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Fall produce at the Headhouse Square Market (photos by M. McClellan)

You’ve got your turkey. The potatoes, onions and squash are ready and waiting. But wait! You forgot to get apples for pies! And you’re just not going to have enough time to make homemade rolls. What’s a Thanksgiving host who likes to shop local to do?

You have a few options. You can hightail it over to the Fair Food Farmstand at Reading Terminal Market (they’re open until 6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). You can go and plead your case to a local farmer. Or you can swing by one of the six special pre-Thanksgiving Farmers Markets that the Food Trust is hosting this Wednesday and make sure that you have the most bountiful Thanksgiving around.

You’ll find these special markets at Broad and South, Clark Park, Cliveden Avenue and Johnson Street, 22nd and Fairmount, 52nd Street and Haverford Avenue and Headhouse Square. The complete list of locations and the times they’ll be open is after the jump.

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When it comes to men’s fashion in Philly, our guys don’t follow trends, they create them. From works of art disguised as sneakers to locally designed high fashion tees, we’ve got everything your stylish heart desires. Take a peek inside Abakus Takeout, Blue Sole Shoes, Duke + Winston, Made to Order and Ubiq to get the scoop on the urban fashion scene with Philly 360 Fashion Ambassador, Rakia Reynolds.

Can’t get enough? Check out Philly 360’s Top Boutiques for more listings.

www.gophila.com/philly360
www.twitter.com/philly360

Newly crowned Iron Chef Jose Garces celebrates with some of his delighted fans. (Photo by Chris Sembrot)

The Next Iron Chef viewing party that Jose Garces hosted last night at Distrito quickly turned into a rocking victory party after Jose was triumphantly named The Next Iron Chef.

So, congratulations are in order to Chef Garces on yet another amazing achievement.

Way to go, Chef Garces — you’ve made us proud yet again!

Meanwhile, we’re thrilled that Philadelphia is lucky enough to have Jose Garces and his five amazing restaurants — Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Chifa and Village Whiskey — so that we can visit them whenever and enjoy the wonderful food and drink as often as we like.

AND we can’t wait to see what Chef Garces has in store for us next!

Iron Chef Jose Garces congratulated after the win. (Photo by C. Sembrot)

Chef Garces busts out the moves for some well deserved celebratory dancing. (Photo by C. Sembrot)

Don’t forget to check out our With Love Letters Q&A with Chef Garces himself, in which Jose reveals some of his favorites places to visit and things to do in Philadelphia.

Garces cooks up an ‘Iron Chef’ title [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Next Iron Chef Jose Garces’s Solid Technique Dominates Kitchen Stadium [Grub Street Philadelphia]

(Photos by Chris Sembrot)

Perspective drawing of Beth Sholom Synagogue, 1954. Copyright © the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

For modern architecture buffs, the Philadelphia suburb of Elkins Park it a must-see destination. That’s because it’s the home of Beth Sholom Synagogue, the last structure that Frank Lloyd Wright completed during his lifetime (it’s also the only synagogue he ever designed). However, in recent years, seeing and touring this masterpiece has been a challenge, as there haven’t been regular hours during which it is open to the public.

Lucky for Frank fans, all that is about to change, thanks to the addition of a new visitors’ center, gift shop, and staff of volunteer tour guides. They still request that you call before you visit, but seeing this amazing building is more than worth a brief phone call. Admission is $10 a person and the funds collected go to preserving the historically designated building.

Beth Sholom Synagogue
8231 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-887-1342

(Clockwise from bottom left) Laurel Hill, a cemetery with a pedigree; the Mütter Museum; and a performance by the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. (Photos courtesy of Laurel Hill Cemetery, B. Krist and phillyfunguide.com)

What does “normal” mean, anyway? In Philadelphia, you’re free to explore whatever kooky interest your heart desires — and we’ve got the historical facts to back it up. Philadelphia, thanks for encouraging us to fly our freak flags.

Dear People Who Like Strange Things,

We totally get you. In fact, we have tons of quirky and cool characteristics too.

1.   Philadelphia holds some off-the-beaten-path museums. The Mütter Museum features medical curiosities; The Insectarium devotes its space to creepy crawlers; the Weaver Historical Dental Museum covers all-things mouth-related; and the Temple University School of Podiatry Shoe Museum displays a shoe collection that rivals Carrie Bradshaw’s.

2.   A pre-Super Bowl ritual, the Wing Bowl entertains, feeds and astounds more than 20,000 people. Amateur speed eaters race to see who can gobble the most chicken wings in a set period of time.

3.   Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829 with central heating, running water and flush toilets—amenities that the White House didn’t have. The prison housed gangster Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton.

Peek into Al Capone's cell at Eastern State Penitentiary - it's still decorated as Al left it. (Photo by K. Ciappa)

4.   The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts provides proper training for trains those who dream of running away to join the circus. Students learn how to fly on a trapeze, juggle, ride a unicycle and more.

5.   And speaking of clowns: The Stoogeum in Lower Gwynedd is the world’s first and only museum of Three Stooges memorabilia.

6.   The world’s only full-size statue of Charles Dickens resides in University City’s Clark Park. Peering up at him is one of his most famous fictional characters, Little Nell.

7.   Historic Mount Laurel Hill Cemetery’s “Millionaire’s Row” comprises elaborate mausoleums that serve as the final resting places for some of Philadelphia’s most prominent 19th-century citizens. Among the Victorian-era cemetery’s occupants are Civil War General Meade, six Titanic victims and names like Rittenhouse and Strawbridge.

This Thanksgiving, We’re Thankful For… [uwishunu]

The Official Philly Brag Book [gophila.com]

Photo by Jessica Griffin for The Philadelphia Orchestra Association

As a part of a special Thanksgiving offer, the Philadelphia Orchestra is offering up tickets to this weekend’s performances for only $30. The Orchestra will be performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 19 and Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony.

To take advantage of the offer, log into the Philadelphia Orchestra’s official website and use the promotion code “TURKEY”. You can also call their box office.

The Philadelphia Orchestra
www.philorch.org

The Kimmel Center
Broad & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org

Photo courtesy the Memphis Taproom

The Memphis Taproom is saying showing their thanks a little early this week.

On Wednesday, the popular Kensington pub will be pouring all their draft beers for just $3 a glass, all day and all night. They’ve got an impressive list of beers on tap, according to their website. Have a look:

- PBC Joe
- Yards Brawler
- Kwak
- Lepziger Göse
- Bear Republic Mach 10
- Port Panzer Imperial Pilsner
- De Ranke Noir
- Sierra Nevada Celebration
- Popering Hommel Bier
- Elysian Saison Poivre

Then after Thanksgiving, the Taproom will be hosting a special holiday brunch from noon to 3PM, featuring six new and unique lagers from Franconian.

Memphis Taproom
2331 E. Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125
www.memphistaproom.com

Who knew corsets would make such a comeback? The folks at Delicious Boutique, that's who -- their handmade, feminine designs have drawn celebrities from all over to their Northern Liberties shop to lace up. (Photo by M. Kennedy)

Delicious Boutique [gophila.com]

The Pabbit is going country. For one night at least.

Pub & Kitchen is hosting a “Country Delight” party this Tuesday night. They’ll be country music, cowboy hats and cowboy boots as well as $3 cans of beer and a special southern-inspired dinner menu of Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Kale for $14 by Chef Jonny Mac. There will also be $6 pints from firkens of Sixpoint Righteous Rye Ale.

And guests can hoedown to the sweet sounds of country music mega-stars like Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McIntire, and Vince Gill. YEEHAW!

The party begins at 9 pm. (The fried chicken dinner special will be available for dinner guests earlier in the evening as well.)

Pub & Kitchen [Gophila.com]

Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC

With the Thanksgiving holiday almost here, a lot of us are busy getting ready to spend time with friends and family, preparing our homes for an epic, large scale dinner. Well, the National Constitution Center is preparing for guests too, with a weekend full of Thanksgiving related activities from Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th.

At noon and 2PM, guests can sit in on the History of Thanksgiving show, which will educate visitors about the origin and importance of our national holiday. You’ll learn about the roles presidents played in creating Thanksgiving Day traditions (like Presidential turkey pardon), the food prepared at the first Thanksgiving dinner, and how the holiday has been celebrated throughout different times in US history.

There are plenty of activities for kids planned as well. Growing Up, American Style, a show held at 1PM and 3PM, will teach kids how children grew up during different time periods; what they wore, their responsibilities, etc. Guests can dress in costume for a special runway show, and between 10AM and 3PM, kids can make crafts out of corn husks.

All Thanksgiving weekend events are free with regular museum admission.

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6700
www.constitutioncenter.org