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The 2009 First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art is simply loaded with a wealth of fun events. From lectures, to book signings, to performances, so it’s really hard to pick out the best-of-the-best. However, this food tour was an easy pick, since it features one of the city’s best local bloggers, Art Etchells.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, Art Etchells, the main man behind Foobooz, will take folks on a tour of Center City’s best burgers and beers, from gastropubs to restaurants. Space for this event is limited, so hurry up and score some tickets. Tickets are $50 to the general public, but remember, you’re getting dinner and sampling beers and burgers all over Center City.

Plus, you get to hang out with Art! He’s a great guy, and this is an awesome sounding tour. Don’t miss it.

Edible World Foobooz Burger Cruise
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
6PM – 9PM

First Person Arts Festival
November 3rd – 8th, 2009
www.firstpersonarts.org

If Marie Antoinette became a punk and turned Versailles into a denim boutique, it would probably look something like Maison du Very Bad Horse. With the paint-splattered Louis XVI settee and a baroque elk-skull chandelier, Maison du Very Bad Horse’s relatively new location in the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties is the brainchild of local designer, Kim Montenegro. Kim describes herself as someone who lives her life in a pair of jeans and says her work came out of living a blue collar lifestyle, and initially made clothes to wear to the factory where she made more clothes.

Formerly known as Very Bad Horse while at the store’s first location on N. 3rd Street in Northern Liberties, Montenegro says the name comes from a Buddhist parable describing people as four different types of horses. The store’s namesake is the most stubborn of the horses, the fourth “very bad horse.”

While Montenegro definitely merges Buddhist philosophy and a fantasy-like French chateau aesthetic, and despite the fact that her clothes have been sold as far away as Japan, she maintains that all of Maison’s clothes are made in Philadelphia and that she only hires local printers, giving some hometown street-cred to one of Philadelphia’s most unique boutiques.

Maison Du Very Bad Horse
1050 North Hancock Street #80, Philadelphia, PA 19123
www.verybadhorse.com

Ryan Howard on the cover of the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated (Image courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

As we all eagerly anticipate the start of the World Series tomorrow night, we’ve created a Phillies/Yankees rivalry page!

Discover how to tell a Phillies fan from a Yankees fan, check out a comparison between the two cities, learn the history of the teams’ match-ups, get the scoop on a few players to watch and a bunch of other nuggets of information (did you know the Phillies and Yankees are the top two homerun hitting teams in baseball?).

You’re also encouraged to send a Phillie Phanatic postcard to a fellow Phillies fan… or even to a Yankees fan who could use a little goading.

For you Phillies (or Yankees) fans making your first trip to Citizens Bank Park for this weekend’s games, we’ve included a photo slideshow to give you a small taste of the awesome-ness that awaits.

Let’s go Phils!

Phillies vs. Yankees: 2009 World Series [gophila.com]

(Click here for original image.)

Living in Philadelphia, we’ve got our pick of places around the city to go and watch the World Series with a collection of friendly, like-minded fans. However, for Phillies fans in NYC, safe harbor for game watching is a lot harder to come by. That’s why members of the uwishunu family are heading up to Manhattan tomorrow to host a With Love World Series viewing party.

Festivities begin promptly at 4 p.m. at Shorty’s (576 Ninth Ave.). GPTMC staffers will be giving away “shorty sized” cheesesteaks until game time and also have a cache of $100 gift certificates (good at any Jose Garces restaurant) to give away whenever on of the Phils hits a homer. We’re fairly certain a good time will be had by all!

Make sure to tell your NYC-based friends about the party (and invite them back to Philly for the weekend games)! For more details, make sure to check out the event page on Facebook. For what other blogs are saying about the event, click here and here.

Grab a cheesesteak at Reading Terminal, check out a BYOB and just say no to the Phanatic (left and top right photos by G. Widman, bottom right by M. Edlow)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, you’re well aware that the Philadelphia Phillies won the National League Championship last week, which earned them a trip to the World Series for the second year in a row. For this sports obsessed city, a World Series bid is cause for some intense celebration.

Thing is, not everyone living in the Philadelphia region is interested in the athletic goings on (we realize that this comes as a shock to those of you who own enough Phillies gear to outfit a farm team). For those who are nonplused by baseball, we offer this guide to surviving the city over the next week.

-Stay away from bars with televisions. Unless you want to observe Phillies fans in the manner of an anthropologist, we recommend avoiding locations where the game will be shown. Foobooz has put together a helpful list of local bars that don’t have sets or you can check out our BYOB guide (no bar equals far fewer fans in attendance).

-When your co-workers start talking about the Phils, just smile and nod. If they require a reply, simply say, “How ’bout dem fightin’ Phils, jawn!”

-If you find yourself struck by a cheesesteak craving over the next week, skip the South Philly destinations and opt for a visit to Reading Terminal Market (it’s neutral turf for foodies and sports fans alike).

-When dressing for work in the morning, consider avoiding your blue pinstripes (Yankees colors). Simple red and white will guarantee you safe passage in the coming days.

-If you typically keep your car parked street side, think about looking into a garage for high-impact game nights (particularly this coming Saturday and Sunday nights). We have a parking page that offers an exhaustive list of PPA deals and discounts.

-Consider investing in a sturdy pair of ear plugs, for the inevitable 12 a.m. outdoor fan reactions.

Phillies Superfan Kate Atkins' true colors shine brightly against the icy backdrop of Antarctica.
(Photo supplied by K. Atkins)

Yesterday, we asked the Phillies Phaithful among you to tell us what makes you Superfans.

Our first Phillies Superfan, Kate Atkins, battled the icy cold of Antarctica to show off her Phillies pride. Here’s her story:

I’ll let my actions speak for themselves. Last winter on an expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, I climbed a swiftly melting glacier overlooking the Drake Passage. As I packed for the trek a week before, I thought to myself, what flag shall I fly at the summit? The answer was easy. My World Series Game 4 rally towel.

Kate Atkins: Superfan.

Oh, indeed. We salute you, Kate! Fly that flag proudly!

Who’s going to be next? Send us your story!

Phillies Fever: Are You a Superfan? Tell Us Why! [uwishunu]

Photography courtesy Smith's Playground

The last day of Smith’s playground season couldn’t wrap up on a better day.

This Saturday, the season ends with a Halloween Celebration, from 10AM to 1PM. This free event features face-painting, an obstacle course, crafts, and of course… a Halloween costume party. Afterward, guests are welcome to enjoy the Playground and their new Tot-Lot, a section of the park made just for kids 5 and under.

For more information on the park and directions, please visit their official website.

SMITH The Kids’ Play Place in the Park
East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 765-4325
www.smithkidsplayplace.org

In Philadelphia, nobody does classic soul food better than Ms. Tootsie's. Next-door to the BYOB café is Ms. Tootsie's Lounge, where the "Ms. Tootsie's Tootsie Roll" is the signature, candy-garnished cocktail. (Photo by G. Widman)

Ms. Tootsie’s Café, Bar and Lounge [gophila.com]

Another view of Ms. Tootsie’s Lounge:

Mixing and mingling in the comfortable, swanky space at Ms. Tootsie's Lounge. (Photo by G. Widman)

Jimmy Rollins predicts the Phillies win the World Series in five games last night on The Jay Leno Show on NBC. Clip below.

Well said Young James.

Hat tip to The 700 Level.

Head over to the lobby of The Bellevue for a day-before-the-World-Series pep rally, starting today at 11 a.m.

The Phillies Ballgirls will be giving away rally towels for the first 200 guests, the Phillies Whiz Kids Band will lead the crowd in classics like “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and a drawing will be held for Phillies gear.

After the rally, grab lunch in the Bellevue’s Food Court; mention this promotion and, if wearing Phillies gear, you’ll receive a free soda with purchase.

Park Hyatt at the Bellevue [gophila.com]