- Art, Culture, Dance, Day Trips, Education, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Music, Nature, Sports
Pretty in Pink at Philadelphia’s Morris Arboretum’s Cherry Blossom Festival
“To see the cherry hung with snow.” — Alfred E. Housman No explication necessary. Poet Housman here nailed it with the “hung with snow” phrase. Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough, And stands about the woodland ride Wearing white for Eastertide. – Alfred E. Housman Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Slowly but surely, “I’ve been turning Japanese, turning Japanese, I really think so.” This transmogrification began at least a decade ago, when one day I awoke, surveyed my surroundings and determined that the sheer volume of what my mother calls dust-catchers (read: tchotchkes) had to be jettisoned–stat. I set to divesting myself of…
- Culture, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants
The Place to ‘Vie’ was Philly Wine Week’s ‘Opening Corks’ Event
Hip hip valet (parking)! “The best way to learn about wine is in the drinking.” – Alexis Lichine Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I don’t do beer. Exception: when at Citizens Bank Park, cheering on the Phightins’. Neither is hard liquor my cuppa char. Exception: Margaritas. I just like reading drink menus’ whimsical “drinks with names” (as I call them) – creative descriptions of specialty cocktails. Same with cookbooks. Not being a cook doesn’t stop me from appreciating the photos, asides and foreign-sounding ingredients. So no brew. Nothing hardcore. What remains? WINE. Now we’re talking! Wine is in a glass (and a class) by itself, as was the 5th Annual…
-
CiderFest Rules Fairmount Park’s Historic Houses in Philadelphia
Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “The older I get, the more I become an apple pie, sparkling cider kind of guy.” – Scott Foley What was Fairmount Park Conservancy thinking on the perfect autumnal afternoon in late September when introducing CiderFest, featuring cider samples from over 20 Pennsylvania cideries, self-guided tours of the six historic houses at Fairmount Park, free house-to-house transportation, live music and pay-as-you-go food trucks? I’d say they had their thinking caps spot-on with the aforementioned perfect confab of fall delights. Proceeds from the event benefitted the “ongoing stewardship, maintenance and promotion of the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park.” That alone was more than enough for this itsy bitsy spider to drink from the…
-
Shadow + Flame Hosts Venetian Themed Prospero’s Ball at FringeArts’ La Peg
PROSPERO: “Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines called to enact My present fancies.” – William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1 Photos, story by Sharon Kozden Ball dropping isn’t always a bad thing. Maybe in the sports’ world it can be, but when it comes to entertainment, you can drop me into any ball or gala, I’m out for a good time. The evening of October 26th presented just such a time, when Shadow + Flame hosted a Venetian-themed (as well as exclusive and limited-invite!) masquerade event at FringeArts‘ La Peg Brasserie. As one deemed an exclusive guest, my initial thought was how to cobble together…
-
An Apple a Day Doesn’t Keep the Judges Away: Best In Pomme at Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival
Chowing in the StrEAT (sorry, not sorry to Bruce Springsteen’s “Racing in the Street”). Kicking off Restaurant Week is the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits.” – Henry David Thoreau Autumn and apples “pear” well together. What can I say about this pun but that I’m fruity? Separating fall from those crisp, pomaceous and antioxidant-laden fruits would be akin to depriving myself of post-meal desserts. So when I was pegged (along with Explore-Philly team member Dana Prophet and Dana’s friend Amy) to spend two hours judging the best apple-themed desserts at Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival on the evening of September 14th, I was all in. Arriving at a…
-
Twinkle, Twinkle: Era Contemporary Showcases Stargarden Exhibit at Da Vinci Art Alliance
Era Contemporary announces exhibit with beautifully rendered photograph. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden When Jessica Libor, artist, graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and director of Era Contemporary, “a pop-up art gallery that showcases artwork by living artists who display a unique vision and a focus on magical realism,” recently called for submissions, artists delivered. The exhibit, entitled StarGarden was held Friday, September 1st at Philadelphia’s Da Vinci Art Alliance. Curated by Libor, it fused the sublime mystery of the celestial night sky’s cosmos with the tangible beauty of floral and fauna on magical terra firma. So when Cassie Hepler called for a writer and photographer to cover the event, my shooting star-swift affirmative response confirmed my presence at…
-
Get Licked at Ritz-Carlton’s Aqimero ‘Yappy Hour’ Benefit During Dog Days of Summer
Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Welcome to the dog days of summer. The Ritz-Carlton’s Aqimero Lounge hosted their inaugural Yappy Hour to benefit Hemlock Edge Rescue, a non-profit organization “dedicated to rescuing homeless, abandoned and abused animals”. As I made my way to the iconic hotel on one of the hottest days to date, I pondered the dog days of summer phrase. Its perception as we know it – one of listless and seemingly catatonic canines stilled by heat so sultry and oppressive – allowed me to feel at one with man’s best friend. I ascended the Ritz-Carlton’s steps, panting and tugging my dress loose from sticky skin as sweat rivulets collected…
-
Dîner en Blanc Steps Up Fifth Anniversary to Art Museum
Photos, story by Deja Cromartie Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia celebrated its fifth anniversary with an unforgettable evening filled with elegance, food, art and music. The Art Museum was transformed into a beautiful “All American Paris.” There were about 5,000 people adorned in white clothing and accessories that taking photos with the Rocky Statue as well as running up and down the infamous Rocky Steps. The view was also a beautiful sight once everyone was set up with their tables. As a first time attendee of Dîner en Blanc, I was really impressed by the table decor. There was a lot of lighting, crystals, and beautiful flowers. Here are a few of my favorite tables:…
-
Philly Burlesque Dancers Wow Crowds at Rasputin’s Room at Franky Bradley’s
Photos, video and story by Michael Antonio Castaneda One of the finest qualities about Philadelphia is its lust for entertainment from great artists. Every Third Friday of the month at Franky Bradley’s, located at 1320 Chancellor St., you can find yourself having a very fine dinner and an even more amazing show. Lil’ Steph, a burlesque dancer in Philly, hosts one of the finest in the city. Having never been to an event like this, being there for the Rasputin’s Room third year anniversary was a true treat. The show featured Alyson Rodriguez Orenstein, Sophie Sucre, Ruby Von Vanity, Minx Arcana and Lil’ Steph. Lil’ Steph began performing burlesque in…
-
BACARDÍ Untameable House Party on Wheels Rocks Penn’s Landing
Photos, story by Deja Cromartie What better way to celebrate Halloween then to attend an epic house party sponsored by BACARDÍ? The Spirit brand selected the city of Philadelphia as the first stop for its Ultimate House Party Tour at Penn’s Landing. The “custom-built house with five different rooms – from a spacious living room with couches to a backyard full of party games and activities” was stocked with all the supplied needed to get the party started including the quintessential red cup filled with BACARDI rum cocktails. The new BACARDÍ ad, which launched earlier this month, features a traveling House Party which is for REAL. The idea? There is nothing…