Drink Beer, Support Puppies — And More Things to Do

— ITV, the new bar from Nick Elmi (of Top Chef and Laurel fame), is teaming up with nano brewery Sanctuary Brewing Company out of North Carolina for two nights of craft beer paired with vegan food, with all of the proceeds going to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. It’s happening this Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15. Elmi grew up with Joe Dinan, who, along with his partner, Lisa McDonald, owns Sanctuary, which is part animal refuge, part the nicest brewery in the world. As if coming up to Philly to support PAWS and rescuing animals on a regular basis weren’t enough, Sanctuary also has a “kindness wall” outside of its Hendersonville, NC, taproom strung with items that anyone in need can take.

Here are the beers Sanctuary is bringing up:

• Bobby Beer Jr.: Kolsch, crisp, straw-colored
• Angry Kitty: Rosemary-ginger IPA designed and brewed by Sanctuary's female staff
• Hop Pig: Sanctuary’s signature IPA, West Coast style with centennial, simcoe, and Amarillo hops
• Touch of Lemon: Saison/farmhouse ale, crisp dry saison brewed with farmhouse/brett yeast

And here are the vegan dishes ITV will be making:

• Fiddlehead and spring bean tempura with roasted shallots and sea lettuce
• Grilled asparagus and charred ramps with crispy Blue Moon brown rice and preserved citrus
• Woodland jewel mushrooms with mixed grains and black garlic tahini

John R./Yelp

— Jose Garces’ Tinto is turning 10 and throwing a party to celebrate. The Tento Celebration is Tuesday, April 18, from 6-9 p.m., with food and drink stations of charcuterie, cheese, suckling pig, paella, and wine, and passed pintxos (little bites). There will also be traditional Basque activities, one of which is listed as drinking from a porron — so, chugging wine? It’s $60 a head.

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— Hello Kitty comes to King of Prussia in food truck form on Saturday, April 22. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, which made its debut at Hello Kitty Con in 2014, will be parked next to Rite Aid at the King of Prussia mall from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sweets, like a cookie set and a rainbow macaron box, and Hello Kitty merch (a mug, a t-shirt, a headband) will be on sale. In related news, Hello Kitty Con is a thing.

Michelle L./Yelp

— East Passyunk’s annual food fest, Flavors on the Avenue, is doing things a little differently this year: instead of gathering chefs from the neighborhood’s strip of top-notch restaurants and setting out samples under a tent, which in the past has felt a little tight, the tables will be lined up along the Avenue, with live music, activities for the kids, sidewalk sales, craft vendors, and an art show from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. All of the restaurants you’ve been wanting to try but couldn’t get a table at will be represented, including the always-booked Laurel (from ITV’s Elmi). The Flavors ticketing has changed, too — it’s $50 for one dish per restaurant plus two beers or two glasses of wine, or you can pay as you go, with plates $3 to $6. It’s on for Sunday, April 30.

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— Photographers Kass and Eric Mencher, who used to work at Philly newspapers and now spend their time documenting life in Mexico, Guatemala, and the U.S., will be displaying their work at South Philly Barbacoa. The exhibit’s opening reception coincides with the restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, on Friday, May 5, from 6-9 p.m. Come for the photography, stay for the free beer, wine, and food.