7th Annual Midtown Village Fall Festival

Autumn brings with it various delights for the senses: gorgeous color-changing foliage, just-harvested produce at its prime, crisp fall weather, and--best of all--seasonal festivals. The 7th Annual Midtown Village Fall Festival this past Saturday, October 6, was the first of many food fiestas scheduled for the next few months. The block party featured the neighborhood's restaurants, boutiques, gyms, and sponsors, extending from Chestnut to Locust and Juniper to 12th Streets and stopping traffic in both directions. All the stores in the vicinity came out to celebrate and pitched tents and tables in the street outside their stores. With countless food options, plenty of libations to go around, handmade artisan wares, and giveaways left and right, the festival was sure to please.

Jamonera fried up batches upon batches of their addictive papas fritas. Moorish chicken kebabs and truffled manchego grilled cheese sandwiches also had spots on the menu. (See Penn Appétit's review of the tapas bar darling!)

In addition to dishing out the triangular slices of pizza its known for locally, Zio's Brickoven Pizza cooked up sausage-and-peppers and ribeye steak sandwiches to feed the masses.

Jake’s Sandwich Board made a variety of porky bites, including its Best of Philly-winning "50/50" Sandwich (half pork, half bacon, sharp provolone, and Sriracha spread) and chocolate-covered bacon. The pig head was unfortunately not for sale.

Continuing with the pork trend, Lolita served carnitas tacos with chipotle salsa and jicama slaw. A vegetarian-friendly version with mushrooms, cheese, and poblano rajas was also available.

Representatives from Cascadian Farm distributed mini boxes of their oats and honey granola to passersby. 

Fun size Larabars--in Apple Pie, Peanut Butter Cookie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Chip Brownie varieties--were also available for the taking. 

In addition to offering the BBQ fare its known for, Smokin' Betty's debuted their own beer garden this year with seasonal brews from the likes of Yards, Evil Genius, and Saranac breweries.

Those who paid an early visit to Smokin' Betty's were rewarded with mini red velvet cupcakes! These tantalizing morsels, with their creamy frosting and moist cake with just the right touch of cocoa, were a sweet ending to a fun-filled festival.

--