PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — This week on FYI Philly, we get the Oscar buzz from this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival, learn how family recipes formed the foundation for a baklava business and more!
Every October, the Philadelphia Film Festival transforms the city into a global stage, curating the best films from around the world.
This year, there are more than 100 feature films and 30 plus shorts, kicking off October 16th with “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
There are about 250 screenings in three venues, including the newly remodeled Philadelphia Film Society.
The 11-day festival also offers exclusive premieres and meet the maker events.
And, if history is a guide, you’ll get a sneak peek at next year’s Oscar nominees.
One of the most talked about films is “Hamnet,” which follows the relationship between Shakespeare and his wife after the death of their child and explores how that tragedy inspired Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Hamlet.
There’s a Philadelphia section, which includes films made by Philadelphians or shot in Philadelphia. The Bradley Cooper-directed “Is This Thing On?” is a festival centerpiece.
The Philadelphia Film Society’s 34th Philadelphia Film Festival | Facebook | Instagram
October 16-26
Venues:
Film Society Center, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa 19102
Film Society Bourse, 400 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
Film Society East, 125 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
Triple Crown is a new dining destination inside the Radnor Hotel. The menu features breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with classic dishes done with a twist.
The restaurant is decorated in an equestrian theme honoring the Main Line’s long-running history with the sport of horse racing. Equestrian jackets, helmets and other equipment hang on the walls along with art that creates a lavish aesthetic.
The bar is at the heart of the restaurant, creating a high-energy environment. There are 4 other dining rooms, each with its own theme and different vibe. There is a private dining area for events.
Triple Crown has also taken charge of the event space at the Radnor Hotel with a 300-person capacity under the outdoor canopy. They are building a 200-person indoor conservatory in the outdoor event space. And the indoor banquet room hosts special events and is known for its holiday buffets, including the very popular Thanksgiving feast.
Triple Crown | Facebook | Instagram
593 East Lancaster Avenue, St. Davids, PA 19087
At Cafe Duskaia, Meyling Morena is serving up some of Nicaragua’s most popular dishes right in the heart of the Italian Market.
Morena hand makes tortillas for quesillos, a popular Nicaraguan street food with cheese, onions and sour cream. She also makes the Nicaraguan favorite, Nacatamales, a corn and spice mix cooked down then scooped onto a plantain leaf, topped with veggies and rice then wrapped and boiled for 3 hours.
She owns a plot on her family’s coffee farm, and the coffee she roasts and sells here comes from beans grown by female farmers in Nicaragua.
With the cafe, Meyling hopes to teach people about the coffee farm to cup process and the northern Nicaragua mountain towns where the beans are grown.
If you want to drink like a native, order your coffee hot with a triple strain process.
Cafe Duskaia | Facebook | Instagram
1007 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147
(267) 213-4463 |duskaiacoffee@gmail.com
Yia Yia’s Baklava pays homage to the famous Greek delicacy in Colmar, Pennsylvania.
It’s a family business between husband and wife, Dimitri and Leticia Samaras, and Dimitri’s mother, Christina Samaras.
Every week, they produce their three staple flavors called Original, Lemon, and Chocolate Hazelnut.
In addition to a weekly rotating menu created by Leticia, there are four new flavors produced each week.
Their most requested item has been their Dubai chocolate baklava, baked with pistachios, pistachio butter, and topped with chocolate, shredded filo, and drizzled with more pistachio butter.
The selling of baklava started with Christina when she decided to sell Greek foods at farmers’ markets to raise money for Dimitri’s tutoring to help with his dyslexia when he was a kid.
After she experienced a severe car accident, she had to put the farmers’ markets on hold.
In 2021, Dimitri’s urge to start a business with his family sparked Yia Yia’s Baklava. They began in a church and now have their first brick-and-mortar, where they sell a variety of baklava pieces in Colmar, PA.
Yia Yia’s Baklava | Facebook |Instagram
252 Bethlehem Pike A108, Colmar, PA 18915
Rockwell & Rose is a brand new steakhouse at the Curtis Center, from the team behind P.J. Clarke’s. The classic cuisine with a unique spin brings together Asian flavors and dry-aged steaks. T
he warm design aesthetic is balanced with views of Washington Square Park, and interior spaces that include a parlor designed for after-dinner conversation. From filet mignon to a poached king salmon, dishes and drinks are served in a setting fitting of such a classic location, with a familiarity of service that makes it more than just a spot for special occasions.
Rockwell & Rose | Instagram
At The Curtis Center
601 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-918-8009
open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, from 4:00pm
Military history walking tours complement Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps events. You can hear some of the country’s military origin stories while literally hitting the bricks around Independence National Historical Park.
Tours were built to help guide visitors coming to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of these two military branches.
One tour includes the Free Quaker Meeting House and the Arch Street Meeting House, where you can see the grave of Samuel Nicholas. Another tour features St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and if you’re not into walking, you can do a bike tour of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
For more information:
Homecoming 250 Navy Marine Corps
Link to Homecoming 250 Walking & Bike Tours
The McCausland Arena is a brand new forty-five thousand square-foot equestrian facility in the heart of Fairmount Park.
The non-profit organization connected to the arena is the Work to Ride program.
The program is designed for young people ages eight to eighteen from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not be exposed to horses.
Through equestrian activities, participants get a chance to learn aspects of the sport, and develop qualities and skills of responsible adults.
Work To Ride | Instagram | Facebook
McCausland Arena
98 Chamounix Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-877-4419
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