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.