Want to know a secret? They best cheesesteak in Philadelphia does not come from Pat’s, Geno’s, Jim’s, or Gooey Luey’s. It’s not even in South Philly. It’s at Fifth and Poplar Street in a little bodega called Rodriguez Grocery.

You’d never guess it, but Rodriguez has been serving up the best cheesesteaks for as long as I can remember. The regular steak is $2.50. But the real deal is the double cheesesteak hoagie, which will run you $4.50. It’s dynamite. Lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, steak, with salt-pepper-ketchup my friend. And the cheese–provolone. Man, for my money, it can’t be beat. And it’s huge! Get into it.

Rodriguez Deli & Grocery Store
883 N. 5th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-3969

Chris DiPinto plays guitars and makes guitars right here in Philadelphia. And he does both very, very well. So being a Philadelphian guitar craftsmen, and a local guitar god, he decided to make a guitar he calls The Philadelphian.

And it’s a truly beautiful creation. A classy single cutaway, arched top hollow body delight. Single humbucker pickup, pretty block inlay on a rosewood neck. Two knobs: tone and volume (keep it simple). Headstock’s wide and graceful. Looks like a six you might see hangin’ round that handsome Chet Atkins fellow from Tennessee. But it was born here in Philly, you see?

It comes in natural color with chrome hardware or honeyburst with gold. The Philadelphian sells for between $700 and $1000, which is a steal for an instrument that’s so masterfully crafted.

If you’d like to pluck it, go see Chris at his shop in Fishtown.

DiPinto Guitars
407 E. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 1912

I counted up my “going-out” shirts the other day, and came up with… four. I only have four shirts I like enough to wear out at night. One of the four is a great brown-and-gold cowl-neck tee shirt (who ever heard of such a thing?) from designers Abby & Katie of little Old City shop Smak Parlour. I think I have to head back there soon to increase my nighttime clothing options, and here’s the incentive: If you spend fifty bones at Smak Parlour on Black Friday, they’ll give you a free rose ring, bird necklace or skull ring… your choice, for free!

Thank you in advance Abby & Katie, for giving me something more interesting than work clothes to wear, and a free accessory to boot.

Smak Parlour
219 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-625-4551

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at uwishunu. Be safe and don’t forget the elastic pants.

There are three things I love about Thanksgiving weekend:

1. My brother’s pre-dinner toasts, which make us laugh until we snort wine out of our noses.

2. My sister’s pumpkin roll.

3. Rounding up whoever’s in town and heading to Penn’s Landing for the opening of the Blue Cross RiverRink the day after Thanksgiving.

The RiverRink has evolved from a lumpy surface to a pretty decent Olympic-sized outdoor rink. Be aware that it’s not the best spot for serious skaters. Changing weather conditions affect ice quality and the occasional flocks of skating-challenged amateurs turn even simple jumps and spins into a life-threatening activity.

But for a fun afternoon family outing or evening date, you can’t beat it, because the actual skating is just a small part of the fun. First, there are the views of the river. Then there is the warming tent where you can snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate or play the video games. Even non-skaters can have fun watching the giant video wall that shows their friends stumbling around the ice.

Throughout the season, which runs through mid-March depending on the temperatures, there are a number of special events including an alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration.

River Rink
Columbus Blvd. & Market Street

I believe I’ve mentioned my ongoing search for affordable art. Well, don’t get excited, I didn’t find any in my price range yet. But I did find a Philadelphian’s work that I would love to get my grubby little paws on (figuratively of course—I wouldn’t really want to smudge the canvas). I was wandering around Old City the other day when the paintings inside the Artists’ House Gallery caught my eye, and drew me across the street and inside the gallery.

Anthony Palumbo’s portraits in gritty urban settings are intriguingly haunting, and the subjects seem familiar, like you just sat next to them on the bus or passed them by on a sidewalk. Possibly I feel that way because the people in his paintings look to be about my age—and indeed, I heard the gallery owner say the artist is just my age too (26 if you must know). That’s a lot of talent for someone so young.

Anthony, like many of the emerging artists featured in the Artists’ House, is a recent PAFA grad (2002). His work, and the work of three other talented artists, will be on display through November 26. That means it will be gone before the next First Friday, so move it or lose it.

Artists’ House Gallery
57 North 2nd Street
Artists’ House Gallery

Image courtesy of http://www.artistshouse.com/

Philadelphia is full of great brunch spots. On the weekends many of them have lines down the street and waits that push an hour. The one exception to the rule is Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant in West Philadelphia. The lack of a bustling brunch crowd must be because most people tend to think of Abyssinia as a night spot. On the weekends they have live Ethiopian music and two great little bars that stay open to 1 a.m.

Granted, they have only one actual brunch option, but it’s so great that you really don’t need any other choices. It’s pronounced FULL, but unfortunately misspelled as FOUL on the menu, and it’s the most amazing concoction of hot fava beans and spices that I’ve ever had. It comes with butter and cheese, but easily be made vegan, and is served with your choice of French bread or injera (Ethiopian bread) for about $5.00 total.

It can never sound as good on paper as it actually tastes, but all of my friends from West Philadelphia who have moved out of town make it their first stop as soon as they come back. Don’t go for a quick meal though. Nothing happens quickly at Abyssinia.

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
229 S. 45th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Couture anyone? One of my favorite times of year in Philadelphia is late fall. The city is full of life, there are parties and events a-plenty, and thus the NEED to be fashionable. Did you know the best outlet for vintage couture in Philadelphia comes but once a year to Freemans Auction House? This year’s top picks at the sale are: A raspberry colored silk Christian Dior cocktail dress, pristine condition sable furs and more Louis Vuitton than 5th Avenue. Oh, and OF COURSE a nice selection of Chanel jackets.

The auction is December 4th at 11 a.m., but you can sneak a preview of the collection at the opening reception on Monday, November 27th, or see the exhibit that will be on display from November 28th through December 1st. Absentee bids and online bidding are accepted.

Freemans Auction
1808 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-563-9275

If you live in Philly, you’ve been to South Street. But not everyone has been to Cue Records, Philly’s number one Hip Hop record store. In business for close to 10 years, Cue has long been the place to get your hard to find classic Hip Hop vinyl, all your DJ and mixing needs, Hip Hop magazines, videos and fashion.

Have a gig but not enough gear? No problem. Cue rents all the equipment you need. With a helpful staff specializing in superb service, this is the place Hip Hop stars want to visit first when they come to town. Funk and soul, afrobeat, battlebreaks, trip hop, bossanova, dub and dancehall–oh man, this store is great! Even if you can’t make it to the retail outlet due to the thick South Street traffic, you can utilize the city’s public wi-fi and go online to their impressive online store.

Cue Records
617 South 4th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-413-3525

Get there.

West Girard Avenue is an eclectic pocket community, and sandwiched amongst soul food restaurants, store front churches and discount stores, Best in Show Grooming sits in good position. Located only one block away from Philly’s cheapest vet, Girard Veterinary Clinic, Best in Show offers valuable but inexpensive services and products to progressive pet owners.

As an unofficial cat-lady-in-training, I understand the importance of quality when deciding the food that my kitties eat. Best in Show carries Nutro brand cat and dog food, and every morning my feline friends thank me for their seafood delights. Every three weeks I thank Best in Show for having the most affordable selection of Nutro cat food around. In addition to cheap, healthy eats, their in-house groomer will have your cat or dog flea free, nails trimmed and coat gleaming and primmed. The shop has a friendly storefront that is usually operated by either of the co-owners alongside their friends, who love to hang out, greeting you and your pet with enthusiasm and warmth.

Best in Show Grooming
2708 W. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
267-514-7991

Girard Veterinary Clinic
2806 W. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-232-0831

Located in Northern Liberties, one of my favorite new galleries is Philadelphia Glassworks. As a Taurus, I should probably know better than to enter this glass extravaganza, but all of the shiny, perfectly blown colored-glass installations are too much for this bull to resist.

This isn’t your average glass menagerie. Inside, you’ll find edgy glass-art pieces like shackles with chain links, a “Heart of Glass” and exquisite star-like formations that when hung from any ceiling, truly own a room. It’s all for sale.

For aspiring lampworkers (the art of glass blowing), resident artists offer classes at all levels and feature a number of techniques. And for those of you who are instant gratification seekers–start with the bead making class and walk out with your own original bead in hand.

So what are you waiting for? Go on in there and give Me & Ro a run for their money.

Philadelphia Glassworks
908A North Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-3655

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Glassworks.

Feeling blue and in need of a sympathetic ear? I have a friend to recommend to you. He doesn’t talk much, but he’s a very good listener. He doesn’t catch much, yet he’s my favorite fisherman. Perched on an unlikely boulder in the shade of the newly renovated Waterworks, there’s a wonderful sculpture of an unassuming man, fishing with a phantom pole, tackle box at his side.

I love this man. I love him especially because he spent three years at the bottom of the murky Schuylkill River after being bludgeoned off his spot by a 60 ft. tree during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. What did he learn down there? Devoted divers found him (a mere 30 feet from his original spot), and he was re-installed in his rightful place in September 2004. Take the spiral stairs down on the West side of the Art Museum and pay him a visit–I recommend bringing an offering of some kind–a stick will do. If you’re there during the day, check out the free Interactive Center, a wonderful museum sponsored by the Water Department.

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
640 Waterworks Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-685-0723

Rembrandt’s restaurant. It’s in the Art Museum area, on the corner of 23rd & Aspen Streets. I’ve been visiting several restaurants around Philly for quite some time now, and for some reason only recently visited this great spot nestled along one of the walls of historic Eastern State Penitentiary. Although Rembrandt’s does have great brick oven pizza (named best of Philly), they have a lot more to offer you. You and a date. You and your family. You and your friends.

I was there recently with “a date” and we had a great time from beginning to end. The service was delightful, and even though I don’t know how long Mia has been working there, she made us feel so comfortable, it was like she’s been there for years, and we were old friends.

The food we ate was dee-lish. I ordered the antipasto appetizer (it’s not written on the menu, but the beautiful antipasto display was eyeing me up since I walked through the dining room) and was more than good. I also highly recommend the Rembrandt’s Philadelphia Clam Chowder… and so will anyone else who’s ever tried it. My entrée was the rib eye special, and I only wish I remembered to take my leftovers home, as I’ve been craving the rest ever since I left. I will definitely be visiting Rembrandt’s again soon. Maybe even with the same “date.”

Rembrandt’s Restaurant and Bar
741 N. 23rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-763-2228

***Note: You won’t want to miss their craaazy older-than-old-school website.

Meg’s friend Heather flies through the halfway point. Whoosh.

A view of the finish for the 8K, half marathon and marathon.

Meg and half marathon winner Valentine Orare of Kenya.
Valentine asked Meg to marry him. No word on her response.

Well that wraps up uwishunu’s first-ever live coverage of the Philadelphia Marathon. Be sure to check out the race site for official results. Gotta run!

–Carla Anderson & Meg Waldron

P.S. Check here tomorrow for a pic with Meg and her new “fiancé.”