Uwishunu.com

This just in! Tomorrow night, from 6PM to 8PM, Philadelphia’s South Moon Under is hosting a charity shopping night to benefit the Sixers Charities, an organization focused on “helping kids succeed in school, form well-rounded lives, and, most of all, have fun.” Each year, the charity reaches out to over 35,000 kids in the Delaware Valley.

The Sixers Dancers will be at the shop, modeling all the latest in denim looks, and serving drinks (Skinny Water cocktails) and nibbles from Public House. And speaking of, there’s an after-party scheduled at Public House, which features an open bar from 8PM to 9PM, with DJ Montone spinning all night long.

Sixers Charity Night @ South Moon Under
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 @ 6PM

South Moon Under
1731 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4115
(215) 568-2170
www.southmoonunder.com

The first time I walked into this gallery of handmade beauty and skincare products, I was in pure awe. The store smells fresh, looks great, and is by all means intriguing. One could easily spend a good hour smelling the products (bar soap, hand soap, shampoo, lotions, etc.) and checking out the unusuals like pet products and man boxes. The first thing that ran through my mind while in Duross & Langel was that it is a great place to buy gifts! That is, of course, after you buy a few things for yourself.

At Duross & Langel you get all natural products that are made on site and not overpriced. Owner Steve Duross is very hands-on in the process and even comes up with the recipes himself! The store has a very local feel that is perfect for the store/customer relationship.

If you haven’t yet heard of D&L, then shame on you, because they are celebrating their 5 year anniversary on November 5th and plan to celebrate heartily. There will be a series of parties leading up to the big 5-year bash, including open kitchen events where customers can come watch and help Steve make soaps, like an autumn sugar scrub and Halloween soaps – for free!

Also, in honor of the 5-year anniversary, D&L will start its pre-Holiday sale two weeks before Thanksgiving. They’ve also got later hours planned during the sale. Is it sad that I’m hoping for a cold soon so I can buy some of D&L’s Breathe balm? It is SO good. Get there.

Duross & Langel
117 South 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-SOAP
www.durossandlangel.com

Halloween. To most people, Halloween means costumes and candy. To Society Hill Dance Academy, it means dancing. And not just any kind, but the spooky sort. The kind of dancing that involves werewolves, zombies, vampires… you know, all that good Halloween-ish stuff. The sort that only Michael Jackson’s Thriller can provide.

Come Friday, October 30th, Shana Vitoff and the rest of the Society Hill Dance Academy team will be teaching a special Thriller dance class. The SHDA folks do this every Halloween, and year after year, it packs the studio. Check out a video, here!

The course is an hour long, from 8:30PM to 9:30PM, and is open to anyone who wants to take it. Tickets are $20 a person.

And don’t worry. Shana won’t stop you from dressing the part.

Thriller Night @ Society Hill Dance Academy
Friday, October 30th, 2009
8:30PM – 9:30PM, $20 a Person

Society Hill Dance Academy
409 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
(215) 574-3574
www.societyhilldance.com

The Phanatic will be at the pep rally (sorry, no hot dog bazooka today).

Mayor Nutter will lead the charge at a Phillies Pep Rally today from 12 noon to 1 p.m., taking place at City Hall’s Dilworth Plaza.

Also in attendance will be the Phillie Phanatic, Phillies Ballgirls, Fightins alum Darren Daulton and PA announcer Dan Baker.

Being seasoned vets of Phillies pep rallies, we have some tips to offer:

- Wear Phillies Red. You’ll stand out like a sore thumb if you don’t.

- Get there early! (Meaning, leave now.) You don’t want to be craning your neck to see the notable speakers.

- Bring your camera. This is a day to remember!

Now that we know we’re playing the Yankees, it’s time to get extra crazy in the name of the Fighin’ Phils. See you there!

Phillies Pep Rally Today [Philly.com]

Since opening its original doors in 1973, The Wilma Theater has shined a light on local artists and productions. Now located in a large space along Broad Street, The Wilma makes its mark in the theater-filled area known as "The Avenue of the Arts."

The Wilma Theater [gophila.com]

The Edgar Allan Poe House, Photo by R.Kennedy for GPTMC

Earlier this month, the city of Baltimore finally gave Edgar Allan Poe a proper burial 200 years after his birth.

The fact that he received a proper burial stands to make the famed writer’s resurrection for Poe’s Cask at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site on October 29th all the more terrifying and supernatural. On that devilish night, the man himself (or park ranger and trained actor Helen McKenna-Uff) will come alive once more to act out and retell one of his most chilling tales, The Cask of Amontillado.

For those unfamiliar with the haunting story, it follows the aristocratic Montressor (portrayed by Poe/McKenna-Uff) as he leads his “friend” Fortunado (played by Paul Campbell) deeper and deeper into the catacombs beneath a local festival in search of a rare and mythical wine — the Amontillado. As the pair travel deeper underground, Fortunado imbibes heavily on less valuable libations, precipitating his eventual unfortunate end.

There’s no better place to see Poe’s saga recreated than the Poe House with the dark dreary basement doubling as the horror-inducing catacombs. The fact that Poe will be placed as one of the story’s main characters adds a unique and sinister twist to the original tale. Catch one of two shows at 6:30 and 7:30 — a perfect pregame for Halloween night.

Poe’s Cask
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
6:30 & 7:30 p.m.
For tickets ($10), call (215) 861-4971.

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
530 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 597-8780

Oh First Person Arts. You sure have come a long way since your humble beginnings above L’Etage. Now you guys regularly host salons, lectures, readings from critically acclaimed authors, and oh… your amazing, week-long festivals.

Next Tuesday, November 3rd, the eighth annual First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art kicks off, taking over the Painted Bride in Old City through the 8th.

Special guests include Ruth Reichl, the editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine, Rita Mae Brown, author of Animal Magnetism and 40 other books, and singer/songwriter Sara Lee Gutherie, the granddaughter of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. There are even some local celebrities involved, including one of our favorite bloggers, Art Etchells of Foobooz.

A majority of this year’s events will take place at the Painted Bride Art Center in Old City, with tours and art exhibits scattered across the city. For a full schedule of events, visit First Person Arts’ official website, because there are twenty two events lined up through the week. From authors to filmmakers to food tours… this is going to be a great festival. Don’t miss it.

First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art
November 3rd – 8th, 2009
www.firstpersonarts.org

Photos courtesy of ESPN

In its article “What’s Not to Like About Philly?” (great title!) ESPN outlined 15 reasons to root for the Phillies (and, by extension, Philadelphia) during the World Series.

Here’s a choice reason:

Reason No. 15 — City of Love?

Philadelphia is crazy about this team — and that doesn’t happen very often. The city bear hugs them. If the most cynical* sports fans on the planet are heads over cleats about these guys, then they must be worth the effort.

Said Phillies reliever Ryan Madson: “I think we’re just ordinary guys that just do extraordinary things.”

*Cynical? Nah. Passionate? Of course!

Give the 15 reasons a read here. What would you add to the list?

What’s Not to Like About Philly? [ESPN]

Reading Terminal Market hosts a Harvest Festival this Saturday! Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Friday

Halloween Flashlight Tours @ Laurel Hill
Tonight AND tomorrow, Laurel Hill Cemetery is hosting their popular, annual Halloween Flashlight Tour. The tours last an hour and take you through the cemetery’s landscape, while you listen to the history of the grounds.

Body Vox @ the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
BodyVox’s Water Bodies hits the Annenberg Center this weekend, a full-length production of dance and… well, water! There is a performance tonight and on Saturday.

Saturday

Bloktoberfest
Ah, Bloktoberfest. I’ve been waiting for this block party for the past few weeks. The 2000 block of Christian Street will be taken over, from noon til 8PM, by breweries, food trucks, live performances, and a flea market. Here’s hoping the weather holds up, cause this looks fantastic. Update: The Flea Market has been postponed until October 31st, due to weather. Bloktoberfest is still on, rain or shine.

Muralisimo @ the Piazza
The Graduate Hospital a little too far out of the way for you? Closer to Northern Liberties? Well don’t worry, Mural Arts and the Piazza have you covered. Today, the Mural Arts Program is celebrating their 25th Anniversary with Muralisimo at the Piazza. Live musicians, Halloween activities for kids, and free mural tours through out the city, make this an outstanding celebration.

Masquerade Ball @ National Constitution Center
Get yourself all dolled up, because today is the NCC’s Masquerade Ball. Get fitted for a tiara, learn proper etiquette, and bring the kids! Children under 12 can enter a costume contest, enter a scavenger hunt, and more.

Pumpkinland in Headhouse Square
Headhouse Square might look a little funny today, considering the bales of hay, pony rides, and pumpkins scattered about. That’s because of Pumpkinland, Headhouse Square’s family-friendly fall festival.

Sunday

Sunday: Ryat & DJ Statik @ the Painted Bride Arts Center
A new series launches at the Painted Bride today, entitled Atypical. Their first feature, Noise Makers, brings a handful of unique musicians to the Bride’s stage.

Harvest Festival @ Reading Terminal Market
Originally scheduled for last week, the festival was bumped up a week due to poor weather. Tractor rides, a pumpkin patch, gallons of apple cider… yup, this sure sounds like a harvest festival to me.

Dinner & Concert @ Moonstone Arts Center
Feldie, Philadelphia’s jazz scene know-it-all, is hosting a special Sunday dinner concert with local musician Dan Peterson. Dan is whipping up his famous chili and cornbread at Moonstone Arts Center, and will be performing a set with his new trio.

Why is this woman smiling? Well, it's the weekend, and she's at Standard Tap. If you're looking for excellent microbrews, pull up a bar stool and let the Tap's local beers work their magic. (Photo by G. Widman)

Standard Tap [gophila.com]