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Le Castagne, on Chestnut Street, means "chestnut" in Italian. (Photo courtesy Le Castagne)

Executive Chef Brian Wilson’s new Sunday brunch at Le Castagne spotlights the more laid-back side of this posh, glass-clinky Italian mainstay.

The restaurant is offering both a brunch buffet—$20 per person, $10 for children—and an à la carte menu that is half price with the purchase of the buffet option.

The brunch is still elegant, but family-friendly: kids receive an activity kit filled with coloring pages, crayons and make-and-take pasta necklaces. Children can enjoy Italian chocolate milk or hot chocolate alongside adults’ mimosas, Bloody Marys, and wine pairings.

Brunch menu highlights include: spinach and goat cheese frittata, eggs Benedict with prosciutto cotto on Italian bread, brioche Nutella French toast with caramelized bananas, apple glazed braised pork sandwich, breaded veal cutlet sandwich topped with mozzarella, and assorted homemade scones, muffins and pastries.

Le Castagne has received a slew of accolades for Chef Wilson’s housemade pasta, and his gnocchi sorrentino with tomato sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella will be a staple on the brunch menu. It’s never too early in the day for homemade gnocchi, right? And a newly added flatscreen HD TV at the bar will be tuned to Philadelphia sporting events and news programming—so if the Eagles are playing, you’re good to go.

Le Castagne
1920 Chestnut Street
www.lecastagne.com

The Philadelphia Marathon weekend includes a Kids' Fun Run, 8k, and Half Marathon. (Photo by R. Kennedy)

The Philadelphia Marathon weekend, this Friday, November 19th through Sunday, November 21st, isn’t just for competitive runners; or even just for runners at all, at that.

Philadelphia will be rife with health events, prizes, discounts, and during the race, more than 25 Cheer Zones fully stocked with music, entertainment and hot chocolate.

Friday and Saturday

Health & Fitness Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center: Friday at noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Expo includes:
- exhibits, events and seminars offering expert advice from leaders in the field
- approximately 70 vendors showcasing the latest in running gear
- free Fan Pass pickup for discounts at businesses from every neighborhood in the city

Verizon Kids Fun Run: registration Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Convention Center, race at 10:30 a.m.: short-distance, non-competitive event for future Philadelphia Marathoners ages 4-12

Rothman Institute 8K: Saturday at 7:25 a.m. for wheelchairs and handcycles, 7:30 a.m. for runners; 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday

The Main Event (Marathon and Half Marathon): 6:57 a.m. for wheelchairs and handcycles, 7:00 a.m. for runners; 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Hang out at one of the Cheer Zones to participate in the marathon without then needing an ice bath for your legs. Shake a noisemaker, rock out to featured “Run to It” playlists, sip on some hot chocolate, and even sign up to track your friends’ or family members’ times on your cell phone. Best bets are outside Blick Art Materials right on Broad and Chestnut Streets at Mile 6, the Philadelphia Zoo at Mile 8, and Eakins Oval at Mile 13.

Click here for race maps.

Philadelphia Marathon
November 19th-21st
www.philadelphiamarathon.com

Why make your own turkey when someone else can do it for you? (Credit: iStockPhoto)

Looking to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast without worrying about cooking and cleaning up? Let the professionals do all the work with delicious Thanksgiving Day meals at some of Philadelphia’s top restaurants.

So avoid massive lines at the grocery and check out a few of our top picks for Thanksgiving dinner in Philadelphia:

• 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton: 10 Arts will be celebrating the local harvest with Chef de cuisine Jennifer Carroll’s “modern twist” on traditional Thanksgiving favorites. The holiday meal will cost $110 per person ($55 per child). Ritz-Carlton, 10 Avenue of the Arts, (215) 523-8273

• 13 (Thirteen) at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown: Copious portions of seasonal favorites are expected during the Thanksgiving Buffet at 13 in the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. After feasting on turkey with giblet gravy, oven-baked ham, candied yams, green beans with pearl onions, save room for sweet treats like Pumpkin Pie. The buffet runs from 12 noon-9 pm and costs $23.95 per person ($12.50 for children 10 and under). 1201 Market St., (215) 625-2900

• XIX (Nineteen) at the Bellevue: Dine in style high-above the city streets during XIX’s Thanksgiving buffet from 1-6 pm. Feast upon Thanksgiving favorites, plus a few fabulous extras for $65 per person. Reservations are required. 1201 Market St., (215) 625-2900

• Amuse at the Le Méridien Hotel: Head to Amuse at the Le Méridien Hotel for a special menu of cider-brined turkey, chestnut pumpkin soup, pies and more from 5:30–7:30 pm. Amuse’s Thanksgiving dinner costs $34 per person ($16 for children 12 and under). 1421 Arch St., (215) 422-8222

• Chez Collette at the Sofitel Hotel: Chez Collette at the Sofitel Hotel is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Feast from 1–8 pm. Enjoy live jazz as you dine on a buffet of Thanksgiving favorites like slow-roasted turkey with sage pan gravy, turkey sausage stuffing in a cranberry and red wine sauce and pumpkin pie. Veer from tradition with raw bar selections, crab cakes, lobster and fingerling potato salad and much more. The Thanksgiving Feast costs $48 per person, plus tax. Children 12 and under can dine at half price. 120 S. 17th St., (215) 569-8300

You’ll be thankful for the rest of our top turkey picks after the jump…

Lincoln Financial Field will soon be equipped with solar panels and wind turbines. (Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Eagles)

The Eagles don’t just wear green, they really want to be green.

Lincoln Financial Field, recently named the NFL’s most vegetarian-friendly stadium, will soon be the world’s first major sports stadium to convert to completely self-generated renewable energy.

The Eagles today announced a groundbreaking plan to power “The Linc” through a combination of wind, solar and dual-fuel generated electricity, which will provide more than enough to supply the stadium’s needs.

To achieve the goal of energy-independence, approximately 80 20-foot spiral-shaped wind turbines on the top rim of the stadium and 2,500 solar panels will be installed at the stadium by the beginning of next season.

The energy to be generated by on-site renewable sources at The Linc is comparable to the annual electricity usage of 26,000 homes.

Engineers at Solar Blue — the company installing the wind turbines and solar panels — estimate that converting the stadium to renewable energy will eliminate CO2 emissions equivalent to 500,000 barrels of oil or 24 million gallons of gasoline consumed annually. That equates to removing the carbon emissions of 41,000 cars each year.

This would make Lincoln Financial Field the most sustainable major sports stadium in the entire world.

The team also created and signed a Declaration of Energy Independence to confirm their commitment to the project and other green initiatives including water conservation, waste reduction, recycling and more.

Overall, this is a truly impressive commitment to sustainability from one of Philadelphia’s most highly visible sports teams.

Add it to the list of accomplishments of the Eagles’ longstanding Go Green! Program.

• In 2009, the Eagles recycled 365 tons of waste, resulting in a recycling rate of 31.7%.
• The Eagles have also launched a composting program, capturing more than 25 tons of organic waste.
• Almost all of the organization’s soft tissue products are made from 100% recycled fiber.
• The Eagles have become an example of “closing the circle,” which means they produce raw feedstock for oil recyclers and then buy hundreds of gallons of bio-diesel product.
• The Eagles use natural and organic fertilizers to maintain fields and work to minimize use of pesticides.
• The Eagles have replaced more than 600 toilets to increase water conservation.
• The Eagles have implemented a Renewable Energy Employee Benefit Program, which encourages full-time Eagles employees to purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) to power their homes. The Eagles then compensate employees for any price difference incurred. Last year, more than half of the organization’s employees participated, and the renewable energy purchased is equivalent to removing 37 cars from the road.

What else is there to say? Go Eagles!

Philadelphia Eagles Go Green! [Official Site]
Eagles aim to turn Lincoln Financial Field into world’s greenest stadium [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Listen up, crafty types! On Sunday, December 5, from 2-4 p.m., there’s a workshop that’s just calling your name. Called Steeped in Beauty, this is the second in a series led by Jolene Hart and Alexis Siemons, in which they invite attendees to participate in an afternoon of interactive cooking and crafting demonstrations.

Hart brings her experience as a certified Beauty and Health Coach and Siemons offers up her in tea and crafting expertise to make this a special afternoon indeed. You’ll learn about making holiday treats, tea blends and homemade beauty products, all items that make excellent gifts this holiday season. Tickets are $21 in advance and $25 at the door. Click here to buy them online.

Included in the cost of advance admission are gift bags (they can’t guarantee gift bags for attendees who buy tickets the day of), which include recipes, natural beauty and tea samples and Tbar tea shop frequency cards. All guests will be entered to win one of several raffle prizes, including a personal health and beauty coaching session with Jolene, a tea party consultation with Alexis, and gift certificates to Tbar tea shop. Guests can also pre-order Beauty Is Wellness health coaching gift certificates, teaspoons & petals tea party consultation gift certificates, and haiku teaware from teaspoons & petals for holiday giving.

Steeped in Beauty
Sunday, December 5, 2-4 p.m.
Indy Hall, 20 N. 3rd Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia

The National Constitution Center has something for everyone this Thanksgiving. (Photo courtesty NCC)

Give thanks to the men and women of the Armed Forces this coming Thanksgiving weekend at the National Constitution Center by writing letters and assembling care packages to send to the troops.

The family-friendly activity will take place just outside of the Center’s Art of the American Soldier exhibition, Friday, November 26th through Sunday, November 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Visitors also can celebrate Thanksgiving season by exploring the different ways Americans have spent the holiday throughout history.

The Center will be holding an interactive “History of Thanksgiving” program, which includes brainteasers like what food may have been prepared at the first Thanksgiving dinner, and what roles U.S. presidents have played in creating Thanksgiving Day traditions.

All visitors will have access to Art of the American Soldier, the highly-acclaimed exhibition created in partnership with the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the National Museum of the United States Army to unveil powerful artwork created by American soldiers in the line of duty from World War I to today.

The celebration is free with museum admission.

National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch Street
www.constitutioncenter.org

Audrey Claire has been a neighborhood mainstay for 15 years.
(Photo courtesy Audrey Claire)

Here at Philly Homegrown, we’re committed to getting local food into your belly, whether you cook it yourself or you order it up at an area restaurant. In the hopes of highlighting some of the menus that are rife with homegrown ingredients, we’ve partnered with a series of Philly bloggers and have sent them out into the field, to report back on some of those locally sourced dishes.

The first blogger is this series is Lauren St. Clair Lynch who writes the very taste site, Love to Eat and Eat to Love. Her blog’s mission is to eat every single dish on Philadelphia Magazine’s list of “239 Dishes You Must Try Now.”

The list was printed in the January issue and she’s doing her darnedest to eat every single one of them before the year is out. In order to help Lauren achieve her goal, we set her up with a dinner at Audrey Claire so that she could try the Pappardelle with Portobello Mushrooms.

To see what she had to say about the meal, click here to finish reading this post on Just In at Homegrown.

Wine and charcuterie at Midtown Village newcomer Barbuzzo. (Photo courtesy Barbuzzo)

This “Beaujolais Day,” Thursday, November 18th — the annual official release day of Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine produced in the Beaujolais region of France — Midtown Village is offering more than a dozen ways to celebrate. Starting at 5 p.m., the wine will be flowing and the Francophilia fervent.

Bars and Restaurants

Vintage Wine Bar: Complimentary Gougeres (French cheese puff) all night, and Beaujolais soap samples from Duross & Langel. Also special $8 glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Barbuzzo: Five course, $45 per person Beaujolais Nouveau wine/food tasting menu.
Zavino Wine Bar Pizzeria: $15 Beaujolais-braised short rib pizza and $8 Beaujolais cocktails.
McGillins Old Ale House: Half priced McGillins famous French Onion soup and $5 glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Time Restaurant: Discounted Beaujolais and cheese pairings.
BAR: Beaujolais Jell-O shots.
El Vez: $4 Beaujolais Sangria.
Bindi: $20 Beaujolais-inspired thali.
Lolita: $20 “Beaujolais Thanksgiving!” dinner.

Retailers

Duross & Langel: Complimentary wine tasting plus onsite demonstration of the creation of Beaujolais soaps and lip balms in the soap masters kitchen.
Verde: Beaujolais chocolate samples plus wine tasting.
Absolute Abstract Art: Complimentary Beaujolais and 25% discount on all French artwork.
Open House: Wine tasting and tabletop sale on serving pieces from France.
Paper on Pine: Complimentary wine and special discounts.
Scarlet Fiorella: Complimentary wine and sale on French furniture and pillows.

Midtown Village
13th and Sansom Streets
www.midtownvillage.org

The Rittenhouse Hotel was recognized in the December 2010 issue of 'Travel + Leisure'. (Photo courtesy The Rittenhouse Hotel)

With a nearly consummate score of 94.4, The Rittenhouse Hotel garnered a #10 ranking in Travel + Leisure‘s December 2010 roundup of World’s Best Business Hotels. The Rittenhouse also adds a 2010 Readers’ Choice nod from Condé Nast Traveler to its cache of accolades.

The Rittenhouse Hotel
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
www.rittenhousehotel.com

Concerts at the Mann Center are a Philadelphia summertime must. (Photo courtesy the Mann Center)

Our favorite outdoor concert arena the Mann Center for the Performing Arts got a tip of the hat from Pollstar Magazine, the concert industry authority, with a nomination for Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the 22nd Annual Pollstar Awards.

The Mann’s roster this past summer included impressive bookings such as Idina Menzel, Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin, and Arcade Fire. That’s steep competition, we say, for reigning champ The Hollywood Bowl in L.A.

The 22nd Annual Pollstar Awards will take place at the Nokia Theater in L.A. on February 5th, 2011.
Stay tuned.

Mann Center
5201 Parkside Avenue
www.manncenter.org