Free Lunch at Reading Terminal Market

If you're in the vicinity of 12th and Filbert, stop in to the Reading Terminal Market for a free lunch on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. To celebrate the market's 120th Anniversary, the Market will be offering $10 towards your lunch from 11am - 4pm.

I know. The offer is wonderful. But there's always a hitch.

Luckily, this one is pretty simple. All you have to do is pay for lunch using the LevelUp app, a mobile app that allows you to pay with your phone. It's making its way throughout the city's merchants (250 to date), but has yet to really take off.

But if nothing else, free lunch can do it! Get yours at one of the 30 participating vendors.

Reading Terminal Market 51 North 12th Street  Philadelphia, PA 19107

Opa Launches Happy Hour with Complimentary Eats

There's no better way to entice the city's fiscally challenged, yet stylishly savvy to your swank Midtown Village restaurant than to launch your brand new happy hour with two hours of freebies and some undeniably great deals.

This Thursday, January 19, from 5 - 7pm, Opa will be kicking off its first-ever happy hour by offering complimentary food and drinks during unannounced half hour intervals. 

Opa's Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday, from 5pm – 7pm. On the agenda:

$1 Skewers

$2 Sliders

$3 Craft Beers

$3 Greekified Fries

$3 Meatballs
$4 House Wine
$5 Specialty Cocktails
$5 Sparkling Wine

Please be advised, these recession proof prices are only available at the bar. So get there early for a seat!

Btw, they're also doing a "Spread the word and win" promo. Like them on facebook or follow them on twitter and be entered to win a free happy hour. Winners will be named nightly through the end of the month. 

Opa 1311 Sansom Street Philadelphia, Pa

Le Virtu Hosts Winter Festival to Benefit Project H.O.M.E.

Philadelphia offers more than its fair share of Italian restaurants that run the gamut from cliché to half decent to lauded and authentic. Le Virtu has praised as the latter and boasts being one of only a handful of Italian restaurants in the country dedicated to the region of Italy known as Abruzzi. The area, about three hours east of Rome, is rich in history, food, tradition and for my family in particular, home.


The thing about Abruzzi is that while the land is rich, those who work it generally aren't. Luckily the Abruzzese (people of Abruzzi) know how to make the most of what's afforded. In the dead of winter, hearty soups, meats and breads can make every meal a feast.


At Le Virtu this Thursday, January 19, from 5pm - 8pm, owners Francis Cratil-Cretarola, Catherine Lee and Chef Joe Cicala will host La Cottora, a traditional Abruzzese winter festival.

The menu includes Sagne e Fasciul’, the Chef's variation of Abruzzi's pasta fagiole served with panini made with porchetta. There will be house-made hot mulled wine, apple cider with spiced rum and warm Abruzzese punch. There will also be biscotti, pizzelle cookies and roasted chestnuts.  

The entire event will be held in La Virtu's outdoor space around several wood burning fires. And the best part? No, not the mulled wine. All the proceeds go to Project H.O.M.E., a non-profit aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Philadelphia.

Tickets are $30 per person and are available online.

Le Virtu 1927 E. Passyunnk Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19148

New Philly Based Web Series ~ My Ruined Life

When a friend of mine passed me the link to Portlandia's "Is it Local" skit I almost cried. It was hysterical. And also the first webisode I'd watched.

Recently, a new web series was sent my way - My Ruined Life.

It's got something to it, plus a whole lot of Philly roots. Check it out and see for yourself.


My Ruined Life: Trailer 2 from Retro Peel Productions on Vimeo.


Check out the series here.

Gender Inequality at Christmas

This little girl is wonderful. I wonder what she'll be when she grows up.