March is Women’s History Month, which in Philadelphia means celebrating the hardworking women that endlessly contribute to the advancement of the city’s rich history, culture, and society. To support the Philadelphia area’s women business owners and entrepreneurs, locals can take part in events at the Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, Square 1682, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID), and Stratus Rooftop Lounge. To further spread the sisterly love this month and beyond, they can also shop and visit women-owned businesses such as Occasionette, Bellemille Extra Virgin Olive Oil, The Dutch, Ghost Light Inn, Carriage House, Stella of New Hope, Main Point Books, Baba’s Bucha, and Baba’s Acid Trip.
LOCAL EVENTS
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, the upscale lifestyle hotel nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is celebrating Women’s History Month by hosting a Women Makers Market, and will spotlight a local woman artist in its Maker Series. Hyatt’s ongoing Maker Series, a monthly series featuring art displays by local artists and makers, continues with Philadelphia-based artist Nataliya Yermolenko, complete with a “Meet The Artist” opening reception on Thursday, March 2 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Yermolenko’s collection of portraits of iconic women, dubbed Women of the Arts, will be on view at the Hyatt starting March 2 through April 30. Yermolenko’s work will be available for purchase during the event and post-reception, and a portion of sales will be donated to Women Against Abuse.
Hyatt will be showcasing a mix of local women makers at its first ever Women Makers Market, slated for Saturday, March 18 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, March 19 from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors can peruse the extensive display of locally-made offerings for sale, including jewelry, lingerie, bath and body products, ceramics, candles, and more in the second floor lobby and Jackson Room. Interative workshops will also be available for attendees to participate in from sought-after photographers Inner Light Aura and Vanity Tintype, and embroidery workshops with Sippin’ & Stitchin’. Reservations for interactive workshops must be made ahead of time on the website of the particular vendor.
1620 Chancellor St. | 215.985.1234 | https://bit.ly/3IqVBS6
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Square 1682, the modern American upbeat kitchen located on the ground level of the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, boasts an unforgettable International Women’s Day menu courtesy of Moneisha Williams and Kyrah Reaves, Kimpton Hotel Palomar’s Banquet Sous Chef and Square 1682’s Pastry Chef, available on Wednesday, March 8. Attendees can enjoy the celebratory dinner either as a prix fixe experience for $52 per person or à la carte, and highlights include Uncle Nearest Short Ribs ($36) composed of Mama’s Mac and sweet potato soufflé, Smothered Turkey Wings ($24) fashioned with cornbread stuffing and braised greens, and Snapper Escovitch ($28) with coconut rice and sweet plantains.
A portion of proceeds from the International Women’s Day dinner will benefit Women’s Way, Philadelphia’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of women, girls, and gender and racial equity.
Reservations are highly encouraged and can be made via OpenTable.
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 – 11 am (breakfast); Monday through Thursday 11:30 am – 2 pm, Friday 11:30 am – 3 pm (lunch); Tuesday through Thursday 5 – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5 – 11 pm (dinner); Friday and Saturday 3 – 5 pm (mid-day menu); Saturday 9 am – 3 pm, Sunday 9 am – 2 pm (brunch).
121 S 17th St. | 215.563.5008 | www.square1682.com
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East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID), home to more than 160 independently owned businesses in South Philadelphia, is honoring Women’s History Month by reviving its highly successful Women Mean Business event in conjunction with She Rocked It for its second year, scheduled for Monday, March 13 from 6 – 9 pm at Society Hill Dance Academy. Women Mean Business: Rock Your Revenue boasts a panel discussion, community conversation, and networking event featuring local women business owners sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes – including some much-needed real talk about the revenue side of running and growing a business. The event is open to all ages; tickets cost $10 per person and are available to purchase HERE.
In other news, EPABID is proud to announce that 50 percent of Avenue’s 160+ independent businesses are now woman-owned. Marking a roughly 5 percent increase in woman-ownership from last year, EPABID is home to a diverse array of woman-owned businesses, restaurants, bars, and services, some highlights of which include Best of Philly 2022® winners Gabriella’s Vietnam and Juana Tamale, boutiques like August Moon Co. and Bianca Simone, and services like Styland Beauty and Palo Santo Wellness.
For additional information and for a complete list of businesses along East Passyunk Avenue, go to their website https://www.visiteastpassyunk.com and follow EPABID on Facebook.com/eastpassyunk | Twitter: @EPassyunkAve | Instagram: @eastpassyunk.
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Stratus Rooftop Lounge at Kimpton Hotel Monaco and Sisterly Love Collective have teamed up to present Women’s Way Wednesdays, a weekly pop-up celebrating various women-owned and operated culinary and beverage purveyors in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Women’s Way Wednesdays kicks off on Wednesday, March 1 from 5:30 – 8 pm at Stratus Rooftop Lounge, featuring a bevy of hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer tastings, Champagne and oysters, spirited cocktails, live music, a silent auction, and more.
All proceeds from the ticket sales and a portion of proceeds from featured cocktails, beer and wine will benefit Women’s Way. Tickets for the Sisterly Love Collective kickoff soirée will be $75 per person, all-inclusive and include two beverage tickets. For the following Wednesdays, from March 8 through March 29, tickets will be priced at $35 per person and include an exquisite variety of one-of-a-kind bites with beverage purchases à la carte. Tickets for each weekly event are required and can be purchased by clicking HERE.
Hours of operation: Wednesday 4 pm – 10 pm, Thursday 8 pm – 1 am, Friday 5 pm – 2 am, and Saturday 8 pm – 2 am
433 Chestnut St. (11th floor of Kimpton Hotel Monaco) | 215.925.2889 | www.stratuslounge.com
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LOCAL WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
Bellemille: A new luxury first cold pressed olive oil founded by Philadelphia native turned expat, Alexa Dombkoski, harvested on a single estate in the Tuscan countryside. The olive oil is available to ship nationwide on their website, or for purchase at Salt & Vinegar in Bella Vista, Local PHL Market in Washington Square West and Sweet Magnolia in Glenside.
Ghost Light Inn, Stella of New Hope, Carriage House: This boutique hotel, restaurant, and inn is co-owned by Sherri Daugherty. Stella of New Hope is inspired by local ingredients from the region’s best farmers and food artisans with menus that change seasonally. The Ghost Light Inn is a riverfront property with 12 luxury rooms, while the Carriage House is a historic three-room bed and breakfast style inn.
The Dutch: James Beard Award-nominated Chef Jessie Prawlucki-Styer, co-owns The Dutch, the popular breakfast, lunch, and dinner eatery with a focus on reinventing the Pennsylvania Dutch classics. Prawlucki-Styer helms the baking and dessert programming, entailing scrumptious pastries for brunch service including scones, muffins, and more, in addition to fresh bread baked in-house, and decadent desserts.
Occasionette: This independent gift and goods retailer known for insanely creative and inspired gifting is owned by Sara Villari. Occasionette stores include the Flagship Store in Collingswood, NJ, the original East Passyunk Avenue location, and the Chestnut Hill location that opened last September, in addition to a robust online store.
Main Point Books: Cathy Fiebach is the owner and founder of Main Point Books, Wayne, Pennsylvania’s go-to bookstore and community center. Main Point books offers a wide selection of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature, and hosts a variety of events such as open mic nights, children’s activities and events, book clubs, book launches and conversations with authors, and more.
Baba’s Bucha: Olga Sorzano is the founder and owner of Baba’s Bucha, the beloved Phoenixville farm-to-bottle kombucha crafted with whole ingredients. Sorzano’s kombucha is now a staple throughout the region, available for purchase at Whole Foods Market, Riverwards, MOM’s Organic Market, DiBruno’s, Weaver’s Way Co-op, and at the Baba’s Bucha Tasting Room, dubbed A Culture Factory. Inspired by her great-grandmother, “Baba,” Sorzano grew up in Siberia drinking kombucha. When she immigrated to the United States, Sorzano found herself craving a piece of home, so she started brewing her Baba’s recipe for others to enjoy. Baba’s Bucha boasts a variety of flavors, including limited-edition seasonal releases in addition to evergreen favorites such as Ruby Sipper, Purple Rain, Flower Power, Bee’s Knees, and Believe.
Baba’s Acid Trip: Baba’s Acid Trip, owned and founded by Olga Sorzano, is a line of tart and tangy kombucha vinegars. Born during the pandemic when supply chain issues called for a shelf-stable product, Baba’s Acid Trip answered the challenging logistical requirements many retailers face when ordering kombucha, which must be kept refrigerated. Just half an ounce of Baba’s Acid Trip flavors, including Raspberry Lime, Pear Ginger, Cayenne, and Grapefruit, is enough to replace most high-end finishing vinegars and citrus in salad dressings, marinades, and cocktails. The kombucha vinegars are available online and in-person at Kimberton Whole Foods, Riverward’s Produce Market, and Salt & Vinegar.
-Madison Militello