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Phanatic fans with the "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" statue, submitted via Facebook by Christine.

Last week we asked you to submit your photo with any of the Phanatic statues around town and you did not disappoint. We did our best to pick five winners, one of which is above (view the other four after the jump).

The statues have been removed from their locations and will be on display at “Phanatic Walk” at Citizens Bank Park beginning Friday, September 3rd through the end of the season. On Saturday, September 11th from noon to 4 p.m., the ballpark will open “Phanatic Walk” to fans — no game ticket necessary.

If you’re interested in the chance to own one of the Phanatic statues, the Phillies are currently holding an online auction where fans can bid on a few of the statues each week. Click here for the official auction page.

Thanks for being such great Phanatic fans and check out this week’s other four winners after the jump.

“Phanatic Around Town” Summer Promotion [Visit Philly]
Phanatic Around Town Auction [Phillies]

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Earlier this summer, local food lovers congregated at Pub & Kitchen for the first summer happy hour from The Food Trust. That gathering was such a success that they’ve decided to do it again. This time, the locavores (and the people who love them) will be gathering at London Grill (23rd and Fairmount Ave.) on Thursday, September 2nd (that’s this week!) from 6-8 p.m.

There’s no cover charge to attend and proceeds from the event will go to support our area farmers’ markets. And speaking of markets, make sure to come with a few extra bucks in your pocket – the Fairmount Market takes place during those hours and so in addition to tossing back a few with likeminded foodies, you can also pick up a few ingredients for your next meal.

The beginning of September means two things in my book: back to school (though that hasn’t applied to me in quite some time… I should really update my book) and the Live Arts & Philly Fringe Festivals!

Oh, and no more wearing white. But who really cares about that, anyway? Clearly the exciting point here is that the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival is beginning this weekend.

That means that hoards of artists will take over the city for two weeks to perform upwards of 200 original productions that will run the gamut from theater to dance to music, comedy, puppetry, and even visual art installations. The majority of artists are Philly-based, but many hail from across the country and even around the globe.

The Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe are actually two separate festivals under one big umbrella.

Live Arts is a curated Festival, with high-profile companies specifically chosen to perform their shows. And Philly Fringe is something of a massive free-for-all, in which anyone with a spark of creativity and the passion to produce a show can hop on stage.

Both festivals host groundbreaking, exciting, and often completely unexpected works in venues all around the city.

The official website is a portal to everything you need. Check it out to find great shows — you can search by artist, genre, location, or even use the online matchmaker to find the perfect Live Arts show for you.

You can also get your surprisingly cheap tickets online, which are further discounted for anyone 25 and under (sweet!).

Also, there’s a handy iPhone App.

Oh, and I’d be remiss not to mention the Festival Bar in Northern Liberties, which springs to life on Friday night and will be open for the duration of the festival. This bar is like none other, featuring art installations, cabarets, dance parties, and rock bands along with the DJ’s. (Full Festival Bar schedule here.)

The Festivals comprise some of the most exciting arts events on Philly’s calendar. So get psyched, and stay tuned for some more info about selected shows.

2010 Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival
September 3rd – 18th
At all times, and all over the city!
www.livearts-fringe.org

A Philly-area rooftop container garden (photo by M. McClellan)

Whether you’ve got an active community garden plot, space in your yard for organized planting or even just a few carefully tended pots on your south-facing window sills, the upcoming PHS Gardening Festival will have something for you.

The Festival will take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Saturday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will showcase gardening tips, seasonal winners and some of the special programs open to area gardeners from the PHS. Experts will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and a number of demonstrations will taken place throughout the day. Philadelphia Flower Show lovers should also take not, a sneak preview of the 2011 show will also be on view.

Bring the kids, as there’ll be plenty to interest them as well, including the high-speed Veggie Races and a fun water station complements of the Philadelphia Water Department. PHS will also be announcing the winners of its annual City Gardens Contest and there will be live music all day.

The event is free so don’t miss it!

The fried chicken at Adsum. (Photo courtesy Adsum)

Whether it’s a plate of authentic buttermilk-battered fried chicken with collard greens or a high-end restaurant’s take on Korean fried chicken, these down-home eats are sure to appease your comfort-food cravings.

Here are just a few places to pick up some finder-lickin’ dishes across the Philadelphia region:

• The retro, rec-room vibe at Jones complements the kitchen’s comfort eats — and the fried chicken served over waffles with gravy is the stuff that homey dreams are made of.

• At the upscale soul-foodery Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar Lounge on South Street, mac and cheese, tropical sweet tea and sweet potato cheesecake serve as the perfect accompaniments to the crispy, perfectly seasoned fried chicken.

• Chef Matthew Levin stated that he simply wanted to make fried chicken “as good as Popeye’s” prior to opening Adsum this summer. By all accounts he has succeeded and then some… Rick Nichols declared the fried chicken at Adsum is the best in the city.

• Despite its craft beer bar ideals and family-friendly sensibilities, the Grays Ferry neighborhood corner bistro Resurrection Ale House has already won glossy magazine mentions for its honey-drizzled, twice-fried thighs. In June, Bon Appétit rated Resurrection as one of the Top 10 Places for Fried Chicken in the country.

• Chef David Katz gets out the deep-fryer at Mémé on Thursdays, when the lunch special includes fried chicken, a biscuit and a beer (or lemonade or iced tea) for $11.

• Korean fried chicken — salty, sweet, spicy and double-fried to joyful crispness — is in a category of its own, and unassuming hangout Café Soho serves a winning basket of these addictive wings, to be washed down with pickled daikon and icy glasses of soju. 468 W. Cheltenham Avenue, (215) 224-6800

• The signature “broasted” birds at Speck’s Drive-In remain a Collegeville legend. Shatteringly crunchy pressure-fried breasts are embellished by homemade potato salad, fries and/or coleslaw — not to mention thick black and white milkshakes. 3969 Ridge Pike, Collegeville, (610) 489-2110

• Korean fried chicken gets a swanky upgrade at Meritage on Thursdays, where a $25 dinner for two yields six pieces, ’slaw, pickled vegetables and sesame spinach, plus a can of Sapporo beer.

Granite Hill will be the name of the new Starr-operated restaurant at the Museum. (Photo courtesy The PMA)

Granite Hill will be the name of the new Stephen Starr-operated restaurant at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The new restaurant is replacing the former, very literally-named Museum Restaurant, and is scheduled to open on Friday, September 3rd.

Back on August 1, Starr Events took over the day-to-day food and catering operations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its four main eateries: The Museum Cafe, the Balcony Cafe, the Perelman Cafe, and the Museum Restaurant.

While the three cafes have been open for business, The Museum Restaurant (the Museum’s signature dining destination) has been closed since August 1 to allow for the transition and a new concept.

And now Starr is ready to debut the new restaurant.

Beginning on September 3rd, Granite Hill will be open for lunch on Tuesday through Sunday, dinner on Friday evenings (starting on September 10), and Sunday brunch (starting on October 3).

Granite Hill will offer upscale, irreverent twists on approachable French fare. You can expect menu items like Fried Wianno Oysters, with Madras curry remoulade, petit vegetable slaw, & preserved lemon; a Le hot dog on brioche: a D’Angelo Bros chicken boudin blanc sausage with toasted gruyere, onion confit, tarragon mustard & house made kettle chips; a Filet Frites, with Merlot tarragon butter, twice-fried Kennebec potatoes, Minus 8 vinegar; and entrée-sized salads such as the Warm Shrimp Salad with Mesclun greens, avocado, & lemon beurre blanc.

Granite Hill is intended to be the pinnacle of Starr Events’ European vision for all the museum’s eateries (they’re operating all four) and will inspire seasonal menu items at the other Museum cafes. Starr Events wanted the restaurant to have a vibe that feels like a café at Harrods in London or Barney’s New York.

We’re definitely eager to check it out.

Museum Cafés Get the STARR Treatment [Philadelphia Museum of Art]
Earlier:
Stephen Starr’s Reign at The Philadelphia Museum of Art Begins, French Influences Abound in New Cafe Menus

A couple weeks ago, we at uwishunu HQ were excited to share the news that the Food Trust was bringing a evening hours food bazaar to the city. Well, now we’re pretty much over the moon with the newest details. The Night Market will take place on Thursday, September 30, from 6 – 10 p.m. at the intersection of Tasker Street and Passyunk Avenue.

It’s the first of six such markets to be held throughout the city over the course of the next 18 months and is sure to be a rollicking good time. Make sure to bring some cash, a few good friends and a very empty belly.

Last month, we first made mention of Feastival.

It’s an event in its first year (spearheaded by Stephen Starr, Michael Solomonov and Audrey Claire Taichman), designed to raise money for this city’s beloved Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival.

Feastival will feature a delectable array of food — all donated by area restaurants — as well as performances by Festival artists and two auctions (live and silent). It’s going to be an amazing event and we want you to attend!

That’s right, we have a pair of tickets — valued at $200 each! — to give away for the Feastival, which is taking place September 15, 2010 from 6-9 p.m. at the Festival Hub at 5th and Fairmount Streets in Northern Liberties.

The contest begins today, August 30, 2010 and ends Friday, September 10, 2010 at 12 noon. Just fill out the form below to enter. The winner will be selected by random drawing and will be notified on September 10. Note: You may submit one entry per day for the duration of the giveaway (but no more than that!).

Official rules may be found here. You must be 21 or older to enter. Just enter your information in the form below.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway. The entry period has ended. The winner will be contacted shortly.

Feastival [Official Site]

Image courtesy of McGillin's

Though we’re still having some blazing hot days, last week’s cooler temperatures was good reminder that fall is rapidly approaching. Happily, there’s no need to mourn the end of summer, because the advent of autumn means that the many Oktoberfest celebrations aren’t far away.

McGillin’s, Philly’s oldest watering hole, is celebrating the season with a month-long Oktoberfest celebration. They’re adding an array of classic German dishes to their menu and will be pouring German beers throughout September. Festivities kick off on September 2 and run straight through to the Midtown Village Fall Festival on October 2.

Make sure to get down there during the month and cozy up to a plate of German Style Grilled Sausage with Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Red Cabbage and Warm German Potato Salad. It’s good, filling food and goes great with beer!

This Saturday, August 28 the Upper Merion Farmers Market will host its first annual Family Fun Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market patrons of all ages are invited to race in the Zucchini 500, a just-for-fun test of summer squash speed. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. and the fastest cucurbits will receive a bit of UMFM Money, which is accepted by all market vendors. The UMFM Committee will also name the best decorated, best use of vegetables, most colorful, funniest, and unique zucchini racers, so come prepared to make your zucchini stand out.

Registration is $2. For that, you’ll receive a set of two wooden axles, 4 wooden wheels, and 4 wooden axle caps. Register at the UMFM Committee tent on Saturday before 10:15 a.m. If your backyard doesn’t contain an overgrown squash plant, appropriately sized zukes can be purchased from several of the UMFM vendors on race day. Rules and regulations for the Zucchini 500 can be found here.

In addition to the race event, the market will offer face painting for children. The folk and Americana sounds of Fiorenza-Dowlin will accompany the Family Fun Day events.

The Upper Merion Farmers’ Market is found at 175 West Valley Forge Road in King of Prussia. The market is located at the back of the Township Building in the Township Park.