The First Person Festival Celebrates Opening Night With Edible World, June 1st

The Fifth Annual First Person Festival Celebrates Opening Night
with Edible World - a Gourmet Gala, June 1st

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 2006): The 5th annual First Person Festival (June 1-11, 2006) will celebrate its opening night with true-life stories that are good enough to eat at Edible World. The gourmet gala will be held on Thursday, June 1st at Solmssen Court in Hamilton Hall at The University of the Arts. Philadelphia food lovers will sample cuisine by the city's hottest chefs, from the up-and-coming to the nationally renowned, as they divulge secret recipes and tell tales from behind the kitchen door in an evening of tasting, drinking, and mingling.

Acclaimed New York magazine restaurant critic and bestselling author Gael Greene will be in attendance to share stories and sign copies of her memoir, Insatiable: Tales from a Life of Delicious Excess, which includes some of her favorite recipes.

Edible World participating chefs and restaurants include:
12th Street Cantina
Bridget Foy's: Brendan Mullan and John Foy
Cafi Lift: Michael Pasquarello
Cork Restaurant: Sae An
DiBruno Brother
Estia: Gus Pashalis and David Glasser
Farm to City: Bob Pierson
Joseph Ambler Inn: Brian Duffy
Loie Brasserie and Bar: David Keck
Meze: Konstantinos Pitsillides
Old Original Bookbinder's: David Cunningham
Patou: Patrice Rames
Pelican Fish: Dominick Stulpinas
Penne Restaurant: Roberta Adams, Leo Vadden and Eileen Watkin
Philadelphia Fish and Co.: Justin Rambo Garwood
Ristorante Panorama: Luca Sena
The Restaurant School: Philip Pinkney
The Shanachie Irish Pub & Restaurant: Meg Votta
White Dog Cafi: Andrew Brown
Yards Brewery will provide a specialty beer tasting.

A VIP tasting and champagne toast will kick off the festival at 5:00 p.m. with the general admission tasting to begin at 6:00 p.m. VIP tickets are $80 per person or $150 per couple and general admission tickets are $40 per person. Those under 30 years old receive a special discount and can pay their age. Tickets can be purchased online at www.firstpersonarts.org or by calling 267-402-2055.

The First Person Festival is an 11-day celebration of reality art featuring performances, film screenings, exhibits, and interactive events in venues throughout Philadelphia. This year's program features over 25 events, including appearances by outstanding local and nationally-known artists, presentations by new and emerging artists, and workshops that engage the public in the creative process.

About First Person Arts
The First Person Festival is produced by First Person Arts in collaboration with arts and community organizations throughout the region. First Person Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the drama of real life into memoir and documentary art to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experience. Members of First Person Arts receive 50% off tickets to most Festival events. To become a member and for more information, please visit www.firstpersonfestival.org or call 267-402-2057.

Sponsors include Time Warner Book Group, Harmelin Media, ArtsVoice, Philadelphia City Paper, Red Tettemer, Middle East Center, and The University of the Arts.

Partners include The University of the Arts, Barnes & Noble, Free Library of Philadelphia, Robin's Bookstore, World Affairs Council, Intercultural Journeys, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Neiman Marcus, DS Gallery, White Dog Cafi, Le Bec Fin, Carmen's Country Kitchen and Embassy Suites, host hotel of the First Person Festival.

First Person Arts is a proud member of the Pennsylvania Festival Initiative. For more information go to www.visitpa.com.

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