September 29, 2023 — The Greater Philadelphia region is rife with fun-filled happenings and new locales to check out this October. If you’re itching to get out on the town and take advantage of the fall season, we’ve got you covered with a list of upcoming events and exciting new openings, from restaurants, hotels, bars, and more, including At The Table, Bolo, Char & Stave, Forsythia, Gaul & Co., Ghost Light Inn, Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, MilkBoy, and Vanity Tintype.
–
At The Table, Wayne’s venerable and award-winning fine-dining restaurant from chefs Alex Hardy and Tara Buzan Hardy, has just opened its new expanded location at 118 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA. Boasting bright blue colors and exquisite interior detailing, this brand new establishment features a four seat raw bar with succulent Acadian Pearl oysters on the half-shell and a rotating selection of freshly-caught mollusks, as well as an elevated beverage program, a Chef’s Six Course Tasting Menu, and an array of small plates and entrees a la carte. Guests can enjoy the diverse cuisine and cocktails while relishing in the inviting atmosphere of the expansive indoor dining area, which seats 75, or take in the beautiful fall weather from the outdoor street-facing patio.
Visitors are also welcome to bring in their own beverages to sip on with their meals at no additional corkage fee. Reservations for At The Table can be made by clicking here.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday 5 – 10pm
118 W Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA | 610.964.9700 | Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
–
Bolo, Chef Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar, and Philadelphia magazine Best of Philly® 2023 winner, is teaming up with Philadelphia-based host/journalist Alisha Miranda to host the fourth installment of the wildly-successful and celebrated Latin Industry Night series in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, taking place on Monday, October 2 from 8:30 until late night.
For this acclaimed occasion, four of the city’s renowned Caribbean and South American mixologists will guest bartend, including Tony Jimenez of Post Haste and 1 Tippling Place, David Rodriguez of Charlie was a sinner., Adrienne Gomez-Saddler of Jean-Georges Philadelphia, Four Seasons, and Alexander Lebron of Vintage Wine Bar, each showcasing a unique craft cocktail specifically inspired by their local culture and homeland. Along with exquisite artisanal drinks, folks can also savor a variety of libations available for purchase, including Medalla, Puerto Rico’s most popular beer, Malta-inspired Bolo Light and Bolo Dark ales, custom craft brewed by Philadelphia’s very own My Local Brew Works, and a variety of no-proof cocktails. Additionally, a specialty menu of light bites will be available throughout the night for guests to delight in.
Hours of operation: Dinner service Monday through Thursday 4pm – 10pm, Friday and Saturday 4pm – 12am, and Sunday 4pm – 9pm; Happy Hour Monday through Friday 4 – 6pm and Saturday from 10pm – 12am
2025 Sansom Street | 267.639.2741 | Website Instagram
–
Char & Stave, the local roastery and full-service café-by-day, cocktail bar-by-night helmed by Jared Adkins of Bluebird Distilling, is launching its much-anticipated new location in historic Chestnut Hill (located at 8441 Germantown Avenue). Adkins and team will celebrate the official Grand Opening on Friday, September 29, which aptly falls on National Coffee Day. The bar and coffee shop boasts an inviting and airy design, with long bar and coffee counter, an intimate gathering space adorned with custom art, plus a robust retail area with specialty beans, merch, and a bevy of Bluebird Distilling spirits.
Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7am – 11pm, Friday from 7am – 12am, Saturday from 8am – 12am, and Sunday from 8am – 11pm; happy hour is available Monday through Friday from 4 – 6pm.
8841 Germantown Ave | Website Instagram
–
Forsythia, Chef Christopher Kearse’s contemporary and innovative French restaurant and bar in Old City, is back in action with its eagerly-awaited and hyper-seasonal installment of The French AF Series, titled La Fête de La Citrouille & Truffe, on Wednesday, October 11. The menu spotlights a selection of artfully-crafted pumpkin-and-truffle-centric plates – a golden opportunity for guests to indulge in their beloved fall-themed culinary cravings. Those attending this highly imaginative five-experience dinner can also opt for thoughtfully curated wine pairings, hand-picked and guided by Brad Giuliano of MFW Wine Co.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Sunday, 5pm – 10pm for dinner service, and Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am – 2pm for brunch service
233 Chestnut St | 215.644.9395 | Website Instagram Twitter Facebook
–
Gaul & Co. Malt House, the neighborhood gastropub known for good food, booze, and people, and home of the “Wit-or-Witowski” Kielbasa Cheesesteak, is welcoming the fall season with a host of fun-filled events, including:
- Sip, Brunch, & Shop, taking place on Saturday, September 30 from 11am – 3pm at the Port Richmond location, will feature 25+ vendors and local businesses, live music with performer Cole Campbell, and a myriad of fantastic brunch favorites, such as fan-favorites from the highly-recognized Hinge Café that closed earlier this year. Other standouts include the Witorwitowski Benny ($13), plus $4 Mimosas and $5 Bloody Marys until noon, and a Mimosa Flights ($12) of Gaul & Co.’s original, grapefruit, and watermelon varieties.
- BIGGIE BRUNCH, slated for Sunday, October 8 from 12pm – 4pm, will take place at the Port Richmond location in celebration of Notorious B.I.G., one of the greatest rappers of all time. Guests will be able to order from the full brunch menu, which will also feature a special in honor of the late great artist consisting of a T-Bone Steak & Cheese Eggs Sandwich paired with a Welch’s Grape Mimosa. DJ ADUB will be spinning and playing one-of-a-kind Biggie blends and mixes during the entire affair, alongside special guest Love City DJs. Click here for more information.
- The Love Vintage Flea Market, which will return to Port Richmond on Saturday, October 15 from 12 – 4pm. Following a very successful inaugural market in April 2023, Gaul & Co. Malt House will once again host a cavalcade of vintage vendors and artisans. Stay tuned for more details and follow @gaulandcorichmond on Instagram for updates.
- Stand-up comedian Jeff Leason will perform at Gaul & Co. Malt House’s Rockledge location on Thursday, October 19 from 7 – 10pm (doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm). Presented by Ciao Events, attendees can look forward to a hilarious night of stand up and crowd work, while enjoying pay-as-you-go refreshments and fare from Gaul & Co. Malt House. More information can be found here.
Hours of operation: Monday through Wednesday, 11am – 12am, Thursday and Friday, 11am – 2am, and Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 2am
2619 E Indiana Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215.423.7878 | Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
704 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA | 215.935.6443 | Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
–
Ghost Light Inn, a 12-room boutique hotel located on the Delaware River in the heart of New Hope, PA, less than an hour from Philadelphia, one and a half hours from NYC and three and a half from D.C., is the ideal destination for an autumnal weekend getaway. Those looking for spooky fun with a luxury affair can take advantage of the hotel’s new Stay and Play Package in conjunction with its historic neighbor, the Bucks County Playhouse, which is sure to enchant witches, warlocks, and thespians alike.
Additionally, from October 13 through October 28, the Bucks County Playhouse’s October tradition returns with an all-new production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the notorious parody based on the 1975 cult film. Guests who book Ghost Light Inn’s stay + play package will receive two discounted tickets to The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Bucks County Playhouse, plus a bottle of premium French Champagne waiting in their room, a fresh fruit platter and gourmet charcuterie board from in-house restaurant Stella of New Hope. Plus, guests will receive a Stella of New Hope gift card valued at $150 to use during brunch, lunch or dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information on the package or to book, click here.
Hours of operation for Stella: Dinner served Tuesday through Thursday 4pm – 9m, Friday and Saturday 4pm – 10pm, Sunday 4pm – 9pm; Lunch Friday 11am – 2pm; Brunch Saturday and Sunday 11am – 2pm
Ghost Light Inn | 50 S. Main St, New Hope, PA | 267.740.7131 | Website Instagram Facebook
Stella | 50 S. Main St, New Hope, PA | 267.740.2691 | Website Instagram
Bucks County Playhouse | 70 S. Main St, New Hope, PA | 215.862.2121 | Website Instagram
_
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, the upscale lifestyle hotel nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is pleased to announce the next entry in its “Maker Series,” an ongoing program highlighting local artists and creators, featuring local wet-plate photographer Maurene Cooper of Vanity Tintype. Cooper’s Fishtown photography studio is the only commercial atelier in Philadelphia creating handmade Victorian era keepsakes using the 19th-century wet-collodion process. The exhibit, dubbed Genius of Place, will be on view from October 5 through December, with a Meet the Maker reception on Thursday, October 5 from 6 – 8 pm. The reception is free to attend and open to the public.
With the tintype’s Victorian-era charm and distinct aesthetic, Cooper has been successful in finding diverse applications for the historic photographic technique in the 21st century. Her body of work encompasses a diverse range of subjects and clientele, extending beyond traditional boundaries, capturing the essence of LGBTQIA+ couples, immortalizing cherished pets, documenting the elegance of brides, breathing life into living history, tenderly portraying the bonds and dynamics within families, and documenting a wide range of alternative personalities. In Genius of Place, Cooper juxtaposes a series of portraits of flora-adorned women with urban landscapes of native and invasive plant life and historical estates in Philadelphia, the latter captured primarily in Fairmount Park and Bartram’s Garden.
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia | 1620 Chancellor St | 215.985.1234 | Website
–
MilkBoy Restaurant Group, the iconic Philadelphia-born brand known for booze, bites, and music, is partnering with uCity Square to open the uCity Square Beer Garden, a new and vibrant pop-up seasonal bar boasting locally-sourced food, brews, and cocktails, located at The Lawn in West Philly. Inspired by local creativity and activation, this new social hub will launch to the public on Thursday, October 5 from 5pm – 9pm, and will include a diverse array of beverages including offerings from Two Locals Brewing Company and Chill Moody’s nicethingsBEER, plus an ever-evolving selection of seasonal brews from both Yards Brewing Company and Love City Brewing, as well as craft and canned cocktails, wine, and a rotating lineup of food trucks. The beer garden will be open through December, and will feature additional events for the public to enjoy, including live performances curated by Chill Moody.
Hours of operation: Thursday through Saturday 4pm – close, Sunday’s hours to vary
The Lawn | 37th and Filbert St. | 215.590.2025 | uCity Square Website
– Alana Shapiro