Local Venues & Destinations > Philadelphia | BizBash

In August, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center debuted on the top 12 floors of the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, the city’s tallest building. The high-end hotel brings a new level of luxury to Center City, with amenities like a full-service spa, a 24-hour fitness center with a floor-to-ceiling media wall, and an indoor infinity-edge pool with sweeping views of the city and beyond. Each of the 219 guest rooms, including 39 suites, features bespoke furniture and next-generation Comcast internet and entertainment technology. Two master chefs helm on-site dining outposts: Greg Vernick’s Vernick Fish occupies part of the building’s ground level, and the 40-seat Vernick Coffee Bar offers light bites and grab-and-go options; Jean-George Vongerichten’s stunning Jean Georges restaurant dazzles guests with five-star cuisine on the 59th floor, while the adjoining JG SkyHigh serves more casual dishes in a sleek, chic atmosphere. The hotel offers more than 15,602 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate as many as 1,000 total guests, including the 4,554-square-foot Grand Terrace Ballroom, the 2,364-square-foot Arch Ballroom, and the 600-square-foot Executive Boardroom. All event spaces feature natural light and can be adorned with florals and decor by celebrity florist and in-house artistic director Jeff Leatham.

10 New Philadelphia Venues for 2019 Fall Meetings and Events

To find Blume, look for the giant butterfly mural that adorns the front facade of the restaurant, which opened in April in Rittenhouse Square. The interior design is energetic and colorful, with 2,300 roses on the back wall, more than 200 live plants lining the ceiling, 88 gem-colored mirrors, and colorful oversize banquettes. Measuring 2,400 square feet, the restaurant seats as many as 100 guests inside, with 12 additional sidewalk seats. The menu features elevated yet approachable versions of classic cuisine, including shareable dishes like kung pao calamari and deviled eggs, entrées like gnocchi and cauliflower steak, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. At the bar, guests can order creative cocktails and a curated selection of natural wine, beer, and cider.

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In October, health-centric mini-chain Fuel launched a line of “Dream” smoothies infused with CBD oil, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. The new drinks are available in three flavors (Green Dream, Berry Dream, and Orange Dream) and can be purchased in stores and are available as a catering item. CBD oil can also be added into existing smoothies to help consumers manage anxiety, stress, and depression. Additional items that incorporate CBD will be added to the menu in 2019.

3 New Ideas for Entertaining in Philadelphia

A giant bear topiary welcomed guests into the “secret garden” setting.

Why the Four Seasons Launched an Event Series Outside its Hotels

Kontrol, a “secret” bar, club, and late-night kitchen, opened in Midtown Village in September. The colorful, 1,000-square-foot underground space accommodates as many as 100 guests for cocktail-style events. The decor incorporates industrial elements like a polished concrete floor, exposed beams, historic brick and tile, graffiti from local artists, and a 25-foot granite bar. A glass wall showcasing the door to the original cellar vault honors the building’s heritage as the former home of Tradesman’s National Bank and Trust Company. The kitchen serves upscale bar bites like German pretzels, fresh-cut fries, and in-house smoked pork.

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Located on Avenue of the Arts, Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Center City opened in March. The 223-room property includes multiple areas available for meetings or events. A 2,298-square-foot meeting room seats 120 guests theater style, 80 classroom style, or 48 conference style. The 510-square-foot boardroom seats 12 around a large conference table. Meeting amenities include a ceiling-mounted screen and projector, wireless microphones, built-in speakers, and HDMI-compatible hookups. The hotel also features a restaurant with views of the city skyline, Bluetooth compatible mirrors in each guest room, and in-room microwaves and refrigerators.

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Franco’s Barbering in Moorestown, New Jersey, launched a mobile service that offers men’s grooming services from a custom-designed Airstream trailer. Franco’s On Location offers haircuts, beard shaping and detailing, shaves, facials, and waxing in a setting reminiscent of a 1920s-era barbershop. The trailer typically parks at designated locations in the Greater Philadelphia area, but planners can reserve it for private events.

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Seasoned Philadelphia restaurateurs and collaborators Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy opened the Love in Rittenhouse Square in November. The sophisticated yet relaxed café celebrates creative and seasonal American cuisine, with dishes such as crispy duck salad, truffle gnudi, seared New England scallops, and rosemary-garlic lamb roast. The 2,500-square-foot, bi-level restaurant seats 100, which includes an 800-square-foot upper-level loft that fits 45 for receptions or 20 for seated meals at a communal table.

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New Jersey-based mini-chain Porta opened a Philadelphia location in January. The Midtown Village restaurant serves authentic Neapolitan pizza in varieties that appeal to vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters, as well as pastas and shareable dishes. The venue includes a variety areas for events. The main floor measures 4,500 square feet and includes a “classic” side and a “fancy” side; the former seats 144 guests and features communal tables and mismatched chairs, while the latter includes smaller tables and seats 34 total guests with an additional 14 seats at the bar. A 2,200-square-foot mezzanine with seating for 78 overlooks the main dining room.

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Big Red Pedal Tours has introduced a Philadelphia food tour. While riding on the company’s signature 15-passenger bikes, guests enjoy a two-hour tour of some of the city’s standout culinary destinations, including Reading Terminal Market, Barra Rosa, and Destination Dogs. Tours typically start and end in Philadelphia’s Historic District, but planners can reserve private group tours and arrange for pick-up at hotels, meeting venues, or other locations. The tour fleet includes four bikes, which can accommodate groups of as many as 60 people. Weekday tickets cost $46 per person.

3 New Ideas for Entertaining in Philadelphia

East Passyunk Avenue welcomed Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk in July. In addition to an award-winning wine list, the menu offers dishes inspired by the bold flavors of Spain and the Mediterranean, including charcuterie and cheeses, tapas such as spiced meatballs and patatas bravas, and entrees like vegetable paella and squid ink noodles. The restaurant features an open kitchen and is divided into several spaces that can accommodate groups of varying sizes; the 2,206-square-foot dining room seats 156, the 215-square-foot bar seats 23, and the 739-square-foot patio seats 70.

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Walnut Street Café opened in the FMC Tower in University City in June. The modern venue offers both casual and fine dining areas, as well as a cocktail bar and a patio. In total, the 3,000-square-foot restaurant can seat as many as 130 guests or accommodate 200 for cocktail-style receptions, with room for 60 additional guests on the patio, weather permitting. The American menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with diverse offerings such as gourmet croissants, scrapple, pork belly sandwiches, pastas, and steaks.

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Known for serving health-conscious dishes with 500 or fewer calories, Philadelphia mini-chain Fuel renovated its Midtown Village outpost—called Fuel Center City—in April. The menu includes salads, juices, sandwiches, desserts, and more, all of which are made with locally grown produce. The 1,700-square-foot space now offers flexible seating options, Philly-centric artwork, a community table, and a second-floor private event space. Planners can book events for as many as 72 seated guests in the main dining room, 20 seated guests on the outdoor patio, and 20 in the private event space.

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Citizens Bank Park

A Producer of Events for Presidents and Pop Stars Shares His Favorite Places

TeamBonding Philadelphia

Philadelphia

TeamBonding Philadelphia

Philadelphia

TeamBonding Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Pocono Mountains will unveil an extension in March. The addition includes 520 guest rooms and suites, bringing the total number of accommodations to 977. The property will add two new dining venues: Double Cut Charcoal Grill and Sortino’s Italian Kitchen. The Africa-theme resort also offers 65,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including two ballrooms measuring 25,000 square feet and 19,000 square feet, respectively, and 18 different meeting rooms. Event space is equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, state-of-the-art lighting and audiovisual capabilities, and built-in HD projectors and monitors. Elsewhere on the property are amenities including the country’s largest indoor waterpark and a full-service salon and spa.

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Paper airplanes were woven into the design of the event, including hanging ones that were inscribed with the hashtag #AmexPlatinum.

Guests Go Around the World at American Express Event

In the summer of 2016, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation launched Parks on Tap, a mobile beer garden that traveled to different city parks each week. In addition, the program offers catering for private events with three tiered options, ranging from a small, four-tap beer truck and seating area to a 10-tap beer trailer, generator, tables and chairs for 200 guests, hammocks, and lighting. Bathroom trailers are also available at an additional cost.

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Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar opened in King of Prussia Town Center in September. The atmosphere is inspired by Cuban culture and the menu is influenced by Central America, South America, Cuba, and the Latin Caribbean. The bar has power outlets and USB ports at every seat. The restaurant measures 6,081 square feet, including a 560-square-foot private dining room that offers flat-screen, HDMI projection, and space for as many as 60 guests. The dining room seats as many as 180 guests, while the bar seats 30, the main patio seats 86, and the bar patio seats 46. Buyouts are available.

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Colorful cutouts with expressions designed in comic-book font were set up throughout the space.

10 Best Ideas of the Week: a Comic Book-Inspired Skyline Illustration, Mars-Theme Geodesic Dome Tents, a Rum Barrel Tailgate Challenge

The experiential campaign kicked off October 23 at Xfinity Live! in Philadelphia.

Why a Rum Brand Invited Sports Fans to Participate in Physical Challenges

RitzCarlton, Philadelphia completed a year-long, multimillion-dollar renovation in June. The new design incorporates neutral colors and metallic accents, and decor focuses on history and the arts. Event planners can utilize 26,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space to accommodate as many as 600 guests. Two ballrooms measure 3,075 square feet and 6,100 square feet, respectively. Additional hotel changes include updated guest rooms, meeting spaces, and lobby, as well as an original bank vault that was converted into a function room. In the Club Lounge, a hotel within a hotel, guests can enjoy complimentary beverages and bites throughout the day, as well as private concierges and personalized amenities.

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Atop chic new Center City hotel the Logan is a 4,000-square-foot alfresco lounge named Assembly. The space towers high above Philadelphia, with sweeping views of Logan Circle. The sophisticated atmosphere extends to its beverage program, which offers an extensive list of champagne by the glass. For events, the space can hold 100 seated guests or accommodate 150 cocktail style. It opened in April.

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Private Dining Room: The Manayunk Room accommodates up to 26 guests

Philadelphia

The dragon also appeared in other locations in New York, including the New York Public Library.

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In January, AKA Rittenhouse Square hotel unveiled its new Penthouse Suites, designed by Nicholas Cardone to include rich hardwood floors, quartz countertops, and sophisticated furnishings. Each of the three 1,600-square-foot units features a dining room that can comfortably seat eight people for meetings or intimate group meals. In addition, the chic suites come with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a sunlit living room. Each suite is also equipped with two HD TVs, premium cable, Apple TV, USB docks, and charging stations.

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