Welcome to Passyunk Ave. – Let’s Party with the DNC!

by Maria Merlino

JOSH EINBINDER-SCHATZ, a bartender at Brigantessa,1520 E. Passyunk Avenue, is ready for the crowd. Special menu additions and pizza will be served. “We have full bar service with 20% off for delegates with credentials,” he said. Photo by Maria Merlino

Everybody loves a good party, and one of the best times – in fact, many of the best times – to be had during the Democratic National Convention next week, happening July 25-28, will be on Passyunk Avenue – with no RSVP needed.

“We have some awesome events happening on the Avenue,” says Renee Gillinger of the Visit E. Passyunk Avenue office. “We already have the Passyunk Passeggiata so we’re expanding our weekly stroll into a late-night street festival for the DNC. We wanted to hold a proper neighborhood street festival and the businesses jumped at the good opportunity to have a midnight version. We’ll have a lot of visitors in town who would love to come to this cool neighborhood. The festival will run until 1 a.m.”

The Avenue will be closed from Broad Street to the Singing Fountain, and filled with street food, outdoor bars, al fresco dining, vendors, and live music, as well as the weekly Farmers’ Market.
Select shops and restaurants will be staying open late to accommodate the DNC tourists with special bar menus, drink specials, and shopping promotions. On July 27, the Passeggiata will be open from 3 to 6 p.m., with a speaker stage set-up on the crossing of 13th Street and Passyunk Avenue. It will continue past midnight with more revelry. QOTA (Queers on the Avenue) will be held outside of Bing Dim Sum and Cantina los Caballitos on July 27, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., with an outdoor bar, drink specials featuring Milagro tequila and Reyka vodka, and late-night bar bites. This is a chance to welcome the LGBT delegates.

On the same afternoon, the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council is turning E. Passyunk Avenue between Mifflin and Moore Streets into a mini-trip around the world with the first-ever DNC Heritage Festival. A global menu, food trucks, live music celebrating diversity, dancers from Chinatown and whirling dervishes. The block party is free.

“Ahlan wa Sahlan” means “Welcome” in Arabic. On July 26, the Singing Fountain will be transformed into a celebration of Arab-American culture. The revelers will be treated to live Lebanese music by the Mideast Ensemble, Lebanese line dancing, $5 North African and Middle Eastern fare from Neuf, and $5 Arabic-inspired cocktails, wine and beer from Fond.

“I’ve been to two conventions in the past,” relates Gillinger. “The best experiences were exploring the neighborhoods. It’s a fun way to introduce the city to our guests. I’m on the host committee and Councilman Mark Squilla said it would be nice to host a neighborhood event. We’re all excited about this. With the street closing, were going to have musicians set up along the way.”

Joncarl Lachman, the chef and owner of Noord, 1046 Tasker Street, is pumped over the DNC events. “I live upstairs, above my restaurant, so I call this fabulous neighborhood home,” he says. “I could not be more excited to be hosting one of the block parties for the DNC. We will be cooking braised lamb, braised chicken and other Mediterranean specials for the event on the 26th at the Singing Fountain. We invite all of our neighbors to come out and eat and drink and join in the celebration of democracy. Word has it Bernie Sanders will be in attendance!”

Gillinger is happy about the DNC’s location. “Having the convention in South Philly makes it easy to get to with the Broad Street Subway, which runs all day and into the late night. It’s easy-peasy. Snyder Avenue is the stop for Passyunk Avenue. And there’s lots going on at Pat’s and Geno’s. They’re also part of the BID (Business Improvement District) and they are giving out lots of coupons. We also have DNC Deals all week. Occasionette is hand-painting tea towels, Jeri’s Curio is making a special candle and soap, Escape the ’80s has a one-hour, interactive escape game where players enter a 1980s time warp, and so many more deals and specials that you’ll have fun and save money at the same time!”

NOORD, owned by Joncarl Lachman, will be represented at the Singing Fountain on July 26. Photo by Maria Merlino

Other specials on the avenue include:
• Frame Fatale: Limited edition souvenir DNC prints by a variety of local artists priced at $20.16. frame-fatale.blogspot.com/
• Headhunters Hair Design: Blowouts will be available for only $20.16 and men’s haircuts for $15. www.headhuntershairdesign.com
• Metro Men’s Clothing: 25% off the entire store from Sunday-Friday. www.metromensclothing.com
• N.R.S. Boutique: Sip and shop all week long and save 20% off all items. www.facebook.com/Nicole-Rae-Styer-Boutique
• Paradiso: Happy Hour Tuesday thru Friday 5-7 p.m. featuring Sam Adam’s Summer Ale $4, Bosco Cabernet Sauvignon $5, Ca’di Ponti Pinot Grigio $5, Weekly Cocktail $6. www.paradisophilly.com
• Sate Kampar: 10 sticks of sate + 1 Kopitiam drink or 5 sticks of sate + personal plate + 1 Kopitiam drink for $20.16. www.facebook.com/SateKampar
• Sermania Jewelry: Shop #MadeonEPA Philly-themed jewelry, including LOVE necklaces, cufflinks, bracelets and charms, along with their homage to EPA, the “Passyunk Penny” jewelry line, plus state and colonial charms to add to handmade charm bangles with dangling Red White and Blue Swarovski crystals. www.sermaniajewelry.com
* Wake Up Yoga: July 25-28, Wake Up Yoga will offer a low partner drop-in rate at its South Philly studio. Drop in to practice with a friend and pay just $20.16 for both of you. This offer applies to any Harmonizing, Peaceful, Energizing, and Vigorous vinyasa class, as well as all yin yoga classes. This offer is good for the duration of the DNC and can be used once per couple. www.wakeupyoga.com

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