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The drawstring scarf at Topstitch Boutique

Enter to win a gift of your choosing from our Philadelphia Holiday Gift Guide. One lucky winner will get to choose from 15 locally sold gifts. Check back daily, at 1PM, for new gifts each day now through mid December. Even if you don’t win, you might discover a great gift idea.

A favorite of Philly 360 blogger Rakia Reynolds (just check out her video, and this Photo of the Day), today’s Gift of the Day, a drawstring scarf, comes from Topstitch Boutique, a shop in Northern Liberties.

Philadelphia’s very own Maren Reese has designed several different styles of her clever drawstring scarf. You can clinch the string to make the scarf an organic, geometric ruffle or let the string out to make it a belt, bolero or neck wrap.

The scarves retail in the shop at $75 to $120. To learn more about Topstitch, visit the boutique’s official website.

Topstitch Boutique
54 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-8877
www.fleathers.etsy.com

Get some last minute holiday shopping done at Johnny Brenda's on Sunday, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Friday

Holiday Show & Sale @ Mew Gallery
Tonight, the gals at the Mew Gallery are teaming up with local Philly blog McJawn to throw a last minute, holiday sale and party. Local bands, awesome sales, and excellent artists… what more do you need?

A Christmas Carol @ the Walnut Street Theatre
Last chance to catch this show at the Walnut Street Theatre is tonight and tomorrow!

The WaitStaff @ L’Etage
Tonight is the last performance in their weeklong holiday-show extravaganza at L’Etage. Catch some holiday-improv tonight!

Saturday

Art Star in Northern Liberties
Those creative crafters from the Art Star Boutique are taking over No. Libs for a sale of epic proportions. 5% – 20% off most retail shops in No. Libs (depending on how much you shop), discounts at restaurants, and more. Read on.

Santa @ McGillin’s Olde Ale House
That’s right, Old St. Nick is making a stop at McGillin’s. Drop by, take a photo, and have a beer with Santa. He’ll be at the pub from noon til 5pm.

Jose Garces Book Signing @ Chifa
You can catch this top chef at his famous Latin-Asian restaurant, Chifa, today from 2 to 4pm. Free pork belly buns for attendees. Go!

Jane Velez-Mitchelle @ Giovanni’s Room
The author of iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Over-consumption to a Simpler, Honest Life, will be reading selections from her book at Giovanni’s Room.

Glorious Sound of Christmas
Last night for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Glorious Sound of Christmas show at the Kimmel Center.

South Street Winter Solstice
Sure, it’s cold out, but you can warm up at the Magic Gardens or Eyes Gallery, while shopping at boutiques along South St. Just another great, last minute shopping idea.

Sunday

Dru Bruin @ Giovanin’s Room
Butch Bear Calendar 2010 coverman Dru Bruin is visiting the bookshop to greet fans and sign calendars. This is his only Philly area appearance, and calendars will be available in store… but supplies are limited!

Last Minute Shopping @ Johnny Brenda’s
Fishtown’s Johnny B’s is hosting a holiday shopping bazaar today. Grab brunch, do some Christmas shopping.

Located in the heart of the Latino community, Isla Verde brings the breezy and sophisticated atmosphere of the Caribbean — along with a mostly tapas-centered menu — to a somewhat unlikely corner in North Philadelphia. On the weekends, the sleek spot turns into a hip lounge with a DJ on Friday nights and a live house band on Saturday nights. (Photo by G. Widman)

Isla Verde [gophila.com]

National Constitution Center, G. Widman for GPTMC

Yesterday, the National Constitution Center announced their new, upcoming exhibit, set to launch in February of 2010… Ancient Rome & America. The exhibit will showcase the cultural, political, and social connections between ancient Rome and modern America.

Organized into five separate galleries: Introduction, Building a Republic, A Classical Revival, Expansion & Empire, and Epilogue, the exhibit will featuring over 300 artifacts from Florence, Naples, and Rome, paired with pieces from institutions across the United States.

This includes busts of George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson paired with sculptures of Julius Caesar and Cicero, original gladiator weapons paired with Philadelphia Eagles equipment (awesome), and slave collars from both ancient Rome and the United States.

The NCC has all kinds of special, family-friendly events planned for the exhibit, which runs until August of 2010. I’ll be sure to post some photos and updates when we get them.

Ancient Rome & America @ the NCC
Opening February 19th, 2010

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

Inside the Mew Gallery

Tonight, the Mew Gallery is hosting a last minute holiday show and sale from 6pm to 10pm. They’ve teamed up with the artists / bloggers at McJawn, and everything will be priced under $100.

And there is music! Local groups The Divine Lorraine and Chicken Ate The Dog will be performing at the shop.

So stop by, shop, and get some last minute holiday shopping done.

Holiday Show & Sale @ the Mew Gallery
Tonight! Friday, December 18th, 2009
6pm – 10pm

Mew Gallery
906 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 625-2424
www.mewgallery.org

Inside the Art Star Boutique. Shop here first!

The Art Star Boutique, that wonderful shop that’s responsible for the annual Art Star Craft Bazaar, is taking over Northern Liberties tomorrow, offering up a full day of discount shopping and dining through out the neighborhood.

They’ve teamed up with over 30 independent boutiques, restaurants, and bars for an incredible shopping spree, with deals that escalate with each purchase. Let me explain.

Participating shops will be dishing out “spree” cards and giving 5% off all day. Shop at any of these retail locations, and you’ll get a sticker on your spree card. Once you’ve obtained that sticker, you’ll get 10% off at your next shopping location. The next shop, 15%. The next, 20%!

So, the more you shop, the more you save, up to 20%. Most locations will also have free gift wrapping, and select restaurants and bars will offer specials to those with at least two stickers on their Spree card. The indie shopping spree runs from 11am to 8pm, with shops participating from Spring Garden to Girard, and between 2nd and 5th Streets.

Word on the street is that Santa will also make an appearance in Northern Liberties, making his rounds from shop to shop. If you spot him and present him with your Spree Card, you’ll get a gift. Discount coupons, gift certificates, free products… he’ll have all kinds of swag on him.

I’ve got the full list of participating boutiques and restaurants after the jump. Have a look!

Art Star Northern Liberties Shopping Spree
Saturday December 19th 11am – 8pm
From Spring Garden to Girard Streets and between 2nd & 5th Streets.

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Hudson Beach Glass' suspension bowl was recently highlighted by Chef Jose Garces, and made an appearance on an episode of Iron Chef.

Enter to win a gift of your choosing from our Philadelphia Holiday Gift Guide. One lucky winner will get to choose from 15 locally sold gifts. Check back daily, at 1PM, for new gifts each day now through mid December. Even if you don’t win, you might discover a great gift idea.

Today’s Gift of the Day comes from a hidden gem, Hudson Beach Glass, a wonderful glassworks shop tucked away on Strawberry Street in Old City.

This dazzling suspension bowl was designed and produced by Sean Gilvey, the owner of Hudson Beach Glass. The bowl comes in a variety of colors, including sapphire, purple, forest green and copper. The bowls retail for $150, and are available at the shop.

Uwishunu videoblogger Stephen Metzger paid a visit to Hudson Beach back in June, and shot a wonderful video of Sean at work. Check it out after the jump!

Hudson Beach Glass Studio
26 South Strawberry Street, Philadelphia PA, 19106
(267) 319-1887
www.hudsonbeachglasspa.com

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Tattoo fans, listen up! The fantastic tattoo exhibit at the Independence Seaport Museum, Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, closes up shop on January 3rd, 2010. This means you have a little under three weeks to scope out the exhibit. After that, you’ll just have to stick to looking in the windows along 4th and South.

Uwishunu blogger Carrie Estok visited the exhibit back in June, and reported that along with the extensive gallery of tattoo art, the exhibit is “complimented by additional programming, such as a fall screening of the documentary Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry, which was directed by Philly native Erich Weiss.”

You can also tour the exhibit on New Year’s Eve at the museum, while watching fireworks off the seaport’s second floor terrace.

Skin & Bones Tattoos Exhibit
Now through January 3rd, 2009

Independence Seaport Museum
211 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3199
(215) 925-5439
www.phillyseaport.org

Philadelphia native and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) alumnus Barkley L. Hendricks is the subject of Birth of the Cool, the first career retrospective of the acclaimed artist. Hendricks is known for his life-sized portraits of people of color, seemingly transforming ordinary subjects (and sometimes, as seen here, himself) into larger-than-life celebrities. The exhibition runs through Jan. 3, 2010. (Photo courtesy of B. Hendricks)

Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool [gophila.com]

This Saturday, our friend (we interviewed him, that means we’re buddies, right?) Jose Garces is hosting a special holiday book signing at his acclaimed Latin-Asian restaurant, Chifa.

Fans of Garces will be able to purchase copies of his new cookbook, Latin Evolution, and meet the chef for a signing. Plus, attendees will be able to enjoy free pork belly buns (from Chifa’s delicious Buns & Beer menu) and order drinks at Chifa’s bar, which will be open during the signing.

Chifa will also be selling special gift certificates, good for any of Chef Garces’ five Philly restaurants (Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Village Whiskey and Chifa). For every $250 gift card purchased, an additional $25 gift card will be included. Nice!

The signing takes place from 2pm until 4pm, Saturday, December 19th. For more information on the signing, or to just learn more about Chifa, visit Chifa’s official website.

Holiday Book Signing @ Chifa
Saturday, December 19th, 2pm – 4pm

Chifa
707 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5555
www.chifarestaurant.com