Delaware County Literacy Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free literacy services to adults in Delaware County, including GED preparation, basic skills instruction, and English as a Second Language instruction. Susan Keller, Development and Communications Coordinator for the Delaware County Literacy Council gives details on the organization’s upcoming Expert Academy Online Telethon on Wednesday, October 20th.  The Expert Academy Online Telethon will feature three experts with roots in Delaware County sharing their wisdom through exciting online workshops. Catch Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and star of Somebody Feed Phil, who will discuss writing for TV. Also Kathy Deitch, Shin Shin from the original Broadway cast of Wicked, will share tips on how to sing in full voice. Finally, Alex Garfinkel, chef and owner of Balboa Catering in Philadelphia, will demonstrate how to prepare tapas--small dishes from Spain. Each presentation will be about 20 minutes in length.  Brad Inglesby, creator of HBO’s Mare of Easttown and Villanova alum, will also be making a special guest appearance at the event, and the 2021 Champions of Adult Literacy will be honored.  This free event will be aired on YouTube Live on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 7:00 PM ET. More information is available at www.delcoliteracy.org. 

BEN Around Philly

Delco Literacy Council's Expert Academy Online Telethon

Hamilton is returning to Philadelphia! The show will be at the Academy of Music from October 20th through November 28th to kick off an amazing Broadway Philadelphia season at the Kimmel Center. Kristen had a chance to speak with Ta’Rea Campbell who plays Angelica Schuyler in the show.  Ta’Rea has played Nala in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, Deloris in Sister Act, and performed in Book of Mormon, Little Shop of Horrors, and so many incredible shows. She’s born and raised in Philadelphia, and excited to come perform in her home town for such an extended period of time. Hear Ta’Rea talk about returning to the stage that she graduated high school on, practicing with (and without) the turntable moving stage, the lightning fast lyrics in the show, and lots more.  Be sure to check HERE for details on how to enter the digital lottery for the show. It’s your chance to win $10 tickets! Find more details and ticket information at KimmelCenter.org. 

Hamilton in Philly! Philly Born Ta'Rea Campbell as Angelica Schuyler

The Many Saints of Newark will be in theaters and streaming on HBO Max this Friday, October 1st. This full length prequel to the Sopranos series stars Michael Gandolfini (the late James Gandolfini’s son) as a teenage Tony Soprano, stepping into his father’s iconic role for the film. Alessandro Nivola plays Tony Soprano’s uncle and role model Dickie Moltisanti. The two actors recently visited Philadelphia and sat with Kristen for an interview about the film at the Bistro Romano restaurant in South Philly. Thanks to Bistro Romano for hosting the press event. The restaurant proved to be a “Tony Soprano worthy” setting for the interviews. Check out Bistro Romano for upscale cuisine and service in an old-world setting. The piano bar on Friday & Saturday nights is the perfect setting for dinner with friends or cocktails before and one of the few in the City offering live piano music.

"The Many Saints of Newark" with Michael Gandolfini and Alessandro Nivola

The Many Saints of Newark will be in theaters and streaming on HBO Max this Friday, October 1st. This full length prequel to the Sopranos series stars Michael Gandolfini (the late James Gandolfini’s son) as a teenage Tony Soprano, stepping into his father’s iconic role for the film. Alessandro Nivola plays Tony Soprano’s uncle and role model Dickie Moltisanti. The two actors recently visited Philadelphia and sat with Kristen for an interview about the film at the Bistro Romano restaurant in South Philly. Thanks to Bistro Romano for hosting the press event. The restaurant proved to be a “Tony Soprano worthy” setting for the interviews. Check out Bistro Romano for upscale cuisine and service in an old-world setting. The piano bar on Friday & Saturday nights is the perfect setting for dinner with friends or cocktails before and one of the few in the City offering live piano music.

NBC10 Investigative reporter Claudia Vargas talks with Kristen about a local, true-crime docuseries that NBC10 has produced called “Who Killed Barbara Jean?”  The 11-part series looks into the murder of a 4-year old little girl in the late 1980s in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philly.     The entire series is available on NBC10’s App and streaming platforms (Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire). Find more HERE.

"Who Killed Barbara Jean?" NBC10 Local True Crime Docuseries

NBC10 Investigative reporter Claudia Vargas talks with Kristen about a local, true-crime docuseries produced by NBC10 called “Who Killed Barbara Jean?”  The 11-part series looks into the murder of a 4-year old little girl in the late 1980s in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philly.     The entire series is available on NBC10’s App and streaming platforms (Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire). Find more HERE.

A new season of the Food Network’s hit show Halloween Baking Championship premieres this Monday, September 13th and one of the chef contestants is from South Jersey. Pastry Chef Anirudh Mamtora talks about his history as a pastry chef and about the upcoming  season of Halloween Baking Championship which pays tribute to 1980s classic slasher movies! Tune in to the Food Network this Monday at 9pm, and keep up with Anirudh and his next projects on Instagram. 

South Jersey Pastry Chef Stars in Food Network's Halloween Baking Championship

The 36th Annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square is happening September 11th and 12th! Come check out the Mushroom Growing Tent, an Amateur Mushroom Cooking Contest, a Fried Mushroom Eating Contest, music, food, kids activities and lots more! Lori Harrison, Director of Communications for the American Mushroom Institute and Editor of Mushroom News gives all the details on this year’s festival, and lots of fun facts about mushrooms too!  Find more about the Mushroom Festival at www.MushroomFestival.org, and download the new Mushroom Festival App on the Apple Store or Google Play. 

Kennett Square's 36th Annual Mushroom Festival

Jaime Blackburn, Director of Public Relations for the White Dog Cafe returns to BEN Around Philly with the details on the 4th Annual Dining Out for the Dogs at the White Dog Cafe to benefit Alpha Bravo Canine.  Alpha Bravo Canine provides trained service dogs to U.S military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other combat related disabilities. Come out on August 16th beginning at 5pm to the White Dog Cafe participating suburban locations at 379 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, 200 W Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, and the new Glen Mills location at 81 Baltimore Pike for a fantastic meal while supporting an incredible organization. Find more information HERE. 

Dining Out for the Dogs to Benefit Alpha Bravo Canine

Let the Philly Tailgate Games begin! Andrea Helfrich, In-Arena Host and Producer at the Philadelphia Flyers (and Gritty’s best friend) gives the details on the first ever Philly Tailgate Games. The Wells Fargo Center is hosting the ultimate tailgate party, with big prizes in all of your favorite tailgate games. You could win FREE BEER for a year, free concert tickets for a year (in a SUITE), or free Flyers season tickets just by beating out your competitors in your favorite tailgate game.  The Philly Tailgate Games are presented by Yuengling Traditional Lager and will be held on Saturday, September 25 in Lot E at Wells Fargo Center.  * Cornhole Tournament – Winner receives FREE BEER FOR A YEAR* * Ladder Golf Tournament – Winner receives FLYER SEASON TICKETS * Jenga Tournament – Winner receives tickets to see a concert in a suite *Must be 21+ to win. Drink responsibly.  If partying with friends and cheering for the tournament players is more your thing, general admission tickets are ONLY $10. Everyone will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win free concert tickets for a year at Wells Fargo Center. Find all of the details, buy your tickets, and sign up to play HERE. 

Philly Tailgate Games with BIG Prizes at the Wells Fargo Center

Karen Verderame, an Invertebrate Specialist from the Academy of Natural Sciences returns to BEN Around Philly to give all of the details on this year’s Bug Fest! Happening August 13-15th, you can participate in person or virtually to enjoy a number of fun creepy crawly events. The big favorites are returning, like Bugs on the Big Screen, The Roach Race 500, Ask the Scientists and lots more - PLUS check out new events like Science in the Wild: Bug Night Crawl and Academy Nightcap: Bugs in Bondage (a virtual event about bug mating rituals).  Find the list of events, and all of the details at ANSP.org.  

Bug Fest 2021 August 13-15th at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Philadelphia’s ACCT shelter is full! Gillian Kocher, Director of Public Relations for the Pennsylvania SPCA returns to BEN Around Philly to talk about the importance of adopting and fostering, and all of the amazing animals available and waiting for their forever homes.  Plus, a great list of fun events that help to benefit the PSPCA. Find your new best friend at Philadelphia Union home games this year, Caturdays at Philadelphia Brewing Company, Sippin’ and Stichin’ on July 24th, and Yappy Hour at Morgan’s Pier. Save the date for their Bikes, Barks and Brews event on September 18th and the 11th Annual Springer Golf Outing on September 27th.  Learn more at PSPCA.org.

Philly's ACCT Shelter is full! Support the PSPCA and their Lifesaving Efforts

Eddie Keels, Owner and Publisher of Philly Current Magazine returns to BEN Around Philly to talk about the magazine's 9th Annual PC Picks issue. To check it out for yourself, head to PhillyCurrent.com/subscribe.

Philly Current PC Picks 2021

Richard Marx has sold more than 30 MILLION albums to date. He’s a Grammy winner, he’s had 14 #1 songs both as a songwriter for himself and other artists, AND he’s the nicest guy. Kristen speaks with Richard Marx about his new memoir “Stories To Tell: A Memoir”, which comes out July 6th. It has an accompanying 2 Disc Greatest Hits album full of songs like Don’t Mean Nothing, and Right Here Waiting, Hold On to the Nights and lots more.  Listen as Richard talks to Kristen about about his dog Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, Wayne Gretzky and lots more, plus hear some of the content from the book straight from the horse’s mouth! You’ll especially be interested in the first chapter, which has a BEN FM connection! BEN FM hosted a Richard Marx show at the Keswick Theatre back in October 2019. That show is brought up in the very first chapter of the book! Kristen posted a recap and videos from that show. Find it HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Marx Talks About His New Stories To Tell Memoir

Did you know that about 1/3 of Americans fail a basic sun protection quiz? Dr. Ivy Lee, board certified dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology goes over the results of the quiz, and speaks about sun safety and the importance of sun protection. Will shade protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays? Does spray suncreen protect as well as lotion? Is tanning safe, as long as you don't burn? Dr. Lee goes over the answers to these questions and more. See how well you do on the sun protection quiz!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sun Protection Tips and Quiz

Produced by 95.7 BEN FM "BEN Around Philly" is a weekly show highlighting fun, interesting and important events and trends happening around Philadelphia, PA.

hubhopper

BEN Around Philly

hubhopper