Candis R. McLean
Boozy Bake Sale for the Vote
Jordan Salcito, founder and CEO of organic, canned wine brand RAMONA and Branden McRill, the restaurateur behind Fine-Drawn Hospitality (Walnut Street Café, The Post, and Sunset Social) are partnering to host a voter registration drive and boozy bake sale to benefit Vote.org on Saturday, October 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will be held at Sunset Social at CIRA Green, a rooftop venue with stunning views of the Schuylkill River and over 1.2 acres for ample social distancing. While celebrating Philadelphia’s stellar bakery talent, the event serves to help register individuals in the swing-state of Pennsylvania for the upcoming 2020 election and/or for their mail-in ballots before the October 19 and 27 deadlines, respectively.
In addition to voter registration and education, guests can enjoy socially distanced mingling, cocktails and bake sale items on Sunset Social’s spacious rooftop. Complimentary cans of RAMONA’s pioneering organic wine spritzes will be on offer to those participating in the event while supplies last. Individually wrapped, COVID-19 safe baked goods powered by Julius Silvert Inc. and RAMONA-inspired cocktails from world-renowned bartender Ivy Mix will be for sale with 100% of proceeds from all baked goods and cocktails sold directly benefiting Vote.org. Contactless purchases and donations will be available via Spotfund.
The boozy bake sale will feature confections from some of Philadelphia’s top bakers and restaurants including:
- Khoran Horn, Eat BLVCK, Stripp’d Juice, the forthcoming Guardhouse Cafe at the Frankford Arsenal
- Jack Peterson, Fine-Drawn Hospitality (Walnut Street Cafe, The Post, Sunset Social)
- Tova du Plessis, Essen Bakery
- Alexander Roman, High Street Philly
- Cadence
- Lost Bread Co.
- ITV
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Philly’s First Virtual Food Hall
The Commons is Philadelphia’s first-ever virtual food hall. The Post at Cira Green and Walnut Street Café will serve as home to a creative collection of rotating ghost kitchen restaurants. The Commons will offer takeout, delivery, and socially distanced outdoor and indoor dining.
While both Walnut Street Café and The Post will work together to produce The Commons’ concepts, guests looking to enjoy indoor and outdoor dining will experience The Commons at The Post, University City’s beloved 7,000 square foot American beer hall. The Post’s menu will continue to be available in full and the restaurant will become one of The Commons featured concepts. The Post has historically attracted lively groups convening on game day to share a beer, nachos, sliders and play shuffleboard, skeeball, and retro arcade games, and will continue to do so with social distancing in place.
The open-air space offers ample options for indoor and outdoor dining, with floor-to-ceiling garage doors and awning-covered tables, and a constant stream of Philly and national sports airing on their 11 TVs.
The decision to introduce a virtual food hall to The Post and Walnut Street Café was born out of a desire to better serve and adapt to the community’s needs. “The Commons is our way of offering our guests abundant choices right now,” shared restaurateur Branden McRill. “In a new world that requires flexibility and optionality, The Commons is here to give our guests choices and to put control and the decisions back in their hands.”
In addition to serving The Post’s menu, The Commons will feature four other restaurant concepts at launch. Dreamt up by a diverse group of creative culinary talent within the Fine-Drawn Hospitality family, The Commons starting line-up boasts a suite of delicious new options including:
- Agea: Inspired by the spirit of the Aegean Islands, Agea channels the best of the Meditteranean. Chef Jack Peterson emphasizes local produce and bright, clean flavors with abundant salads, fresh couscous bowls and pita sandwiches.
- Philadelphia Wing Shop: High-end bar food from Chef Brandon Gibson-Boyd features nearly every type of wing under the sun — Buttermilk Fried, BBQ, Teriyaki, Chipotle, Mango Habanero and Sweet Chili, to name a few
- Ghost Chicken: Pulling influence from Parisian rotisserie markets, expect delectable roast chicken, chicken fat fries, and seasonal sides to take dinner to the next level. This simple, yet elegant concept is produced out of Walnut Street Café.
- The Post: The flagship brings an extensive menu of Philly’s best bar snacks and a lively beer hall atmosphere which can still be enjoyed “IRL,” too.
- Sunset Social: While Sunset Social’s season is winding down for the year just after Halloween, guests can still experience playful menu favorites from the Philly Cheesesteak Burger to the Really Long Loaded Hot Dog via takeout and delivery well into the colder months.
Since small restaurants pay big fees on delivery, The Commons will extend a 5% discount on pick-up orders as a thank you for shopping small. Additionally, when you pick up an order from The Commons directly, you’ll receive free stamps with your order now through the November 3rd election. Since The United States Postal Service is The Post’s neighbor and one of the reference points for the flagship’s name, the restaurant group is doubling down on its support of the USPS in the lead up to the election. Fine-Drawn Hospitality wants Philadelphia to safely rock the vote this November and hopes that these stamps will be used to safely send snail mail.
The Commons is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
For more information, click here.
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Miller High Life Taps Philadelphia’s Evil Genius Beer for Collaboration Brunch Brew
Evil Genius Beer Company and Miller High Life announce they have teamed up to release a brand-new collaboration brew, Brunch So Hard Orange and Mango IPA. The brew is an Orange and Mango IPA that is inspired by the Champagne of Beers, playing on the boozy brunch favorite, the Mimosa, and carving out its own niche as the new Mimosa of Beers. This new collaboration brew is a limited edition that was driven by the creative minds at Evil Genius Beer Company. It combines the components of both High Life and Evil Genius beers.
Brunch So Hard will be available for a limited time in stores throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. It will also be available at the Evil Genius taproom “The Lab” in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia at 1727 Front Street. Brunch So Hard will be available for $10.99 on shelves at The Lab for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans. Prices may vary by location throughout the three states.
Brunch So Hard has 6.5% ABV, 45 IBUs, SRM of 8 and comes in four-packs of 16-ounce cans. The beer is brewed with Warrior, Galena, Citra, Azacca, and Hallertau hops.
“Both Miller High Life and Evil Genius focus on nostalgia and good vibes,” said Evil Genius Co-Founder Trevor Hayward. “We had so much in common when we sat down and really discussed how this collaboration would work. Both teams just clicked, and we knew that we could create a beer that paid homage to both brands equally.”
For Miller High Life, this partnership presents its largest collaboration to date by geography with beer launching in three primary states.
“Miller High Life is widely loved by the craft beer industry, which has given the brand the opportunity to collaborate with talented craft brewers in the past,” said Miller High Life Associate Brand Manager Stephanie Petropoulos. “As we thought of our next collaboration we wanted to partner with a brewery that not only made great beer, but was a fan of High Life themselves. After reaching out to our network it became clear that Evil Genius was the perfect partner to collaborate with given their ability to make amazing beers which has triggered their growth. The fact that they’re also huge High Life fans was icing on the cake.”
For more about Evil Genius Beer Company and their location in Fishtown, visit evilgeniusbeer.com. For more about Miller High Life, visit millerhighlife.com.
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Adult Trick or Treat
It’s Halloween time and once again, and Chaddsford Winery has adapted one of their most popular programs into a virtual customized experience! This year, Chaddsford Winery is bringing back Adult Trick or Treat by highlighting three of their best-selling fall wines, Spiced Apple, Traminette and Harbinger, as a wine kit offering guests the opportunity to pair their wines with seasonal treats, either at home or throughout West Chester.
Guests can purchase an Adult Trick or Treat Wine Kit here and pick it up Curbside at Chaddsford Winery or Peddler’s Village Tasting Room, and the first 200 orders will receive a complimentary keepsake Halloween wine glass.
Inside the wine kit is a pairing guide the help you choose the best Halloween candies, autumnal treats, and spooky snacks to enjoy with Chaddsford Winery wine. Those interested in a local adventure can take their passport included in the kit to all partner locations throughout West Chester to enjoy a special 10% discount on their featured items. Partners include Carlino’s Specialty Foods, Eclat Chocolate and Gemelli Gelato.
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Brunch at Aqimero Returns
Aqimero at The Ritz-Carlton has returned. Aqimero is celebrating the brunch return on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. located in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.
Brunch items include $18 Philadelphian Toast (herbed cream cheese, capers, red onion, chopped egg, and smoked salmon), $21 Benedict Ranchero (chorizo, black bean, sous vide egg, hollandaise ranchero) and $16 Piña Colada French Toast (caramelized pineapple, coconut cream rum syrup, and mint).
Brunch cocktails are also included, like the $65 Bucket of Bubbles (bottle of sparkling wine, bellini mix, fresh OJ, and Aqimero signature mix), mimosas, micheladas, and bloody marys.
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The Bourse Presents: Fright Night Fright Nights featuring Hocus Pocus
Grab your brooms and spell books because The Bourse Food Hallis getting in the Halloween spirit with Friday Night Fright Nights featuring five showings of the cult classic, Hocus Pocus, every Friday in October on the 5th St. patio.
Through October 30, The Bourse invites spooky season lovers to watch Hocus Pocus on a 16-foot projector while enjoying themed treats from select food hall vendors. Tickets for all five showings are available here for $20/table. Tables seat up to four guests.
The movie starts at 7 p.m. every Friday, but ticket-holders are invited to arrive as early as 6 p.m. for a bite and beverage before the showing. All food and drink is pay-as-you-go.
“The only thing better than a Hocus Pocus watch party is FIVE Hocus Pocus watch parties,” said Hannah Magann, Events and Marketing Manager. “What better way to watch this fan-favorite than on a larger-than-life TV in the crisp October air with a cone of spooky black ice cream?”
The movie will start promptly at 7 p.m., however, ticketholders are invited to arrive as early as 6 p.m. to enjoy a themed snack and beverage prior to the showing, including The Witch’s Cauldron from Scoop DeVille ($5.09/small, $6.02/medium, $7.18/large), black ice cream with oreo; The Hangover Soup from Prescription Chicken ($13 / quart), made with extra spice to ward off “zombies, witches and old boyfriends”; Sanderson Seltzers (hard seltzers) (3 / $15) and a “Little Children” Sandwich aka the Little Chick, a mini fried chicken sandwich from Freebyrd Chicken. All food is PAYG and available for in-person ordering.
The Bourse asks that attendees wear proper PPE unless seated at a table to ensure the safety of all guests and staff.
You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected].
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