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Clockwise from top left: Chef Arthur Cavaliere of Parc, Mark Coates of Bebe's Barbecue, a hoagie from Paesano's, Chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav (All photos courtesy of Sandwich Smash)

Sandwich Smash hits on Sunday.

Presented by Unbreaded, the unique fundraiser is part chef demo, part interview and part epic sandwich tasting event.

Five of Philadelphia’s top chefs will make their signature sandwiches in front of a live audience. The audience will get to enjoy the chefs’ creations — in the form of a staggered five-course meal, where each course is one of the five featured sandwiches.

And as each chef is preparing their sandwich on stage in front of the audience, they will be interviewed while they cook by Esquire Food Editor Ryan D’Agostino.

The chefs will each talk about a sandwich that reflects a certain place and its people: the Philly cheesesteak; Southern BBQ; and the flavors and techniques of France, Italy and the Middle East.

The lineup of chefs and their sandwiches:

- Chef Peter McAndrews of Paesano’s in Northern Liberties / Fishtown will be preparing The Paesano Brisket Sandwich.

- Chef Arthur Cavaliere of Parc on Rittenhouse Square will be preparing a Saucisson Baguette.

- Chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav in Old City will be preparing a Tunisian-style Tuna Sandwich.

- Mark Coates of Bebe’s Barbecue in the Italian Market will be preparing a Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich.

- Rick Olivieri of Rick’s Steaks in the Bellevue will be preparing a classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak, Whiz With.

Chef Peter McAndrews of Paesano's (Photos courtesy of Sandwich Smash)

As the chefs prepare their signature sandwiches on stage, Esquire Food Editor Ryan D’Agostino will be there guiding the conversation. The discussion will draw out the backstories behind the food and allow the chefs to demonstrate the techniques that go into making a great restaurant sandwich. The audience will get to see how the chefs’ personalities can shape the food as much as the ingredients.

Tickets to the event are currently still available. But hurry, they may not be for long.

Tickets can be purchased online. They are $60 per ticket when you buy a pair. However, you can save 25% when you use discount code: UNBREADED.

Sandwich Smash
October 4th, 2009 (Eagles Bye Week!)
5-8 pm, Doors open at 4:30
Grand Ballroom at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at The Bellevue

In addition to the five-course meal, there will also be beverages from Anheuser-Busch, snack foods from Herr’s, and dessert from Capogiro.

Mark Coates and a Bebe's Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich (Photo courtesy of Sandwich Smash)

After the jump, see a few more photos that should give you a little more motivation to grab your tickets while you still can.

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Sure, many folks swoon over Twilight’s sulky Edward Cullen and the crew of TV’s True Blood, but please, let’s not forget the vamp who kicked the whole gothic horror genre into high gear… dear, sweet Count Dracula. Undead since the late 1800s, Dracula’s still got a dedicated fan club thanks to a literary tome that’s still part of school reading lists.

This month the Rosenbach Museum’s 7th Annual Dracula Festival celebrates this icon, whose story has prompted much speculation regarding the “real” meaning of his tale, with theories ranging from historical allegory to psychosexual intrigue. The festival features several events, from lectures, to parties, to books readings and more!

Tales from a Poisoned Past
This house tour unearths some of dangerous pieces in the Museum’s collection.
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & 31. 6 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10 & 21, 3 p.m.

The Growth of Stoker’s Dracula
Explore Stoker’s notes and learn how these papers led to the creation of a horror classic.
Oct. 25 & Nov. 1, 3 p.m.

Reading & Book Signing by Dacre Stoker
Bram’s great nephew keeps the family’s literary flame alive with his own book, The Undead.
Oct. 21, 6 p.m.

Dracula Party: A Bloody Good Halloween Event
Starts with an outdoor event in Fitler Square with face painters, a pumpkin hunt and crafts.
Oct. 24, All Day

Also, throughout October, the Rosenbach displays Stoker’s original notes and outline for his long-lived tale. You can learn more about all of these individual events on the Rosenbach’s official website.

The Rosenbach Museum & Library
2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 723-1600
www.rosenbach.org

Melody Gardot, Christian McBribe, & Lizz Wright (T, R-L), Performing @ the Kimmel in October

This October, you have plans. In several don’t-you-dare-miss concerts, the Kimmel Center is proving that Philadelphia’s jazz scene can still pack a concert hall.

Sure, remnants still remain from Philly’s former treasure chest of jazz clubs. We’re fortunate enough to still have Natalie’s Jazz Lounge and Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus. But the Kimmer Center’s jazz series will spotlight Philadelphia-born jazz luminaries on a well-deserved major stage, from bass virtuoso Christian McBride (with Grammy Award-winning pianist Bruce Hornsby) on Oct. 16 to vocalist Melody Gardot on Oct. 17 to the Lizz Wright and Danilo Pérez Trio (in tribute to legendary Billie Holiday) on Oct. 10.

For pricing information and all that jazz, visit the Kimmel Center’s official website.

The Kimmel Center
Broad Street on the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

Haunted houses are an awesome Halloween tradition. But the problem is, once you’ve been to a few, they start to blend together. You know that mannequin is going to come to life, and you know there’s at least one more scare after you think the tour is over – and that’s where you’ll lose your cool in front of your date.

But BRAT Productions is taking the conventional structure of haunted houses and turning it on its severed head, adding elements from one of the coolest Halloween staples out there – Edgar Allan Poe. The theater company is presenting “Haunted Poe,” a production that combines theater, literature, illusion and a downright terrifying stroll through a stroll through a 10,000 square foot South Philly warehouse.

The show’s premise is that Edgar Allan Poe’s remains are being brought to Philadelphia (their proper resting place) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death. But upon returning to the city where he wrote so many of his classic works, he is revived and leads guests through the retelling of 11 of his haunting stories, including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

The production runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, and the players behind it couldn’t be any more qualified. Philadelphia’s resident Poe expert, Edward Pettit, lent his Poe-expertise to the show and designed a bunch of kiosks on Poe’s life and lasting legacy for attendees to check out after the haunted stroll. Plus, Brad Helm, a former designer and technical director for Eastern State Penitentiary’s “Terror Behind the Walls,” offered his mastery of the macabre to the production.

The show promises to be chillingly scary – and it means business. BRAT says the production is meant for those 13 years and older. That’s too bad for kids who might be able to stomach to terror, but it means it’s going to be that much more terrifying and awesome for adult thrill seekers.

BRAT Productions’ Haunted Poe
Oct. 1 – Nov. 1 (times and tickets here)
38 Jackson Street, Philadelphia PA
www.hauntedpoe.com

The festival takes over historic Germantown Avenue (Photo courtesy CHBA)

This weekend is another great weekend for fall festivals. In addition to the Midtown Village Fall Festival on Saturday, you have the Chestnut Hill Fall For The Arts Festival on Sunday.

The festival features a day full of art, music, food, boutique shopping and family fun.

Beginning at 11 am, Germantown Avenue is transformed into a festive outdoor arts and crafts marketplace. Meanwhile, markets, restaurants, and bars set up shop outside on the street serving festival-goers delicious eats and drinks.

More than 150 artists will be on display. There will children’s activities, including face-painting and amusement rides, as well as live music on two stages, lots of alfresco dining, and $5 parking all day.

And considering the weather is supposed to be beautiful — there may not be a better way to spend an early fall Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, October 4, 2009
11 am – 5 pm

Chestnut Hill Fall For The Arts Festival [Gophila.com]

One of the city's most spectacular hotels, the Four Seasons Philadelphia honors the warmer seasons at its health spa. The urban oasis includes an indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool and good-mood-inducing palm trees. (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Philadelphia)

Four Seasons Philadelphia [gophila.com]

For quite some time, the only sure fire way for us Asians to get on the silver screen, was to have a black belt. Bruce, Jackie, and a wealth of other lesser known heroes brought their flying fists and roundhouse kicks to millions, and thus became the calling card for a generation. However, that time has come and gone, and breaking concrete with your bare hands is no longer considered a screen test. Over the years, from behind the lens or standing in front of it, the Asian community has found their place in American Cinema.

To recognize this continuing effort, Philadelphia marks another milestone, the 2nd Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival showcasing the best films by and about Asian Americans.

From October 9th – 11th, enjoy some movie screenings, engage in some Q & A, and celebrate the Asian experience in America. To learn more log on to the official website. There you’ll find screening locations, information about the films, and more.

2nd Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Oct 9th -11th, 2009
www.phillyasianfilmfest.org

It may seem strange to publicize a professional design exhibition. While design has always been more creative than other commercial efforts, what kind of vibe should visitors expect from DesignPhiladelphia? Art Show? Trade Show? Museum Tour? Rock Show?

In what has become the largest national celebration of its kind, DesignPhiladelphia is a massive exhibition, showing off the talents of over 450 designers. Now in its 5th year, designers prepare for the show by creating events, lectures and sprawling experiments for a one-of-a-kind cultural event.

As all great design should reflect the world around it, this year’s designers have created a series of recession-chic and eco-friendly projects. To bring locality and sustainability to urban design, these firms have focused on resourcefulness and building from the ground. These are welcome themes for a city and a country dealing with recession.

Among the many designers, SoReFa presents an eco-couture runway show featuring socially responsible fashion. Philly {heart} Design has produced an urban park design experiment in an empty city lot. Philly Works has created a marketplace and exhibition of locally made products.

This is a chance for lovers of creativity and culture in Philadelphia to experience what our hometown designers are all about. Some of these designs may influence future city products, projects or programs. One thing is for sure, they make for one hell of a show. For a full listing of events, lectures, and more, visit DesignPhiladelphia’s official website.

DesignPhiladelphia
Wednesday, October 7 thru Tuesday, October 13, 2009
www.designphiladelphia.org

As a child, fall wasn’t complete for me without the requisite hayride to the pumpkin patch at Freddy Hill Farms in Lansdale. There was nothing better than huddling with a group of friends at the back of a wagon as you made your way through the pumpkin path as the sun went down. And before the hayride, there was the cornstalk maze (where I always got lost). But the best part by far was picking out pumpkins to take home and decorate.

Take the family to Freddy Hill Farms any weekend in October and check out the pumpkins, pig races, pony rides and petting zoo, which features a whole bunch of farm animals. And don’t forget to grab a glass of cider. Autumn comes but once a year.

And if you get lost in the maze, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.’

Freddy Hill Farms
1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA 19446
www.freddyhill.com

(Clockwise from left) Noble: An American Cookery, a rendering of Midatlantic Restaurant and Tap Room, and Village Whiskey. (Photos by J. Varney for Noble, courtesy of Midatlantic Restaurant and Tap Room, and by Fanny Allie for Village Whiskey)

Today’s grand opening of Pizzeria Stella, the latest from dining mastermind Stephen Starr, calls for some culinary contemplation: What are the best new restaurants in Philadelphia, culled from an ever-growing list of new places to wine and dine?

We’ve chosen our favorite five — plus a few on the horizon (ahem, Percy Street Barbeque) — in our Top Five New Restaurants: Fall Edition. Thanks to new gems like Noble and Bibou, supping and sipping has rarely been so pleasurable as this fall.

Read on — and if you’ve discovered a new dining experience we just can’t miss, by all means, let us know!

Top Five New Restaurants: Fall Edition [gophila.com]