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Oh yeah. Center City District Restaurant Week is back with a vengeance, including that fabulous $20*, three-course lunch option that they launched last Fall.

And of course, Restaurant Week also includes the traditional (and very delicious) three-course, $35* dinner option.

Just to recap, that means that your options are:

- Lunch (55+ restaurants): 3 courses, $20
- Dinner (100+ restaurants): 3 courses, $35

Also like last year, the event is spread over two weeks (with a one-day break on September 18):

- September 12-17, 2010
- September 19-24, 2010

Typical Restaurant Week menus include one appetizer, one entree and one dessert, though RW favorites Amada and Zahav are known to offer several small plates for each course. So do your research, make your list of favorites and book those tables!

Note: Restaurant Week is immensely popular, so we recommend making your reservations ASAP. Or we’ll beat you to it. We’re particularly excited that newly opened Barbuzzo is included in the deal!

*Tax, alcohol and gratuity not included. Make sure to treat your servers well, because for as much as we diners love the deals, they hate them.

Mark your calendars, cocktail enthusiasts! On Monday, September 13 Art in the Age will be hosting a SNAP Cocktail Competition at Liberties Walk in Northern Liberties. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. sharp and will take place rain or shine.

Mixologists from fifteen area bars and restaurants (including Adsum, Valanni and Village Whiskey) will be shaking and stirring up the very best SNAP cocktails they can muster. SNAP is an 80 proof, certified organic spirit that is derived from pure cane sugar and features cinnamon, cloves, rooibos tea and fresh ginger.

The event will be judged by the City Paper’s Drew Lazor, Master Sommelier Melissa Monosoff and William Grant & Sons Portfiolio Ambassador, Charlotte Voisey. Cocktails will be judged on taste, originality and presentation. The event is open to the public and will also feature $5 SNAP and ROOT cocktails from Bar Ferdinand and El Camino.

If you plan on attending, please RSVP by emailing Stephanie at stephanie@artintheage.com.

This Friday, September 3rd, Penn Environment will be hosting a free screening of the documentary Gasland at The Piazza at Schmidts. The film chronicles the increase of natural gas drilling in our state and the ways in which that extraction is effecting drinking water, the environment and the health of individuals who live in proximity to the drilling.

The event opens at 8 p.m. and the screening promptly at 9 p.m. If you plan on attending, please let the organizers know with your RSVP.

While you’re at The Piazza, makes sure to check out the Burter of the Week at PYT. It’s a Texas BBQ Burger made from grilled pork that’s topped with homemade spicy slaw and Texas BBQ sauce. Sounds pretty good to us!

Next Tuesday, September 7th, head on down to the more westerly end of South Street for the Pumpkin Market First Tuesday Community Festival. The event runs from 5:30-7:30 and is an opportunity to sample products made by a number of local producers, including Joe Coffee, Market Day Canele, Brad’s Raw Chips, Eat Sweet!, Bassetts Ice Cream, Amaranth Baking, Lore’s Chocolates and Mojo Munching.

Representatives from a number of other community organizations and green businesses will be there as well, including Teens 4 Good, Bennett Composting, the Sustainable Business Network and Grid Magazine. The Festival will take place in front of Pumpkin Market, which is located at 1610 South Street. If it rains, the event will be bumped to Thursday, September 9th.

For more about area food producers, farmers, brewers, bakers, wine makers and chefs who source locally, check out Philly Homegrown.

How old was Cleopatra when she died? What is the current capital of Egypt? Who recorded the #1 hit song “Walk Like an Egyptian?”
 
How much do you really know about Egypt and its legendary queen?
 
On Friday, September 10, put your Cleopatra knowledge to the test at “Quizzopatra” — a special night of Cleopatra-themed trivia, fun and revelry at the Franklin Institute.

Quizzo master Johnny Goodtimes will be host, challenging you with questions about Cleopatra, Marc Antony, the Bangles, and so much more.

The event will take place in the Fels Planetarium, where you’ll also get to see a ceiling show, before competing to win tickets to the blockbuster exhibition, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.

The evening is free with advance registration and features a cash bar — so mark your calendar and enjoy a Friday night celebration of Cleopatra’s partying.

Quizzo-Patra: Cleopatra-themed Quizzo hosted by Johnny Goodtimes
Date: Friday, September 10
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute
FREE with advance registration, please call 215-448-1254.
Cash bar available.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt [Visit Philly]

Earlier this summer, local food lovers congregated at Pub & Kitchen for the first summer happy hour from The Food Trust. That gathering was such a success that they’ve decided to do it again. This time, the locavores (and the people who love them) will be gathering at London Grill (23rd and Fairmount Ave.) on Thursday, September 2nd (that’s this week!) from 6-8 p.m.

There’s no cover charge to attend and proceeds from the event will go to support our area farmers’ markets. And speaking of markets, make sure to come with a few extra bucks in your pocket – the Fairmount Market takes place during those hours and so in addition to tossing back a few with likeminded foodies, you can also pick up a few ingredients for your next meal.

Whether you’ve got an active community garden plot, space in your yard for organized planting or even just a few carefully tended pots on your south-facing window sills, the upcoming PHS Gardening Festival will have something for you.

The Festival will take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Saturday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will showcase gardening tips, seasonal winners and some of the special programs open to area gardeners from the PHS. Experts will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and a number of demonstrations will taken place throughout the day. Philadelphia Flower Show lovers should also take not, a sneak preview of the 2011 show will also be on view.

Bring the kids, as there’ll be plenty to interest them as well, including the high-speed Veggie Races and a fun water station complements of the Philadelphia Water Department. PHS will also be announcing the winners of its annual City Gardens Contest and there will be live music all day.

The event is free so don’t miss it!

A couple weeks ago, we at uwishunu HQ were excited to share the news that the Food Trust was bringing a evening hours food bazaar to the city. Well, now we’re pretty much over the moon with the newest details. The Night Market will take place on Thursday, September 30, from 6 – 10 p.m. at the intersection of Tasker Street and Passyunk Avenue.

It’s the first of six such markets to be held throughout the city over the course of the next 18 months and is sure to be a rollicking good time. Make sure to bring some cash, a few good friends and a very empty belly.

Last month, we first made mention of Feastival.

It’s an event in its first year (spearheaded by Stephen Starr, Michael Solomonov and Audrey Claire Taichman), designed to raise money for this city’s beloved Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival.

Feastival will feature a delectable array of food — all donated by area restaurants — as well as performances by Festival artists and two auctions (live and silent). It’s going to be an amazing event and we want you to attend!

That’s right, we have a pair of tickets — valued at $200 each! — to give away for the Feastival, which is taking place September 15, 2010 from 6-9 p.m. at the Festival Hub at 5th and Fairmount Streets in Northern Liberties.

The contest begins today, August 30, 2010 and ends Friday, September 10, 2010 at 12 noon. Just fill out the form below to enter. The winner will be selected by random drawing and will be notified on September 10. Note: You may submit one entry per day for the duration of the giveaway (but no more than that!).

Official rules may be found here. You must be 21 or older to enter. Just enter your information in the form below.

Feastival [Official Site]

Though we’re still having some blazing hot days, last week’s cooler temperatures was good reminder that fall is rapidly approaching. Happily, there’s no need to mourn the end of summer, because the advent of autumn means that the many Oktoberfest celebrations aren’t far away.

McGillin’s, Philly’s oldest watering hole, is celebrating the season with a month-long Oktoberfest celebration. They’re adding an array of classic German dishes to their menu and will be pouring German beers throughout September. Festivities kick off on September 2 and run straight through to the Midtown Village Fall Festival on October 2.

Make sure to get down there during the month and cozy up to a plate of German Style Grilled Sausage with Bratwurst, Knockwurst, Red Cabbage and Warm German Potato Salad. It’s good, filling food and goes great with beer!

This Saturday, August 28 the Upper Merion Farmers Market will host its first annual Family Fun Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Market patrons of all ages are invited to race in the Zucchini 500, a just-for-fun test of summer squash speed. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. and the fastest cucurbits will receive a bit of UMFM Money, which is accepted by all market vendors. The UMFM Committee will also name the best decorated, best use of vegetables, most colorful, funniest, and unique zucchini racers, so come prepared to make your zucchini stand out.

Registration is $2. For that, you’ll receive a set of two wooden axles, 4 wooden wheels, and 4 wooden axle caps. Register at the UMFM Committee tent on Saturday before 10:15 a.m. If your backyard doesn’t contain an overgrown squash plant, appropriately sized zukes can be purchased from several of the UMFM vendors on race day. Rules and regulations for the Zucchini 500 can be found here.

In addition to the race event, the market will offer face painting for children. The folk and Americana sounds of Fiorenza-Dowlin will accompany the Family Fun Day events.

The Upper Merion Farmers’ Market is found at 175 West Valley Forge Road in King of Prussia. The market is located at the back of the Township Building in the Township Park.

Get out and take advantage of the sunny weather by checking out a few of our event picks this weekend:

Friday

Final Weekend to Tour the Phanatic Around Town Statues

Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert followed by Friday Night Fireworks at Penn’s Landing

Saturday

August Fourth Wall Arts Salon

Samba Festival at Headhouse Square

Sounds of Gospel Concert at Penn’s Landing

Sunday

Beerfest at the Ballpark

7th Annual Morrisville Jazz Fest