November 1st is World Vegan Day, kicking off a week-long celebration in Philadelphia – and the American Vegan Center (AVC), at 17 N. 2nd Street, is the place to be!
The AVC serves both visitors and the local community with information on all aspects of vegan living. It was opened in September by the American Vegan Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is the longest-running vegan organization in the United States. The AVC and ‘World Vegan Week’ boost the profile of ‘vegan’ in mainstream conversations.
During this week, the AVC will be open from noon to 6 pm every day with books, T-shirts, snacks, resources, and daily special-occasion offerings.
* Monday, World Vegan Day, marks the November 1944 coinage of ‘vegan’ and the founding of The Vegan Society in the U.K. Winners of our World Vegan Day quizzes will enjoy prizes of delicious vegan snacks.
* Tuesday is Dynamic Harmlessness Day, marking the birth of Jay Dinshah, the ‘founding father’ of modern U.S. veganism. On November 2nd and all week long, our Jay-related T-shirts, including the ‘Dynamic Harmlessness’ shirt, will be on sale at a 20% discount.
* On Wednesday all visitors to the Center can receive a free AVC postcard with a customized cartoon portrait of a Philadelphia veg pioneer.
* Thursday will see the unveiling of the first “Vegan Philadelphia” postcard offered for sale anywhere, created by AVS staff and sure to be a collectors’ item.
* Friday will be officially proclaimed by the Office of the Mayor as Philly Vegan Day 2021. The proclamation will be publicly read on the front steps of the AVC at noon and 6 pm. Mayor Kenney has been invited to attend and to read the proclamation. Friday hours will extend to accommodate First-Friday guests, and vegan Chef Lenka will offer food samples from 6 to 8 pm.
* Saturday we’ll announce the winning name for the cow mascot who resides near the front window of what will become the AVC Events Room. Entries for #nametheAVCcow will be taken through November 2 on social media or in person at the AVC.
* On Sunday at 3 pm a special vegan-week tour will be offered by veg history tour guide and AVC Director Vance Lehmkuhl, former Daily News vegan columnist. Philadelphia was the launch point of both the U.S. vegetarian movement (1817) and vegan movement (1957). Attendees will learn these stories as well as those of vegan-specific pioneers from the Delaware Valley.
Philadelphia has both a well-established historic tourism sector and a diverse, nationally renowned vegan food scene. The American Vegan Center brings these aspects together in an exciting, distinctive way. Ultimately, AVC’s mission is to make eating vegan, and going vegan, easier and more accessible to all.
