Last-minute shopping, light shows and holiday-themed dining around Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- FYI Philly hosts Ducis Rodgers and Alicia Vitarelli check out last-minute shopping ideas, light shows for the holidays.[br /][br /][b]Philadelphia's Holiday Tree Powered By NRG at City Hall[/b][br /][Ads /][br /]The massive Concolor White Fir that now sits lit at City Hall was grown at Yule tree Farms, a third-generation family farm in western New York.[br /][br /]It's the centerpiece of City Hall's north apron, dubbed for the season the Wawa Holiday Plaza. There's a Ferris wheel, a trackless train, food vendors, and the NRG House, where you can learn about NRG products and deals.[br /][br /]There's a carousel in the City Hall courtyard, and if you venture around to Dilworth Park on the west side, you can take a spin on the Rothman Rink then warm up and refuel in the cozy Rothman Cabin with its menu full of hearty comfort foods, cocktails and hot chocolate and cider.[br /][br /]The Dilworth Park Wintergarden has become a popular selfie spot with thousands of twinkling lights, a reindeer topiary and a huge overhead arbor.[br /][br /]Santa is coming to the Wintergarden on Dec. 3, the same day as the Visit Philadelphia Holiday parade.[br /][br /]It's a lighted parade with illuminated floats, cold-air balloons and marching bands from eight states.[br /][br /]It will kick off at 2nd and Market Streets and make its way west to City Hall.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://centercityphila.org/parks/dilworth-park/winter" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Winter at Dilworth Park[/url][/b][br /]1 S 15th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102[br /][b][url HREF="https://phillyholidayexperience.com/"]Philly Holiday Experience[/url][/b][br /][br /][b]West Philadelphia pop-up gives minority businesses a boost[/b][br /]"There's so much talent in our community, we really wanted to highlight that," said Daria Williams, senior director of The Enterprise Center, which recently opened the Black Holiday Pop-Up store at 52nd and Ludlow streets.[br /][br /]The Enterprise Center owns the building. As a nonprofit, the center focuses on supporting small minority-owned businesses. Those are the types of businesses featured at the pop-up, which The Enterprise Center is operating for the very first time.[br /][br /]"The shop hosts over 40 Black-owned businesses ranging from jewelry to art to clothing to candles," said Williams.[br /][br /]All of the vendors are local, and they now get to sell their wares in the heart of West Philadelphia.[br /][br /]The pop-up sits along the once-thriving 52nd Street corridor.[br /][br /]"It's been a historically Black business-owned corridor," said Williams. "Some of our hope and our work is to bring that back to 52nd Street."[br /][br /]The Enterprise Center sent out a call for vendors to apply earlier this fall. More than 80 applied, and just over 40 got spaces in the pop-up shop. Those vendors don't have to pay rent for the space.[br /][br /]"It's free to them to participate," said Williams. "They get the majority of the proceeds and we take a small portion for the operating costs."[br /][br /]The shop uses a barcode system to ring up each item vendors provide. Those items vary but the goal of the pop-up shop is the same: to give dozens of minority-owned businesses a "home" for the holidays.[br /][br /]The Black Holiday Pop-Up shop is open Tuesday through Sunday at 52nd and Ludlow street. Hours are as follows:[br /][br /][i]Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.[/i][br /][i]Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.[/i][br /][i]Sunday: 11 a.m to 5 p.m. [/i][br /][br /][b]Decked Out Dining: Tinsel, Craftsman Row, Taqueria Amor[/b][br /][b]Tinsel[/b] in Center City is fast becoming an annual tradition.[br /][br /]It's a pop-up bar decorated from floor to ceiling with holiday knickknacks. Everywhere you look, you're going to see something different.[br /]The space is purposefully designed to be photographed.[br /][br /]This year, there's a new augmented reality projection designed to be a stained-glass window with a constantly moving display of holiday iconography.[br /][br /]While the eye candy is a big part of the experience, Tinsel is a bar and there are 12 themed cocktails to choose from.[br /][media ID="12534150" /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/Tinselphilly" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Tinsel [/url]| [url HREF="https://instagram.com/tinselphilly" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]116 S. 12th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107[br /]267-687-2580[br /]------------[br /][br /][b]Craftsman Row Saloon[/b] on Jeweler's Row is decorated with more than 2,000 hand-glued ornaments, along with thousands of yards of garland.[br /][br /]Known for its over-the-top milkshakes, the "All I Want for Christmas" shake has eggnog, Bassett's ice cream and gingerbread mixed in, with a decorated cookie, lollipop, green and red sour strip, and crushed peppermint on top![br /]There are also 10 themed cocktails on the menu, each featuring a different spirit.[br /][br /]The "Mistle-Toast" is brandy infused with rosemary, spiced rum, cinnamon, and vanilla.[br /]The "Blue Holiday" is tequila-based with pineapple, blue curacao, lime, and a rosemary tree with powdered sugar to resemble snow.[br /][br /]The food will get you in the spirit too, with appetizers like brussels sprouts and pigs in a blanket.[br /][br /]The "Christmas Dinner Burger" is an entire Christmas dinner served sandwich-style. It's two beef patties, sweet potato fries, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and cheese layered on a potato roll.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.craftsmanrowsaloon.com " TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Craftsman Row Saloon[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/CraftsmanRowPHL" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Facebook [/url]| [url HREF="https://instagram.com/craftsmanrowphl" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]112 S. 8th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107[br /]215-923-0123[br /][Ads /][br /]------------[br /][br /][b]Taqueria Amor [/b]in Manayunk has transformed into "Señor Grinch's" with throwback Christmas-themed sections.[br /]Along with the nostalgia-inducing décor, there's a projector that plays clips of classic Christmas movies.[br /][br /]The "Home Alone" themed "Wet Bandit Bar" features nine holiday cocktails, available in single glass and pitcher sizes.[br /][br /]The most popular margaritas are the "Grinch-A-Rita" and the "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Margarita".[br /][br /]The "Cindy Lou's Spiked Yoo-Hoo" is Taqueria Amor's take on a white Russian with vodka and a splash of Kahlua mixed with the classic childhood favorite Yoo-Hoo.[br /][br /]You can also enjoy Mexican favorites like fish tacos, chicken taquitos, and nachos.[br /][br /]There's also a Philly cheesesteak quesadilla on the menu.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://bit.ly/3V3jgw0" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Taqueria Amor [/url]| [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/TaqueriaAmor " TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Facebook [/url]| [url HREF="https://instagram.com/taqueriaamor" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]4410 Main St. Philadelphia, PA 19127[br /]267-331-5874[br /][br /][b]Chester County offers seasonal settings for holiday fun[/b][br /]It's easy to make a day of a visit to Chester County, with holiday museum tours, shopping, and dining.[br /][br /]Yuletide at Winterthur is an annual tradition at this historic home, museum, and garden where displays are decorated throughout the former home of H.F. du Pont.[br /][br /]The gift shop has multiple rooms that could be a museum in itself, and there is a cafe onsite.[br /][br /]At the Brandywine Museum of Art, the galleries are a draw year-round, but every December since 1971, they have held a fundraiser selling 'critters'.[br /][br /]The ornaments are handmade by museum and conservancy volunteers, consisting only of natural materials -- like pine cones, grasses, and a plant called 'teasel'. They have been on display in The Smithsonian and decorated the White House tree in 1984.[br /][br /]In Exton, the Wellington Square Bookshop is the dream shop for proprietor Sam Hankin, a lifelong reader.[br /][br /]The space is created to browse books, find eclectic gifts, and have a drink or a snack. Atlas Obscura voted the shop one of the best bookstores in the world.[br /][br /]This shop and others are in Exton's Eagle View Shopping Center, with restaurants and a courtyard decorated with a lit tree for the holidays.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.winterthur.org/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Yuletide at Winterthur[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/winterthurmuse/?ref=nf" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/winterthurmuse/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19735[br /]302-888-4600[br /][i]Yuletide at Winterthur ends Jan 8th, 2023[/i][br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.brandywine.org/museum" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]The Brandywine Museum[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/brandywinemuseum" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/brandywinemuseum/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Instagram[/url][/b][br /][br /]One Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317[br /]610-388-2700[br /][b][url HREF="https://www.wellingtonsquarebooks.com/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Wellington Square Books[/url] [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonsquarebooks/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/wellingtonsquarebookshop/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Instagram[/url][/b][br /][br /]549 Wellington Square, Exton, PA 19341[br /]610-458-1144[br /][br /][b]Christmas at Longwood Gardens features 39 miles of lights, holiday fun[/b][br /]A Longwood Christmas is a stunning display of botanical splendor, which is the theme of this year's show.[br /][br /]There are 550,000 lights, which public relations officer Patricia Evans says would stretch 39 miles if laid end to end.[br /]Inside the tropical conservatory, you can bask in two acres of gardens with towering trees glimmering with botanical ornaments and 3,000 poinsettias.[br /]The music room has been transformed into a floral shop with floral couture dresses designed by students from Drexel. There's live organ music every evening and living works of art throughout.[br /][br /]When the sun sets, the grounds are transformed into a dazzling spectacle of lights with fountains dancing to holiday music, more than 150 lit trees, and a new light tunnel.[br /][b]A Longwood Christmas |[/b][url HREF="https://longwoodgardens.org/gardens/our-seasons/longwood-christmas"]Website[/url][b] | [/b][url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodGardens"]Facebook[/url][b] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/longwoodgardens/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, Pa. 19348[br /][i]Through January 8; Tickets are timed.[/i][br /][br /][b]Holiday Light Shows around Philadelphia[/b][br /]If you're looking for a holiday light show for the family, we have three must-see displays around the city.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/what-to-see/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Franklin Square's Electrical Spectacle[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/franklinsquarephilly/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram [/url]| [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/franklinsquarephiladelphia" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Facebook[/url][/b][br /]200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA[br /]Show runs until February 26, 2023[br /][b][url HREF="https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5ycBhCXARIsAPldzoUBBpRJpyjGsdv3C9i3R_AVJIWPeAgu6ivvdr2CmcnBcvOyrSj4lb0aAnlQEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Philadelphia Zoo's LumiNature[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/philadelphiazoo/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram [/url]| [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/philadelphiazoo" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Facebook[/url][/b][br /][Ads /][br /]3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104[br /]Show runs until January 7th, 2023[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.centercityphila.org/parks/dilworth-park/winter/light-show" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Deck the Hall Light Show[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/centercitydistrict/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Instagram [/url]| [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/centercitydistrict" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Facebook[/url][/b][br /]1 S 15th St (West Side of City Hall), Philadelphia, PA 19102[br /]Show runs until January 1st, 2023[br /][media ID="12084883[br /]" /][b]"Blue Man" comes to town for the holidays[/b][br /]The holidays are always a big time for Broadway.[br /]The kids are out of school so people come to the city to shop, dine and see a show.[br /][br /]That's why you'll always find a family-friendly favorite playing the week between Christmas and New Year.[br /][br /]This year, it's "Blue Man Group".[br /][br /]We headed North to the Big Apple to catch them in action.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.kimmelculturalcampus.org/events-and-tickets/202223/broadway/blue-man-group/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow"]Blue Man Group - Kimmel Cultural Campus[/url][br /]Dec 27-31[/b][br /]Miller Theater[br /]250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102[br /][br /][b]SHOW EXTRAS[/b][br /]The Fairgrounds at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks have been transformed into a winter wonderland with 1.2 million lights.[br /]There's a mistletoe marketplace for holiday shopping, Tinsels Lodge and Pub for a cup of holiday cheer and a light-up dance floor for the kids to burn off a little energy.[br /]Santa and Mrs. Claus are here nightly and Gritty makes special appearances too. Wagon Wednesdays are dedicated to the dogs. Plus, there's an ice rink with real ice and a 160-foot ice slide.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.tinseltownholiday.com/"]Tinseltown[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/TinseltownHoliday"]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/tinseltownholiday/"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /][i]Through December 31st[/i][br /]Fairgrounds at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center[br /]100 Station Avenue, Oaks, Pa. 19456[br /][br /]--[br /]During the holiday season, Chestnut Hill's more than 125 independent shops stay open late on Wednesdays as part of the neighborhood's annual Stag and Doe nights.[br /][br /]At the bookstore, booked., you can give the gift of reading in more ways than one.[br /][br /]The shop has partnered with Tree House Books in North Philadelphia to launch[i]Branching Out With Books[/i]. For every board book bought, booked. will donate a board book to a child in need.[br /][br /]Shoppers can also donate a gently-used board book and get 15% off their purchase.[br /]While on the Hill, you can also stop in at the Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway[br /][br /]It covers a quarter acre with 11 Train loops and seven trolley lines and miniature versions of some of Philadelphia's historic buildings created out of plant material.[br /][b][url HREF="https://chestnuthillpa.com/explore/holiday-shopping/?gclid=CjwKCAiAv9ucBhBXEiwA6N8nYMJ1TSnLjfBrZ1r9wTCSNLA4yA5Qxgs9YtARLVtdguRZ7Zjr1LltuRoChdoQAvD_BwE"]Stag and Doe[/url][/b][br /][br /][b]booked.| [url HREF="https://www.bookedch.com/"]Website[/url][b] |[/b][url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/booked.chestnuthill"]Facebook[/url][b] | [/b][url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/booked_chestnuthill/"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /]8511 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118[br /]267-900-2999[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.morrisarboretum.org/events_special.shtml"]Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/morrisarboretum/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/morrisarboretum/" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow" ]Instagram[/url][/b][br /][i]Through December 30th [/i][br /][i]10am-4pm daily, 430-8pm, December 18 & 23rd [/i][br /]100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118[br /]215-247-5777[br /]--[br /][br /]For the first time ever, Disney On Ice inviting families to step inside the magical adventures of Walt Disney Animation Studios' [i]Frozen[/i] and [i]Encanto[/i].[br /][br /]You can sing along to your favorite songs while watching your friends from Arendelle and a mountain town in Colombia perform world-class ice skating and astounding aerial acrobatics.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="https://www.disneyonice.com/tickets"]Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce/"]Facebook[/url] | [url HREF="https://www.instagram.com/disneyonice/"]Instagram[/url][/b][br /][i]December 25-31[/i][br /]Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148[br /]215-336-3600
