PHILADELPHIA — FYI Philly anchors Ducis Rogers and Alicia Vittorelli check out last-minute shopping ideas and holiday light shows.
The Philadelphia Christmas tree at the NRG base at City Hall
The massive Concolor White Fir now burning at City Hall was grown by Yule tree Farms, a third-generation family farm in western New York.
It’s the centerpiece of City Hall’s north apron, dubbed the Wawa Holiday Plaza for the season. It features a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, food vendors and the NRG House, where you can learn about NRG products and offers.
There’s a merry-go-round on the City Hall patio, and if you venture to Dilworth Park on the west side, you can take a ride at the Rothman Rink, then warm up and refuel in the cozy Rothman Cottage with a menu full of hearty comfort food, cocktails and hot chocolate and cider.
Dilworth Park’s conservatory has become a popular spot for selfies with thousands of twinkling lights, deer and a huge gazebo overhead.
Santa will be coming to the Winter Garden on December 3rd, the same day as the Visit Philadelphia Holiday Parade.
It’s a lighted parade with lighted floats, balloons and marching bands from eight states.
It will start at 2nd and Market streets and run west to City Hall.
1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
The Philly Vacation Experience
West Philadelphia pop-up gives minority businesses a boost
“There’s so much talent in our community, we really wanted to highlight that,” said Daria Williams, senior director of The Enterprise Center, which recently opened a Black Holiday Pop-Up Shop at 52nd and Ludlow Streets.
The building belongs to the Enterprise Center. As a non-profit organization, the center is focused on supporting minority-owned small businesses. These are the types of businesses featured in the pop-up window where The Enterprise Center is running for the first time.
“The store features more than 40 black-owned businesses, from jewelry to art and clothing to candles,” Williams said.
All of the vendors are local and are now able to sell their wares in downtown West Philadelphia.
The pop-up is located along the once-thriving 52nd Street corridor.
“Historically, this has been a black-owned business corridor,” Williams said. “Part of our hope and part of our work is to bring that back to 52nd Street.”
Earlier this fall, the Enterprise Center sent out an invitation to apply to suppliers. More than 80 applied and just over 40 were given places in the pop-up shop. These sellers do not have to pay rent for the premises.
“It’s free for them to participate,” Williams said. “They get most of the revenue, and we take a small portion for operating costs.”
The store uses a barcode system to call each seller of a product. The items are different, but the goal of the pop-up shop is the same: to give dozens of minority-owned businesses a “home” for the holidays.
The Black Holiday Pop-Up Shop is open Tuesday through Sunday at 52nd and Ludlow Streets. Opening hours are as follows:
Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m
Decorated Dining: Tinsel, Craftsman Row, Taqueria Amor
Tinsel downtown is quickly becoming an annual tradition.
It’s a pop-up bar decked out floor-to-ceiling with holiday knick-knacks. Everywhere you look, you will see something different.
The space is specially designed for photography.
This year saw a new augmented reality projection designed as a stained glass window with constantly moving holiday iconography.
While the eye candy is a big part of the experience, Tinsel is a bar that has 12 themed cocktails to choose from.
116 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107
267-687-2580
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Craftsman Row Saloon Jeweler’s Row is adorned with more than 2,000 hand-applied ornaments, as well as thousands of yards of garland.
Known for their over-the-top milkshakes, the All I Want for Christmas is eggnog, Bassett’s ice cream and gingerbread, topped with cookies, lollipop, green and red sour strips and crushed mint!
There are also 10 themed cocktails on the menu, each with a different spirit.
Mistle Toast is brandy with rosemary, spiced rum, cinnamon and vanilla.
Blue Holiday is a tequila based on pineapple, blue curacao, lime and rosemary wood with powdered sugar that resembles snow.
The food will cheer you up, too, with appetizers like Brussels sprouts and pigs in a blanket.
A “Christmas Burger” is an entire Christmas dinner served in the form of sandwiches. It’s two beef patties, fries, toppings, cranberry sauce and cheese on a potato roll.
Craftsman Row Saloon | Facebook | Instagram
112 S. 8th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-923-0123
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Takveriya Amor in Manayunk turned into “Señor Grinch’s” with Christmas-themed sections.
Along with the nostalgic decor, there is a projector that plays clips of classic Christmas movies.
The Home Alone-themed Wet Bandit Bar features nine festive cocktails available in a single glass and pitcher.
The most popular margaritas are Grinch-a-Rita and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Margarita.
Cindy Lou’s Spicy Yo-Hoo is Taqueria Amor’s take on a white Russian with vodka and a slab of Kahlua mixed with the classic childhood favorite Yo-Hoo.
You can also enjoy Mexican favorites like fish tacos, chicken taquitas and nachos.
Philly cheesesteak quesadillas are also on the menu.
Takveriya Amor | Facebook | Instagram
4410 Main St. Philadelphia, PA 19127
267-331-5874
Chester County offers seasonal recreation options
It’s easy to spend a day in Chester County with holiday tours of museums, shopping and dining.
The Winterthur Festival is an annual tradition at this historic house, museum and garden, where displays are decorated throughout the former H.F. Du Pont home.
The gift shop has several rooms that could be a museum in themselves, and there is also a cafe.
At the Brandywine Museum of Art, the galleries draw attention year-round, but every December since 1971, they’ve held a fundraiser selling “creatures.”
The decorations are handmade by museum volunteers and conservationists and consist only of natural materials – such as pine cones, grass and a plant called “tsalka”. They were displayed at the Smithsonian Museum and decorated the White House tree in 1984.
Wellington Square Bookshop in Exton is the dream shop of owner Sam Hankin, a lifelong reader.
The space is designed to browse books, find eclectic gifts, and grab a drink or bite to eat. Atlas Obscura recognized this store as one of the best bookstores in the world.
This store and others are located in Exton’s Eagle View Shopping Center, which features restaurants and a patio decked out in holiday tree lighting.
Holiday in Winterthur | Facebook | Instagram
5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19735
302-888-4600
The Winterthur holiday ends on January 8, 2023
Museum of brandy wine | Facebook | Instagram
One Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610-388-2700
Wellington Square Books Facebook | Instagram
549 Wellington Square, Exton, PA 19341
610-458-1144
Christmas at Longwood Gardens is 39 miles of lights, holiday fun
Christmas in Longwood is a stunning display of botanical splendor that is the theme of this year’s show.
There are 550,000 lights, which Public Affairs Officer Patricia Evans said would stretch 39 miles if placed end to end.
Inside the tropical conservatory, you can bask in two acres of gardens with towering trees sparkling with botanical ornaments and 3,000 poinsettias.
The music room was transformed into a flower shop with couture floral dresses designed by Drexel students. Every evening there is live organ music and live artwork.
When the sun goes down, the grounds are transformed into a dazzling spectacle of lights, with fountains dancing to holiday music, more than 150 illuminated trees and a new light tunnel.
Christmas in Longwood |Website | Facebook | Instagram
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pa. 19348
Until January 8; Time tickets.
Holiday light shows around Philadelphia
If you’re looking for a holiday light show for the whole family, we’ve got three must-see displays around town.
An electric spectacle in Franklin Square | Instagram | Facebook
200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA
The exhibition will last until February 26, 2023
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo | Instagram | Facebook
3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
The exhibition will last until January 7, 2023
Decorate the hall with a light show | Instagram | Facebook
1 S 15th St (West Side of City Hall), Philadelphia, PA 19102
The exhibition will last until January 1, 2023
The Blue Man is coming to town for the holidays
The holidays are always a big time for Broadway.
Children are out of school, so people come into town to shop, dine and see shows.
That’s why you’ll always find a family favorite playing in the week between Christmas and New Years.
This year it’s the Blue Man Group.
We headed north to the Big Apple to catch them in action.
Blue Man Group – Kimmel Cultural Campus
December 27-31
Miller Theatre
250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
SHOW ADDITIONS
The exhibit complex at the Greater Philadelphia Exposition Center in Ox was transformed into a winter wonderland with 1.2 million lights.
There’s the Mistletoe Market for some festive shopping, Tinsels Lodge and Pub for a cup of festive cheer and a floodlit dance floor for the kids to burn off some energy.
Santa and Mrs. Claus come here every night, and Gritty also makes a special appearance. Car Wednesdays are dedicated to dogs. In addition, there is an ice rink with real ice and a 160-foot ice slide.
Until December 31
Fair at the Greater Philadelphia Exposition Center
100 Station Avenue, Oaks, Pa. 19456
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During the holiday season, Chestnut Hill’s more than 125 independent shops stay open late on Wednesdays as part of their annual Stag and Stag Nights.
In the bookstore booked. you can give the gift of reading in a number of ways.
The store is partnering with North Philadelphia publisher Tree House Books for the launchBranching out with books. For every desktop book, they bought and booked. donate a board book to a child in need.
Buyers can also donate a gently used board book and receive 15% off their purchase.
While on the hill, you can also stop at the Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway
It covers a quarter acre with 11 railroad loops and seven trolley lines and miniature versions of some of Philadelphia’s historic buildings created from plant material.
booked.| Website |Facebook | Instagram
8511 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118
267-900-2999
Morris Arboretum | Facebook | Instagram
Until December 30
10.00-16.00 daily, 430-20.00, December 18 and the 23rd
100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118
215-247-5777
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For the first time, Disney On Ice invites families to experience the magical adventures of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Frozen and Encanto.
You can sing along to your favorite songs as you watch your friends from Arendelle and the mountain town in Columbia perform world-class ice skating and stunning aerial acrobatics.
Disney On Ice presents Frozen and encanto | Facebook | Instagram
December 25-31
Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148
215-336-3600
