Ring in the new year with MSTRKRFT at the Electric Factory

Trying to find the best shows going on next month, but are too overwhelmed by how many choices are out there? Just missed getting tickets for that Lady Gaga show, and need another one to compensate? Here’s a Look at some November shows that might just be a little too good to pass up! And note, while this list primarily features Philadelphia, it showcases bands who are currently touring the country. So if you like what you hear, then you might just want to check their websites and see if their coming to a stage near you!

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream December 1st at Johnny Brenda’s

The term “80s retro” gets thrown around a lot these days. It’s easy to marginalize acts such as M83, Ladyhawke, Neon Neon, and many others as part of a trend, nothing more. Even though these acts are consciously hearkening back to bygone days, the “retro” marginalization doesn’t fit. I say that they are part of the rebirth of a musical aesthetic– these artists are not simply copying the sound, they are furthering it. Gil Mantera’s Party Dream’s second album, Dreamscape, is a significant addition to this movement. The formerly happy hardcore duo has become a synth-rock trio with an expanded and matured sound: Party Dream has dyed their moody, danceable pop ballads in the dark and beautiful power of the electronic art rock of old. -Consequence of Sound. With Sweatheat and Pony Pants.
Gil Mantera\'s Party Dream
Tickets
Elmo’s Wish

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists December 2nd at First Unitarian Church

From R5 Productions Website -

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Yippeee! Ted Leo And The Pharmacists are back! Ted Leo, former leader of the criminally overlooked D.C. mod-pop outfit Chisel, with his pick-up band the Pharmacists (members of Nation Of Ulysses, The Lapse and Young Pioneers), continues on his unique pop trajectory, somewhere between the jumpy caffeinated pop of his old outfit Chisel, the mod emotion of the Jam, the kick ass rock of Thin Lizzy and the perfect pop of old Elvis Costello. Super smart and sentimental (especially the lyrics: wry and clever, but heartfelt and really unique), but playful and infectious at the same time. First Philly show in a loooonnnggggggg time!

The So So Glos
The So So Glos…play slurry, ’70s-style revolt/party punk that melts into reggae. Brooklyn
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Tickets
Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?

Ghostland Observatory December 4th at The Trocadero Theatre

Ghostland Observatory is not a band, but an agreement between two friends to create something that not only heals their beat-driven hearts, but pleases their rock ‘n roll souls. Taking the working man’s approach, Ghostland Observatory spend countless hours in their south Austin studio. They have released two albums in less than a year, and have moved audiences from coast to coast with their live performances and unique style

Ghostland Observatory is the duo of front man Aaron Behrens and producer/drummer Thomas Turner. Behrens’ vocal style and stage performances are unique and uncompromising, and he has drawn early comparisons to Freddie Mercury and Prince. Turner is heavily influenced by electronic artists such as Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier and Green Velvet, as well as rockers such as The Animals, David Bowie, and The Clash. With their spectral blend of electronics, drums, guitar and vocals, they have emerged with a sound that is the culmination of past influence and present inspiration, and can only be described as BALLSY.
Ghostland Observatory
Tickets
Sad Sad City

El Vez and Los Straitjackets December 4th at World Cafe Live

El Vez is the stage name of Robert Lopez, a Mexican-American rock and roll artist, who performs and records original material and covers classic rock songs. Mixing the styles of Elvis Presley and many other American rock artists with his own Latin-American heritage and music, he is known for expressing revolutionary views through his the satire and humor in his songs.

El Vez is known for his high-production value, frenetic stage show, which features two backup singers/dancers (the Elvettes), numerous on- and off-stage costume changes, and between-song monologues mixing humor and political activism.

Lopez’s main persona and style is very similar to Elvis Presley, as his stage name suggests. However, he is not strictly an Elvis impersonator; on his recordings and in his live show, he covers many non-Mexican artists, such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, T. Rex, Queen and the Beatles.

Los Straitjackets is an American instrumental rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1988. Originally comprising guitarists Danny Amis (formerly of Raybeats) and Eddie Angel and drummer L. J. “Jimmy” Lester under the name The Straitjackets, the band split up soon after forming and reunited as Los Straitjackets in 1994 with the addition of bassist E. Scott Esbeck. Esbeck left the band in 1998 and was replaced by Pete Curry; drummer Jason “Teen Beat” Smay replaced co-founding member Lester in 2005. The band has released eleven studio albums, two collaboration albums and three live albums.
El Vez
Los Straitjackets
Tickets
En El Barrio
Tempest

Schoolly D and Bahamadia December 7th at Johnny Brenda’s

Jesse Weaver Jr. (aka Schoolly D) changed the course of hip-hop history as a pioneer of Gangsta Rap. He fused hardcore beats with explicit and gritty narratives about urban life in his home-town of Philadelphia. Schoolly D paved the way for the likes of Ice-T and Notorious B.I.G., among others with such songs as “Gucci Time”, “Saturday Night” and “P.S.K. What Does It Mean?” His music has been heavily sampled over the years, by such artists as The Roots, Jennifer Lopez, Lil’ Wayne and by the Chemical Brothers in their 1997 smash “Block Rockin’ Beats”. Younger fans may know Schoolly’s work from the Cartoon Networks’ wildly successful Aqua Teen Hunger Force, for which he crafted the legendary theme song and contributes voice-overs.

Bahamadia is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist, a DJ who later became an MC. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically-acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gangstarr. Kollage was followed in 2001 by BB Queen, an EP release. Bahamadia is a respected lyricist in hip hop and is known for her silky, subdued monotone delivery. More recently, Bahamadia has made guest appearances on tracks by artists including Talib Kweli, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jedi Mind Tricks and Planet Asia, and through her association with the Philadelphia hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs. Her latest album, Good Rap Music, was released in 2006.
Schoolly D
Bahamadia
Tickets
King of New York
Uknowhowwedu

Fanfarlo and Freelance Whales December 10th at Johnny Brenda’s

From the R5 Productions Website -

Fanfarlo
This band is going to be huge (they already sold out Kung Fu Necktie in advance). Hailing from London, they have been winning over audiences for years with a charming brand of indie pop-folk. Led by Swedish songwriter Simon Balthazar, Fanfarlo was formed in 2006, and soon began touring and steadily releasing new music. In 2008, the group headed to the studio to record their first full-length album – Reservoir, was released earlier this year. The band’s style of indie pop feels familiar (Arcade Fire & Beirut) and yet very new. In addition to the normal lineup of drums, bass and guitars, the group employs an array of instruments ranging from keyboards and mandolin to horns. Get on the bandwagon now!

Freelance Whales
Oh shit – Internet hype alert! Freelance Whales found one another in late 2008, amidst a strange amalgam of unfamiliar instruments, and precariously composed pop songs. Using whatever musical gadgets they happened upon (mostly harmonium, banjo, glockenspiel, synthesizers, guitars, bass, drums, waterphone), the five members worked at crafting songs with interlocking rhythmic patterns, lush textural layering, and an engaged group-vocal energy. Freelance Whales can be spotted in the streets and humble venues of New York City, and have just released their first full-length record, Weathervanes, independently. The band’s sentimental and heartwarming pop-folk brings to mind the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Le Loup and Ra Ra Riot.
Fanfarlo
Freelance Whales
Tickets
Outsiders
Generator

The Slackers December 20th at the Theatre of Living Arts

The Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band’s sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz. The Slackers’ notability is credited to their prolific career, tours of North America, Europe, and elsewhere, and signing to notable punk label Hellcat Records.

Self Medication, their latest release (2008), brings this unifying eclecticism to a new level. “Everyday is Sunday” evokes equally Joe Gibbs-era reggae and the Kinks. “Don’t you want a man” has a loping groove somewhere between Bob Marley and the Meters. “Stars” is pure unabashed Beatlemania while “Don’t Have To” evokes Elvis and Rockabilly. As the band matures you can’t tell anymore where the reggae ends and the rock begin. It’s become the Slackers.
The Slackers
Tickets
Married Girl

Lotus and MSTRKRFT December 31st at the Electric Factory

MSTRKRFT (pronounced “Master-craft”) is an electronic music group from Toronto (The Beaches), Ontario, Canada who are signed to Last Gang Records. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler formerly of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P (Alex Puodziukas) formerly of the Mississauga electropop group Girlsareshort. Al-P was also the producer for Death from Above 1979s album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine as well as several of (Jesse’s former band) Black Cat #13’s records. The duo has been close friends, as well as work partners, for a long time. MSTRKRFT also produced Die Mannequin’s first EP, How to Kill, and Magneta Lane’s second LP, Dancing With Daggers.

Lotus is known for concerts in which a complex light set up is used and their use of varying set lists that employ frequent group improvisation. The concerts are often recorded by amateur engineers (tapers) and posted online for others to listen to. The band has undertaken a number of tours and have performed at festivals including Jam on the River (Philadelphia, PA 2007 and 2008), Wakarusa (KS 2005, 2006, 2007), and the Rothbury Music Festival in July 2008 and 2009.

The band has performed several themed shows. On October 31, 2008 at the TLA in Philadelphia the show was billed as “Live Fast Die Young: the 27 Conspiracy”. Each of the 5 members dressed as a rock star who died at the age of 27 (Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Pigpen, and Jim Morrison) and the show featured covers by each of the respective bands. On Dec. 31, 2008 the band performed a show that included robot themed covers including Styx – “Mr. Roboto”, Alan Parson’s Project – “I Robot”, Flaming Lips – “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots: Part I”, Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”, and Daft Punk – “Robot Rock”. On Oct. 31, 2009 at Sonar in Baltimore the Halloween show was presented as “Protein Pills in the Labyrinth”. The band members dressed as different David Bowie characters (including Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, and Jareth) and played “Under Pressure”, “Fame”, “I’m Afriad of Americans”, “Space Oddity”, “Let’s Dance”, “Rebel, Rebel”, “Suffragette City” along with original Lotus material.

To kick off 2010, Lotus is planning a New Year’s run beginning on December 29 at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA. The band will be ringing in the new year with fans and friends the The Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA!
Lotus
MSTRKRFT
Tickets
Spiritualize
Street Justice

Nutcracker 1776 is a different take on the timeless classic.

The Holiday season is upon us yet again, and that means that there are plenty of upcoming events that are set to spread good cheer. Some are timeless musicals like the Nutcracker, while others include a karaoke gong show hosted by a villain that makes The Grinch look like a softy. Here’s a look at some fun events to check out this holiday season.

Twisted Sister: A Twisted Christmas at Keswick Theatre

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from New York City. Their work fuses the shock tactics of Alice Cooper, the rebellious mood of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and the extravagant image of glam rock bands such as New York Dolls notably for the makeup. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands. The band is generally categorized as glam metal for their earlier work, although the band does not consider themselves to be so. Videos of hit singles “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (a #21 hit in the US) and “I Wanna Rock” (US #68) ran almost constantly on MTV. Their pervasive slapstick comedy proved a change of pace for the genre and gave the band a distinctive appeal. The band separated in 1967, and have stayed apart for close to a decade. But they have since reunited for several tours, and are currently on tour in support of their Christmas album, A Twisted Christmas. They stop in Philly to play the Keswick Theatre on December 2nd.
Twisted Sister
Oh Come All Ye Faithful

The Philadelphia Independent Craft Market Holiday Edition

Where else can you do your Holiday shopping, watch some amazing bands, enjoy free refreshments, help an independent theater stay open, purchase delicous baked goods, and be around some Philadelphia’s most fun creative and talented people~
The Philadelphia Independent Craft Market’s Holiday Edition and Fundraiser for The 941 Theater!!

This is going to be such a fun show~ over 40 awesome vendors (treasures a’ plenty), a bake sale and raffle for the 941 Theater, and 5 AMAZING bands!!
$2 Suggested donation
Music by:
The Spinning Leaves
The Great Unknown
The Homophones
TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb
Toy Soldiers

Come check out the coolest new venue ~2424 Studios, right in the heart of Fishtown.
The Philadelphia Independent Craft Market

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Walnut Street Theatre

Watch as the historic Walnut’s troupe of actors puts its own theatrical spin on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (for Grades K-9th). The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a miraculous change of heart after the visit of three wondrous holiday spirits. A delightful musical for the entire family!
A Christmas Carol
Tickets

Christmas Village in Philadelphia

Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an outdoor Holiday market event at Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall Philadelphia from Thanksgiving till Christmas Eve. Vendors in more than 50 wooden booths and timber houses which form a medieval village will sell European food, sweets and drinks as well as international seasonal holiday gifts, ornaments and high quality arts and crafts.

Thousands of lights at booths and trees will integrate Dilworth Plaza into the scenery of the illuminated city hall. A central stage will be the place for live performances of local choirs, orchestras and bands. There will also be a Santa’s house and the official municipal Christmas tree including its tree lighting ceremony. Christmas Village offers its visitors a unique opportunity for shopping and enjoying European specialties in a Christmassy atmosphere. November 27th through December 24th.
Christmas Village

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at The Kimmel Center For Performing Arts

Get ready to discover a delightful new show that’s as fresh and rare as newly fallen snow! The classic holiday tradition White Christmas has come to the stage at last, as a brand new Irving Berlin musical opening at the Academy of Music this November. Brimming with such Berlin hits as ‘Blue Skies,’ ‘How Deep is the Ocean?’ and of course the unforgettable title song. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas tells the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the whole family!
White Christmas

Skeletor is hosting a holiday version of his Karaoke Gong Show.

Karaoke Gong Show and Rock Band 2

Hosted by Skele-Claus (Skeletor dressed as Santa Claus). Sing your fav karaoke songs (we have over 6,000 titles, plus fun holiday songs) but beware, Skele-Claus may gong you before you are through! Plus ROCK BAND 2 on XBOX 360! We have a full band (4 player) set up that’s hooked up to the Troc’s full-size movie screen! Drink specials all night long!
The Trocadero
Skeletor

Nutcracker 1776 at Merriam Theater

A Holiday Classic with a Philadelphia flourish – young dazzling dancers perform with professional grace to timeless Tchaikovsky music.

The Rock School is dedicated to enriching the lives of all students and preparing those students who are specially gifted in dance for careers as professional artists.

The Rock School remains steadfast in its mission to develop the finest artists for professional companies and, through its outreach program, is committed to making dance more accessible to local communities.

Known for encouraging quality academic education as well as for nurturing artistic excellence, The Rock School instills a quality of thought and action that enriches the lives of all the students regardless of their ultimate careers.
Nutcracker 1776
Tickets
preview

For more Holiday listings check out Philly Fun Guide

One Year the Milkweed by Arshile Gorky

Arshile Gorky takes his place among the tragic heroes of art history. A survivor of the Armenian genocide at the beginning of the twentieth century, he was haunted for the rest of his life by the specters of his lost homeland. His vivid, expressionist masterpieces, which anticipated Abstract Expressionism by some 10 years and pioneered abstract art in North America, reflect his enormous suffering as an exile and outsider in America. His work also shows the depth and breadth of his emotional capacity, and the intensity with which he experienced the brief interludes of joy and peace in his life.

Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective celebrates the extraordinary life and work of Arshile Gorky (about 1902–1948), a seminal figure in the movement toward abstraction that transformed American art. This exhibition, which includes about 178 works of art, surveys Gorky’s entire career from the early 1920s until his death by suicide in 1948. The retrospective includes paintings, sculpture, prints, and drawings—some of which are being shown for the first time—and reveals Gorky’s development as an artist and the evolution of his singular visual vocabulary and mature painting style.

Gorky was one of the first artists to enlist with the Public Works of Art project in 1933, formed to give artists work during the Depression. He joined the Artists’ Union, which began in 1935 as the first attempt ever to organize artists as laborers in America. Much of the art being created showed a social realist influence, and many of the murals being painted by the PWA resembled propaganda. This context of art “for the masses” and artists as “cultural workers” frustrated Gorky, who believed in the hallowed transcendence of the artist over politics. In a lecture at the Artists’ League, he finally broke with the current prominence of overtly political art when he declared it “poor art for poor people!” Despite this antipathy toward political art, he applied to the newly formed Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project in 1935, and began work on a series of murals on the theme of aviation that would occupy much of his attention until he left the WPA in 1939. He also had multiple shows during this time, including a one-person exhibit at the Guild Art Gallery that was highly praised in the New York Post. Around this time he also painted his famous Nighttime, Enigma, and Nostalgia

The highlight of the exhibition is a series of “creation chambers,” based on the artist’s description of his studio in Union Square, New York, in which some of Gorky’s most powerful and best-known paintings are being shown alongside their related studies and preparatory drawings. Benefiting from new biographical information that has come to light in recent years, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will present a critical reassessment of this key figure in modern art. This comprehensive retrospective is the first full-scale survey of Gorky’s work in nearly thirty years, thus providing a new generation of viewers with the opportunity to see this complex, influential, and deeply moving body of work.

The international tour is made possible by the Terra Foundation for American Art. The U.S. tour is supported by The Lincy Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, and by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

In Philadelphia, the exhibition is made possible by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative, and by the Neubauer Family Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Dadourian Foundation, The Robert Montgomery Scott Fund for Exhibitions, the Locks Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Hirair Hovnanian and other Friends of Arshile Gorky, a group of generous individuals.

The catalogue was made possible by Larry Gagosian and The Andrew W. Mellon Fund for Scholarly Publications, with additional support provided by Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.

To learn more about Arshile Gorky check out the website about him. To to learn more about the exhibit, as well as other events, check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art website.

The Annual Holiday Punk Rock Flea Market has been announced.

R5 Productions is one of the leading independent concert promoters in the country. And Sean Agnew and his crew do a good job of making all ages shows in Philadelphia a a lot more widespread. But with the insurance policy, equipment, supplies, and then some that they have to maintain year in and year out; it’s not always an easy thing to do. And that’s the main reason they host two Punk Rock Flea Markets every year, so that they have an extra way of generating proceeds towards their increasing funds. And that’s all the more reason why you should attend this event.

From R5 Productions website -

“THE PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET !
It’s that time again for the bi-annual (twice a year) PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET! Our most popular reoccurring event/show/whatever (by far). We had over 4000 visitors and 100+ tables of old records, clothes, art, music, food, junk, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and lots of other stuff this past February. It’s all going down this weekend at The Starlight Ballroom (right below 9th & Spring Garden Sts)

To meet the increasing demand of people wanting to sell their stuff at this we have spread it out over two days for Holiday Season : Saturday Dec 19th and Sunday Dec 20th. Each day will have entirely different sellers (not a single repeat seller). Your admission donation is good for entry both days, so you can come in and out as many times as you would like over the weekend! In addition there will be much more room to shop compared to flea markets in the past as we eliminated 25 or so tables from the usual set up (but since it’s over two days, there are more total tables…get it?)

All proceeds raised will go towards the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies to ensure that all ages shows continue to remain a reality at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia – mainly our payment for our liability insurance policy. The left over funds will go to purchasing a new smaller PA system so we can do a few smaller shows at all ages spaces this spring (instead of doing them in our 21+ venues). Do not let the “name of the event” lead you to believe that it’s just punk records, clothes etc. – it’s a full on flea market with everything from furniture, to laptops / computers , to stereo equipment, to handmade apparel, to vegan treats, information from various non profit groups, book stores, artists selling their work, bicycles & skateboards and whatever else they can fit onto the ballroom floor at The Starlight Ballroom.”

Last year’s Summer Flea Market introduced the idea of having two flea markets over a single weekend, and it worked so well that their bringing it back permanently. So it means that each day will have different vendors selling their wares. It also gives more people a fair opportunity to register as sellers. This is good since the holiday season will easily generate a huge demand.

As always their is a $3 entry fee which goes toward supporting R5 Productions and their shows. Personal tables at the Flea market cost $45 for a half table, and $65 for a full. Business tables at the Flea Market cost $65 for a half table, and $85 for a full.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING :

1) There will be 40 less tables than usual for this event, in order to make up for it the flea market will be held over two days. At the time being you can only sign up for one day (not both!)

2) We are continuing w/ two pricing levels. One for people’s old junk and one for “businesses”. Businesses means anything that’s not personally yours. This includes vintage clothing, record distro, t-shirts, anything crafted, baked, painted, created, screen printed, manufactured etc. This is to ensure the flea market actually remains a flea market! Tables for individuals are $65 for a full table (still not to shabby – again 4000+ people came through the door in July). Half tables will be $45. For businesses : full tables are $85 / Half Tables are $65. Not sure what you are ? Get in touch!

3)ONLY PERSONAL TABLES CAN BE REGISTERED FOR THE FIRST 14 DAYS. NO BUSINESSES CAN REGISTER. IF YOU ARE FOUND TO BE A BUSINESS TABLE – YOU WILL LOSE YOUR TABLE AND NOT BE REFUNDED! IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS YOU MUST WAIT TILL NOVEMBER 24TH TO REGISTER

4) IF BUSINESS TABLES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE – THEY ARE SOLD OUT. DO NOT REGISTER UNDER A PERSONAL TABLE. IF YOU ARE FOUND TO BE A BUSINESS UNER A PERSONAL TABLE RESERVATION – YOU WILL LOSE YOUR TABLE AND $$$

5) We are ONLY allowing reservations to be made online (we are no longer doing in person “tickets”) – it was just way to confusing to keep track and created the biggest most confusing mess ever. Sorry!

6) We provide the tables and chairs. If you have a specific request please e-mail us with it at : sean@r5productions dot com We don’t mean to sound like jerks, but some sellers act like crazy people and try and work around these “rules”. So we cant to VERY clear and precise. Thanks for registering and we appreciate your support.

To reserve a table for Saturday December 19th, click this link. To reserve a table for Sunday December 20th, click this link.

Dirbuno Bros. is one of the perfect places to prepare for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving is a time for family and festivity first and foremost. But it’s also a time for good eating, and the time to prepare that essential turkey dinner is right around the corner. Here’s a look at some places to go that have the perfect bird for you.

Fair Food Farmstead

Order from the Fair Food Farmstand and know that your Thanksgiving Turkey was raised on pasture by a local family farmer, and was fed only natural feed.

For each turkey you order there is a non-refundable $20 deposit. The balance of the cost of your turkey (based on weight) will be due upon pick up. You can pay by check, cash or credit card. If you do not pick up your Turkey you will be charged for the full amount of your order.

Pick-up your Pasture-Raised Thanksgiving Turkey between 9am and 6pm on Wednesday, November 26th at the Fair Food Farmstand (215-627-2029). The Farmstand is located inside the Reading Terminal Market (across from Metropolitan Bakery in the Northeast corner) in Center City Philadelphia (12th and Arch Sts.)
Fair Food Farmstead

DiBruno Bros.

DiBruno’s Bros. is always one of the leading gourmet markets to go to in Philadelphia. And they take it up a notch when preparing holiday dinners. Their catering department has plenty of essentials ready for you to order, including: Sweet Potato Gratin, Sausage Stuffing, Cranberry-Orange Relish, Honey Glazed Carrots, and 7′ Deep Dish Apple Pie. and their butcher has the perfect Turkey ,Braciola;A Boneless Roulade of Free Range Turkey Breast, Filled with Dark Meat, Turkey Sausage & Herbs, Roasted Slowly to Perfection, Sliced for your Convenience, Served with Chanterelle Giblet Gravy on the Side! and don’t forget to pick up some cheese.
Dibruno Bros Thanksgiving

Godshall’s Poultry LLC

Easily one of the finest places to go for locally raised poultry in Philadelphia. On any given day you come across chicken, goose, duck, quail, other game birds; and of course some pretty huge turkeys. But at Godshall’s you can get that turkey in any way imaginable; whether it be the whole bird, ground, sausage, scrapple, or pepperoni! and since it’s a part of the Reading Terminal Market, it’s surrounded by plenty of other good places to get your Thanksgiving fixings.
Godschall\’s Poultry

Giunta’s Prime Shop

Another incredible butcher at the Reading Terminal Market. Giunta’s specializes itself in selling all-natural, grass fed and hormone-free meats and poultry, plus homemade sausages. But they also occasionally carry harder to find meats like Turducken, especially during the holidays. So it’s the perfect place to go if your looking to do a little something different.
Giunta’s Prime Shop

Farmers Markets

Probably not the first place you’d consider, but the Farmers Markets around Philly might just be some of the best places to prepare your Thanksgiving dinner. Especially when their organized by the likes of The Food Trust and Headhouse Farmer’s Markets. Whether its Clark Park Farmers’ Market, Fairmount Farmers’ Market, Broad & South Farmers’ Market, or one of the many others throughout the city you’re bound to find some great vendors. and spots like Griggstown Quail Farm, Mountain View Poultry, and Country Meadow Farms will be on hand to take turkey orders for the holidays. and the markets will also have plenty of fresh baked pies!
Food Trust

Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabaza is just one of the beers that will be available at XFest.

If you’re a reader of this blog who likes good beer, then there’s a good chance that you’re already primed and psyched for the Winter Beer Festival on November 14th and 15th. But right before that event kicks into full effect, it looks like Philly Beer Fests; the people behind Philadelphia’s annual Beer Week (the 2010 one is slated for June 4th-15th), have your next Winter Beer Fest all covered.

XFest promises to be a A civilized sampling of the world’s best Winter Warmers & Christmas beers. And it’s going to happen at the the Penn Museum on 33rd and Spruce, which should add onto the sophisticated feel. The festival wouldn’t be complete without a fine assortment of holiday ales; and it has you covered with the likes of Abita Christmas, Jenlain Biere de Noel, Mahr’s Christmas Bock, and Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabaza. It’s also has a full fledged sampling of the finest Winter beers; like Wild Goose Snow Goose, Sam Adams Winter Lager, Barbãr Winter Brassin, and Flying Fish Grand Cru Winter Reserve. But not only that, it also plans to warm you up with the likes of Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Sierra Nevada Bigfoot.

Tickets for this special tasting event only cost $45 ($55 at the door, and $15 for designated drivers). Food will also be available a la carte throughout the evening. Christmas beer represents the widest range of beer styles of the year. You’ll enjoy spiced ales, malty winter warmers, hoppy ales and s-t-r-o-n-g Belgian styles. This year we’re featuring beer from Germany, the U.K., Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and of course the U.S. A. To learn more about XFest you can check out the Philly Beer Fests website. you can also email them at info@phillybeerfests.com, or follow them on Twitter.

Art Star in Northern Liberties

The holiday season is right around the corner so you’re probably planning out what gifts to get your friends and family. Here’s a look at some Philadelphia stores that offer up the perfect gifts that will actually stand out.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Your friend who’s addicted to Star Wars might have a replica Death Star, and almost every single Darth Vader figurine in existence. But rest assured he doesn’t have the Chewbacca T-Shirt that’s exclusive to Art in the Age in Mechanical Reproduction. and your aunt who’s hooked on kitchen condiments would love their corn relish. And anyone who likes to mix drinks will go gaga over their Root Alcohol. Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction firmly believes in empowering artists producing high quality work marked by fine craft and intellectual rigor. It does so by applying the fruits of such labors to the cultural forms of everyday life, granting those who wish to engage the opportunity to do so in his/her own environment. And as a result you can find a diverse selection of clothing, literature, bars of soap, and then some.
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Omoi

Otherwise known as Heavy in Japanese. From Domo, to G-Shock Watches, To Lucky Cat; Omoi is your one stop shop for items that are blowing up all over Japan. But you can also finds fresh new T-shirts from the likes of Soundscreen Design, 2K Gingham, and Upper Playground; Midori Stationary, a diverse selection of Books, bags from Philly’s own TRKFLD, and so much more. It’s a cute little store to shop in, especially with it’s recent makeover. But it’s also perfect for shopping online.
Omoi

Big Green Earth Store

Big Green Earth Store is an environmentally friendly home goods retail store. The store is the first to invoke a “green-only” approach meaning the products sold are either made out of recycled materials or reduce and reuse the earth’s limited resources. Big Green Earth Store is committed to providing our customers with a one-stop shopping experience that promotes the protection and sustainability of the environment. It is the goal of Big Green Earth Store to not only provide our customers with the highest quality of earth-friendly products and services, but also positively inform the community of the tremendous benefits these products have on the environment. When you pick up things like their Recycled Speakers, Solar Backpacks, Stainless Steel Canteens, and bags made out of recycled magazines and bottle caps; your not only picking up something that looks cool; you’re picking up something that’s good for the environment.
Big Green Earth Store

Long in The Tooth

With such a big inventory of vinyl, Long in the Tooth is easily a one stop shop for any of your record collecting friends. But they also have a HUGE selection of new and used CDs and DVDs that contain some pretty rare finds and good deals. Toss in it’s extensive book shelf that’s filled to the brim with good deals on novels and art books, and a good selection of local music; and you have a spot that has plenty to offer!
Long in the Tooth

Art Star

Art Star is a gallery and boutique located in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. It exhibits and sell handmade work and limited edition products by emerging artists across the globe. Hailed by Philadelphia Magazine as the “the cities first cutting-edge craft shop”, it strives to carry work that is innovative and superbly crafted. We have also created and continue to support a growing network of burgeoning artists. Its exhibitions rotate every 6 weeks and our boutique offers shoppers everything from handmade clothes, jewelry and accessories to dolls, ceramics and prints. with so many art prints, hand crafted dolls, interesting bags, and then some; you’re bound to find something for that person who likes artistic things.
Art Star

Jinxed Clothing

What could be better than a place where you can get top of the line and unique hoodies, T-shirts, and shirts? A place where you can also get unique toys like Tofu Zombie, Geisha Girls plaques, and Sailor Jerry Tattoo stencil books of course. Jinxed Clothing offers a diverse selection of artistic merchandise that’s of the rocking persuasion, and it has been able to do it even more so since it moved into The Piazza!
Jinxed Clothing

Duross and Langel

From their website -

Our approach to creating Duross and Langel is basic. It reflects our approach to living. Make responsible choices that affect a change for the better.

There is a great deal of chatter about what is safe in cosmetics and skincare products. The old axiom “don’t believe everything you read” certainly holds true. When developing our brand, we set out to create the next generation of body and skin care. As we went through the process to achieve this goal, we found a great deal of misleading information and an unfortunate truth that very few products can actually be 100% natural even though by law, they can call themselves all-natural. Even the most natural product ingredients go through a process during formulation while modern chemistry offers some amazing approaches to formulation.
Not everything natural is good.
Not everything synthesized is bad.

We’ve worked hard to be responsible in developing the products and the packaging for duross and langel. Our job is to offer you and your family some good clean fun at a great price. Our products are as free of synthetic ingredients as can allow for in safety, effectiveness and esthetic appeal. Some of our products are scented with essential oils, others with fragrance oils. Our colors are derived from natural micas and logwoods as well as employing natural sources that have been synthesized for use in food.

98% of all ingredients in duross and langel are derived from botanical sources. Our packaging meets the highest standards of environmental responsibility available for safe cosmetics today. Bottles and jars are 100% recyclable. Our boxes and bags are made with 100% recycled paper.

At Duross and Langel you can find a distinct selection of soaps, candles, facial and body products, and soothing balms that are made from natural ingredients. So it’s perfect for any friend or family member that’s looking to achieve a fresh sense of euphoria in the bathroom.
Duross and Langel

Doggie Style

The perfect store for anyone who is looking to pick up something special for their pet this holiday season.

For over five years, Doggie Style stores have been bringing the Philadelphia area the finest in pet fashion and supplies. Started by fellow pet owners, Doggie Style has become a neighborhood “watering dish” for pet owners to bring their best friends and catch up on the latest in pet care as well as to get to know other pet owners in the area. And through social events and a continued relationship with the PSPCA, Doggie Style has managed to strengthen the pet owner community in Philadelphia and it wants you to be a part of it.

  There’s no other place you can go to get all the pet basics, such as food and nutrition needs, as well as the fanciest pet pampering accessories. We carry high-end pet carriers, doggie waste supplies, outdoor camping gear, and bakery fresh gourmet treats! And we always love to hear from our customers about how our selection of products has worked for them.

 And although it may call itself “Doggie Style” it also cater to pets of the feline persuasion as well, with tons of kitty toys, comfy beds and lounges.  And be sure to say hello to Sugar, Lily, Monty, and Nigel, our resident cats when you’re in the stores!
So if you haven’t already, stop in to your local neighborhood Doggie Style. “they bark, we listen.”
Doggie Style

Pinot

The bad news to it being in Philadelphia is that Pinot itself doesn’t sale wine. But the good news is that it’s the perfect place for any wine aficionado to accessorize their collection. it is a a unique wine accessory boutique that is a must shop for any wine drinker, whether their a novice or an expert. they have everything from bar furniture to corkscrews. its focus is premium wine accessories and products such as Riedel glassware and decanters, Howard Miller Wine and Spirits furniture, Le Cache Wine Storage units, and hand crafted wine racks. the basics are also covered with corkscrews, wine stoppers, wine caddies, and much more.
Pinot

Foster’s Homeware

From their Website -

Rooms can always be more roomy. Homes can always be more homey. Life can always be more lively. And we’re here to make it that way at ShopFosters.com and our new and our new store at 33 N. 3rd in Old City, Philadelphia – Foster’s Homeware, offering the finest in contemporary housewares and furnishings for the urban dweller and a wide-array of products that cater to the serious chef in all of us.

Foster’s is hands down the perfect place to shop for any one who is looking to expand upon their kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and anywhere else in their home or office.
Foster’s Homeware

There are plenty of Honorable mentions out there for holiday shoppinmg in Philadelphia; including Sailor Jerry, Mew Gallery, Joseph Fox Bookshop, and Fante’s Kitchen Wares Shop. But with choices above, you’re sure to find some things that are truly eclectic.

The future of 941 Theater is in Jeopardy. But you can help!

Awhile back Culturemob covered how 941 Theater was a strong supporter of cinema, arts, and music in the community. And since that blog it was recognized for it’s dedication and won a Citypaper Choice Award. But unfortunately the theater was forced to shut down by L&I, and is now in a dire situation. From their website:

“As you may know, the 941 Theater was recently forced to shut down, and may stay closed unless we get your help! We’ve worked hard to support the art, film and music communities in Philadelphia by creating a safe and accessible venue everyone can enjoy. But we cannot continue without your support. We need to raise money to re-open the 941 Theater!”

The theater hasn’t given up hope, and as working as hard as they had to open to place in the beginning. They have also pulled their resources together to form the Philadelphia Friends of the Projected Arts, a group that is dedicated that making sure that Philadelphia has places that support independent cinema.

From their main Website -

The PFPA is registered as a non-profit in the state of Pennsylvania, and it is run by professionals in the film and media industries. By making Projected Arts more accessible to Philadelphia, they are enriching the culture of Philadelphia and helping filmmakers make money off their work.

Due to the nonstop trend of media consolidation, it is more important than ever for independent filmmakers to have an outlet for their creations. 25 years ago, there were 50 companies controlling the media in America. Today, there are only six. Media consolidation has made it that much more difficult to get first run independent films out to the viewing public, and this is not okay. While we have access to many so-called “mainstream indies” in Philadelphia, there isn’t a theater that screens the rest of the first-run independent films that come out each week.

While the Internet is the ultimate tool for the unknown to become known, mass exposure on the internet doesn’t automatically help small filmmakers make a profit off of their art. Having their work accessible online can help filmmakers, but in order to make a living and continue to create films, they must be able to monetize their efforts. The PFPA aims to help filmmakers find venues where their work will be displayed and they will share in the revenue generated.

While it takes a few clicks of your mouse to see a movie in the comfort of your own home, you aren’t viewing the film in the way the filmmaker intended it to be seen, and therefore are missing out on the key details you can only see in a theater. PFPA is involved in fundraising in order to provide the city with the entertainment it is lacking and, in collaboration with 941 Theater, a venue that gives the viewer the total movie experience: the picture projected on a screen, excellent sound, and surrounded by strangers.

941 Theater is currently working on organizing a fundraiser at the Starlight Ballroom, that is tentatively slated for Saturday, November 21st from noon – 6pm. If you have any further questions or would like to be involved in some way, please contact us at: BOOKING@941theater.com. They also have a Paypal Account where you can make donations towards saving the theater.

Jim Breuer is bringing his comedy routine to the Keswick on Thanksgiving Eve.

Thanksgiving is fundamentally a time for gathering among family and enjoying that epic turkey dinner. But for many it also marks one of the first big four day weekends before the end of the year. And because of that very reason it usually starts off with a bang that has made Thanksgiving Eve one of the biggest nights of drinking and festivity. That’s no exception in Philadelphia and there are a lot of huge events going. Here’s a look at what you might want to consider.

WMMR Presents Gobblaroo 2009

Each year Philadelphia’s leading rock station hosts a series of Thanksgiving themed events at several different locations, and each event is hosted by their leading DJs. And this year is going to be no exception. The hosts of their popular morning show, Preston & Steve host comedian’s Dave Attell, Jeffrey Ross, and Greg Giraldo. Local music supporter Jaxon rallies Philly bands Ike, Jealousy Curve, Automatic Fire, and Zelazowa at the Theatre of Living Arts. Finally iconic DJ Pierre Robert hosts legendary rockers Beru Revu at World Cafe Live.
Dave Attell
Jaxon at TLA
Beru Revu

Phish live at Wachovia Center

Jam band legends Phish are set to wrap up their two night Wachovia Center debut on Thanksgiving Eve. Phish – comprising lead guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell – has released 11 studio albums as well as a series of 44 complete live concert CDs. Its series of 138 full concert downloads is currently available on livephish.com. the band have recently come off of a temporary hiatus, and haven’t missed a beat since.
Phish at Wachovia Center

Jim Breuer’s Thanksgiving Eve Throwdown

Uproarious funnyman Jim Breuer is no stranger to rock and has based most of his comedy routine around it. so it makes sense that 94.1 WYSP is hosting his performance at the Keswick Theatre. He is currently touring in support of his brand-new Comedy Central special Let’s Clear The Air. So it should be pretty huge.
Jim Breuer
Tickets

Way too many listings on Around Philly

Around Philly normally does a good job of keeping you in the know of special bar and lounge events. And for Thanksgiving Eve their your party hook up. Their listing includes Thanksgroovin’ at Denim, an all night grotto dance party at Gigi, and Vice:Thanksgiving Eve and Valanni. for their full listing check the rundown at the jump.
Around Philly Listing

Broadzilla’s Gobble Gobble Hey

Who better to come up with a Ramones themed Thanksgiving party then Broadzilla? the hit dance party DJs have been a role scoring big club nights at venues like The Barbary and Kung Fu Necktie. And tonight’s event at KFN should be huge!
Broadzilla DJs
Kung Fu Necktie

Fuzed Funk at Fluid Nightclub Featuring Utah Jazz

Luke Wilson AKA Utah Jazz, is one of the original liquid funksters. He started mixing Drum & Bass whilst still at school, inspired by LTJ Bukem & Alex Reece and his DJ career soon blossomed – randomly adopting the name ‘Utah Jazz’ from the US Basketball team to showcase his preference for the mid 90s ‘Jazz-Jungle’ sound.

In 2008, his debut album ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’ was released worldwide to both commercial and critical acclaim – cementing Utah Jazz’s position as one of the major cross-over D&B artists this side of the millennium. Pipped at the post by worthy winners Chase & Status, ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’ was also the 2nd highest placed Drum & Bass album in Mixmag’s famous 2008 Top 50 poll, with Pendulum coming in 3rd.

Released through Bryan G’s seminal V Recordings camp (the first home of Roni Size & DJ Marky) with radio and club support from the likes of Trevor Nelson, Zane Lowe, Annie Mac, LTJ Bukem, Fabio, Andy C, Goldie and Gilles Peterson – the global impact of ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’ has also now made Utah Jazz one of the most in demand selectors on the international D&B circuit.

Since the release of ‘It’s A Jazz Thing’, Utah Jazz has now joined the likes of High Contrast & Danny Byrd as one D&B’s leading remixers with reworks for Wiley (Atlantic Records / Warner), Tricky (Domino Records), Lethal Bizzle (Search & Destroy / V2), Jonny L (Nero Records), Serani (Island Records / Universal) & Yo Majesty.

He’ll also be joined by usual Fuzed Funk DJs Armen and Jason Magin; as well as emcees Armanni, Sharpness, and Mis-Ty.
Utah Jazz
Fluid Nightclub

This weekend, New Yorkers and Philadelphians are battling on three fronts.
In Baseball: On Saturday, Game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies will take place in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
In Basketball: Also on Saturday, the New York Knicks will be playing the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York
In Football: On Sunday, The New York Giants will be playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in the afternoon.
In Baseball Again: Then that very evening Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park, which is just a block away.