossoms throughout Fairmount Park as well as other spots around the City of Philadelphia. The map will be available for pick-up at Shofuso and sold as a 14” x 21” poster in the gift shop. Don’t forget to pick one up as a souvenir of your day when you visit Parks on Tap.

CHERRY BLOSSOM HISTORY

Flowering cherry trees have been a symbol of friendship between Philadelphia and Japan since 1,600 cherry trees were gifted from Japan to Philadelphia in 1926 to commemorate the American Sesquicentennial. In 1933, Japanese residents of the Philadelphia region gifted an additional 500 cherry trees and planted them alongside John B. Kelly Drive. The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia organized a planting of 1,000 new cherry trees in Philadelphia between 1998 and 2007. JASGP has been working with neighborhood communities continuously since 2008 to plant cherry trees in Clark Park, Franklin Square, and Morris Park to help build green and peaceful urban communities.

LIVE MUSIC

The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in partnership with Parks on Tap, invites all generations to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in Philadelphia this April with free, outdoor Neighborhood Jazz Performances.

Sunday, April 4th, 1:00pm to 2:00pm
(Rain Date April 11th)
Vibe-a-delphia Jazz Quartet at the Horticulture Center

Saturday, April 10th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
(Rain date April 18th)
Inter-generational Jazz Jam at The Horticultural Center

Saturday, April 24th, 1:00pm to 2:00pm
(No rain date)
Sistahs Attune at the Horticulture Center

GENERAL INFO AND HOURS

Parks on Tap is family and fido friendly. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and must always be on a leash. The beer garden is 21+ to enter. Children, families, and anyone under 21 are welcome to participate if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who has legal identification. Alcoholic beverages must stay within the beer garden’s fenced area. This is required for full compliance with PLCB code. Reservations are required to enter, with walk-up reservations being offered, if space permits. Reservations can be made by visiting parksontap.com. For additional information regarding Parks on Tap, including implemented safety guidelines and precautions, visit parksontap.com/FAQs.

Pop-up hours for Parks on Tap at the Fairmount Horticulture Center Arboretum will be Wednesday - Thursday, from 4:00pm to 11:00pm, Friday from 4:00pm to 11:00pm, Saturday Noon to 11 PM and Sunday from Noon to 10:00pm. Please note that hours and days of operation may change due to weather and special events. Please visit @parksontap on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates.

For more information about Parks on Tap, visit www.parksontap.com. For more information about FCM Hospitality, visit www.fcmhospitality.com.

ABOUT PARKS ON TAP

Parks on Tap is Philadelphia’s beer garden that gives back. A partnership between FCM Hospitality and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Parks on Tap was created to be a traveling beer garden throughout the city's various, beautiful parks all summer long. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Parks on Tap has evolved to a stationary beer garden in several fixed locations throughout the city. Each park and location are collectively selected as a way to highlight and enhance the offerings that Philadelphia city parks provide. It aims for a simple aesthetic: well-kept outdoor spaces where friends and families can meet up to enjoy food, drinks, and fun in a natural green space.

Parks on Tap kicked off in 2016 to engage the Philadelphia community and give back to the neighborhood parks. A portion of all proceeds every year are donated to help restore and maintain Philly’s parks. Thanks to past donations, improvements have included trail work and maintenance, tree plantings, new signage, free music, and movie programs, and more. For information, follow @parksontap and visit www.parksontap.com.

ABOUT FCM HOSPITALITY

FCM Hospitality is a Philadelphia-based hospitality and entertainment company, managing bars, restaurants, and seasonal pop-ups throughout the region. The company is owned by Avram Hornik, a leader with more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, who has developed some the city’s most popular permanent and temporary venues such as Morgan's Pier, Concourse Dance Bar, Union Transfer, Boot & Saddle, Winterfest, and the 2013 PHS Pop-up Garden. For more information about FCM Hospitality, visit fcmhospitality.com or call 215-568-1616.

ABOUT JASGP AND SHOFUSO

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia is a private nonprofit organization that has connected Philadelphia and Japan since 1982 through art, business, and culture. JASGP operates Shofuso, produces Shofuso Cherry Blossom Viewing, and presents the US-Japan Business & Public Policy program, as well as other arts, business, culture, and educational programming for all ages. For more information, visit japanphilly.org.

Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center is a traditional Japanese house and garden located at Horticultural and Lansdowne Drs., Philadelphia, PA 19131. Shofuso is open for weekday admissions to the public from March 20 to October 31, Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. Adult admission is $12; senior citizens, students with ID and children ages 5-17 admission is $8; ACCESS card holders’ admission is $2; and JASGP members, active duty military with ID and children under 5 are admitted free. For information, visit japanphilly.org.