June 3, 2019

Story Ideas for June 2019

African Fashion Design, Stonewall Pioneers, Cheesy Crab Fries and More to Cover this June in Philadelphia

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Wawa Welcome America's Historic District Block Party takes place Sunday, June 30, 2019.

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Addie Olutola, founder of D'Iyanu, a Norristown-based, Africa-inspired clothing line.

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Looking for a story to tell this month? Philadelphia has plenty of them. Here are some of the people, places and events on our radar right now:

PROFILE: ADESOLA “ADDIE” OLUTOLA

When Addie Olutola founded the clothing company D’Iyanu, she combined her background in international business and her longtime love of fashion. Olutola named her co-ed line of African print blazers, pants, scarves, maxi dresses, skirts and jumpsuits a combination of the word “miracle” or “wonderful” in Olutola’s native Yoruba and a French “d,” to mean “of.” Today, the Norristown-based label has a major following among African American shoppers seeking a heritage look with modern lines. Advice for shopping the D’Iyanu collection: If you like it, buy it, because it sells out fast.

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®NEWS:

This month, the brand-new Philadelphia Pioneers On The Road To Stonewall float, a creation of VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, takes to the streets during Pride parades in Philadelphia (June 9) and New York City (June 30), followed by Philly’s Independence Day Parade (July 4). Before the float makes its debut, the public is invited to participate in its creation. On Saturday, June 8, everyone is invited to Cherry Street Pier to write messages of love and support on rainbow ribbons that will be affixed to the float. Read on for more.

WHAT WE’RE EATING NOW:

Deirdre Childress Hopkins, Director of Public Relations: My “last supper” order would surely be crab fries from Washington Square West’s Varga Bar. The app has jumbo lump crab meat, fontina, bechamel, a bit of truffle oil and a bunch of carbs, hitting all my summer cravings—and my chichi love of truffles.

JUNE HAPPENINGS:

June 1-23, Art in the Village: A new exhibit of outdoor art featuring live music at Peddler’s Village culminates in an Art & Wine Festival (June 22-23).
June 22-September 15, C. Wyeth: New Perspectives: This Brandywine River Museum of Art exhibition sheds new light on the Wyeth forefather in 70 never-before-exhibited-together pieces.
June 29-July 4, Wawa Welcome America: Philadelphia’s annual Fourth of July extravaganza returns with more community events, military music, three fireworks shows and the powerhouse vocals of Jennifer Hudson and Meghan Trainor.
June 30-September 15, I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like: The Art of Bill Viola: The Barnes Foundation premieres its first video art exhibition.
June 30, 2019-January 20, 2020, Dinosaurs Around the World: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University displays more than a dozen animatronic dinosaurs.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Saturdays, July 13-November 16, The Food Trust’s Market at Cherry Street Pier: This summer, Cherry Street Pier debuts a weekly market of local food and makers from the producers of the wildly successful food truck-fueled Night Markets.
August 15-September 12, Hidden Lives Illuminated: Eastern State Penitentiary brings stories of the U.S. prison population to light—literally—with nightly screenings of 21 animated films by incarcerated artists.
September 28, 2019-February 17, 2020, Cost of Revolution: A 5,000-square-foot exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution chronicles the untold story of Irish soldier Richard St. George who, after an injury at the Battle of Germantown in 1777, returned to his native country to find it energized by the revolutionary spirit.

NEW & UPDATED PRESS RELEASES:

ESSENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY:

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.