photo courtesy of Christmas Village

Philadelphia’s Christmas Village Returns

The highly anticipated Christmas season is upon us! Along with holiday festivities and delightful displays, Philadelphia’s Christmas Village returns this year to the City Hall Courtyard. All the warm mulled cider, spiced gingerbread, brats and delicious German fare will now be available. The city’s open-air German market – one of the largest in the country –brings Santa’s workshop, live music stages, decorations and lights, wooden shopping huts, food booths, mulled wine and more.

Holiday Nights in Old City

Celebrate the season along America’s most historic square mile with Historic Holiday Nights in Old City, presented by VISIT PHILADELPHIA® and Old City District. Get all of your holiday shopping done in one place, and enjoy some seasonal dishes and sips in Old City! More than 45 participating boutiques, shops, art galleries, museums, restaurants and cafes around the neighborhood will treat visitors to special sales, discounts, promotions and menu items every Thursday in December from 5:00pm to 8:00pm through December 22nd. From its historic past to its artful present to its tech future, Old City is the place to be! Look for vibrant and diverse offerings that make the neighborhood the historic gem of Philadelphia. For more information about Old City District and Historic Holiday Nights in Old City, visit oldcitydistrict.org, tweet @OldCityDistrict or call (215) 592-7929.

Rittenhouse Row Fashion Crawl

Numerous Rittenhouse Row retailers will host simultaneous in store parties, with cocktails from some of the best mixologists in Rittenhouse.  In store parties include: Special discounts, trunk shows, gifts with purchase, DJs and much more. This year Rittenhouse Row has partnered with PAWS to, “Give a Home for the Holiday.” Adoptable dogs and PAWS representatives will be walking to select crawl locations throughout the day. Pick up your map at Capital One on the day of the crawl and receive free samples of hot chocolate from Peet’s Coffee and a chance to enter to win a fabulous gift basket with prizes from Rittenhouse Row’s health, beauty and fitness members.   Raffle package highlights include:  A five pack of classes from Flywheel, $55 gift certificate to Ursula’s About PHace, a five pack of classes to Ripped PHL, three Pure Barre classes, one month unlimited from Unite Fitness, a ten class gift card good for any class at Thrive Pilates and Philly Power Yoga and five pilates classes at Urbanfront Pilates and more.   The entire day is free and open to the public; event maps will be available at Capital One, 1636 Walnut Street, on Saturday, December 10^th from 12:00PM to 3:00PM.   Maps can also be downloaded from rittenhouserow.org starting the week of the crawl.   *Must be 21 or older to enjoy the cocktails

Einstein Healthcare Network Harvest Ball Weekend Friday, November 4/Saturday, November 5/Sunday, November 6

Einstein Healthcare Network celebrates the culmination of its 150^th Anniversary with Destination Einstein, Harvest Ball Weekend, Friday, November 4/Saturday, November 5/Sunday, November 6 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The weekend is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at advance.einstein.edu/hbw   Events include:   Friday, November 4, 2016 • 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. “Taste of Philly” Reception and Einstein Showcase   Alumni, family, old friends and new—kickoff the weekend in style! Learn about the future of healthcare at Einstein, then join us on a hometown-style culinary journey and toast Einstein’s 150th anniversary. Begin your weekend adventure with a stroll through our indoor cityscape. Indulge your senses in sights, sounds and tastes of Philadelphia favorites from yesteryear and today. Then, journey into the future of healthcare with our Einstein Showcase.  Areas will highlight South Philly’s famous Italian Market specialties, Queen Village’s own “famous” deli delights, West Philly’s BBQ, and down home cooking. The best from Chinatown’s Friendship Gate, Philly’s hometown sweets from ice cream, candy and “kakes,” craft beers and wine under the Philly street lights just like a block party.   The Einstein Showcase will share the latest and greatest in patient care by Einstein’s best and brightest. More than 20 departments and programs highlight how advancements are serving the social, emotional and physical needs of Einstein patients. Interactive and informative displays will allow you to experience, first-hand, what’s new at Einstein and what’s next on the healthcare horizon.    Saturday, November 5, 2016 • 7:00 a.m. breakfast, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. program Continuing Education Seminar: Confronting Healthcare Disparities-Free Program Understand the medical challenges faced around the world. Renowned speakers will open doors to discovery and continue Einstein’s Mission of “humanity, humility, and honor.” Featured Speakers include Carlos Castillo-Salgado, MD, JD, MPH, DrPH, Professor of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Marc DuBois, Humanitarian Consultant/Analyst, Former Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders – UK/IE; and Harvey J. Makadon, MD, FACP, Director of Education and Training Programs, The Fenway Institute, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. CME credits available; non-medical professionals welcome.    -more-   Harvest Ball Weekend/Page 2   Saturday, November 5, 2016 • 7:00 p.m. 64th Annual Harvest Ball Celebrate the past, present, and future of Einstein Healthcare Network. Cocktail chic attire. Einstein presents a multi-sensory journey through the decades featuring food, drink and entertainment. Experience Einstein through the ages to see how our past has influenced our future. Honoring the Auxiliary of Einstein Healthcare Network for its 64-years of dedicated service and philanthropic support to Einstein’s patients, physicians, nurses, staff and communities.   Proceeds from Harvest Ball benefit Einstein’s new telehealth system. Designed to support patients with chronic disease, Einstein’s telehealth system will incorporate multiple components of telemedicine in an effort to reduce readmission rates. Telemedicine is the future of healthcare, allowing patients to connect with their physicians on a daily basis from the comfort of home. Better engagement between patient and physician will enhance the patient care experience and provide physicians with the tools they need to better assess patients and address issues before complications arise. This state-of-the-art telehealth system will be supported across Einstein Healthcare Network.      Sunday, November 6, 2016 • 11:30 a.m. Einstein Family Brunch End your weekend excursion by reuniting with the Einstein family – both past and present. For generations, Einstein doctors, nurses, patients, donors, board members and employees have created a legacy like no other. The brunch celebrates the uniqueness of the Einstein family. This is a fun, family oriented event – with music, games, crafts and fun for the kids. Special surprise guests and performances throughout the morning. Everyone who is #BornAtEinstein is welcome and invited to come back as well.

MossRehab’s All About Art event is a juried exposition and sale open to professional artists with physical, cognitive, visual and hearing disabilities. Eligible media include works on paper, works on canvas or board, mixed media, sculpture, jewelry, photography and fine crafts. The 2016 show will run through November 4, 2016. All activities will take place at MossRehab’s Main Campus at Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park, 60 Township Line Road in Elkins Park.  The exhibit is free and open to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Proceeds this year support the Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute whose mission includes theory-driven research to clinical treatments in neurorehabilitation, by transforming scientific insights into assessments and rehabilitation treatments for individuals disabled by neurologic injury or disease. Founded in 1992 by Drs. John Whyte and Myrna Schwartz, MRRI achieves great success securing federal grant funding and attracting individual philanthropy. It is internationally known for its many accomplishments. To purchase art,  call 215-663 6366.

Sunday, October 16, marks the fourth year for the Simon Says Run 5K. Runners and families are welcome from all around the Greater Philadelphia area.  It begins and ends at Victory Fields in Plymouth Meeting and is almost entirely on private roads. The race will be chip timed and awards will be given out to the fastest times in a variety of age groups. The Family Walk is a one-mile loop on a wooded trail and is perfect for people of all ages. The marquis event, the Chain of Survival Relay, pits teams from area schools against each other. They must complete a relay that incorporates the steps taken to save a life from sudden cardiac arrest.This year Simon’s Fund welcomes special guest speaker, Annie FitzPartick and Officer Jeff Sullivan. Earlier this year 19-year-old Annie suffered an episode of cardiac arrest in the parking lot of the Penn Valley Wawa. Annie had been misdiagnosed with a seizure disorder but what they learned that day was that she was actually suffering from an undiagnosed condition of Long QT Syndrome.  Officer Sullivan saved Annie’s life using the AED training he had received that morning. Race starts at 9:00 a.m. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Click here to register.

PHS fundraiser brings together the region’s great chefs and local growers 

The region’s leading chefs and mixologists will showcase their garden-to-table creations at “PHeaSt,” the delicious, fundraising celebration on Friday, October 7, from 7:00to 10:00 p.m. at the Navy Yard. 

Hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the fifth annual PHeaSt brings together renowned chefs, mixologists and urban growers for a special party to benefit the PHS City Harvest program, which supports community gardening and provides healthy, locally grown food for families in need throughout the Philadelphia region. This year the event celebrates the 10^th anniversary of City Harvest and will provide the opportunity to help “build” a new community garden. Guests will be invited to pull a plant stake from an interactive, model garden and choose from different levels of support that will fund the purchase of tools, soil, seeds, and other materials needed for the new garden.

The PHS Warehouse at the Navy Yard, home to repurposed props from the Philadelphia Flower Show, is transformed for PHeaSt into an industrial-chic party setting. Guests are invited to “graze” the garden-fresh dishes, chat with the chefs and mixologists, and get gardening tips from the City Harvest growers. The event has been a sell-out each year, as hundreds of area foodies come to sample new seasonal dishes by the culinary stars and the creative cocktails, spirits, wines and beers.

Culinary partners this year include Agno Grill and Yoku, Al Pastor, Bar Bombon, Bella Vista, Brûlée Bakery, Buddakan, Campbell’s Place, Capofitto, Charline was a sinner, Christina Cooks, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Ela, Garces Trading Company, Melograno, Morimoto, Night Kitchen Bakery & Café, Red Owl Tavern,Stove & Tap, The Farm and Fisherman, Triangle Tavern, Whole Foods Markets, Your Personal Chef Joseph E. Shilling, and Zavino.

Sips partners include 13^th Street Cocktail Catering, Art in the Age, Backyard Beans Coffee Company, Bank & Bourbon, Bird Dog Whiskey, Boardroom Spirits Distillery, Caledonia Spirits, Don Julio, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, Firestone Brewery, Hendrick’s Gin, Jim Beam Apple Bourbon, Liberty Gin, Mac’s Tavern, Magical Spirits, Martin Millers Gin, Patrón, PHS Cider, Pinnacle Vodka, Round Guys Brewing Company, Russian Standard Vodka, Saint Benjamin Brewing Company, Saxbys Coffee, Stateside Urbancraft Vodka, Stoli Group USA, Tamworth Distilling, Tom Gore Vineyards, Whistle Pig Straight Rye, and Yards Brewing Company.

PHeaSt proceeds support the PHS mission to connect people with horticulture and create beautiful, healthy and sustainable communities. Through the PHS network of urban gardeners in the Philadelphia region, the City Harvest program feeds hundreds of families in need each week during the growing season. The growers involved in PHeaSt participate in City Harvest and also make affordable, locally produced food available at farmers markets in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets are $165 (PHS members $150). VIP tickets are $300 (PHS members $275) and include early admission at 6 p.m. PHeaSt is held in the PHS Warehouse at the Navy Yard, 5201 S.13^th Street, Philadelphia 19112.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer, challenges supporters everywhere to go the distance in September for Alex’s Million Mile 2016 (AMM). Returning for its fourth year during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, AMM participants will collectively run, walk and/or ride one million miles to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. Last year, more than 15,000 participants logged over 963,000 miles in 24 different countries on 6 continents. Since its inception, AMM has raised over $1.8 million.

Individuals and teams who participate can log as many or as few miles as their ability allows, with each mile contributing to the collective million miles goal. Animal lovers rejoice – your four-legged friend’s miles count, too. So, don’t forget to add your dog or cat to your AMM team. Miles can be logged manually or by using MapMyFitness, Fitbit or Strava apps starting September 1. The event is free to participants, but fundraising is encouraged and can start as soon as participants register.

Participants can create their own team or search the AMM website for a variety of teams to join, based on location, childhood cancer types or teams led by ALSF researchers. New this year, childhood cancer teams allow participants to join a team for a specific type of childhood cancer and the money raised on that team will fund research projects for that particular cancer. Again this year, ALSF researchers who lead their own teams can raise money for their own projects and have up to $25,000 matched by the Foundation.

Once participants create their own or join teams, there are plenty of ways to log miles and raise money. Individuals and teams looking to log their first mile can join First Mile events on September 1. A list of First Mile events is available on AlexsMillionMile.org. More ideas to help participants achieve their mileage goals are available on AlexsLemonade.org/blog.

Participants can show support through social media utilizing #Journey2aMillion. To register for Alex’s Million Mile and get more ideas to help you reach your mileage and fundraising goals, visit AlexsMillionMile.org.

For one month only, this September, Tredici (114 South 13^th Street, 267-928-2092) will celebrate the debut of their new sister restaurant in Washington, DC with La Grande Dame, a raw bar plateau featuring a diverse and exciting assortment of fresh seafood and shellfish.   La Grand Dame ($150) will also benefit Living Beyond Breast Cancer: $10 from each platter sold will be donated to the Bala Cynwyd-based charity, providing programs and services to help those whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer in honor of their 25^th anniversary later this year.   La Grande Dame includes:

• 1 oz. of Hackleback American Sturgeon Caviar, served with egg whites, chives, red onion and blini
• 2 Joe’s Crab Claws, served with caper aioli
• 4 fresh, seasonal oysters, served with mignonette and horseradish
• 4 jumbo shrimp, served with cocktail sauce
• 4 pieces of rare seared Ahi tuna

WHERE: Tredici, 13^th and Sansom Streets in Philadelphia   WHEN: September 1-30, 2016   WHY: On November 12, 2016, Living Beyond Breast Cancer will hold their 25^th Anniversary fundraiser, the Butterfly Ball, presented by White House| Black Market. Tredici’s owners, Greg and Emily Dodge, are co-chairs of the black tie benefit, and created La Grande Dame to give back to Living Beyond Breast Cancer in a personal way. The Butterfly Ball will be held at 801 Market Street, honoring Dr. Jennifer Chalfin Simmons with the Founders Award; Andi and Abraham Morris with the Corporate Leadership Award; and Jenny Burkholder, Ayanna Z. Kalasunas and Judy Weinstein with the Going Beyond Award. Tickets are $350/person and can be purchased at lbbc.ejoinme.org/ButterflyBall2016