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.