Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Part One
Mamma Mia Gift Set
LUSH: $39.95
Comes with Creamed Almond and Coconut Shower Smoothie, Tiny Hands hand lotion, Miranda Soap, The Olive Branch Shower Gel, Sugar Scrub Sugar Scrub. The best part: it’s already wrapped!
Mother’s Day Bouquets
Hana & Posy: $40-$75 (regularly $80-$150)
Sign up to Daily Candy and get this special 50 percent off deal. The adorable, eco-friendly Old City flower shop was actually voted Best of 2010: Gifts & Flowers by Philadelphia magazine. I particularly like Hana’s Hartwell and Posy’s Kingston bouquets (shown above).
“Keep Calm and Carry On” Mug
Paper Source: $11.95
This message originally comes from a poster produced during the beginning of WWII that was never officially released. Now, it’s a perfect slogan for the modern day mom.
Crosley Pay Phone
Urban Outfitters: $90
If you got an old-school mom who still prefers using a landline phone, she may appreciate this 1950s inspired 3-slot pay phone replica. While it might remind her of her childhood, it has all the technology of a modern phone. The rotary dial fashion plate has actual buttons and you don’t need a coin to make a call (the functional coin slot leads to a bank).
Kimmel Center Gift Certificate
Redeemable for events and performances at both the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music, you and your moms can spend quality time together whilst enjoying world-renown performances whether it be an opera, ballet, musical, ect. You can order online or by phone.
5×7 Prints
Homemade-Pop.com: $5 each
These colorful, hand-drawn prints by local artist Danielle Byrne make for a perfect personalized gift. There’s a bunch of illustrations of everyday and nostalgic objects for you to choose from on her Web site and Etsy store. I recommend picking out three that best represent your mom then finding some decent dollar-store frames to put them in.
Metro Cosmo Dispenser
P.H.A.G (Philadelphia Home Art Garden): $54.50
For the mother who likes to entertain and throw a few back, this snazzy glass beverage dispenser will hold approximately one quart of whatever beverage she so chooses.
Upcycled Eco Friendly Crocheted T-Shirt Wrap Necklace
Big Green Earth Store: $30
Love this! Made entirely out of t-shirts, this handmade necklace is light-weight, durable and can be worn in several slightly different ways since you can wrap/stretch the large single crocheted chain as many times as you want. It also comes in eight different colors. Should it start to look a little dirty, don’t worry—you can just throw it into the washing machine!
Drink Like Royalty
Ok, so I think the American media has gone a bit overboard with their non-stop, 24-7 coverage of today’s royal wedding. Especially since they started a month ago. If you’ve somehow been successful in avoiding all media outlets so far today, allow me to be the first to tell you: Prince William and Catherine Middleton have officially united in matrimony.
OMG!! SO EXCITING, RIGHT???
Anyway, while I may not care as much about their marriage as apparently, the bulk of the general public does, I am eager to cuddle up in my bed tonight and get the roundup on the day’s royal fashions (Fashion Police is on at 10 p.m).
So if you’d like to invite some gal pals over tonight and booze it up while Joan Rivers calls everyone fat and finds numerous unfunny puns to describe people’s attire, here’s some cocktails to set the mood (stolen from iDrink.com)…
Blushing Bride
2 oz. Lemon Lime Soda (Sprite)
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
3 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Vodka
Directions: pour in the vodka, soda and orange juice then add cranberry juice to the top so it flows down the drink. Garnish with a cherry if ya got some.
Absolute Royalty
1 oz. Amaretto
2 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. vodka
2 oz. Chambord
Directions: Mix ingredients in shaker with ice then shake and strain.
Wedding Cake Martini
1 oz. vodka
2 oz. cranberry juice
0.5 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. of artificial sweetner (1 package)
Directions: combine and shake well with ice.
Princess Punch
4 oz. orange juice
4 oz. Peach Schnapps
4 oz. vodka
Directions: mix well and drink it with ice.
The Royal Philadelphian
What To Do This Weekend
Tomorrow, the popular NoLibs burger joint PYT is joining forces with Philabundance to host the ultimate Cupcake Smash. Both amateur and professional bakers will compete to create the most deliciously creative cupcakes inspired by PYT’s menu. In addition to getting to sample the cupcake entries, you’ll have a chance to win cool stuff from several local businesses while taking advantage of some food specials. Local chef turned writer, Felicia D’Ambrosio will be emceeing the event, accompanied by the tunes of DJ Jay Yo. A panel of celebrity judges—Tommy Up, Anna Goldfarb from Shmitten Kitten, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Michael Klein and Phrequency’s Leah Kauffman—will select the winning cupcake, which will be featured on PYT’s menu. The event goes from 2-6 p.m and tickets are either $15 in advance or $20 at the door. All proceeds will go to Philabundance.
If you were hoping to go shopping this weekend—either for your mom or yourself—forget the mall. Instead, soak up some fresh air in one of the prettiest parts of the city at the 15th Annual Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival. On Sunday, from 11 a.m-5 p.m., vendors will line Germantown Ave. selling various goods for your home or garden such as hand-made furniture, arts and collectibles, quilts and jewelry. On Eco Alley, you’ll find all sorts of sustainable products from over 20 vendors, including organic cosmetics from LUSH. There will also be live music, kids activities and restaurant specials. The festival is free and you can get all-day parking for a measly $5.
Street Snaps: Bald is Beautiful
I know that everyone admires the style of glamorous old ladies, but let us not forget those elders in our communities that walk around in such items as a thrifted, possibly DIY altered denim skirt, wearing gold hoops, and rocking a bald hairstyle, like in today’s Street Snaps.
“My name is Beatrice. I’m seventy-three. From West Philadelphia.”
Is there anything you have to say about the way people in Philadelphia dress? Or a certain style that you think is around?
“I think it [depends] on what section you go into, you know. You can be on Walnut street, Chestnut street, Market street — you really can see the difference in how people dress, you know? And I like everything that’s in style.”
Do you tend to dress if you’re going to a specific area of the city, or do you do what you like to do?
“I do what I like to do. And usually — I do houses — so usually I have my jeans on and I’m really funky during the day. But today I didn’t work so I said, lemme put a skirt on.”
Is there anything that inspires the way you dress?
“No, I don’t think so. I just like to keep with the styles, and I don’t want to dress old-fashioned. Because I get on the bus sometimes, and I have my pass — you know the yellow pass? [for seniors] — and I see people get on the bus and they’ve got the pass on their necks? I say oh no, no, that’s for old people. Uh-uh.”
Is there anything you have to say about having very short or shaved hair?
“I love it. When I first started wearing it like eight years ago people would say, are you sick? I’d say no, I just like it. I let it grow last winter about that long [pinches fingers]. I couldn’t stand it. So I had to take it — I said I’ll let it grow until the summertime, but no, I said oh no, I’ve got to go back bald.”
Do you have any tips to anyone that’s maybe wanting to have a cut like yours?
“Well now you notice a lot of blacks with their hair cut short now. Like five years ago you didn’t see all this.”
Do you have a current obsession?
“No, no. I do enjoy doing houses. And I enjoy coming to thrift shops. And I tell people it’s just like being a crackhead. (laughs) It is. And I love it. So that’s really all I do. I don’t go out that much. I don’t travel that much. And it keeps me busy with doing these houses and things.”
Do you buy new clothes a lot?
“No, no, no. No. I thrift everything. Because what happened — I used to have a thrift shop myself. And then I gave it up because my daughter, she wouldn’t come half of the time. And I couldn’t pay the rent there and try to sell the stuff too, so I wound up taking like four car-loads of stuff to a church. And they just gave it away. So now I have a whole bag of shoes to give this Thursday. Cause you know what happens is, really we have too much. We have too much. So I’m glad to see you in here. I love it. Cause you never know what you’re gonna find. You can find designer stuff. You can even find crystal in here. I was in here last week and found some Waterford crystal, one of the best crystal you can buy — it was two candlestick holders, and it was two dollars and fifty-two cents a piece. [...] Cause they don’t know what they have in here.”
Hah! That is the beauty of the thrift store. Any last words?
“No, I’m just glad I ran into you!”
If you’re looking for more Philly street style, visit Broad&Market, or check out the Street Snaps archive by clicking on the “street snaps” tag just below.
The COLabORate Conference
Here’s something interesting for all of you trend-heads out there. The upcoming COLabORate Design symposium at Moore College of the Arts, brought to you by the Association for the Advancement and Integration of Design. Whew! That was a mouthful.
This is a symposium, so it’s meant to create a dialogue between like-minded, or hell, opposed-minded individuals on a given topic. The topic this time around will be “Unintended Consequences: Color and Design Collaboration.” Attendees will discuss at length about how color trends at patterns sneak into our everyday lives, influence us to buy stuff and remain loyal to certain products.
The lectures will be led by design industry fat cats like Tim Luscher (Natuzzi), Karolyn Spagnolo (PPG), and Anna Losev (Art and Design Studios).
The Goal: Hopefully you will leave the symposium with a better understanding of the cyclical nature of trends in color, design and culture. You’ll be able to pick up on pattern recognition, see the evolution of a trend, and even forecast one on your own by studying cultural patterns.
“Seemingly innocuous things like color and the way a product looks go far beyond aesthetics and lead to major evolution in the end user’s thought and application of a specific product or item. For the most part, this evolution goes largely unnoticed by the public – or users – and with COLabORate, I aim to increase the awareness of the impact design has on our everyday lives,” says Monique Curry, Founder and President of AAID.
You can apply this new-found knowledge to any business, any interest — your clothing line, your blog, your book, your shopping choices. It’s endless.
May 20th, Moore College of Art and Design, 10 am – 5 pm, $50
FourSquare for Mayorhood of PIFA
Here we are in the last week of the PIFA festival. You probably haven’t made it out to quite as many events as you would have liked. But, we urge you to get in on this action before it’s all over this weekend.
In honor of the last week , the 4sq mayor of the PIFA Eiffel Tower at noon on Saturday, April 30 wins a $100.00 Maggiano’s gift certificate. According to the fourquare website, for those that aren’t familiar. You can become “mayor” of a place by checking in the most times. And it should be easy – since there are dozens of free events happening in the Plaza this week. All you have to do is stop in and check in.
To check out all the events happening in the plaza and get at that gift certificate, go to kimmelcenter.tumblr.com.
Winners will be notified on Monday, May 2 via Facebook.com/KimmelCenterPhilly.
Discover the Hip Homemaker Within
Deep down, I think most of us are probably a little envious of Martha Stewart and all her crafting/sewing/gardening/cooking wizardry. Unfortunately, few of us have the time, money or know-how to throw together a last minute theme party equipped with handmade decorations and festive treats, regardless of how much we’d like to be able to.
This is essentially the idea behind the new book, “The Hip Girls Guide to Homemaking.” Tomorrow (Wednesday), author Kate Payne will be stopping by the Penn Bookstore to host a free interactive workshop where she’ll be sharing cheap and easy ways to personalize your abode, get through household chores, and entertain friends.
You’ll also get a chance to actually put your homemaking skills to the test, hence it being an “interactive” workshop. Should you want some additional guidance or inspiration, you can check out her blog or actually spend a few bucks and buy the book.
The workshop starts at 6 p.m and light refreshments will be provided (for free!).
Local Love: Smak Parlour
I am a Smak Parlour groupie! The pink doll-house on Market Street is a haven for girls who love vintage inspired dresses, feminine accessories, feathered headbands and oversized sunnies. Started by best friends Abby & Katie, Smak Parlour has been an Old City staple for the past 6 years. The duo recently launched their online store SmakParlour.com.
Also, this First Friday Smak Parlour is celebrating the launch of their online store with an in-store party from 6pm-9pm. 10% of all sales at the event will be donated to PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society).
Smak Parlour | 219 Market Street | 19106 | 215-625-4551
My Smak Parlour Picks: 
Flirty Swallow Print Sundress: $70
Vintage Hand Mirror Necklace: $18M
Screw the Budget Coin Purse: $12
PWStyle Loves: The Andean Collection Jewelry
We’ve been on the hunt for some new ’summer-style’ jewelry lately. You know, those bright, ethnic-y creations that seem to pop up every season. So lucky for us then, that we discovered The Andean Collection, a line of colorful and totally warm weather-appropriate handmade jewelry, at Old City treasure trove, Sugarcube.
Made from seeds like Acai, Tagu and Pambil, sustainably harvested from the rainforest and lowlands of South America, The Andean Collection also provides a way out of poverty for the very artisans that create it through fair wages and company profit-sharing. Fashion you can feel good about, that’s always something we can get behind!
For pricing or more photos, visit Sugarcube online at www.sugarcube.us or call 215-238-0825.
Sugarcube is located at 124 North 3rd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.
—Kat Blazowski
Chain-Store Deals
Of course, it’s best to always support your local businesses first, but sometimes, you just want the chain store fix. Luckily, some center city chain stores are having some deals going on right now so their big market-little price experience can come even cheaper.
Get 25% off your order at Ann Taylor.
Get a free deluxe sample of Dream Angels Heavenly Parfume at Victoria Secrets.
Get 20% off your order at Payless Shoe Source.
Pay only $4 bucks for 30 4×6 digital prints at Rite Aid.
Get $30 off your order of $100 or more at Foot Locker.
Get $25 off your order of $75 or more at New York & Co.
Get a $25 Gift Card when you spend $100 or more at Sports Authority.