Photo courtesy of MVPR.

I received one of each adorable confection yesterday along with the media advisory and clearly, they are irresistible. After making the mistake of leaving them on my desk last night, I came in this morning to find a bite taken out of one of them! The cookies are only available for order until 6pm tonight, or while supplies last. If my experience is any indication, you better get them while you can!

Whipped Bakeshop is located at 636 Belgrade St. in Philadelphia. Call 215-598-5449 or drop in ASAP to get yours before they’re gone!

Go Sixers!

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Photo credit: Tiffany & Co.

In medieval philosophy of alchemy, Rubedo was a term used to describe only the very highest of achievement, when matter and spirit fused to create something of rare beauty. RUBEDO is the result of endless hours of experimentation with different allows until metallurgists achieved the desired color, which they describe as “radiant with the glow of first light that evokes a sense of wonder.” The unique alloy is lightweight, yet strong, polishes to a smooth luster and is super flattering against the skin. It’s like adding a touch of blush to your accessories, giving you just the right amount of rosy glow. It reminds me of the way the world looks when you’re seeing it through rose-colored lenses.

RUBEDO debuts in Tiffany 1837 designs featuring elegant contours, polished so that the light plays over the surface like the blush of early morning. Among the collection are an elongated cuff (seen here) and a similarly contoured ring. Additional pieces contrast the warmth of RUBEDO with sterling silver in a pendant and necklace of interlocking circles. Each piece is inscribed with the signature of founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and finished with the jeweler’s founding year.

Stop in to your local Tiffany’s and memorialize this special celebration with a piece (or several) from the stunning anniversary collection.

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I love this blog and love you all for reading it. That said, it’s getting harder and harder to cover all the events/openings going on as the Philly scene blows up like never before. It’s a big city and I’m just one girl, doing this on my own for your enjoyment … until now, that is! I’m pleased to introduce my newly enlisted Manayunk correspondent, Erica Boland. Erica is a recent graduate of Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and, as some of you may know, my super stylish cousin – she had the best of influences, after all. She’ll be sharing my bloggy duties and keeping us up-to-date on many happenings in Mayanyunk and beyond. I’m sure you’ll love her fun, fresh writing style, which you’ll get a taste of in the following paragraphs, with much more to come!

Like any other young art student from Philadelphia, sometimes I just have to get my hipster fix. Barcade in Northern Liberties was just the thing to save me from the monotony that has become the Friday night bar scene. Established in New York in 2004, Barcade opened a Philadelphia location in 2010 on Frankford Ave and offers a wide variety of craft brews and more importantly, vintage arcade games.

Image courtesy of Barcade.

It was my guy’s idea to try out Barcade, and I have to admit, he did a good job choosing a unique date spot. I did a little research before we went and saw where it was and that it was a little dive-y and decided to dress the part and do a little rockabilly thing with my ensemble (not to mention I botched dyeing my hair earlier so the Rosie the Riveter-esque bandana was kind of a must). We got there around 9:30 and finding a parking spot was actually easy – no small feat in Philly! We made a bee-line for the change machine and got a couple bucks in quarters and were delighted to find that each game was only 25 cents, so we were set for the night. I kicked my guy’s butt in Dig Dug, Magic Sword, Punch out, and (much to his dismay) Wrestlefest. And that’s not even scratching the surface of the games they offer.

After winning so many games I was famished, so we hit the bar for some refreshments. I got a delicious Pear Cider draft while the boy got a Founders’ Centennial that he enjoyed as well. Barcade offers a menu describing their craft brews so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into as well as a limited menu of bar-fare that included pork tacos, deviled eggs, hummus and a good selection of sandwiches. We decided on pork tacos and grilled cheese with tomato jam and everyone’s favorite food group: bacon. We were very happy with our choices, which included a side of pretzels to soak up those high ABV beers. Our bill with snacks and two drinks a piece came out to an astonishingly low $35. This is somewhere I’ll definitely visit again, and maybe I’ll let my guy win a few next time!

Erica Boland, AOT (Art on the Town)

“First I was who I was. Then I didn’t know who I was. Then I invented someone and I became her. Then I began to like what I invented. And finally I was what I was again,” says Quindlen. Sound familiar? It’s an observation that rings true for many of us modern women making our way in the world today.

Quindlen began her column, “Life in the 30s” for the New York Times twenty-five years ago. Her stories about the challenges of balancing work, motherhood, marriage and everyday existence resonated instantly with women around the globe. Along the same lines, her new memoir muses on marriages, girlfriends, mothers, faith, loss and everything in between. From childhood memories to manic motherhood to middle age, the author uses the events of her own life to illuminate the common issues of women the world over.

I’m honored to partner with Random House and Talbots to welcome Anna this Thursday, May 10^th at Talbots King of Prussia location. Join us from 6 to 8pm for an opportunity to meet the author herself, while sipping champagne, shopping and of course, enjoying some cake as well. Guests will receive %25 off their full-price purchase and a Yankee Candle with purchases of $100 or more. This event is also happening in conjunction with National Mom’s Night Out at the mall, which will take place from 5 to 8pm.

How often do you get the chance to meet and enjoy cocktails with an acclaimed author, enjoy some pampering and go home with some extra cash in your wallet? In my book it’s a win/win/win. See you there!

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In light of that, it can be hard to find a Mother’s Day gift to show Mom your appreciation for all her sacrifice and dedication. Luckily, I just happen to have a few suggestions.

Get Mom a sweet treat from Whipped Bakeshop. In addition to their signature whippie pies and myriad other goodies, this Fishtown-based bakery will offer Mother’s Day Tile cookies. The full set makes a beautiful mosaic, including a box of six different, individually wrapped vanilla cookies topped with almond royal icing. At just $33 a box, they can be picked up in-house or ordered online at www.etsy.com/shop/whippedbakeshop

See Mom sparkle. Two options here include the crystal coral necklace from local designer John Wind’s Maximal Art Spring 2012 French Riviera collection. The convertible piece can be worn in a variety of lengths and retails at $285. Or, consider the Love Strings bracelet from Bernie Robbins Jewelers. Available in a rainbow of colors with silver, gold, crystal or diamonds, these bracelets represent love, luck and friendship, perfect for the Mom who embodies all of these qualities. The range of options also means you can tailor the gift to your Mom’s tastes and your budget, priced between $50 and $500.

Celebrate with the founding Mama! Treat mom to tea and snacks at the Betsy Ross House on Saturday, May 12. Join Betsy at 4pm as she recalls her life and family while enjoying the classic tastes of the historic City Tavern. Advance reservations are required, but cost only $20 a piece, with free admission for children under 2 who are accompanied by an adult.

Whatever you choose, there are plenty of wonderful local options to celebrate Mother’s Day. After all, where would we be without them?

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In 2012, nearly 200 restaurants across the Delaware Valley will take part, donating 33% of the day’s proceeds to local AIDS charities to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services. In Philadelphia, these funds go a long way as the region has four times as many people infected with HIV/AIDS than the national average. “At a time when government is low and infection rates are up, events like Dining Out for Life are essential,” said Kevin Burns, executive director of Action AIDS.

Local proceeds will help HIV/AIDS services at Action AIDS, AIDS Delaware, Dooley House, Family & Community Service of Delaware County, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSEA). To help raise awareness, Philadelphia organizers worked with Shooters Post & Transfer to film two TV spots starring celebrity chefs/authors Ted Allen and Daisy Martinez along with actress Pam Grier.

Check out the list of participating venues online at www.diningoutforlife.com/Philadelphia. Fight AIDS with your fork. What could be easier than that?

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Long-time readers will remember I discovered the power of yoga a few years back after trying every treatment under the sun to manage a herniated cervical disc I sustained in a car accident. After going through several rounds of physical therapy, numerous acupuncture sessions, enough medication to kill Rush Limbaugh and eventual surgical procedure, yoga was the only avenue that produced any real results for me. I quickly became an addict, attending classes at my local studio with increasing frequency. At one point, I was going up to 6 times a week and loving every minute of it.

Sadly, that all ended when I went back to working full time. I had hopes of making it to evening classes, but never did find a studio that’s schedule worked with mine. Home practice has had to suffice for me for the last year or so. But I found myself preaching to my coworkers about the benefits of yoga, how they would feel less stressed (a big deal in a newsroom), more energized, compliment their existing workouts. I thought it was all for naught, until I discovered Deliver Me Yoga. A teacher with the group was conducting a class in our building and I quickly set to work on setting up a program for us here. I wasn’t sure I could get enough interest in our small office, but I must have had some good karma out there because I managed to cajole 11 people into signing up.

We worked with Deliver Me Yoga’s coordinator to find a time and instructor that would be a good fit for our group. Each week, the instructor comes to our center city office building and sets up shop in the elevator bay (just about the only empty space we’ve got here). We all line up and roll out our mats for an hour of vinyasa yoga practice. Students range from hard core yogis to complete novices, yet in classic yoga style, the class offers something for everyone. I knew we’d get a few people hooked, it seems to be the nature of yoga practice, but I never anticipated that everyone would want to continue with a second 8-week session! Next week, we’re diving into our second “semester.” Just goes to show you should never underestimate your coworkers. If you think there’s even the slightest chance your group would be interested, I encourage you to contact Deliver Me Yoga. You might just be pleasantly surprised at the response.

Namaste,

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Since 1935 Variety – The Children’s Charity of Greater Philadelphia has been serving children with physical and developmental disabilities by providing recreational, social and educational enrichment activities as well as resources for their families. A subdivision of Variety, Young Variety is a group comprised of young professionals from the region who work to raise funds, lend support and volunteer their time and services to assist in coordinating special events that directly benefit the charity.

Celebrities participating include:

• Alicia Vitarelli- 6abc Reporter
• Mike Jerrick- Good Day Philadelphia
• Marisa Magnatta- Producer,WMMR Preston and Steve Morning Show
• Kenny Santucci- MTV Personality
• Bill McGlone- Philadelphia Wings
• Kharisma McIlwaine- CW Philly
• Noelle Zane- Owner, Pure Barre Philadelphia & Pure Barre Main Line
• John Clark- NBC 10
• DJ Diamond Kuts- Power 99

Tickets for tomorrow night’s event are available for $25 and will give you front row access to all of these celebs, as well as drink specials between $2 and $5. The party starts at 6pm and runs until 10pm. Public House is located at 1801 Arch St. Come out and enjoy a drink or two to support the cause. Do it for the kids.

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First up, Design Lab: The Fusion of Science & Style. Form, function and sustainability meet beauty in exhibits showcasing the intersection of science and design at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Witness cutting-edge creativity in Philadelphia University’s student run Design X Fashion Show. Attendees will get the opportunity to interact with up-and-coming designers, examine their work during a fashion show from 6 to 6:30pm, and discuss how science both inspires and fuels their creative processes. April 21, 5:30 to 7:30pm at The Academy of Natural Sciences.

The following week, All About Ales: The Science of Beer. Yards Brewers will answer questions about the science of brewing and the chemistry behind different beers – like what makes an IPA different from a porter? Why did Ben Franklin brew with spruce trees? Why do oysters taste so good with stout? Then, head to the tasting room to explore great beer and food pairings and learn the chemistry that makes the flavors work together. April 27, 6 to 7:30pm at Yards Brewery.

Interested? You can enter to win a pair of tickets to each event. Simply log-in and leave a comment here or on my facebook page, or tweet me (@phashionista) with “I want tickets to #PSF2012!” Two winners will be selected at random. Good luck!

The 2^nd Annual Philadelphia Science Festival is a 10-day city-wide event with a goal of making science programming exciting and accessible to every resident. Organized by the Franklin Institute and made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation, it brings together more than 100 local partner organizations, making for a calendar that’s filled with something for everyone.

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Dillon will also be debuting his Philadelphia Magazine column and will have copies of the April issue for party-goers. The fun begins at happy hour (cover-free) with DJ Jimmy DePre spinning tunes. A $10 door charge will go into effect at 8pm. Adesso is located upstairs from Il Portico Ristorante at 1519 Walnut St. C-c-catch you there!

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