Feastival returned this year more decadent than ever! The chefs from some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city pulled out all the stops with luxurious menu ingredients (foie gras being a star ingredient); and crowds were entertained by high flying acrobatics while sipping on drinks mixed by some of the best bars in town. A very memorable evening that was a feast for the senses.
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
Classic Car Show
Having grown up and lived in a city most of my life, driving was never a big priority of mine; I tend to walk everywhere or use public transportation if needed. However seeing the design and details that went into these cars kinda made me understand why in decades past Americans were so obsessed with cars. Look at them they’re fast and beautiful! I don’t much about cars, but I appreciate great design details.
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
A steady stream of contemporary Asian cuisine concocted by executive chef Michael Schulson was served at the Feastival preview party at Sampan in Midtown Village. Never haven’t eaten there before I left very impressed with the excellent food the cooks were dishing out to party-goers. We got to try a lot of items that are available (at really reasonable prices) on their Happy Hour menu; Edamame Dumplings, Korean BBQ Beef Satay, Kim Chee Fried Rice, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, among others. I definitely recommend checking it out.
Feastival is a benefit party for the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe, it will take place on September 12th. Last year’s event was absolutely incredible (see my photos: Feastival: A Feast For The Senses). You can purchase tickets here.
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
Great beer deserves great food, and who better than six of Philadelphia’s most innovative chefs to prepare dishes that pair food with beer for the Ommegang Brewery sponsored Hop Chef competition. The chefs were given five ways to accomplish this task; simple pairing, interaction, incorporation, mimicking, story telling and beercentric. Joe Cicala of Le Virtu, Jon Cichon of Lacroix, Jason Cichonski of Ela, Nicholas Elmi of Rittenhouse Tavern, George Sabatino of Stateside and Scott Schroeder of SPTR and American Sardine Bar stepped up to the challenge in a big way, and delivered some truly memorable dishes to hungry beer fans.
This is a great cheat sheet for Philly restaurants you gotta try at some point.
Hop Chef winner George Sabatino’s Stateside
1536 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 551-2500
Nicholas Elmi at Rittenhouse Tavern
251 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA
in the Philadelphia Art Alliance building
(215) 732-2412
Jon Cichon at Lacroix
210 West Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia, PA
in The Rittenhouse Hotel
(215) 790-2533
Scott Schroeder at South Philly Tap Room
1509 Mifflin Street Philadelphia, PA
(215) 271-7787
1801 Federal Street Philadelphia, PA
(215) 334-2337
Joe Cicala at Le Virtu
1927 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA
(215) 271-5626
Jason Cichonski at Ela
627 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 687-8512
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
June 1-10
Philly is one of the best beer cities in the country, the selection we have is top notch year round. Already this year we’ve played host to some world famous breweriers like the world-renowned Mikkeller brewery from Denmark. Mikkeller has returned for Phily Beer Week and will be brewing three special beers with Farmer’s Cabinet.
If you’ve never tried Mikkeller I highly recommend it, their beers are like none other in terms of taste and complexity, it’s a real treat and definitely a memorable experience.
PBW tends to be a bit more locally focused so you’ll find plenty of events from North American and Philadelphia breweries such as Dock Street, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, Iron Hill, Nodding Head, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Prism, Round Guys, Sly Fox, Stoudts, Victory, among others.
You can get a great seasonal selection of beer from across the country and the world pretty much any time in Philly now, but PBW is a good excuse to attend some block parties and drink outside with your friends. There is a ton going on each day, but here are a few events I recommend:
Friday Jun 1
7:30 p.m. Opening Tap kick off with Mayor Nutter at the Independence Visitor Center. $40
Saturday Jun 2 [Center City]
11 a.m. - 6 p.m Pin-ups Block Party at Varga Bar
Sunday Jun 3 [South Philly]
12 p.m. - 9 p.m. Cirque du Saison Street Festival BBQ at Tapestry. Over 40 of the best Belgian saisons will be poured.
11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Pub Crawl along East Passyunk Ave. 10 different beer-themed events at Birra, Stogie Joe’s, P.O.P.E, Lucky 13, Le Virtu, The Bottle Shop, Stateside, Noir Restaurant and Bar South Philly Bar & Grill.
Monday Jun 4 [Center City]
5 p.m. - 9 p.m. With Love Beer Garden presents Victory Brewing at the Four Seasons Hotel
Tuesday Jun 5 [Old City]
5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Taste of Vermont with Longtrail, Otter Creek and Wolavers at Philadelphia Bar & Restaurant
8 p.m. - 11 p.m. California Drinkin’ with Anchor Brewing, Firestone Walker Brewing, Stone Brewing at Khyber Pass Pub
Wednesday Jun 6 [West Philly]
7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Sixpoint Tap Takeover at City Tap House
Thursday Jun 7 [University City and South Street]
3 p.m. - 12 a.m. Sansom St. Soiree between 34th & 36th streets. Block party with White Dog Cafe, New Deck Tavern, Baby Blues BBQ $10
6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Mechanical Bull Ride at Percy St. BBQ. Teams will buck and ride for the title and trophy of 2012 PBW Bull Riding Champ
Friday Jun 8 [South Street]
12 p.m. - 2 a.m. Barrel Aged Extravaganza at Twisted Tail Beers aged in Bourbon, rum and gin barrels paired with the spirits that originally soaked the wood.
Saturday Jun 9 [Fishtown]
12:00 p.m. - 8 p.m. FestivALE Johnny Brenda’s and Frankford Hall street fest
Sunday Jun 10 [West Philly]
11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Russian River Sunday at Local 44
The ever popular Night Market returned last night. The event featured some 40 food trucks and food stands serving up a variety of cuisines, desserts and coffee. Philadelphia is legitimately food crazy and the amount of rabidly hungry people that come out to these events never ceases to amaze me. They also love any excuse to wander around in nice weather drinking outside, ha!
See photos from the previous Night Market in Chinatown
It was a fun barn/warehouse party at the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym in Fishtown for the launch of the Depression-era hooch Spodee, a mix of homemade country wines with garden herbs, spices and moonshine. Rival Bros Coffee, The Smoke Truck, Cookie Confidential, My Jello Americans and Little Baby’s Ice Cream were all tasked to make their goods with Spodee in order to display the versatility and deliciousness of the drink. With Spodee in literally everything, plus the cocktails everyone left quite happy!
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
Hot meats and hot chefs!
A benefit even for the William M. Meredith Elementary School. Conceived and organized by Rob and Maggie Wasserman, owners of the legendary Rouge restaurant in Rittenhouse Square.
See more of my photos from the event on Philly.com: Burger Brawl Champs
(Source: iphotophilly.com)
Another gorgeous First Friday exhibit from Art in the Age.
A history of gardening based in the city of Philadelphia.
May 4th - May 31st.
116 North 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Check out more photos of some of the beautiful historic gardens of Philadelphia right here.
iPhotoPhilly as it happens. For Philly, foodies and coffee lovers.
Photos taken while I wander around the city, covering events, food and daily sightings. Serving locals and visitors who want an insider perspective on the city.
Check out my 'Recommended' section for some of the best and can't miss spots to hang out, eat at and drink in.
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swabreen@gmail.com
Author: Swabreen Bakr
Freelance Graphic Designer & Photographer Swabreen.com
Contributing Photographer & Writer
to Phrequency.com
iPhotoPhilly logo designed by me. All photos and logo copyrighted to Swabreen Bakr 2012.
