Your guide to Philly's diverse creative scene, nightlife, music, food & more
You are viewing 25 posts for October 2011
Philly’s Creative Scene Stands Out From The Rest
Mix it up in November, when Philly’s creative scene brings an assortment of artistic goodies. It’s time to step out into the crisp fall air and get the most out of what’s happening in the city. Need a suggestion? We’ve got plenty: Jay-Z and Kanye West’s outstanding collaborative concert Watch The Throne, the brilliant work of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra and the sultry sounds of Philly 360˚ Creative Ambassador and soulstress Marsha Ambrosius. So, take your pick—Philly’s got a little bit of everything in the mix.
Featured Events
Tuesday, November 1 – Marsha Ambrosius
If you fell in love with her acclaimed album Late Nights & Early Mornings, you’ll definitely want to see her live. Catch our homegirl Marsha Ambrosius as she tears up the Theatre of Living Arts (TLA) with hits like Hope She Cheats and Far Away. And there will be a special appearance by Philly’s own Donn T. We’re hype!
Wednesday, November 2 – Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch The Throne
Going down in music history as one of the hottest collabs in hip-hop, Jay-Z and Kanye West bring the throne to the Wells Fargo Center. What more can we say? Get your tickets today!
Friday, November 4 – Sunday, November 6 – Philadanco: For Your Pleasure
Opening their season with a fierce click, clack and bang, Philadanco bring its electrifying new dance creations to the Kimmel Center. Don’t miss this fusion of vibrant techniques, colors and theatrics.
Friday, November 4 – Saturday, November 5 – Anthony David
GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter Anthony David—President Obama’s favorite new artist—brings his soulful sound to Warmdaddy’s. He’s penned songs for India.Arie, and his latest single 4evermore has been buzzing through the radio stations. Be sure to catch this star on the rise.
Saturday, November 5 – Tastytreats vs. Bodyrock
Tastytreats is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by teaming up with some the hottest parties around the city, and first up is IllVibe Collective’s Bodyrock. DJ’s Mike Nyce, Statik, Lil’ Dave, Skipmode and Panek will be spinnin’ the ones and twos at Fluid Nightclub. Looking for an epic party? This is it.
Insider tip: Make sure you look out for Philly 360˚ Creative Ambassador Stacey "Flygirrl" Wilson in the crowd!
Saturday, November 5 – Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
Led by Maestra and Philly 360˚ Creative Ambassador Jeri Lynne Johnson, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO) is taking it up a note as they start their season at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Brilliantly fusing the art of dance and orchestral music, the concert features the tango-inspired piece Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and solos by BPCO’s finest musicians.
Thursday, November 10 – Mary Mary
GRAMMY®-winning gospel duo Mary Mary rocks the stage with inspirational hits at the Keswick Theatre. With uplifting favorites like Walking, Get Up and God In Me, plus a special opening performance by the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church choir, this concert is definitely a must-see.
Thursday, November 10 – Miguel
R&B crooner Miguel returns to Philly, and this time he’s bringing his sultry sound to the Theatre of Living Arts (TLA). From All I Want Is You to Sure Thing to Vixen, Miguel’s bold lyrics and unique beats make him stand out from the rest. Get your tickets today and see for yourself.
Wednesday, November 30 – Audra McDonald
You may have seen her on screen in ABC’s Private Practice or in the play A Raisin in the Sun, but Audra McDonald has some incredible musical skills, too! The GRAMMY® and Tony® Award-winning singer and actress returns to the Kimmel Center with a selection of beautiful ballads.
Insider Tip: Check out the full lineup of events for the Kimmel’s 10th anniversary celebration!
Spotlights
This month, Philly 360˚ teamed up with the local food initiative Philly Homegrown to bring you a few recipes that will definitely add some Philly flavor to your Thanksgiving menu. From a savory locally-grown turkey to Green Soul’s slammin’ cranberry relish, you’ll definitely want to feast your eyes on our these upcoming recipes.
We caught up with renowned DJ and Philly 360˚ Creative Ambassador Rich Medina to hear more about what he loves about Philly. Take a look at his profile.
We want to re-introduce you to jazz musician and Philly 360˚ Creative Ambassador Orrin Evans. This celebrated master of jazz will cover Philly’s jazz scene and give you the inside track in our new series, Philly’s Got Jazz. Be sure to check out his skills at Chris’ Jazz Café every Tuesday in November.
Through innovative paintings, sculptures and festivities, Mixing Metaphors explores the role of the arts throughout the African-American experience. Check out Arts & Culture Insider James Claiborne’s recap of The African American Museum in Philadelphia’s new exhibit.
First Person Arts is celebrating 10 years of artistic storytelling, and what could be better than the First Person of Memoir and Documentary Art Festival? Featuring a host of unique programs such as the one-woman show Liberty City, and a poetry slam with the acclaimed Philly Youth Poetry Movement, there’s plenty to do to take part in the celebration.
Video - Philly 360 Creative Ambassador: Rich Medina
Here's another Creative Ambassador video. We took DJ and producer Rich Medina out to a couple of have favorite spots in Philly. Watch the video to see where he hangs out when he's in his hometown.
Check out Rich's Creative Ambassador profile here.
Watch the video below.
The Hoagie: Philly's Other Favorite Sandwich
Some call it a sub. Some call it a deli sandwich. But in Philly, this beloved sandwich is known as the hoagie—and nobody does hoagies like we do in Philly. So, in honor of National Sandwich Day coming up on November 3, we have a listing of where to get this classic Philly sandwich.
Here are some (not all, because there are so many good ones) of our picks on some of Philly's best hoagie spots.
Old City
214 Market Street
Campo's is a hoagie and cheesesteak institution. It was established in 1947 and has been keeping customers coming back for more ever since. You can find Campo's in Old City, the Wells Fargo Center and at the home of the Phillies, Citizens Bank Park. And, it gets better—they ship to cities nationwide.
Insider tip: You can't go wrong with a classic Italian hoagie from here. But, if you're looking to mix it up a little bit, try their Wing Ding on a seeded roll.
Center City
Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagie
12th & Arch Streets
Located in one of Philly's food mecca's—Reading Terminal Market—Carmen's stand is your stop if you're looking for an authentic hoagie that doesn't shy away from loading on the meats.
12th & Arch Streets
Speaking of the Reading Terminal, they have another good hoagie spot inside—Salumeria, a cheese emporium.
South Philly
1014 Federal Street
Chickie’s Italian Deli is an award-winning hoagie spot that's known for its menu items. With rolls from Sarcone’s Bakery, you can't go wrong with getting a hoagie here.
Insider tip: Try the Original Veggie (baked eggplant, sautéed broccoli rabe, roasted peppers and Chickie’s own blend of sharp provolone).
501 S. 8th Street
Family owned and operated since 1932, Cosmi’s is a corner deli with a legendary reputation for hoagies hot and cold served on Sarcone’s rolls.
Insider tip: Try The Godfather (prosciutto, sopressata, roasted peppers, mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and green olives).
930 S. 9th Street
If you're looking for some seriously high quality hoagie fillings, Di Bruno Bros. is your place.
1017 S. 9th Street
152 W. Girard Avenue
Here you'll find a new school twist on classic hoagies.
901 S. Delaware Avenue
Shank's is a great stop for traditional hoagies, but if you're looking to mix it up, try one of their hot sandwiches.
Northeast Philly
8000 Horrocks Street
Whether you are getting made to order hoagies or picking up fixings to make your own from the Italian specialty market, Dattillo’s Delicatessen is delicious hoagie spot.
4633 Princeton Avenue
Dubbed the “King of Gourmet Hoagies,” Fink’s offers a signature hoagie with two secret weapons: cotechino (fresh pork sausage) and olive spread.
West & Northwest Philadelphia
Brother's Old Style Deli
3492 Tilden Street
In the East Falls neighborhood of Philly, locals will agree that Brother’s Old Style Deli is a must-stop hoagie shop.
Insider tip: Try Three Brothers (Asiago, sharp provolone and Swiss); sharp provolone with roasted peppers; and the Sunnyside Special (mozzarella balls, roasted peppers and sliced prosciutto).
Lenny's Home Plate
6141 Ridge Avenue
Ask anyone in the Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods where to go for a quality hoagie, and most will tell you to go to Lenny’s Home Plate.
Insider tip: Try classics like the Soprano (genoa salami, capicola, cotechino, prosciutto, mortadella, soppressata, locatelli and provolone), served on Liscio rolls and available in Minor or Major League lengths.
Here, There and Everywhere
Various locations throughout Philly
Started in the Mt. Airy neighborhood, Lee’s Hoagie House now has 17 spots and has built its hoagie empire on simple meat and cheese combinations served on Liscio’s rolls.
Various locations throughout Philly
PrimoHoagies started out as a South Philly shop that has since grown to have around 70 locations.
Insider tip: We recommend that you order the Primo size, and if you like your hoagies to have some heat, go with their Diablo menu.
Various locations
Sarcone’s now has multiple locations—from South Philly to West Chester.
Insider tip: You'll love their freshly baked seeded rolls. Try the Italian Market (hot capicola, turkey breast, roasted peppers, sharp provolone) or the Junk Yard Special (turkey, prosciutto, sautéed spinach, roasted peppers, mozzarella, sharp provolone).
Various locations throughout Philly
Make sure you try Slack's signature Godfather Italian hoagie and a choice of seeded or plain rolls.
Philly's Got Jazz: Meet Orrin Evans
Philly's Got Jazz
We're about to launch a series that's all about Philly's jazz scene. We enlisted Creative Ambassador Orrin Evans to break down what's going on in jazz around Philly. Look out for his insider picks for jazz performances each month. Philly’s Got Jazz will spotlight regular jam sessions, regular gigs and upcoming performances in Philadelphia.
Meet Orrin
Jazz pianist Orrin Evans is one of the most sought after pianists in jazz that you may have never heard of, although that's quickly changing. Evans has been laying down jazz for 20 years, dating back to his days at Girard Academic Music Program and later at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School.
The New York Times has featured Evans, also a Pew Fellow, half a dozen times this year alone, “Faith in Action” (PosiTone Records) was nominated for two Grammys last year, and his Captain Black Big Band has been nominated for three Grammys this year.
Philly 360° Spotlight #4: Chill Moody
Our next Philly 360˚ Spotlight is with a hot new MC on the rise—Chill Moody. We don’t mean to be biased, but he’s definitely one of our faves.
With an intriguing name like ‘Chill Moody’, you may not be sure what to expect. But, we can assure you that this kid’s got serious skills on the mic. He’s performed at the Kimmel Center, The Blockley and other notable spots, so you may have heard his rhymes before. Not to mention his collabo with Tone Trump and the legendary hip-hop MC Schooly D in the track West Philly.
Check out our interview with MC Chill Moody.
Insider Tip: Keep your ears open for Chill’s 3-part EP in collaboration with Dilemma and Babylon Cartel in The Gam3plan!
Philly 360° & Philly Homegrown: Thanksgiving Philly-Style
In November, Philly 360˚ is teaming up with our favorite local food initiative Philly Homegrown to bring you a few recipes that will spice up your Thanksgiving dinner. Here’s what we’ve got cookin’:
Week of October 31
Turkey (locally-grown) with gravy
Cranberry Relish (Warmdaddy’s)
Parsnip Puree
Week of November 7
Cheesy Potato Gratin
Vegetarian Collards (Green Soul)
Curried Quinoa with Roasted Chickpeas and Butternut Squash
Week of November 14
Sweet Potato Pie
Apple Cider Ice Cream
Turkey Tortellini Soup
With the help of some of Philly’s prominent chefs, we’ll tell you where to get the ingredients and how to prep the dish. Mmm…we’re officially counting down for the big day! So, keep your eye on Philly 360˚ and Philly Homegrown—we’re definitely going to hook you up with some slammin’ Thanksgiving recipes.
To get more juicy details, check out the Philly Homegrown website.
Video: Major Players In Entertainment & Business Speak To Philly's Youth
Last Saturday, 40 industry leaders—like former president of Def Jam Kevin Liles, Mayor Michael Nutter and top execs at Nike, Twitter, NBA, BET and more—came together for the Villa Dream Project. Through a series of panels and networking opportunities, the execs provided mentorship and advice to hundreds of Philadelphia high school students.
We caught up with a few of the speakers, including Kevin Liles, Mayor Nutter, big brother to Philadephia Charlie Mack and Patrick Walsh of Villa to get some insight about their roles in the project.
Watch our video below.
Philly Homegrown: Lucky Old Souls Burger Truck
There’s a new food truck on the Love Park strip, and this one’s got some soul. The Lucky Old Souls Burger Truck hit the scene last week and it’s stirring up appetites. What makes this food truck a new fave? They make slammin’ burgers with locally-grown ingredients, and play smokin’ hot jazz joints. It doesn’t get much better than that!
After taking a trip for lunch with the foodies behind Philly Homegrown, we fell in love with the Los Burger (made with homemade bacon), and the Maple Black Pepper Milkshake (trust us, it’s off the chain). Lucky Old Souls is officially the spot for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!
Check out Philly Homegrown’s full post here.
James' Arts & Culture Revival: First Person Festival
Philly is a town full of stories and storytellers, so it makes sense that we're home to the world's only festival dedicated to storytelling, spoken word and memoir arts—the First Person Festival. Starting November 10, First Person Arts will kick off an 11-day, story-filled celebration, taking place in multiple venues across Old City in Philadelphia.
For over ten years, First Person Arts has provided a platform for everyday (and some not-so-everyday) people to share glimpses into their worlds through storytelling. Many of the stories shared at their monthly slams are humorous, some are even downright silly, but many are powerful tales about the triumphant and often fragile human experience.
In keeping with their mission to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experiences, the First Person Festival is filled with the provocative, playful and personal programs they are known for. This year's programming includes theater, storytelling (of course), documentary film, workshops, author readings and more—each inspired by real life experience.
Make sure you visit the First Person Arts website to check out the jam-packed festival schedule. In the meantime, take a look at my top picks to get you started!
James' Top Picks for the First Person Festival:
Peace Is A Haiku Song
Sunday, November 13
7 - 9 p.m.
Christ Church Sanctuary & Courtyard
20 N. American Street
Join the incomparable Sonia Sanchez, as First Person Arts and the Mural Arts Program kick off their collaborative project exploring how haiku communicates peace and urban transformation. Sonia will premier new poetry written for this project and will lead the audience in a haiku writing experience, the products of which will become a visual installation during the festival.
Philly Youth Poetry Movement: My Life In The 215
Friday, November 18
7 - 9 p.m.
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine Street
The dynamic poets from the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) share the stage with their heroes from Spoken Soul 215. Mentors like Just Greg, Lyrispect and Vision will share their own poems alongside the teens of PYPM. No judges or scores, just beautiful and brutally honest lyricism about life in the 215 from some of the best and brightest young poets around.
Liberty City
Friday, November 11, 12, 18, 19
Christ Church Neighborhood House
20 N. American Street
April Yvette Thompson’s powerful one-woman show, takes place at the end of the 1970’s Black Power Movement in Miami. Liberty City weaves a rich story of family, race and the value of understanding your history while forging your own path. With chameleon-like skill, Thompson brings to life the many people that shaped her experience, including her Cuban-Bahamian father and African-American mother. The show climaxes with the infamous Liberty City riots and the journey a young girl must take to protect her family.
Behind The Scenes At Reading Terminal Market With Rick Nichols
Saturday, November 12
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Reading Terminal Market
51 North 12th Street
Two Philly food icons come together when Rick Nichols leads you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Reading Terminal Market. The Market is about to get a major overhaul, including a brand new demo kitchen. Get a first hand peek at the renovations, explore the underground staging areas, and try samples from select food stalls. Savor the market’s history and get a taste of its future with insights from Nichols, The Philadelphia Inquirer's former food columnist and other local experts.
Visually Fly With Flygirrl: Artist Profile - Jonene Taddei
Most people know her as a dope photographer, but she's really a Jane of all trades. She was a dancer in the Philadelphia female dance group Montazh (created by Michele Byrd McPhee). They were everywhere and killing every show.
The first time I saw Jonene taking photos was at a BBoy BBQ. Now, you can catch her on stage at shows like Rock The Bells--or gathering every DJ in the city for a historical moment on film. As a photographer, she’s known for her beautifully contrasted black and white photography.
Below she tells you a bit about herself, but she definitely left out her most current accomplishment–having her work sold in stores and online at Urban Outfitters. Check her out.
Stacey: Please tell the folks what you do and why you do it.
Jonene: I take photos of anything that catches my eye. Things mostly that center around the culture of hip hop--MCs, bboys/bgirls, graffiti and DJs. I really love shooting anything that helps to make up those elements as well--sneakers, records, a marker, a microphone, a beat machine, spray cans, keyboards, a record needle, etc. I don't even have a flat out answer as to why I shoot what I do. It's just what I see. I guess it's because I love the culture. I hate sounding cliche. I think that the entire culture has a passion behind it, and I like to not only capture the culture, but the intricate things that make up those elements that make up the entire culture. I like to capture moments that no one else would think of capturing. I never have an intention when I shoot things. I just shoot.
Stacey: What are you artistically best known for?
Jonene: No clue. Some would say Philly DJ Day. Some would say the graffiti. Some might say the MCs or famous people. Some would say I'm one of the only girls in Philly that shoot what and how I do so by default I'm 'known.' There's also the element of my personality. Someone told me the other day that I have a 'prickly personality.' I think it comes out in my photos.
Stacey: What you're biggest artistic accomplishment?
Jonene: Definitely Philly DJ Day. My only intention was to take a picture. I ended up making history within the Philly DJ community. I made them happy and will always be extremely grateful for that.
Stacey: Where can people find you?
Jonene: On Flickr. On Tumblr. On Urban Outfitters.
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- Philly360: RT @uwishunu: 56 Hour Celebration: @The_Barnes is celebrating its opening with 56 hours of free access & activities this weekend: ht ...
- Posted May 24, 2012 5:12PM
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- Philly360: Video: Will Smith on the set of MIB3 http://t.co/xKfxl1h5
- Posted May 24, 2012 5:10PM
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- Philly360: Planning a family trip to Philly? Check out @MommyFactor's list of attractions: @TheFranklin @aampmuseum @phillyzoo http://t.co/HIQocJ31
- Posted May 24, 2012 4:54PM
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- Philly360: Enjoying lunch with @mommyfactor and @KyleenTheDiva at City Tavern!
- Posted May 24, 2012 1:37PM
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- Philly360: Have you toured the @muralarts African-American Iconic Images Collections? http://t.co/SNzJNo0g #withartphl
- Posted May 23, 2012 5:16PM
