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Archive for the ‘Restaurants’ Category

A few of the “50 Best Places to Eat” in Philly: Rittenhouse/Logan Square

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Ordinarily, we would give these two western Center City neighborhoods their own blog posts for a survey like this. But with only one of Philadelphia magazine’s “50 Best Places to Eat Right Now” – the Fountain Restaurant – located in Logan Square, it makes just as much sense to include it in the roundup for Logan Square’s tonier neighbor to the south.

Mural at Butcher and Singer

Mural at Butcher and Singer

Butcher and Singer, 1500 Walnut Street, 215-732-4444. Step through the doors of this former brokerage – Stephen Starr dusted off its name – and you’re transported back in time to Hollywood in the 1930s, when plush luxe was the order of the day. Steaks and chops are the things to order now – they’re decadent, as are the sides on the a la carte menu.

Fountain Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, One Logan Square, 215-963-1500. Along with Le Bec-Fin and Vetri, the Fountain Restaurant sets the standard for true fine dining in Philadelphia. It also proudly resists the trend towards the casual – you still have to dress up to dine here. You’ll be glad you did, for both the food and the service are memorable – the stuff of which special occasions are made even when there aren’t any.

Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, 210 West Rittenhouse Square, 215-790-2533. Another Philly fine dining superstar, Lacroix distinguishes itself on two fronts: its inventive global menu (“progressive international cuisine,” they call it) and its Lucullan feast of a prix fixe Sunday brunch. Another draw: the chef’s table, available Monday through Thursday evenings.

Le Bec-Fin, 1523 Walnut Street, 215-567-1000. Whether this doyenne of ne plus ultra dining will regain its faded luster once its new owner takes over is a question only time can answer – the restaurant is currently closed and will reopen in May.

Matyson, 37 South 19th Street, 215-564-2925. This pioneering office-canyon BYOB has changed chefs but is still in top form when it comes to serving up creative, globally inspired American-fusion cuisine. Like those that followed in its wake, Matyson emphasizes fresh, seasonal, local ingredients on its constantly-changing menu. The $45 tasting menu is a world tour in itself.

Mémé,  2201 Spruce Street, 215-735-4900. Chef David Katz wanted to create a restaurant where dining out feels like dining at home, and the result is this rustic, casual space near Fitler Square. Your family, however, probably didn’t think to pair swordfish with zucchini cakes, fava beans and tzatziki sauce for dinner. Creative combinations of familiar and ethnic ingredients distinguish the fare at Mémé.

Oyster House, 1516 Sansom Street, 215-567-7683. The Mink family – longtime owners of legendary Philly fish house Kelly’s of Mole Street – gave this old-school seafood standby an extreme makeover three years ago after buying it back from a previous owner. The rejeuvenated restaurant is nothing less than fantastic, boasting the best lobster roll in Philly (we’ll put it up against anything you can find in New England) and a great buck-a-shuck oyster special at the bar at happy hour, with the shuckers themselves as the featured performers.

Parc Restaurant

Parc

Parc, 227 South 18th Street, 215-545-2262. Stephen Starr’s French bistro-brasserie is oh, so authentic, oh, so loud, and oh, so good. Tied with neighbor Rouge as the best place to people-watch on Rittenhouse Square aside from the square itself, Parc boasts a large a la carte menu loaded with traditional French bistro fare, with a few “foreign” objets thrown in for the Francophobes in your party. The pastries especially are first-rate. In good weather, get a seat on the 18th Street sidewalk, both to take in the scenery and spare your eardrums.

Pub & Kitchen, 1946 Lombard Street, 215-545-0350. This neighborhood gastropub wins raves for its burgers – in particular, the Churchill burger, which some diners on Yelp rate the best in town. The classic tavern-fare menu offers much beyond burgers, but those who have a beef with eating animals will likely be disappointed with the choices. For everyone else, though, this place has few peers for its combination of ambience, affordability and quality of food.

Pumpkin, 1713 South Street, 215-545-4448. What’s on the menu? We wish you could tell you, but chef Ian Moroney probably doesn’t know either until he’s bought the ingredients. Really fresh, really local, and constantly changing are the hallmarks of the New American fare at this casually romantic South Street BYOB. In addition to wine, be sure to bring cash – Pumpkin doesn’t take credit or debit cards. If you’d rather do Pumpkin at your place, their next-door market offers sandwiches, soups, chili and breakfast all day to go.

Square 1682, Hotel Palomar, 121 South 17th Street, 215-563-5008. One problem with hotel restaruants is that the food often doesn’t live up to the decor. Square 1682 is a notable exception to this rule. Chef Guillermo Tellez presides over a kitchen as inventive as the contemporary decor at this bi-level New American hotspot. Tellez mixes things up with a palette of international spices, and there’s something for everyone – even vegans – available. Notable aside: the restaruant points with pride to its LEED certification, making it Philly’s first truly green restaurant.

Tinto, 114 South 20th Street, 215-665-9150. After putting tapas on Philly’s culinary map with his first establishment, Amada, chef Jose Garces refined and improved on the idea with this, the second restaurant in his still-expanding portfolio. Only these aren’t tapas, strictly speaking – they’re pintxos, their Basque cousin, prepared with the customary Garces flair. The menu also includes more substantial offerings as well as charcuterie and cheese plates. The PhillyMag editors recommend the chestnut soup.

–By Sandy Smith for PhillyLiving.com

Photo of Butcher and Singer by Frank Roche, photo of Parc by shaggyshoo, both used used under a Creative Commons license

Posted in Articles, Center City, Fitler Square, Food and Drink, Logan Square, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square | No Comments »

A few of the “50 Best Places to Eat” in Philadelphia: Wash West

Thursday, March 15th, 2012
Mercato

Mercato

The next stop on our quick review of Philadelphia Magazine’s current crop of “50 Best Places to Eat Right Now” is Washington Square West. While the density of eateries is not as high as in Old City, the variety and quality are just as high. Folks living in Washington Square West have access to many great places to eat within a short walk of their Wash West home. The only question, then, is: In which direction does one start walking? “Towards 13th Street” looks like the best answer, for six of the eight “50 Best” eateries in Wash West are either on or within half a block of that street:

Amis, 412 South 13th Street, 216-732-2647. All three of Marc Vetri’s Italian restaurants made the “50 Best” list, including both of his Wash West outposts (see Vetri, below); this casual trattoria off Pine Street is his most affordable establishment, with most menu items under $20. It’s also his most convivial eatery; the PhillyMag editors recommend you score one of the six seats at the counter overlooking the open kitchen if you can. Small plates dominate the menu, so bring friends and mix and match.

Barbuzzo, 110 South 13th Street, 215-732-2647. Actually, we were wrong with that density comment: three of the eight “50 Best” restaurants in Wash West can be found almost in a row on the short half-block of South 13th between Drury and Sansom streets. This one comes to you from chef Marcie Turney and her life partner Valerie Safran, the couple whose six establishments put Midtown Village on the map as a dining and shopping destination. Wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean dishes are the house specialties at this affordable, fun, rustic restaurant. (More from these two below as well.)

Chifa, 707 Chestnut Street, 215-925-5555. Comidas latinas with a twist: José Garces looked to Peru, where Spain, China and Japan cross paths (recall President Alberto Fujimori?), for the inspiration for his Latin-Asian fusion restaurant on the Chestnut Street restaurant row. Pho and chicarrones (with pickled ginger and Napa cabbage), tempura and crab empanadas all happily coexist on the extensive menu, where most items are under $20; tasting menus and wine flights also available.

Kanella, 1001 Spruce Street, 215-922-1773. Chef Konstantinos Pitsillides turned a neighborhood diner into a tribute to the cuisine of his native Cyprus in 2008. “Kanella” is Greek for “cinnamon,” and the influence of that and other Mediterranean spices runs strong in the Greek Cypriot fare Pitsillides serves at this popular BYOB.

Lolita, 106 South 13th Street, 215-546-7100. The second of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s three restaurants (the third, Jamonera, opened after this list was compiled, replacing another “50 Best” establishment of theirs, Bindi), this distinctive little BYOT (that’s “T” for “tequila”; they’ll provide the mixers) fuses Mexican and Continental culinary traditions and has won plenty of other critical raves. Vegetarians will be delighted to know that several of the entrees on the menu can be made vegetarian by switching main ingredients.

Mercato, 1216 Spruce Street, 215-985-2962. From the people behind neighbor Valanni comes this “Italian-inspired” BYOB where fresh seasonal ingredients are prepared with a combination of Old World care and American experimentation. The a la carte menu changes at least weekly and offers both old- and new-school Italian-American favorites. Reservations accepted only for pre-theater dining and special events.

Morimoto, 723 Chestnut Street, 215-413-9070. Iron Chef Morimoto teamed up with dining impresario Stephen Starr to produce this high-concept, high-price, high-quality Japanese restaurant where – as with so many other Starr restaurants – the decor is as much of a star as the food on the plate. Unless, that is, you order the chef’s sumptuous omakase (tasting menu).

Vetri, 1312 Spruce Street. With Le Bec-Fin changing hands, Marc Vetri’s eponymous first restaurant is now the place in Philadelphia where one can count on a consistently and truly elegant fine dining experience. The $135 prix fixe tasting menu is the only option available, but with so many sumptuous, impeccably sourced and prepared items to choose from on it, what else would one need?  If you’re thinking of going here for a weekend special occasion, book your reservations now and you might get a table a few months down the road.

Zavino, 112 South 13th Street, 215-732-2400. Elbow room is at a premium in this busy little pizzeria and wine bar, but the pies and the wines are both worth working your way through the crowds. Choose a pie from their menu, or if you’re feeling adventurous, suggest a variation on a theme. Not in the mood for pizza? There are also small plates, meat, cheese and veggie plates to choose from.

–By Sandy Smith for PhillyLiving.com

Photo of Mercato from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons license

Posted in Center City, Food and Drink, Restaurants, Washington Square West | No Comments »

Let’s Do Brunch: 10 of Our Weekend Best

Friday, January 27th, 2012

And on the seventh day, ye shall rest. That means no cooking for you. Instead, treat yourself to a leisurely brunch at one of these great places. Whether you’re in the mood for a breakfast favorite or something more dinner-y, but on the light side, these stars of the weekend offer everyone living in Philadelphia a delightful, casual dining experience – and then some, in a few cases.

Weekend BrunchCarman’s Country Kitchen, 1301 South 11th Street (at Wharton), Passyunk Square. At this quirky, intimate diner, the best down-home cooking in Philadelphia comes with something special on the side: running conversation with the chef, who loves to mix it up on current events and whatever else is on her mind with the patrons. (Your blogger has had more than one super-cheap therapy session with Dr. Carman, who is guaranteed to remove whatever blues you may be feeling.) In good weather, you can dine al fresco at the picnic table mounted in the back of the pickup truck parked in front of the restaurant. Breakfast and brunch specialties served 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. BYOB.

Sam’s Morning Glory Diner, 10th and Fitzwater streets, Bella Vista. This “finer diner” is a daytime-only destination beloved by locals and lovers of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. The weekend brunch menu features egg dishes, cakes and breads, salads and “samwiches” sure to please just about everyone. Steak lovers will appreciate the bargain-priced steak and eggs, and carb fans will find the challah French toast divine. Brunch served Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sabrina’s Cafe, 910 Christian Street, Italian Market; 1804 Callowhill Street, Logan Square/Art Museum Area; 34th Street and Powelton Avenue, Powelton Village. Classic comfort food is Sabrina’s stock in trade, and the long lines of diners waiting for tables attest to its quality. Breakfast lovers will find their favorite meal served all day, and there are vegan and vegetarian items on the menu as well. Brunch specials include a burger of the week, eggs Benedict Florentine, and a continually changing menu of cleverly named creative items.Brunch served Sundays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. BYOB.

Valanni, 1229 Spruce Street, Washington Square West. Cocktail lovers will find this uber-cool Gayborhood mainstay as much to their liking as diners will, with a drink menu that goes well beyond the standard Bloody Marys and Mimosas. The kitchen is incapable of turning out a mediocre meal, and brunch is no exception. The Monte Cristo sandwich is to die for. Outdoor seating in season. Brunch served Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Jones, 700 Chestnut Street, Washington Square. Stephen Starr’s Mom-food eatery does everything with a nudge-nudge, wink-wink attitude, with the only difference being that you are in on the joke at this very Brady restaurant. The food, however, is serious – all your favorite classics are on the brunch menu, or you can order items from the all-day menu as well. Chicken-and-waffles fans, take note. It’s also a great place to dine with the kids. Brunch served Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Honey’s Sit ‘n’ Eat, 800 North 4th Street, Northern Liberties. Bet you didn’t know there was such a thing as “Southern Jewish food.” Well, there is, and Honey’s has it. It might be more accurate to say that the best traditions of Southern and Jewish cookery coexist side by side on Honey’s extensive menu, which features breakfast, brunch and deli favorites all made with ingredients sourced from some of the best local farms, including East Kensington’s Greensgrow Farm. But there are some interesting intersections of the two: brisket soft tacos, for instance. Brunch served Sundays, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. BYOB.

Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar, 4365 Main Street, Manayunk. Feeling like doing something grownup for brunch? Here’s the place to do it. This Manayunk pioneer offers the full white-tablecloth, fine-dining experience and a menu of more than 30 items, all emphasizing sustainably grown, local ingredients. If you prefer wine to a Bloody Mary with your brunch, Cooper’s offers 35 different wines by the glass and 50 by the bottle, including several excellent values. (Jake’s will undergo a total makeover starting in the spring of 2012.) Brunch served Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons, One Logan Square. $73 per person and worth every penny, the Swann Lounge’s Sunday brunch buffet is the most sumptuous in the city. Patrons enjoy an embarrassment of riches: traditional breakfast favorites, a global appetizer menu, salads and classic entrees, all prepared with French flair and served with one of the city’s loveliest views as a backdrop. Service, as one might expect at an establishment of this caliber, is super-attentive without being intrusive. Brunch served Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mixto, 1141-43 Pine Street, Washington Square West. From the owners of Tierra Colombiana in North Philly’s Zona del Oro comes this delightful Cuban-Latin-Caribbean fusion alternative to the standard weekend brunch. Sure, Mixto offers plenty of traditional items for the less adventurous, but the Creole, Cuban and Caribbean dishes on the restaurant’s weekend breakfast menu offer a break from the ordinary. The wood-and-brick décor and exterior plantings will make you think you’ve left Philly for the tropics – and for a while at least, you have. Try their bacon Bloody Mary as well. Brunch served Sundays, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Farmicia, 15 S. 3rd Street, Old City. Imbibers, do your wallet a favor: Dine here and take advantage of the only weekend brunch Happy Hour in town, with half-price drinks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Farmicia – the marriage of former White Dog Cafe chef Kevin Klause’s and Metropolitan Bakery owners James Barrett’s and Wendy Smith Born’s visions – offers simply prepared artisanal fare in a relaxed environment, with an emphasis on local ingredients. Brunch served Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

–By Sandy Smith

Photo by Alice Park from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons license

Posted in Articles, Bella Vista, Center City, Logan Square, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Points of Interest, Restaurants, South Philly, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | 1 Comment »

Just in time for Restaurant Week, Marc Vetri delivers a raspberry

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

In case you have been living under a rock, the Center City District’s semi-annual Restaurant Week is just around the corner. Actually, “Restaurant Week” is now a misnomer – this popular event, now in its 10th year, runs for two weeks – from Jan. 22-27 and Jan. 29-Feb. 3 for the winter edition. (Another two-week Restaurant Week takes place in the fall.)

Le Bec-Fin

Maybe we could dine at Osteria for $65 a head, but we doubt we could get out of Le Bec-Fin for that little.

Philadelphia-area food lovers devour this event, and with good reason: more than 100 of Center City’s best restaruants offer special three-course prix fixe menus for just $35 for dinner – and many of them also offer special $20 lunch menus. (Tax, gratuity and alcoholic beverages are not included in the package deal.) For adventurous diners, Restaurant Week offers a chance to sample unusual fare and high-end dining experiences ($35 for dinner at Le Bec-Fin? Sign us up!) they might not otherwise consider.

The event draws large crowds to the participating restaurants. Many restaurateurs love Restaurant Week for the exposure it gives their restaurants to new patrons. So does the Center City District. Echoing economic development officials in other cities that run such events, the CCD’s Kristen Linker told Forbes last fall, “Since its inception in 2003, Center City District Restaurant Week has generated over $23.9 million in additional revenues for the restaurants and pumped over $90.7 million into Center City Philadelphia’s economy.”

Not among the fans, however, is Marc Vetri, quite possibly the most celebrated chef in Philadelphia today. In a status update on his Facebook page, Vetri said that the discount dining deal really isn’t that much of one, especially after figuring in the wine, tax and tip. You could dine at his Osteria restaurant in Fairmount, he said, for about what the Restaurant Week special would run per person after throwing in all the rest. (The full text of his complaint can be found on Foobooz.) Add the crowds and the harried waitstaff to that, he said, and you might be better off dining at the restaurant of your choice on a normal night.

To some, these are fighting words. To others, Vetri has revealed the emperor has no clothes. What do you think? Share your comments here.

–By Sandy Smith

Photo of Le Bec-Fin by TexasDex from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons Share-Alike 3.0 license

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Posted in Articles, Center City, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Logan Square, Old City, Philadelphia real estate, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »

Our 10 (+1) Favorite Restaurants in Philadelphia in 2011

Friday, December 30th, 2011

One of the many great things about living in Philadelphia is the embarrassment of riches that is the city’s dining scene. Longtime residents can recite the history that led to this delightful state, beginning with the 1970s “Restaurant Renaissance” and building from there to the present. Philadelphians today enjoy a dazzling variety of eateries, from greasy spoons to elegant establishments, that offer cuisine from around the world and close to home in settings from relaxed to super-formal and at prices that suit every budget.

That scene is constantly changing, too, as new chefs try out new ideas and established names branch out in new directions. One notable local trend this year was the opening of a raft of restaurants that feature local ingredients, like The Farm and the Fisherman and The Farmer’s Cabinet in Washington Square West and Kennett off South Street. Dining impresario Stephen Starr gave Center City its first authentic English pub with The Dandelion, which opened this past summer, and another new Starr-backed establishment, Talula’s Garden, proved an immediate sensation with critics and diners when it opened on Washington Square later in the year.

Your blogger wasn’t quite able to sample all the delicious developments in Philly’s dining scene this year. But with some help from friends, we’ve been able to put together a list of 10 places – some old, some new – that consistently deliver excellent food with good service in a great atmosphere. Here, then, are Philly Living’s 10 favorite Philadelphia restaurants of 2011, in no particular order:

Han Dynasty, 108 Chestnut Street, Old City. The in-town outpost of the highly regarded Sichuan restaurant in Exton never disappoints. From mild to wild, the dishes are consistently well executed. Go with a group and be sure to share – it will be an education for your palate.

Opa Restaurant interior

The stylish interior of Opa, the new casual Greek restaurant that's on our 10 Favorites list

Opa, 1311 Sansom Street, Midtown Village/Washington Square West. This moderately priced newcomer offers contemporary interpretations of classic Greek fare in a casually stylish setting. Not out for a full meal? Try one of their excellent appetizers at the bar, which has a creative cocktail menu and several great local brews on tap.

City Tap House, 3925 Walnut Street, University City. Sure, you will be sharing the space with Penn students on a bender, but there’s plenty of room for everyone in its large, modern-rustic dining room. There’s also an outdoor terrace in good weather. Craft beers and fresh seasonal ingredients go together like hand in glove at this eatery, which capitalizes on Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the best beer cities in America.

Friday Saturday Sunday, 261 South 21st Street, Rittenhouse Square. This sole survivor of the Restaurant Renaissance still “loves you every night.” It’s also still the best place in town for a romantic dinner date, with its intimate size and still-funky decor. Its kitchen is still producing simple yet elegant dishes with flair, 37 years on, and it still has the lowest markup on wine in the city – every bottle only $10 over cost.

PYT, 1050 North Hancock Street, Northern Liberties. What’s a burger joint doing on this list? Constantly experimenting, that’s what. Legendary party promoter Tommy Up’s uber-casual burger joint/lounge/club in the Piazza at Schmidt’s continually turns out new, creative, and sometimes flat-out weird variations on the classic burger, with a different featured burger each week. Past creations include the Krispy Kreme Burger, the Chicken & Waffle Burger, and the Korean Short Rib Burger, which proved such a hit it was added to the permanent menu. Needless to say, this is not a place for the health- or weight-conscious.

Le Virtu, 1927 East Passsyunk Avenue, South Philadelphia. All Abruzze, all the time, made the old-fashioned way with all the local ingredients the owners can get their hands on. House-cured meats and fresh pasta are among the stars at this anchor of the East Passyunk Avenue restaurant row.

Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge, 1227 Sansom Street, Midtown Village/Washington Square West; 1050 North Hancock Street, Northern Liberties; Cafe Boyd’s, inside the men’s wear store at 1818 Chestnut Street, Rittenhouse Square. This stylish contemporary Japanese restaurant, which recently opened a second outpost at the Piazza, loves to play with its signature dish. If you like it raw, you will love what the sushi masters here do with rice, fish and vegetables. The cooked entrees aren’t bad either.

Osteria, 640 North Broad Street, Fairmount. Marc Vetri’s more casual Italian dining spot is every bit as outstanding as his justly famous small restaurant on Spruce Street, but easier to get into and somewhat easier on the wallet. It’s a must-visit for pizza lovers as well, as the pies on the menu are the best in the city. Of special note is the Lombarda,with Cotechino sausage, two cheeses and a fried egg atop a delicate crispy crust.

Los Taquitos de Puebla, 1149 South Ninth Street, Italian Market/Bella Vista. The influx of immigrants from the southern Mexican state of Puebla is perhaps the best thing that’s happened to the Italian Market in years, and this unassuming taqueria is a happy product of that phenomenon. Cheap and delicious, their tacos de pastor are the best in town. More adventurous eaters will find on the menu dishes made from parts of the cow you probably never thought edible: anyone for ojos or cabeza de res?

Picanha Grill, 6501 Castor Avenue, Castor Gardens. Like Fogo de Chao, this Brazilian churrascuria in the Northeast is run by actual Brazilians. And like Fogo, it features a salad bar and a dine-till-you-drop parade of succulent meats. But unlike Fogo, you can enjoy all this without taking out a loan for your meal: the all-you-can-eat experience here costs a mere $25.

Bonus: Oyster House, 1516 Sansom Street, Rittenhouse Square. Sam Mink, the third generation of the Philadelphia family behind the legendary Kelly’s of Mole Street, took his family’s old-school seafood restaurant and lightened it up. The bright, open dining room still sports the knickknacks that have graced its walls since 1976, but just about everything else is new and improved, including the best lobster roll outside New England. Don’t miss the buck-a-shuck oyster special at the bar at happy hour.

–Sandy Smith

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Posted in Articles, Bella Vista, Center City, Fairmount, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Philadelphia real estate, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, South Philly, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »

Old City Holiday Shopping Guide, III: Food, Wine, etc.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Wedge + Fig

Now that we’ve given you a glimpse of what the merchants of Old City have to offer for your wardrobe and your home in Philadelphia, it’s time to show you what they can put on your table – and what they have to offer your animal companions.

If, like this blogger, you like cheese, you’ll love Wedge + Fig (160 North 3rd Street), the newish cafe/cheese/pastry shop from Flying Monkey Patisserie founder Rebecca Topie. The shop’s selection of cheeses – about 50 different varieties on hand at any one time – changes with the seasons and is complemented by an assortment of tasty treats from the shop’s on-site bakery. If you’re looking to grab a bite while shopping, Wedge + Fig has a menu of paninis and other light fare, most of it featuring cheeses in stock; if you’re looking to get something for the food lover on your holiday shopping list, ask about their custom gift baskets. They also offer seasonal baked goods, including pies and buches de Noel (Yule logs).

Pinot

Now how about some wine to go with that cheese? Find it at Pinot (227 Market Street). In addition to just about every accessory and gadget a wine lover might want, this Best of Philly-winner specialty store also carries fine wines from Paradocx Vineyards, a family-owned winery located in the rolling hills of southern Chester County. In addition to blended, estate and vineyard wines by the bottle, Paradocx also offers something out of the ordinary for the entertainers on your list: paint cans of wine! Each can contains 3.5 liters of wine (about 4.5 bottles) and has a convenient pour spout.

 

BONeJOUR Pet Supply

BONeJOUR (53 North 3rd Street) is the destination for pet lovers. From food to grooming to fashion to accessories, BONeJOUR Pet Supply has everything for the discriminating pooch and puss. Everything in the store is top quality, tested by store staff, and 100% guaranteed to please. And not only is everything in the store pet-friendly, it’s budget-friendly too.

If you’re looking to surprise distant friends and relatives with unique gifts, visit the websites linked from these posts for information about ordering and shipping online. Your loved ones will be glad you did. And don’t forget to treat yourself – make a day of it by visiting one of the neighborhood’s many restaurants and galleries during your shopping trip.

–By Sandy Smith

All photos by the author

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Posted in Articles, Center City, Neighborhood Pages, Old City, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Shopping | No Comments »

Trulia Launches Crime Maps in Philadelphia to Give Better Visibility into Neighborhood Crime

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

 

Philadelphia Real EstateCrime Maps Launch Provides Data on Neighborhoods Block-by-Block and adds Social Commenting to Aid Buying and Renting Decisions

Trulia, a top resource for homebuyers, sellers and renters, today expanded its product suite with the launch of Crime Maps, a innovative and proprietary social crime mapping technology that allows consumers to view, explore, compare, interact and comment on crime data across the US. Crime Maps is launching in Philadelphia to give citizens hyper-local visibility into the good, bad and ugly dynamics of their local neighborhoods, enabling them to make better decisions about where to buy or rent a home.

A Snapshot of Crime in Philadelphia

Crime in Philly peaks at 4pm and is least common at 4 am

5 most crime-ridden intersections:Crime in Philadelphia

- Langdon St & Roosevelt Blvd

- Franklin Mills Circle & Franklin Mills Drive Market St. & S 10th St

- N 13th St & W Berks St

- Bustleton Ave & Cottman Ave

Most/least common crimes reported:

Most Common

- Theft – peaks at 4pm and is less common at 4am

- Burglary – peaks at 6pm and is less common at 6am

- Robbery – peaks at 11 pm and is less common at 4am and 6-8am

Least Common

- Assault – peaks at midnight and less common at 5-8am

Trulia

Crime Maps leverages geodata from multiple partners, including CrimeReports.com, EveryBlock.com and SpotCrime.com, who work with hundreds of police agencies, crime feeds and news outlets to create a curated map of criminal activity in many metropolitan areas. Users can view crimes in a specific area, toggle between multiple neighborhoods, and directly compare the crime statistics of two different regions. Trulia also enables users to add insights, comments, and advice via Facebook’s Social Comments for additional context and information on top of the geodata.

“With the democratization of data, now we are capable of building a product like Crime Maps,” said Eric Wu, Head of Geo/Social Products at Trulia. “We’ll continue to not only aggregate this valuable geodata, but help citizens understand and consume it through beautiful products.  Ultimately, we want to help paint a complete picture of location on a hyper-local basis, and we believe coupling data with social comments is a very powerful combination.

Trulia

Trulia

Additional Assets

- To view and explore Crime Maps, click here

- To view a video about Crime Maps, here

- To view Crime Maps methodology, click here

- To download high-resolution screenshots of Trulia’s Crime Maps, click here  

About Trulia, Inc.

Trulia.com is the fastest growing online real estate site focused on empowering buyers, seller and renters with smarter tools to help you find the right home. Trulia is headquartered in downtown San Francisco and is backed by Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital. Trulia is focused on helping you find the home that truly meets your needs, and delivers on what’s most important for you. Ultimately, we built a smart real estate search experience bringing together localTrulia information, community insights, market data and national listings all in one place.

http://www.truliablog.com/2011/06/02/trulia-launches-crime-maps/

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Posted in Art Museum, Bella Vista, Buying a Home, Center City, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Pages, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Point Breeze, Queen Village, Rentals, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Roxborough, Selling your home, Society Hill, South Philly, Uncategorized, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | 2 Comments »

Philly Real Estate Meets Hot Curb Appeal

Friday, June 10th, 2011

By: Rachel Vanderveen

When I go to meet staging clients for the first time, I often get people who prepare their home for me to arrive. I tell them not to. I tell them I want to Philadelphia Real Estatesee it in its raw state, but many people try their best to “wow” the stager nonetheless. Some are successful and some are not, but what I have noticed is that people with an eye for design or no eye at all, seem to universally forget one aspect of staging their home: curb appeal. It’s always the last thing to get done, for many people it’s somewhat of an afterthought. If you’re in the process of selling your home in Philadelphia, you’ve probably already begun to pound the pavement looking for Philadelphia real estate that better suits your needs. This is going to give you a wonderful opportunity to really see how much of a difference great curb appeal really makes. As you start looking at homes for sale in the Philadelphia area, keep a close eye on which ones really impress you just as you’re driving up.

Why is curb appeal so important? Well first impressions do indeed count, and they’re certainly hard to reverse. Even if you think in terms of meeting people for the first time: if they’re slovenly, stinky, and just look like a mess, it’s pretty hard for them to turn around your first opinions, even if they’re a surgeon, lawyer or engineer. What’s on the inside does certainly count, but we want the outside to  be the sort of thing that draws people in looking for more of a good thing.

So where do we start? The simplest thing on your lawn: grass. I want it green,Philadelphia Real Estate green, green. This means you’re going to have to mow, fertilize, and water it more than you ever have before if you want it looking tip-top in a short amount of time. Think somewhere in the neighborhood of at least 2-3 blocks of time per week devoted to lawn care. I also want that grass manicured to absolute perfection. Your lawn should metaphorically look like a New York City socialite.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have an ornate garden full of rare flowers and detailed bushwork and design. In fact, in many cases, that can be a negative against your home. The fact is that there is a large amount of people looking to buy Philadelphia Real Estate who don’t want to have to worry about garden maintenance, weeding and the like. They can operate a lawn mower…and that’s about it. So keep your garden simple. It should be pretty, and inviting, but it shouldn’t be overly ornate.

Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to keep all the items in the garden that made it personal to you. For example, garden gnomes, giant red and white mushrooms, signs with the family names on them, and the like are all things that unfortunately do not have a place in our neutral staged setting, and do not help to sell your home in Philadelphia. Again, the garden should be simple, plain and extremely well taken-care of.

Your front porch should be power-washed and totally clean, if you have a wooden deck and rail they should be in good repair. Further, I haven’t seen a wooden deck that couldn’t use a fresh coat of paint to wow those potential buyers! Your doorbell should be functioning perfectly and the light outside your door should be cleaned to a high shine. If you cannot clean it to a high shine, I would suggest spray painting it back to its former glory. If that doesn’t work, it never hurts to replace it with a new one.

The front door is so often ignored by sellers. I often find them badly scuffed and marked up with peeling or uneven paint. The problem with the front Philadelphia Real Estatedoor is that it’s not really a place that you can touch up with paint, because you have so much natural light shining on it, nothing stays hidden. For that reason, I usually suggest that sellers repaint their entire door, rather than struggle to scrub off stains and fix peeling paint.

Driveways or sidewalks around the home should be totally clear of dirt and debris. If there is any oil stains or the like on your concrete, you’ll need to try your best to remove it, or make it look better. Exposed aggregate concrete, shows so well with a fresh coat of sealer, which is fairly cheap and easy to apply. The same is true of pattern-stamped concrete.

I often tell my staging clients that they have 5 seconds to make an impression. In other words, those potential buyers of Philadelphia Real Estate often make up their mind about your home, by the time their hand touches the front door handle, and the next 55 seconds after that will seal the deal. You don’t have a lot time to advocate for your home, so let it do the talking for you, and with great curb appeal, you can be sure it will have good things to say!

Until Next Time…

Blessings

Rachel Vanderveen is a Calgary Real Estate Agent specializing in Calgary home staging, Calgary condos for sale, Cranston Real Estate, Copperfield Real Estate , Silverado Real Estate, McKenzie Towne Real Estate, and Auburn Bay Real Estate.  But more importantly, she is a mother to four adorable children, a lover of Auburn Bay Realty, and an avid writer of Calgary Real Estate  blogs. For more information on Calgary mls.ca, or searching mlslistings.ca, visit her website here.

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Posted in Art Museum, Bella Vista, Buying a Home, Center City, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Fairmount, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Luxury Homes, Northern Liberties, Old City, Pennsport, Philadelphia real estate, Point Breeze, Queen Village, Rentals, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Roxborough, Selling your home, Society Hill, South Philly, University City, Washington Square, Washington Square West | No Comments »

Old City: Restaurants, Schools, and Points of Interest

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Old City

Old City, as you can tell from its name, is Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhood where William Penn first settled. Its borders are Front Street on the east, Sixth Street on the west, Vine Street on the north, and Walnut Street on the south. Old City contains many historical sites such as the Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross house, as well as hip and trendy restaurants and bars. Art galleries, highly rated nightlife and loft-style condos have attracted have attracted many young professionals to this area.

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Posted in Neighborhood Pages, Old City, Philadelphia real estate, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Schools | 2 Comments »

Chestnut Hill: Restaurants, Schools, and Points of Interest

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill is a nationally registered historic district and is considered a ‘commuter town’ due to several public transportation routes linking it to Center City. It has a suburban feel because of its many single-family homes and green spaces. Having one of the highest median home prices outside of Center City, Chestnut Hill is considered a somewhat affluent section of Philadelphia. It is located in the northwest section of Philadelphia and is bounded by the Wissahickon Gorge to the west, Stenton Avenue and Northwestern Avenue on the northeast and northwest, respectively, and the Cresheim Valley on the south.

 

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