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Strolling Through Old City for Philly’s Famous First Friday Artsy Fartsy Fun
Story, photos by Jill Beckel If you haven’t heard about First Friday yet, you’re missing a fun (mostly free) night out. The event takes place the first Friday night of every month from 5 – 9 p.m. throughout Old City whether rain or shine. Visitors stroll through Old City checking out local art galleries, street vendors and more. Most of the participating art galleries are between Front and 3rd streets and Market and Vine streets. At this particular First Friday in November, we checked out a fundraiser for The Eric Zempol Memorial Fund at Soiree Gallery located on 3rd Street. With a $20 entrance fee, there were drinks, snacks, music and mingling as…
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Not Enough Cheesesteaks for the Hungry Crowd at the First Annual Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival
Story by Jill Beckel, Photos by Justin Schappell and Jill Beckel Local Philadelphians who attended the first annual Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival are used to ordering their wiz and wiz wit-out cheesesteaks at their favorite cheesesteak joints. Most are even willing to wait in line for their favorite. But the lines at Philadelphia Cheesesteak Festival were unlike any line that you’d typically see at your favorite cheesesteak spot. They wrapped around throughout the crowds, seeming to go on forever and ever. The event was held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 24. The cheesesteak vendors were set up in the parking lot in the K Lot section. Guests were hoping for the…
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Wizards Cast a Spell Once Again on Chestnut Hill at the Harry Potter Festival
Stories, photos by Jill Beckel Do you consider yourself a wizard, witch or just an ordinary muggle? If you don’t know what we’re talking about, you must have been living under a rock for the past 15 years. Wizards and muggles alike flocked to Chestnut Hill, PA for the annual Harry Potter Festival on Oct. 16 to 17th where Chestnut Hill turned into the much-loved fictional wizarding world of Harry Potter. The magic-filled weekend started with a Harry Potter Pub Crawl. True, there’s not much drinking in J. K. Rowling‘s books or in the movies, but the Hogwarts students did really seem to enjoy those butterbeers! Who really needs an excuse to do a pub crawl anyway? From…
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Amy Schumer Takes the Cake at the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival
By Jill Beckel There was something for everyone at the Funny or Die’s Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden this past Sunday, September 13th. The event began at 5:15pm with a few comics on the outdoor festival stage while guests played games and enjoyed some food and drinks. It was a perfect, clear night for some outdoor fun. Then at 7:00pm, everyone made their way to the main stage. The line-up included several well-known comedians: Big Jay Oakerson Nikki Glaser Jay Pharoah Michael Che Anthony Jeselnik Bridget Everett Nick Kroll Dave Attell John Mulaney Amy Schumer Aziz Ansari The host, Big Jay Oakerson, had…
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Everyone Learned to Shimmy and Shake at the Comcast Center’s Salsa Under the Sun Event
By Jill Beckel Everyone got out their dancing shoes for Salsa Under the Sun on the Square at the Comcast Center plaza. Participants took part in an hour-long intro to Latin dance class where they were taught the Merengue, Salsa, Samba and more! The temperature reached into the 90’s, but that didn’t stop anyone from trying out some new moves. Colleen Cheong led the class. She is an instructor, choreographer and performer for Society Hill Dance Academy. With locations in Manayunk and Center City, Society Hill Dance Academy specializes in ballroom, Latin and social dancing. Everyone partnered up and then rotated partners throughout the class. A variety of singles and couples showed up, but everyone mixed…
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Triple-Threat Siblings Julianne and Derek Hough Wowed the Crowd at the Move Live on Tour Show
By Jill Beckel The Move Live on Tour show featuring professional dancers (and siblings) Julianne and Derek Hough made its way to Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ on July 11th. The audience was filled with people from all walks of life from young kids to seniors. Julianne and Derek are known for their dancing, choreographing and judging on Dancing with the Stars, roles in movies and this past year Derek was the star of the Radio City Rockette Spring Spectacular. Julianne and Derek have been dancing for almost as long as they could walk and trained for years. All throughout Move Live on Tour, you could see their passion for…
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Philly Phaithful: Giving T-Shirt Fashion A ‘Phresh’ Vibe While Showing Philly Pride
By Jill Beckel Photos courtesy of Dan Hershberg Dan Hershberg, owner of the online store Philly Phaithful, has loved Philadelphia his whole life. Born and raised here, he grew up in Mount Airy. His father was a professor at Penn and helped him learn what it meant to be your own boss and run your own business. Dan studied at Cornell University and has always loved sports. After graduating college, he moved back to Philly and had several jobs in the sports field including working with the Phillies and at ESPN. However, he soon grew tired of the corporate lifestyle and wanted more control of his life. He knew that he…
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The 5th Annual Xfinity Live! Burger Brawl Was a Burger Lovers Dream
By Jill Beckel Philadelphians sure love their burgers! The line to enter the 5th Annual Philadelphia Burger Brawl stretched all around the parking lot on Sunday, June 14th at the XFINITY Live! parking lot. Organized by Rob Wasserman, Burger Brawl included 60 Philadelphia area restaurants. Local Philadelphia restaurants were hoping to win the title of “Best Burger.” “The Burger Brawl funds literacy programming through technology for Philadelphia’s under-served children in our public elementary schools.” Tickets were $35 for general admission and $100 for VIP tickets. The event was open to all ages and free for children 10 and under. Burger lovers started lining up to get in early and there was still…
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Female cyclists put the pedal to the metal at the annual Manayunk Bike Race
By Jill Beckel For the first time in the event’s 32-year-history, the women’s UCI Road World Cup headlined The Philadelphia International Cycling Classic races in Philly on Sunday, June 7. If you’re from the ‘Yunk, you know that this is one of the biggest events of the year. The cyclists train all year for this big event and it’s known throughout Philly and across the nation. The men’s UCI America Tour/USA Cycling NRC race began at 8 a.m. and the women’s World Cup at noon. The race followed the same course design as the last two years, with the start and finish line at the top of the daunting Manayunk Wall. Cyclists traveled…
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‘A Moment of Zen’ exhibit at The Bazemore Gallery truly is a zen experience with Inna Race of Belarus
By Jill Beckel Saturday, June 13th was a special evening for The Bazemore Gallery with The “A Moment of Zen” exhibit featuring artist Inna Race of Belarus. Located at 4339 Main Street in Manayunk, The Bazemore Gallery is described as “a boutique art gallery.” The owner Lenny Bazemore loves introducing visitors to mid-level and well established contemporary artists. The Bazemore Gallery strives to “exhibit and sell original works of art which create synergy in the home and in the work place.” Visitors of the gallery perused around the exhibit enjoying light snacks of wine, fruit and cheese. Inna, dressed in a beautiful silver sparkly cocktail dress, was very friendly and gracious.…