November 30, 2022 — ’Tis the season for ultra-festive holiday happenings in and around the Philadelphia region! We’ve got the scoop on hyper-seasonal and themed events including pop-up markets, photos with Santa, Christmas Tree and Hanukkah Menorah Lightings, and much more, from our friends at Stella of New Hope, Occasionette, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Char & Stave, Xfinity Live!, and The Twisted Tail.
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Stella of New Hope, Bucks County’s modern American restaurant overlooking the Delaware River helmed by acclaimed Executive Chef Michael O’Halloran, invites four-legged furry companions and their humans to its al fresco second-floor patio for free holiday pet photos with Santa Paws — errrr — Claus on Sunday, December 11 from 2-4pm. Mr and Mrs. Claus will be situated in front of Stella’s beautiful large wood burning fireplace adorned in festive decor ready for dog moms and dads to snap as many photos as they’d like. While photos with Mr. and Mrs. Clause are free, the suggested donation amount is $10 to benefit ACCT Philly, a local animal rescue working to find lovable pets a fur-ever home.
Hours of operation: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 4 – 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 4 – 10pm, and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 2pm
50 S Main Street | (267) 740-2691 | www.stellanewhope.com
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Occasionette, the independent, woman-owned, and operated gifts and goods retailer known for insanely creative and inspired gifting, has expanded operations this holiday season with a fifth brick-and-mortar location in the form of an all-new pop-up shop inside of worKS in Kennett Square, PA, boasting holiday-centric gifts, goods, wares, jewelry, home décor, greeting cards, and much more. Folks of all ages can visit worKS, housed in a a renovated mid-century garage, to peruse Occasionette’s thoughtfully and uniquely curated holiday items, available now through the end of 2022.
For those unable to visit Kennett Square, Occasionette offers an extensive selection of gifts and goods available via the online store as well as in-person at the freshly-transformed storefronts in Chestnut Hill, East Passyunk Avenue, and Collingswood, NJ.
worKS | 432 S Walnut St, Kennett Square, PA | www.workskennettsquare.com
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East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID), home to more than 160 independently owned businesses in South Philadelphia, is celebrating the holiday season with the return of its annual Deck The Ave, a host of spirited events, entertainment, shopping, and more, happening through the duration of 2022. Highlights include the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held at The Singing Fountain (East Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street) on Thursday, December 1 from 5 – 7pm with celebratory sounds of Coppin Middle School HOME Band as well as photos with Santa which encourages both children and four-legged furry pals to snap pictures with Santa at no cost. Additional opportunities for photos with Santa will occur at The Singing Fountain on Saturday, December 3 from 12:30 – 2:30pm, and Sunday, December 4 from 2 – 4pm, in addition to Thursday, December 8 from 5 – 7pm (pet-focused) at Urban Jungle.
Further Deck The Ave festivities include the Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at the Singing Fountain on Sunday, December 18 at 5pm, Letters to Santa available to mail at East Passyunk Avenue’s North Pole Mailbox (11th and Tasker), Nice Thing Handmade’s 12th Annual Ornament Show boasting more than 30 participating local artists, Second Saturday Shop and Stroll/Hot Chocolate Crawl on Saturday, December 10, and pop-up music and entertainment by East Passyunk Opera Project and more on various dates.
For more information on Deck The Ave and East Passyunk Avenue’s holiday happenings, click HERE.
For a complete list of businesses along East Passyunk Avenue, go to visiteastpassyunk.com and follow EPABID on the channels below:
Facebook.com/eastpassyunk | Twitter: @EPassyunkAve | Instagram: @eastpassyunk
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Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, the upscale lifestyle hotel nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is hosting its first ever Holiday Makers Market on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, December 4 from 10 am to 4 pm. Holiday shoppers can browse dozens of Philadelphia-area artisans and creators offering a broad range of giftable items such as jewelry, clothing, bath bombs and soaps, ceramics, prints and more. A live DJ will be spinning holiday vinyl and attendees can enjoy complimentary cups of hot chocolate (boozy options available for attendees 21+ for an additional price) from the Hot Chocolate Bar courtesy of in-house restaurant, Patchwork.
1620 Chancellor St | (215) 985-1234 | www.hyatt.com
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Assembly Rooftop Lounge, The Logan Hotel’s year-round swanky rooftop cocktail bar and lounge, has once again transformed into Alpine Heights at Assembly, a modern ski-lodge inspired pop-up boasting hot cocktails, comfort food, themed décor, and blankets galore from Friday, November 18, 2022 to Tuesday, February 28, 2023. New surprises for 2022 include a Pizza Bar on the West Deck, featuring an all-new Ooni Pizza Oven, which will turn out piping hot flatbreads during happy hour, Sunday-Thursday 4-6 pm. Assembly has added additional standing heaters and all-new Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pits for every high-top table to ensure guests are extra cozy while they feast on Duck Confit Cassoulet and sweet and savory fondue over boozy hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 4 pm with last seating at 10:30 pm
1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy | (215) 783-4171 | www.assemblyrooftop.com
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Char & Stave, Ardmore’s newest all-day café and cocktail bar, is thrilled to announce a holiday pop-up in Chestnut Hill in the same site as its forthcoming expansion with a second location. The pop-up, which precedes the spring 2023 grand opening of the new and expanded Char & Stave, opened on Small Business Saturday (Saturday, November 26) and will run until Sunday, January 4, 2023.
At the pop-up (which also overlaps with Chestnut Hill’s revered Stag & Doe Nights, located in the charming Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia (8441 Germantown Ave), imbibers and gift-givers can expect:
- a menu of warming seasonal sippers including coffee, cocktails, and mocktails
- an expansive retail area stocked with Char & Stave’s signature roast coffee beans, ranging from mild to dark to Barrel-Aged Espresso
- a plethora of giftable spirits from sister distillery, Bluebird Distilling
Guests can stop the pop-up by during the following hours of operation: Wednesday 4 – 9 pm, Friday 4 – 10 pm, Saturday 11 – 6 pm, and Sunday 11 – 5 pm.
21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore PA | www.charandstave.com
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Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia are ready to put everyone in the holiday spirit with their Big Gay Holiday Drag Brunch inside Victory Beer Hall at Xfinity Live!, the dynamic sports-anchored district located in the heart of South Philadelphia. Great for larger groups to attend, the ultimate holiday drag show in the city is Saturday, December 17th; doors will open at 11 am. The curtain is at noon must be 21 or older to enter. Brittany Lynn, the founder of Drag Mafia, was born and raised in Philadephia and has performed drag for over 30 years.
Xfinity Live! Brunch Ticket Package
- Tables seating for 4: $25.00 per person (must purchase all seats at the table)
- Tickets Here
A prominent member of the city’s LGBTQIA+ community makes everyone laugh and dance in their seats. Naughty or nice, guests will enjoy brunch and a show with the option of the prix fixe menu, including a Brunch Burger, Chicken & Waffles, Banana French Toast, Monte Cristo, Homestyle Breakfast Poutine, and Chicken Tinga Enchiladas. The specialty cocktail menu includes an Espresso Martini, Peppermint Swirl Martini, Glittered Mimosa Flights, Extra-large Mimosa served in a fishbowl, and classic mimosa with a bottle of champagne. Xfinity Live! has the full Beer and Food Hall Menu available, including Bloody Mary and beer on draft. Non-alcoholic beverage options will be available.
Xfinity Live! | 1100 Pattison Ave | 267.534.4264 | www.xfinitylive.com
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The Twisted Tail, the Southern-inspired restaurant, bar and live music venue on Headhouse Square, is ringing in the celebration season with a Holiday Blues Brunch on Saturday, December 17 from noon until 3 pm, with Philly-raised and NOLA-sculpted funky jazz pianist Reverend Chris delivering live cheerful tunes. The modern-rustic restaurant and juke joint will be outfitted with holiday decor to bolster the seasonal ambiance, and the bar is set to feature traditional hot cocktails to accompany The Twisted Tail’s Southern comfort menu.
509 S. 2nd St. | 215.558.2471 | http://thetwistedtail.com/
-Madison Militello