The weather was perfect, the flowers were in full bloom and our mouths were salivating for a taste of spring!

Lucky for us, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival was there to fill all of our gluttonous needs. We even got the chance to watch one of our favorite people, singer-songwriter and Philly 360° Creative Ambassador Nikki Jean, make cannolis alongside Chef Chris Buretta of Continental Mid-town. She was almost as sweet as the treats.

Can’t wait until next year!

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival [ visitphilly.com ]

A few months ago we introduced the 2010 Philly 360° Creative Ambassadors. Today, get to know Entertainment Executive Marc Byers.

Watch as Marc Byers takes us on a tour of his beloved hometown; the place that birthed The Sound of Philadelphia and the musical careers of Patti LaBelle, Eve, Jill Scott and countless others.

Join Marc as he reminisces about the good ole days of garage band soul, his favorite places to shop and eat and what makes Philly the toughest place you’ll love to live, work and play.

2010 Philly 360°® Creative Ambassadors [visitphilly.com]

 
Where else can you learn about a neighborhood 300 years in the making, settled by the Dutch and Germans grab one of the tastiest bites of barbeque you ever wrapped your lips around and visit a historic hall dedicated to honoring Black and minority World World II veterans?

In Germantown, of course! Take a trip with our host, Saleana Pettaway, as she explores this diverse neighborhood that features some of the best Philly has to offer in the form of food from The Rib Crib, history, art at the Lucien Crump Art Gallery and culture at the little-known but highly regarded ACES Museum.

If you think it looks good on the screen, wait until you test it out in person!

Check out the full list of sites featured in the video, after the jump.

Previously: Exploring Northwest Philadelphia Video Series: Germantown History

ACES Museum
5801 Germantown Avenue
(215) 842-3742
acesmuseum.org

Lucien Crump Art Gallery
6378 Germantown Avenue
(215) 843-8788

The Rib Crib
6333 Germantown Avenue
(215) 438-6793

Why should February get all the credit as THE month to commemorate Black History? Philly 360°® celebrates the extraordinary talent, determination and success of our Creative Ambassadors every day of the year.

We want the whole world to know that amazing people here in our beloved city are making Black History now.

In partnership with CBS3/The CW, we produced a series of 30-second spots featuring Chloe Davis (PHILADANCO), Nikki Jean (singer, songwriter and musician), Jeri Lynne Johnson (Founding Music Director of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra) and Ursula Rucker (poet and recording artist).

A new generation of trendsetters in the making. Enjoy!

2010 Philly 360°® Creative Ambassadors [visitphilly.com]

 
Yes, you’ve ogled our beloved Liberty Bell. And you’ve stood in awe at Independence Hall. But did you know that the largest Revolutionary War battle fought in Philadelphia took place in Germantown?

Or that the oldest official Presidential residence is located in ‘Freedom’s Backyard’?

Or that the first written protest against slavery was scribed in this historic neighborhood?

Sit back and hunker down for a tour of Germantown, where you’ll discover an Underground Railroad stop at the Johnson House, explore a self-sustaining town in present-day Fairmount Park called Historic Rittenhouse Town and learn a lot more about this gem of a neighborhood in the Northwest!

After the jump, check out the list of places featured in the video.

Previously: Exploring Northwest Philadelphia Video Series: East Oak Lane

Cliveden of the National Trust
6430 Germantown Avenue
(215) 842-1798
cliveden1767.wordpress.com

Deschler-Morris House (Germantown White House)
5448 Germantown Avenue
(215) 597-1293
nps.gov/demo
Opens April 3

Germantown Historical Society
5501 Germantown Avenue
(215) 844-0514
germantownhistory.com

Historic Rittenhouse Town
206 Lincoln Drive
(215) 438-5711
rittenhousetown.org

Johnson House Historic Site
6306 Germantown Avenue
(215) 438-1768
johnsonhouse.org

Stenton
4601 North 18th Street
(215) 329-7312
stenton.org

Nestled in the Northwest section of Philly is East Oak Lane, a quiet neighborhood that boasts beautifully designed stone mansions, both historic and modern, arts, culture and dining.

Our host Saleana Pettaway explores history and homes, the ever-popular Oak Lane Diner, newcomer Exclamation Gallery and Under the Oak Café, a quiet respite from city life. Enjoy this peek into East Oak Lane, one of Philly’s treasures!

Check out the full list of sites featured in the video, after the jump.

Previously: Exploring Northwest Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill Shopping

Exclamation Gallery
727 Oak Lane
(570) 906-0766
exclamationgallery.net

Oak Lane Diner
6528 North Broad Street
(215) 424-1026

Under the Oak
804 Oak Lane Avenue
(215) 924-1410

 
In this week’s Northwest Philadelphia video, we’re exploring the unique shopping in Chestnut Hill.

Where else can you go to enjoy a freshly roasted cup of coffee, savor gourmet cheeses from around the world, experience a hot stone massage with heated river stones and buy fair trade jewelry, gifts and more, all in one neighborhood?

Only in Chestnut Hill, home to Philadelphia’s famed Belgian block-paved streets and dozens of specialty shops like Cake, Chestnut Hill Grill & Sidewalk Café, Jahaya’s All Natural Bath and Skin Care and others.

Join host Saleana Pettaway on a stroll down ‘The Avenue’ and see why this is one of Philadelphia’s – and the nation’s – most distinct neighborhoods around.

Check out the full list of sites featured in the video, after the jump.

Previously: Exploring Northwest Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill

3000 BC Wellmed Spa
8439 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-6020
3000bc.com

Bredenbeck’s Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor
8126 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-7374
bredenbecks.com

Cake
8501 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-6887
cakeofchestnuthill.com

Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop
8509 Germantown Avenue
(215) 242-2211
chcheeseshop.com

Chestnut Hill Coffee Company
8620 Germantown Avenue
(215) 242-8600
chestnuthillcoffee.com

Chestnut Grill & Sidewalk Café
8229 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-7570
chestnuthillgrill.com

El Quetzal
8427 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-6588

Fabrics On The Hill
8434 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-3485
fabricsonthehill.com

Hideaway Music
8612 Germantown Avenue
(215) 248-4434

Jahaya’s All Natural Bath and Skin Care
8138 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-8226
jahayas.com

O’Doodles Toy Store
8335 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-7405
odoodles.com

Mango
8442 Germantown Avenue
(215) 248-9299

Osaka Japanese Restaurant
8605 Germantown Avenue
(215) 242-4084
osakachestnuthill.com

Ten Thousand Villages
8331 Germantown Avenue
(215) 242-3040
tenthousandvillages.com

The Bone Appetite
8505 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
theboneappetiteonline.com

Part two of the video series takes us to the far end of the Northwest section of the city, to Chestnut Hill.

Chestnut Hill is the perfect mix of residential and retail, where you can shop on ‘The Avenue’ (Germantown Avenue), go hiking and biking in Valley Green (Wissahickon Valley Park), view masterpieces at the Woodmere Art Museum and loose yourself amidst the flora and fauna at Morris Arboretum, all in one day!

Take a cyber ride with our host, Saleana Pettaway as she explores the peaks and valleys of Chestnut Hill.

After the jump, check out the list of places featured in the video.

Previously: Exploring Northwest Philadelphia: West Oak Lane

Chestnut Hill Historical Society
8708 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-0417
www.chhist.org

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
100 E. Northwestern Avenue
(215) 247-5777
www.morrisarboretum.org

Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown Avenue
(215) 247-0476
www.woodmereartmuseum.org

Valley Green (Wissahickon Valley Park)
www.fairmountpark.org/WissahickonValleyPark.asp

Valley Green Inn
Wissahickon Park
Valley Green Road at Wissahickon
(215) 247-1730
www.valleygreeninn.com

Welcome to the new Northwest Philly neighborhood video series!

We’re going to take you on a virtual tour of some of the hippest, historic, fun neighborhoods in the city. You’ll discover the best places to sample award-winning ribs and sumptuous sushi, find fairly traded gifts and organic produce, historic homes and walking tours and more!

Our first video focuses on West Oak Lane, home to the famous West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival, which regularly draws more than 400,000 revelers to the neighborhood each summer for high energy music, art, food and fun.

Stay a while and enjoy Relish, the latest venture from the restaurant-savvy Bynum brothers, African Expressions boutique, Art Noir Gallery, Awbury Arboretum and many more great sites.

Thanks to the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation (OARC) for funding this project! Stay tuned for new videos every week on Chestnut Hill, East Oak Lane, Germantown, Mt. Airy and West Oak Lane.

Check out the full list of sites seen in the video, after the jump.

African Expressions
7175-B Ogontz Avenue
(215) 924-0444

Art Noir Gallery
7175-C Ogontz Avenue
(215) 548-2455
artnoirstyle.com

Awbury Arboretum
1 Awbury Road
(215) 849-2855
awbury.org

Cornbread & Coffee
7175-D Ogontz Avenue (on 72nd Avenue)
(215) 424-0552
cornbreadandcoffee.com

Relish Restaurant
7152 Ogontz Avenue
(215) 276-0170
relishphiladelphia.com

Weavers Way Coop
2129 72nd Avenue
(215) 276-0706
weaversway.coop