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Taste of Philadelphia is going to be bigger and better than ever with three days of restaurant samples, live music, food trucks, cooking demos and much more. (Top and bottom left: Photos by J. Smith for GPTMC; bottom right Photo by M. Kennedy for GPTMC))

Taste of Philadelphia, Philly’s official summer food festival, kicks off the 11-day Wawa Welcome America July 4th celebration in Philadelphia with three days of awesome food at Penn’s Landing.

It all starts tonight, Friday, June 24, at 5 p.m. and we want to give you the who-what-where-when-and-how so you can be expertly prepared.

A heads up to your stomach: for 2011, Taste of Philadelphia is bigger and better than ever before. The festival has more restaurants participating; this year is the first year that Taste will feature food trucks; there will also be cooking demos from notable local chefs; and there’s a new musical component to give the festival an even bigger draw.

Here’s the complete rundown on the three-day festival celebrating all things food in Philadelphia:

Festival Schedule

Friday, June 24: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday, June 25: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, June 26: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tickets

Best part: admission to the festival is free! You just buy tickets in $1 increments for the food you want to sample; each plate costs a different number of tickets, determined by the restaurant or truck. The least expensive is $1, the most is $5.

Restaurant Highlights

• Sampan: Michael Schulson’s Midtown Village hot spot will be serving their famous pork and chicken banh mi.
• Tiffin: Tiffin is bringing their awesome Indian food, including mango lassi, chicken tikka with rice and vegetable kati rolls.
• Marabella Meatball Company: Now’s your chance to sample Marabella’s delicious meatballs in slider form, either beef or chicken.
• Chenango: Try the cuisine from this newly opened Northern Liberties poolside restaurant: ribs, burger sliders or cajun shrimp skewers.
• Jamaican Jerk Hut: The Hut is bringing the Caribbean to Penn’s Landing, serving jerk chicken, curry chicken, rice & peas and cabbage.
• Steaks on South: Have a hankering for Philadelphia’s namesake food? Steaks on South is bringing cheesesteaks and chicken cheesesteaks, water ice and soft pretzels.
• Cuba Libre Restaurant: The chicken flavor empanadas are a great representation of what this Old City Cuban spot is best known for.
• Keatings River Grill: Keating’s is bringing spicy french fries, creole chicken wings, crispy chicken salad and Asian turkey sliders.
• Darlings Diner: Satisfy your sweet tooth with Belgian waffles with ice cream.
• Gigi Restaurant: cheesesteak empanadas, vegetable empanadas, water ice/gelato/sorbet
• El Zarape: tacos al pastor (pork with pineapple), campechano tacos (beef and sausage), chicken tacos

The full list of participating restaurants is included below.

Food Trucks

• Call Me Cupcake: Chocolate, red velvet and carrot cupcakes are available here.
• Dapper Dog: If you’ve never made it to Northern Liberties to late-night-nosh on gourmet hot dogs, now’s your chance to try them, topped with BLT & spicy mayo, mac & cheese with bacon, or spicy relish & spicy mayo; sausage
• La Marqueza: Choose from Mexican style nachos, tacos, chorizo quesadillas and burritos.
• Sweet Box: More cupcakes: southern red velvet, cookies & cream, chocolate ganache, vanilla.
• Crepe Walk: Drooling yet? Choose from cinnamon & sugar, nutella & banana, or savory vegetable crepes.
• King Kabob: This West Philly food truck is rolling east with classic chicken, steak and vegetable kabobs.
• Gi Gi & Big R’s Caribbean Soul Food: Jerk chicken, fried fish with vegetables, spicy chicken wings and macaroni & cheese are on the menu here.

Beer and Wine

Blue Mountain Vineyard will have five varieties of wine available for purchase. There will also be beer tents.

Layout

The food trucks will be located along Chestnut Street from Front Street up to the Great Plaza. Restaurant tents will be situated above the amphitheater in the plaza, just inside the gates. Old City Stage, where you can watching cooking demos by local chefs, will be located at Front and Chestnut Streets.

Music

Throughout the weekend, Taste of Philadelphia will also offer a taste in music with live performances by jazz, R&B, soul and gospel acts, including acclaimed jazz musician and bassist Gerald Veasley on Friday, June 24; singer and songwriter Somi opening for headliner Aaron Neville on Saturday, June 25 (stick around for the first of three Wawa Welcome America free fireworks shows after the concert!); and James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful Praise on Sunday, June 26.

Make sure to also check out the Front Stage to catch performances by the finalists of Wawa Welcome America!’s singer/songwriter contest.

We’ve included the full Taste of Philadelphia entertainment schedule, plus information on cooking demos, below.

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Many moons ago, the Oakland A’s called Philadelphia home (and were managed for 50 years by the iconic Connie Mack). Though they left town in 1954, they’ve never been entirely forgot and there are some Philadelphians would like to see the A’s return to the City of Brotherly Love and make us a two-team town again. Led by Fishtown resident JT. Ramsay, this effort has been dubbed Bring Your A’s Game.

Tonight, the Phillies are playing the A’s and Ramsay and his crew are hosting a viewing party up at the Memphis Taproom Beer Garden. Show up around 7 p.m., get yourself a beer and a gourmet hot dog and watch our current team take on their former hometown rival.

Bring Your A’s Game Viewing Party at the Memphis Taproom Beer Garden
When: Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m.
Where: Memphis Taproom Beer Garden
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.bringyourasgame.com

While away a summer evening with a classic film. (Photo courtesy Bryn Mawr Film Institute)

Bryn Mawr Film Institute is a perfect example of Philadelphia’s commitment to the arts and community.

Experience the love this summer with a variety of film series that celebrate iconic films and actors, encourage community participation, revive old classics and celebrate the universal seasonal pastime: summer love.

Check out the rundown:

• The Great Charlie Chaplin: Enjoy three iconic films that not only archived Chaplin as one of the most memorable actors and producers in Hollywood, but also helped elevate films as an integral part of our society and culture. The Chaplin showings are fairly spread-out through the summer, so you can enjoy the classics regularly!

• City Lights: Tuesday, June 28, 7 p.m.

• Modern Times: Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m.

• The Great Dictator: Wednesday, August 3, 7 p.m.

• Singing in the Summer: It’s not often you get to talk in a movie, let alone sing along to your favorite tunes. Enjoy this series — and be sure to dress in costume to receive a free popcorn — with your friends and neighbors, preferably those that don’t make cats cry when they try to carry a tune! Just kidding, everyone is welcome. These energetic, fun-filled films are brimming with classic tunes, like “Luck be a Lady.” Oh, and this is a major hump-day bonus; how can you be sad while singing along to The Music Man dressed like a drum major? You can’t.

• Guys and Dolls Sing-along: Wednesday, June 29, 7 p.m.

• Brigadoon Sing-along: Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m.

• The Music Man Sing-along: Wednesday, August 24, 7 p.m.

• Thrills, Chills, and Spills: Brace yourself for a wet-and-wild series in the latter half of the summer. Thrills will feature a classic kick-ass action film (From Russia), a gnarly thriller (Jaws), and side-splitting comedy (Airplane!). It’s the perfect summer series to get your adrenaline kicking without actually “swimming with the sharks” in Jersey.

• From Russia with Love: Tuesday, July 5, 7 p.m.

• Jaws: Tuesday, August 16, 7 p.m.

• Airplane!: Tuesday, August 23, 7 p.m.

Three more series, below.

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The Sound of Philadelphia Night at the Phillies returns to Citizens Bank Park, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records. (Credit: GPTMC)

The Phillies and Philadelphia International Records are teaming up to host the 8th annual The Sound of Philadelphia Celebration and Pre-Game Concert on Friday, June 24, at Citizens Bank Park.

This year’s celebration is extra special as it will honor the 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records and Black Music Month. Throughout the evening, various musical guests will pay tribute to the music of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the founders of the iconic record label.

Free Pre-Game Concert

Get to Citizens Bank Park early for the free 5 p.m. pre-game concert on Citizens Bank Way (no game ticket needed). The concert will feature performances by Billboard.com’s Top 10 New R&B Artist R&B group sensation No Question, Grammy nominated duo Helen Bruner and Terry Jones, along with a few of Philadelphia International’s current artists and other local talent.

On-Field Presentations and Performances

Before the game action begins on the field, Gamble and Huff will present the 2011 Phillies Gamble & Huff Community Partnership Award to the legendary Chubby Checker, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Butler and the first African-American female teen idol, Dee Dee Sharp, who will be singing the national anthem.

Several on-field performances will also celebrate the music of Gamble & Huff, including honoree Jerry Butler and later in the evening Take Me Out to the Ballgame will be sung by Dante and No Question.

While tickets are necessary for the on-field performances and to see the Phillies take on the Oakland A’s, the pregame festivities are free and open to the public. Standing room tickets for the game go on sale at 4 p.m. at the box office, so get to Citizens Bank Park early, grab your tickets and enjoy an evening of great music and baseball.

The 8th Annual Sound Of Philadelphia Night At The Phillies
When: June 24, Pre-game concert at 5 p.m.; Game at 7:05 p.m.
Where: Citizens Bank Park (Pre-game concert will take place on Citizens Bank Way)
More info: www.phillies.com

The always popular Manayunk Arts Festival returns to Main Street for a two-day festival this Saturday and Sunday complete with food, art, entertainment and more. (Photos courtesy Manayunk Development Corporation)

The Manayunk Arts Festival is back for its 22nd year, this Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26.

One of the region’s largest annual outdoor arts festivals, the festival brings more than 275 arts and crafts vendors from 22 states (list of vendors here) to Manayunk’s Main Street for one weekend.

In addition to the exhibit areas, Manayunk’s award winning restaurants will be serving up delicious dishes and specials while various vendors will supply plenty of traditional festival foods. The unique shops, galleries and boutiques will also be open throughout the festival.

From curios to high-style artworks, you can expect to land some one-of-a-kind finds at this supper popular annual Philadelphia festival.

Manayunk Arts Festival
When: June 25-26, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday
Where: Main Street in Manayunk from Carson Lane to Shurs Lane
Cost: Free
More info: www.manayunk.com

Previously: The Annual Manayunk Arts Festival Returns For Two Days Of Arts, Crafts, Music, Food, Entertainment And More June 25-26

Catch an outdoor movie Sunday nights at the Piazza all summer long. (Photo courtesy Piazza at Schmidts)

This summer, The Awesome Fest, a year-round indie and Hollywood film screening series, takes over the Piazza at Schmidts with a series of cinematic events that is undeniably awesome.

On Sunday nights from June until September, the 40-foot screen at the Piazza will be commandeered by the Awesome Fest, which is led by PUFF and Philly CineFest Artistic Director, Josh Goldbloom. It’s a great chance to catch movies that won’t be playing anywhere else in Philly, straight from SXSW, Tribeca or Sundance.

Check out the roster of upcoming events:

• June 26: The festival brings a throwback back by transforming the Piazza into a drive-in movie theater. Back-to-back screenings of Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be playing in preparation for the latest installment in the series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. A few lucky spectators will snag front row seats in the parked cars, provided by Zip Car.

• July 3: These Amazing Shadows, a documentary about the National Film Registry of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films,” sheds light on the history and influence of American cinema.

• July 10: Despicable Dick & Righteous Richard tells the tale of Dick Kuchera, a recovering alcoholic determined to make amends with everyone he has wronged, all the while wondering if he has really changed.

• July 17: Reindeer Spotting follows a 19-year-old drug addict named Jani, who leaves his remote town behind to travel by train around Europe before being sent to prison.

A complete list of events, movie trailers, and additional information is available online.

The most awesome thing about The Awesome Fest? It’s completely free. To keep it that way, you can donate here, or volunteer by emailing Jared at jared@theawesomefest.com.

The Awesome Fest Outdoor Summer Series
Where: The Piazza at Schmidts, 2nd Street and Germantown Avenue
When: Sunday nights from June until September
Cost: Free
More info: www.theawesomefest.com

$5 admission gets you dinner and a front row seat to see local artists perform. (Photo courtesy Hybridge Arts Collective)

Dedicated to diversity and innovation in performance, the Hybridge Arts Collective, in collaboration with the Broad Street Ministry, presents “Last Mondays,” a monthly salon that curates artists who work in various performance media. The next event takes place this Monday, June 27.

For just $5, guests get to enjoy a home-cooked community dinner before taking in a night of experimental performances by innovative local artists.

“Last Mondays” feature a diverse genre of performing arts, including theater, dance, music and poetry. The series aims to bring together artists and audiences to exchange points of view, while offering emerging artists a welcoming space for artistic discussions and audience members a unique glimpse at the local emerging artist scene.

June 27 features Mike Kilduff (Music), Jung Woong Kim (Dance), Lower East Side Blues Collective (Music), Jaamil Kosoko (Poetry) and Rob Cutler Trio (Comedy).

Don’t miss the June 27 showcase and be sure to mark your calendar for the July 25 and August 27 events.

Hybridge Arts Collective Last Mondays
Where: Broad Street Ministry, 315. S. Broad Street
When: Monday, June 27, beginning at 7 p.m.
Cost: $5
More info: www.hybridgearts.org

From old school frankfurters to haute dogs with toppings galore, Philadelphia has plenty of of places for you to satisfy your summertime hot dog cravings. (Credit: iStockPhoto)

UPDATE: Saturday, July 23 is National Hot Dog Day. Take advantage.

Food trend alert: with last week’s arrival of Hot Diggity!, the recent opening of the new hot dog truck in Memphis Taproom’s Beer Garden, news of another forthcoming hot dog truck in the works (not to mention Shake Shack coming next year), and gourmet hot dogs popping up on the menus of chic restaurants like MidAtlantic and Garces Trading Company, Philadelphia is clearly in the midst of a burgeoning hot dog food trend these days.

Fueling the demand for dogs even higher: summer is here, meaning we are officially in prime hot dog season. So next time you’re in the mood for a delicious dog or two, we double dog dare you to try any — or all — of the following. Enjoy!

Haute Dogs

• MidAtlantic: Only serious eaters need apply for the $13 smokehouse dog at MidAtlantic, a hefty house-made version served with fresh kraut and pickles, plus mustard and chips, with an option to add cheese or bacon. Bonus: all July long, MidAtlantic is offering a house-made hot dog and draft beer for just $6!

• Delicatessen: The Texas Tamy is a Jewish (albeit non-kosher) spin on an old classic: a foot-long Hebrew National hot dog stuffed with American cheese, wrapped in applewood bacon and served with spicy brown mustard on a grilled roll. Also noteworthy: you can get a foot-long hot dog for $4 as a side dish to accompany any meal.

• Garces Trading Co.: Catch a lunchtime Phillies game at Garces Trading Co. on ballpark dollar dog days and enjoy one of Jose Garces’ homemade smoked sausage hot dogs with truffled turnip relish on a pain au lait bun (with a local beer, too!) for $9.

• Frankford Hall: Stephen Starr’s latest venture, this killer beer garden in Fishtown, offers up $5 frankfurters on a potato roll with sauerkraut. There’s also a whole sausage section of the menu if you’re hankering for the hot dog’s cousin.

Traditional Hot Dogs

• Franks A-Lot!: The steamed links at the Reading Terminal’s Franks A-Lot! have garnered plenty of awards for their plump and snappy texture. The toppings are basic: sauerkraut, chili, cheese and the like — less can indeed be more.

• Jimmy John’s: A West Chester institution since 1940, Jimmy John’s is, in their words, “famous for frankfurters.” The natural-casing specimens here can be topped with self-serve helpings from the condiment bar or chili, cheese and bacon from the grill.

• Bubby’s Brisket and Bugsy’s Weiners: This takeaway place is hard to find, except if you follow your nose. The all-beef dogs are spicy and salami-like, requiring little to no embellishment, though the Philly (wit Whiz and onions) is a popular choice.

• Johnny’s Hots: Early birds are rewarded here, a popular waterfront stand that closes by mid-afternoon. The dogs and sausages, served on pillowy Liscio rolls, are served topped with a fish cake.

We’ve got details on quirky hot dogs, regional-style hot dogs and more, below.

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Third Street Habit in Old City will be dishing up breakfast and bargains to celebrate the start of their summer sale, kicking off on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 bright and early at 9 a.m.

The morning of the kick-off celebration, shoppers can munch on donuts and fruit, while sipping on complimentary mimosas. As if that wasn’t enough incentive, you can also browse designer favorites such as Free People, J Brand, and Rag & Bone, as well as new and emerging designers — all with an additional ten percent off, beyond the sale’s 40-60% off markdowns.

Can’t make it for opening weekend? Not to worry: the selected spring styles will still be marked 40-60% off, as the sale has no official end date.

But the additional 10% off is only offered Friday and Saturday, so stop in early to pick up a great pair of jeans or a vintage top from one of the Top 10 Boutiques in the United States, according to Lucky Magazine.

Third Street Habit
When: Starting Friday, June 24
Where: Third Street Habit, 153 N. 3rd Street
Cost: 40-60% off Spring styles, with an additional 10% off the first weekend
More info: www.thirdstreethabit.com

Hugh Jackman was in the house last night in Chester to cheer on the Union; he was greeted by a lively 'Wolverine' chant from the Sons of Ben and PPL Park faithful. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union)

So actor Hugh Jackman was in attendance at the Philadelphia Union game last night at PPL Park as the Union took on Kansas City in front of a sold-out crowd on the Chester waterfront.

Jackman, who is famous for portraying Wolverine in the X-Men films, was serenaded by Union supporters and the Sons of Ben at the River End with a lively “Wolverine” chant after he was shown on the stadium’s jumbotron.

Cool to see. And nice to know that the two-year-old Union are already getting their share of celebrity fans. (Fun fact: this is the second Union game at PPL Park that Jackman has attended — he actually attended his first Union game last season.)

Check out a full gallery from last night’s match on the Union’s Facebook page. The match ended in a draw, extending the Union’s home unbeaten streak to nine games. DOOP!

Philadelphia Union [Official Site]