Cocktails are in season at the Rittenhouse Row Fall Gathering

It was a night of fun, fashion, and mixology at this year’s Rittenhouse Row Fall Gathering.

The eighth annual event, which promotes Center City as a destination for shopping, dining, and culture on behalf of its 200 member businesses, drew nearly 400 young professionals. It was held at the Comcast Center on Sept. 20 and coincided with one of Philadelphia’s premier fashion events, The Philadelphia Collection.

Among the models showing fall trends from such local stores as Boyds, Knit Wit, HyLo Boutiques, Joan Shepp and South Moon Under, were actor Kevin Navayne of CBS’s “CSI-NY,” and Beka and Jesse Rendell, son of former Gov. Ed Rendell.

Bartenders from some of the city’s top restaurants and lounges duked it out during the cocktail competition. Taking first place was Sbraga bartender Anwar Morgan, who created the Log Cabin Cocktail: a concoction of Knob Creek rye, Dolin sweet vermouth, lemon juice, and black walnut bitters, served in a cinnamon-smoked glass with a rim of applewood-smoked bacon, maple powder, and maple sugar.