Uwishunu.com

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

To celebrate the end of Friday — the fifth and final (!) day in the work week — Ms. Tootsie’s has a Friday happy hour full of $5 deals on drinks and savory light bites.

From 5 – 10 p.m. (five hours, get it?), drink margaritas ($5) and martinis ($5) and eat up their excellent mac ‘n cheese ($5) and Buffalo wings (you got it, $5).

A budget-friendly way to start off the weekend… with drinks? Sign me up.

CLICK HERE to read more about Finally Fridays.

Ms. Tootsie’s [gophila.com]

Its hard not to love Honey’s Sit and Eat in No Libs. With its comfort food, created with what feels like mother’s love, and the delightfully upscale bohemian neighborhood along 4th Street, Honey’s has become a memorable haunt for any native Philadelphian breakfast lover. But now that summer has come, there is a new reason to love this wonderful diner.

As the windows open and the outdoor seating is pulled out of storage, it is time for guests of Honeys to nosh in the shadow of the NoLibs institution’s most famous addition, the mural. The towering, flowering beauty covers the north-facing wall in the courtyard outside, giving a taste of summer to the whole street.

Depicting the freshest fruits and vegetables from a child’s perspective, the Honeys Mural is a part of The Big Picture program’s summer 2008 series of local foods-themed projects. Students explored the importance and value of fresh food with representatives from organizations including the Urban Nutrition Initiative, Greensgrow and Mill Creek farms.

In four sessions beginning in September and ending in August, the Mural Arts Program runs the Big Picture program as a way to teach Philadelphia youth ages 10-18 the skills they need to produce murals like the Honey’s garden mural. The program has created murals at Olney High School, along with various street murals around the city.

The official dedication of the mural goes down in No Libs Tuesday, May 26th at 4pm. Come for the dedication, stay for the pancakes.

Mural Dedication @ Honey’s
Tuesday, May 26th at 4PM

Honey’s Sit N’ Eat
800 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 925-1150

The Rockin’ Malakas, playing in front of Walk a Crooked Mile

I love DIY neighborhood events, and much of the wealth in Philly’s spirit and groove, in our heart and our soul, is shown at its best when neighbors get together to put on a show or event.

Walk A Crooked Mile Books is housed in an impossibly charming old train station at Devon and Gowen Streets in Mt. Airy, and the whole thing looks like it fell out of the pages of… well, an old book! They decided that free concerts on Friday nights was the thing to do, and they now do just that all spring and summer.

There is a refreshingly broad selection of bands and musical styles on the boards, with recent sets by The Rockin’ Malakas (shown), Thaddeus Thomas, a percussionist who’s played with Sun Ra and Duke Ellington, The Saint Mad Band, Philadelphia’s only trumpet-euphonium-guitar-keyboard band plays this Friday, and Acoustic Blender is coming next week.

There is a grassy bank to sit and relax, kick back and get to know the neighbors. Lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners are encouraged!

Walk a Crooked Mile Books
7423 Devon St, Philadelphia, PA 19119
(215) 242-0854

Uwishunu videoblogger Stephen Metzger met up with Ray Wyatt, the operations manager behind iGlide Tours, for a fun, hands on demonstration of iGlide’s Segway tour around Philadelphia’s museum district.

Tours meet up in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and explore a number of the area’s attractions, including Boathouse Row, Kelly Drive, and the Waterworks.

Interested in checking out the tour for yourself? Reservations are required, so visit iGlide’s official website to score some tickets.

iGlide Tours
www.iglidetours.com

(Meet at) Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
www.philamuseum.org

I’ve probably walked past Linu Boutique, the tiny, classy-looking linens shop on Antique Row, 1,000 times without venturing inside. Why? Mostly, I was intimidated… by the gorgeous fabrics and impeccable tailoring always elegantly displayed in the front window.

But then last week, drunk on spring air and euphoria, I felt indulgent, and decided to pop my head inside. The tiny trove did not disappoint! A store for people who love beautiful things, Linu is an oasis of one-of-a-kind treasures, from hand-made curtains and tablecloths to luxe shawls and breezy scarves to an impressive selection of unique house wares, such as ceramic bowls, teapots, candlesticks, and platters (not linen, but still pretty!).

Owner Karina Sotnik runs the show here, importing luxurious fabrics from as far away as the Baltics, then custom-designing quality items to meet clients’ desires. At 23, I don’t have a need for custom table runners YET – but I’ll certainly stop by next time I need a wedding gift or a present for my grandma’s birthday (like these pretty purple napkins, just $22!). Beautiful things, affordable prices… what more could a girl possibly want?

Linu Boutique
1034 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 238-0747
www.linuboutique.com

We’ve told you about the happy hour at Tinto (featuring half-priced sangrias). But how about a little fine dining during the workday?

The $18, two-course Bilbao Express lunch runs as follows:

– First course: Choices include charcuterie, cheeses, chestnut soup, Tinto Nicoise salad and more

– Second course: Choice of sandwich, including shortrib, oyster, moules basquaise and more

Just $18 for a full meal at a Jose Garces restaurant? It’s a steal. And it’ll definitely brighten up your day in the office.

Click to view the Bilbao Express menu

CLICK HERE to view the Bilbao Express menu.

CLICK HERE to learn more on the Tinto official Web site.

Tinto [gophila.com]

I don’t know about you, but I’m still pining for Philly Beer Week. That glorious week has come and gone, and as a result you are no doubt acutely aware of all the wonderful microbrews that are available right in your own backyard. And if you are into freshness and creativity from your exclusive suds-of-choice, you can’t do much better than brewery-restaurants. These pubs bring the beer-swilling experience full circle by putting brewery and bar side-by-side, resulting in awesomely creative concoctions.

You may have heard of a few of them. But there is no need to hit the suburbs for John Harvard’s Brewery. It’s a wonderful option, but hey, let’s keep it closer to home. That’s why the Nodding Head is your best bet for in-house brewing excellence.

Just steps from City Hall at 15th and Sansom, Nodding Head offers a constantly revolving selection of rich, flavorful and original microbrews, brewed in their very own, in-house brewery. The beers are served up as the draft options each night. Check out a menu with full descriptions or ask one of the knowledgeable servers for a recommendation.

Among the creations this month are the Wee Heavier, a creamy, smoky porter with equal parts sweetness and bite. Also on the menu is the Fava’s Revenge, a tough IPA made from Rye and with strong notes of wood and pine. But surprisingly, these flavors don’t leave a hard-to-swallow aftertaste, this IPA starts out tough but finishes cleanly.

You don’t have to roam the wide green earth to find a great microbrew. Just come out to The Nodding Head and try the originals, flowing from 7 taps because, as is their motto, the Nodding Head is taking over the Earth 7 barrels at a time.

Nodding Head
1516 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 569-9525
www.noddinghead.com

Post by Katherine Hinkel Photo by Robert Li

Walking inside Chifa restaurant is an experience in itself. Candlelight and a red, white, and black décor lend a modern edge to the intimate tables. Straight in the back of the restaurant stands the Ceviche Bar, flanked on either side by cozy booths with pillows. The center of the room features a grand table for large groups, complete with decorative blue and white Lazy Susans to facilitate plate sharing.

Chifa features a unique blend of Chinese and Peruvian food that has been popular in Peru since the 1800s. This blend leads to flavors that are both balanced and complex, surprising you with every bite.

Not to be missed (if your wallet is up to it) is the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which features a diverse selection of dishes from the menu for $65. Even though the restaurant offers small plates, you won’t go away hungry. And at the end of the meal, don’t miss the fancy rice krispie treats with a beautiful dragon design on top.

Chifa
707 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5555
www.chifarestaurant.com

Bryn Mawr favorite Blush is offering a deal sure to satisfy any wine aficionado:

When you order dinner on Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday, pay for your first glass of wine, then drink free for the rest of the evening.

The deal, called “Bottomless Tapas” in honor of the restaurant’s new tapas menu, is available for wine with dinner in the dining room only (Blush also has a rooftop deck and open-air bar) (perfect for summer!).

Another deal: If you stop by during happy hour (Monday – Friday, 5-7 p.m.), cocktails and flatbreads are 1/2 price.

CLICK HERE to visit the Blush official Web site.

Saxophonist/composer Dan Peterson, who celebrates the release of his CD “5 Simple Worlds… And Ways Of Getting There” Friday night at Settlement Music School in Queen Village

Jazz and more… Where I’ll be and where you should be…

TUESDAY 5/19/09
Lucky Thompson & the Budesa Brothers’ Blue Tuesday Open Mic & Jam Session
(Leroy’s) Showcase Lounge, 4912 Baltimore Ave.
Veteran drummer Lucky Thompson has played with greats like Nina Simone and Patti LaBelle during his long career and led jam sessions all over the city (including at Natalie’s Lounge, where he was the music director for more than 10 years). Lucky and brothers Rich Budesa on keys and Rob Budesa on guitar are single-handedly keeping Philly’s great organ trio tradition alive. If you haven’t heard them play at the Showcase, a neighborhood bar with a friendly staff and a welcoming vibe, then you’re missing out on an essential part of Philly’s jazz scene.
8 p.m., FREE

WEDNESDAY 5/20/09
Ben Schachter’s re:Trio
TIME, 1315 Sansom St.
Tenor saxophonist Ben Schachter and his talented young bandmates, bassist Leon Boykins and drummer Matt Scarano, are good enough to be playing at the Village Vanguard in New York or in a concert hall in Europe, but instead they play every Wednesday right here in Philly, in TIME’s upstairs lounge.
9 p.m., $5

THURSDAY 5/21/09
Matana Roberts
The Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St.
A solo saxophone performance from the talented Chicago improviser. More info at arsnovaworkshop.com.
8 p.m., FREE

FRIDAY 5/22/09
Dan Peterson’s “5 Simple Worlds… And Ways Of Getting There”
Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St.
Multi-instrumentalist/composer Dan Peterson received a grant from the American Composers Forum in 2007 for his deeply personal song cycle “5 Simple Worlds… And Ways Of Getting There.” Tonight he celebrates the release of the CD (which will be for sale for $15), with help from many of the artists on the album, including guitarist Matt Davis, vocalist Pannan Wophill, and trombonist Larry Toft.
7 p.m., FREE

(more…)