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 It was apparently never enforced and was repealed in 1859.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.

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!!

It’s that time of year again. You know, the time when you start craving croissants and escargot. Don’t worry we all go through it, luckily for us its Beaujolais time!

For those of you who have never heard of this, Beaujolais Nouveau is a French wine that is made to celebrate  the end of the harvest season. It only ferments for a few weeks before people start buying it by the masses on its release date. Strict French government policy prevents it from being sold before the third Thursday in November. The excitement of being one of the first to serve this wine is why this day and wine have become so popular.

Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations have been happening in the U.S. and across the globe for only the past 20 years. It has always been celebrated in France, but clever marketing has made it a worldwide phenomenon.

For the past few years Midtown Village has been making this celebration a staple of Philadelphia’s autumn season, with most merchants participating in wine tastings and creating special menus for the occasion. On November 17th (5p-8p) restaurants and retailers in our neighborhood will be sharing a little bit of the French spirit with locals and visitors alike. So come on down and check it out!

Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!

Raspberry Shrub was the drink of choice around town? Or when people would line up for fried catfish on a waffle? No? Well, neither do I, but the good people at the Reading Terminal Market do!

This Saturday, November 12th, the forgotten foods of yesteryear will be making a comeback to a place that has witnessed the evolution of Philadelphia’s food scene over the past 119 years. Visitors are invited to take part in this unique food tasting between the hours of 10am to 4pm. It’s exciting, it’s fun and at $2-$5 per sample, it’s CHEAP!!

We all know that people ate some weird stuff back in the day, but you may end up enjoying it and before you know it you’ll be cooking up some Pepper Pot Soup on the stove back home. And if you are one of those people who only like chicken fingers and french fries (then you probably are still in middle school), they got that too. At the very least you’ll have an awesome icebreaker at the next party you go to.

If I knew that I could learn about the history of our founding fathers by just eating, I would have aced American History back in high school. Oh well, it’s never too late! 

Mark your calendars boys and girls! Mayor Michael Nutter is doing it again! He’s raising the rainbow flag in honor of LGBT History Month this Thursday, October 6th.

The event will take place between 2:00-3:30pm and will be highlighted with the national anthem sung by the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus at the flag raising. Along with the main event, guests can expect to hear announcements about upcoming events and dedications involving the LGBT community.

www.phillygaycalendar.com

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

So you’re staying in Philly seeing the sights, taking the tours and eating the food; life is good. Then before you know it a soft pretzel tuns into an apple dumpling and then an apple dumpling turns into a cheese steak. Now while all of this was delicious and I’m sure your feelings of guilt were hushed by the repeated phrase, “Who cares? I’m on vacation” something in the back of your mind is begging you to not go completely off track. Your mind starts going through all of your options:

• * I can eat salad all week, but I don’t want to miss out on the amazing food tour that I have scheduled for tomorrow
• * I could go to the gym everyday, but i don’t want to be stuck on the treadmill staring at Johnny Muscles during my vacation
• * How about every time I hear someone say Ben Franklin I could drop and do 20 push ups.  Nah, now I’m just being ridiculous.
• * I have been trying to stay on a training schedule for that marathon this fall and I do want to see more of the city.  Hey!  I THINK I’LL GO FOR A RUN!

Great decision! I’m sure your middle school gym teacher would be proud, I know I am *tear*.  Now, if you’re not from the area finding a place to hit the pavement could be more work than you care to do. So, to help you out we listed some things below that could help you plan your path to staying fit and exploring the city.

The Schuylkill Loop (8.6 miles/ 13.8 kilometers)

This is a runner’s run. This path starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and follows the Schuylkill River up and then back down again through Fairmount Park. On the way you’ll see iconic Boathouse Row and end up back at the museum where you can run up the steps recreating the famous scene from the movie Rocky.

A Self Guided Walking (Running) Tour

http://museumwithoutwallsaudio.org/

This site enables visitors to tour the city’s extensive public art collection all on their own. You can pick what you would like to see and plan out your route according to your interests. The best part is you are able to download audio about each piece and access recording on your smart phone. No clumsy maps or guidebooks needed.

Get advice from Experienced Philly Runners

http://www.phillyrunners.org/routes.html

This site caters to Philly runners but can also be used by visitors alike. It will tell you some of the contributors favorites paths, levels of congestion and fun detours.

Absinthe, also known as the “Green Fairy”, has been around for many years. However in 1900’s Paris, this drink was very controversial and the topic of much heated debate. It has pushed the minds of artists well beyound their normal limitations and opened up a beautiful world of art and performance that was enjoyed by all.

The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is bringing this creative energy back with a show of performances inspired by the Green Fairy herself. This installment of The Green Fairy Caberet comes to us as a part of the 15th Annual Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe, a two week long event that showcases new, edgy and (in somecases) just plain strange acts by performers who make their homes off of the beaten path.

For more information about performances and tickets check out the websites below and ACT FAST because these shows will sell out!

http://www.phillycircus.com/

http://www.livearts-fringe.org/

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

Let me weave you a tale of travel and wonder….

One day you found out that you had to come to Philadelphia for a wedding/meeting/appointment. Airline tickets are booked, rental car reserved, but there is one last nagging detail…the hotel. You couldn’t stand the thought of being stuck in the same old “cookie cutter” hotel so you scoured the Internet looking for a hotel, any hotel with a name you didn’t recognize and decent customer reviews. Then…Eureka!  You found us (and we are so glad you did).   

This may have been your first time at an off-brand hotel so you were a bit nervous, regretting the fact that you let your adventurous side take over, nervous that this is all one big mistake.  But alas, you came, you saw, you slept and (hopefully) you liked what we’re all about.

So now you have a different problem…you don’t want to leave!  And while we would love for you to stay, we know that you have other cities to visit and other appointments to keep. So we will leave you with this tidbit of information… our coolness isn’t limited to just Philadelphia. That’s right this individualistic, trendy vibe can be picked up in other cities as well, which leads me to ask you this:

Did you know that we are a part of a group of hotels called The Independent Collection?

No? Well let me tell you about it. All six of these hotels have a uniqueness about them that will keep you wanting more. Not one is alike. They vary in decor, location and atmosphere. Check out The Independent Collection website below for more information and to choose the right one for you. Let us know how your stay goes and we’d love to hear about it when you pass through Philly again!

• - Duane Street Hotel, Tribeca, NYC
• - Nu Hotel, Brooklyn, NYC
• - Post Card Inn, St. Pete Beach, FL
• - Capitol Hill Suites, Washington D.C.
• - Minnewaska Lodge, Hudson Valley, NY
• - The Independent, Philadelphia, PA (Woo Hoo!!)

http://www.theindependentcollection.com/
 
 

The Philadelphia Museum of Art always puts together the most interesting exhibits and this one is no different. The Peacock Male: Exuberance and Extremes in Male Dress is a display of color and textures most would expect to see on the gowns and dresses of royal women. But those people would be wrong.

Before most men adopted a more plain and simple wardrobe they were strutting their stuff with the best of them. Clothing rich in color, pattern and texture often symbolized status and wealth. Nowadays it just symbolizes mental insanity (at least in some people).

The best part about this whole thing is that it has been extended into August. That’s right! You still have time to head on down the the Art Museum to see some interesting and wild outfits.

Check out the link below for more information:

http://philamuseum.org/exhibitions/732.html

This past weekend we were honored with an article in the Washington Post. That’s right THE Washington Post. We’re so happy to have had the chance to show our stuff and come out shining.

Click the link below to read the entire article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/at-a-philly-hotel-you-are-free-to-roam/2011/07/06/gIQAeOXo3H_story.html

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.

So much of history seems to be aimed at adults. Tour guides will discuss politics of the day, diseases and war, but all of it just sounds like “blah, blah, blah” to kids. Sure, they may be interested in a few fun anecdotes the guides tell to try to appeal to all audiences, but their focus usually wanders soon after.

Well there’s a solution….MINI GOLF. That’s right mini golf along with ice cream, carousels and story time.

The best part is that you can find this all in the heart of Center City Philadelphia at Franklin Square.  This park is dedicated to families and has many attractions suited for kids of all ages.

It’s a great way to break up the day if you have a jam packed agenda of site seeing, or it could be the ONLY plan for the day. There is so much to do that you may find the time flying by faster than usual. There’s even a place to score some grub. Square Burger is a Stephen Starr eatery that is sure to please the picky eaters in your family.

Check out the site below for more information and a schedule of special events.

http://historicphiladelphia.org/day/franklin-square/

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/

Did you know that the Independent Hotel is actually a part of a larger family of hotels?  That’s right, we are proud to be a part of the Hersha Hospitality family, a group dedicated to making the world a little bit greener.

Hersha has launched a new Eco-friendly program called EarthView that is being followed by all of its hotels including yours truly. Read about it below or check out the website for more information:

EarthView is a program developed and implemented by the Hersha Group that is dedicated to fully integrated environmental and community policies that aim to make sustainable hospitality a genuine reality.  EarthView delivers environmental and conservation programs that positively impact a hotel operation’s bottom line while simultaneously improving the well-being of our guests, our employees, our communities, and our planet.

http://www.hersha.com/Earthview.asp

Along with reducing our energy intake and making recycling a priority, Hersha has found a new and unique way of reusing guest room amenities, that would have otherwise become waste, through an organization named Clean the World.

Clean the World is committed to reducing the waste created by discarded soap and shampoo products and collects these items from hotels to be recycled and distributed to domestic homeless shelters and impoverished people worldwide, helping to prevent deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses. Clean the World Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt charitable organization. For more information visit: www.cleantheworld.org. Text CLEAN to 20222 to donate $10 to help Clean the World.

 And if that’s not enough to show our love for Mother Earth we even planted a tree earlier this week to help make the corner of 13th and Locust a little bit brighter. Nothing makes us happier than being able to give back to both our global and local communities.

If you’re looking for ways to be green during your stay at the Independent (or any hotel) here are a few suggestions:

• * Lower or turn off your thermostat when you leave the room
• * Request that the housekeepers forgo changing your sheets and towels everyday
• * Turn off the lights and your television when you leave the room
• * Recycle!! Use the recycling receptacles at your location to throw away bottles, cans and paper.