Experience

Sketch of an indoor space with a chandelier, two large plants on either side, a seating area with a sofa, a small table, and some rocks or decorative items.

Deacon Experiences

The Deacon collaborates with local artists and artisans, small business owners, chefs and restaurateurs, magicians and wellness experts to curate our Experiences. Fully planned and executed by our staff, Experiences bring some of the best of Philadelphia right to your group for a one-of-a-kind event.

Taste

learn and enjoy delicious culinary concepts

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Icon of a wrench and screwdriver crossed inside a polygon with multiple lines.

MAKE

a hands on DIY + craft workshop

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Simple line drawing of a cotton plant with a cotton boll and leaves, in black and white.

RENEWAL

highlighting wellness + self care

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A person wearing a colorful tie-dye shirt is preparing food in front of a group of people, with various bowls and vegetables on the table, including avocados and a green cutting board.

Mission Taqueria

Take your place in front of a set of mezcal copitas, or a ball of dough, or a stack of tortillas. This isn’t a restaurant: it’s a journey through the food and drink of Mexico led by Daniel McLaughlin, founder of Philadelphia’s Mission Taqueria. Learn about the origins of mezcal and tequila, from the different types of agave to the regional styles of each spirit. Or try your hand at folding up some fresh empanadas. Any way you choose, you’ll be rewarded with tasty bites and a new culinary experience.

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People gather around a long table, rolling dough for baking, in a spacious indoor setting with wooden floors, comfortable seating, and a staircase.

Essen Bakery

Discover a knack for braiding challah or shaping a tender loaf of babka—it’s easier when you’re learning from a four-time James Beard award nominee. Tova du Plessis is the owner of nationally renowned Essen Bakery, and one of our favorite Philadelphians. In this class, you’ll learn to make your own delicious baked goods, filling The Deacon with tantalizing aromas and creating the perfect ingredient for the next morning’s breakfast: challah french toast anyone?

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Group of women participating in an art workshop around a long table with art supplies and beverages.

Tesoro Design

Looking for a keepsake to remember your weekend?
Why not make it yourself? Sip some wine with your group while crafting a mini leather tray or luggage tag, under the helpful eye of local leather artisan Britt Reed of Tesoro Design. She’ll show you basic leather working skills, as well as painting and stamping techniques to personalize your creation. (And if you’re curious, she’ll share her experience as an entrepreneur and artisan in Philadelphia.)

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A group of people, mostly women and girls, participating in a dance or exercise class in a spacious, elegant room with high arched ceilings, large stained glass windows, and a chandelier. The instructor is in the foreground, leading the group with her arms raised, and some participants are doing the same.

Elizabeth zack / MJ HEART / REAP WELLNESS

Escape the everyday and immerse yourself in a transformative wellness and restorative weekend.

Unwind with a guided meditation, sound bath, or get grounded with a mindfulness class. Feel energized with a customized yoga flow or a gentle class that offers a deep release & restorative healing. Whatever your desire, follow the class with a hearty, healthful meal from local favorites Reap Wellness, and you’ll be glowing from the inside out.

Woman playing crystal singing bowls in a room with plants and decorative statues.

Elizabeth Zack facilitates Mindfulness Workshops, Sound Baths, & Yoga Classes. Elizabeth’s offers her expertise in facilitating mindfulness workshops, sound baths, yoga classes, or personalized combinations of these practices.

MJ Heart offers personalized yoga instruction``through the holistic lens of Yoga Therapy. Sessions can include customized flow, restorative yoga, and therapeutic asana practices.

A blue bowl with yogurt topped with chopped nuts on a white surface, next to a sliced mango and a pink cloth with a gold spoon.

REAP Wellness is a local plant-forward meal delivery service. Led by holistic health coach Adjua Fisher and chef Zach Rice, REAP believes in the magic of real food as a tool to help people
feel their best.

A group of people gathered around a man in a suit who is showing something to the group in a modern interior space, possibly at a social or professional event.

ADAM ELBAUM

Add a sense of wonder to your evening with magician and mentalist Adam Elbaum. With over 30 years of experience in magic, Adam’s tricks will bend your mind, confuse your eyes and ears, and shock your senses. Whether he performs a small, intimate show or simply wanders around the party, amazing everyone he meets with close-up acts of impossibility, prepare for a night you won’t soon forget.

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