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“Common creatures, in other cities, dress to live; but in Paris people live to dress.” – Charles Dickens (1867).

We all know how Paris has been inspiring fashion addicts for centuries, but it is fascinating to discover the evolution of the shopping process.

The Shopping in Paris exhibition, showing at the Spain Gallery of the Philadelphia Art Museum until October 25th, pairs, among its nearly 35 garment and accessories, the luxurious designs of leading couturiers such as Charles Worth, Emile Pingat and Paul Poiret with American fashion items inspired by these Parisian designers.

The exhibit also underlines the radical changes in ladies fashion at the corner of the century, evolving from stiff, heavy gowns to light, leg-showing dresses as women were experiencing a newly found independence.

Shopping in Paris French Fashion 1850-1925
Now through October 25, 2009

Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA”Ž
(215) 235-3200

Ortlieb's is one of Philadelpia's most time-honored music venues. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

From 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday, Ortlieb’s Jazz Haus in Northern Liberties has a few wonderful Happy Hour specials that go swimmingly with its authentic jazz sets.

The deals include:

- Free order of wings w/ every pitcher of beer (!!!)
- $1 off all draft beers
- $1 off all appetizers
- $2 kabobs of the day
- $2 bottles of Miller Lite and Miller High Life

Music to my ears!

Once 7 p.m. has passed, stick around Ortlieb’s to hear great live music well into the night, or take a look at these other Northern Liberties hot spots.

CLICK HERE to visit Ortlieb’s official Web site

Ortlieb’s [gophila.com]

Attention all you pink ladies and T-Bird wannabes, the Tony award winning classic, Grease is set to premier for a limited, two-week engagement at the Academy of Music in July. So grab your hair gel and leather jackets because tickets are selling fast!

The new Broadway production stars the very talented Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel – the imaginary dream man to a certain confused and somewhat perplexed Frenchie (one of my favorite characters), who struggles with the idea of attending beauty school.

But, more about Mr. Hicks; you will probably remember him from American Idol fame, as winner and front runner from seasons past. And now his talented voice has landed him a gig right here in our fair city! He was no American Idol dropout.

Tickets for the first Broadway Series production of the 2009-2010 season are currently on sale and range in price from $25 to $75 with a limited number of VIP premium seats available for $100. Tickets can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office on Broad and Spruce streets (open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad and Locust streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances.

Performances run Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8 PM and Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM; matinées on Saturdays begin at 2 PM and 1 PM on Sundays. Get ready to hand jive because it’s going to be a rockin’ good time.

Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org

Joan Shepp’s namesake shop, packed among the chain stores of Walnut Street, is a true standout. Shoppers feel cooler just walking into the industrial-chic, white-washed space, which feels more like a downtown loft than a boutique. After over 35 years in the business (her first two stores opened in the suburbs in 1971), Shepp is Philadelphia’s reigning queen of high-end fashion. She and her daughter make annual trips to the major fashion weeks and use their discerning eyes to choose pieces that are trendy and sophisticated.

The result is a carefully curated designer selection of everything you need to get dressed: shoes, accessories, bags, and a mix of wardrobe staples (smartly tailored shirts and Jil Sander pants) and avant-garde looks (asymmetrical patterned Gaultier dresses). There is a smattering of new designers on the racks, but tried-and-true names prevail: Yohji Yamamoto, Sonia Rykiel, Ann Demeulemeester, and Junya Watanabe are among the perennial favorites.

And if you’re so busy salivating over everything you need some extra help navigating the collection, you can set up a personal style consultation with one of the boutique’s seasoned staffers.

Joan Shepp
1616 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-735-2666
www.joanshepp.com

Ever look up at one of the signature Philadelphia murals and say: “I wish I could paint something like that.” Well, this is your chance! The city wide mural project, This We Believe, is letting everyone get their hands dirty to paint a mural that will be seen all over Philly.

The project, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Mural Arts Program, started in February with two teams competing for the design of the mural. In May 4,500 Philadelphians cast their votes and a winner was announced. The winning design brightly captures Philadelphia’s past and present and the people who live in it.

The full mural will hang in 30th St. Station and the Gallery at Market East before being divided into segments to hang in neighborhoods throughout the city. There are six days to paint during June and July so grab a brush, and a friend, and help paint our town.

Mural Arts Project Paint Days

Sunday, June 21
Allens Lane Art Center, 601 W. Allens Lane, 10AM – 1PM

Saturday, June 27
John Perzel Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent Street, 10AM – 1PM.

Sunday, June 28
Wall St. International, 1431-39 N. 52nd Street, 10AM – 1PM.

Wednesday, July 1 during Sunoco Welcome America! 1PM – 3PM
Rittenhouse Square, 18th and Walnut Street
Logan Circle, 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Washington Square, 7th and Walnut Streets
Franklin Square, 6th and Race Streets

Saturday, July 18
Colombus Square, 12th and Wharton, 10AM – 1PM

Saturday, July 11
The ARC/PDDC, 2350 West Westmoreland Street, 10AM – 1PM

For all those jaded by the overabundance of chain java joints and hipster coffeehouses, it’s time for a visit to 3 Sisters Corner Cafe in Fox Chase. The Northeast might not be the first place you think of when looking for a cool coffee shop to visit, but 3 Sisters can compete with any of the trendy spots in Philly.

What makes 3 Sisters stand out is it’s simple menu of tea time treats. Their famous Madeleine cookies are a must! At only $1.80 for a trio of the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth treats, don’t pass up this opportunity to indulge. And speaking of indulgence, you can’t get much more lavish than Aunt June’s Decadent Chocolate Cake.

But the diet-conscious won’t be disappointed either, with my personal favorite no-carb Frittata Popems, an omelet shaped like a cupcake boasting a distinctive zing of Worchester sauce. The homemade lump crab quiche, tasty tuna salad and broiled filet mignon panini with roasted red peppers and Swiss cheese all got rave reviews from my crowd.

There’s little pretense in this tightly packed little shop that features a full blackboard of java and teas. Victorian sweetness of lace and needlepoint is thankfully balanced out by the shop’s rich lacquered tables and mismatched china.

And what would a coffee shop be without some poetry! 3 Sisters doesn’t disappoint; it’s the home to The Fox Chase Reading Series hosted by the Mad Poets Society and The Fox Chase Review. Readings are scheduled for the 4th Saturday of every month at 2 P.M. Next reading is set for June 27, featuring Amy King and Amy Ouzoonian, followed by Vincent Quatroche and Timothy Gager in July.

3 Sisters Corner Cafe
7950 Oxford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111
(215) 725-6848

Brand new this year is the 2nd Street Festival in Northern Liberties, happening this Saturday, June 20, 2009.

The festival will take place on 2nd Street in Northern Liberties between Green Street on the south end and Germantown Avenue on the north end.

The festival is free to attend and there will be lots of live music, more than 60 local vendors on the street, children’s activities, and, yes, plenty of delicious food.

About the food. Vendors will be located all along the half-mile stretch of 2nd Street. There will also be three beer gardens along the way operated by local restaurants and bars.

Some food vendor highlights:

- Standard Tap Beer Garden & Food
- North Bowl Beer Garden & Games
- 700 Club Beer Garden
- Cantina Dos Segundos
- A Full Plate – Serving Vegan Foods!
- Rustica
- Greenwood Kitchen

And then you have the new restaurants at the Piazza at Schmidts as well as the places on Liberties Walk.

So bring your appetite. There will be plenty to eat.

First Annual 2nd Street Festival in conjunction with The Popped Music Festival

Popped! Music Festival [gophila.com]

The bar (right) and entrance at Chifa. (Photo courtesy of Chifa)

Put on your drinking caps, boys and girls: Tonight is Night 3 of Center City Sips. You know the drill by now: discounts on beer, cocktails and appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m., with free parking in Center City after 5.

This week, we’re happy to spotlight Chifa, the Cantonese-Peruvian restaurant by culinary wunderkind Jose Garces. Located on Philadelphia’s “Mini Restaurant Row” (7th and Chestnut, joining the ranks of Union Trust, Jones and Morimoto), Chifa’s tapas and cocktails, complex yet fresh in flavor, are wowing taste buds both near and far.

Tonight’s your chance to put Chifa to the test. The following special items fill the CC Sips menu:

- Appetizers: Ecuadorian ceviche ($5) and pork belly buns ($4)
- Beer: Kenzinger and Cusqueña (both $2)
- Wine: Sauvignon blanc and Malbec (both $3)
- Cocktails: Sparkling lemonade and “Mula Cuzco” (both $4)

Dig in, have fun and don’t forget to tip your bartender.

Chifa [gophila.com]

Center City Sips [gophila.com]

West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Fest, June 19-21; Photo courtesy WOL

Thousands of people are expected to attend the 6th Annual West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival this weekend.

And in addition to all the great music and art, the food is a main attraction.

Check out the impressive selection of food offerings the festival organizers have put together:

Aquil Fish and Wings
Fish, Chicken Wings, Shrimp, Fries, Lemonade

Arnold Goldberg
Roasted Corn, Stuffed Baked Potato

Chef Ali’s Kitchen
Fish, Chicken, Shrimp, Crabcake Platters, Kabobs, Asst. Sides, Iced Tea, Lemonade

Coco Bongos
Smoothie in Novelty Cups

Festival Food Management
Funnel Cake, Chicken Tenders, Fries, Lemonade

Hot Diggity Dogs
Hotdogs, Sausage, Chicken Wings, Pretzels, Coffee, Punch

Hot Spot Foods
Louisiana Cajun Fried Chicken, Sausage, Shrimp Jambalaya

Irish Ice
Irish Ice, Cotton Candy, Kettle Corn

La Authentica
Kabobs, Rice and Beans, Corn, Arepas, Pork Platter, Pina Coloda

Liberty Concessions
BBQ Pork, Chopped Brisket, Pulled Chicken, BBQ Ribs, Fries, Lemonade

Montegonia Delite
Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Fried Fish, Oxtail, Rice and Peas, Sides, Iced Tea

New Fizon
Cheese Steak, Fries, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Parm, BBQ Chicken

Payne Catering
Fried Wings, Fried Fish, Sides, Fried Shrimp, Water Ice, Lemonade Punch, Iced Tea

R&D Specialty Foods
Kabobs, BBQ Chopped Chicken, Wingettes, Grill Doggs, Bigg Bigg Burgers, Sides

Sara Festival
Gyro, Sausage, Fajitas, Cajun Chicken, Falafel, Greek Salad, Fresh Cut Fries and Chips, Grilled Veggies, Iced Tea, Lemonade

Taste Catering
Fried Whiting, Crabcake, Wing Platter

Mmmm… Everything.

The food court area will be located in the middle of the festival, on Ogontz Avenue between Walnut Lane and Tulpehocken Street.

CLICK HERE to download a festival brochure, complete with festival tips, a festival map, and a full performance schedule.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Festival’s official website.

West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival [Gophila.com]

Last year’s Seaport Starlight Cinema Outdoor Movie Series

Looking for a free ride this summer? The Independence Seaport Museum has got you covered with a host of no-cost activities. First up, is the Museum’s free outdoor Wooden Boat Festival that’s set for June 21. But, if you’re looking to get inside the museum and check out some of the nautical themed exhibits, like the new Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, visit on Sunday mornings, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. to take advantage of the Pay-What-You-Wish program.

With the Seafarin’ Saturdays program, little sailors can have some free fun. Every first Saturday of each month, the museum hosts a free activity, like a craft or lesson. It’s free with regular museum admission. Also on the first Saturday catch free Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Olympia & Becuna. Here you can get a VIP tour of the famous Philly residents and tour spots usually off-limits to the public, like the Olympia’s triple expansion steam engines, boiler room, and working ash hoist. You’ll even get the chance to take a peek through the sub’s periscope. These special tours are free with regular museum admission and run from 12 to 4 P.M. Just remember only landlubbers 12 years and older can tour the ships and you need to be able to climb steep stairs.

If cinema rather than the sea is your thing, come to the Seaport Starlight Cinema Outdoor Movie Series scheduled throughout the summer. There’s no red ink to this event, but there will be plenty of tattoos. Enjoy flicks with a body art theme while celebrating the Seaport Museum’s newest exhibit Skin & Bones. The first movie debuts on Tuesday, July 21, followed by August 18 and September 15.

More after the jump!

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