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. 
 

Message from CEO: Philadelphia FIGHT Celebrates 20+ Years of Saving Lives

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

This year, I'm proud to serve for the first time on the host committee for the Philadelphia FIGHT's 2013 FIGHT for Life Gala. On Wednesday, December 4, 2013 we celebrate over 20 years of the FIGHT to save lives and to honor Governor Ed Rendell. I invite you to join me at the Union League and help support FIGHT's important work. 

• Why is this important? 
• Not familiar with FIGHT? 
• Why should you give with all the great causes out there? 
• Why give NOW?

Good questions! While there are many life-saving and important causes in the city (including many I support), why I signed on is because FIGHT is quietly working behind the scenes, but is in fact the most comprehensive LARGEST HIV/AIDS service organization in our city. It serves ALL Philadelphians, gay, straight, questioning, black, white, latino, homeless, etc. While this is what first got me interested, what sealed the deal my visit to one of their very unique pilot programs, the Youth Health Empowerment Project "Empowerment Center." Homeless youth and young adults can access prevention services and support, take workshops, take showers, have a safe space during the day (and even some night/weekend hours), participate in activities, enjoy two stable and solid meals a day, get tokens, clothes - or simply relax in a safe space away from the rest of the world. I hope to host a free "friend" tour of this amazing space next year! 

The other development that shows how FIGHT serves our community is the announcement of a Spanish-speaking HIV clinic to open on Dec. 11 at the North Philadelphia Prevention Point space. FIGHT is proud to open this new facility that is a first of its kind in the city. This hit the news on Thursday and is a top reason to support and give NOW!  (For more about this, visit G Philly, WHYY Newsworks and Al Dia.) 

2013 Honoree Governor Ed Rendell 

FIGHT's other services include the AIDS Library, Project TEACH, Critical Path Project, HIV counseling and testing, computer labs and the Jonathan Lax Center. In the spring, I hope to host some friends on a tour of their facilities, including a stop in the Y-HEP Empowerment Center and the AIDS Library. 

While I host many (MANY!) events during the year nearly all of them are free or very inexpensive. FIGHT is one of our hand-picked charities (besides City of Hope) - and this is one of the few times a year we ask you to give and donate out of your own pocket.

Please consider joining us at the event or consider a donation of any size. Auction items are also welcome! 

For tickets, click here, call 215.525.0372 or email mmarsico@fight.org. If you want to hear more about FIGHT or take a sooner vs. later tour of FIGHT please let me know! 

Thank you for considering, and we hope to eat, drink and BID on great auction items with you on December 4th. Happy Thanksgiving if I don't see you beforehand! 

Best, Kory Aversa
CEO/ Aversa PR & Events

Party Pictures: Aversa PR Grand Opening

Thank you to our friends, family, clients and sponsors for making the grand opening of our new office a big success!  On Saturday, June 8, 2013 we hosted more than 200 people for food, drinks, circus fun, live music and more during a special "Second Saturday" block party. If you are in the neighborhood and missed the event, stop by and see our new digs at 1141 Pierce Street, at 12th and East Passyunk Avenue.   

Food and Drink Sponsors

• Art of Bread by Georges Perrier
• Bitar’s 
• Chhaya Café 
• Devil’s Alley 
• Francoluigis and High Note Cafe - 
• Ms Goody Cupcake truck 
• NOIR Restaurant 
• Serrano 
• SliCE 
• Smokin’ Betty’s
• Toast 

‘Chefs/Mixologist for a Day’ 

• Linda Arceo, Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps 
• Arthur Etchells, Foobooz
• Natanya DiBona, Co-Chair of Diner en Blanc 
• Jennifer Reed, One Curly Fry in a Box of the Regular 
• Janeane Tolomeo, Phillyism 

Special Thanks

• Philly Chit Chat’s HughE Dillon
• Brat Productions 
• City of Hope Philadelphia Office 
• Cloth  
• East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District
• Eviama Life Green Spa & Boutique
• Fly School Circus Arts & Mary Kelly Rayel
• Headhunters Hair Design 
• Pretzel Crisps
• Sealed with a Kiss
• Tri-State NYE
• UBER
• Many others!