My good friend Emaleigh Doley will be talking about the amazing work she does with her sister, Ainé Doley, about what one neighborhood can do to change its fate on W. Rockland Street in Philadelphia. Yasmine Mustafa, organizer of the local chapter of GirlDevilopIt, a series of classes on web design and development that caters to people of a feminine persuasion by creating a safe and open space for learning how to make the internet happen, will be representing as well.

I’ve been happily composting with Bennett Compost for several months now, and I’m excited that more people will be hearing about this amazingly easy door to door service for sustainability & general do-goodery. And if you’ve been following along, I’m super jazzed about the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, which just recently announced it’s exciting new location. Darla & Justin are sweethearts, whom I absolutely adore and I know that the crowd will too!

I’ve long been a fan of the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia, and I’m excited about what Sarah Clark Stuart will be talking about. And ever since her talk at at TEDxPhilly, I’ve been excited about Diana Lind’s ideas for dismantling I-95 (an idea also championed by ignitephilly organizer Geoff Dimasi) in favor of extending the city limits “river to river” and taking back our city’s waterfront.

Here’s the exciting official line up for IgnitePhilly 9!

Part of a larger, worldwide network that entertains and educates people in short 5 minute bursts; this local group highlights great ideas coming to life in Philadelphia. These talks are a ’spark’ if you will, they are lightning fast and leave people with a new idea to mull over and talk about.

Tim Bennett of Bennett Composting
AJ Beyer Game Developer
Ali Blum of Kelly Writers House at UPenn
Sarah Clark Stuart of Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
Keya Dannenbaum of ElectNext
Emaleigh and Aine Doley of W. Rockland Street
Doogie Horner stand-up comedian
Darla Jackson & Justin Grant of the Sculpture Gym

Simon Kim of Immersive Kinematics at UPenn
Diana Lind Urbanist & Writer
Dave Martorana Developer & all around awesome dude
Varissa McMickens of Arts Rising
Jessica Moore of Philadelphia Cow Share
Yasmine Mustafa GirlDevlopItPhilly Organizer
Pam Selle Webivore
Andrew Simonet of Headlong Theater

Got a ticket to Ignite Philly 9 you can't use? Let @ignitephilly know, they'll help you match it up with someone who would love to go!

February 14, 2012 1:59 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@KaraLaFleur

Kara LaFleur

Stay Connected with IgnitePhilly!

Web: ignitephilly.org
Facebook: facebook.com/group
Twitter: @ignitephilly

InLiquid serves as a public hub for arts information and resources, both online and off while making the visual arts more accessible to a broader audience.

Get your tickets today & check out more info from InLiquid below!

InLiquid Annual Benefit 2012

Our annual silent auction benefit is InLiquid’s biggest fundraising event, and continues to grow in popularity, attracting a diverse audience of collectors, artists, art lovers, and professionals. Once again, it will be held in the vast Ice Box Project Space of the Crane Arts Building, located in the burgeoning New Kensington arts district just above Northern Liberties.

Young Professionals Preview Party
Thursday February 9, 6-9pm

VIP Preview Party & Main Event
Friday February 10, 6-10pm

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party
sponsored by The Food Trust
Tuesday, February 14, 6-9

 
Location: Icebox Project Space, Crane Arts
1400 N. American Street, Philadelphia [map]

We could use your help. Volunteer positions available for InLiquid's Annual Benefit v.12 Find out here: http://t.co/3CO9nZaL

February 1, 2012 10:37 pm via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@inliquidart

InLiquid

January 18th, 2012 is the largest online protest in history, aimed at stopping the internet censorship bills, SOPA & PIPA. Find out who is participating and how you can contribute and help spread the word at SopaStrike.com

Or learn more about what the hell everyone is talking about at AmericanCensorship.org:

Be sure to check out @leahrkauffman‘s “Firewall” Remix
(Say NO to #SOPA and #Protect-IP)

Google (who has blacked out their logo in support of the Internet Strike on January 18th, 2012) has also started a petition to “End Piracy, Not Liberty” which you can sign here:

So on January 18th, Consider blacking out your web presence, but by no means go silent. Make your voices heard by contacting your government. Occupy the Internet using Facebook, Twitter and other social media with hashtags such as #sopa #sopastrike #stopsopa and others to tell everyone that they messed with the wrong geeks!

We make your favorite websites. We give you instant access to news. We deliver your e-mail. We caption your lolcats. Do not fuck with us.

January 18, 2012 1:21 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@markjaquith

Mark Jaquith

Coworking for Artists: Create, Connect & Promote

Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 5:30pm

at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists,
237 South 18th Street, Suite 3a, Philadelphia, Pa 19103 [map]

Moderator: Thaddeus Squire, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia

Panelists: Darla Jackson, Philadelphia Sculpture Gym Dan Schimmel, Breadboard Kelani Nichole, little berlin & Indy Hall member

Join the Center for Emerging Visual Artists and CultureWorks for an exploration of the creative and practical advantages of belonging to a coworking community. Find out how you can benefit from the synergy, inspiration, talent and resources found in coworking spaces throughout Philadelphia.

$12.00 Registration is required. To reserve a space or to receive more information about
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists or Direct Dialogues Lecture Series, please contact Genevieve Coutroubis, by phone (215) 546 – 7775 x 11 or by email Genevieve@cfeva.org

In 2010, The John S & James L Knight Foundation launched a 3 year, $9 million initiative to fund innovation & engagement in the arts in Philadelphia. With only 3 rules, (the idea must be about the arts, the project must take place in or benefit Philadelphia & grant recipients must find funds to match Knight’s commitment) Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia grants funding to literally anyone, including individual artists, non-profit organizations, businesses, community groups, collaborations, etc, who can answer one simple question in 150 words or less:

What’s your best idea for the arts in Philadelphia?

55 finalists have officially been announced for the Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia in 2012. Among the names included in this diverse & exciting list are individuals and organizations that I’ve advocated for in the past as well as several that are entirely new to me, both sparking my curiosity and continuing my interest in Philadelphia’s vibrantly diverse arts and culture community. Winners will be announced later this Spring, and this is my top ten list of big ideas I hope to see become realities in the coming months.
 

Top 10 Knight Arts Challenge Finalists I’m Excited About

1. Little Berlin

To help transform the East Kensington neighborhood by turning an empty lot into an event space for musicians, art fairs and children’s workshops

2. Bearded Ladies Cabaret

To attract new audiences to theater – and use the medium as a way to explore politics, gender, sexuality and identity – through a series of original, late night cabarets

3. The Hacktory

To promote the use of technology in the arts by developing a corps of interactive artist teachers who will share their knowledge and expertise in programming and engineering with Philadelphia artists

4. David Clayton

To help residents fully experience the city’s two main waterways by creating a floating workstation along the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers where artists can interpret and explore the surroundings

5. Fleisher Art Memorial

To engage the community in hands-on art making by expanding the reach of a mobile studio where participants create projects inspired by their neighborhoods

6. Center for Emerging Visual Artists

To bring visual art to a wider audience by placing locally produced art in public advertising spaces in the same neighborhood where the piece was produced

7. Philadelphia Art Alliance

To re-imagine public space and civic life by organizing an all-night, free arts festival based on the Nuit Blanche/Bring to Light events in Paris, New York, Miami and other cities

8. Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund

To help transform neighborhoods by turning blacktop lots into art-laden skate parks

9. Moore College of Art & Design

To introduce the work of local visual artists and filmmakers to a wider audience by establishing an urban drive-in movie theater on the Parkway

10. The University of the Arts

To promote economic stability for the city’s cultural community by offering support to emerging creative businesses with pre-seed funding, mentorship programs and workshops
 

Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia 2012 Finalists

Fifty-five ideas for the Philadelphia arts have been chosen as finalists in the 2012 Knight Arts Challenge Philadelphia. 1,267 applicants answered our question: “What’s your best idea for the arts in Philadelphia?” A diverse group, including individual artists, artist collectives, community groups, jazz and classical music organizations, theater companies and educational institutions, offered a wide array of innovative ideas.
 

Submissions for the city’s easiest grant application will re-open next Fall.

What’s your big idea for the arts in Philadelphia?

Christmas trees are amazing resources for local green and sustainable practices

 
But you don’t have to take my word for it. The New York Times Green Blog posted an article about alternative uses for past-their-prime holiday greens in A Second Chance for Christmas Trees which covers sustainable practices for tree-tirement throughout the country. And a wide range of post-consumer uses for Christmas Trees are highlighted on the list of National Christmas Tree Association Recycling Programs which also produced the hilariously well written and incredibly informative 10 Biggest Myths about Christmas Trees which I for one thoroughly enjoyed. From mulch to vaccines, it’s amazing what something as simple as a Christmas Tree can do after the holidays!

When taking your tree to be recycled, make sure you send it out completely free of any decorations, wrapping, plastic or ties. Most local neighborhood run and organized treecyling efforts request a donation of $5 to offset costs of hauling or renting a wood chipper, which when you think about it is a total bargain considering the benefits your contribution will have on the environment and for your community as a whole. It’s also a good time to get to know your local community civic association and find out how you can get more involved in your community!

Saturday January 7th, 2012

Greenlimbs 2012 Tree-cycling Event in partnership with Queen Village Neighbors Association, Washington West Civic Association, Society Hill Civic Association, Bella Vista Neighborhood Association and South Street Headhouse District
Weccacoe Playground 400 block of Catherine 10am -1pm
Whole Foods Market 929 South Street 10am-4pm
Curbside pick up is available if reserved by January 4 at treecycling@greenlimbs.com

Passyunk Sq., E. Passyunk Crossing, Newbold Neighbors, and Lower Moyamensing Neighborhood Association Columbus Square Park 13th & Reed Streets 10am -4pm

NKCDC, Fishtown, ORCA, & Greensgrow Palmer Dog Depot E. Palmer St. on north side of Blair St. 9:30am-12:30pm BONUS electronics recycling drop-off location in partnership with eForce Ecycling. Check out the full list of accepted materials.

Northern Liberties Liberty Lands Park 3rd & Poplar 10am-4pm
Bartram’s Garden 54th & Lindbergh Blvd. 9:30am-12:30p
Marconi Plaza Broad & Oregon 1-4pm

UPDATE: UC Green and the University City District Clark Park 43rd and Chester 10am-4pm
Clark Park will also be running an ecycle program for all of your electronics & random junk.
This event was originally posted in error as taking place on Sunday, January 8th.
Please note that this event will be taking place on Saturday, January 7th

Sunday January 8th, 2012

Logan Square Neighbors the Boy Scouts parking lot 22nd & Winter 9:30am-12:30pm
Friends of Eastern State Penitentiary 22nd & Brown 1-4pm
Chestnut Hill Norwood Fontbonne School on Sunset Ave 9:30am-12:30pm
East Mt. Airy Neighbors Gabbie’s Garden on Chew Ave 1-4pm

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 through Saturday, January 14, 2012

Philadelphia 2012 Christmas Tree Recycling Program 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (any day but Sunday, you can bring your holiday greens to these designated Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers for responsible post-holiday Tree Recycling
  ❄   3033 South 63rd Street
  ❄   Domino Lane and Umbria Street
  ❄   State Road and Ashburner Street
For more information regarding Philadelphia’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program citizens may contact the Customer Affairs Unit at (215) 686-5560.

Super Sweet Interactive Map of 2012 Tree Recycling Locations

View 2012 Philadelphia Tree-cycling Locations in a larger map

Curbside Pickup Info

Don’t have a car, or are feeling daunted by the idea of hauling your own tree? No sweat. For a few extra bucks, these nice folks will come get your tree for you!

Bennett Compost is extending their (totally awesome) curbside compost pickup services to include tree transport on Friday January 6th for a totally reasonable $15 per tree. The deadline for requesting a pickup is this Thursday, January 5, 2012, First come first served. Send an email to info[at]bennettcompost[dot]com to organize a pickup or get more info about this or any of their door to door composting services, which are available all year long!

Greenlimbs 2012 Tree-cycling Curbside pick up is available on January 7th for an additional fee of $5 per wreath & $15 per tree and must be reserved by January 4 at treecycling@greenlimbs.com please include your name, address and place of purchase in your email.

Pedal Co-Op will be collecting Christmas trees on January 7th from residents located between 30th & 55th Streets for $10 per tree they will also take away any e-waste for recycling (contact them for ecycling rates). Please send an email to pedalcoop[at]gmail[dot]com to request a pick up or for more information about their services.

Both Cheltenham Township and Springfield Township will be offering curbside pick-up. So if you live outside the city limits, be sure to check your local municipal website for more info.

Did I miss anything? Or better yet, what do YOU do with your Christmas Tree after the holiday season has come and gone?

Whether you want a locally sourced, hand picked or to cut your own Christmas Tree, you have plenty of options in Philadelphia:

Greensgrow Farms

Douglas, Frasier & Balsam trees sourced from Lancaster & the Poconos range from table-top to 10 ft in height and cost $20 – $55. Greensgrow Farms is pleased to present their Holiday Bazaar featuring local, handmade gift ideas from some of the Kensington’s most talented crafters and artists, Saturday & Sundays in December. Greensgrow will also be offering a post-holiday Biodegradeable Treecycle Program. Woodchips will go to local dog park & Emerald Street Farm.

All the trees in stock were cut the week of Thanksgiving so they’re all fresh and all awesome

Greensgrow Farms 2501 East Cumberland St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Wednesday–Friday 1pm–8pm; Saturday 10am–4pm; Sunday 11am–4pm
Holiday Bazaar 11am-4pm December 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2011.
UPDATE: Christmas comes early at Greensgrow Farms: Monday & Tuesday 1-8pm ALL trees are now $25 while supplies last!

Urban Jungle

Local, Philadelphia based small business offering full-sized Frasier Firs & Table-top Douglas Firs from North Carolina ranging in price from $29 – $55.

All the best trees are produced in North Carolina, and we only sell the best here

Urban Jungle 1528 East Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Tuesday-Thursday 10am-6pm; Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday 10am-5pm

Get in the DIY Holiday Spirit on the Farm with
Pick Your Own Options Close to Home

Linvilla Orchards Choose & Cut Douglas Fir and some Canaan Fir for $59.99 as well as a wide array of precut options to choose from. Enjoy the farm’s Christmas Open House including visits with Santa & Evening Wassaling Caroling Hayrides.
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063-5499
Sunday-Wednesday 8am–6pm; Thursday-Saturday 8am-8pm

Varner Farms A beautiful selection of Canaan Fir, Douglas Fir, and White Pine priced by foot ranging between $6-$11 depending on the variety. Fresh cut trees are harvested once a week throughout the season or cut your own tree Monday thru Saturday from 8am to 4:30pm Enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate or hot cider, as you listen to Christmas Carols and choose your tree. Tractor wagons & teams of Belgian Draft horses will take you to cut your own Christmas tree weather permitting.
746 South Trappe Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm

Real Christmas Trees benefit the environment. The farms that grow Christmas Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that doesn’t support other crops.

-National Christmas Tree Association

 
Tuckamony Farms Choose & Cut Trees are $59. Pre-cut Trees are priced by height, beginning at $60 for a 7′ to 8′ tree. Currently offering 8 species of conifers: White Pine, Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir Fraser Fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Grand Fir.
6320 Upper York Road, New Hope PA 18938
Tuesday-Friday: 10am–5pm; Saturday-Sunday: 9am-5pm

Maple Acres Farm Be sure to check out their decorations during the Chestnut Hill House Tours. On the farm, or at the farmstand, Maple Acres Farm will bring the farm to you in Chestnut Hill.
2656 Narcissa Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm

Do you have a great tradition or favorite spot for getting your Green Christmas Tree? Share it in the comments below!

I once shot a turkey clear across my kitchen. So trust me when I say, I’ve learned many of these pro-tips the hard way, so you don’t have to:

Pro-tip #1 Brining. Trust me, it’s worth it.

I generally make my brine the weekend before Thanksgiving and leave the bird in its salty flavorful bath for 16 hours prior to dressing to obtain maximum flavor & juiciness. If you decide to go the brining route, be sure to rinse the turkey & pat dry before getting started, otherwise it will all be waaay to salty. Seriously though, if you forget to rinse out the cavity, your stuffing will soak all of that up (and yes, I say this from experience).

Directions: Throw all this in a pot over medium-high heat, bring to a boil & stir to dissolve. Remove from heat and let cool. 16 hours before roasting place turkey in a 5-gallon bucket and combine Brine Base with 1 gallon heavily iced water, and pour over bird. Flip turkey about halfway through brining. Be sure to rinse & pat dry before dressing.

Pro-tip #2 Trussing (or as I like to call it, Turkey Yoga)

I use a rack, the kind you can angle, this helps keep the whole Turkey situation out of the soon to be gravy juices below. I usually put aromatics (1 sliced red apple, 1/2 sliced onion, 1 broken cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary sprigs, fresh sage) in the neck cavity and on the bottom of the pan, in between the turkey & the metal rack, along with some chicken stock * a few glugs of white wine to help make more gravy & keep the heat moist.

There’s also this turkey yoga move where you tuck the wings under the bird to help keep it even/upright & keeps the wings from burning, I always sort of hear Martha Stewart’s voice when I’m arranging the bird for some reason, but Julia Child would also be an entirely appropriate internal monologue for this scenario.

I also make enough stuffing to have extra, because there’s never enough stuffing if you rely on the bird alone. I highly recommend the all around added crunchiness of Stuffin’ Muffins (this sounds fancier than it is, just portion stuffing into cupcake tins). Added bonus, they only take about 15-20 minutes to cook (much less than doing a massive stuffing casserole). If you’re going to make stuffing outside the bird, make sure you moisten it with a bit of chicken stock to keep it from drying out too much.

For the record, and from my personal experience, this is all best done before you do the butter step… Just trust me on that one.

Pro-tip #3 Resist the Urge to Baste!

Since skin is meant to be waterproof, basting the bird on the outside during cooking doesn’t really help keep the meat moist, it just keeps the skin from cracking/burning. You can do this prep step while you’re making the brine, and it will be good to go the day of: leave some butter out to soften (about half a stick should do). Mush softened butter with garlic & poultry seasoning (or whatever you are using to season your stuffing to help marry the flavors) & refrigerate. On the day of roasting, carefully loosen the skin with your fingers by running your hand between the skin and the meat, it will pull apart quite easily (try not to tear skin if at all possible, but it’s not the end of the world). Spread the butter mixture under the skin, if you can get fresh sage, you can spread whole leaves out under the skin as well. If you’re crafty, you can make designs with them. Fancy!

One thing I should mention is that this tends to make the bird very slippery. I once shot a turkey clear across my kitchen by accident. (Thankfully it skidded across the counter and landed in the sink, but it was a relatively unpleasant experience nonetheless). But in any event, be sure to put the bird on the rack in your roasting pan BEFORE buttering ‘er up. To avoid burning the outside of the turkey, make a tent out of aluminum foil to put over your bird to help keep in moisture & heat while deflecting direct heat to the skin both of which will also mean you have to check on it less. It’s win-win-win!

Sidenote: While I generally don’t like cooking with tinfoil, the aluminum doesn’t actually touch anything you’ll be eating, and it really does help with the whole process.

Pro-tip #4 Cook by Temperature

Get a Probe Thermometer, really, it’s the 21st century and you just have no excuse. Plus, this way, you just stick it in the thickest part of the bird, (I generally go for the opposite side from the stupid button) set the temp alert button & continue on with a stress free meal prep! This style usually runs around $20-$30, but it is so worth it, I use it to cook any kind of meat without any of the stress of over cooking! The government says turkey is safe at 165, but you should be golden at 155 *F (remember, the sheer mass of the bird means that it will continue to cook after you’ve taken it out of the oven by as much as 10 degrees). Remember, the fastest road to dry-town is fluctuating heat (such as opening the door for basting & checking the temperature) I will check on the whole she-bang maybe 2-4 times during the whole process, but I really do try and keep it to a minimum.

Pro-tip #5 Turkey Stock, aka “Liquid Gold”

Turkey is an amazingly healthy lean protein so why not take advantage of all it has to offer by stocking up on delicious, nutritious, Turkey Stock, or as I like to call it LIQUID GOLD! Making the most of this economical extravaganza couldn’t be easier! (If you’re feeling industrious, you can start this process on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and if you have enough time (and large pots) you can even make Turkey Chili the same day.)

It’s best to keep the meat on the bones for as long as possible during post-production storage to help keep it from drying out. So after about 3-4 days of turkey well.. everything, start stripping all of the meat off of the bones (this will be way more than you would expect, if any of it seems undercooked, you can just throw it in to the stock pot with the bones). Place the bones in your biggest stock pot, it’s okay if you need to break them up to fit, in fact this will help release the magical healing powers of marrow into your homemade stock.

You can also throw in any whole fresh herbs on hand (sage, thyme, rosemary, etc). Add water 4 inches below top of pot and place over medium high heat, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally to make sure everything is integrated and nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pot.

After you’ve turned off the stove, give it some time to cool. I strain mine twice and use a complicated series of large metal mixing bowls and both a colander (for the first round) and a mesh sieve (for the second round). The act of pouring & straining the liquid will help to cool it down, you want to make sure it is fully cooled before placing in your storage containers. I once melted some tupperware, due to an error in timing judgement & the molten lava qualities inherent in this process in what we lovingly refer to in my house as the “Great Turkey Stock Flood of ’09″.

Speaking of tupperware, make sure you have plenty! I get restaurant grade quart & pint plastic containers from the Italian Market, but if you have the skills you could also go the canning route. I briefly considered trying it this year after reading Pressure Canned Ham Stock on Food in Jars, but think I might need to tackle learning how to can before tackling advanced techniques.

Bonus Pro-tip Martha Stewart & Snoop Dog Make Mashed Potatoes

Happy Holidays!

Do you have a time-honored Turkey-Pro-tip? Feel free to post them in the comments!

Geekadelphia 2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Buy Local

When: December 1, 2011 – January 1st, 2012
Where: Philadelphia!

It’s time for our annual Geekadelphia Gift Guide! Hooray! This year’s guide features a wealth of local wares. From boutiques in Rittenhouse & Northern Liberties to online Etsy shops, bakeries that whip up Ron Swanson cookies to stores in Chinatown that sell copyright infringing paper lanterns. The guide is pretty diverse, dishing out a little bit of everything from a number of Geekadelphia contributors. Have a look and enjoy.
 

Uwishunu Holiday Gift Guide

When: November 22, 2011 – January 1st, 2012
Where: Neighborhoods all over Philadelphia!

It’s officially gift-giving holiday heyday, and there’s no time like the present to stock up on Philadelphia-made crafts, clothes, food and more for the lucky ones on your list. Enter: uwishunu’s holiday gift guide, complete with the events you can rely on for gift-shopping, the best places to find local gifts and our curated selections for specific finds from each.
 

Woodmere Art Museum Expanded Holiday Shop

When: November 12, 2011 – January 1st, 2012 (Open during regular museum hours)
Where: Located at Bells Mill Road in Chestnut Hill,
9201 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118

Starting Saturday, November 12, the Woodemere Art Museum Store which features an array of items by local artists including distinctive jewelry, functional ceramics, and textiles will expand into the Antonelli Gallery to make room for our extraordinary array of hand-selected and handcrafted items, many made by local artists. Museum members receive a 10%-15% discount on store purchase.

Stag & Doe Nights

When: Wednesdays December 8,15,22 6-9 p.m.
Where: Chestnut Hill, shops on Germantown Ave
Chestnut Hill will truly shine on our special Wednesdays nights in December as our one-of-a-kind shops open their doors and welcome you with wonderful gift ideas, refreshments and personalized, friendly service… this year, leave the stress of impersonal mall shopping behind and treat yourself to the magic of Christmas in Chestnut Hill.
 

Philadelphia Produces Original Design (P.POD)

When: November 11–December 31, opening night party November 11, 5–8 p.m­­­.
Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

This holiday season, art lovers stumped to find gifts for everyone on their list will find one-stop shopping at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Store with eclectic finds showcased at Philadelphia Produces Original Design (P.POD), a pop-up bazaar created by artist, designer, author/illustrator, and proud Philadelphian Alex Stadler. P.POD will only showcase items designed and/or produced in Philadelphia.

This community-oriented pop-up store will occupy a 300 square foot footprint within the Museum Store’s central retail space, selling Philadelphian products ranging from $30 to $3,000. A section of the store, called P.POD Pantry, will feature delicious and handsomely packaged local brands like Metropolitan Granola, John and Kira’s Chocolates, and La Copine limited edition bourbon cider syrup and chocolate pretzel toffee.
 

2011 Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar

When: Saturday, November 19th, 11-6pm & Sunday, November 20th, 11-6pm
Where: 23rd Street Armory, 22 S. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Over 55 local & national artists have been chosen to set up shop & sell their wares inside the 23rd Street Armory. Shoppers can expect high quality handmade goods that reflect the unique & often quirky aesthetic of Art Star. Art Star has hand selected a diverse collection of artists that create anything & everything, including housewares, paper goods, dolls, prints, ceramics, clothing, accessories, paintings/drawings, sculpture, and many other one-of-a-kind curiosities. All items have been handmade from a variety of mediums that include fabric, clay, glass, wood, paper & much more.
 

Holiday Farmers’ Markets!

When: Wednesday, November 24, 2011
Where: Seven Regular Farmer Market Locations.
See Website for full list

For everything on your Thanksgiving shopping list: Seven of our farmers’ markets will be open the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Note that Clark Park and Headhouse will not be open the weekend following Thanksgiving, but will be back in December.
 

Small Business Saturday

When: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Where: Local & Independent shops near you!

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there’s the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small on Nov 26th. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge. More than 200 organizations have already joined American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. Find & Support YOUR local small business by using the official Small Business Saturday Facebook App.
 

Go West Craft Fest

When: Saturday, December 3, 11am-5pm
Where: The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. Philadelphia PA 19104

GO WEST! Craft Fest’s Holiday show is December 3rd, 2011 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street. Forty of Philadelphia’s most amazing artisans purvey their finest handmade wares– unique accoutrements, ornaments & jewelry, art originals & reproductions, cozy hand-stitched woolens, toys, soaps, candles– special holiday gifts for the ones you treasure most. Made locally and with love, presented with pride in West Philadelphia.
 

2011 NoLibs Holiday Shopping Spree

When: Saturday, December 3, 11-7pm & Sunday December 4, 11-7pm
Where: Participating shops from 2nd to 3rd,
from The Piazza to Spring Garden

Here’s How it works: First Participating Store: Customer receives 10% off their purchase & a spree card w/ one sticker on it Second Store: Customer shows spree card w/ 1 sticker & gets 15% off their purchase & a Second sticker. Third Store: Customer shows spree card w/ 2 stickers & gets 20% off their purchase & a third sticker. Once the customer’s spree card has 3 stickers, they will receive 25% off at any additional participating store that they shop at throughout the event.
 

The Punk Rock Flea Market Holiday Edition

When: Sunday, December 11, 2011 10am-5pm
Where: 461 N. 9th Street, Philadelphia PA 19123

300+ tables of vendors selling old records, clothes, art, music, food, junk, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and lots of other stuff! For this “Holiday Edition” we will be hosting a record fair across the street at
the Starlight Ballroom. $3 Entry Donation For The Public.
 

Crafty Balboa Holiday!

When: Saturday, December 17, 2011 11-5
Where: Broad Street Ministry
315 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Looking for the perfect handmade holiday gifts?!
Look no further! Crafty Balboa Holiday is coming your way December 17th from 11am to 5pm. 50 Amazing Artists and Crafters! Don’t forget to come early! The first 50 shoppers in the doors will receive a Crafty Balboa tote filled with goodies from our vendors!
 

3rd Annual Art Dash at Little Berlin

When: Saturday, December 17, 2011 4-8pm
Where: little berlin in the Viking Mill Courtyard
2430 Coral Street, Philadelphia 19125

DASH from 4-8PM Give gifts! Collect Artwork! Support alternative artwork in Philadelphia by coming to the Art Dash at little berlin. All pieces $25 EACH!
ALL WORK IS HUNG ANONYMOUSLY
we will reveal the artist’s information at the time of purchase.
 

Greensgrow Holiday Bazaar

When: Saturday & Sunday, December 10-11 & 17-18 2011 11am-4pm
Where: 2501 East Cumberland St, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Looking for local, handmade gift ideas from some of the neighborhood’s most talented crafters and artists? Make a dent in your Christmas shopping at Greensgrow’s Holiday Bazaar! The nursery is bursting with fresh, local holiday greens and gifts. We’ve got a variety of Pennsylvania trees in stock, garlands & wreaths, fragrant rosemary trees & table top evergreens, holiday decorations & ornaments as well as winter flowering plants.
 

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

When: December 1 through Christmas, 2011
Where: Philadelphia Area

The environmental impact of live vs. fake Christmas trees has been an ongoing debate, but environmentalists the world over agree that real trees win out every time… I recently learned that the seven year conifer cut cycle makes Christmas Tree farms naturally sustainable, and that many local farms are family owned and multi-generational, which makes sticking to local and sustainable practices, while supporting small businesses even easier this holiday season! Whether you want a locally sourced, hand picked or to cut your own Christmas Tree, you have plenty of options in Philadelphia.
 

Am I missing anything? Let me know in the comments!

TEDxPhilly: The City
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
All day! 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Temple Performing Arts Center

TEDxPhilly is a unique, one-day multi-disciplinary conference championing great ideas. The 2011 conference theme is The City. Philadelphia is the point of departure, but the conversation will travel beyond its borders. TEDxPhilly will bring together engaging speakers, performers, participants and exhibitors to deconstruct, decipher and explore some of the greatest challenges, innovations, concepts and realities that shape and are shaped by cities and their inhabitants.

We hope to spark curiosity, encourage reflection, enable authentic connections and motivate attendees to engage with their surroundings in ways they had previously unimagined.

-Roz Duffy, TEDxPhilly organizer.

What does The City mean to you?

Cities have languages unto themselves – built from points of intersection where disparate nodes converge and emerge from collective stories of times past, present and future. Subterranean. At and above ground. Stop. Go. Pause. The City is living and breathing.

TEDxPhilly 2011 speakers:

Glen J. Abrams, Dr. Jeffrey Brenner, Keya Dannenbaum, Nijmie Dzurinko, Janet Echelman with Susan Weiler, Jon Foy, Haas&Hahn (Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn), Amy Hillier, Yael Lehmann, Diana Lind, Marisa McClellan, Rich Medina, Ethan Nguyen, Jen Pahlka, Philly Youth Poetry Movement with Gregory Corbin and Denice Frohman, Inga Saffron, Saturn Never Sleeps with King Britt and Rucyl, Spiral Q Puppet Theater, R. Eric Thomas, Stanford Thompson & Play On, Philly!, Youngjin Yoo, and Michael Zaleski.
Learn more about the speakers at tedxphilly.com/speakers.
The full schedule is available at tedxphilly.com/attend/schedule.

Will YOU Be There?

TEDxPhilly Promo from Free Film Collective on Vimeo.

Are you ready to be inspired? Attend TEDxPhilly!

The 2011 TEDxPhilly conference will be held from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Temple Performing Arts Center, located at 1837 North Broad Street. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase at tedxphilly.com. Admission is $100 and includes an entire day of TEDxTalks, catered lunch, refreshments and a post-event reception.

Group Rate!

Save 20% when you buy 4 (or more) TEDxPhilly tickets
before Midnight on Friday, November 4th, 2011

Stay Connected with TEDxPhilly!

Web: tedxphilly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tedxphilly
Twitter: @tedxphilly