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WXPN’s Xponential Music Festival is Summer Staple in Camden, New Jersey
Story, photos by David Krakow Ah festivals. The all-you-can-eat buffets of concert going. Although I’m of an age where folks went to concerts mostly and festivals hardly at all, they do hold a special place. I was living in San Francisco at the beginning of the 1990s and was able to jump on the Lollapalooza bandwagon with such folks as guiding spirits Jane’s Addiction, Alice In Chains and some new Seattle quintet called Pearl Jam. Later that decade I moved to New Orleans and took in two Jazzfests. By that time they were already as much pop and rock fests as jazz fests but any musical fest in New Orleans…
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Catch a Buzz at PA’s Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences Boozy Botanicals Art Deco-Era Event
Whatever lies behind Door 19 must be more mysterious than anything in the proverbial door numbers one, two or three. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.” — John Dewey I suspected that I was in for a wild night at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University‘s Door 19 event, cleverly named Boozy Botanicals. My vivid imagination envisioned scenes straight out of Little Shop of Horrors, all man-eating plants and specialty cocktails infused with the likes of stinging nettles or mugwort, ferns and fronds serving as swizzle sticks. Maybe my previous assignment at the Academy (Xtreme Bugs, featuring…
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Restore Medical Marijuana Center Opens Second Cannabis Dispensary in Elkins Park, PA
Extracts, capsules, serums, salves, liquids via syringe and tinctures make for a variety of choices of one of Restore’s featured brands. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Restore Integrative Wellness Center has done it again! They opened a second medical marijuana dispensary on Old York Road in Elkins Park, PA this fall. Restore has the distinction of being Philadelphia’s very first such outlet, when its premier location was launched in the spring of 2018 in Philly’s Fishtown section (just across from the Fillmore). Both dispensaries are similar in size and staff, all of whom are at the ready to dispense not only product but a wealth of information and knowledge. A…
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Hotel Adeline Adds Boutique Flair with Secret Speakeasy to Scottsdale, Arizona
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler My East Coast crew is always asking me where to stay when visiting sunny Arizona. Now I finally have a place to direct people who like to play, stay and enjoy Cambelback Mountain views at all times in Scottsdale, Arizona! Enter Hotel Adeline, which revamped and opened in January 2017, ironically the same time I moved across the country. Formerly a Days Inn, then Clarion Inn, and lastly Scottsdale Inn, the 4.5 acre property underwent a $12 million renovation. With a gated car valet (or open guest parking in the front), you don’t have to worry about your car which is nice. Just park and play!…
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Philadelphia Film Center Rolls Out Red Carpet for Paul Dano, Screens Directorial Debut of ‘WILDLIFE’
The theater formerly known as the Prince Theater was renamed; marquee now boasts new signage. “And there are words, significant words, you do not want to say, words that account for busted-up lives, words that try to fix something ruined that shouldn’t be ruined and no one wanted ruined, and that words can’t fix anything. Telling.” – Richard Ford, Wildlife Story, photos by Sharon Kozden The 2019 Academy Awards are in the bag, the suspense over until next year. Your personal favorites either won iconic trophy statuettes or were left out of the picture. For the record, I was disappointed over Glenn Close’s loss. And yet, one of the best things…
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Heritage Hosts Hip Hop Artist Chill Moody and Dock Street IPA Release in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia
Story, photos by Jeni A night of nicethings with Chill Moody was named quite amply as the evening was comprised of all nice things and a chill mood. I am a frequenter of Heritage for its yummy Gose on tap, atmospheric live jazz tunes, and amazingly crafted small plates. I jumped at the opportunity to see an original act there outside of its normal whimsical strummings. The event boasted specialty summer kick off beers by Dock Street Brewery, specifically nicethingsIPA and the hip hop artist Chill Moody spitting out rhymes to a hype crowd. When I arrived, I had been hoping for a few friends to accompany me who would also…
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F.A.B.R.I.C. in Tempe, Arizona Showcases Project Runway Fashion Designers
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Bravo TV’s Project Runway designers hit Arizona’s “hautest” runway in an exclusive fashion show to help celebrate F.A.B.R.I.C.’s two-year anniversary in November 2018. F.A.B.R.I.C. Tempe is a collaboration to combine apparel manufacturing resources, creative professionals, co-op work space, events, industry training and more. Partially funded by Downtown Tempe, it is Arizona’s fashion headquarters. Services include design and manufacturing (tech packs, patterns, grading marking, cutting, no minimum sewing), event spaces (co-working offices, event space, photo studios, meeting space), education (classes, private lessons. fashion business consultations, camps) and resources (AZ Fashion Directory, calendar, jobs and news). F.A.B.R.I.C. is also home of the AZ Apparel Foundation, a non-profit providing the knowledge and resources to…
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Four Seasons Hosts Sneak Peak Party at BOK Building to Celebrate Comcast Plans in Philadelphia, PA
Greens and white candlelight … nature’s simple and perfect analogous match to bacon and eggs. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” –Dom Pérignon, monk and cellar master attributed to the discovery of champagne, upon first tasting it. As in Dom’s quote above, I found myself not only “tasting the stars” but doing so beneath them, when the Four Seasons Hotel celebrated its impending 2019 installation atop the Comcast Center by hosting a rooftop, invite-only Pop Down event at South Philly’s BOK building. According to Peter Nowlan, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the hotel, “Four Seasons Pop Down brings the Four Seasons experience…
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Ride in Style with Aall In Limo’s Mercedes Benz to Temecula Wineries in California
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted) You know what’s more awesome than wine tasting in Temecula Valley? Having a driver from Aall In Limo pick you up in a Mercedes Benz party limo at your San Diego, California location and then delivering you to each winery in style – and your driver opening winery doors for you so you look like rock stars! In a tandem trip to sunny SD, MoVernie.com and I teamed up to be power plus ones and make this an epic dual press trip plus a little vacation exploration when we had time. Just don’t make the rookie mistake we made and believe the hype…
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Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA Electrifies Audiences Under the Big Top in Oaks, PA
Vibrant background colors and name-zapped graphic create visually arresting poster. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden (event photography courtesy of Cirque du Soleil) Step right up! It’s showtime, folks. Over the summer, the circus came to town at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. The renowned Cirque du Soleil arrived with its Under the Big Top production of VOLTA, and Oaks was woke! For some time preceding Cirque’s descension at the Expo Center, the locals and passers could witness the construction progress of a large tent (one that seated 2,500). People were talking. Something grand-scale was in the offing. A big deal in little but mighty Oaks. Word of…




























