Shameless self-promotion

Few things coming up I'd like y'all to know about.

*March 27th*: MARK YOUR CALENDARS. My band is playing at The Temple Musicians In Medicine Spring Concert. Yay! It's from 12:30-3:30. Everyone is welcome to come, even if you're not in med school...Please come! I'd love to see familiar faces in the crowd. For you HW folks out there, Nick Papacostas shall also be in attendance an playing in his band. He sings, he plays piano, he raps a bit! Multi-talented dude. We're reppin' good ol' Ham-Wen well. Come show your support.

*I opened up a flickr account last month and have been uploading photos little by little.
Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daisie981/
I'm planning to get a bunch of films developed this weekend from my 1970 Nikon and scanning them in. Be on the look out!

*If you are looking to do something artsy this weekend, come see my friend Amanda Juner's art show at T Bar (12th & Samson). It's Saturday, March 7 from 6-8p. Free teas and treats AND there's going to be a jazz band. Need more reason to be there? Yours truly shall be present! Fo Sho! And then I'll be headed to see The Watchmen. Sweet!

*Next week is Philly Beer Week. Yes! It's here again! Last year I was so caught up in studies, I didn't get to attend any of the events. Not this year! I'll be posting my favorite stops. Get ready!

*Sunday, May 3. Broad Street Race. 10 miles of flat & fast & fun. You still have two months to get ready. Sign up and join Melissa and my Dad and me! Give it a try! http://www.broadstreetrun.com/site3.aspx

Philly Fav's

Stuff I do on a regular/seasonal basis in Philly.

Relaxing Weekends:
1) When the weather gets a bit nicer I like to stroll down to the Italian Market with a book. I get a slice of Laurenzo's Pizza at 9th and Christian for a buck-fifty then head across the street to Anthony's Cafe, purchase my favorite chai with a shot of espresso, then sit outside at one of the tables and people watch/read my book.

2) Weather permitting, I like to take a book down to Locust Street Park (it's down by 25th & Locust, near the River). I either sit in the grass or on one of the many benches. Everyone from the neighborhood brings their dogs here (there's also an enclosed dog park). I love to watch all the doggies at play. It's also a great (and safe) location to sun bathe during those steamy summer months. You can also enjoy the abutting community garden.

3) Head over to Go Vertical Indoor Rock Climbing Gym near Columbus and Spring Garden. It's great for newbies and veterans alike. If you go with a member (like me), first time is for free.

4) Take a stroll or run along the Boat House Row on Kelly Drive. There's a sweet bike path the runs along the river (out and back = 8 miles). About .75 miles from the start of the bike path at Logan Hall, there a nice bouldering spot and bench area. If you go a bit farther, you get the sense that you are no longer in the city: there are lots of trees, grassy areas to sprawl out, and benches to relax and admire the lovely view of the Schukill River.

5) When my trusty best buddy Emily is not off skiing in Jackson Hole like she is this month, we take a weekly drive out to the Wissahickon Park (The Wiss) in Mount Airy area of Philadelphia for some trail running. If you want to feel like you are in the woods but not actually leave Philadelphia, this is the place to go. You'll see runners, walkers, families, and dogs out on those paths. Beautiful weekend retreat! If you can, stop at Valley Green Inn for brunch or lunch. Very quaint and always has the best food!

6) Another enjoyable day trip to cast off the city blues is to Media. Media contains a cute Main Street with a brew pub, cute shops, a Trader Joes, and top notch restaurants. What pulls me to Media is Tyler Arboritum--a great preserve with a plethora of trails. You can choose from 3 mile up to 10 mile loops. The air smells soooo good here! Do try out the brewpub on that Main St in Media. I forget the name of it, but they always have good beers on tap and tasty dishes.

7) Manayunk. Another section of Philadelphia in the Northeast. FYI, the City of Philadelphia is huge--sections like Manayunk and Mount Airy are so far from Center City that you feel like you have entered the suburbs. It's still Philly though! Manayunk has it's own Main Street which has a small town feel. Lots of coffee shops, bars, restaurants and boutiques. I am in Manayunk every Saturday for my band practice; the studio is just off main street (East Side Studios). Since you have to drive out there from Center City, I haven't gone out there alot at night, but when I have it's been a blast. Kildare's Irish Pub is one of the favorites and it hosts quizzo every Tuesday night. A favorite spot of mine is The Machismo Burrito Bar = build your own burrito. They're pretty cheap and very tasty. They also have a Le Bus restaurant. The bread here is fantastic! Lot's of vegetarian dishes.

My favorite place to hit up in Manayunk is the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant (or just The Brewpub). ****Great weekend combination: trail running at the Wiss following by dinner and beers at The Brewpub. Sweet! I've done this many a time and it's always a very satisfying day.

Ok, I'm going to move to list form or this will get very lengthy...

Favorite Cafes/Coffee Shops:
1) Brewhaha (between Walnut and Locust on 12th). I am there every day.
2) Anthony's Italian Cafe: 9th & Christian
3) Mug Shots: 21st & Fairmount (great food here too! and it's across from the old prison which looks like a medevil castle...this is in the Art Museum district). **Every Weds night they show a movie. http://www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com/
4) Cafe de Miel: on 17th in between Walnut & Locust. The pastries are to die for!
5) Naked Chocolate Cafe: Walnut & 13th or new location at Penn's campus (uh oh!). Yes, this is a cafe that specializes in chocolate goods too. Try the aztec hot cocoa. OMG.
http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/44522863/

Favorite BYOs: (MAKE SURE YOU BRING CASH)
1) Mercato. 13th & Spruce. Gourmet italian/french. Get the cheese plate! http://www.mercatobyob.com/
2) Audrey Claire. 20th & Spruce. Ahhh, this may be #1, but Mercato is only a couple of blocks from my apartment...you must go here. Expect to wait, but it's worth it!
3) Effie's. 11th & Pine. Best Greek food in the city! And it's a half a block from my house. The feta is unbelievable.
4) Salt & Pepper. 6th & Fitzwater. Great Queen's Village/Bella Vista neighborhood BYO. Menu changes all the time, so can't really recommend a specific dish. Small & intimate.
5) Cochon. Ok, I haven't been here yet, but it's on the way to The Royal Tavern and every time I pass by it looks delicious. Who wants to go with me? It's at Catherine & Passayunk. http://www.cochonbyob.com/

There are soooo many great BYOs in Philly, but these are my top four that I keep going back to and have never been disappointed. To try these or to look for more, go to this great interactive BYOB search engine: http://www.gophila.com/byobmap/

Also check out the City Search Philadelphia webpage. I'm on there just about every day for one reason or another: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/roundup/38802

Best Margaritas:
1) Xochitl. On 2nd between Lombard & Pine. High end tequila and full range of tequila types. I never knew how many different kinds of tequila there are; it's as complex as wine! Tastiest margaritas in the city. This is actually a restaurant too. The food menu looks divine but I've only sat at the bar. I need to go back to eat. The food is pricy, but looks filling. Headhouse Square is neat, too. There's the Society Hill Dance Acadamy across the way--can take lessons there or go in Thurs/Fri nights for open dance party. There are also other pubs there too, but I haven't tried them out yet.
2) Mixto. 11th & Pine. The best cuban food and drinks in the city. The mojitos, margaritas and plaintains are particularly good! And it's a half a block from my apartment!
3) El Vez. 13th & Samson. Great after-work or weekend night drinks. Try the blood orage margarita, you won't be disappointed. Also Mexican food served.

Best Pubs/Gastrobars:
1) The Royal Tavern (see my review). 6th & Passyunk
2) The Standard Tap. 2nd & Poplar. The beginning of North Philly, it's near the climbing gym so Emily and I go there fairly often. Great food, great beer on tap. Lots of local brews. Victory Wiezenbock is my fav when in season. The salad with duck leg is great as are the daily selection of soups.
3) Monk's. 16th & Spruce. Specializes in Belgian beer and food. Order the mussels and any of the burgers. This is a Philly must.
4) Good Dog. 15th & Locust. Try the Good Dog Burger. Stuffed with Roquefort! Sweet potato fries come with.
5) The Belgian Cafe. 21st & Green Street. Owed by same dude as Monk's. Different feel though. Awesome fries!
6) Doobies. 23rd & Lombard. On the dive bar side. Great burgers and cheap beer.
7) Nodding Head Restaurant & Brewery. 16th & Sansom. Great bar food and beers on tap.

Best non-BYO restaurants:
1) Amada. 2nd & Chestnut. Oh god this is good. Spanish tapas. Not cheap, but worth every penny. Take that special someone here.
2) Vetri. 13th & Spruce. Italian at it's best. More modern than traditional though. Gnocchi!
3) Ghenji. 18th & Sansom. SUSHI! Great Japanese beers too and plum wine.
4) Ralph's. 9th & Christian. Ok, some people have called this place the "Walmart of Italian Restaurants"...I however enjoy this place. It's the oldest family Italian restaurant in the country (opened circa 1905). If you're expecting high end Italian, this is not it. If you're expecting a more laid back family restaurant then this is the place for you. The table wine is great and anything with prosciutto. South Philly has so many great Italian restaurants, so if you want something with a bit more class in the same neighborhood, try Dante & Luigi's (on 10th between Catherine & Fitzwater). If you want real decadance, head to SALOON on 7th st in between Fitzwater and Catherine. You will need someone to cart you out of there at the end!

Best treats:
1) Capogiro. 13th & Samson or 2oth & Samson. GELATTO! This is a must!
2) Reading Terminal Market. Arch & 12th. Amish market place. http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/
3) Italian Market. Starts at 9th & Christian. DiBruno Bro's--cheese, butcher, fresh veggies, spice shop, pizza place, chocolate shop, pre-made food shop, kitchen shop, patry shop...
http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/
4) Termini Brother's: 8th & Tasker. Totally worth the trip to South Philly. The BEST pastries, cookies, cakes, CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANAS, etc, etc ~ really whatever your heart desires it is there. http://www.termini.com/
5) Isgro's. 9th & Christian. (seeing a trend? get yourself to 9th & Christian). Best cannoli's. http://www.isgropastries.com/
6) Famous 4th St Cookies...up until recently the shop used to be over at 4th & Bainbridge. I recently went back and panicked because it was no longer there. Fortunately I checked online and found out that they are now in the Reading Terminal Market. The peanut butter cookies are amazing as are the oatmeal chocolate chip. They'll heat them up for you!!

Best breakfast/Brunch
1) Sabrina's. 9th & Christian. If you get there too late (after 10) expect a wait in the cold. It's worth it though. Filling proportions, unique flavors added to classic breakfast items, and all organic/fresh ingredients. Look for the pumpkin pancakes when in season. Uhhh, so good.
http://www.sabrinascafe.com/ There's also one near Mugshots. Breakfast then coffee? Sounds good to me. Let's go!
2) Morning Glory. 10th & Fitzwater. Diner. Classic. Never disappoints.
http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/8990918/philadelphia_pa/morning_glory.html
3) The Dutch Eating Place. Reading Terminal Market. You sit at the counter. Cheap, quick, greasy and filling. An Amish family runs it. Get some scrapple. It will feel like a stone in your stomach after but it's a Philly classic!
Great Philly Food Blog: http://comradechufood.blogspot.com/2008/12/dutch-eating-place-philadelphia.html
4) The 21st Street Gourmet. Near 21st & Walnut. Jewish influences. The poached egg on croissant with cheese is amazing.

Well, that should get you started. My stomach has led me to many interesting spots! There's still so much more to explore too! Let me know if you have anything specific you are looking for.

Welcome To The Jungle: An Introduction To Philly Nuances

My sister's good friend Darlene just moved to Philadelphia from Boston and has already done the wisest thing she could do: ask me for advice regarding the cool places to go in Philly. Philly can be intimidating to outsiders, especially if you are from up North where it's a bit colder: environmentally and emotionally. What I remember from my time in Boston is that people are perfectly content to ignore each other on the street; in fact, if a stranger addresses you on the street they must either be asking you for money or are getting ready to do some dark deed. Strangers who talk to you for the sake of talking to you don't really exist. Maybe that was just my impression?

In comparison, Philly can be a bit "in your face." Random people are always talking to you, whether they be harmless crazies (who you're never really sure if they're talking to you or to some invisible person X standing next to you) or normal folk who like to reach out to others and, for example, complain about the snow or how bad the traffic is.

Oh and concerning that traffic, drivers are rude and/or enraged all the time. Get used to people honking at you, whether it be to catcall or to curse at you because you're trying to cross in the cross walk. Moreover, if you take a second to get your car in gear when the light turns green, that's a second too long and the dude behind you will honk at you. The following anecdote pretty much sums up this phenom: my friend Emily and I were on our way to the climbing gym one day and stuck in traffic. As she pointlessly laid down on her horn multiple times, I raised my eyebrows and looked askance at her. "What?!" she barked at me. I softly asked whether or not beeping at the gridlock traffic was really helping the situation. She explained that she knows it's not going to speed things up, but it makes her feel better to be rude. She is at least doing something. And that would explain this honking phenomenon; though it still annoys me...

On the flip side, the other people who randomly talk to you on the street are just trying to connect with the world and are perfectly normal. When I'm walking through my neighborhood, most people say hello to each other when passing or at least smile. When you get on the bus, you always say hello to the driver and likewise give thanks and salutations on the way off. At the hospital, most people greet you with a "Hey there baby girl" and say goodbye with a "You take care now, sweetie." Often people will make conversation in lines. It's nice. I really like making connections with the people in my city.

I do remember, however, when I first moved here and how suspicious I was of random people talking to me. I'd just ignore them, avert my eyes to the ground, and keep walking. What did they want from me? I think it took me a couple of years to adjust to this laid back, talk to your neighbor style. Maybe these friendly manners are influences of the South?

For newbies, the other intimidating factor about Philly is that the neighborhoods change dramatically from town house to crack house and back again within blocks of each other. If you don't know your way around, you can feel very out of your element and wonder what you are doing there. Often times in Philly, the coolest places to go are little, hole in the wall places that are off the beaten path. It takes time to learn how to navigate the streets and the best (and safest) routes to all of your locations.

The good news about this last concern is that the city is spending millions of dollars on 'urban renewal.' This means that the city and private owners are buying out and renovating property from the poorest neighborhoods. The results are incredible: neighborhoods that were sketchy five years ago are now completely safe and hip. For example, the University of Pennsylvania has been buying up dilapidated houses and businesses (we're talking houses that look like a bomb went off in them) in West Philly and making them livable and safe. Along with the renovations has come increased police presence. The West Philly neighborhood I used to live in used to be slightly sketchy (hey, but I only paid $250/month!), now, there is a security officer on every corner, lighting, and call boxes. Temple has been doing a similar buy up in North Philly.

On the downside, the regular folk that used to live in these areas are being pushed farther and farther to the periphery. With the recession going on as well, these people are not happy and this is the cause of a lot of the violence in the outskirts of West and North Philly. If you look at a map pinpointing the crime and violence in Philadelphia, not much occurs in Center City (an occasional burglary; mugging is more common)--the most violent crimes are all concentrated in Southwest Philly and North-north Philly for the most part. We Center City-ites can feel safe, but I wish we could come up with better solutions for the regular, hard-working folk who just can't afford the revamped neighborhoods and grocery stores, rather than forcing them into even worse neighborhoods.

On a final note, I love Philly. I loved it even before I moved here. I also know a lot of people who didn't like it at first, mainly for the above reasons. However, after exploring the neighborhoods and finding their niche, they also learned to love it. Now they can't imagine leaving. My best buddy Emily is one of these converts (she's from Massachusetts too : ) ).

My next post will be on my favorite places to go in Philly. Stay tuned.

Heffeweizen, Burgers, and Truffled Popcorn: A Perfect Winter Evening At The Royal Tavern

It's Thursday, so of course I'm already dreaming about the weekend: where am I eating, with whom am I eating, and what am I eating? My New Year's Resolution this year was to try out new places to eat in Philly. In my search for little known gems, I came across a helpful article in the Philadelphia Weekly on "The 50 Best Bars In Philly." This led me to their "Top 50" website and a handy restaurant/drinks search tool. You can perform searches according to price, neighborhood, cuisine, and time of day/week.

Search engine aside, the Top 50 list itself is pretty impressive. After a quick scan of the list and recognizing a few of the places, I absently nodded my head in agreement: yes, I should put my taste buds in the hands of these talented reviewers.(www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16566/cover-story)

The first place I hit up on the list was called The Royal Tavern and did not disappoint! I have already been back four times, each time ordering a different entree and each time being thoroughly pleased. Located near 6th & Passayunk, it's a small, one-room "gastrobar"on the fringe of South Philly and the Italian Market and in the heart of the Bella Vista neighborhood. It's a great, low-key refuge for anyone trying to get out of the cold, have a beer and some food (it has a bar + dining area). The atmosphere is chill, twenty/thirty something, and semi-hipster. The white twinkle lights that adorn the walls and low lighting enhance the gastrobar aura.

The menu features fare that you would see at any pub, but often with a gourmet flair (hence it's label as a gastrobar). For example, the popcorn with truffle butter ($3) is divine! Great accompaniment to the wide selection of microbrews and other, more well known beers. I personally love to order a heffeweizen or a weizenbock (i.e. Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse) and the popcorn. The range of appetizers is eclectic (from mussels with chorizo to arugula salad with white beans, prosciutto, grilled asparagus, pickled egg, white balsamic vinaigrette). The portions are comfortably large, made with the best in season ingredients and very well priced. You can eat here on a budget and feel like you haven't eaten greasy crap that leaves a rock-like feeling in your belly!

The main entrees are fabulous as well. Full panel of sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and pastas/gnocchi. I can personally vouch for the grilled cheese (with gouda, provolone AND goat cheese = very VERY filling and tasty) and the Royal Burger (bacon, caramelized onions, smoked gouda, pickled longhots and chili mayonnaise on seeded brioche bun). With all of the working out I do during the week, I am absolutely craving a burger by Friday night. Royal does the job (and more). Very satisfying. Amazingly, this is also a vegan/vegetarian friendly place--pretty rare for a bar in Philly. I personally haven't tried any of these entrees, but Taylor over at the "Mac and Cheese" blog (http://macandcheesereview.blogspot.com/2007/03/royal-tavern.html) can vouch for those options.

In sum, you can't beat the balance between the quality of the ingredients versus the price. Bring your friends, chat and chillax. I can't wait for my popcorn and burger fix tomorrow night!

Info:
Royal Tavern
937 E Passyunk Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-389-6694
Mon.-Fri. 11:30-2AM
Sat.-Sun. 10-2AM
*They also serve breakfast which I didn't know about until writing this review. Maybe I need to check this out? Just to be thorough of course.

Revelations from a straight man at Brewhaha

Yesterday I was sitting on a couch at Brewhaha, my favorite coffee shop, and reading The Tears of Artamon trilogy, when this guy sits down next to me. This was not particularly out of the ordinary as there are usually more males than females at this particular coffee shop--being in the heart of the gayborhood and next to the 12th st gym, it tends to attract this populace. For the record, I have only seen 1 or 2 straight men there in the 3 years that I've been frequenting it.

I turned to him briefly, gave him a semi-welcoming smile, then turned back to my reading.

30 minutes later he pokes me in the arm and says, "This is my favorite coffee shop in the city, but I always feel like I'm on display...it's a really disconcerting feeling." I turn, slightly confused, and finally really consider my couch companion: the baggy jeans, the t-shirt, the north face fleece...Could it be? A straight guy in Brewhaha? As he gives me a friendly/flirtatious grin, I find myself blushing and return a questioning look in reply. He explains to me that this one particular guy has been stalking the couch, walking by at least every five minutes just to give him a head to toe perusal. "I feel so dirty," he complained, "like he's undressing me right here. I didn't come here to get hit on, I just want read my article." I had to smirk at the reversal of the situation--I mean, what woman has not experienced that same feeling? He then further delighted me by realizing, "This is what women must feel like. It sucks."

I immediately exclaimed, "Yes I know! There's this guy at work who every time he sees me gives me an extremely obvious head to toe check out...it's so gross, not to mention unprofessional." He replied that it'd be one thing if he was at a club or some place where the come-ons were expected, but he just was going about his business and didn't expect/desire any attention. I revealed that this is one of the reasons I like going to Brewhaha--I don't have to worry about unwanted runins; it's safe for me. Of course he then threw up his hands and said, "I swear, my intentions are pure. I just had to get this horrible feeling off my chest!!"

Had a good chuckle about that. I felt the universe slide into balance for a couple of moments there.

Ahh, the sweet jugs!

First, Happy New Year's!!! Have fun and be safe! I'm getting ready to leave work for the day, so I only have time for a short post. I'll continue with the Art of Eating tomorrow.

I was climbing today during lunch at Go Vertical with my trusty climbing buddy and current BB, Emily, when I remarked on how the 5.7's and 5.8's were feeling more like 5.10's and 5.11's. All the holds felt so small. Each move was a struggle. It was a battle against the wall and the wall definitely won. Seriously, I ripped off several of my calluses and accrued several cuts on my knuckles and bruises on my knees...Compare this to Monday night when all my moves were as smooth as buttah and I cruised through the 8's and 9's. The holds all felt good and I never questioned a move. The knowledge of how to send the route was intuitive and logical. It flowed through me.

One great thing about climbing is that there is always a different challenge to be had. Today, it was just about getting through one move at a time, patiently making my way to the top. Other days it's all about trying to perfect each move and fill them with decision and grace.

Challenges aside, I simply enjoy the feeling of how my body moves from one position to another. This last phenomenon is one of the coolest aspects of climbing: I find myself day dreaming about a particular move while I'm at the grocery store or some other mundane place and murmuring to myself, "Oh man, it would feel so good to do that move right now..."

We finished our session today with this nice 5.5 and man did the holds feel so great after struggling with the 5.8's crimpy holds. When I got down from it, I turned to Em and exlaimed, "Ahh the sweet jugs...they feel soooo good." We had a good chucke about it.

Alright, it's time to go pahdy hahdy as we say in Boston. Happy Holidays!