?uestlove hosts private cook-off Sunday

Roots leader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and 25 invited guests will judge the cooking contest he launched recently, at a Sunday dinner at Vintage (129 S. 13th). 

Nine chefs will compete for the job of cooking for the Roots backstage at the group's annual Roots Picnic festival June 4 at the Festival Pier. 

The chefs will have one hour to shop for ingredients at Whole Foods (10th & South) and then three hours to prep their five-course meals.  

Chef Jennifer Zavala, a former "Top Chef" contestant and alum of El Camino Real, will compete, along with local chefs Eric Paraskevas of Terra (243 S. Camac), Kenny Bush, Scott Shroeder, Clara Park, Anthony Leo, Brian Tucker, New York's Elita B and Nick Wilson of Fitchburg, MA. 

?uestlove will be Tweeting the event live Sunday. He's @Questlove and is followed by more than 1.5 million people. @Cook4Quest will also be tweeting the event.

An Evening of Song with Tonia Tecce!

 

On April 1st, The Kimmel Center will be presenting An Evening of Song with Tonia Tecce Featuring A Special Tribute To Florence Berggren By Metropolitan Opera Star Diana Soviero & Temple University’s Boyer College Jazz Trio and Special Guest Perelman Theater will be presented at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts!

All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Florence Berggren Voice Scholarship Fund at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance

What: Various Performances

Were: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

When: April 1, 8-10 pm

Cost: $35.00

Hamlet -- Now Playing!

The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre tackles Hamlet with panache, running now until May 15.
One of the world’s greatest tragedies penned by the world’s greatest bard, Hamlet is presented in Philadelphia in a way that it hasn’t been in hundreds of years: the title role is played by a woman.
Those who read Shakespeare in high school (or at least saw Shakespeare in Love) know that Shakespeare was no stranger to gender-bending: during his time, all of his characters regardless of gender were played by men. Director Carmen Kahn decided to cast a female to play the Danish Prince as a comment on the universality of the role.

Hamlet tells the tale of Prince Hamlet seeking vengeance for his father’s death at his uncle’s hand, the same uncle who recently wed Hamlet’s mother. This production focuses on the concept that “Hamlet is me” — the fact that we can all recognize a piece of ourselves in Hamlet.


This season at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, Hamlet is presented in repertory with As You Like It, providing a pleasant balance between tragedy and comedy.

Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at 215-496-8001.

Hamlet
When: Now until May 15
Where: The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom Street
Cost: Tickets are $20-$35, with student tickets available for $20
More info: www.phillyshakespeare.org

Want two tickets to the Phillies' Opening Day?

Well it's easy!


In honor of the much-missed partnership, Tastykake is running a “Phan Phrenzy” promotion:
1) Get a friend to “like” the Tastykake Facebook page as a new fan;
2) Ask that friend to then post on the Tastykake fan page wall, mentioning that YOU sent them;
3) You’ll both be entered to win two tickets to Opening Day!

You have until Wednesday, March 30 at 5 p.m. to enter.

Ritz Carlton is going lights out!

The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia and its restaurant 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge are holding a “Lights Out for Global Earth Hour” event, tomorrow, March 26 from 8:30-9:30 p.m.


Earth Hour, a growing global movement organized by World Wildlife Fund, challenges households and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour, in order to raise awareness for climate change.

Accordingly, the Ritz-Carlton is planning to turn off much of its lighting during Earth Hour (keeping within a level of safety). That means the hotel will turn off all exterior lighting and all non-essential public area lighting. As far as guest rooms, the hotel is leaving that up to the individual guests’ willingness to participate.
Lights will also be dimmed at 10 Arts, and during this special hour, guests will be invited to sip on a specialty cocktail in honor of the movement. The cocktail is, fittingly, called “In the Dark”: Finlandia Lime, muddled organic mint and lime, splash of Sprite ($8.30).

During last year’s Earth Hour (it was founded in 2008), a record 128 countries and territories joined in on the global display, including iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
You can participate in Earth Hour Philadelphia in your own home, of course. Click here for 10 ideas on how to spend the hour of darkness productively.

Lights Out for Global Earth Hour
Where: The Ritz-Carlton and 10 Arts, 10 Avenue of the Arts
When: Saturday, March 26, 8:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.earthhour.org

Scrapple!

Love it or hate it, Scrapple is the quintessential Pennsylvania breakfast treat. Celebrate all things Scrapple at Scrapplefest! at Reading Terminal Market on Saturday, March 26th from 10 am to 4 pm. Local Scrapple brands will sample their products, chefs will prepare an assortment of scrapple dishes, and a panel of local celebrities will judge the best Scrapple dish in Reading Terminal Market.

Let Me Down Easy now playing!

Philadelphia Theatre Company continues its 35th anniversary season with the Philadelphia debut of acclaimed playwright and actress, Anna Deavere Smith, in her award-winning show Let Me Down Easy, beginning this Friday, March 18 through April 10 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

Conceived, written, and performed by Smith, Let Me Down Easy is a virtuosic and moving exploration into the power of the human body, the price of health and the resilience of the spirit.

Based on more than 300 interviews Smith conducted with an eclectic mix of individuals on three continents, the show portrays the stories of more than 20 people as Smith takes an honest and deeply moving look at issues surrounding contemporary health care.

Let Me Down Easy blends Smith’s trademark journalistic precision and poignancy with theatrical art, social commentary and intimate reverie that make this performance one you won’t want to miss.
Tickets are available online.

Let Me Down Easy
When: March 18-April 10
Where: Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street
Cost: Tickets range from $25-59
More info: www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org