Uwishunu.com

At least one good thing is coming out of this weather! (Photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)

Due to Hurricane Irene and the mandatory evacuation of Avalon, Pub & Kitchen is bringing The Diving Horse to Philadelphia tomorrow night, August 27, with seatings starting at 5:30 p.m.

$65 gets you five courses of the real deal Diving Horse menu:

• First:
Fried oyster, smashed “Dutch” potato salad, bacon mayonnaise Raw oyster, deer creek, mignonette

• Second:
Hudson Canyon lobster “bouillabaisse”, zucchini, rouille, tomato conserva, fennel

• Third:
Barnegat scallops, toasted pearl pasta, preserved lemon, vermouth nage

• Fourth:
Filet Mignon au poivre, confit fingerling potatoes, asparagus, peas, sauce forestière

• Fifth:
“Kit Kat”, peanut butter, dark chocolate ganache, raspberry

At least one good thing is coming out of this weather!

Diving Horse Pop-Up at Pub & Kitchen
Where: 1946 Lombard Street
When: Saturday, August 27, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Cost: $65
More info: www.thepubandkitchen.com

Originally a YMCA, the Le Meridien is housed in a beautiful 10-story Georgian revival-style structure. (Photo courtesy Le Meridien)

Le Méridien hotel, in partnership with the With Love, Philadelphia XOXO campaign, is running an awesome Foursquare special starting now and running through 3 p.m. on October 26.

Le Méridien’s Foursquare Mayor on that date will be awarded a gorgeous XOXO-themed scarf from the upscale, King-of-Prussia based clothing brand Lilly Pulitzer, valued at $118.

You can check into the hotel on Foursquare here.

Besides spending a night or two at the elegant10-story Georgian revival-style hotel, excuses abound for checking into Le Méridien enough times to gain Mayorship. Le Méridien’s Amuse is a chic brasserie, featuring sophisticated, French fare. Or else you can stop by Le Bar at Amuse to grab a quick cocktail.

Tres bien!

Le Méridien [Foursquare]

No matter the weather this weekend, there's lots to do both indoors and out. (Photo credits: top left courtesy Battle of the Canvas, top right courtesy Morris Arboretum, bottom right by Roman Blazic for Penn Treaty Park, bottom left courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

An earthquake one day, a hurricane the next… but no fear, Philly still has plenty of things to do this weekend.

In fact, it’s one of the final weekends of summer, so make it worth it. Luckily, that won’t be difficult given the many options you have to choose from.

And don’t forget about our definitive guide to maximizing the remaining summer fun, from picnicking to rooftop bars and restaurants to water sports and water ice and everything in between.

We’ve curated all the goings-on this weekend to give you our top picks, below:

Friday, August 26

Friday Night Fireworks in New Hope/Lambertville

Smooth Jazz Summer Nights at Penn’s Landing

Granite Hill Tiki Dinner

Happy Hour at Frankford Hall Beer Garden

Burn This: Censorship, Secrecy, and Survival at the Rosenbach Museum & Library

Friday Night Flights for FEASTIVAL at Ristorante Panorama

Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park — Closing Day!

Art After 5: Joanna Pascale at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Free Poster of Mother Teresa to First 100 Visitors at the National Liberty Museum

Beyond Philadelphia Longwood Gardens Bus Tour

Saturday, August 27

Note: On account of the weather forecast, be sure to call ahead in case of cancellations.

Battle of the Canvas at the Piazza at Schmidts: UPDATE: Postponed until further notice due to inclement weather

The Dude Hates Cancer Charity Bowling Tournament at North Bowl

Diving Horse Pop-Up at Pub & Kitchen

Open Mic Night at Giovanni’s Room

Jazz Master Boney James at Keswick Theatre

Grapevine Express in New Hope

Terrence Laragione exhibit at Rodger La Pelle Galleries

Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon at the National Constitution Center

40th Street Summer Series: Vieux Farka Touré + Kyo Daiko UPDATE: Cancelled due to inclement weather

PECO Primate Jungle Days at the Philadelphia Zoo (Sat, Sun)

Mummies of the World at the The Franklin Institute

Saturday Night Rooftop BBQs at The Corner

Tommy Gunn’s Back to School Bash

McPherson Square Festival

Rittenhound’s First Annual PAWS Adoption Event at the Rittenhouse Farmer’s Market

Sunday, August 28

Note: On account of the weather forecast, be sure to call ahead in case of cancellations.

Iron Chef Jose Garces vs. Cesare Casella in a seafood-centric episode of “Iron Chef America”

Rum & Reggae End Of Summer Bash hosted by White Dog Cafe

Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

15th Annual Korean Folk Festival for Children UPDATE: Postponed until further notice due to inclement weather

Urbanism: Reimagining the Lived Environment at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The Awesome Fest Outdoor Summer Series

Excavating Ground Zero: Fragments from 9/11 at the Penn Museum

Beer Garden BBQ at City Tap House

Dual Nature: Science Illustrations of Dan Otte at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Morris Arboretum’s Garden Railway Circus Week — Opening Day!

Awesome Fest transforms the Piazza into a drive-in movie theater, with lawn chairs in place of convertibles.
(Photo courtesy Awesome Fest)

After its summer success, the free outdoor film series Awesome Fest is extending its awesome-ness into the fall, continuing on Thursdays through September 18.

The film series, which features titles from both the indie and Hollywood movie circuits, holds its screenings at the Piazza at Schmidts, the perfect place to spend a late summer (and now early fall) night. The extended series will feature four new films, covering a variety of genres with a little something for everyone.

The upcoming schedule includes:

• August 28: Bangkok Knockout tells the story of a group of friends joining together their martial arts disciplines, including Muay Thai, Capoeira, Kung Fu and Tai Chai, fighting for their lives and the rescue of a fellow friend. Directed by acclaimed director/stunt coordinator Panna Rittikrai, it’s an action-packed film sure to get your adrenaline pumping.

• September 1: A Sundance FIlm Festival favorite makes its Philadelphia debut with Shut Up, Little Man: An Audio Misadventure, a story of two punk rockers in the ’80s who begin making audio recordings of their two older, rambunctious neighbors that leads to a viral pop culture phenomenon.

• September 8: Black Power Mixtape follows the influential Black Power movement between the years 1967-1975, and is compiled from 16mm footage shot by Swedish journalists and re-discovered thirty years later. This film features music from Philly’s own music sensation ?uestlove, and a panel discussion will be held after the screening.

• September 15: A tale of football loving friends gathering together every year to play in an annual football tournament gave this film its title Turkey Bowl. Its a SXSW favorite, chronicling the characters’ drama, friendship, and lives both on and off the field. In conjunction with this event, a Flag Football tournament will be hosted in Liberty Lands park on Sunday, September 18.

Awesome Fest
Where: Piazza at Schmidts, 1001 North 2nd Street
When: Thursdays through September 18, shows beginning at 7 or 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.theawesomefest.com

This is going to be something special. Much-buzzed-about Barbuzzo is hosting a five-course “Summer In Provence” wine dinner Wednesday, August 31, and you want to be there (Barbuzzo, not Provence — although that would be nice, too).

Each course, heavy on the fresh and locally sourced ingredients, is paired with a delicious wine. You get two options for the third and fourth courses.

Chef Marcie Turney will be whipping up culinary beauties like crispy skin chicken roulade, local radishes with house-made nasturtium butter and more.

Check out (read: drool over) the full menu, below.

Call (215) 546-9300 for reservations.

“Summer In Provence” Wine Dinner at Barbuzzo
When: Wednesday, August 31
Where: 110 S. 13th Street
Cost: $55
More info: www.13thstreetphilly.blogspot.com

(more…)

This much-anticipated, darkly innovative puppet show is set, ironically, inside the gorgeous Christ Church Neighborhood House. (Photo courtesy Christ Church Neighborhood House)

The Fringe Festival is a big deal. Such a big deal, in fact, that it draws theater talent from across the globe.

One such example is The Devil and Mister Punch, an exciting transatlantic collaboration between London-based performance company Improbable and a diverse group of American artists.

The iconic and murderous Mr. Punch (of Punch and Judy puppet show fame) has been the basis for beloved family entertainment for centuries. But The Devil and Mister Punch delves into the even darker world of Punch’s manipulators, the puppeteers themselves, and a pair of vaudeville-era theater producers, brothers Harvey and Hovey, who have hit rock bottom. They are reduced to presenting a puppet show that goes wildly off-course.

The stage is like a giant Victorian armoire, with secret openings, a piano and multiple performances areas. Let yourself be swept inside a shadowy, magical world filled with wooden and papier-mâché players, music of the jug band era, a steaming crocodile, a parade of elephants, hangings, beatings, the devil and more.

Intrigued? Tickets are available online.

The Devil and Mister Punch for the Philly Fringe Festival
Where: Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street
When: September 8-16
Cost: $25
More info: www.thedevilandmisterpunch.com

Given the sub-par weather, tonight's a great chance to stop by the George Washington exhibit at the Constitution Center; and it's only $5 on Thursdays! (Photo courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies' Association for NCC)

[Summer in Philadelphia is action-packed, and we want to help you cherry-pick from all the events and activities going on. On certain days that promise particularly bustling evenings, we'll be rounding up our selections for the most can't-miss pursuits with which to fill your schedule. See you out there!]

Despite the dreary weather, there are lots of fun ways to spend the evening. Check out a few options, below:

• Final With Love Beer Garden: Indoor Version: Due to inclement weather, the With Love Beer Garden will move inside this evening to the Swann Lounge, which will be offering the same awesome beer specials as the normal garden event.

Where: The Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, 1 Logan Square
When: Thursday, August 25, 5-8 p.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• La Tomatina at Amada: Final Night!: La Tomatina is a Spanish festival held in the Valencian town of Buñol every August. Chef de Cuisine Macgregor Mann will prepare and serve a special four-course tasting menu highlighting Philadelphia’s top-notch local heirloom tomatoes for $55 per person, starting today through August 25.

Where: 217-219 Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, August 25
Cost: $55

• Opa Glendi hosted by South Philly Fashionista: South Philly Fashionista has teamed up with Opa for a special edition of Glendi Thursday inside Opa restaurant in Midtown Village. The first 50 guests will receive swag bags packed with goodies, coupons and limited-edition SPF T-shirts.

Where: 1311 Sansom Street
When: Thursday, August 25, 9 p.m.
Cost: Free

• Bar AIDS Philadelphia: The popular benefit returns to Philadelphia today, with nearly two dozen bars and coffeehouses donating a portion of the night’s proceeds to four local AIDS awareness institutions: ActionAIDS, Philadelphia FIGHT, Mazzoni Center, and the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, all of whom provide support and counseling services to the thousands of patients and families in the Delaware Valley.

Where: Two dozen bars and coffeehouses
When: Thursday, August 25, 8 a.m.-2 a.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• The National Constitution Center’s $5 after 5: Summer Nights: For only $5, enjoy the museum’s extended summer hours (it stays open until 8 p.m.) and all the center has to offer including the summer blockbuster exhibition Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon.

Where: 525 Arch Street
When: Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.
Cost: $5 (kids are free)

• Scarlett Alley HOBO Trunk Show: Favors such as reusable bags and coupons towards a future event will be given out and two door prizes (HOBO wallets) will be awarded throughout the evening. The best part? This night only the entire stock of HOBO International handbags will be 20% off, while all summer bags, jewelry, scarves and hats will be 60% off.

Where: 241 Race Street
When: Thursday, August 25, 4:30-8 p.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• Chifa and Bruery Dinner: Chifa is teaming up with Orange County, CA-based craft brewery The Bruery in a continuation of the restaurant’s successful series of beer dinners. The dinner will showcase Chifa’s acclaimed Latin-Asian cuisine, alongside specially paired unfiltered, unpasteurized beers.

Where: 707 Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, August 25, 7 p.m.
Cost: $65

The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe is now just a matter of days away, and we want to make sure you’re fully prepared for the 16 days of artistic madness.

We’ve been helping you out with a series of guides to events, plus spotlights on some of our particular favorites, to assist you in choosing what to attend.

First up was our guide to free events. Second, family-friendly performances.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Fringe is that it draws talent from literally across the globe. So now, check out our roundup of international artists’ shows, in date order:

• Paper Cut: September 4-7, Media Bureau, 725 N. 4th Street. Transforming historic cinema into a universe of paper cutouts and object theater, Israeli solo performer Yael Rasooly is a lonely secretary who escapes into a world of daydreams where she is a glamorous 1940s movie star.

• Smiley: September 4-7, Media Bureau, 725 N. 4th Street. This is one of Tel Aviv’s longest running fringe shows. Set in a New Age empowerment workshop, Smiley is a series of sexually-charged monologues that also transforms into an interactive experience with the audience.

• The Devil and Mister Punch: September 8-16, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street. Straight from London, the iconic Mr. Punch (of “Punch and Judy” fame) murders his way through life’s inconveniences, and yet his story has been the basis for beloved family entertainment for centuries. Unsatisfied with mere murder, The Devil and Mister Punch delves into the even darker world of Punch’s manipulators, the puppeteers themselves. A stage like a giant Victorian armoire has secret openings, a piano, and multiple performances areas.

• Namasya: September 11-12, Arts Bank at the University of the Arts, 601 S. Broad Street. Namasya is a Sanskrit word which means to pay homage or reverence, adoration.
From the classical Indian dance form Kuchipudi to contemporary movement, Namasya is a virtuosic and very personal contemporary dance work. The evening is made up of four solos, appropriate for ages 12 and up.

• Play: September 15-17, Prince Music Theatre, 1412 Chestnut Street. Flemish-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Shantala Shivalingappa come together to create a playground for experiments of role-play, seduction, imitation, human-sized puppets, blindfolds, masks and music.

• El Proceso/The Process: September 16-17, The Maas Building, 1325 N. Randolph Street. Witness Pasion y Arte’s raw and informal performance of its first commissioned work by world-renowned Flamenco artist Rosario Toledo. This laboratory style offering gives an intimate peek into this experimental phase as it evolves, before its world premiere at the March 2012 First Philadelphia Flamenco Festival.

• More Mouvements für Lachenmann: September 16-17, Arts Bank at the University of the Arts, 601 S. Broad Street. The piece is French choreographer Xavier Le Roy’s poetic and version of a contemporary music concert from the point of view of someone obsessed with movement. This dance for eight extraordinary virtuoso musicians, including members of the Austrian new music ensemble Klangforum Wien, breaks down the work of making music by uncoupling sounds and movements, sonic events and silences, actions and stillness.

The 7th Annual Mantua Family Day Festival returns for another year of big fun and great music this Saturday, August 27 Saturday, September 10.

Taking place just a block away from the Philadelphia Zoo, the festival will be full of activities for attendees of all ages including carnival rides, games, dancing, horse riding and food provided by local vendors.

Area talent will be on display during a special performance showcase and emcee competition, both produced by Fourth Wall Arts Salon, giving local musicians, dancers and poets a chance to shine.

The highlight of this year’s festival is an old school concert featuring legendary hip-hop artists Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick, Chubb Rock and Kwame — the perfect lineup for the festival’s block-party vibe.

And we should mention, all of this is FREE!

Food, games and a free concert? Sounds like the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

UPDATE: The event is postponed to Saturday, September 10 due to inclement weather.

Mantua Family Day Festival
When: Saturday, September 10, 12-7 p.m.
Where: 34th Street and Mantua Avenue
Cost: Free
More info: www.mcic1.org

With a distinctive atmosphere befitting the historic Wayne Hotel, Paramour is sure to become a new favorite for dinner and drinks on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
(Photo courtesy Wayne Hotel)

This fall, Paramour, a sophisticated bar and restaurant serving modern American cuisine, will open in the iconic Wayne Hotel on the Main Line.

The hotel, located in the heart of downtown Wayne, recently completed an extensive two-year renovation to the property, including an expansion of the original restaurant space.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

The Space

The Wayne Hotel, which opened in 1906, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, so it’s truly an elegant setting.

Paramour will offer four areas for guests: an outdoor veranda, with a gardenlike setting and comfortable rattan chairs and couches; a contemporary lobby lounge ottomans and a working fireplace; a lively bistro bar with plush semi-circle banquettes; and a stunning main dining room with direct views of the open kitchen.

The Food

The menu at Paramour, helmed by Chef Maurice Kim deRamus formerly of A La Maison Bistro in Ardmore, will include highlights like: Salt Cured Lancaster Beef; Shaved Root Vegetable Salad; Charred Himachi Collar; and Chestnut Ravioli.

The dining room menu will also offer a “Primal Cuts” section featuring local beef, Berkshire pork and Colorado lamb with steakhouse inspired side dishes as well as “Fresh Catch” a whole-baked fish that will be filleted tableside.

An all-day menu will be available in the bistro bar, lobby lounge and on the veranda. Shareable and small plates, entree salads, burgers and sandwiches will fill the menu. Highlights include Kobe Beef Sliders, a large selection of made-to-order flatbreads and a selection of “Bar Bites” including Crispy Chicken Oysters, Medjool dates stuffed with gorgonzola and Lancaster bacon; and Lola Duck Meatballs.

The Drinks

A list of creative, handcrafted cocktails will include: Lemon Basil Mojito, Salted Plum Martini and Pineapple Pisco Fizz, all made with top-notch and innovatively curated ingredients.

Lunch at Paramour will be served Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; dinner will be served Sunday-Thursday, from 5-10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m. An all-day dining menu will be available in the bistro bar, lobby lounge and on the veranda from 11:30 a.m.-midnight, seven days a week. Sunday brunch will begin a few weeks after opening.

Paramour at the Wayne Hotel
139 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne
www.paramourwayne.com