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Hummus & pita at Zorba’s… mmm!

Zorba. Did you know it means “delightfully delicious food” in Greek? Just kidding, it’s actually the name of a Greek novel about a young intellectual. But I maintain its definition has to do with absolutely amazing Greek food.

Zorba’s doesn’t look like much more than a to-go stop from the outside, but once you’re in there you”ll immediately experience its authenticity. You”ll most likely end up staying for a few hours and leave feeling like you were actually in the Greek isles.

Zorba’s Tavern has the BEST Greek food I’ve ever had in the city (and I’ve tried a few). Their menu has a plethora of traditional Greek dishes, from hummus to tzatziki to kalamari to baklava. I recommend the spicy feta spread for an appetizer, spinach pie or pastitsio for dinner, and of course baklava for dessert. If you like lamb, Zorba’s is to die for.

You can help keep your bill reasonable by bringing your own bottle of wine, champagne, or what have you. The super-friendly family staff will make sure you are comfortable and completely satisfied with your meal and overall experience.

I can’t say enough about how good this place is! Go to Zorba’s! Efxaristo!

Zorba’s Tavern
2230 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
www.zorbastavern.com

The owners of Connie’s Ric Rac, performing as the Discount Heroes

The Italian Market has long been talked about the way many Philadelphians like to talk about New York: great to visit but I would never want to live there. That might have something to do with the neighborhood’s reputation for having a lot of shops and eateries but nowhere to stay and hang out.

But in the last few years, a new influx of bars, art galleries and music venues have made the area a nightlife destination like never before. And much of that credit can go to Connie’s Ric Rac.

The Ric Rac used to be an electronics store in the early-to-mid nineties before its owner, Connie Tartaglia took her business online, leaving the space empty for storage. Now, her sons have taken the place over and made it into a theater for live music and improv comedy.

The venue is more than just a stage in a room, as one might expect from the lo-fi South Philly ‘hood. Video games line the back wall, open mic nights come through every Monday and the entire venue is BYOB. That’s right, no more $6 drafts. Just walk around the corner to the bodega, grab a six-pack, pay the cover and you are good to go.

Connie’s Ric Rac has welcomed great Philly acts like Black Landlord and Langhorne Slim, as well as comedy troupes like Steal This Show and Secret Pants. So if you like cheap music and BYOB drinking, in the grand South Philly tradition, this is the place for you.

Connie’s Ric Rac
1132 S. 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 279-7587
www.conniesricrac.com

Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River, Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

If you weren’t able to make it to last week’s Philly Cares About Fairmount Park Day, but still feel like gettin’ some dirt on your hands this week, the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia is holding their annual Spring Cherry Tree Maintenance day.

If you’ve noticed how refreshing the arrival of our cherry tree blossoms are to the general psyche of the city every Spring, know that that doesn’t happen by itself. This is a fun opportunity to learn correct pruning and mulching technique from veterans of the program, and to get together with other folks who love the park.

There is a picnic following the work session, so check with the JASGP website for details and make sure to RSVP with them.

A short man with a large legacy, Napoleon remains an enigmatic figure in world history. And to our advantage, the visiting exhibit Napoleon, coming to the National Constitution Center at the end of May, will provide a greater understanding of the man behind the legend.

The National Constitution Center is the first stop in North America for this traveling exhibition. While it provides a peek into the personal life of Napoleon, it also explains the impact that democracy in the United States had on the French Revolution.

“It is our hope visitors will be reminded of both the historic and ongoing influence the United States has on other nations, and feel a sense of pride knowing countries around the world have gained strength and inspiration from our successful pursuit of democracy,” states Linda Johnson, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center.

Plus, where else can you see Napoleon’s pajamas and bed? Was he really as short as people said? You’ll have to go check out the exhibit for yourself.

Napoleon @ The National Constitution Center
May 29th-September 7th 2009

National Constitution Center
525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org

Cafette’s Outdoor Dining Area

Don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t judge a restaurant by its exterior. From the outside, Cafette looks to be a tiny luncheonette, a one-story brick building painted white that’s crammed into a residential neighborhood. But once inside, you’ll find that Cafette packs a lot into a little real estate footprint.

Upon entering you’ll be greeted by the kitchen space that’s slightly closed off from the dining spaces by makeshift dividers and kitchen equipment. While waiting for a table, you can watch the chefs’ hustling hands dishing out the day’s meals as servers come and go. The indoor eating areas offer bold décor, with rich red walls and elegant chandeliers in the back dining area and a front dining room filled with cheery yellow paint, French nouveau hanging prints and a chic banquette. You can always dine outside though, where rows of tables, chairs and market umbrellas line the garden outcove bordered by ivy walls and a wildflower garden.

On Sunday nights, Cafette offers a special Soul Food Sunday prixe fix menu. That’s when I visited to enjoy some classic comfort food. For $16, you’ll get three courses: a choice of salad, entrée and a selected dessert. I started with a nicely prepared house salad with an admirable vinaigrette, followed by the house specialty… Macaroni and Cheese.

It was a complex interpretation of the kid classic, not at all like the kind you make from a box! Sharp Provolone with both sharp and mild cheddar mixed together to create a mac n’ cheese with attitude. Fresh carrots, snap peas and crumb topping made the dish complete. For dessert, the fruit custard and vanilla cake with chocolate icing (ala a Tastycake Junior!) makes for a sweet ending to a quirky and creative meal.

Cafette
8136 Ardleigh St, Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 242-4220
www.cafette.com

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Our delightful Japanese House in Fairmount Park, Shofuso, hosts a refreshingly low key summer daycamp program every year. Both my sons have attended several one-week sessions over the years, and the experience was not only wonderful, but remarkably affordable. All sessions share certain focus, but there are specialty features with each session, including Japanese Arts, Japanese Puppet Theater, Japanese Martial Arts & Music, and the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Note that my rough and tumble sons thoroughly enjoyed a session where the focus was the tea ceremony, and having tea served to my wife and I with considerable style by the two of them, in bowls they made no less, while they grinned from ear to ear, was certainly a moment to cherish.

For more information on the camp, be sure to visit Shofuso’s official website.

The Japanese House and Garden (Shofuso)
4700 States Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 878-5097
www.shofuso.com

Show some love for Philly’s burgeoning rock stars as The Girls Rock Benefit Show & Instrument Drive, which comes to Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday, May 23. Doors open at 8 P.M., with the music beginning at 9 P.M. Bands schedule to perform include: Oh! Pears, An American Chinese, The Mean, and Run at the Dog.

Now you could pay your $10 to grab a seat and see these four bands live, but if you’re strapped for cash, hunt around and see if you have any old instruments you don’t mind parting with. An old guitar, bass, keyboard or even drum set can be your ticket into the show. Girls Rock Philly (GRP) is collecting old instruments, and even cables, DJ equipment and microphones to stock their upcoming music camp and is granting free admission to anyone donating an instrument or equipment.

For those not familiar with the rockin’ mission of GRP, the program offers a week-long summer camp for tween and teen girls who want to learn to rock the house. The campers learn everything about the music scene, from songwriting to marketing and by week’s end the campers have been transformed into real all-girl rock groups.

So come out to Johnny Brenda’s on May 23, enjoy some live bands and help Girls Rock grow a new crop of rockers.

Johnny Brenda’s
1201 N. Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia 19125
(215) 739-9684
www.johnnybrendas.com

Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

Old City favorite Continental has a great lunchtime deal: Three selections from their “Plates” menu for $13.50.

Your choices change daily, with the rotation including local favorite lobster mashed potatoes, plus crab Pad Thai, miso soup and grilled chicken Thai skewers.

It amounts to a lot of food, at a price that’s easy to swallow.

CLICK HERE to visit the Continental offical Web site.

Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar [gophila.com]

Time Out New York is pretty excited about the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar at Penn’s Landing (May 30 and 31, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.). In this week’s issue, Time Out previews the massive arts + crafts + food + music blow-out — but they don’t stop there.

The article suggests you make a weekend of the Bazaar, highlighting the best (and most budget-friendly) places throughout Philly to buy clothes (Omoi) and music (A.K.A.), book a hotel/hostel and devour some tacos (Distrito and the Italian Market’s Taqueria La Veracruzana) — after all, “Where New York notoriously gets Mexican food wrong, Philly does everything right.”

Being a budget-conscious Philadelphian myself (not to mention a Mexican food junkie), I’d say those New Yorkers hit the nail on the head with their weekend guide.

Weekend Getaways: Philadelphia [Time Out New York]

Mmmm, Karma. Isn’t it wonderful? I’m not talking, of course, about that one time you gave a bum some change outside Wawa, then found $10 on a barstool (although that is pretty awesome), I’m talking about Karma, the undeniable tandoori chicken and naan heaven, located in Old City on Front and Chestnut.

Approximately once a month (more often if it’s winter and we can hide our Karma bellies under baggy sweaters), my coworkers and I venture down to Penn’s Landing to Karma’s formidable lunch buffet, the $10 Indian taste celebration that makes your eyes roll back in your head, as you savor each delicious bite.

Unlike the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday’s, Karma’s chefs are constantly preparing fresh batches of chicken and cheese curry and vegetable fritters (get the big table in the back, and you can see them through the large window!) and delivering piping hot baskets of naan to each table as guests arrive. There is so much to love, from the butter chicken to the tikki masala, I often end up eating all of it at once (which can lead to the appropriately dubbed Karma Coma).

The decor is classy and upscale, with hand-painted murals and white tablecloths, and there’s an impressive beer and wine list. For dinner, dishes are around the $15/20 mark, making it a great choice for a low-key evening out.

Whenever someone new starts at the office, they’re always perplexed by the deep, deep appreciation my coworkers and I hold for this Indian treasure. Yet one visit to Karma and they’re immediately hooked and eager to spread the good news to others. As Karma’s believers say, what goes around comes around.

Karma
114 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-1444
www.thekarmarestaurant.com