Details on the whole fiasco are here.
Details on the market:
Sunday February 1st 2009 10:00am to 4:30pm
At The Electric Factory (7th and Willow Sts – Center City – Philly)
All Ages / 21+ To Drink / $3 Entry Donation /

I don’t know – maybe you can find some cool Valentine’s gifts there! Or just a little something for yourself to enjoy during the winter cold!

As I’m sure you’re aware, KB Toys is going out of business.

Kind of hits a soft spot with yours truly, who used to constantly go to the store at The Gallery when I was a kid.

Went in there yesterday. What’s left of the store is 50% off.

There is, however, a whole shelf of Indiana Jones and Star Wars toys.

Check it out and get a piece of history, while you can.

Another piece of my childhood – like Woolworth and Roy Rogers – down the drain. ;-(

- AP

1. Not so sure if it’s always this close to the holidays, but the Punk Rock Flea Market is on Saturday, from 10-5. $3 donation. The Starlight Ballroom: 460 N. 9th St.

Records, crafts, clothes, toys, furniture, food, etc!

2. 2nd Street Shopping Spree: Shop at 3 stores and receive subsequent discounts at each. The stores are: Art Star (623 N. 2nd), Conspiracy Showroom (910 N. 2nd), and Arcadia (819 N. 2nd). When you shop at the first, you get a 10% discount and coupon for 15% off the 2nd store, then at the 2nd store, you get a coupon for 20% off at the third.

In that spirit, here are two more craft fairs I know of this coming weekend. I’m sure there are more! Add on, if you like:

Shop, Rock & Roll: Girls Rock Philly and Mew Gallery present their combo craft sale at the Old Pine Community Center (401 Lombard) on Saturday, December 13, 2-6 p.m. Bands included. Sliding donation of $5-10.

The New Studio Holiday Bazaar: The New Studio (1241 Carpenter St., 3rd floor) has a fair selling gifts & goodies for mind, body, & spirit. Snacks. Friday, December 12, 7-10 p.m. and Saturday, December 13, 1-5 p.m.

Enjoy!

Don’t mention the war…I think I did it once..but I got away with it..”

Yeah, “The Germans” is my favorite episode of “Fawlty Towers“. Which reminds me – My awesome new friend and I checked out the 1st ever Christmas Village at City Hall on Tuesday. Now I’m REALLY angry that my new computer isn’t here yet – because I took some rockin’ photos of some hilarious stuff I found.

I’ll tell ya about it, any way.

It’s the first annual Christmas Village in Philadelphia and it’s running 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Christmas Eve at Dilworth Plaza. Admission is free.

There are lots of cool little stations dressed up like snowy houses all throughout the plaza. A couple of crepe and waffle stands, a place that sells doggy treats, and all sorts of little places to get Christmas decorations inspired by all different cultures throughout the world. Plus, Santa Claus is there (He is! We saw him coming out of the Port-O-Let!) – you can even get him to take a picture with your pet on Mondays. They also have a place for K-9 Christmas treats – including tins shaped like fire hydrants full of organic doggie goodies.

The place is kind of hilarious, though, because it’s being run by a company called “German American Marketing”. They own something called “Kathe Wohlfahrt“, according to a little catalog I picked up – which has one of the bigger “houses” there. I just think it’s hilarious because there’s some odd ornaments they’re selling there – like parrot ornaments, Santa Claus carrying a shotgun and a dead rabbit, Santa Claus with a baby alien, and, yes, a small ornament of Satan (which we tried to find a Nativity scene to insert into but no such luck at the time).

Also, things always sound harsher in German, no matter how nice of statements they are. The catalog implores you to “EINFACH ONLINE EINKAUFEN!” (Yes, shop at home online!)

Tons of cool stuff there (a place with candles including a scented candle called “Fresh Laundry”!) and I recomend everyone taking a stroll around the place – preferably with a hot chick from Northeast Philly, but that’s your call. Considering I just heard the country had the worst November in sales since 1969 – maybe get out there and drop $4 on a glass menagerie of somehow-related-to-Christmas roosters and get that economy bustling again.

After all of that Christmas joy and spirit, we headed over to The Mutter Museum. `Cause nothing says Christmas like a 40 pound colon tumor.

- AP

1. The University City Arts League Craft Show and Sale Party & Opening, Dec. 6, 5-8 pm.
Sale runs through Dec.19!
Hours: Monday-Friday 4-9pm; Saturday & Sunday noon-6pm.
4226 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ph: (215) 382-7811
www.ucartsleague.org

2. Made in Philly Craft Fair @ Studio 34, featuring over 40 local craft folk and artisans.
Sponsored by Studio 34 & Vix Emporium.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 1-7 pm
4522 Baltimore Avenue
215-387-3434
www.studio34yoga.com

Why, oh why, is your Punk Rock Flea Market always held at the end of the month, right when I am dirt poor and waiting to get my paycheck? I would like to see you and support your cause, especially because you have all-new a/c at the Starlight Ballroom (460 N. 9th St.). (I remember being there 2 summers ago, when it was stanky!) Anyway, maybe I can dig up a few bucks to find some records or something. I seem to be very into my record player again. Thanks for having food and drinks, including alcohol, artists who make hand-made items, old clothes, furniture, books, and a very-interesting-looking crowd both buying and selling! I’ll see you Saturday, sometime between 10 and 5. Okay?

Love,

Robin

p.s. I’ll also see if I can find the $3 “donation” in my couch. Would you take it in pennies? I collect them!

“AFTCP is a chance to meet local artists and purchase artwork at bargain prices. View a vast array of media, including photographs, paintings, prints, jewelry, clothing, and hand-made books, with nothing priced above $199. There will be food from top local restaurants and libations available, and live music for your enjoyment while you peruse the artwork.” (thank you to their website for letting me borrow that.)

Sounds gut to me! Look for me – I’ll be selling books for one of the sponsors, my very own quirky employer, Quirk Books.

If you know of other markets, please add in your comments!