Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival turns Walnut Street into a party

THE CALENDAR may have said "spring" a month ago, but what really kicks it off in Philadelphia - aside from Phillies opening day - is the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, which will once again take over Center City west of Broad, this Saturday from noon till 5 p.m.

More than 100 booths will line Walnut Street, from Broad to 19th streets, and feature samplings from some of the city's top restaurants, in addition to Rittenhouse Row merchants, art, fashion, cooking demonstrations with chef Jonathan Cichon of Lacroix, beer and cocktails, live entertainment and activities for children.

New booths this year include American Male, Hai Street Kitchen, Sip-N-Glo, La Colombe, Pizzeria Vetri, Stars & Stripes, LTD, Melograno, Timberland and ElleLaurie.

But old favorites also will be back.

STARR Restaurants (Alma de Cuba, Barclay Prime, Butcher and Singer, Continental Mid-town, the Dandelion, El Rey and Parc) again will hold court on the 1800 block of Walnut, and Rouge will turn 18th Street south of Walnut into a large, outdoor cafe.

"The Festival is spring break for Rittenhouse Row," said Rouge owner Rob Wasserman, who may move close to 2,000 Cinco de Mayo-themed Kobe beef hotdogs over the five hours, to go with margaritas and Mexican beers. "For Rouge, this is the kickoff to the outdoor-dining season."

Need more to drink? On the 1500 block, Peroni Nastro Azzuro will offer free tastes of this thirst-quencher, which you'll need if the sun stays out.

If you're more of a wine drinker, the Great American Wine Co. lounge will have a variety of varietals to fit your mood.

And, in the Captain Morgan White Rum lounge, you'll be able to get cool summer cocktails.

Among the musical acts performing will be the School of Rock, at noon; the Edge, at 1 p.m.; A-Town, at 2 p.m.; Steel Source, at 3 p.m.; and Wolf Performing Arts, at 4 p.m.

Although you probably won't want to get waxed on Walnut, there will be Rittenhouse-area spas offering stress-reducing deals, salons, banks and more.

If it's available in the Rittenhouse Square area, it will most likely be out on the street.

And there will also be nonalcoholic free stuff: BankWerx by Conestoga will be giving out cotton candy, Capital One 360 will have Sweet Pea Ice Cream, Beneficial Bank is doing caricatures and TD Bank is painting faces (so you can come down after your banks-induced sugar high).

The Infiniti Lounge will offer tastes of strawberry gazpacho provided by Lacroix, Philadelphia magazine will have snowcones and the Sterling Apartment Homes will be offering wrapped cookies.

The Spring Festival is also great for people-watching. If the weather's good, about 50,000 folks will show up to eat, shop, groove and enjoy the weather.