- Celebrities, Drink, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Music, Restaurants
With Burgers, Wings AND Tacos, No One Left Hungry at This Year’s Burger Brawl
Photos, story by Jill Beckel On a hot and humid Sunday, the 7th Annual Philadelphia Burger Brawl took over the parking lot of Xfinity Live. Over 60 local Philly area restaurants competed for the title of best burger, best taco and (for the first time ever), best chicken wing! This year, Explore Philly was excited to be a part of the judging panel! When it comes to food, we are always more than eager to help out. We got to judge the first burger round. Each burger sample was judged on its taste, look, bun, meat and originality. All restaurants were kept anonymous so that the burger tasting would be fair.…
-
Simon’s Soiree, a Heartfelt Evening for a Great Cause at Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel
Story, photos by Jill Beckel This year’s Simon’s Soiree was an elegant, heartfelt affair. The soiree is held annually to benefit Simon’s Fund and this year’s 8th Simon’s Soiree was held at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in February. Simon’s Fund aims to provide free heart screenings at schools and raise awareness for undiagnosed heart conditions. Per their website, “The organization provides free heart screenings to children, advocates for life-saving legislation, hosts awareness events, and promotes research. Its mission is to save a child’s life… and then another, by raising awareness of conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death.” The evening opened with a cocktail hour and open auction with all proceeds earned going…
-
Recharge Your Energy Battery With Reiki Near Washington Square
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. It literally means “universal life energy”. So remember that day that was 50 mph whipping, freezing winds and rain? That’s the tundra we trudged through for this story. And by…
- Comedy, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Music, Restaurants, Style, Suburbs
Sing Along and “Howl at the Moon” with Dueling Pianos at The Vault
Story by Jill Beckel / Photos by Cassie Hepler Do you love music, dancing, great cocktails and good grub? Then The Vault is where you should spend your next Saturday night! Located at Valley Forge Casino, The Vault is the area’s newest hot spot for live entertainment featuring Dueling Pianos every Saturday night from 8pm – 2am! Howl at the Moon (a national chain of music-oriented party bars that currently operates in nearly 20 locations throughout the U.S., including one here in Philadelphia) jump-started this weekly event with their opening night at The Vault on Saturday, January 14. With two pianos onstage, two singers kept the party going all night long with a high…
-
Hey, Jealousy? We Saw Gin Blossoms At SugarHouse
Story by Hannah Harkness, photos by SugarHouse Casino This summer 90’s fans in Philadelphia had a chance to relive their past. The Gin Blossoms brought their generation-defining alt rock sound to a high energy crowd at the SugarHouse Casino. First signed in 1991, the Gin Blossoms emerged with their pop-rock sound during a time when grunge and hair bands dominated the radio. They quickly gained public and critical acclaim with New Miserable Experience, which went multi-platinum and earned them a Grammy for As Long as it Matters. Their most recent album was 2010’s No Chocolate Cake, which reached No. 1 on Amazon. The venue was unorthodox; many commented on the slightly bizarre…
-
No Libs 8th Annual Street Festival Keeping Philly Cool
Story, photos by Jae Rich The 8th Annual No Libs Street Festival was filled with everything you can imagine a festival could have on Sunday, August 7, 2016. Bass booming musicians, street performances, games, food and curb to curb people aligned 6 blocks of the northern liberty section of Philadelphia. The annual block party celebrated the community and amazing culture in Northern Liberties. The all day free festival included over 150 vendors from restaurants, beer gardens, authors, art galleries, and a variety of local business owners and entrepreneurs. With an eclectic and explosive musical lineup from local favorites the 2nd street festival was truly a party filled with libations, locals,…
-
Brews for Every Taste Bud at the Pottstown Firkin Fest
Story and photos by Elizabeth Coffey Nothing can chase away the blues like a cold, frosty beer in hand and a relaxing stroll through one of Pennsylvania’s prettiest parks. The Pottstown Firkin Fest brings together these two elements seamlessly with live music and fantastic food at Pottstown’s Manatawny Park. For those beer connoisseurs who don’t like braving the crowds or long lines of other beer festivals, the Pottstown Firkin Fest is a more intimate setting to sip on specialty beers throughout the area. Talk barley, brewing methods, and more with experienced beer makers and distributors like the Lancaster Brewing Company, The Other Farm Brewing Company, Conshohocken Brewing Company, Evil Genius…
-
Carnival Games, Ferris Wheel Rides and Fun with Flyers Fans and Their Families at the Annual Philadelphia Flyers Wives Carnival
Story, photos by Jill Beckel Rides, games, food and fun were abundant at the 39th Annual Flyers Wives Carnival which took place on Sunday, March 13th at the Wells Fargo Center. Among the newly-added attractions were a center-ice carousel, carnival games, and the opportunity to purchase player autographs prior to the carnival. This annual event welcomed thousands of Flyers fans to mingle with players and enjoy a family-friendly afternoon all while supporting a great cause (local charities). To the delight of both young and old, last year’s six-story-high Ferris wheel also returned to this year’s carnival. Fans had the chance to play lots of carnival games including water guns, fun house mirrors, balloon darts, a strongman attraction,…
-
New Jersey Duo Far in the Maples Makes it Mainstream with New Album Skywork
Far in the Maples is a classically timeless young Jersey Shore “poetic pop” act (Asbury Park) anchored by the boy-girl duo of Regina Conroy and Reshy P that’s reminiscent of vintage 10,000 Maniacs, with a modern spin. These guys are tremendously song-oriented, as Triple A Non-Comm stations across the country are discovering. Check out our video interview which highlights the duo’s rise in the music world, plus hear us all cheer as their new album Skywork went live on Spotify during filming! Read below what others had to say about these up and coming stars! “A hit record, to me, is about a good voice marrying good songwriting, and Far in the Maples strikes…