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As we near closer to Black History Month, there’s a bevy of ways to show support for local Black-owned-and-operated businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the City of Brotherly Love. Locales including Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia and DreamWorld Bakes offer unique and creative outlets and activations for those looking to patronize and show support all month long.  

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Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, the upscale lifestyle hotel nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is celebrating Black History Month by showcasing a mix of artwork by local Black artists at its second annual Black History Month Showcase, currently live and running through mid-March, with a Hear the Makers discussion panel emceed by the Philadelphia Inquirer culture reporter Elizabeth Wellington slated for Wednesday, February 26 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Both events are free to attend and open to the public.

Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia’s brand ethos and design inspiration is strongly influenced by its connection to the city and celebrating Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods, traditions, and the makers. The Black History Month Showcase is designed to highlight a mix of the city’s talented Black artists, whose work has been thoughtfully curated by local art curator Ginger Rudolph, whose extensive curatorial portfolio includes Philadelphia’s Mural Arts, Fishtown electrical boxes, South Street murals, installations at SuperFine! DC Art Fair, collections for Paradigm Gallery, Fitler Club, and much more.

The multi-media exhibit encompasses a range of media including paintings, photography, illustrations, sculpture, and mixed media. Locals and hotel guests can expect to see a diverse collection of works from the following Philadelphia-based artists:

  • Shawn Theodore is a Philadelphia-based photographer whose work explores identity and culture. Recognized with awards such as PDN’s 30 New & Emerging Photographers to Watch and grants from Getty Images and the Knight Foundation, his art is included in major collections like the Whitney Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Theodore is also an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of the Arts and a trustee for several arts organizations.
  • Jordan Plain is a Philadelphia-born artist blending poetry, graphic design, and abstract art to create works that explore healing, relationships, and Blackness. His series “Poetic Palettes” pairs vibrant colors with poetic storytelling, offering deeply personal reflections on life and growth.
  • Yannick Lowery is an interdisciplinary artist inspired by the cultural legacies of New York City and Philadelphia. Using collage, animation, and sculpture, he weaves historical references and personal introspection into thought-provoking narratives. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, and Time Magazine.
  • Emilio Maldonado is a multidisciplinary artist exploring material culture and memory through painting, video, performance, and sculpture. Drawing from his journey from the Dominican Republic to the U.S., he incorporates discarded objects to critique consumer culture and reflect on identity and belonging.
  • Shakira Hunt is a Philadelphia-based artist and photographer whose work examines identity and emotional healing. Her series “Give Me My Flowers” explores Black men’s balance of masculine and feminine energies, while her project “Soft Petals” delves into the mother-wound. A 2023 MuralArts Black Artist Fellow, Hunt has exhibited at Essence Fest and the Delaware Art Museum.

On Wednesday, February 26, the Hyatt Centric will host a unique Hear the Makers discussion panel with the exhibited artists in one of its second floor meeting rooms from 6 pm to 8 pm. The event will be emceed by Elizabeth Wellington, giving attendees a glimpse into the creative process and inspiration behind the artists’ works, as well as their experiences. Both the opening reception and the discussion panel are open to the public and free to attend.

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Philadelphians looking to patronize local businesses this Black History Month can visit DreamWorld Bakes, the Black- and woman-owned bakery that specializes in dreamy custom cakes and boasts a community café concept. Founded by Ashley Huston – a self-taught baker, community champion, and the creative genius behind Patti LaBelle’s showstopping 80th birthday cake – the highly anticipated bakery and pop-up sensation opened its first brick-and-mortar location this past winter in East Kensington. 

Huston’s confections — often iced with pastels and dusted with glitter — draw heavily from a wide range of cultures and culinary traditions. Due to her voracious desire to seek out new flavors and her love of international travel, DreamWorld Bakes offers treats as whimsical in flavor as they are in presentation, with signature cake flavors including:

  • Adulting – Malt milk funfetti cake, toasted milk custard, funfetti crumbles & vanilla
  • Baby Spice – Cardamom cake layers with passionfruit curd, mango-chai mousse, and tonka bean Italian meringue buttercream
  • CB&J – Cookie butter cake layers with french vanilla custard, signature strawberry lavender jam, speculoos crunchies, and cookie butter-cream

Cake orders can be made HERE.

Location: 2400 Coral St, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Hours of operation: Thursday and Friday 8am – 3pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 4 pm