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It's rally time for the Phillies. (Photo courtesy the Crowne Plaza)

Several Philadelphia hotels are showing their support for the Phillies by hanging special-edition With Love banners encouraging the Fightins to rally and overcome their 3-1 series deficit against the Giants.

And we love to see it.

Clockwise from top left: Doubletree, Le Meridien, Sheraton Society Hill, Residence Inn, Sofitel, Penn's View. (Photos courtesy the hotels.)

Because now’s the time to dig down and show off our Phillies Pride.

Wear some Phillies Red, hang a Phillies sign in your window at your home or office or cubicle, print out one of our Phillies With Love Letters and display it confidently…

The Phils might be down, but they’re definitely not out.

So they need to win three games in row… No big deal. That’s exactly why they have three aces — Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels — ready to go.

So Phillies, as these beautiful banners say: LET’S DO THIS!

Go Phillies!

Game 5 is tonight at 7:57 pm on Fox.

(Photo courtesy The Comcast Center)

Head to The Market & Shops at the Comcast Center this Saturday to celebrate the three B’s: Blues, Barbeque and Bourbon.

Enjoy barbeque inspired cuisine from merchants and the Market and enjoy a free live Blues performance from the Octavia Blues Band from 12 noon until 2 pm.

And you’ll surely be in high-spirits following a free bourbon tasting hosted by Red Stag Bourbon.

Some of the Market Merchant BBQ-inspired specials: BBQ Swordfish Ribs w/ Collard Greens & Baked Mac & Cheese for $8.99 from Under the C; 10% off any BBQ Pizza from LaScala’s; and a BBQ Chicken Breast & choice of side of French Fries or Onion Rings for $6.50 from Mike’s Steaks.

Admission to the event is free.

Blues, BBQ and Bourbon
The Market & Shops at the Comcast Center
17th & JFK Boulevard
Saturday, October 23

This Saturday, for the tenth year in a row Reading Terminal Market will be closing Filbert Street to traffic and setting up a one-day miniature farm, complete with hay bales, cornstalks and a massive pumpkin patch in the space that normally belongs to cars. You’ll be able to take a hay ride around the Market’s block, try guessing the weight of the giant pumpkin and eat seasonal, homemade treats until your belly aches.

This event is a terrific way to experience all the classic sights, scents and sounds of fall without ever leaving Center City. And what with all the music provided by local bluegrass band Special Delivery and the fresh donuts fried by right there in front of your eyes, you just may not want to leave. Of course, admission to the festival is free.

Tenth Annual Harvest Festival
Reading Terminal Market
12th and Filbert Streets
Saturday, October 23rd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The pasta wizards: chefs Marc Vetri and Brad Spence.
(Photo courtesy Amis)

Amis, Marc Vetri’s Roman trattoria on 13th Street in Center City, just earned an impressive feather for its cap.

Bon Appétit just included Amis in the Magazine’s list of the Top 10 Best Places for Pasta in America.

Amis
Philadelphia

First came Vetri, then Osteria, and now this affordable trattoria from chef Marc Vetri. Simple Roman-style pastas — tonnarelli cacio e pepe (pecorino and black pepper), bucatini alla gricia (pork belly, chili flakes, and pecorino) — are favorites.

There it is. If you’re looking for some criminally delicious, expertly prepared pasta, make your way to Amis.

In addition to the tonnarelli and bucatini mentioned above, other pastas on Amis’ menu include: fettuccine with pork ragu and stone fruit; paccheri with swordfish and eggplant fries; strozzaprete alla vongole (with clams); eggplant “parmesan” lasagna; and bufala ricotta ravioli with asparagus.

Amis
412 South 13th Street;
(215) 732-2647

The Top 10 Best Places for Pasta [Bon Appétit]

(L to R Front): Eric Bazilain (The Hooters), Richard Bush (The A's/The Peace Creeps), William Wittman (Too Much Joy/Cyndi Lauper), Rob Hyman (The Hooters), David Uosikkinen (The Hooters) Back: Greg Davis (Beru Revue)

For those of you who have been Philly music fan’s since the early 80′s, listen up. David Uosikkinen from The Hooters put together some great Philly musicians to record a track that will be available to download from iTunes as a fundraiser to benefit the Settlement Music School. Check it out…

“From the band that brought national attention to Philadelphia’s pop music scene, The Hooters’ David Uosikkinen is recording what he feels, are the Essential Songs of Philadelphia. Uosikkinen chose to revisit songs recorded in Philadelphia or written and performed by Philadelphians. These essential songs will feature the band ITP (In The Pocket), a rotating line up of Philly’s most respected musicians.

A portion of IN THE POCKET’s proceeds will benefit Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School, whose alumni includes some of the city’s most beloved residents including Kevin and Michael Bacon, G. Love, Stanley Clark and Kevin Eubanks.”

For more information about In the Pocket: Essential Songs of Philadelphia, click here.

One of the things that never fails to delight me about the Philadelphia region is the amount of artistic talent that exists here. This time of year, we’re regularly reminded of this fact, thanks to the many art shows and craft fairs that occur in the lead-up to the holiday season.

This Sunday, October 24th, one such show is taking place at the Congregation Kol Ami in Elkins Park (8201 High School Road). This event will spotlight the work of more than 40 regional artisans and will be open for browsing and purchasing 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. There will also be a public preview of the show on Saturday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. that will feature light snacks and drinks, as well as performances from a few area musicians.

Tickets for the Saturday night preview are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Price for the Sunday show is $5 per person. For more information on this show, visit Kol Ami’s website.

BRAT Productions’ new play “Carrie,” which is running through early November at the Wolf Building, will be somewhat familiar to fans of the Stephen King novel as well as those who have seen various stage and screen adaptations.

You’ll recognize the plot — a tormented high school outcast turns out to be telekinetic and is humiliated for the last time at the blood-soaked (in more ways than one) prom.

What won’t be so familiar to audiences is that Carrie White is actually a man in drag (nicely fitting King’s characterization as weird-looking and misshapen), as well as all the comedy.

BRAT, lauded for last year’s Halloween production of “ Haunted Poe,” couldn’t do just any show for this year’ s Halloween season.

They decided to put a spin on the well-known horror tale by producing a script that deviated so much from the flavor of the book that it had to obtain special permission from the masterful horror writer himself.

Changing the traditional gasps to laughs was the main task of the production, which manages to be campy and comedic rather than remotely scary. The freakish happenings (Carrie’s telekinetic hovering objects, shooting sparks, exploding lights and the like) are accomplished through amateur effects that are more humorous than realistic.

The dangling fishing lines, silly projections, delightful puppets, and blood-filled balloons combine with the script (which includes clever one-liners and cultural references) to create an air of campy fun that’s perfect for those not looking to take the show — or the story — or Halloween — too seriously.

The gags and effects get more and more ridiculous as the show goes along, culminating in the eventful prom night when just about everyone meets their end. The actors and designers all play up the campy vibe, and their enjoyment is palpable and contagious.

Catch a performance of “ Carrie” for an out of the ordinary spook-season activity.

“Carrie”
Now – November 7th
Underground Arts at the Wolf Building
340 N. 12th Street (at Callowhill), Philadelphia

As you may have heard, it’s tough being a small farming operation these days. Despite the increase in farmers’ markets and the awareness that buying local food has gotten in recent years, it’s not all smooth sailing for our regional small farms.

Happily, there are a number of ways to offer a hand to the little guys, including joining their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, shopping your local farmers’ markets, asking area restaurants to source locally and occasionally, shell out for their fundraisers. For more information on ways to eat locally, make sure to check out Philly Homegrown.

This Saturday, October 23rd, Philly Kitchen Share is going to be hosting American Blackboard, a dinner (and preview of a coming-soon restaurant) designed to feature seasonal foods and those old-school arts like dry-curing, smoking, pickling and preserving. The meal will be served in two seatings and a portion of the proceeds will benefit West Philadelphia’s Mill Creek Farm.

The meal costs $50 and will include an assortment of charcuterie, Cape May Salt Oysters, roasted carrots, poached black bass and homemade ginger ice cream over pear cobbler. That price also includes a selection of wines, making it quite a bargain.

If you’re interested, tickets can be purchased here.

George Stephanopoulos will co-anchor Good Morning America from The Center on Thursday. (Photo courtesy the NCC)

It’s one of the most talked about political races in the country, and tonight, Pennsylvania’s candidates for U.S. Senator, Pat Toomey (R) and Joe Sestak (D), will go head-to-head in the first televised debate between the two candidates.

The debate will be broadcast live on 6abc from Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center at 7 pm, and will be moderated by ABC News’ (Good Morning America) George Stephanopoulos & 6abc Action News’ Jim Gardner.

Stephanopoulos and Gardner will engage the candidates on topics such as the economy, health care, tax cuts, and political advertising.

You can live stream the debate on Stephanopoulos’ Facebook page.

George Stephanopoulos is making the most of trip to Philly — on Thursday morning, he will be back at the National Constitution Center, from where he’ll co-anchor a special edition of Good Morning America live.

Do You Have a Question For the Pennsylvania Senate Candidates? [ABC News]
Sestak, Toomey to Debate at The Center [National Constitution Center Blog]

Dances of Vice (courtesy of the artists)

Looking for a way to celebrate Halloween this year that’s more glamour and less ghoul? If so, make sure to check out the Haunted Museum Masquerade at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, October 29th. This year’s theme is Halloween Jazz Age Masquerade party. Attendees are invited to come in costume (staying within the jazz age theme is entirely optional) and listen to Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society.

The group Dances of Vice will be performing, and rumor has it that they plan to recreate a modern-day Gatsby scene in the Museum’s stunning Great Stair Hall. You’ll also see Gin Minsky and her famous tapping feet, an appearance by the dapper Dandy Wellington, and generally just plenty of fun for all.

There will also be a spread of festive food and drink as well as opportunities to join a special tour of eerie works of art in the collection including Rachel Weeping, Carnival Evening, and Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War). This event is free after Museum admission. How can you beat that!