Center City Philadelphia

The Christmas Village in Philadelphia returns again this year with a Grand Opening Ceremony on Black Friday, November 27! The outdoor Holiday market event, located at Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall, will run through Christmas Eve. Vendors in 40 high quality booths and tents will form a medieval village and sell European food, sweets and drinks as well as international seasonal holiday gifts, ornaments and high quality arts and crafts. Highlights include hot mulled wine, bratwursts and a big tent with traditional German Christmas ornaments. The City’s Christmas tree and thousands of lights also make it a great place to visit in the evenings. For more information please visit www.philachristmas.com

After filling up with Thanksgiving turkey, pumpkin pie and all the fixings get to bed early and prepare for a Black Friday shopping extravaganza! Be on the look out for Center City District representatives at various locations throughout Center City to pick up re-useable shopping bags for all of your holiday purchases!  While you’re out, also check out these great deals and promotions going on downtown:

-         Nicole Miller, 2^nd Annual White Friday Sale from 8am-8pm; a collection of bridal gowns, bridesmaid and mother of the bride or groom dresses will be on sale for 50-75% off. www.nicolemiller.com

-         The Gallery and SEPTA’s Santa Express, ride with a cast of holiday characters on featured Regional Rail lines and the Market-Frankford El. Upon your arrival at The Gallery join the Santa Parade to Center Court.

-         The Bellevue, Black Tie Friday event from 6pm-10pm; special events and offers at their top retailers.  XIX, The Palm, and Tavern on Broad will provide food and drinks. A suggested donation of $25 will go to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children. Please RSVP to Williams-Sonoma at 215.545.7392.

-         Come to the Reading Terminal Market from November 27 to January 3 (excluding Christmas and New Years Day) to check out the Holiday Railroad. www.readingterminalmarket.org

-         Macy’s Annual Christmas Events: Christmas Light Show, November 27 to December 31 in the Grand Court of Macy’s Center City; Charles Dickens’s, “A Christmas Carol” daily from 10am-7pm; Visit Santa Claus at Macy’s from November 27 to December 24. www.macys.com

On November 19th, from 6pm – 8pm Esprit will be hosting a fashion show. Come out and enjoy food, drink, door prizes, gift certificates from local businesses, makeovers, special offers and more! Admission is free! For more information visit www.esprit.com.

As many people know, George Washington Carver is the man who invented multiple uses for the peanut. However, there are many aspects of his life unbeknownst to many. On November 14, The Academy of Natural Sciences unveiled an exhibit focused solely on the life, times and inventions of the American scientist who just so happens to have been “green” before the trend.

This will be the largest exhibit ever assembled on George Washington Carver. It will run until February 28, 2010. For more information, visit www.ansp.org

Portrait of George Washington Carver provided by Tuskeegee University’s Museum Archives.