The South Street 89th Annual Easter Promenade

April 19, 2022 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

An Easter tradition returned to South Philadelphia for the first time since the start of the pandemic Sunday April 17, 2022, drawing hundreds of people excited to enjoy the festivities. The South Street Headhouse District (SSHD) returned with its 89th Annual Easter Promenade! Hundreds dressed up in their Sunday best, took photos with the Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail and grabbed delicious bites at some of South Street’s iconic restaurants.

The Easter Promenade, known for the extravagant Easter costumes, was led by Henri David, the fantastical Master of Ceremonies, also known for his exuberance and particular skill in throwing the most magnificent parties. The promenade hosted contests for people of all ages who wanted to dress up for the occasion. All contestants received an Easter bag with delicious goodies thanks to Frankford Candy. Nearly 200 infants, children, families and pets entered the contest for categories such as Best Dressed Family, Best Dressed Pet, Best Bonnet, and Best South Street Razzle Dazzle.

The Promenade ended at the new Headhouse Plaza (2nd and Lombard Streets) for the contest judging. The contestants of the Easter Promenade’s best dressed contest were judged by South Street business owners and friends such as Shannon Maldonado, Owner of Yowie on S. 4th Street, a SSHD business, Monica Monique, Owner of Oxymoron Fashion House on S. 4th Street, a SSHD business, Mark Squilla, Councilman of City Council’s First District, P.A. House Representative Mary Isaacson, and Jillian Pirtle, a Vocalist, Actress, and TV Personality.

Best Dressed Girl (Ages 6-10) – **Lake Bryant-Pressley**

Best Easter Bonnet – Terry Gsell and Luis Martinez

Winners received gift cards to Ham + Bone, Head House Books, Moon + Arrow, NEWSBOY Hats, Philly AIDS Thrift, Queen & Rook, Scoop DeVille, Spread Bagelry / Cozette Pizza, & YOWIE. Check out more photos Metro Philly, Phila Tribune and PCC IG Reels (it’s become a thing) Have a great day!!

Philadelphia

South Street: Puyero Venezuelan Flavor Celebrates Their Grand Opening With Free Dishes

March 16, 2017 by HughE Dillon

Simon A. Arends, Gil J. Arends and Manuela Villasmil announce the grand opening of Puyero Venezuelan Flavor at 524 S. 4th Street in South Street Headhouse District. This casual Venezuelan street food concept specializes in quick-serve arepas, patacones, and other incredibly delicious food. Dishes pair perfectly with tropical specialty drinks made in-house that are sweet and perfect for Philadelphia’s hot summer days. The dining room is fresh, colorful and vibrant with humorous proverbs that will make you laugh and music that will make you want to tap your feet. Grand opening festivities will include free giveaways between March 17-19th including arepas, churros and other signature Latin dishes. Puyero
* On Friday, March 17th, arepas are on the house! Between 11:30am to 1:30pm enjoy any style arepas from the menu. One per person. No purchase is required.

* On Saturday, March 18th, enjoy a free order of tequenos, yuca, tajadas de platano or mandocas with any purchase of an arepas or patacones.

* On Sunday, March 19th, enjoy a sweet ending to the weekend with free orders of churros.

Puyero
Friday also marks the first day at Puyero will open every day for lunch at 11:30am. Puyero also debuts their final opening menu featuring tasty Venezuelan street food – including arepas, patacones, buns, tequenos, yuca, tajadas de platano, mandocas, churros, marquesa, cilantro lemonade, chicha and papelon con limon.

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Puyero is a family affair – being designed and operated by brothers Simon and Gil, along with Gil’s wife Manuela. This is the first restaurant for all three young new restaurant owners. The menu is designed by Claudia Zamora, a Venezuelan chef living who is just as passionate about Venezuelan food and culture as the Simon, Gil and Manuela.
Puyero

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“We want to introduce rich flavors and combinations that people in Philly would never had thought of before,” said one of the three partners, Simon Arends. “We also want to showcase who Venezuelans are and as one of the different stories that come from Latin America.”

Puyero

Puyero currently seats 22 people inside, with expanded seating coming outside later in the spring. Starting this Friday, Puyero will open every day (Tuesday through Sunday) at 11:30am for lunch and stay open through dinner until 10:00pm Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
Puyero

The entire menu is available during lunch and dinner – with brunch options to come later in the spring. Delivery is now being offered through Caviar. Parking for Puyero is available at meter spots along 4th and South streets, or there are nearby parking lots in the District. The restaurant is in walking distance from Old City, Rittenhouse, Center City, South Philadelphia and the waterfront.

Puyero

DRINKS

Puyero also serves traditional sweet and tropical drinks, perfect for those hot South Street days (and nights):

* Papelon con limon – sugar cane sweetened water with lemon
* Chicha – a rice based, kind of shake with cinnamon
* Cilantro lemonade – a twist on the lemonade adding a touch of cilantro
* Tamarind juice – made from tamarind fruit with simple syrup.

Other juices and drinks will be added based on seasonal fruit selections available

Puyero

Puyero serves Venezuelan street food with a special focus on the arepa – the quintessential Venezuelan plate – and the patacon – a sandwich made from plantains. Savory sides include the Venezuelan favorite tequeños – cheese wrapped with dough which is later deep fried – which goes great with the house-made sauces. There is also the very richly flavored mandocas – a combination of corn flour, plantains and a hint of cinnamon topped with salty white cheese and cream. Plus, don’t miss the fried yucca served with guasacaca – an avocado based mix.

The green mayo is the kind of sauce that one might find when they are eating in street carts. Pink sauce sriracha, and chipotle ketchup are spicy twists on typical sauces used for traditional sides. Papaya hot sauce is sweet and spicy. “In Venezuela we like to put sauces on our food. We like to grab the container and spray all that sauce on sides (tequenos and pastelitos), arepas, empanadas, burgers, hotdogs, anything you can think of…we have four sauces right now,” said Simon.

Puyero

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For the full menu and any questions, please call (267)928-4584 or visit www.puyeroflavor.com. Reservations are not accepted at this time.

SPONSORED POST

Philadelphia

11th ANNUAL GREENFEST PHILLY IS TASTIER THAN EVER WITH NEW COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, EDIBLE BUGS, BEER GARDEN, ORGANIC FOODS AND MORE

September 8, 2016 by HughE Dillon

Clean Air Council’s 11th Annual Greenfest Philly presented by Toyota Hybrids returns to Headhouse Square (2nd and South Streets) on Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The tri-state region’s largest environmental festival and tastier than ever – with new cooking demonstrations with Miss Rachel’s Pantry, P’unk Burger and Revolution Taco, plus organic food vendors, free coffee from Joe Coffee, outdoor beer garden and edible bugs. Festivities will also include live music, group bike rides, free adult and kids’ yoga, hybrid vehicle test drives, handmade and green shopping, MOM’s Organic Market Kids’ Corner and a twenty-five foot rock wall. Admission is free.

Green

HIGHLIGHTS

Green

* Enjoy a tasty surprise as you sample edible bugs from Bug Yum including crickets on crackers and chocolate brownies made with flour made from ground bugs.

* Enjoy a rest and recharge station with refurbished chairs and furniture, free iced coffee from Joe Coffee and solar powered chargers.

*Make an upcycled succulent arrangement to display in your home with Beaucycled or seed bombs to plant in your garden with Green Philly.

*Arrive at Greenfest Philly emissions free with Go Philly Go and Kiddical Mass’ organized bike ride from Fitler Square.

Green

* Outdoor yoga with Three Queens Yoga led by Adriana Akintobi from 10:00am to 11:00am at 2nd and South streets stage.

* Shop for eco-friendly fashion, beauty, and home goods – including Neal’s Organic Yard Remedies body products and Philadelphia Independents locally crafted one-of-a-kind gifts.

* Purchase upcycled jewelry handmade art and crafts from eco-artisans such as Beaucycled and Modern Hex.

*Toyota Hybrids’ on-site showroom will feature their full line of hybrid vehicles. Festival goers will have the opportunity to test drive vehicles like the all new 2017 Prius Prime.

* Leave your ‘wheels’ with the complimentary bike valet courtesy of Philadelphia Insurance Companies.

* Free 30 minute rides and unlimited bike parking for those taking Indego bike share to the Festival.

* Clean out your closets and bring your clothing, accessories, toys, books and more to the Philly Swap at Greenfest Philly. Bring gently used clothing, toys and books for free entry into the swap area, or make a $5 donation (includes a free Philly Swap bag). Upon entry in the swap, you are free to roam and take what you’d like. Philly AIDS Thrift is donating the starting items for the swap, and will also be on hand with items from their retail space.

Family Fun

Green

COOKING DEMOS

For the first time, Greenfest will launch a new cooking series with top restaurants and chefs from around the city demonstrating their signature vegan and vegetarian dishes – and giving cooking tips using ingredients from the Headhouse Farmers’ Market. The line-up for this year will be:

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* Noon – Rachel Klein of Miss Rachel’s Pantry – savory cashew-ricotta dumpling with caramelized onion and grilled apples in thyme butter sauce.

* 1:00pm – Marlo Dilks of P’unk Burger and SliCE (whose organic location opens in Fishtown in September) – pulled Portobello BBQ Sandwich

* 2:00pm – Michael Sultan of Revolution Taco, Say Cheese Philly, Street Food Philly, Taco Mondo, 33rd Street Hospitality – Curried Cauliflower Tacos

BEER GARDEN

Enjoy sustainably brewed beer from Pennsylvania’s Weyerbacher brewery.
FOOD
Sample delicious, healthy, local and organic food from popular food trucks and local eateries.

*Nomad Pizza uses fresh, local, organic ingredients. Enjoy pizza fresh from their from their traveling wood-fired brick oven.

* Weckerley’s Ice Cream specializing in local seasonal flavors and transcendent ice cream sandwiches.

* Kung Fu Hoagies is an all vegetarian and vegan friendly food cart serving South and West Philadelphia. Hoagies, noodles and sides creatively inspired by traditional vegetarian Vietnamese food, served by friendly local Kung Fu addicts.

* Mompops makes vegan, allergen friendly ice-pops that are gluten free, nut free, dairy free and low calorie.

* Soy Cafe is hand crafted vegan baked goods, including cupcakes, donuts, cookies and whoopie pies.

* Follow Your Heart – Vegan cheese and vegenaise.

* Twisted Tail – Headhouse restaurant to serve local and seasonal food (and drinks) in extended outdoor cafe space

Green

FAMILY FUN
IN MOM’S Organic Market Kids’ Corner

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* Healthy Snacks from MOM’s Organic Market – Kids and parents are welcome to stop by MOM’s Organic Market’s booth for free samples and healthy snacks.

* Rock Climb from 10:00am to 4:00pm – Kids and adults can catch climbing fever and try their hand at scaling a 25 foot rock wall.

*Kids’ yoga throughout the day with Yoga Friends.

* Climate City – CUSP, a network of local organizations who engage the public on climate change issues, will create a special area called Climate City, where visitors can learn about the local impacts of climate change and what they can do about them. The area will feature hands-on activities and resources for visitors young and old to learn how to prepare for a hotter, wetter Philadelphia.

Green

* PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) will feature dogs and cats available for adoption, as well as give away information on volunteering.

* Pinwheel making activity for kids and information for parents about protecting the environment for future generations from Mom’s Clean Air Force.

* Mobile paint party to inspire the artist that lives in all of us. Kids can paint their own masterpiece with A Taste of Artistry.

LIVE MUSIC

Everyone knows the most sustainable music is grown right in your own backyard. Hitting the GreenFest Philly stage on Sunday, September 13, 2015 11:00am to 4:00pm is Philly’s best emerging bands.

SPONSORS

Clean Air Council’s Greenfest Philly is presented by Toyota Hybrids, with support from MOM’s Organic Market, Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY), Aversa PR & Events, South Street Headhouse District, ConsolidatedSolar.net, AVRS and Yelp.

(sponsored)

Philadelphia

LeBron James’ Cleveland Hustles Contest for Small Biz

August 11, 2016 by HughE Dillon

After winning “one for the Land,” LeBron James is looking beyond basketball to help a small, local business owner looking to take their business to the next level. ”Cleveland Hustles” is the new LeBron James/ CNBC show that could take your business to the next level.

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To celebrate the launch of ”Cleveland Hustles”, which premieres Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 10pm ET‪/PT, they’re giving brick-and-mortar small, local business owners across the country a chance to win the promotional package of a lifetime. The prize includes a social media endorsement from LeBron James, and promotion on CNBC TV, digital and social channels. In Philly there’s two ways to enter, online on Twitter/Instagram see instructions below.

Or on Friday head on over to Milk Boy 401 South St for an in person audition from 12PM to 3PM. Rules and instructions below.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Step 1: Create a 23-second video pitch answering the question, “How would my business uniquely benefit from a LeBron James social media endorsement?”
Step 2: Post your video on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #PitchLeBronContest

The perfect 23-second pitch tips:

Be memorable and show your passion!
Tell us what’s unique about your business
Keep it short! You have 23 seconds

Entries will be evaluated for originality and creativity by a judging panel. Participants may be contacted for additional information based on the quality of their video pitches. The contest entry period ends August 18, 2016 at 11:59pm ET. The winner will be announced online on August 23, 2016.

PRIZE

One local, small business owner will win a promotional package, which includes:

one (1) social media post from LeBron James
fifteen (15) on-air promotional spots mentioning the winning small business to air on CNBC
ten (10) lower-third promotional snipes mentioning winning small business to air on CNBC
five (5) social media posts mentioning winning small business across CNBC social media platforms
one (1) digital post mentioning winning small business on

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Businesses must have no more than 250 employees
Businesses must have a brick-and-mortar physical location
Business is not a franchise and does not service customers outside of its immediate local area (e.g., does not have a mail-order business or online store)
Contestants can only enter oncehttp://www.pitchlebroncontest.com/

EVENTS

As part of the “Cleveland Hustles” presents: #PitchLeBronContest, show host Bonin Bough is taking to the road and hosting mini-pitch sessions in Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. Small, local business owners will get a chance to make a pitch to Bonin and a guest judge onstage, and get some quick, in-person feedback. At some of the events, attendees will also have the chance to participate in live audience Q&A.

What to bring: Any products or props for your pitch, your friends and family, a good attitude!

Remember: you only have 23 seconds!

Come join us!

Philadelphia – Friday, August 12 – 12–3pm
MilkBoy
401 South St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(sponsored)

Philadelphia

PNK ELEPHANT Makes A Splash on South Street

July 12, 2011 by HughE Dillon 1 Comment

Affordable, classy, and stylish are not always words you would put together when you think of jewelery that is priced at $25 or less, but that is exactly what you’ll find on South Street at PNK Elephant.
Last month I attended the concrete and mortar store opening of PNK Elephant on South Street at 504 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The brain child of Blair Sandlain, who always liked the color pink as well as the beauty of elephants, joined with her friend “Cherry” Kijafa Frink, to open the store together.
Assisting the duo with the ribbon cutting is Philadelphia Eagles football player Michael Vick.
A few of his team mates and Cherry’s friends stopped by for supports, but also to pick up a few things. Jon Dorenbos told me that he encourages his wife Julie Dorenbos to buy from PNK Elephant, which has an online presence too, as the jewelery is very affordable and looks so classy. They have a men’s line too.
Special guest DJ K Black was in the building on the 1 & 2’s. Delicious hors d’oeuvre’s prepared by Philly’s own Christina’s Steakhouse; Cocktails were flowing…The” Cherry Kijafa” cocktail was a hit! There were also the most delightful PNKelephant custom accessory addict’s cupcakes from Ilene Miriam in the building. In addition to the high spirits and great networking, we offered our guest soothing spa manicures to compliment the experience. (Source)

Michael Vick and Kijfa Frink at the opening of the PNK Elephant on South Street. He’s rocking a bracelet from the collection.
ONE TO WATCH: young Tweety Elitou with family. She runs the site – Young, Hip and Chic.
(Disclosure to the family. I apologize. That evening I attended an event and it rained. My note pad fell in the water and many pages were smeared otherwise I would have your names. Thanks for understanding. I will include your names if you send them to me.)

Kijafa and friends toast to the success of PNK Elephant: L-R Julie Dorenbos, Susie Celek,
Get off the horn and get on over to PNK Elephant and get glamorous
PNK Elephant is planning another store they tell me. Hopefully it’ll be near you.
(Keith Cephus Photo above)