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BalletX is an awesome young dance company that is revitalizing the dance scene in Philly. Resident at the Wilma Theatre, their goal is to redefine ballet and bring it into the new century – certainly no tutus or Nutcrackers here! Their Summer Series, which opened on Wednesday and runs only through Sunday the 26th, is not to be missed: dance aficionados as well as newcomers will be blown away by the power, athleticism, and artistry of the performance.

The show included three separate pieces, performed for a packed and excited house. The first piece, Scenes View 2, was a BalletX favorite that premiered during the 2006 Live Arts Festival. Set to a Bach violin partita, seven dancers in simple black and gray costumes presented an abstract dance that at first seemed hard for me to wrap my head around – almost like an experimental theatre piece, complete with bits of voice-over by the dancers – until I stopped trying and instead just enjoyed the movements, letting their jerky, eerie dancing and impressively synchronized moves do the speaking, with no interpretation necessary.

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Shakespeare in Clark Park has been producing free plays in West Philly since 2005. Their upcoming show is The Comedy of Errors, directed by Alex Torra, fresh from a recent stint with the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. The production shows off some of Philly’s strongest comedic talent and features Ben Camp, Justin Jain, Luigi Sottile and Bradley K. Wrenn.

The play centers on multiple incidents of mistaken identity involving two sets of identical twins that were separated at birth. Oh, and each set of twins shares the same name. So Antipholus of Syracuse and his slave Dromio find themselves in Ephesus, home to Antipholus and his slave Dromio. Neither pair knows of the other’s existence. Not surprisingly, shenanigans ensue.

The folks at SCP are adding their own touch to the Bard’s poetry by including original music performed by all cast members. Andrew Nelson (of the Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret) composed the score, which takes its cue from popular Greek tunes of the 1940′s-50′s. It’s a little bit folk music… a little bit mambo. Instrumentation includes trumpet, saxophone, percussion and a deconstructed organ!

Performing in West Philly’s historic Clark Park, SCP treats its outdoor location as part of the set. Audience members are encouraged to take advantage of the setting as well; picnics, children and pets are all welcome.

The Comedy of Errors
Presented by Shakespeare at Clark Park
Wednesday, July 29 – Sunday, August 2, 2009
All Performances at 7PM
www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org

Clark Park (Near ‘The Bowl’)
Intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.clarkpark.info

Upon moving to Media as a newlywed couple in the fall of 2006, my husband and I knew but only a few faces and places in town. Being the social butterfly that I’ve always been, I wasted no time learning which Media hotspots would become my favorite hangouts. I took one step into The Plumstead Inn and immediately, I was at home. Forgive me for sounding cliché, but at this neighborhood bar and restaurant, referred to by us locals as “The Stead” or “The Plummer,” everyone really does know your name. The regulars are a beautifully diverse group of hard-working people just looking for a bite to eat and a cold cocktail after the work day is done. The camaraderie is unbeatable and the price is just right, especially given our current economic mess.

The most popular libation on tap is by far, the 2 Buck Chuck. Each night, owner Chuck Margis puts a mainstream beer on tap, such as Bud Lite, Miller Lite, and PBR. Luckily, the specials don’t stop there. Every weeknight from 4:30 – 6:30PM it’s Happy Hour. A glass of nightly-chosen beer is a buck, a pint will cost you $1.75 and a pitcher is $6.50. If you’re not into hops, a glass of house wine is $3.75 and well drinks are $2.50.

If you’re hungry, there are plenty of half price appetizers to go around. The buffalo wings, smothered in The Plum’s secret sauce, are in high demand. $2.25 will get you a plate of six. Other delectable bar favorites include nachos for $3.50, steamers for $4.75 and poppers for $2.25. There’s also a full lunch and dinner menu with daily, reasonably priced specials.

One final note that I must mention as a die-hard fan, is that come Eagles season, The Plumstead is the perfect place to catch a game. Every week we bleed green, get rowdy and share a togetherness and passion for Philly sports that’s not to be believed.

The Plumstead Inn
26 West State Street, Media, PA 19063
(610) 566-2212

I’ll be honest with you: I was first drawn into the Misconduct Tavern because I liked the name (who doesn’t love a little misconduct?) and because Good Dog, located around the corner was packed. But what started off as a consolation prize quickly became a local favorite, as the MT’s delicious food, killer beer selection and relaxed environment won me over.

Inside, the Misconduct Tavern is not nearly as rowdy as one would expect it turns out “Misconduct” is actually the name of the previous owner’s boat, and the bar is decorated with nautical flourishes.

I count no more than 8 televisions lining the wall, 6 of them showing sports; and even so, the Misconduct Tavern is far from a sports bar. A glance at the beer list only confirms this; no $2-Bud-Lites-during-Eagles-games in sight. Instead, there’s an eclectic list of drafts and an even more impressive list of bottles and cans, including the 25.4 ounce Saison DuPont Farmhouse Ale ($15 beer of the gods) and the ever-elusive 16-ounce Strongbow cider cans.

The menu is basically your standard pub fare; burgers, salads, sandwiches, soups, with a long list of specials and specialties. Like the blackened tuna BLT, mac n’cheese, homemade hummus, and pears and brie sandwich. My friend Sam and I ordered the artichoke and crab bruschetta as an appetizer, and it is rich and delicious, a must-have for any gourmand.

More, including photos, after the jump!

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GPTMC staffer Keith McMenamin with the Roaming Gnome; photo by M. Edlow

And as you can see, we’ve got visual confirmation! His first stop was GPTMC/uwishunu HQ, where he did a little bit of work before heading out to paint the town red.

For those of you not in the know, think back to a recent television viewing experience, when you might have seen a commercial or two that stars Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome. In these ads, the accented garden ornament dashes around the world, exploring new destinations and having far more fun than an inanimate object should.

This summer, he’s spending six weeks on summer vacation, exploring new destinations and from now until Monday, he’ll be touring Philadelphia. We know for sure that he’ll be grabbing a beer with the Daily News’ Joe Sixpack at McGillin’s starting at 5 pm tomorrow (Friday, July 24th) and that he’s got tickets to Saturday’s 4:05 p.m. Phillies game.

Beyond that, he’s mentioned an interest in grabbing a cheesesteak, checking out the view from the top of City Hall and visiting the Liberty Bell. If you want to suggest a spot for the Gnome to visit, he’s collecting recommendations over on his Facebook page. You can also follow the Gnome’s entire trip via his Twitter feed.

He’ll be in town all weekend, so if you see him around the city, make sure to stop him and say hello!

More pictures of The Roaming Gnome exploring our offices are after the jump.

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Sitting barside at Bar Ferdinand; and a sample from Chef Michael Thomas' tapas menu. [Photos by G. Widman (L) and courtesy of Bar Ferdinand (R).

Bar Ferdinand’s new Thursday Night Tastings is a $35 per person, 13-plate feast (divided into four main courses) that changes weekly to reflect Chef Michael Thomas’ latest innovative interpretations of Spanish fare.

Let me say it again. Thirteen plates of delicious, authentic Spanish food. For just $35. And for an additional $25, a glass of wine can be paired with each of the four multi-plate courses. B-b-b-bonus!

Selections change weekly to reflect what’s seasonally available — all the more reason to come back again and again.

CLICK HERE to visit Bar Ferdinand’s official site.

Bar Ferdinand [gophila.com]

Take in a summer movie under the stars: Photo by G. Widman

Tonight’s Screening Under the Stars feature is a little flick called The Dark Knight (you may have heard of it).

So this evening, grab some popcorn and a blanket and head to Penn’s Landing. The movie begins at 8:30, but remember to arrive early to snag a great viewing spot!

Where: The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
When: 8:30pm
Cost: FREE!

And tonight, over on the west end of Center City, Goonies is being screened at the Schuylkill Banks.

Screenings Under The Stars – Summer Movie Series at Penn’s Landing [gophila.com]

Clockwise from top: The line at lunch; the fries; and the menu. Photos by M. McClellen

Franklin Square just got a new addition: a brand new burger shack by Stephen Starr.

It’s called SquareBurger.

The menu is straightforward American classics: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, french fries, milkshakes, floats, and sundaes.

But it’s by Stephen Starr, so you better believe the food is good.

It is another score for Franklin Square.

Now, in addition to a gorgeous fountain, an award-winning playground, a lovingly-restored carousel and a Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course, Franklin Square can also boast a major food attraction.  And don’t forget about its convenient location: directly adjacent to Independence Mall at 6th and Race Streets.

So if you haven’t been by Franklin Square this summer, it’s time you make a point of visiting. SquareBurger will be open until 8 pm during the summer, with extended hours every Thursday in July and August until 9 pm.

Click through to take a look at the menu and to see a few more photos after the jump.

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Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Philadelphia is a wonderful place to take visiting friends around and through, and though we are known nationally and internationally as a great ‘walking city,’ if you mean to get your pals out of Old City, consider the Philly Phlash bus.

EVERY Philadelphian has a little tour guide in their soul, and the Philly Phlash bus has a $5 all day, unlimited ride pass that gets you off your feet long enough to re-energize, and drops you off in another part of Center City in a fun, relaxed way. I like to take friends up to the Art Museum and walk back into town from there, stopping at the Rodin Museum, the galleries at Moore (always a cool surprise!), and then hop back on for a jaunt towards the Reading Terminal, the underground displays at 1234 Market, a tour of City Hall and a ride up to the top of the tower, THEN back on again and off to Old City.

The next bus comes by every 12 minutes from 10 AM to 6 PM . Tickets can be purchased right on board the Phlash or at the Visitors Center at 6th and Market, but kids under 6 and seniors ride for free!

Philadelphia Plash
More info over @ GoPhila.com

Don't miss one of your last chances to catch chef Erin O'Shea at Marigold;
Photos courtesy of Marigold Kitchen

University City Dining Days starts tonight. 20 restaurants are participating, including Distrito, Pod, Vietnam, Dock Street Brewery, Rx, Penne, White Dog Cafe and more.

And Marigold Kitchen, which is going for one last hurrah under the direction of Executive Chef Erin O’Shea (above), who will be leaving Marigold Kitchen at the end of the month to open a new barbecue restaurant on South Street sometime this fall.

But that’s then.

Right now, Marigold is rocking Dining Days, offering three delicious courses for $30.

It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the talent of chef O’Shea before she departs.

The full Dining Days menu for Marigold Kitchen is after the jump. (more…)