High-End Happenings: Own a Piece of Rittenhouse

In its latest fundraising initiative, The Friends of Rittenhouse Square are offering a piece of the park to take home. New to the park's many statues include bronze cast animals. The sculptures were made by Eric Berg, a resident of the Rittenhouse neighborhood. They were unveiled in November 2010, and adorn the Patty Hogan Gates around the Gardener's Cottage.

Fourteen individual bronze cast animals, are now available. The casts are detailed on one side, hollow on the other, and great for wall decor or garden art.

Buyers can choose from an owl, robin, woodpecker, pigeon, blue jay, little wren, praying mantis, toad, snail, salamander, chipmunk, two versions of a squirrel and a dog, ranging in price from $750 - $1,600 each.

No word on how much of the proceeds benefit the park, but I think my favorite is the snail.

Eat & Drink at Square 1682 to Benefit Dress for Success

Over the next week, The Hotel Palomar’s Square 1682 will be donating a percentage of its proceeds to Dress for Success, an international, non-profit organization that provides business attire and a support network to women in over 100 different cities.

Five percent of Square 1682’s “Hot Fun” menu will go to benefit the cause beginning today, Monday, July 25, and running through Sunday, July 31. The Hot Fun menu includes 3-course prix fix menu for $35 per person as well as an optional bucket of beer, including four beers, for $10. The menu is below.

Corn Chowder with Soft Shell Crab, Pennsylvania sweet corn custard & grilled lime corn.
Bucks County BBQ Pork Ribs with sage corn bread, spicy slaw & Tex-Mex black beans.
Peach & Blueberry Cobbler topped with fresh whipped cream.

For more information or for reservations, visit Square 1682’s website.

Restaurant Line-up for Tonight's Taste of the Nation

Every year, the city’s restaurant industry comes together for one cause or another, helping charitable organizations through donations of time, effort and of course food. One of the most notable events of the season is just a week away when Philly’s top restaurants will participate in Taste of the Nation tonight, Monday, June 20, at the Loews Hotel.

This year, the line up of popular Philadelphia restaurants will be complimented by a new mixology program developed by Phoebe Emson. Here's the full list of partricipating restaurants, each bringing a taste of what it does best.

10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert, A Cupcake Wonderland, ABCD - The Espresso Authority, Bar Ferdinand, Blackfish, Capogiro, City Tavern, Cochon, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, DiBruno Brothers, Fish, Fond, Funky Lil Kitchen, Han Dynasty, Khyber Pass Pub, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, LoveBar Chocolate, Mad Batter Bakery, Marigold Kitchen, Max Brenner, McCrossen's Tavern, Meme, Modo Mio, Mugshots, Oyster House, Ristorante Panorama, River & Glen, Sole Food Restaurant, South Philadelphia Tap Room, Square 1682, Tashan, The Capital Grille, The Penn Jersey Metro Chefs Association Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, Trio Restaurant, V's Cupcakery, Valanni, Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar.

During the spring and summer months, Taste of the Nation will hold over 40 events in the United States and Canada, raising awareness and funds to end childhood hunger through a national initiative to end childhood hunger entirely by 2015.

Tickets to Taste of the Nation are still available for advance purchase.

General Admission: 6:30 – 9:30pm $85 in advance / $95 at the door.
VIP Admission: 5:30 – 9:30pm $135 in advance / $145 at the door.

100% of the ticket sales will go to benefit organizations working towards the cause, locally including Philabundance, The Food Trust, The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center.

For more information, visit the Taste of the Nation website.

Tickets Available for Next Monday's Taste of the Nation

Every year, the city’s restaurant industry comes together for one cause or another, helping charitable organizations through donations of time, effort and of course food. One of the most notable events of the season is just a week away when Philly’s top restaurants will participate in Taste of the Nation on Monday, June 20, at the Loews Hotel.

This year, the line up of popular Philadelphia restaurants will be complimented by a new mixology program developed by Phoebe Emson. A full list of participating restaurants is below.

During the spring and summer months, Taste of the Nation will hold over 40 events in the United States and Canada, raising awareness and funds to end childhood hunger through a national initiative to end childhood hunger entirely by 2015.

Tickets to Taste of the Nation are still available for advance purchase.

General Admission: 6:30 – 9:30pm $85 in advance / $95 at the door.
VIP Admission: 5:30 – 9:30pm $135 in advance / $145 at the door.

100% of the ticket sales will go to benefit organizations working towards the cause, locally including Philabundance, The Food Trust, The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and The Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center.

For more information, visit the Taste of the Nation website.

Participating Restaurants: 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge by Eric Ripert, A Cupcake Wonderland, ABCD - The Espresso Authority, Bar Ferdinand, Blackfish, Capogiro, City Tavern, Cochon, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, DiBruno Brothers, Fish, Fond, Funky Lil Kitchen, Han Dynasty, Khyber Pass Pub, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, LoveBar Chocolate, Mad Batter Bakery, Marigold Kitchen, Max Brenner, McCrossen's Tavern, Meme, Modo Mio, Mugshots, Oyster House, Ristorante Panorama, River & Glen, Sole Food Restaurant, South Philadelphia Tap Room, Square 1682, Tashan, The Capital Grille, The Penn Jersey Metro Chefs Association Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, Trio Restaurant, V's Cupcakery, Valanni, Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar.

First Annual Ribbon Ball Brings Awareness to the Lowes

For some, awareness is wearing a colored plastic bracelet as a constant reminder. For others it’s running a race or walking a marathon. Individuals and organizations coordinate fundraisers for a cure while those who can afford it donate to a cause.

On Saturday, September 25, from 9pm - 12am, Fight For Cure is throwing its first annual Ribbon Ball in the Howe Room on the 33rd Floor of the Lowes Philadelphia. Fight For Cure, one of the largest cancer oriented non-profits in the Philadelphia area, founded in 2009, works specifically to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, education and patient care for the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Hospital.

This year’s fashionably formal event will include a night of dining and dancing as well as a live and silent auction. Guests are welcome to bid on items like an authentic Swiss Army Watch, a Philadelphia Eagles desk chair, a Philadelphia Phillies pre-game table and an authentic Michael Jordan Jersey, which was donated by Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Company.

Mike Jerrick, host of FOX 29’s, “Good Day Philadelphia,” will be the MC for the evening, DJ Prince T, aka Seismic, will keep the dance floor full and Dr. Richard Pestell, head of The Kimmel Cancer Center, will be speaking as well. Fight For Cure also has a vintage photo booth and a menu of butlered hors d'oeuvres and serving stations in store for its guests.

Tickets for the ball are $75 each. All Ribbon Ball and Fight For Cure proceeds will be donated to the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Hospital to continue the fight against one of the deadliest diseases.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to the Fight For Cure website.

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.

Party With The Eagles For A Good Cause At Tequila’s

Join the Eagles as they kick off the 2010 preseason with a birthday party for cornerback, Joselio Hanson, on Friday August 13, at Tequila’s on 16th and Locust. The party begins at 9pm and goes until 2am, right after the first Eagles preseason match up. Tickets are $40 and proceeds are benefiting the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Club.

Partial proceeds from all drinks, snacks and bottle service will also be going towards this amazing cause. The cash bar will be spotlighting Ciroc drinks and of course, Tequila and there will also be a light menu that will be available throughout the night. PA based technology firm, Xip Wire will be on site as well to help partiers donate to the Boys and Girls Club, via text.

With such a low price tag on such a high profile party, this bash is not to be missed, especially in such a private venue. Tables and tickets are limited since the players and their guests will be more than half of the attendees, so the space for ticket holders is very slim. With a Philadelphia A-List guest list like this, you never know who you’ll catch a glimpse of and you wouldn’t want to miss out!

Tickets are available online or at the door. If you would like to reserve a table, please be sure and state that in your RSVP email to Nouveau Image at info@lumierelite.com.

Tequila's 1682 Locust St. Philadelphia, PA 215-546-0181

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.