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Photography courtesy the Chemical Heritage Foundation

Philadelphia’s Chemical Heritage Foundation is no stranger to cool First Friday events. And on Friday, October 2, it has something extra to celebrate – its one-year anniversary.

And the folks at CHF have put together a great evening of events, starting with a wine tasting hosted by Tria Café’s wine director and partner, Michael McCaulley. While guests sample the double-fermented Spanish cava, McCaulley will educate visitors on the wine-making and fermentation process.

And the educating-meets-partying doesn’t stop there. Jennifer McCafferty of JPM catering will be on hand, decorating miniature cupcakes marked with atomic elements and organized into the shape of the periodic table.

It’s creative events like these that make CHF such a unique First Friday destination. Plus both regular exhibit galleries – sLowlife and Making Modernity — will be open throughout the evening. Best of all, the entire night is free. Some come out and help CHF celebrate – who knows, you might just learn something.

First Friday @ the CHF
Friday, Oct. 2, 5:00PM – 8:00PM

Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA
www.chemheritage.org
(215) 873-8258

Fall Festivals on October 3 (photos by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

For those of you looking for something to do on October 3rd, you have no shortage of options. Fall is festival season in Philadelphia and this Saturday bursting with fun, seasonal events. In addition to it being the first weekend of the Philadelphia Open Studios Tour (all studios east of Broad Street are open), there are four neighborhood festivals that are worth checking out.

• - The Fall Festival at Greensgrow Farms kicks off its inaugural year with an urban harvest festival right on their Kensington farm. Attend and you’ll find tons of food, crafts for the kids and local foods that you can take home for dinner. The festival is at 2501 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125 and runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine.
• - East Falls Arts by the River will returning, rain or shine, for another year at Inn Yard Park. Shop local crafts and food, and stay for the live music that starts at 1 p.m. Ridge and Midvale Avenues, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• - The second annual River City Festival in Fishtown is a free day of live music, activities for kids and lots of community building, all at Penn Treaty Park on the Delaware waterfront. Beginning with the River City 5K Run, at 10 a.m., the festival goes until 5 p.m. and much fun is sure to be had.
• - The Revolutionary Germantown Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. with a Craft Fair in the Carriage House at Cliveden and runs until 7 p.m. Events include historic house tours, colonial reenactments and puppet shows. It culminates with Oktoberfest at Grumblethorpe from 4 – 7 p.m.

For even more fall festivals, check out our pages devoted to our Top Five Fall Festivals and Harvest Festivals.

This isn't your typical treehouse. Out on a Limb, part of the new Tree Adventure at Morris Arboretum, takes you on a 450 foot-long canopy path to a "bird's nest," raised more than 50 feet off the ground. (Photo by M. McClellan)

Tree Adventure at the Morris Arboretum [gophila.com]

Pork Belly Buns at Chifa (photo courtesy of Chifa)

Beginning October 1st, Jose Garces’ Peruvian and Cantonese fusion spot, Chifa, will be offering a hot new happy hour deal. Called Buns & Beer, they’ll be offering four different ways to indulge in this post-work special. $10 will get you one beer and one bun, $15 buys two beers and two buns, $20 earns you three beers and three buns and yes, $25 gets you four beers and four buns (if you’re sharing with friends, that’s a pretty darn good deal).

The beer and bun pairings include:

- Pork Belly, Hoisin and Pickled Carrot with togarashi mayo on steamed white bun paired with Flying Fish OktoberFish
- Grilled Chicken, Panca Emulsion and Bacon with frisee on pan de bono, paired with Philadelphia Brewing Company Kenzinger Lager
- Braised Duck and Cilantro with spicy guava on brioche bun, paired with Elysian Brewing Company Immortal IPA
- Shrimp and Chile Mayo with avocado on steamed white bun, paired with Allagash White

This happy hour special runs from 5-7 p.m., Monday through Friday through October. A deal this good is sure to be packed, so go early and go often!

Chifa [Gophila.com]

They’re coming up just short of unburying the body.

Brat Productions is celebrating Edgar Allan Poe, the poet, author and legendary figure of the macabre, by uniting literature, history, theatre and horror in a 10,000 square foot South Philadelphia warehouse.

The theatrical amusement, Haunted Poe, comes now, 200 years after Poe’s birth. The celebrated author, who wrote most of his best-known works while a part of Philadelphia’s legendary 19th-century publishing landscape, died 160 years ago under mysterious circumstances in Baltimore, where he is buried today. Brat hopes to bring some of that haunted element back.

With tickets priced between $10-$25, you’ll be able to follow an eerie maze of chambers with short vignettes aimed at shock and surprise. The scariest warehouse L&I will let you enter is at 38 Jackson Street, just below the Snyder Plaza in the Pennsport neighborhood of South Philly.

The program begins with the premise that the author’s remains have been exhumed from Westminster Cemetery in Baltimore and brought to Philadelphia for the anniversary of his death — Oct. 7, 1849. Back in the home of his greatest literary achievements, Poe is brought back to life to guide us through his imagination. The 11 featured tales include “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat,” and, yeah, “The Raven,” all of which were written by Poe while living in Philly.

This isn’t any chainsaw-wielding horror show, but, in true Poe fashion, reliant on psychology and timing. The show is funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative with additional support from the Marketing Innovation Program. Haunted Poe will run October 1st through November 1st. Performance dates will coincide with the Third International Edgar Allan Poe Conference: The Bicentennial, scheduled for October 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

Check out the official website for more information.

Brat Productions’ Haunted Poe
October 1st – November 1st, 2009
www.hauntedpoe.com

If you’ve never heard of Paco Peña, or you’ve never seen him perform, you owe it to yourself to do a few YouTube searches for the world-renowned flamenco guitarist. It’s amazing just to watch this guy’s fingers dart across the fret board all while strumming in that traditional flamenco style.

But a couple of online videos won’t cut it. For a truly authentic – and vastly superior – performance, you can check him out at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, Oct. 3. The show – titled, A Compás! — In The Rhythm – will feature much more than just Peña’s guitar work. Additional musicians, vocalists and dancers will join him onstage for a spontaneous performance that captures flamenco’s raw energy.

Peña’s been playing professionally since he was 12. With more than 40 years under his belt, he can easily be considered a virtuoso. And with so many other artists joining him onstage, this show will surely be a unique and energetic performance.

The concert is the first in the Kimmel Center’s World and Pop series, and there’s no better way to kick the set of concerts off than with a chance to see one of the world’s premier flamenco guitarists – only at the Kimmel Center.

Paco Peña, A Compás! — In The Rhythm @ the Kimmel
Saturday, October 3, 2009, 3 p.m.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.kimmelcenter.org

I used to work at small magazine called MetroKids. You can guess who the target audience is. No, not kids – parents. Why did I share this tidbit about my past life with you? Because I used to see notes and ads all over the mag about Baby Loves Disco, and I was intrigued.

Baby Loves Disco started right here in Philly and has since expanded throughout the entire world! No joke! This super-fun event transforms the hippest nightclubs into baby-proofed disco halls. On select afternoons in your city, you can take your toddlers to this dance party to mingle with other parents and let your kids work on their motor skills.

This fall, after your kids (and maybe you) are refreshed from an afternoon nap, and before you throw something together for dinner (or order take-out), head on out to a Baby Loves Disco party.

Real music. Real DJs. Real booty-shaking. Pick from one of BLD’s next events in Philly, all of which are from 2PM – 5PM at the Shampoo Nightclub.

Sunday, October 4th, 2009
First Fall Event! Boo Baby Boo!

Sunday, November 1st, 2009
Pajama Party: Baby Loves Disco’s 5th Birthday Celebration

Sunday, December 6th, 2009
Dance for a Cause (Proceeds Support a Local Charity)

Tickets are available at their official website and will cost you $10 in advance, $13 at the door. And as BLD says, all “walking humans” need a ticket, but crawlers are always free!

As the last Sunday in September approaches, we can only hope for good weather. However, that should not stop you from enjoying the 47th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade!

Youth groups, community organizations, schools, corporate sponsors and many others across the tri-state area participate in making this parade a showcase of Puerto Rican and Latino culture. With over 5,000 people in attendance, some of our region’s best performers come to take the first place trophy home.

The parade begins at 12 noon at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, marches north along 16th Street to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and winds up at Eakins Oval near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And just in case you forget your favorite shirt, there are plenty of vendors wandering the streets selling shirts, flags and more.

When you’re done I recommend heading to El Centro de Oro and eating at Isla Verde Café…watch out though because the traffic might be heavy. However, if you want to stay in the area for authentic Latino food, head on over to Mixto or Distrito .

47th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade
Sunday, September 27th, 12 noon
Benjamin Franklin Parkway

47th Puerto Rican Day Parade [Official Site]

(All photos by B. Krist)

If you watched last night’s episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (of course you did) then I’m sure you noticed the prominent role the legendary Italian Market played in the storyline.

This is far from the first time the gang from has visited the historic Ninth Street market, as our It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Itinerary can attest, but any time they venture out of Paddy’s and into the city we get excited. Don’t worry, no spoilers here (can a sitcom even qualify for spoilers?), instead let’s focus on the awesomeness that is the Italian Market.

Fact: the Italian Market is huge. Ten city blocks huge. And as you know, if you’ve ever had the opportunity to frequent the market… or watched the show last night, you can find nearly anything here, including fresh fruits and veggies, fish, meats, spices and, apparently, even cassette tapes.

Between the stalls on the street, gourmet shops, bakeries and restaurants are serving some of the best dishes in the city. While the market still maintains it’s strong Italian heritage, international cuisine abounds. Di Bruno Bros., Sarcone’s, Sabrina’s Café, and La Lupe are among the most popular places, but there are plenty of hidden gems to be found in the expansive market.

(Counter-clockwise from top left: photos by B. Krist; top right: photo by R. Kennedy)

Of course we can’t talk about the Italian Market without mentioning the world two most famous cheeseteak spots, Pat’s and Geno’s. Located directly across from one another, both are open 24 hours a day, for you convenience, and the atmosphere alone is a good enough reason to make a stop. Well actually, you could say that about the entire market.

Obviously, we could go on and on, with the Italian Market being one of our favorite places and all, but much like last night’s episode, all good things must come to an end.

(Left to right: photos by B. Krist and R. Kennedy)

The Italian Market [gophila.com]

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Itinerary [gophila.com]

The New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival (Saturday, photo courtesy of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce) and MGMT (Performing Sunday)

Friday

Restaurant Week: Last Chance!
Today’s the last day! Go! Enjoy some of the best deals in Center City dining for one last day.

Humor Abuse @ the Suzanne Roberts Theatre
This sure-to-be-wonderful show opens up tonight on Broad St. We’ll have a full review of the show here on the blog in the coming weeks.

Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo
Takes place today and tomorrow, and it’s the first time Whitman brings their awesome expo to our fine city. Go make them feel welcome, we want them to come back here again. Plus, it’s free.

Pumpkinfest @ Shady Brook Farms
The festival starts today and runs through the month of October. $10 a person gets you access to a wealth of activities, definitely worth checking out.

Sonny Rollins @ the Kimmel Center
Still time to score some tickets to see this jazz legend! Visit the Kimmel Center’s website to pick some up!

Saturday

Campus Philly’s College Day
Tons of discounts all around the city, including free admission to select museums. Check out all the details here, and go explore the city!

New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival
With music, food, and, as you can imagine, tons of crafts, this wonderful festival takes up New Hope’s gorgeous Main St. Runs today AND tomorrow.

Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown
Philadelphia’s leading expert on Chinatown, our own Albert Lee, has all the details. Come dance, eat, and celebrate under the full moon by the friendship gate.

Philly DJ Day in Fairmount Park
Today, some of the area’s greatest DJs will take over Fairmount Park for a full day of mixing and music. Aaron has all the details.

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