The Mummers Parade is an American event held each New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Local clubs (usually called “New Years Associations”) compete in one of four categories (Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades). They prepare elaborate costumes and moveable scenery, which take months to complete. This is done in clubhouses, many of which are located on or near 2nd Street (called “Two Street” by some local residents in the Pennsport neighborhood of South Philadelphia, which also serve as social gathering places for members.

The parade traces back to mid-17th century roots, blending elements from Swedish, Finnish, Irish, English, German and other European heritages, as well as African heritage.  The parade is related to the Mummers Play tradition from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  Revivals of this tradition are still celebrated annually in South Gloucestershire, England on Boxing Day and in parts of Ireland on St. Stephen’s Day.

Swedes, Philadelphia’s first settlers, brought the custom of visiting neighbors on “Second Day Christmas” (December 26) with them to Tinicum. This was soon extended through New Year’s Day with costumed celebrants loudly parading through the city.  Traditional New Years’ celebrations of firing guns (Swedes and Finns) and recitations of traditional rhymes (English and Welsh) joined common practices of visiting neighbors. The Belsnickle, an early German version of Santa Claus, inspired comic masqueraders riding through Tinicum and Kingsessing dressed as clowns.

George Washington carried on the official custom of New Year’s Day calls during the seven years he occupied First White House in Philadelphia. The Mummers continued their traditions of comic verse in exchange for cakes and ale. Small groups of up to twenty mummers, their faces blackened, went door to door, shooting and shouting, spoofing General Washington and the English Mummers’ play “St. George and the Dragon”.

Philadelphia’s 19th century Carnival of Horns drew thousands of merrymakers in festive costumes to the vicinity of Eighth and South Streets in South Philadelphia. An 1808 law decreed that “masquerades” and “masquerade Balls” were “common nuisances” and that anyone participating would be subject to a fine and imprisonment. It was apparently never enforced and was repealed in 1859.

Henry Muhlenberg, writing in 1839, reported, “Men met on the roads in Tinicum and Kingsessing, who were disguised as clowns, shouting at the top of their voices and shooting guns.

Southern plantation life’s contributions include the parade’s theme song, James A. Bland’s Oh! Dem Golden Slippers (introduced by Charles Dumont in 1903), as well as the 19th century cakewalk, dubbed the “Mummers’ Strut”. Other ethnic groups have been integrated into the parade as the years have gone on. Italians began to participate in large numbers after World War II. Celebrants using firearms to “shoot in” the new year much later inspired the “New Year’s Shooters and Mummers Association”. Revelers travelling from door-to-door sang and danced for rewards of food and drink. Cash prizes debuted in 1906.

The earliest documented club, the Chain Gang, formed in 1840 and Golden Crown first marched in 1876 with cross-town rivals Silver Crown forming soon after. By 1881, a local report said “Parties of paraders” made the street “almost like a masked Ball.”

The first official parade was held January 1, 1901. The earliest surviving String Band, Trilby, first paraded in 1902 (with many breaks thereafter, and a reorganization in 1935).  The Ferko String Band has never missed a parade since they started marching in 1923.  In the early years of the official parade, the make-shift costumes of most celebrants were gradually replaced by more elaborate outfits funded by associations’ fund-raising efforts.

While the parade has clear African American influences and features a theme song by a black composer, the parade participants are almost all European American.  The earliest parades were not. The all African American Golden Eagle Club, formed in 1866, had 300 members in the 1906 parade. With the Nadir of American race relations, the last black groups marched in 1929.

The Comics “wenches” and female parts in most skits are typically performed by men in drag. Women were not officially allowed in the parade until the 1970s.

The Independent Hotel is already SOLD OUT - www.theindependenthotel.com - but that doesn’t mean you can’t still come out and play on New Years Day! 

Broad Street is waiting for you to show off your Mummers Strut and support the History that many hold as a New Years Day Tradition.  The Mummers Parade is held each New Year’s Day in Philadelphia. Local clubs (usually called “New Years Associations”) compete in one of four categories (Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades). They prepare elaborate costumes and moveable scenery, which take months to complete. This is done in clubhouses, many of which are located on or near 2nd Street (called “Two Street” by some local residents) in the Pennsport neighborhood of South Philadelphia, which also serve as social gathering places for members.

Find all the latests & greatest events going on in Philadelphia over the New Years Holiday.

www.visitphilly.com/newyears

Shopping around Midtown Village??  Why not check out the new location of Kembrel?  This “chic & hip” shop is definitely drawing in the curious as you walk by on Locust Street (between 12th & 13th).  Kembrel now introduces fashion labels to consumers-in-the-making, with actual students serving as conduits between brands and entry-level fashion buyers. The Kembrel website features both discounted, college-lifestyle-themed collections for boys and girls, and an outlet store for limited-run flash sales events.

The newly added in-store experience is designed to help the company, and its brand partners, connect with customers on a more intimate level, as well as develop the association between the Kembrel name and cool college wares. The stores will provide customers offline access to Kembrel’s online collections, and feature crafted products from local designers, but the outlet element will remain web-only.

Kembrel, founded in 2010, is based in Philadelphia and operates a satellite office in Montreal, Canada. The startup has six employees and already has plans to open a second store in Philadelphia.

www.kembrel.com

Chef Mike Stollenwerk Teams Up with The Independent Hotel to Donate Police Bike

in Memory and Honor of  Officer Daniel Faulkner

Philadelphia—thirty-years ago this December 9^th, Philadelphia Police Officer 4699, Daniel Faulkner [aged 25] was killed outside 1234 Locust Street. Today, the burgeoning district is one of the country’s fastest growing nightlife and dining destinations and is the home of The Independent Hotel and the soon-to-open Fish restaurant.

To honor the memory of the fallen officer— Chef Mike Stollenwerk, his team and those from The Independent Hotel have joined forces to purchase and donate a police bicycle to the Sixth Police District. The bicycle, which will be used to patrol the neighborhood, will be given to Philadelphia Police brass in a special outdoor ceremony outside what will soon be the new location of Philadelphia’s best seafood restaurant — Fish. The ceremony will take place at 4pm. Stollenwerk and the crew from the Independent Hotel — including General Manager Jim Evans — will pledge to keep Faulkner’s memory alive outside their respective businesses.

City dignitaries, those close to Faulkner, members of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police and prominent Philadelphians will be in attendance for the press conference.

“We want to honor Officer Faulkner on this 30^th anniversary by doing our part to make the district a safer place,” Stollenwerk says.  “We thought supporting the local police here in the neighborhood would be the best way to do that.”

The new police bicycle will be put to use immediately in the Sixth District. The cost of a police bicycle is approximately $900-$1100.  The bicycle was secured from Jay’s Peddle Power in Fishtown.

It’s that time of year again, the time when the leaves have almost all fallen away and the wind chills you to the bone. Thankfully, Philadelphia’s Christmas Village will be here to warm us all up soon.

This outdoor market is built from the ground up in a style similar to traditional German holiday markets. Dozens of vendors sell their goods and wares to visitors in preparation of the Christmas shopping season. Jewelry, arts & crafts and handmade items will all be available for purchase. If you get hungry along the way there are also traditional German food staples such as Bratwurst and mulled wine.

Along with eating and shopping there will be performances held in the Christmas Village for all to see, free of charge. These performance are scheduled to take place 1pm, 5pm and 5:45pm (daily).

The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, November 26th, but for those of you that can’t wait to get the season started there will be a sneak peak on Thanksgiving, November 24th. But that’s not all! The Christmas tree will be lit by Mayor Nutter on Wednesday, December 7th.

For more information check out their website:   http://www.philachristmas.com/28-0-About.html

Happy Holidays!!

So for those of you who are familiar with the Independent Hotel you know that the building has a total of five floors and that the hotel actually starts on the second floor where the lobby is located. You may be left wondering: what will be going in the first floor? Good Question!  Well, we won’t keep you wondering any longer.  Executive Chef Mike Stollenwerk’s Fish Restaurant will be swimming over to 13th & Locust Street.

Chef Stollenwerk and his team lead Fish restaurant at its current location with creative menus and a casual atmosphere.  This move will triple the space in the dining room and open up the kitchen to create more menu options for guests.

The renovation process is expected to be completed this Fall so that the restaurant is ready to open its doors again in its new home.  The Independent Hotel is BEYOND Excited to have a remarkable restaurant such as Fish finding a new place at 1234 Locust Street.   As this newest addition to the 13th Street Midtown Village Row of Tasty & New Restaurants, we can safely say Fish will truly be the Anchor to complete this block.  Please stay tuned for more information and check out Fish’s website to see what they’re all about.

www.fishphilly.com

Guest Service Agent: Hello, thank you for calling the Independent Hotel. This is Jane. How can I help you?

Caller: Hi! I just made a reservation at your hotel and was calling to confirm your location. What’s your address?

GSA: 1234 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Caller:Oh, is that in the…uh…Gayborhood?

GSA: ABSOLUTELY!!

 Yup, you heard correctly. We’re in the Gayborhood and proud of it! We accept everyone with open and loving arms and like our motto says we are “A Boutique Hotel for the Independently Minded.”

We’re located footsteps away from both historic sites and some of the most hopping gay bars and clubs in the city. No matter your lifestyle we (and the Gayborhood) have something to offer everyone.

For more information about our awesomeness check out this fabulous article featuring some of the gay-friendly hotels in the area.

http://press.visitphilly.com/releases/come-one-come-all-hotels-welcome-gay-and-lesbian-travelers-to-philadelphia-and-the-countryside

As you may have heard Philly is THE place to go if you want to see some of the most impressive and stunning public works of art in the country.

The Mural Arts Program is a program that takes boring walls and turns them into masterpieces and has turned a depressed looking city into a wonder to behold. It also promotes art in the communities and encourages local youth to partake in beautifying their hometown.  What started out as an anti-graffiti program has turned into a well respected organization with a mission to leave things better than how they found them.

While most tourists only see murals on their walks around town, guests at the Independent get access to one very special mural custom made for our hotel. That is the 30′x10′ mural above the front desk in the central atrium of the hotel. This massive piece of art is three stories tall and features one very important landmark in our nation’s history, Independence Hall. Kim Senior, the muralist commissioned for this piece, used vibrant colors not usually associated with Historic Philadelphia, helping bring some life to this historic building.

For more information on the Mural Arts Program and tours of the murals please visit the site below:

http://muralarts.org/

For more information on the artist responsible for our mural and many more please visit her site below:

http://www.kimsenior.com/

 
 
Today we Celebrate our 3 year anniversary!  It seems like just yesterday we opened our doors and welcomed guests from all over the world, as they’ve called us their home away from home. Now, years later, we have met thousands of new faces and welcomed familiar ones too. We look forward to making even more friends as the years go on.
 
Our General Manager, Jim Evans, has been here since opening day and has this to say:
 

We feel so lucky to be situated in a neighborhood and city where we are able to build relationships with residents and local businesses that have attributed to our success. Because of Philadelphia’s diverse population and cultural attractions we’ve had the pleasure of serving travelers from all over the world. We are excited to have made such a mark these last three years within our local landscape and to give guests a unique option to call ‘home’ while visiting Philadelphia.

 
Our neighborhood has grown and changed around us which has helped The Independent to become a better neighbor to the environment and local organizations. HERSHA Hospitality Management believes in the importance of fostering relationships with our community and friends in an effort to make the world around us a more hospitable place.
 
In our way of giving back this year we’ve:

• * Implemented a new green initiative while being successful in reducing waste and encouraging our guests to recycle  
• * Contributed to local charities to support those in need in our area
• * Honored Earth Day this year by planting a tree to further our commitment to the beautification of 13th and Locust Streets
• * Donated soaps and other amenities to Clean the World, an non-profit organization committed to improving quality of life in struggling countries

 
To celebrate this three year milestone we are extending our weekday wine reception thru the weekend (Friday and Saturday). The Independent Hotel Guests will partake in some Philly treats, commemorative amenity gifts and a special addition to our breakfast on Sunday Morning.

What: Roberto Capucci: Art Into Fashion Exhibit

Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art

How Much Time is left: up until June 5th, 2011…so hurry!!

Roberto Capucci is a fashion designer with a passion for flair. Born and bred in Italy he honed his talents for creating dramatic works of art during a time when Italy was becoming the center of the fashion world.

He has been named one of the most creative and innovative designers of his time and has the portfolio to prove it. His collections have traveled the world and have been featured in motion pictures both in Europe and the United States.

Don’t miss this spectacular exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of art. Tickets can be reserved online.

 http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/411.html

So during the day you followed the crowd to the Art Museum, the waterfront and to the local cheese steak shop, but now you’re looking for something unique and fun to do in the evening. Look no further! Keep reading to find out some information on a couple of great tours that will keep you interested and entertained as the sun goes down.

Tippler’s Tour

This tour takes you through colonial Philadelphia to visit some local pubs where you learn about our founding fathers and their favorite watering holes. Learns the songs and toasts of their day while walking in their footsteps.

Independence After Hours

This tour takes history to the next level. You are not only hearing about it, you are living it! The tour starts with dinner at City Tavern and continues when your guide takes you through Independence Hall after dark. Here you will find actors reenacting some of America’s most important scenes. 

These tours are brought to you by Historic Philadelphia. This is an organization that strives to bring history to life by operating tours and historic attractions in the City of Brotherly Love. They have created these tours geared toward those who want to extend their history lesson into the late night hours.

Hurry up and catch these gems before they go away for good!

Philadelphia has been lucky enough to get two great exhibits in town at the same time. The sad part is they’re both leaving at the end of May.

Spies, Traitors and Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America

This exhibit was created by the International Spy Museum and is at the National Constitution Center until Monday, May 30th.  It explores accounts of actual events and missions to keep America’s borders safe from attacks and foreign threats. Artifacts from throughout the country’s history are displayed to tell the story of the United States that many do not know about.  

This is a great way to indulge the spy and secret keeper in us all. Bring your family, friends, enemies….frenimies and maybe you’ll learn a trick or two to become the next 007.

http://constitutioncenter.org/

Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop

The ideas of the great inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, come to life at his workshop located at the Franklin Institute until Sunday, May 29th. The inventions include contraptions for flying all the way up to devastating machines of war.

The audience can see his sketches and his notebooks at this exhibit along with interactive displays that will take you a little bit further into the mind of one of history’s greatest thinkers.  

http://www2.fi.edu/

Close your eyes. (Well, maybe read first then, close your eyes) 

Ok, now imagine you’re in a park with the warm sun shining on your face and a cool breeze blowing through your hair. You can hear kids playing and smell the fragrance of a thousand blooming cherry blossoms.

Now open your eyes.

Disappointed?

Well,  you don’t have to be. This is closer than you think.

The Japanese American Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP) is hosting the 2011 Suburu Cherry Blossom Festival between March 7th and April 15th. This annual celebration honors the continued friendship that the City of Philadelphia has with the Japanese government and the local community.

Along with an abundance of photo opportunities the festival will host Sakura Sunday. This family friendly affair features performances by Japanese dancers and musicians as well as activities for kids of all ages. It takes place on April 10th and costs only $5 for adults (kids under 14 are free). If you don’t want to fight traffic on the way down, take the train to center city and catch the festival shuttle bus from the Horticultural Center to Fairmount Park.

Lucky for you we have plenty of rooms left on Sunday, April 10th!

Check out the site below for more information.

http://jasgp.org/cherryblossomfestival/

OK, so going to every single event during the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) may be impossible, but wouldn’t it be great if you could?

This festival is definitely something to get excited about. Inspired by Paris in 1911, the PIFA strives to not only entertain but inspire others with over one hundred performances, exhibitions and lectures that will take place between April 7th and May 1st. Many are free, family friendly and spread throughout the region so there is no excuse to miss out.

The Kimmel Center is a “leading inspiration” for this festival and takes pride in hosting many of the performances as well as being right smack in the middle of the Parisian Street Fair to take place on April 30th. This fair will take you back to a time where art and culture were taking Paris by storm. It will take place on the Avenue of the Arts (Broad Street between Chestnut & Lombard Sts) from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. This all day event will feature activities for kids, street performers and even a giant Ferris wheel!

For more information about tickets and events check out their website below;

http://www.pifa.org/

As many art lovers know, the Barnes Foundation (currently located in Merion, PA) is being moved to the City of Brotherly Love. While this has caused much controversy, the outcome will hopefully make up for any broken vows made to founder Dr. Barnes to keep the collection exactly how it is at the 12-acre estate it is now housed.

The new museum will be located near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  This is a convenient location for visitors who will be able to examine this extensive collection while also exploring the city. With an increase in visitor activity, the foundation should be able to raise enough money to continue its operation for future generations.

The architects chosen to design the new home for this famed collection have taken measures to ensure that the building will reflect its current home and the history behind the artwork and its founder. Below is an image of the proposed building. Groundbreaking took place in 2009 and construction is still underway. The building is hoped to be completed by the Winter of 2011.

Many agree that the artwork’s location and arrangement are what make it unique, interesting and valuable. This move should be a great study in not just art, but in architecture as well. Challenge yourself to consider how the space, arrangements and location alter your interpretations or understanding of this collection. Let’s make it interesting and take it one step further. Examine the collection at its current location in Merion, PA and then visit the new museum to see if your feelings have changed. It could be said that if your appreciation of the collection has remained the same then the architects did an excellent job and really captured the spirit of the Barnes estate.  

For more information on the Barnes Foundation go to their website below.

http://www.barnesfoundation.org/

Valentine’s Day is coming faster than a speeding freight train and right now you’re probably hitting yourself in the head because you didn’t made plans yet.

Never fear…the Independent Hotel is here! 

We still have rooms available for the weekends before and after V-day and would be more than happy to put one aside for you and your sweetheart. If you want to spice things up a bit just book the Romance Package and we will set up a bottle of wine and an assorted cheese plate in your room.

If you’re still clueless as to what to do on your romantic getaway, we got you covered. Well, actually visityphilly.com has you covered. Check out the link below for the Top Five Romantic Date ideas in Philly. Also, if you’re just in the mood for a cold brew and a relaxed atmosphere check out Philly’s oldest bar, McGillan’s Ale House, they have a special Valentine’s Day menu and new drinks for the holiday.

So if you’re not a part of the “Valentine’s Day hate group,” grab someone you love and head to Philly for a unique Valentine’s Day experience. We hope to see you soon.

http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/top-five-romantic-dates-for-valentines-day-weekend/

http://www.mcgillins.com/events.htm

This (see above) can happen to you if you keep feeding your stomach orange cheese puffs and greasy cheese pizza.

Yup, that’s right your stomach will grow its own mouth (and possibly its own limbs) so it can take itself out to get some quality cuisine.

At first this may not seem like such a bad thing. ‘This is great! I don’t have to think about what I’m going to eat next, my stomach will just do it on it’s own.’ However, when people start pointing and laughing at the guy with a mouth for a stomach, it will be a sad and pathetic scene.

So don’t be just another statistic, go out and feed your stomach some of the best food in the city during Philadelphia’s Restaurant Week. 

During these two weeks, restaurants from all over the city will offer special three-course dinner menu at $35 (and lunch at $20).

When: January 16-21 & 23-28

Where: 100+ restaurants in Philadelphia

What do I do: Make your reservations NOW to partake in restaurant week

For more information visit Center City District’s website:

http://www.centercityphila.org/life/RestaurantWeek.php

You do your own taxes, and even change the oil in your own car, so why let someone else take you on a scripted tour? The good news is: you don’t have to!

The Fairmount Park Art Association has put together a Museum Without Walls audio tour for visitors and locals alike. This tour allows you to access audio commentary through a variety of mediums so that you can create and partake in your very own public art tour.

Philadelphia is widely recognized as having the largest collection of public art, which can be seen in the form of sculptures, statues and murals scattered throughout the city. The Museum Without Walls program gives you the location and background on each of the pieces through commentary provided by people who share a connection with the work of art.  

Creating your own tour and soaking in some scenery along the way doesn’t sound like a bad way to spend a day in Philly. It’s definitely something to consider if you’re the type that likes to march to the beat of your own drum.

http://museumwithoutwallsaudio.org/

Every Thanksgiving you wake up early to watch the parade on television, and every year something grows inside of you, a feeling of discontentment. But why? How could someone be so unhappy on this day of thanks? Then it hits you. Images of giant floating cartoon characters, tap dancers and confetti flood your mind and you stand up and shout “I should be there! I should be at the parade!”

Music, dancing and the big man himself (Santa, of course) can take anyone back to the carefree days of their childhood. Whether reliving the good old days or creating new memories with your family, Philadelphia is the place to be on Thanksgiving.

The parade starts at 8:30am on 20th and Market and ends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Make sure you get there early enough to grab a good spot along Benjamin Franklin Parkway or at the Art Museum. The nation’s oldest Thanksgiving parade will have plenty of acts to watch along with giant floats and some of today’s hottest celebrities. 

Now, while the kid inside of you is jumping for joy at the possibility of going to the parade, the adult in you is cringing at the thought of traffic and police barricades. Do not worry for we have rooms to spare. Stay with us the night before and you’ll be well rested for a long day of cheering.  

Ok, I know what you’re thinking…what should we do the night before? Glad you asked.

Tavern 17 is celebrating Thanksgiving Eve in style! Enjoy a drink and something off their menu and then stick around because from 8p-12a Back 2 Life will be performing. If you’re still looking to hang out after that head over to the Coffee Bar. Live music, great food, good drinks…you can’t go wrong. 

Tavern 17 will also be open on Thanksgiving with a special menu for those looking to escape Aunt Mildred’s dining room and her 19 cats.

http://www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/philadelphia-thanksgiving-day-parade/

http://www.tavern17restaurant.com/

http://www.intoxicaffeineation.com/

The only thing that stinks about Thanksgiving is that it was started by puritans. And while we know that they did consume alcohol, we can probably assume that they didn’t enjoy it. Now the French on the other hand know how to celebrate.

Just as Americans have Thanksgiving to celebrate the end of the harvest season, the French have Beaujolais Nouveau. The third Thursday of November has been designated Beaujolais Day and is marked by the production and release of a very special wine. This wine is made from Gamay grapes and is fermented for only a few weeks before it is enjoyed.

Beaujolais Nouveau has become quite a celebration around the globe and is growing roots in North America as well. To help the rest of us get acquainted with this fun fall holiday, the Midtown Village is holding an event to showcase wine and the local fare.

On Thursday, November 18th restaurants, bars and retailers will open their doors to welcome those who wish to celebrate the fall season the “French” way. A complementary glass of wine will be offered to visitors by retailers and restaurants will also have specials available for this wonderful occasion.

Check out the Midtown Village’s website for more information.

http://www.midtownvillage.org/events.php?id=63