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Fresh off their victory of being named the best sports bar in all of North America in an ESPN mobile poll, the South Philly location of Chickie’s & Pete’s is celebrating with their first Fan Appreciation Night tonight, September 26.

As a thank you for voting in the poll, Chickie’s & Pete’s is giving away FREE crabfries from 6:30-7:30 p.m., in addition to $1 Miller Lites from 5-6 p.m. and $1 Bud and Bud Lites all day.

There will also be great prizes and giveaways, like autographed items and T-shirts, plus player and cheerleader appearances (and Andy Reid!), the Eagles Pep Band and more. And the South Philly flagship location has four giant bars, huge TVs (we’re talking 12-foot HD projectors), 25+ beers on tap (including a vast local selection) and a famous seafood menu.

Basically you should head here tonight to watch the Phillies battle the Braves to try to keep the momentum going into the playoffs. Go Phils!

Chickie’s & Pete’s Fan Appreciation Night
When: Monday, September 26, starting at 5 p.m.
Where: 1526 Packer Ave
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.chickiesandpetes.com

On January 2, 2012, Citizens Bank Park will be transformed into hockey heaven for the NHL's annual Winter Classic. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)

Big news today: The NHL is officially bringing outdoor professional hockey to Philadelphia for the 5th annual Winter Classic.

After appearing in the game in 2010 in Boston, the Flyers will host their first Winter Classic, against the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012.

The Winter Classic provides an opportunity for fans to enjoy the game of hockey the same way many grew up playing it: outdoors. Since its inception in 2008, the annual game has been extremely popular among hockey enthusiasts and casual fans alike, drawing packed crowds and lots of excitement. Normally falling on New Year’s Day, this year’s game will take place on January 2.

Citizens Bank Park, normally the home of the Phillies, will be transformed into an outdoor hockey arena for one afternoon of great action on the ice. Past Winter Classics have been played at iconic stadiums like Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston.

The Flyers and Rangers won’t be the only ones enjoying the rink at the park that week, the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni will meet the New York Rangers Alumni on Saturday, December 31 at 1 p.m., showcasing many of the two teams’ best and most famous former players.

Also, the Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, will host the Hershey Bears at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m.

We will update this post as more event details and ticket information become available.

Between the city’s annual New Year’s Mummers Parade and celebration and the Winter Classic, Philly is definitely the place to be to ring in 2012.

Below, check out a video teaser for the upcoming 2012 Winter Classic.

NHL Winter Classic — Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers
When: January 2, 2012 at 1 p.m.
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Citizens Bank Way and Pattison Avenue
More info: www.nhl.com

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PAFA is debuting Lenfest Plaza with a day-long party this Saturday, October 1. The Plaza is set to become a key public space on North Broad, connecting the Parkway with the Avenue of the Arts. (Photo by Linda Johnson courtesy PAFA)

This Saturday is shaping up to be huge in Philadelphia. There’s the always popular Midtown Village Fall Festival, which is easily one of the best festivals in Center City all year. Then there’s also the RiverCity Festival at Penn Treaty Park and the Revolutionary Germantown Festival in Northwest Philadelphia. And, oh yeah, a little thing called Game 1 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park — Go Phillies!!

And that’s before we’ve even mentioned one of Saturday’s biggest events: the grand opening of PAFA’s Lenfest Plaza, a 13-hour, festivity-filled celebration complete with an outdoor arts festival, free museum tours, the inaugural lighting of the 51-foot Claes Oldenburg sculpture Paint Torch, with an after-party to follow.

Construction began on Lenfest Plaza back in February, and it’s finally set to open to the public. The plaza is a 24-hour pedestrian court taking over about half a block of Cherry Street (between Broad Street and Carlisle Street), closing it to vehicular traffic and reclaiming it for public use. So you’ll be able to enjoy an outdoor bite, people watch and take a load off in a beautiful cultural setting, all year long.

Here’s a rundown of the opening day festivities:

• Family Arts Festival: noon-5 p.m.
The afternoon Arts Festival is free and open to the public. There will be free art activities, including Spin Art, Kite making and Face Painting. Other kid-friendly entertainment will include guest appearances by Kathy O’Connell from WXPN’s Kids Corner and a performance by The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale. Everyone can take advantage of complimentary admission to the Historic Landmark Building as well as free museum tours. The museum’s doors will remain open until 5 p.m. Outside there will be entertainment and a variety of food vendors on-site throughout the day.

• The Lighting Ceremony: 6:30-7 p.m.
After the festival, stick around for the dramatic sunset lighting of Claes Oldenburg’s Paint Torch. It’s sure to be a moving moment. The lighting and the unveiling event is also free and open to the public. Marguerite and H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, Mayor Nutter and artist Claes Oldenburg, among other dignitaries, will be in attendance.

• After Party: 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
Celebrate the new plaza into the wee hours with an After Hours Dance Party, featuring a DJ, late night food trucks and a cash bar. Click here to purchase After Party tickets, $25.

Lenfest Plaza is set to become a new anchor for North Broad Street, the portion of the Avenue of the Arts north of City Hall for which much exciting development is planned. We can’t wait to see it all come to life.

Lenfest Plaza Opening Celebration
Where: PAFA, 118-128 N. Broad Street
When: Saturday, October 1, noon-1 a.m.
Cost: Free (except for dinner and after party)
More info: www.pafa.org

Previously: Save The Date: PAFA’s Grand Opening Celebration For Lenfest Plaza Set For October 1 With An Arts Festival, Free Museum Tours And The Inaugural Lighting Of Claes Oldenburg’s 51-Foot Paint Torch Sculpture

The first MashUp event of Miro's 2011-2012 season is tomorrow night. (Photo courtesy Miro Dance Theatre)

Miro Dance Theatre pushes boundaries with every performance, but no more so than during their Miro Mash-Up Series.

The company’s next Miro Mash-Up, MIRO + KASCHOCK + KONG, is Tuesday, September 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Christ Church Neighborhood House.

Offering audiences a taste of the Philly Fringe Festival, after it has closed, the evening will feature poetry from writer/dancer Kirsten Kaschock, music from Philadelphia-based band TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb and, of course, dance from Miro dancers. Admission is completely free.

For all Miro Mash-Ups, Miro invites a local rock band and a visiting artist into the studio for four days. At the end of the fourth day, the resulting work, an unexpected and unpredictable combination, is performed by all for one night only. Don’t miss it.

Miro Dance Theatre Mash-Up
When: Tuesday, September 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Christ Church Neighborhood House, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, North of Market
Cost: Free
More info: www.mirodancetheatre.org

The Ibrahim Theater will screen 100+ films over four days. (Photo courtesy International House)

Project Twenty1′s Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival (PFAF) is back for the sixth year, screening 128 short and feature-length independent films, including more than 60 World Premieres.

PFAF will also host educational workshops for passholders, prize giveaways, a red-carpet Awards Show and opening and closing night networking parties.

The flagship event is the 21-Day Filmmaking Competition, the largest filmmaking contest in Philadelphia, which welcomed competitors this summer from 14 states plus Canada and Hong Kong. The 52 shorts, which will all be screened during the festival, run the gamut of styles and genres from comedy to film noir to animation. According to PFAF, “they all have one thing in common: awesomeness. Well, that and this year’s element: “Start With A Crash.”

All festival screenings and workshops, as well as the Awards Show, will take place at the 350-seat International House Ibrahim Theater. Check out the full screening schedule online.

Pre-order tickets and passes here; online sales will be shut off at 6 p.m. on September 28. Starting September 29, these can be purchased from noon-8 p.m. at Project Twenty1 Booths, at the International House Philadelphia.

6th Annual Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival
When: September 29-October 2
Where: International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street
Cost: Tickets start at $10
More info: www.projecttwenty1.com

It's officially fall fashion season, and two Kennett Square shops are helping you tap into the latest styles this Thursday. (Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC)

The trip to Kennett Square will be well worth the mileage on your car come Thursday, September 29.

From 4-9 p.m., two of West State Street’s favorite shops, Chantilly Blue and Ashley Austin Boutique, will host a joint girls’ night out event including great promotions and offers.

To begin, Chantilly Blue, premium denim specialists, will flaunt autumn’s latest from denim brands like JBrand, Hudson, James Jeans, Paige Premium Denim and more. More fall finery from labels like Patterson J. Kincaid, Bailey 44, BB Dakota, Lilla P, Red Haute and Sweaters by Sisters will also be available for sale.

They’ll also have a Smashbox makeup artist on-hand showcasing the newest products from Girls on Film and Halo, and will raffle off three prizes from butterLONDON nail lacquer, Smashbox and La Vie Parisienne jewelry.

Ashley Austin, a shoe and accessory boutique whose event runs concurrently, will introduce shoppers to some amazing new arrivals, while simultaneously hosting a trunk show for French Sole Shoes. And just for fun, they’ll give away their ever popular “swag bag” with every purchase.

Both shops will offer big discounts; the more you shop, the sweeter the discount. Also at both locations, sushi and light fare from Lily, their newest restaurant neighbor, will be served and white wine and sparkling water will be readily available to quench your thirst.

Autumn Girls’ Night Out at Chantilly Blue and Ashley Austin Boutique
When: September 29, 4-9 p.m.
Where: 106 and 120 W. State Street and Kennett Square
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.historickennettsquare.com

You crack the case at the Franklin Institute's latest exhibition. (Photo © 2007 Fort Worth Museum of Science and History)

Just in time for fall TV season, The Franklin Institute’s newest exhibition, CSI: The Experience, opens this Saturday, October 1.

The immersive exhibit invites visitors to step into the world of cutting-edge forensic science and employ actual investigative techniques.

Guided by virtual investigators from the hit show CSI along with their real-life forensic science counterparts, visitors can investigate a crime scene, formulate a hypothesis, collect and analyze forensic evidence and see if they can solve the crime.

The three crime scenes include “A House Collided,” in which a car has run through the living room window of a house in a suburb neighborhood; “Who Got Served?” in which a young woman has been found dead in an alley behind an old Las Vegas motel; and “No Bones About It!” in which a hiker has stumbled across what looks like a human skull sticking out of the ground.

Click here for a virtual tour of the exhibition. And keep in mind Mummies of the World is still on display, through October 23.

Tickets are available online.

CSI: The Experience at The Franklin Institute
When: October 1-January 2
Where: 222 N. 20th Street
Cost: Tickets range from $6-$25.50
More info: www.fi.edu

The Dandelion has recently added a flat-screen TV to their main bar area for people who want to watch soccer or other sports. (Photo courtesy The Dandelion)

Stephen Starr’s English pub The Dandelion will be launching a weekend breakfast menu beginning this Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25.

In conjunction with the new breakfast service, the pub will air live English Premier League soccer games on their new TV, located in the main bar area.

Breakfast service will be from 8-11:30 a.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays. For those eager to enjoy a pint while rooting for their favorite club, the bar will also be open.

The breakfast menu (see below) will feature a full English Breakfast with Cumberland sausage, black pudding, tomato, mushroom, smoked bacon, fried bread, baked beans and two eggs any style; Brioche French Toast with strawberries and crème Chantilly; Scotch Pancakes with maple syrup and cinnamon cream and more.

This weekend’s schedule of games:

Saturday, September 24:
• Manchester City v Everton at 7:45 a.m. (The Dandelion will open early to accommodate the start of the games.)
• Stoke v Manchester United at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 25:
• Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa at 11 a.m.

Full breakfast menu and the rest of the upcoming game schedule, below.

The Dandelion
124 S. 18th Street
www.thedandelionpub.com

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Enjoy live music, crafts and food from more than 60 vendors along the Delaware River in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

With the heat finally breaking and fall fast approaching, it’s about the time of year we must bid a fond farewell to summer — and what better way to bring it to a close and welcome autumn than a with a 14-mile long celebration along the Delaware River?

Chester’s Riverfront Ramble is in its 7th year, and the 2011 edition is the biggest yet. The entire waterfront spanning from Tinicum to Marcus Hook will be graced by a variety of vendors, food, games and entertainment with the main hub of activity being at the Wharf in Rivertown.

Boating of all sorts is encouraged, and the festival will include ship and car shows along the water and a wildlife tour at the Tinicum Township Wildlife Refuge, while on the other end at Marcus Hook 20+ restaurants will be coming together to create a food festival of epic proportions.

Other events include hot air balloon rides, craft shows, a rib cook-off, and of course a fantastic opportunity to enjoy all the waterfront has to offer.

As always, the festival comes to a close with a series of concerts at three parks along the water, Barry Bridge of Chester, Market Square Memorial in Marcus Hook, and Governor Printz in Tinicum. Bring a blanket and enjoy the live music and stunning fireworks displays after the sun sets.

Chester’s Riverfront Ramble
When: Saturday, September 24, noon to dark
Where: 2501 Seaport Drive in Chester
Cost: Free
More info: www.chestercity.com

Thousands flock to this fest every year for an afternoon of great food, live music and fantastic wine during the Vendemmia Wine Festival. (Photo courtesy Vendemmia)

The Vendemmia Festival, on Sunday September 25, celebrates a time-honored tradition of South Philadelphia, where sharing homemade food and drink with family and friends is a favorite pastime.

For many of these homestyle vintners, winemaking is more than just a hobby. They print labels for the bottles and there’s even a rivalry over who makes the best Brunello, Chianti, Valpolicella, Pino Grigio and other vino varieties. The Vendemmia Festival, now in its 15th year, pits the winemakers against each other. Competition is friendly, but it’s still serious.

The word “vendemmia” is an Italian word that refers to the harvest of the grapes, and there’s quite a hefty haul here. For $40 you can sample all the homemade wine you like and enjoy tasty Italian food while listening to live music.

It’s a fun way to try out the fruits of some truly select wineries and you’ll also help a good cause: Proceeds support a scholarship program for high school students who are college bound.

Note that free event parking is available at Quartermaster’s, 20th & Oregon. Tickets are available online.

Vendemmia Festival
Where: Girard Estates Park, 21st and Porter Streets
When: Sunday, September 25, 2-6 p.m
Cost: $40
More info: www.vendemmiafoundation.org