MarkZwick.com

Not much to say....attended the Eagles game Sunday. Did not recall the last time I walked out of an Eagles game feeling good. Still not a believer but we certainly have potential. Headed over to Xfinity Live afterwards and the place was jumping. Also attended the Flutag on Saturday - thought I saw one participant break a neck but somehow she was OK. Less crowded than the other time they did it on the waterfront back in 2010. The Red Bull go cart event in Manayunk was by far the best of the three events they have produced in Philadelphia.

Last week I mentioned one thing wrong with the city was having the city go after a developer who cleaned up a trash lot in Point Breeze and then was threatened by the city with a lawsuit. Well, it actually made national news. The second part of the story is the city lying and saying they never had received any documentation from the developer who then shared his conversations/paperwork with the city. It all just makes me proud to be a Philadelphian. This is in the same area that a shooting took place this week - a reader sent me this video of the post shooting that I thought was interesting.

Lastly, read this headline this morning: Mortgage Rates Back To Record Lows
In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, fixed mortgage rates are at or near their all-time record lows helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage matched its all-time record low at 3.49 percent, and the average 15-year fixed fell to a new all-time record low at 2.77 percent.

Almost forgot....my oldest nephew turned 18 today (9/21) - happy birthday Alex.. I guess that makes me officially old.

Announcing the inaugural Xtoberfest German tribute & celebration only at the brand new XFINITY Live! Grab some friends and come on out for a beautiful fall day sampling 40+ great beers in your own custom stein, chef-inspired authentic Oktoberfest-style foods (yes, it's included) paired & made with beers, live DJ & outdoor band music, charitable giving silent auction, live custom "South Philly" mural painting for live auction, and incredible games, tournaments, activities, prizes and giveaways.

Yuengling, the oldest and largest American brewery is raising a glass to the awesome beer city of Philadelphia. On Friday, September 28^th at exactly 6:30 p.m. a toast from fifth-generation owner Dick Yuengling will go out across the city at almost 250 bars. You could watch the toast be given from the Pottsville brewery on Comcast SportsNet, or you could be a real card-carrying Philadelphian and go get some free beer. Go to one of the following bars or the other 200+ locations, get free lager, raise your glass, and enjoy.

A) Oktoberfest Street Fest & Ceremonial Keg Tapping: No parade of nations here, just a (yawn) day-and-night-long celebration of German beer, where Frankford Avenue will be lined w/ cuckoo-furnished tents and multi-tap beer trucks pouring Hofbrau, Spaten, and Franziskaner. Great Lakes Brewing's also gonna get a tent to fuel your love of America, plus FH'll have a special food menu with sausages (bauernwurst, bratwurst…) and rotisserie chicken to fuel your love of being (a fat) American.
Sat, Sept 22nd; 12p-10p http://www.frankfordhall.com/

B) Ultimate Ping Pong Tournament: Monday night's event is strictly PING pong. It's just like beer pong except you use paddles, no one's aiming for your cup, and you don't rinse the ball off between rou -- just rent Forrest Gump and do what he does.
Mon, Sept 24th; 7p-9p http://www.frankfordhall.com/

C) Oktoberfest Beer Olympics: Funnyman Eli Shaika emcees a night where you can win medals/gift cards/steins-you-didn't-drop by competing in events like stein-carrying limbo, brat-tossing, a boom-blasting obstacle course, and a live version of Tapper. Now that would make an awesome montage.
Wed, Sept 26th; 7p-10p http://www.frankfordhall.com/

Appetite for Awareness, the signature event of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, is coming to Philadelphia on Sunday September 23^rd from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Strawbridge Building. The event is in its eighth year and continually brings together physicians and chefs from the area’s top restaurants to serve up information and gluten-free dishes.

Restaurants like Melograno, Alma de Cuba, El Rey, Rouge, and Spiga will participate in a “Gluten-Free Cooking Spree” in addition to other attractions like chef demonstrations, a children’s pavilion, and a Gluten-Free Beer Garden for watching the Eagles game (they really have thought of everything!).

Tickets include unlimited gluten-free food and drink and advanced tickets are available online: $50 for adults, $20 for children, and $125 for a family of four. Tickets will be available at the door for a higher price. Appetite for Awareness raises funds for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, their educational programs and free patient resources.

Saturday, Sept. 22
While listening to the smooth sounds of the Passage Jazz Band and noshing on food from Reading Terminal Market’s Hershel’s East Side Deli, guests are invited to peruse and bid on an eclectic mix of artwork, as Mt. Airy Garage’s annual silent auction showcases the works of more than 45 professional and emerging artists from Northwest Philly. Featured artists include Robert Finch (paintings/prints), Kathy Robinson (decorative fiber arts), Melvin Chappell (photography), Ellen Benson (recycled mixed-media) and Gary Reed (Hawaiian landscape art). A selection of crafts, jewelry and gift certificates will
also be up for grabs. All proceeds from the annual event will help the Mt. Airy Art Garage complete construction on its working artist studios, communal spaces that the garage hopes will foster creativity, celebration and collaboration. -Nicole Finkbiner

6pm. $30-$35. Mt. Airy Art Garage, 11 W. Mt. Airy Ave. 215.242.5074. www.mtairyartgarage.org

Saturday, 9/22
After an excessively scalding summer, autumn in Philadelphia has really never seemed better. During this all-day festival, the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society will celebrate the new season with food, giveaways and two harvest contests. In hopes of impressing a group of expert judges, local growers will flaunt their most overgrown fruits, veggies and pumpkins, as well as their most beautiful fall flower and produce arrangements. Over at the marketplace, guests can shop from a selection of plants, gardening accessories, tools, home decor keepsakes and crafts while the PHS/Meadowbrook store will have its usual array of tropical indoor and plants and vegetables. Co-hosts of the The Chew Cara Hall and Daphne Oz will also be in attendance leading live cooking and home-entertaining demonstrations and a Q&A session. -N.F.

9am. Free. Philadelphia Navy Yard, 4747 S. Broad St. 215.988.8800. www.phsonline.org

8) Candy Class
Shane Candies claims the title of America’s oldest candy store, with an unbroken line of confectioners slinging sugary treats out of 110 Market St., stretching back to 1863. Tonight, brothers and new owners Ryan and Eric Berley will leave their beautiful store for the evening and lead a class teaching you all about 19th- and early 20th-century candy. Participants can indulge their inner Wonka as they pull taffy, learn lozenge lore and cast candy from antique metal molds. You might want to send your dentist an apologetic text before you attend, because each participant will go home with a “clear toy” of rock hard candy cast from molten sugar. -T.C.

EuroCircle Wine Tasting: Wines of the Mediterranean
Wednesday, Sept 26, 2012 - 6:30 pm
Location: JET WINE BAR - 1525 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146
Event info & RSVP: http://www.eurocircle.com/events/34442/

Join EuroCircle as we embark on an wine adventure! Our hostess for the evening is Jill Weber, the owner of the latest addition to South Philly’s bar scene, Jet Wine Bar. Billed as Philly’s Global Vineyard, Jet specialize in wines from emerging and lesser-known regions, as well as uncommon varietals. Tonight, Jill will present wines of the Mediterranean with a particular focus on wines of Greece and Italy.

In addition to being a wine connoisseur, Jill is a professional archaeologist. After receiving her Ph.D. in Anthropology, Jill has spent the majority of her career working in Syria; as well as Turkey and Armenia. Extensive travel through these locales, as well as those less exotic, spurred her desire to bring pieces of the world home to Philadelphia in the form of Jet Wine Bar. Jet was founded to introduce more people to the vast and diverse flavors of wines and foods from across the globe, in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.

Join us for a night of fun at Bucks Counties Hotest New Venue and form of entertainment The Uncorked Artist! Unleash the artist in you as you follow along and create your very own work of art (no experience necessary WE PROMISE). All classes are led by a professional artist who will guide you through the process then you will not believe what you just did! We will have an hour before class to have a Meet and Greet and enjoy some wine and cheese and get to know other “”artists”” in the area.

13) BreastFest Philly --- www.breastfest.org --- Tyanna Barre O’Brien Breast Cancer Foundation

Looking for something fun to do that helps local women going through Breast Cancer treatment? Come out to BreastFest Philly on Saturday September 29^th from 3-8pm at MadRiver Manayunk!! $40 = 5 hours of open bar, food, banks, games, and boobies!! Tickets on sale now at www.breastfest.org

Come join us for our 4th annual Oktoberfest celebration! We will have an entire week of events leading up to our huge outdoor block party on Saturday, September 29th! Events will inlcude things such as German Quizzo and a Bratwurst eating contest – please stay tuned for details!