Uwishunu.com

Uwishunu is here to help you shop locally this holiday season; stock up on locally crafted jewelry, art, home goods, clothes, food and drink and much more. (Credit: iStockPhoto

The tree lights are atwinkle, the store windows are bursting with red, green, silver and gold, the ribbon and wrapping paper and cards are calling your name from inside your cabinet.

It’s officially gift-giving holiday heyday, and there’s no time like the present to stock up on Philadelphia-made crafts, clothes, food and more for the lucky ones on your list.

Enter: uwishunu’s holiday gift guide, complete with the events you can rely on for gift-shopping, the best places to find local gifts and our curated selections for specific finds from each. Note that our roundup is solely comprised of Philadelphia-made gifts, so if we missed your go-to gift shop it may be because they don’t stock locally.

Everything that you need to give locally this season, below:

Gift-Shopping Events

• Center City District Shopping Saturdays: Support local, independently owned small businesses throughout Center City over the next month. Here are the featured dates and locations. November 26: Midtown Village. December 3: The Shops at Liberty Place. December 10: The Gallery at Market East.December 17: Rittenhouse Row.

• NOLIBS Holiday Shopping Spree: December 3-4, from 2nd to 3rd and from The Piazza to Spring Garden. At this annual boutique crawl, 10 independent boutiques will be offering refreshments, free gift wrap and an opportunity to get up to 25% off your purchases. Shoppers are given a Shopping Spree Card and collect a sticker for each store at which they make a purchase. You get 10% off the first store, 15% off at the second, 20% off at the third and 25% off at all shops after collecting all three stickers.

• Stag & Doe Nights in Chestnut Hill: Wednesdays, December 5, 14, 21, 28, 6-9 p.m., throughout Chestnut Hill. All the shops open their doors and welcome you with wonderful gift ideas, refreshments and personalized, friendly service.

• H.O.P.E. for the Holidays Craft Bazaar: December 8-10, St. James Hall, Elkins Park. H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Other People Endure. The event includes a theater performance followed by a bazaar stocked with local crafters and artisans’ work.

• Greensgrow Holiday Bazaar: December 10, 11, 17, 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2501 E. Cumberland Street. Make a dent in your Christmas shopping at Greensgrow Farms’ Holiday Bazaar featuring local, handmade gift ideas from some of the neighborhood’s most talented crafters and artists, Christmas trees and holiday greenery.

• Crafty Balboa Holiday Edition: Saturday, December 17, Broad Street Ministry. Rooted in South Philly, this annual local craft extravaganza is a treasure trove of gifts.

• Punk Rock Flea Market Holiday Edition: Sunday, December 11, Punk Rock Flea Market Dome. Get pumped for 300+ tables of vendors selling old records, clothes, art, music, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and more.

• Rittenhouse Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Walnut Street between 18th and 19th Streets. In addition to fresh flowers, produce, meat, hot apple cider and other edibles, you can pick up locally made crafts likes Timothy Bahash of 4mula’s living ornaments and wreaths.

• Clark Park Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 43rd Street at Baltimore Avenue. Participating vendors (all local of course) include Eden Garden Farm, Fahnestock Fruit Farm, Forest View Bakery, Slow Rise Bakery and plenty more. Pick up baked goods, handmade chocolates or locally made cider as great holiday gifts.

Where to Shop

Clothes & Accessories

• R.E.Load Bags: Create your own custom-designed messenger bag, choosing from seven styles of single-strap bags and three styles of double-straps, plus a trillion color combos. All construction work is done on site at the Northern Liberties shop. They also sell wallets, bike accessories and more. OUR PICK: The “Build Your Own” bag.

• Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney’s We ♥ Philly line: The 13th street dynamic duo has funneled their love for Philadelphia into a Philly-centric, everything-is-irresistible line of goods. The totes, cards, coasters, T-shirts, candles, paperweights and onesies are designed locally. Order online, at Open House or Verde, both in Midtown Village. OUR PICK: Pretzel necklace in silver or gold.

• SA VA: Local eco-friendly clothing designer and entrepreneur Sarah Van Aken is a true champion on the local Philly designer scene. Anything from her shop, above which her design studio is located, makes a special present. OUR PICK: Any of the wide range of eco-friendly and fair trade dresses, what SA VA is known for.

• Smak Parlour: This dollhouse-like establishment nestled in Old City is an edgy boutique where city-wise shoppers dabble in the hip and flirty. Founders Abby and Kate, who design all of the store’s garments and accessories, have created a perfect marriage of sugar and spice. OUR PICK: A chic warm sweater for the coming winter.

• Egan Day: Though not all the stock is made here in Philadelphia, much of it is. You’ll find gorgeous jewelry, from earrings to pendants to rings. OUR PICK: Jonathan Wahl’s cufflinks. Philly-born and -raised Wahl’s clients include Bruce Webber, Anne Hathaway and Caroline Kennedy.

Continue reading below for our top picks for home goods, food and drink selections and more.

(more…)

The picnic grove at the gorgeous Shofuso, the tranquil Japanese House and Garden at Fairmount Park, is one of dozens of prime picnicking spots throughout Philadelphia. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Technically, July is National Picnic Month. But in our opinion it’s never too late for a useful guide to DIY outdoor eating in Philadelphia.

Below, we’ve outlined all the best summer festivals and concerts coming up to which you’re encouraged to BYO picnic basket and blanket; the most picnic-friendly parks and other swatches of green space that cry out for picnicking pairs and groups; and some of the best cafes and other grocery spots that you can rely on to supply aforementioned picnic basket with delicious food and drink.

The definitive Philadelphia picnic guide, below:

Picnic-Friendly Events

• Fireworks & Fountains at Longwood Gardens: August 13, 9:15 p.m. $38, ages 16 and up; $22, ages 15 and under. Fireworks and music will bathe Longwood’s 1,050-acre horticultural showplace of colorful waterworks and meticulously manicured flora. Picnics unfortunately aren’t allowed on the Conservatory grounds (either the upper or lower level in front of the Conservatory provides the most direct viewing experience), but there is a special picnic area nearby from which you can view the fireworks. As you’re approaching Longwood Gardens, turn left onto Longwood Road rather than going straight through the gardens, and the area will be about a quarter mile to your left.

• Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park: August 19 and 26, 6:30 p.m. Free. Free concerts and fireworks over the Delaware River make for an awesome al fresco beginning to a summer weekend. Penn Treaty Park is super picnic-friendly, so make sure to pack some tasty nibbles to enjoy throughout the evening.

• Screening of The Sixth Sense in Rittenhouse Square: Saturday, August 13, 8:30 p.m. Free. The Philadelphia Film Society and the Friends of Rittenhouse Square are hosting a free screening of the awesome, iconic, shot-in-Philadelphia movie, The Sixth Sense, in Rittenhouse Square Saturday night. If you want to picnic, make sure to arrive early so you can stake out a good spot.

• Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series at Penn’s Landing: Fridays in August, 7:30 p.m. Free. Cool off on scorching summer nights with a free smooth jazz concert on the waterfront. Supplement the free live music with a pre-packed evening meal to enjoy as you listen.

• August concerts at the Mann Center: There is ample time left this summer season to take in an under-the-stars concert at Philadelphia’s iconic Mann Center. Go for the family-priced lawn tickets ($10!) if you want to pack a picnic. Lounge on the grass with sandwiches and other portable bites for an unforgettably magical evening.

• Screenings Under the Stars: Thursdays in August, 8 p.m. Free. Nothing says summer quite like (free!) open-air movie screenings, so pack up your blanket and a picnic basket and head to the River Stage at Penn’s Landing Thursdays through this month. Last three movies are, in order: This Is It, Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Despicable Me.

• Scribe Video Center’s Street Movies: Now through August 27, 7:45 p.m. Free. Held at various venues throughout the city from Clark Park to Mill Creek Playground, the Street Movies! series was inspired by the tradition of outdoor screenings at African film festivals and Philadelphia’s street theater movement of the 60s. The picnic-friendly programs are family-friendly and start with a live performance by a local band or performer, followed by the movie screening.

• South Street Headhouse Annual Summer Indie Film Series: Wednesdays through August 31, 8 p.m. Free. Looking for a fun, open-air and free way to spend your Wednesday nights this summer? Grab a chair and head over to Headhouse Square for this annual film series. Bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic basket — and enjoy a summertime evening in one of the city’s most historic locales.

• Schuylkill Banks 2011 Movie Nights: Thursday, August 18, around 8:20 p.m. Free. Bring your friends, blankets and picnic baskets for a great time watching The Incredibles under the stars on the Schuylkill Banks. Last one this summer!

• Liberty Lands Park Summer Movie Series: Tuesdays until August 23, 8:30 p.m. Free. Every Tuesday night at nightfall, popular films ranging from Where the Wild Things Are to Raiders of the Lost Ark will be shown in Liberty Lands park, courtesy of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association. Pack a picnic!

• International House Philadelphia Outdoor Movie Screenings: August 17 and 31, 8 p.m. Free. International House Philadelphia is joining the outdoor movie fray with free screenings in the picnic-friendly courtyard, replete with tables and chairs.

• XPN Kids Corner Concert at Morris Arboretum: August 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. The concert, featuring Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band followed by Yosi and the Superdads, is held at Azalea Meadow, a gorgeous and spacious outdoor venue on the grounds of Morris Arboretum. Fun craft activities precede the concert. Get your blankets and picnic baskets ready!

Below, we’ve laid out a host of prime picnicking spots, in addition to a guide to the best grab-and-go food and drink sources.

(more…)

B2 on East Passyunk getting some love (Photo: Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times)

The New York Times visits East Passyunk Avenue in this Sunday’s Travel Section and it’s a great feature.

The article talks about the recent growth, citing “an influx of fresh, hipster-ready cafes and boutiques with friendly, low-pressure service.”

The piece then takes a quick tour of the avenue, stopping at places like Metro Men’s Clothing, B2, Capogiro, Fond, Black N Brew, JimmyStyle and Green Aisle Grocery.

Always great to see Philadelphia neighborhoods getting some love from The New York Times.

Make sure you give it a read.

Surfacing – On East Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia, Style Beyond the Cheese Steak Wars [New York Times]

We spend an awful lot of time telling you about the various farmers markets around town where you can buy local produce, dairy products, meats and baked goods. But rarely do we address what to do if your schedule just doesn’t allow those weekly market visits.

As of yesterday, there’s a new spot in town (joining the ranks of such gems as the Fair Food Farmstand and Pumpkin Market) that carries nothing but local groceries, making it increasingly easy to fill your kitchen with goodies from our region. Called Green Aisle Grocery, they carry such goodies as hummus from Zahav, sweet treats and preserves from local food writer and pastry chef Baker E and bread from Wildflour bakery.

At this time, hours are 12 noon to 8 p.m. daily. You can find Green Aisle at 1618 E. Passyunk Avenue and you can follow them on twitter for updates on specials as well as what’s in stock.

Green Aisle Grocery Opens Today [Grub Street Philadelphia]
Green Aisle Grocery Opens [Foobooz]