Kimmel Center Celebrates New Year’s Day with Indoor Festivities and Brunch
December 15, 2008
The Kimmel Center ushers in the New Year with indoor festivities for all parade goers to enjoy while partaking in Philadelphia’s oldest holiday tradition, the annual Mummers New Year’s Day Parade. The Kimmel Center opens its doors on Thursday, January 1, 2009 from 8am to 6pm, and welcomes the community to warm up indoors with Free at the Kimmel entertainment for children and adults, brunch options and a bird’s eye view of the parade.
On the ground level, the Commonwealth Plaza will be open free to the public with Free at the Kimmel events, featuring face-painters from 12-3pm and performances by popular children’s performer Yosi, Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band and the veteran Mummers of The Hardly Able String Band. At Peco Café, freshly prepared sandwiches with vegetarian options, hot dogs, soft pretzels, soups and salads, along with hot chocolate, Philly-brewed beer, wine, and specialty martinis will be available for purchase. Applause Gift Shop will be open from 10am to 6pm with merchandise in all price ranges, from postcards and mugs, to a wide range of CDs, DVDs and books, as well as other gifts.
The Family Fun Brunch on Tier One offers patrons a family-friendly brunch option with two-hour seatings at 11am, 1pm and 3pm that includes a glass of champagne for the adults, and face-painting, cookie decorating and crafts for the kids. In addition to the panoramic view of the parade, two 50" plasma screens will focus on the fun on Broad Street. Family Fun Brunch fare includes spinach and boursin frittata, applewood smoked bacon, whole carved turkey, and mini pastries and bagels; a children-friendly menu includes fruit skewers, silver dollar pancakes, French toast sticks, sausage and bacon, and scrambled eggs. Tickets for the brunch are $50 for adults and $35 for children 11 and under. Reservations are required and seating is limited. To make reservations, go to www.kimmelcenter.org/planning/dining.php or call 215-670-2388.
At the Cadence Celebration Brunch on Tier 2, brunch patrons will enjoy a feast for the New Year with a champagne brunch with two-hour seatings at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, a prime view of the Mummers Parade from the balcony overlooking Broad Street and a 50" plasma screen to keep tabs on the Broad Street action while keeping warm inside. Football fans will also be able to watch their favorite games on the restaurant’s large-screen television. The festive fare will include banana and regular French toast, spinach and boursin frittata, breakfast potatoes and meats, tenderloin of beef and whole carved turkey options, an omelet station, assorted pastries, sliced fresh fruit, smoked salmon/Gravlax and bagels, and a dessert buffet. Tickets for the brunch are $65. Reservations are required and seating is limited. To make reservations, go to www.kimmelcenter.org/planning/dining.php or call 215-670-2388.
Kimmel Center Presents’ 2008/2009 Season is sponsored by Citi. The Great Orchestra Series is supported by 10 Rittenhouse Square. Additional support is provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System, American Express, and Interpark. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. NBC-10 is a media partner for Kimmel Center Presents.
Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from the Wachovia Foundation.
The Kimmel Center is the recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC "Grow Up Great" initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for success in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center’s early childhood program "Bop and Swing," an arts program for children 1-5 years old, designed to promote an appreciation for American culture.
FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS:
Thursday, January 1, 2009 | 8am-6pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free at the Kimmel
New Year’s Day Celebration
Thursday, January 1, 2009 | 10:30-11:30am
Commonwealth Plaza | Free at the Kimmel
Yosi
Wiggle like a worm in a "Hole in The Ground." Act like "Six Little Monkeys." Enjoy a bowlful of "Chicken Noodle Soup." Get on a chugging "Train Medley," and make "Friend's Around The World!" Yosi's lively and humorous children's concerts feature songs from his multi-award-winning albums, which can be heard on WXPN - Kids Corner, and Sirius and XM Satellite Radios.
Thursday, January 1, 2009 | Noon-1pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free at the Kimmel
Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band
Ring in the first day of the New Year with Philly's own award-winning Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band! Your whole family will be engaged in their popular live interactive concert. Cool Beans songs are well known on Kids Corner, WHYY-FM and Sirius Radio. Bring your dancing shoes and experience them live in Commonwealth Plaza!
Thursday, January 1, 2009 | 1:30-2:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free at the Kimmel
The Hardly Able String Band
Experience the Mummers up close and personal as The Hardly Able String Band of veteran Mummers perform on bass, accordion, saxophone and banjo.
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