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Philadelphia vendors at the New York Vendys (photos by M. McClellan for GPTMC)

While it felt like just like a backyard BBQ, approximately 1,100 people came ashore on Governors Island in New York Harbor on Saturday, September 25, 2010, for the Sixth Annual Vendy Awards. The event raised more than $100,000 for New York City’s Street Vendor Project, a non-profit organization that helps protect and defend the rights of street vendors.

“The Vendys” featured fifteen food trucks competing in 4 categories ranging from Rookie of the Year, Best Dessert, People’s Taste Award, and the highly coveted Vendy Cup, awarded by a panel of celebrity judges, including Philly restaurateur, Stephen Starr.

Why, you may ask, are we posting about an event that already took place and in New York City? Because next year Philly will be hosting a Vendy Awards too! Though they did not compete this year, three food trucks from the Philadelphia region were invited up to New York to participate and be part of the announcement of Philadelphia’s own Vendy Awards competition in 2011. With the support of Philly Homegrown, the three trucks representing Philly in New York were Honest Tom’s Taco Shop, Denise’s Soul Food Restaurant and Chester County’s Birch Run on a Roll.

Watch videos of Honest Tom’s and Denise’s shot by James Beard-nominated video blogger and founder of food. curated., Liza de Guia, before the Awards.

Details of the Philly Vendys are still in the works but we’ll be updating regularly but the news has already been spreading through local and New York-based media.

The Fishtown Neighbors Association is kicking off fall with the annual RiverCity Festival — now in its third year — at Penn Treaty Park on Saturday October 2, 2010.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with the RiverCity 5k Run along the Delaware River. As the race ends, the festivities begin with live music, local arts and crafts, and some seriously good food from local Fishtown establishments.

There will plenty of activities for kids including: carnival games, a moonbounce, face painters, magic shows and more. Members from the Philadelphia Zoo are also expected at the park with a few special visitors in tow.

Throughout the day, you can learn about the area’s rich and vibrant past; including a presentation from the Leni Lenape tribe regarding the deep Native American heritage of the waterfront.

The RiverCity Festival runs from 12 noon until 5 p.m. and admission is free.

3rd Annual RiverCity Festival [Official Site]

Photo Courtesy of POST

Now in its eleventh year, the Philadelphia Open Studio Tour (POST) is an event during which artists from all over the city open their studio doors to the public.

It spans two weekends, studios located west of Broad Street are open the first weekend (October 2-3) and studios east of Broad Street are open the second (October 9-10). It is the best way I know to see where art is created, explore new areas of the city and discover some truly remarkable new art.

This year, it’s even easier to navigate POST than ever before. The event organizers have teamed up with an application developer to create an app (for iPhones, iPads and Android devices) that allows you to have all open studio information at your fingertips. The app is free and can be downloaded here.

There’s nothing in the world quite like live music. Listening to the same pieces on your iPod or sound system is just never the same after being in the presence of the real thing. One of the joys of living in Philadelphia is the abundance of live music listening opportunities and on October 11, we’ll be adding a regular concert series back to the list.

The free Student Recital Series resumes at the Curtis Institute of Music. These recitals take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 p.m. in the Field Concert Hall at the Curtis. No tickets are required, it’s simply first come, first serve. This is not some middle school recital either. Students at the Curtis are some of the top music students in the world.

To learn more about the student recitals, click here or call their hotline at: (215) 893-5261

Student Recital Series
Field Concert Hall
Curtis Institute of Music
1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA

Darth and Boba Fett on the steps of The Franklin. (Photo courtesy FI)

The Franklin Institute will be celebrating World Space Week 2010 on Saturday, October 9 with the return of Star Wars favorites Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Imperial Stormtroopers.

The popular characters, members of local costuming club The 501st Legion Garrison Carida, will make a special appearance on Saturday, October 9 from 11am – 3pm to meet with visitors and pose for pictures.

Their arrival kicks-off a series of day-long special activities and events all related to this year’s World Space Week theme: Mysteries of the Cosmos.

Including: The Franklin Institute’s PACTS (Partnerships for Careers in Technology and Science) youth program is partnering with NASA and NERC (Northeast Robotics Club) to host the sixth annual Robotics Competition from 9:30am – 5pm; Space Suit Demos at 1:30pm and 3:30pm; Observatory viewing from 10:30am – 3:30pm; and Star Cart activities from 11am – 2pm.

Visitors can also take advantage of 10% off space-related merchandise at the Sci-Store. World Space Week 2010 activities are included with general museum admission.

World Space Week at The Franklin Institute [Official Site]

This is the first year the show will be held at PAFA's Hamilton Building. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

The USArtists American Fine Art Show & Sale, the nation’s largest show and sale of 18th- through 21st- century American art, returns to Philadelphia this weekend, October 1-3.

For the first time in its 18-year history, USArtists will move from its longtime venue at the 33rd Street Armory to its home at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), America’s first museum and school of fine arts.

The move to PAFA’s Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building (128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia) makes USArtists the only show and sale of its kind to be entirely devoted to American art and presented in a museum setting.

The USArtists show aims to reflect the vitality, history and uniqueness of American art, showcasing 300 years of the nation’s finest original works — from colonial to contemporary — in an event that includes 35 of the country’s leading art galleries and dealers, and draws thousands of visitors each year.

Artists whose works are currently set to be featured in this year’s show include: Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, Thomas Eakins, Maxfield Parrish, Stuart Davis, George Cochran Lambdin, Marsden Hartley, and Harry Leith-Ross, among many others.

The three-day event also serves as a fundraiser for the Women’s Board of PAFA and all proceeds will benefit student scholarships at PAFA.

The show is open to the public Friday and Saturday from 11 am – 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am – 5 pm.

General admission is $15 ($12 for seniors, students) and each ticket includes a full-color show catalogue and free admission to PAFA. Tickets and more information are now available online or by calling (215) 972-0550.

USArtists American Fine Art Show & Sale [Official Site]
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts [Visit Philly]

Smak Parlour is one of many participating boutiques in the citywide "Philadelphia Collection" event. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

The Philadelphia Collection is in full swing and there are still plenty of can’t miss events happening through October 3rd.

Philly 360° insider and fashion expert Rakia Reynolds gives her Philadelphia Collection top picks, which include previews of upcoming collections, discussions with famous designers, discounts at select boutiques and more.

Tonight, don’t miss the Rittenhouse Row Fall Gathering at the Comcast Center at 7 p.m. with music by local hip-hop legend Schooly D.

Head over to our sister site, Philly360.com, to read all of Rakia’s Philadelphia Collection highlights.

Rakia’s Style Nation:The Philadelpia Collection Gets All the Attention [Philly 360°]

According to City Council declaration, the last two weeks have been the “State of Young Philly Weeks.” The organization Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP) has coordinated a series of events to touch on some of the issues dear to their hearts. In culmination, there will be a Final Showcase this Friday, October 1 from 6-9:30 p.m. at the newly opened Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons (located on Independence Mall).

Presenters include Mayor Michael Nutter, Former Mayor John Street, State Treasurer Rob McCord, Mural Arts Director Jane Golden, Eagles’ Pamela Browner White and WHYY’s Chris Satullo. There is a suggested $10 donation that includes an open bar and refreshments. It’s a great way to get a feel for the current state of the city and where the future may take us.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Hispanic Heritage Month is half-way done but we’re just getting started. And like the above message
says, it’s about to get caliente.

In el Centro de Oro you’ll find the hub of Latino culture and life in Philadelphia. With lots of local restaurants, bars, businesses and much more, you’ll be able to experience a difference side of la ciudad (city).

Here’s just a quick look at what you can do in el centro:

• Taller Puertorriqueño’s Annual Book and Crafts Fair — Join Taller Puertorriqueño at their annual Book and Crafts Fair featuring Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorrell and his new book “El Verlorio No-vela”. Children are treated to Spanish and English storytelling hours while adults listen to literary lectures, attend book signings, find bargains, and treat themselves to handmade jewelry and crafts.

• Tapas at Isla Verde — In the heart of the Latino community, Isla Verde serves delicious tapas creations. Revelers dance to the hottest local DJs on Friday nights and groove to the house band on Saturday nights.

• Centro Musical — Owned by the Gonzalez family for three generations, Centro Musical stocks the largest collection of Latino music CDs in the entire state. It’s also a one-stop shop for musical instruments.

See you all next week for more fun Hispanic Heritage Month info in Philadelphia. To learn more about the city’s Hispanic heritage and what to do, visit visitphilly.com/teama and be sure to follow @PhillyTeAma.

Philly Te Ama [Visit Philly]

The impressive new PPL Park on the Chester Waterfront. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union)

Philadelphia is now in first place in the public voting among U.S. cities for the United States’ bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cups™.

Philadelphia took a commanding 9,000-vote lead, knocking Houston out of the top spot. However, plenty of time remains before FIFA makes their decision about the host country on December 2.

To that end, fans from the City of Brotherly Love have two opportunities to see national team games in October: the U.S. Women’s National Team taking on China PR on October 6 and the U.S. Men’s National Team meeting Colombia on October 12.

Both games will take place at the gorgeous new PPL Park in Chester, PA, home of the Philadelphia Union.

This is your chance to see two U.S. national teams in international matches, with the passion of the crowd providing a great taste of what it would be like to see the U.S. host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Here are the details for the matches:

U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China PR
PPL Park, Chester, Pa.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, 7 p.m. ET
Tickets

U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Colombia
PPL Park, Chester, Pa.
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, 8 p.m. ET
Tickets

This will be the first time the U.S. Men’s National Team will play at the new soccer stadium in Chester.

Tickets start at $30 and are on sale now through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200 and at the PPL Park ticket office (open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

And as a sign of support to bring the World Cup to Philadelphia, help us maintain First Place in voting by signing the online petition to show the world “The Game Is In Philadelphia,” which you can do by filling out this form and clicking the “JOIN US” button.

The Leaderboard – Bidding U.S. Cities for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™ [The Game Is In US}
The Game Is In Philadelphia [Official Philadelphia World Cup Bid Website]
U.S. Men’s National Team to Host Colombia on Oct. 12 in Chester, Pa. [US Soccer]