Great big vegan weekend kicks off fall season
The calendar, and the thermometer, may say Summer, but culturally speaking, it's the fall "season," and that goes for vegan-related events, about a zillion of which are scheduled for this first "fall" weekend. So whether you're vegan and looking for community camaraderie or you're vegan-curious and looking for info and/or fun, this weekend offers the proverbial Bountiful Harvest of colorful choices. Here are some of them.
*** TODAY: Tonight (7 - 10 pm) is the Philly Vegan Homecoming, organized by V Marks the Shop and the Humane League and promising an evening of dancing, socializing and eating great local vegan food - "a PARTY to celebrate Philadelphia in making 2016 the 'Year of the Vegan.' Note that while there's no official dress code, "party/cocktail/prom attire is strongly encouraged." The Food Duo behind this event have also set a date for the next Vegan Pop Flea, which will be Oct. 30 (the "mini-Spooktacular" Flea).
*** SATURDAY: Over in South Jersey, the second annual Vegstock happens from 11 am to 4 pm at Millville's all-vegan Wildflower Cafe, pulling together area vegan speakers and vegan food offerings from around the area in "a positive and engaging educational experience to inspire vegan living and provide tools to thrive as healthy, active, connected vegans." Tabling, among others, will be American Vegan Society, which assisted in Vegstock's S.J. restaurant outreach (and which is prepping for the Jersey Harvest Gala in Vineland NJ on Sept. 25)
*** SUNDAY: You can choose between at least three flavors of vegan depending on where you are, and realistically, you COULD get to all of these with time to hang out:
* South Street
Greenfest 2016: The sustaina-ganza on South returns from 10 am to 4 pm with rising eco-stars like the vegan-certified Metropolis Farms (which just announced a massive solar array for a second S. Phila facility) as well as vegan-friendly food vendors like Kung Fu Hoagies, Soy Cafe and Follow Your Heart. Watch for Vegan Chef Lenka, who will be signing up participants for the upcoming South Philly Vegan Pledge from Peace Advocacy Network (which is also prepping for the Phoenixville Vegfest on September 17).
* Girard Avenue
Change the Zoo demo (12 pm - 3 pm) from Animal ACTivists of Philly, whose team worked on ending the Zoo's elephant exhibit, promotes persuading the Zoo to convert to a sanctuary model similar to the recently announced plans for the 140 -year old Buenos Aires Zoo.
* Mount Airy
Mt Airy Village Fair: The annual Northwest Philly eco-mmunity street fair from 11 am to 4 pm at the corner of Carpenter and Greene (outside Mt. Airy Weavers Way) will feature many pet-friendly activities as well as tables from the likes of the Philadelphia Orchard Project (which you may recall from my July column). But there will also be an explicit vegan presence at the V for Veg table - yes, I will be there talking about my book V for Veg: The Best of Philly's Vegan Food Column and will also be doing my Drawalong, the interactive improvisational cartooning sensation that's sweeping the nation - or at least the corner of Carpenter and Greene!
And for a bonus "Long Vegan Weekend" there's also
*** MONDAY: In which the Italian Market's vegan-friendliest old-world venue, Superior Pasta, does a special Meatless Monday debut of its vegan pumpkin ravioli. Also featured is the new and improved vegan "cheese" ravioli with a creamy vegan ricotta. If you somehow have missed all the rest of the weekend's offerings, stop by Superior and pick up some vegan pastas and sauces - these guys know how to do it right!
It's unmistakable that more vegan events are cropping up more often in Philadelphia, which is great. I won't be able to tell you about each one of them, so one way to stay in the mix is to join the Facebook group Vegan City Philadelphia
and check the Events.
Another way is to create the definitive online Philly vegan events calendar. Who's up?