August 29, 2011
Gunners Run at the Piazza at Schmidts will host a special fundraising event benefiting New Leash on Life USA, a new generation dog-training program, on September 1 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The event, aptly titled “Dog Days of Summer,” will feature a load of fun dog-centric activities including a Puppy Kissing Booth, a 50/50 Raffle and Chinese Auction.
Awesome food and drink specials will be provided by Gunners Run with a portion of the proceeds benefiting New Leash on Life. Choose from any of the following drink/food combos for only $5:
• 1 pint of Allagash & the Trio of Bean Spread
• 1 pint of Victory Lager & Buffalo Wings
• 1 pint of Victory Summer Love & Quesadillas
Naturally at an event such as this, you’re encouraged to bring your pooch! Gunners Run is a dog-friendly establishment that offers, believe it or not, a menu of assorted dog foods.
New Leash on Life is a non-profit whose mission is to improve the lives of prison inmates and save the lives of dogs. The program’s goal is to train and socialize the dogs in order to enhance their adoptability, while helping inmates learn to train and care for dogs. The shelter dogs become well trained, healthy, and available for adoption and inmates learn a sense of responsibility and unconditional love by caring for the canines.
Come out to Gunners Run on September 1 to help out man and his best friend.
“Dog Days of Summer” at Gunners Run
Where: 1001 N. 2nd Street
When: Thursday, September 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.gunnersrun.com
August 26, 2011
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
August 16, 2011
Get set for a full day and night's dynamic fusion of live arts, from music to DJ to dance to live-in-action painting to artisan vendors and more. (Top photo courtesy Piazza at Schmidts, bottom left courtesy Battle of the Canvas)
Philadelphia is known for its rich arts and cultural scene, and the second installment of Battle of the Canvas on Saturday, August 27 will showcase some of the city’s most intriguing socially conscious visual and performing artists.
The free event kicks off at noon at the Piazza at Schmidts and will feature more than a dozen local artists, performers, DJs and dancers, tons of creative vendors, plus a Kids Corner.
Battle of the Canvas will have the artists “battle it out” by using their paintbrushes, microphones and other artistic utensils to create original work under the event’s theme “The Philly Experience: What’s Your Imprint?”, with the aim of raising social awareness and civic engagement. Winner gets $500!
Besides enjoying 10 hours of food, drink and live music, visitors will have the unique opportunity to witness the exciting creative process of the artists. In addition to fusing diverse artists with different skill levels together, the event’s goal is to help people appreciate visual arts outside of galleries and museums.
For a behind the scenes look at the festival and an interview with the event’s creator Simone Banks, check out our sister site, Philly 360.
UPDATE: Event postponed until further notice due to inclement weather
Battle of the Canvas
When: Saturday, August 27, Noon-10 p.m.
Where: Piazza at Schmidts, 2nd and Germantown Ave.
Cost: Free
More info: www.facebook.com/BattleoftheCanvas
August 9, 2011
Five years ago, in the wake of his father’s diagnosis with leukemia, Tim Maxwell organized a charity bowling tournament to raise money for cancer research. Since then, The Dude Hates Cancer charity campaign and bowling tournament has raised more than $200,000 for the fight against blood cancer.
The 2011 edition kicked off this May with a registration happy hour at Triumph Brewery and culminates on Saturday, August 27 at North Bowl.
The tournament, for which it costs $280 per team of 6-10 to enter, will last throughout the day and will be open to the public as spectators, with events including a silent auction, raffle drawings and more.
The grand prize for the raffle is the much lusted after Philly Restaurant Pass, a collection of 26 gift certificates to Philadelphia’s top restaurants valued at $1,700. Second prize is $220 worth of five of the city’s best brunch spots. Raffle tickets can be bought through fundraising teams until the date of the tournament. Winner need not be present.
Bonus: the tournament will be followed by the Jackie Treehorn After-Party at and Benefit show at Johnny Brenda’s featuring Orbit to Leslie, Hezekiah Jones, Chris Kasper and The Doublewides.
Register a team (6-10, with at least two girls) to bowl online!
The Dude Hates Cancer Charity Bowling Tournament
When: Saturday, August 27, 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Where: North Bowl, 909 N. 2nd Street
Cost: $280 to compete as a team, free to spectators
More info: www.thedudehatescancer.com
July 28, 2011
Northern Liberties hosts a supersized block party this weekend, filled with pop-up beer gardens, craft vendors, food and entertainment on four stages. (Photos courtesy Piazza at Schmidts)
Northern Liberties is keeping the summer festival season going strong with the third annual 2nd Street Festival, this Sunday, July 31, noon-10 p.m.
The neighborhood is closing off N. 2nd Street between Germantown and Fairmount for a (free!) supersized block party filled with six blocks of beer gardens, workshops, art, food, music and other merchandise vendors.
Check out our guide to all of the above, so you’ll be fully prepared for festival enjoyment:
Music
• Four stages: Fairmount, Poplar, George and Piazza. This year, the festival has teamed up with the Philadelphia Folk Festival. There will be three all-day stages at 2nd street intersections with Poplar, George and Fairmount, sponsored by Jose Cuervo, plus an additional stage at the Piazza, programmed in partnership with the Electric Factory.
• The lineup: The 2nd street stages’ music is programmed by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, which is celebrating the 50th year of their annual Folk Festival, coming next month. The performer list is brimming with everything from authentic roots to cult favorites, from traditional folk to hip hop, indie and R&B. Check out the full list, and a schedule, here.
Drinks
It is the summer of the beer garden, after all. Seven local establishments will be setting up temporary beer gardens on 2nd Street as it’s closed down to vehicular traffic for the day: Bar Ferdinand, Standard Tap, Cantina Dos Segundos, El Camino Real, The Foodery, North Bowl, Kings Oak, Darling’s Diner and Gunners Run.
Beer available will include local favorites Yards and Stout. Pickle-back shots will also be available again this year.
We’ve got all the details on food, kids’ activities and more, below.
July 27, 2011
Standard Tap is just one example of a Northern Liberties beer hot spot, pairing local microbrews with excellent pub fare. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
Just in time for this weekend’s sure-to-be awesome 2nd Street Festival, The New York Times’ T Magazine just published a glowing report on the beer scene in Northern Liberties.
The piece is part one of a two-part series on two neighborhoods in what the Times refers to as North Philaldelphia. An excerpt:
“[T]he beer scenes in the North Philadelphia neighborhoods of Northern Liberties and Fishtown are currently thriving, thanks to a spate of excellent taprooms, pubs and bars that focus on local brews.
Beer culture in this part of America is lively, rife with chance taking, hybridization and healthy competition, and while a week or more could be spent driving across Delaware and Pennsylvania to properly experience it all, a simple walk makes for an easier journey.”
Specifically highlighted bars included on the writer’s walking tour are the 700 Club, Standard Tap, The Foodery, North Third and The Abbaye.
The piece also references the historical marker that now stands at the intersection of Poplar and American Streets, informing passersby of Philadelphia’s role in lager history; did you know that in 1840, John Wagner brought lager yeast from his native Bavaria and brewed the nation’s first lager beer right here in Northern Liberties? Pretty cool.
We are obviously already big believers in Philadelphia’s amazing beer scene, but it’s always nice when a national publication recognizes as much and shares the news with its readers.
And, like we said, this is only part one of a series — we can’t wait for part two to hit, undoubtedly exploring some of the great bars in Fishtown. We would not be surprised to see the likes of Johnny Brenda’s, Fathom, Kraftwork, Frankford Hall, and Memphis Taproom make the cut…
Drink Up | North Philly Beer, Part 1 [New York Times' T Magazine]
July 20, 2011
Philadelphia Weekly has moved its popular free summer concert series from Rittenhouse Square to the Piazza at Schmidts. (Photo courtesy Piazza at Schmidts)
Philadelphia Weekly’s annual summer concert series is back. This year, the free outdoor concert series is taking place at the Piazza at Schmidts in Northern Liberties, on two Wednesdays, August 17 and August 24. Note the change of location: in previous years, the concerts were held in Rittenhouse Square.
From 6-9 p.m. both nights, a strong lineup of both locally- and nationally- based bands will jam on stage. August 17 includes reggae/jam bands Simple Minded Budz, Mr. Charlie and Jah Works. Expect both original and cover reggae music for a trip to the Caribbean without the price of airfare.
August 24 includes Nicos Gun, Cheers Elephant and Hezekiah Jones for a raw, rootsy, psychedelic flavor of beats.
While we’re a little sad the concerts won’t be happening in Rittenhouse Square this year, we’re thrilled Philadelphia Weekly secured an awesome alternative location for this summer’s concerts.
So go ahead and mark your calendars now.
Philadelphia Weekly 2011 Summer Concert Series
Where: Piazza at Schmidts, 2nd Street and Germantown Avenue
When: Wednesday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 24, 6-9 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More info: www.philadelphiaweekly.com
July 18, 2011
Northern Liberties is keeping the summer festival season going strong with the third annual 2nd Street Festival, Sunday, July 31, noon-10 p.m.
The neighborhood is closing off North 2nd between Germantown and Fairmount for a (free!) supersized block party filled with six blocks of beer gardens, workshops, art, food, and other merchandise vendors.
This year, the festival has teamed up with the Philadelphia Folk Festival on the music. There will be four music and event stages, all programmed by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, which is celebrating the 50th year of their annual Folk Festival. The two festivals, 2nd Street and Folk, are partnering to present this blockbuster event.
Seven local establishments will be setting up temporary beer gardens on 2nd Street as it’s closed down to vehicular traffic for the day: Bar Ferdinand, Standard Tap, Cantina Dos Segundos, El Camino Real, The Foodery, North Bowl and Gunners Run. They’ll all be serving delicious food and beer.
Stay tuned for a more thorough guide to the festival. Last year’s drew 8,000 and this year’s promises to be even more of a whopping success!
2nd Street Festival
When: Sunday, July 31, noon-10 p.m.
Where: 2nd Street between Germantown Avenue on the north and Fairmount Avenue on the south
Cost: Free
More info: www.2ndstreetfestival.org
July 5, 2011
No, not that POPPED! Music Festival. The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) presents its 3rd annual “POP” Music Fest, Saturday, July 16 at Liberty Lands Park in Northern Liberties.
Arguably one of the most fun urban farm fundraisers, the festival includes music from five local bands: Faux Slang, Eric Carbonara + Jesse Sparhawk, Zillions + Blood Like Mine, The Old Fashioneds and Pile of Girls.
The event also includes beer from Philadelphia Brewing Company and food from fine food trucks Honest Tom’s Taco Truck, Dapper Dog and Buttercream Cupcake. The POP plant sale features fresh figs, raspberries and strawberries for even more gustatory enjoyment.
The Philadelphia Orchard Project plants orchards in Philadelphia that cultivate healthy food, green spaces and community food security. Enjoy a beautiful day in the park for a wonderful cause.
Tickets are $10 until July 11, $15 the day of the festival.
3rd Annual “POP” Music Fest
When: Saturday, July 16, 2-8 p.m.
Where: Liberty Lands Park, 3rd Street between Poplar & Wildey Streets
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 the day of the festival
More info: www.phillyorchards.org
June 17, 2011
Brunch indoors or out, on Chenango's garden patio.
(Photo courtesy Chenango)
The recently opened Chenango Restaurant at the new Arrow Swim Club in Northern Liberties has a great all-you-can-drink brunch: $20 gets you an entree and unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Enjoy brunch indoors or outdoors. The garden patio, referred to as “The Backyard at Chenango,” is the perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful weather this summer.
The brunch menu, included in full below, boasts killer omelettes — go for the bacon omelette with caramelized onions and cheddar — chocolate-chip banana pancakes, grilled turkey eggs benedict on brioche and more.
You can make reservations online.
Chenango
1031 Germantown Avenue
www.chenangorestaurant.com
