The With Love Beer Garden Opens Today!

Beer week may have kicked off over the weekend with lots of great events, but there’s still more to come, including tonight’s opening of the “With Love Beer Garden” on the patio at the Four Seasons Hotel at 18th & the Parkway.

The With Love Beer Garden, a collaborative partnership between Philly Beer Week, the GPTMC and the Four Seasons Hotel, will offer a changing schedule of local beer, food and entertainment Monday, June 6 – Friday, June 10, from 4pm – 8pm.

Each night, guests are welcome to meet the brewers, enjoy beer specials and dishes created by Four Seasons Executive Chef Rafael Gonzalez including Philly Beef Sliders, Steamed New Jersey Clams and a Port Richmond Kielbasa Sandwich.

Tonight, be there for the re-release of Victory’s Summer Love Ale and with a facebook / Forsquare check-in, receive a special giveaway.

Admission is free. Check out the full line-up below.

Monday, June 6
Victory Brewing & Bill Covaleski with music by Kombu Combo

Tuesday, June 7
Weyerbacher & Chris Wilson with music by Railroad Fever and John Lionarons

Wednesday, June 8
Dock Street & Ben Potts with music by Jessi Teich

Thursday, June 9
Sly Fox & Brian O’Reilly with music by Free Range Folk

Friday, June 10
Yards & Tom Kohoe and Stoudts & Carol Stoudt with music by Paris

For more information on the featured artists or other Philly Beer Week 2011 events and information, visit phillybeerweek.org.

Tria’s "Fun Little Cousin," Biba, Finally Comes To Town!

As hanging out with “fun little cousins” can sometimes go, there are usually some surprises in store that weren’t expected. Maybe they are a little more grown up than previously anticipated, maybe their friends are wild and crazy or maybe they just love to drink wine and all this time hanging out with the little cousin could have been really cool. Who knew?

The team from Tria. That’s who. They knew that an upscale wine bar was just what University City needed. And this Friday, October 8, at 4pm, Biba will open its doors to the public as something a little younger, a little hipper and a little trendier than its older and more distinguished fam in Center City - Rittenhouse Square Tria, 18th and Sansom and Washington Square West Tria, 12th and Spruce.

Biba, though young and hip is absolutely anti-techie, aka, no TV’s, no Wi-Fi, no live music or karaoke. I guess we can safely rule out a facebook page. The “farmhouse – industrial” interior feel is just the right mix to make desperate internet seekers forget that their computer won't connect to anything. Maybe picking it up out in the patio seating next spring will be a possibility!

The intention is to have guests be distraction free long enough to enjoy one of the 26 wines by the glass or 10 hand selected artisanal beers as well as the simple, affordable cheese, charcuterie or chocolates offered on the menu at this chic, yet back to basics location.

Good food, good drinks and as long as the people that are there to join the party are in good spirits, good company too. Biba will be open Sunday - Thursday from 12noon - 12midnight and Friday and Saturday from 12noon - 1am.

Biba Wine Bar 3131 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 215-972-7075

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.

Baby Blues BBQ Brings West Coast Love To U City

After making its presence known with three locations out in Cali, Baby Blues BBQ is bringing it home to the Philly scene with a new BBQ joint up in University City at 34th and Sansom that is set to open Friday October 8, at 4pm.

And after a year and a half of searching for the perfect location, Baby Blues decided that University City had the perfect mix of students, professors and professionals to fill the 125 seat double-wide townhouse to capacity.

An open kitchen surrounded by a u-shaped marble counter top sits dead center of the two properties allowing BBQ lovers to sit and watch as the chef’s prepare Baby Blues’ time tested, finger lickin’ dishes recipes. (The counter itself has historical ties to the city and is said to come from the streets below Independence Hall – good to know.)

The menu, recipe and preparation of the ‘Q’ is identical to what’s found in any of the other Baby Blues BBQ locations in West Hollywood, Venice Beach or San Francisco, CA, a Memphis dry rub/ North Carolina hybrid, if you will.

All of the meat, pork, ribs and chicken included, are cured for between 24 – 48 hours and slow cooked for 10 – 16 hours, depending on its weight. All of the dishes are served and then sauced at the eaters discretion with house made sauces like the Eastern Carolina a vinegar and pepper sauce, the Central Carolina a mustard based sweeter sauce, the Sassy Molassy more of a Kansas City style, the XXX Sauce made with seven or eight different kinds of peppers and even a Ginger Tabasco sauce.

Sides are also all house made including the “crack and cheese,” I mean, mac and cheese, sweet potato mash and collard greens. Plus, 11 of the 14 side dishes are vegetarian friendly.

Though Baby Blues is predominately a restaurant, its bar scene, possibly its fabulous BBQ and presumably years rooted Philly clout, has managed to wrestle away the 610 WIP Live Post Game Show from heavyweight, Chickie and Petes, even BEFORE its opening night. After last night’s fiasco of a Birds game, the Post Game Show was broadcast from Baby Blues BBQ.

Opening night is Friday and for the first couple of weeks, Baby Blues will be strictly a dinner locale. But after getting through the opening kinks, the UC spot will be open every day from 11:30am – midnight and until 1am and 2am on the weekends.

Baby Blues BBQ 3402 Sansom St Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-222-4444

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.

Margarita Mondays At Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant

After a solid first weekend, Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant has done what no one has managed to do in years. Bring life back to the corner of Market and Letitia. Yes, there is Franklin Fountain but unless you’re looking for delicious ice cream served in Chinese food take out containers, it doesn’t count.

The old Triada space has been dormant for way too long – just begging for someone to open up and kill it with something a little more foodie, a little more crafty and a little less clubby than the rest of Old City on a Friday night.

Didn’t make it out over the weekend? No sweat. You’re definitely still ahead of the curve. The menu is adventurous offering items from char grilled octopus to pork belly sandwiches and a scrapple cheese steak that sounds like an absolutely, fabulously, home grown Philly combination. Go and try it out – tell me what you think.

There’s also some tamer items like crispy eggplant, a cheese plate and a burger that has gotten some positive online user reviews. Bar snacks sound tasty as well with fried mac and cheese stepping up PBR’s game.

As for the drinks specials, try out the Soco Happy Hour from 5pm – 7pm, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with $4 Soco drinks and $5 Southern glazed wings. Also, beginning this week, try the rotating list of $3 craft pints that will be available every day all day and night. Tonight, PBR is pushing their Margarita Mondays promo with ½ priced tacos and ½ priced pitchers of margaritas.

PBR is open seven nights a week from 3pm – 2am Monday - Friday to and will be launching brunch this weekend beginning 11am Saturday and Sunday.

Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant 120 – 122 Market St. (Between Front & 2nd) Philadelphia, PA 215-925-7691

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I Could Not, Would Not On A Boat - But What About In NoLibs?

Green Eggs Café has etched out a place for itself in the hearts of South Philadelphia’s hungriest café goers with its tasty menu and green approaches to brunching in the city. Now, Green Eggs is bringing its popular menu and eco-friendly habits to a place where being green is just part of being in the neighborhood - Northern Liberties.

As if it was always meant to be, Green Eggs Café is moving in on North 2nd Street between Brown and Fairmount, amongst the laundry list of notable café’s and eateries in the area. And they are poised to make their presence known doing what they do best – serving brunch eight hours a day beginning this Saturday, September 25, from 8am – 4pm (but planning to push the limits of daytime dining into the sunset hours opening from 7am – 7pm in the coming months).

Opening up a new place on a Saturday morning in Philadelphia, during the fall, sounds like a suicide mission. This is one of the most popular brunching seasons - painfully obvious to hungry patrons waiting in the many lines that snake around other popular café’s. But the 60+seat space is ready to roll and Green Eggs is confident in its second location. As for those long lines, “call ahead’s” on a busy morning are definitely recommended.

The original, located on 13th and Dickinson has been a successful venture gaining itself the recognition of a “26” Zagat rating for excellence in food, in the 2011 restaurant guide. And with the same chef and menu as its predecessor, Green Eggs, NoLibs already has a winning combination.

On the menu, diners should expect to see all of their favorites including one of the most popular dishes, The Kitchen Sink. Served in an 8inch cast iron skillet, this morning monster includes three eggs, peppers, onions and potatoes, topped off with a buttermilk biscuit and finished with a scoop of sausage gravy.

As for the rest of the menu in the new location, it’s identical to the original, except for the fountain drinks that will replace the wasteful plastic bottles still in use at the South Philly locale for its bottled sodas and canned iced teas.

But just like in its current location, all of the oil used in the kitchen will be shipped off and converted into bio-diesel fuel. Add in the bio-degradable cups and take out containers and Green Eggs Café is doing it’s part to fit in with its new neighbors and putting the green in Green Eggs Cafe.

Green Eggs Café’ Northern Liberties 719 N. 2nd St. Philadelphia, PA 215-922-EGGS
Green Eggs Café South Philly 1306 Dickinson St. Philadelphia, PA 215-226-EGGS

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Sugar House Casino Sneak Preview!

After years of planning, neighborhood protesting and 11 months of building, Sugar House Casino will be open for business on September 23 at 1pm. Philly2night got a sneak preview of Sugar House and all the games, food and atmosphere that Philadelphia’s first casino has to offer. Here’s the rundown.

The Rules - Once Sugar House is open to the public on Thursday it will remain open 24/7. But thanks to the Pennsylvania liquor laws, drinks will only be served until 2am, like the majority of other bars in the area. Casino bars will open at 7am on the weekends and between 10 and 11 on the weekdays, so at least day drinking and a martini lunch are still definite possibilities.

Smoking will be permitted on 25% of the gaming floor, to start, with the possibility to open up to 50% down the road. Parking will be free and valet is available. Like in Atlantic City, guests will be treated to complimentary cocktails while at the machines and tables.

The Games - The 45,000 square foot gaming floor is home to four pits, 1,600 slot machines and over 40 table games including Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Thee-card Poker and Four-card Poker.

The High Rollers - The high limit room has slots ranging from $.01 - $100.00 as well as eight table games with minimum bets starting at $50 and maxing out at $10,000. High limit players are also given access to the high limit lounge with all the refreshments and house baked cookies they can stomach.

The History - The interior of the casino was designed to pay homage to the Jack Frost Sugar Refinery that used to stand on the very same plot of land, which had been vacant for years before site preparations began in 2009.

The Bars - As for the bar scene, Sugar House will offer beverage service, as well as two bars. Lucky Red the smaller of the two, features a 20-25 seat bar with digital poker machines built into the bar. Think B Bar in Borgata. Lucky Red’s bar surrounds a 160 inch HD LCD TV made up of 12 different screens and is crowned with a running ticker with all of the sports scores you could want. The 12 screens can each be set to a different game, or coordinated to be one giant TV screen playing one game on the entire screen.

The next stop on the Sugar House bar crawl is The Refinery. The space is Sugar House’s ”high end” restaurant with familiar food like burgers, hot dogs and floats. The circular bar is also outfitted with digital poker machines. The view of the Ben Franklin Bridge is phenomenal – and when the whether is nice, the windows fold in, creating open-air seating for the bar and patio area with live music four nights a week. Add in the cafeteria-style tables and The Refinery seats around 365 guests.

But if all you're looking for is a quick caffeine fix to hold you over until the bar reopens in the morning, Jacks is a 24 hour grab-n-go sandwich and salads spot that's right up your alley.

The Food - The menu was developed internally, so no big name behind the food or beverage services but the Fishtown Stacker, a hand breaded cod sammie, served to us on Le Bus bread was quite tasty - as were the shoestring fries and the mini burgers.

Wells Meat Company is supplying meat for the tasty tidbits. Bread will be baked and delivered by LeBus and Amoroso and all cold cuts will be Dietz & Watson, so local is the word of this menu. Sugar House anticipates ordering, preparing and serving around 8,000 lbs. of rib eye for its cheesesteaks, 1,500 lbs. of fresh hamburger meat, 3,000 burger buns and 2,000 hoagie rolls each day.

The View - As for the waterfront, Sugar House has created a $4.5 million dollar landscaped and hardscaped community green space and scenic pathway for running, biking or just checking out the view of Camden.

The Job - There are over 900 employees currently working in the new facility. Once the initial opening is complete, talks of “Phase I,” the fist expansion of Sugar House will be in store. As well as the opportunity for more Philly jobs. The casino plans to continuously hire – so if you’re in the market, there are still and will be positions available.

The Security – Sugar House is fully equipped with over 500 cameras, both inside and outside the premises- 508 to be exact. And at any one time there could be up to 50 “Eyes In The Sky” zeroed in on you. So watch yo self, cause there’s guaranteed to be somebody watching you.

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.

Barbuzzo Opens Wednesday With Piggy Popcorn & Pizza

Speed walking from one air conditioned destination to the next is nearly a thing of the past and hopefully sooner than later, you’ll be able to slow your roll and take a look around – maybe even notice some of the new, soon to be neighborhood gems that will be opening their doors in the coming weeks. First out of the gate is Barbuzzo, a Mediterranean kitchen and bar, opening Wednesday, September 1, in what’s been renamed Midtown Village, formerly known as the Gayborhood.

Both the ambiance and the menu are planned to be a fresh, home made, farm-housey tribute to a recent trip to the Mediterranean coast, taken by owners Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran. Menu prices range from $3 - $20 and offer a selection of snacks & spreads like the piggy popcorn – a.k.a. Chicarones, Barbuzzo’s house made pork rinds, boards with cured meats or veggies, salads & vegetables, Neapolitan pizza from the wood burning oven, pasta and plates.

The front of the house / back of the house team has had a solid run of successes growing the 100 block of 13th Street, home to their other ventures; Lolita and Bindi, both BYO, a gourmet prepared food spot, aptly named Grocery and two lifestyle boutiques.

With the addition of this Mediterranean sister comes the perk of adding a bar to the internationally distinguished family. Barbuzzo is planning a list of signature cocktails influenced by the flavors of the Mediterranean, as well as a frequently changing wine list offering 30 wines by the bottle, six reds and six whites by the glass.

Barbuzzo will serve dinner Monday – Sunday from 5pm – midnight. They offer indoor, outdoors and bar seating with happy hour beginning at 4pm daily and lunch and brunch coming soon.

Barbuzzo 110 S. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 215-546-9300

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Catahoula Brings A Little Big Easy To Queen Village

It’s been five years since Katrina hit the shores of the Gulf Coast and just a few months since the BP oil spill devastated the very same coastline. But the area that never seems to quit continues to thrive – if only in spirit, here in Philadelphia.

Catahoula Bar and Restaurant brings a little bit of the Big Easy to this South Philadelphia neighborhood. With a handful of outdoor tables, a renovated bar and high top seating, this gastropub has all the makings of a local favorite.

Bringing the feel and flavors of Louisiana rustic to the tables at Catahoula is Chef Paul Martin. It was Martin’s vision that brought “the dream” together at the former home of Sautee’ and it’s his Lafayette, Louisiana roots that shine through in the menu.

Martin plans to bring in nearly 90 percent of his seafood from the Gulf region by the fall, including a Louisiana favorite and the star of his menu staple, the New Orleans B.B.Q. Style Shrimp. Other pub fare includes oyster shooters, shrimp, soups, flatbreads, po-boys, sandwiches, big salads and big poppa plates. Menu prices top out around $20, wines go from $6 - $9 and during all Phillies games drafts are only $2.50.

Catahoula is open 7 days a week for dinner at 4pm and brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am – 3pm.

Catahoula Bar and Restaurant 775 S. Front St. Philadelphia, PA 215-271-9300

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Grand Opening of Philly Pub n’ Grub

In a city of tap houses, dives and upscale martini bars, there’s always room for another sports bar / gastropub, especially up near the Art Museum and Philly Pub n’ Grub is moving to the neighborhood!

On Monday August 16 the new bar in town will open its doors on 20th and Hamilton. Philly Pub n’ Grub boasts a 2,000 square foot outdoor deck, 15 flat screens, a pool table, 12 different beers on tap, 30 different bottles and 180 ounce table taps served table side. This sports lovers dream is sure to be a hit.

But wait – there’s more! In the kitchen, in addition to your usual pubby, grubby, soak up my beer appetizers, this new joint will be featuring build your own burgers, 20 types of pizza, 15 types of French fries and my favorite, 20 different kinds of grilled cheese!

Prices are low with soups ringing in at less than $3 a cup and those tasty grilled cheeses, like the 3 Little Pigs – a grilled cheese with ham bacon and porkroll – cashing out at just $5.95 and served up with a side of cole slaw or cucumber salad.

Come football season, which is literally right around the corner, Pub n’ Grub will offer $2 Yuengling pints at all college games and feature Penn State games on Saturdays. On Sundays they have NFL Sunday Ticket and Coors Light pints are only $2 during all Eagles games.

They will be open 7 days a week from 11am – 2am, serving lunch Monday – Saturday and brunch on Sundays. So even though Monday night football hasn’t started yet, stop in and celebrate Philly Pub n’ Grub’s grand opening this Monday night. There’s a grilled cheese calling your name.

Philly Pub ‘n Grub 2001 Hamilton St. Philadelphia, PA

This article was written for and can be viewed at philly2night.com.