Mojito Mondays in October

The weekend is over and just another "Manic Monday" has begun. This October, there's no need to surrender to the blues of another week beginning. Instead, head to the Rum Bar for the Mojito Olympics, sponsored by Don Q Rum. Four bartenders will be mixing and pouring their best mojitos for judging, and if you're lucky you can even join the panel of judges since one lucky member of the crowd will hand-picked (yes, hand picked, then possibly required to crowd surf) to judge and get a $50 gift certificate to the Rum Bar.

Getting in will only strip you of $6, which earns you a Don Q-jito as well as a front row seat for the action. Added Bonus? The first Monday, October 3rd, I'll be judging...the 10th and 17th, you'll miss out on hanging out with yours truly, but can still kick the Monday blues and cheer on the barkeeps. The 24th is the "playoffs" where winners from other October weeks compete in the Medal round (and if we are lucky, the Phils will still be in the playoofs as well, if not the victor).

With no Phils game tonight and the heartbreak of yesterday's games to get over, there's really no excuse not to drown your sorrows. It all starts tonight at 7 p.m., at the Rum Bar on 2005 Walnut St. Keep away from feeling like the Bangles song below and make it a Mojito Monday instead of a manic one...

Bucket List: September 21-25, in Philadelphia: The Greatest City Never Sold

For those of you who are as Clueless as Brittany Murphy was, Philadelphia Fashion Week kicked off last week - and The Philadelphia Collection has been going on since September 12th. The events continue until Friday and Saturday. There's also some free events or discounts to be found in Philly, even where fashion is involved.

Wednesday, September 21:  If you're looking to help the greater good (and your wallet is a bit heavy) head to the Street Food Festival and Celebrity Chef Throwdown in Manayunk tonight. It's $35 to enjoy two cocktails and all outdoor vendors (and aren't food trucks the best anyway?) but you can spend up to $125 if you want to get into the Chef's Arena. Tickets here, and hurry because the three hours of eats starts at 6 p.m.! Also tonight? Phashion Phest, DelVal's "mobile" fashion show. Obviously, DelVal doesn't attract the crowds Philly does...but $50, $60 at the door, scores you a fashion show, top shelf bar, appitizers and a frickin fabulous gift bag.

Thursday, September 22: Mainline Restaurant Week Fall Kickoff Party! No cover, complimentary noshes and rampant giveaways make this worth stopping by the festivities at Harvest Seasonal Gill and Bar. Head to Glen Mills for a fun night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and don't forget some cash if you want some cocktails to soak up the food in your stomach. Inside the city, today opens the Philadelphia Film & Music Festival (which they like to abbreviate to FM Fest, but you won't find it on your radio dial) and there will be an absurd amount of music acts and indie flicks over the next couple days. Depending on your preference, check out the full schedule so you can plan for, or around it - for the next four days! 
Also, if you're dying for a touch of fashion before Philly Fashion Week & Collection ends...think about attending the Rittenhouse Row Fall Gathering. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Comcast Center, $30 at the door and two hours of fashion show and cocktails. 

Friday, September 23: Popped Music Festival. Philadelphia Film & Music Festival. Also, Yard's Brewing 3rd Annual "Smoke 'Em if You's got 'Em" Festival means BBQ, brews and music. At least one is free...the others are going to run you $50 for all the smoked delights you could desire. Wish you could be at the Phils game? Feel like it by scoping the game for free on the Jumbotron at the Piazza at Schmidt's.

Saturday, September 24: Popped Music Festival. Philadelphia Film & Music Festival. For the punk-rockers of Philadelphia, there's also Riot Fest to check out. Get tickets and head to Festival Pier at Penn's Landing for the 12 p.m. kickoff, and since Red Bull is a sponsor get ready to be wired - for free. Plus, there's an after party. Tickets can run you a little bit for these events, but hey, if you like the bands, none of which I've heard of, go for it. You can also stand anywhere at Penn's Landing and listen in...On top of Riot Fest, Popped and FM Fest, University City has the 40th Street Summer Series concert - no tickets required and seeing, not just hearing, the musical talent is free. The show goes on rain or shine behind the Walnut Street Free Library at Walnut and (duh) 40th. If you stake out a spot at City Tap House, you can enjoy $3 Yards and nibbles from the cookout on the patio. Also free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.? The PHS Fall Garden Festival, complete with beer garden...

Another option to spend the day on Saturday in Philly for free? Check out Museum Day, because thanks to the Smithsonian you can sign up to get in free at pretty much all the museums in Philly and the surrounding area. I vote the Academy of Natural Sciences, the backdrop for the Philadelphia Geek Awards last month. Not to sound too hippy, the butterfly habitat will astound and inspire.

A third option to music and art/history, which I was keeping on the down low for myself but it seems it's leaked, is the Real World MTV Casting Call. This Saturday, from 10 am to 5 p.m., a level of shameless entertainment reminiscent of latest Jersey Shore episode will ensue at Fado Irish Pub. While I love the fish & chips there, if you see me there on Saturday, I'm there for the crazies (nothing like a self-esteem boost) and obviously the chance to get famous for no particular reason than I'm ridiculously good-looking and hopelessly overdramatic (said in character of next Real World hottie). Hint: look for a  get-on-Real-World cheat sheet between now and Saturday...

Sunday, September 25: Philadelphia Film & Music Festival. Always a sucker for a good cause, the Philadelphia Friendship Circle of Bryn Mawr, which helps foster relationships between teens and special needs kids, certainly qualifies in my book. The Philly Friendship Walk to benefit the "Circle" starts at 1:30 p.m. and includes the walk and a family fair complete with food, a moon bounce (sadly only for kids) massage chairs, and frequent updates about the Philly games going on. So get some exercise and donate a few bucks - it's free to register!

Check back later for more, philaphiles...

Bucket List: September 6-11, in Philadelphia: The Greatest City Never Sold

The summer is sadly drawing to a close...Though on the bright side, it's only a four day week. For this week, at least, there is plenty going on, though you may have to fight through waves of school bus traffic and hordes of schoolchildren with their pesky crossing-guards to get to your destination at the end of the day. It'll be worth it for free movies, special events and more:

Tuesday, September 6:  The free movies at Dock Street Brewing continue with Dark City tonight. Watch the flick with food: $1 off small pizzas and $2 off larges, plus $1 off select drafts. Also tonight? 

Wednesday, September 7: The worst part of any 21+ Philadelphian's summer, school buses aside, is when Center City Sips draws to a close - no more $4, $3, $2 beverages all over the CC 'hood. 

Friday, September 9: Check out old cinema flick "Millionaires in Prison" in the prison, well at least the old prison. For $10, check out a little of Eastern State Penitentiary and this flick. Warning, you may feel like you're an inmate with the steel bars and prison guards a-lurking.

Bucket List September 2: Philadelphia, The Greatest City Never Sold

After a long break from Philly Hub, near two weeks, the Bucket List is back. Blame my surgeon for your withdraw pains, or channel all your frustration from 10 days of the missing out on the scoop on what to do in Philadelphia into this weekend:

Friday, September 2:

First Friday again! Check out the usual scenes of art shenanigans in Old City, starting at 5 p.m. Don't forget about the monthly Drink Philly First Friday party, where this month promises some Ithaca Brewing drafts and Q BBQ cuisine - for free, of course. Stroll the rest of the art gallery showings in Old City, and don't miss the going-ons at Penn's Landing either. While The Smooth Jazz Summer Nights & Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park were a good time in August,  the WHHY Connections Festival

is taking it up a few notches at Penn's Landing. 


Head there tonight for free music, movies and more.  

Enter at 6 p.m., enjoy a performance by the Hot Club of Philadelphia at 6:30, then head the the River Stage at 7:30 p.m. for a screening of Ken Burn's Prohibition. Afterwards, you can even hit up Festival Pier to watch Manu Chao bring his eclectic music to main stage Philadelphia. (Exhibit A, below)

At the Race Street Pier, expect their First Friday Parties to continue - with the real Bomba. Check out the Puerto Rican drum dance musica at 2nd and Race from 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you just can't miss out on the Phillies game, even for a free concert, art showings or complimentary bites and beverages, head to the Pizza at Schmidt's, where you can catch the game versus the Marlins tonight, starting at 7:10 p.m.  Also:Out in the country, hit up Brandywine Polo Club's Friday Nights Under the Stars for night polo & live music - tonight 61 North plays around 7:30 p.m.

We'll be right back after this brief intermission

Dearest Blog Readers,

I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'll be undergoing surgery today and won't be posting the Philly Hub bucket list until later this week. In the meantime, check out Uwishunu.com for cool events and goingons. See you on the flip side,

Lindsay


UPDATE:
As of September 21, the Philly Hub Bucket List will resume! Thanks for your patience...

Bucket List August 16-22: Philadelphia, The Greatest City Never Sold

The usual summer goodies are all going on, and now is the best time to take advantage of them. Free movies, special events and more:

Tuesday, August 16: Tonight: The big deal to be at tonight is the Skillshare Launch Party. While it's cleverly disguised as a class on Skillshare, don't be fooled. But wait, what is Skillshare? Go to the Field House tonight from 7-9 p.m. to find out, or wait for tomorrow's entry revealing all. If unraveling the mystery isn't enough, there will also be $3 brews and $4 wine specials to get you out. The free movie at Dock Street Brewing will be Riding Giants (giant waves, not overly large people - though that would be almost as cool as dwarf-tossing). Enjoy it along with $1 off small pizzas and $2 off larges, plus $1 off select drafts. Also tonight? It's National Rum Day. Where are you celebrating? (Hint: there's a Philly Hub List). If you're looking for something completely free to do, Sunday's free Awesomefest flick got rained out: See it tonight.

Wednesday, August 17: Take advantage of Center City Sips while it's still summer! $4, $3, $2 beverages all over the CC 'hood - weekly party is at Perch Pub, 1345 Locust St., with free appetizers for the first hour. Plus, bonus: there's free parking after 5 in Center City! The free South Street Headhouse Square Indie flick is The Happening, and since you'll get a cozy view of Rittenhouse Square (well, it starts off cozy), plus Mark Wahlberg, you should probably go. Plus, I don't think I mentioned this: drink specials, everywhere! Just mention the Indie Film Fest. Also FREE in the city? Franklin Institute tonight from 5-8 p.m., enjoy basically all the science amenities gratis, courtesy of Target Community Night. 
If you're looking for music instead of art/science/film, head to Reggae Night at the Piazza at Schmidt's. Philadelphia Weekly's free concert series presents covers of famous original reggae songs - for free of course.In the 'burbs, head to Malvern if you're a lady - or a wino - for Wednesday Night Whinos. Located at The Pub at Wegman's, it's a good excuse to network, nosh on free appetizers and check out a fairly new venue. 

Thursday, August 18:  Hang out with WMMR at the Piazza at Schmidt's for the "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia GATHERING OF THE GREEN MEN and Viewing Party" from 7 to 9 p.m. If you wear green and you're there early enough, you can get a free Paddy's Pub shirt, thanks to Coors Light. Apparently it's "Sunny" night in Philly, because DrinkPhilly.com reminded me that Mac''s Tavern is also hosting a The Dude Hates Cancer party. $5 to enter, cool raffle prizes from 6-9 p.m. Summer oldies but goodies: Old City Social (6-8 p.m.) gets you $3 Hoegaarden, Skyy vodka and Don Q Rum drinks (celebrate National Rum Day a day or two late with Don Q!) and at Penn's Landing: the Thursday Night free movie is Twilight Eclipse. So if you're a tween girl, or want to act like one, check it out. Don't forget your team Jacob shirt. (That's right you Edward fans, I'm on the guy's side who doesn't wear a shirt.) If you're not a tween, watch "The Incredibles" on the Schuylkill River Banks instead. Starts at 8:20 in the evening! In case you don't know where in the banks to go, head to the Walnut Street Bridge. 

Friday, August 19: The Philly Geek Awards. The only place to be on Friday night. Watch the coolest nerds in Philadelphia score awards at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Hope you've got a ticket, or you are SOL- the tickets sold out on Monday! So, if you're unlucky or too cool for geeks, don't forget about summer's Friday staples: The Smooth Jazz Summer Nights. Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park.  Smooth Jazz tonight could be moved inside the Independence Sea Port pending bad weather. Should the weather hold up, you can also head to Penn Treaty Park for The British Invasion from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Also: Brandywine Polo Club's Friday Nights Under the Stars for night polo & live music.

(Better) Updates Coming Tomorrow:

Saturday, August 20: Brewerytown has some daytime action for you. Starting at 10 am - a farmer's market, then a community picnic. Bring a dish and share all the other ones. 

Sunday, August 21:  At 9 p.m., Awesomefest screens "Beauty Day," about a dare devil that possibly spawned all the "Jackass"es of our modern world, for free.

Monday, August 22: Try a Philly Hub favorite happy hour . Example? Patio 13 at the Marriott has Center City Sips prices if you can't wait until Wednesday. Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar at 818 W. Lancaster Ave in Bryn Mawr also has a 3-course, $20 menu on Mondays. I'm actually supposed to have surgery today, so I won't be imbibing, or eating, at a place near you but have one for me!

National Rum Day, in Philly, Yum Rum!

Courtesy of Rum Bar

Happy National Rum Day!

There's just something about rum that makes me want to go into my Facebook settings and set my language as: Pirate, then go out on a pirate ship sipping rum till dawn. Unfortunately, since we seem to have a shortage of pirate ships in Philly (this will go on my FB in the status, AKA "what be troublin' ye?" space) most patrons of National Rum Day will find themselves settling for rum specials at various bars across Philly today. What place will ye be fancyin' with your mateys tonight, Cap'n?

2 p.m. - My first recommendation is Cuba Libre. Half off their entire extensive rum collection during their 5-7 happy hour. There will also be 35 rum cocktails half off for your pirate, I mean private, pleasure. BONUS: First 100 people through the door, according to Yelp, get a FREE RUMSICLE!

3 p.m. - Rum Bar is celebrating the national day of their namesake with $3 drinks all week. Choose a drought of Barritt's Ginger Beer Dark and Stormy's or Brugal Rum (which hails from the Dominican Republic) in order to lay down only three buckeroos (plus tip, you scalawag).

4 p.m. - For those outside of Philadelphia who want to celebrate rum day, head to Más Mexicali Cantina, where Patron & Pyrat Rum drinks are half off from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. (While Patron is not Rum, it's still on here because that's such an awesome deal, and pirates probably drank tequila too.)

5 p.m. - One of the best options may be concocting your own rum cocktail. Don Q Rum has some recommendations: The easiest of these recipes is the DonQ Punch with 1 ½ oz. DonQ Gold rum, 2 oz. Orange juice, 2 oz. Pineapple juice, and 1 tbsp. Grenadine.  In a cocktail shaker, add rum, juices, grenadine and ice. Shake it like a shake weight. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice, and viola - Yum Rum!


Have a happy rum day!