Shop to Support The Friends of 4th Street This Wednesday
As you probably recall, back on April 6, a devastating fire broke out at 4th and Fitzwater streets along Fabric Row, destroying two businesses, leaving 17 people homeless and killing Fire Captain Michael Goodwin.
Almost immediately, the community rallied together to create the Friends of 4th Street Fire Relief Fund, which has already raised nearly $7,000 to benefit those directly affected by the blaze.
To edge them closer to their $15,000 goal, this Wednesday, over 60 sponsoring businesses throughout the South Street/Headhouse and Queen Village neighborhoods, along with a few in Old City and NoLibs, will be taking part in a special, daylong benefit event, donating 10-20 percent of their sales to the fund as well as proceeds from raffles and cover charges.
The long list of participating merchants include American Mortals Hair Salon, Philly AIDS Thrift, Sweet Box, Urban Princess Boutique, Paper Moon, Old City Tattoo, Pet Snobs Boutique, Royal Tavern, P.O.P.E, and BUS STOP Boutique.
After you shop, eat, get your hair did and/or get a new tatty, you can also enjoy some live entertainment for a good cause:
South Street Magic – Super awesome magic show starring Dan Hauss and Captain Swirly. (7pm, $10. 519 S. Fourth St.)
Tattooed Mom’s – DJ Foxx Boogie, $3 dollar burgers and veggie burgers, $2 dollar Narragansett tall boys, half priced drafts from 10-11pm, and tons of raffle prizes, including art donated by Qcknd, Harlequinade, Kid Hazo, Linx, and Joe Boruchow. (8-11pm, Free. 530 South St.)
DOBBS – Raffle prizes all night long and live music from Slo N’ Shakey, The Sideshow Prophets and Atomic Sky. (8pm-1am, $5. 304 South St.)
If you can’t make it out on Wednesday, be sure to make your way over to Fourth Street for their Fourth Friday events.
Sales This Week…
NOTE: Before you go and deplete your bank account on any of the sales mentioned below, keep in mind that Labor Day is just around the corner.
BUS STOP: For their 2nd Annual Summer Warehouse Sale, the boutique is offering some serious savings on their selection of hard-to-find designer shoes for ladies and blokes. We’re talking up to 75 percent off styles from international designers like Jeffery Campbell, Farylrobin, Toms, Irregular Choice and Matiko. The sale runs three days only (Aug. 24-26) and with prices starting as low as $25, this is one you’re definitely not going to want to miss out on.
Kembrel: From Thursday-Sunday, the Philly-based retailer will be holding a “Back-To-School” pop-up sale, offering 50 percent off select merchandise both in store (1822 Chestnut St.) and online (checkout code: KEMBRELSCHOOL).
H&M: If you’re currently enrolled in one of Philly’s many fine institutions of higher learning and in need of some new duds for the fall, be sure to head to any one of the million H&M locations around town between now and Sunday. Just flash your valid student ID (with photo) at checkout and you’ll receive 15 percent off your ENTIRE purchase. It’s times like these that I’m glad I held onto my ID and that Temple never put an expiration date on it.
Adolf Biecker Spa/Salon: All retail products will be 20 percent off Aug. 24-26 including, Aveda products, Coola Sunscreen, Rapidlash, various styling tools and much, much more. The upscale salon and spa is located on the third floor of the ever-so fancy Rittenhouse Hotel at 210 W. Rittenhouse Sq.
Urban Outfitters: As most of you probably know, Urban Outfitters has tons of awesome online only merch. So if there’s anything that you’ve been eyeing on their site, go ahead and purchase it before midnight on Thursday and you’ll receive free shipping. There’s no minimum or checkout code. You may also want to consider checking out one of their two city locations as they’ve got a few pretty decent, random sales going on.
Fire & Ice: Stop in anytime now until Sept. 2 and you can score a buy one, get one 50 percent off deal on all sterling silver. Just in case you’ve never been, the tiny shop upstairs at the Shops at Liberty Place (1625 Chestnut St.) has a really unique selection of gems and jewels–one worth perusing at some point.
What To Do This Weekend
E. Passyunk Avenue’s 7th Annual Car Show & Street Festival
Personally, this is at the top of my weekend “To Do” list. In addition to 140+ super awesome antique/show/custom cars, the avenue will be lined with circus performers, a moon bounce, all the food and drinks you can imagine and DJs at each corner. To top it all off, over at the Singing Fountain, nice things handmade will be hosting the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show, featuring a plethora of handmade items from 30 crafters and artists. Note: this is in addition to the street vendors who you’ll find scattered about selling jewelry, sunglasses, Italian clothing and other products. Oh, and did I mention that Ms. Goody Cupcakes will be handing out free samples? Sunday, 12-8pm. Free. @ E. Passyunk Ave. between Broad & Dickinson Sts.
Kembrel’s Philly Designer Trunk Show Vol. 4
Haven’t been to the last three trunk shows? What the fuck are you waiting for?? As always, shoppers will be treated to appetizers and wine while perusing the one-of-a-kind goods of four local indie designers—from the geometric, 80s-fab creations of Abigrl, Couture Vulture and the high-concept nail art service Nail Tite to the clever, Philly-centric fashions of Phreedom and Philly Phaithful. Sunday, 4-8pm. Free. @ Kembrel (1822 Chestnut St.)
Retrograde Presents: Swingin’ Sirens
Wanna feel super glamorous for a night? Of course you do. I mean, who doesn’t? So get all dolled up in your finest vintage/vintage-inspired attire and check out this 1940s themed event celebrating the era’s biggest sirens—from the Hollywood starlets to the femme fatales and even Rosie The Riveter. There will be live swing music and performances throughout the evening. Should you want to spruce up your outfit, Itzy Bitzy’s Hats will also be selling their retro-inspired tiny hats and embellished stunners. Saturday, 9pm. $10. @ HeadHouse (122 Lombard St.)
If, like me, you can’t walk down the street at night without trying to sneak a peak inside every house with their blinds open, then this might be the sightseeing tour of your dreams. Here’s how it works: for $25 you’ll have access to six of the coolest modern homes in the Philly area (two of which are in the city) and because this is a self-guided driving tour, you are welcome to tour the homes in any order at your own pace. In other words: a mini road trip! And if the exterior shots of these houses are any indication, the interiors are going to blow you away. Check the site for more deets. Saturday, 11am-5pm. $25. @ Various locations
Fourth Friday on Fourth Street
After checking out the opening receptions apart of Arts on South, be sure to meander over to Fabric Row. As we mentioned earlier this week, BUS STOP (727 S. 4th St.) is celebrating the start of the London Summer Olympics with an all-day “GOLD FOR THE GOLD Sale.” Customers who come appropriately adorned in some gold bling (no, silver isn’t good enough) will be awarded 15 percent off all shoe purchases. The boutique will also be serving ice-cold lemonade and setting up a podium where you can proudly showcase your footwear. Just a few doors down, Urban Princess Boutique (750 S. 4th St.) will be offering 15 percent off all summer clothing, accessories, soaps and other gifts from noon-8 p.m.
Ballet, hip-hop, belly dancing, tango, Zumba, pole dancing…you can do it all this Saturday. Even better: you can do it entire for free. Several studios across the city will be hosting back-to-back dance workshops, mostly catering to beginners–even those very unfortunate individuals born with two left feet. To wrap up the event, a huge dance party will be held at the Ethical Society at Rittenhouse Square where every is welcome to come and cut a rug however they so choose. Check the site for a complete schedule of events. Saturday, 10am-11:30pm. $0-$5. @ Various locations
Photo: Monica Manlang
Just in case you’re unfamiliar with this annual street fair, basically it’s an explosion of creativity that consumes an entire city block. In a nutshell: live music, fire arts, dance, food and drink vendors, hands-on activities and more than 20 arts vendors showcasing/selling everything from jewelry, clothing and furniture to stationary, books and paintings. There will also be roughly 14 different organizations in attendance offering their products/services and hosting activities including, The Clay Studio, InLiquid and Neighborhood Bike Works. Judging by the entire line-up of festivities contained in their three page press release, I can say with confidence it’s gonna be a pretty dang good time. Saturday, 12-10pm. Free. @ Philly Magic Gardens (1000 block of South St.)
What To Do This Weekend
As an American, I don’t quite understand what the hell the Diamond Jubilee is exactly except that it entails several days of non-stop parties commemorating The Queen’s 60 year reign. I’m sold! Fortunately, fellow Brit and BUS STOP owner, Elena Brennan is bringing a taste of the royal celebration here to Philly. Guests will be treated to sponge cake and (spiked) Jubilee Punch while rocking out to ’50s tunes. Come donning your snazziest hat (perhaps the stunner you bought following the royal wedding) and receive 15 percent off any shoe purchase. You’ll even get to peek the boutique’s latest arrivals, including GOLA Union Jack shoes and hand-made Union Jack clutches by local design Conrad Booker. Friday, 5:30-8:30pm. Free. @ BUS STOP (727 S. 4th St.)
Coinciding with the various Fourth Friday festivities and art openings, the Jubilee celebration will actually be stretching all along Fabric Row. So once you’ve hit BUS STOP, head over to Paradigm Gallery (803 S. 4th St.) between 6-10 p.m. for a reception and sewing party in honor of local printmaker and instillation artist, Kay Healy’s latest exhibition, “Starter Home.” You also want to check out Urban Princess Boutique (750 S. 4th St.) where they too will be rewarding any hat-wearing customers with 15 percent off their in addition to serving cocktails and munchies from 5-8 p.m.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with this lovely little city shop, this weekend would be a good time to change that. Omoi has been around since 2006 and is chock full of unique goodies—a curated selection of Japanese design items mixed with brands from around the globe. We’re talking everything from stationary, books and gadgets to home décor, apparel and accessories. Not only is this annual sale their biggest but this year, owner Elizabeth Sieber is planning to totally clean house in hopes of making enough money to remodel the shop. For the first time ever, all apparel will marked down, along with a slew of other select merchandise now 40-70 percent off including, House of Harlow jewelry, deadstock sunglasses, SAGlife bags, and Japanese stationery. Fri.-Sat., 11am-7pm. Sun., 12-6pm. @ Omoi (1608 Pine St.)
Kembrel Philly Designer Trunk Show
Just in case you missed their first two local indie designer trunk shows, Kembrel is hosting a third installment. And considering the vast pool of talent there is in this city, they could seriously keep these going for a very long time. Co-curated by Skai Blue Media’s showroom division, guests will have the chance to peruse the awesome items from five eclectic, up-and-coming designers: Joanna Je, Lobo Mau, Tough Luv, Marina Makaron Moscow and Mel’s Bells. There will also be appetizers from Pure Fare and a selection of wine. Sunday, 5-9pm. Free. @ Kembrel (1822 Chestnut St.)
Be sure to make your way over to Knit Wit’s new Center City store today or tomorrow and check out the uniquely stunning jewelry of Lionette (and when I say “stunning,” I mean STUNNING). I’m officially obsessed with their necklaces in particular (most of which are under $200). Perhaps explaining the seemingly exotic look of the pieces, the brand is the brainchild of designer Noa Sade of Israel and China-born, NYC-raised, fashion guru Vanessa Lee (who you’ll have a chance to meet during the show). Fri. & Sat., 10am-6pm. Free. @ Knit Wit (1729 Chestnut St.)
In addition to showcasing the collection of funky hand-dyed dresses and apparel from Heyne Bogut (aka. Philly designers, Karen Heyne and Paul Bogut), the event will feature street art and indie music-inspired clothing. It just so happens that Joan Shepp’s “Amazing Sale” is also going on now, offering customers 40 percent off all shoes, clothing and a selection of Wolford hosiery, jewelry, and belts. Fri. & Sat., 12-6pm. Free. @ Joan Shepp (1616 Walnut St.)
23rd Annual Manayunk Arts Festival
For those who don’t normally venture to Manayunk, I think the largest outdoor, juried arts festival in the tri-state region is a pretty good incentive to make the short trip. As many as 300 thousand artists, collectors, buyers and designers from around the country will line Main Street for the two day event, selling and showcasing a plethora of one-of-a-kind, handmade items. In other words, imagine every arts/craft festival in the city combined…and then double that. Though the list of vendors is so long that it seems almost pointless to try and single out a few, I can recommend keeping an eye out for local apparel company, BreakAwayINK who will be selling items from their new summer line as well as doing an impromptu photo/video shoot. Sat., 11am-8pm. Sun., 11am-6pm. Free. @ Various Locations Along Main St. in Manayunk
Local Black Friday Sales
Avoid this, Shop Local.
Adresse (1706 Locust Street) - Get 30 percent off this weekend on select merchandise like Stella McCartney and Peter Som.
Arcadia (819 N 2nd and 265 S 20th) – From 11am-7pm, take 30 percent off of all black items and 15 percent off everything else.
Bus Stop (740 S 4th Street) – From 5:30 pm to 9 pm, take 20 percent off of the Autumn/Winter inventory of black footwear.
Denim Habit -(47 Saint Georges, Ardmore) – Now through Sunday, take 25 percent off of everything in the store.
J Karma (62 North 3rd Street) – Get 50 percent off remaining inventory in the store before it closes.
Jack Wills (1617 Walnut Street) – Get 30 percent off storewide.
Lucifer (350 S 15th Street) – Get 20 percent off storewide. Spin the boutique’s “Percentage-Off Wheel” to get additional savings.
Mitchell & Ness (1201 Chestnut Street) – All team jerseys will be offered for $100 (regularly ($150-$300).
Omoi (1608 Pine Street) – Get 35 percent off sale items.
Reward (55 North 2nd Street) Get 15 percent off store-wide. Additional discounts on red-line markdowns.
SA VA (1700 Sansom Street) – This whopping sale promises 50 percent off of one piece of regular-priced items and 25 percent off regular-priced accessories. Everything on the second floor will be reduced to $25.
Sazz Vintage (38 N. 3rd Street) – Everything in the store will be 40 percent off.
Ubiq (1509 Walnut Street) – Savings up to 60 percent off from open to close on Friday.
Philadelphia Fashion Week Opening: TONIGHT!
Hey, it’s here! The local version of Fashion Week, which means there is zero excuse for looking like a schlub for the next several days. Choose your outfits wisely because there are tons and parties and events to attend post-work.
Tonight’s kick-off event, Earthly Beauties, is courtesy of Arcadia Boutique, Bus Stop Boutique, Zivile Art, and several other local artisans.
Look for pieces by Ivy Glass Ecouture, Feral Childe, 3 by three, the always-lovely Nicole Rae Styer, plus clothings (Lauren Moffat!) and kicks (United Nude!) from Bus Stop and Arcadia.
Get thee to the 23rd Street Armory. Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.
Check out the full schedule for Philadelphia Fashion Week here.
Fall Sprawl
This weekend boutiques in Queen’s Village and NoLibs are teaming up for two days of shopping discounts Septembere 18 and 19. The Fall Sprawl is like a progressive shopping trip. With each purchase from a participating boutique you’ll receive a sticker on your Fall Sprawl card. Your first two stickers increase the percentage you’ll receive off of your next purchase and your third sticker will give you special pricing at participating food and drink establishments! See below for the full list of and links for participating boutiques and eateries.