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Three amazing days filled with great music on the Delaware River. Photos by M. Kennedy

This weekend, the Camden Waterfront plays host to three days of incredible music and family friendly activities.

WXPN’s Xponential Music Festival begins tomorrow and continues through Sunday, featuring a lineup of established artists performing alongside several up-and-coming acts.

Festival musicians will rock on two stages for three days, and the Kid’s Corner offers four acres of family fun on Saturday and Sunday.

CLICK HERE to check out the full festival lineup.

When: July 24-26
Where: Wiggins Park, Camden Waterfront

Click here for ticket information.

Waiting to be seated at Table 31 can be a little bit intimidating with all the suits around. Especially if you are wearing jeans and a sweater. But once we were seated at the bar staring at our bartender and his shining face, it didn’t seem to matter. It might have helped that he was feeding us martinis and appetizers. Yeah, that was probably it. Delicious martinis and appetizers I might add.

My friend Kate and I sampled some of the new martinis on Table 31′s Happy Nights menu. Each cocktail is $7 a pop. Most of the martinis on the menu are made with Absolut vodka of some flavor. We started off with the Mandarin Sunset, one of the most popular drinks on the menu. And we could see why. This tangy, tropical martini has overwhelming citrus and pineapple flavors, in a good way. Next, the Espresso martini, thick and rich with Absolut Vanilla, Starbucks coffee liqueur, and of course, a shot of espresso.

Of course Kate and I couldn’t just sit and drink martinis, so we had the pleasure of trying the house-made French fries and the broiled calamari, which are available on the $9 Happy Nights bar menu. The French fries were great and came with three awesome dipping sauces: ketchup (duh), a wasabi aioli (my fave) and a chipotle sauce (Kate’s fave). The broiled calamari (above!) was unlike anything I’d ever had. I’m used to fried calamari, but the broiled stuff keeps the calamari taste intact. It was served fresh with zucchini, garlic, olive oil and lemon. Yum.

The entire experience was great. Table 31 is very clean, somewhat swanky, and very bright with its yellow, orange and red decor. Kate and I both said this would be a place we’d stop at on a Saturday evening to grab a few cocktails and shared appetizers before heading out elsewhere and for the great price! It’s a healthy mix of corporate and other social groups, hanging out at this place. I think I fit in there somewhere, and I’m going back.

Table 31
1701 JFK Boulevard @ the Comcast Building, Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.Table-31.com

Bob & Barbara’s. Hipster hangout, jazz club, dive bar extraordinaire. There’s not much to dislike (and plenty to love!) about this dimly-lit South Street watering hole, from Bingo Wednesdays (umm, that would be “dirty” bingo) to live jazz on the weekends. But without a doubt, my favorite night to hit up B&B’s is Thursday for Drag Night, a Philly tradition 14 years and counting.

Every week ‘round 11, Philly’s own Ms. Lisa Lisa (“The girl so nice they named her TWICE!!!”, a sign in the bar reads) emcees a show of epic proportions. Gay, straight, Black, White – none of it matters, and all are welcome. $6 gets you in, scores you a bev (beer, house special or well drink), and maybe, if you’re feeling feisty (and not afraid to shake your stuff with the queens on stage) a free drink or tee as well!

Intimidated by the idea? Don’t be. Lisa Lisa can smell fear, and nothing says “drag me on stage” (har har) quite like crossed arms and a scowl. Our suggestion for working out the butterflies? Show up early and down a few specials (that’s a PRB and shot of Jim Beam – just $3!) before the show begins.

Once you’re settled in, expect an action-packed evening of sassy comebacks, dancing, lip-synching and thongs (and maybe even a well-placed tassel or two.) We promise you’ll leave entertained – and possibly even inspired. Bring your friends – Thursday nights have never felt so salacious!

Drag Night, Every Thursday at Bob & Barbara’s Lounge
1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 545-4511

Those nearest and dearest to me know I love Indian food; that I really can’t get enough vegetable biryani, chicken korma and mint chutney. So I’m especially happy to present Center City Sips‘ Week 8 spotlight, Palace at the Ben: a glamorous Indian restaurant and lounge of which my taste buds are especially fond.

Though it’s an indoors-only spot (in my opinion, just the ticket with today’s humidity), the Palace’s two lounges make it feel especially roomy. The prime spot is the “lobby lounge” adjacent to the lobby of the Ben Franklin House (in which the restaurant is situated). Featuring romantic lighting, comfortable lounge chairs and an ultra-high ceiling, the lounge evokes the elegant ambiance of India’s royal courts.

Feeling hungry? You’re in the right place, because the Palace is generously offering its entire, 12-item “Starters” menu at half-price. That includes the Tandoori Mixed Grill, a built-for-two combo of tandoori chicken, seekh kabab, shrimp tandoori, boti kaba and chicken tikki. Originally $22.95, you can split it with your friends for about $12. Not bad.

Bonus: Stick around after 7 p.m., and you’ll get a 15% discount off your dinner bill.

Here’s the full menu:

Drinks
- Cocktails: Mango martini + lychee martini ($4)
- Wine: chardonnay + merlot ($3)
- Beer bottles: Coors Lite, Miller Lite + Yuengling ($2)

Food
- Entire “Starters” menu, including: chicken tikka, harabhara kabab + vegetable samosa (1/2 price)

Palace at the Ben [gophila.com]

Center City Sips [gophila.com]

Shoppers Outside of Tony Boutique / Photo by K. Ciappa for GPTMC

Have your tee and drink it too, as Old City boutique TONY launches their “Tee” Party event on July 29th. From 5PM to 8PM, owner Pamela Dollak will host Pitman, PA based fashionista Erica Salmon’s debut of her new line of designer T-shirts called, fittingly, Pretty Pink Fish.

Salmon dubs the collection a “witty and pretty” take on the typical casual t-shirt, fusing chic style with comfort. Created with the help of South Jersey graphic designer Lisa Morgey, the shirts feature different images of women shopping for accessories, accompanied by cheeky sayings like “love at purse sight”. Aimed at stylish moms (like Salmon herself), the tees are perfectly at home among TONY’s artfully tailored selection of designer clothing.

The added bonus to the event is the real tea. TONY will be serving refreshing iced tea, the perfect summer sip, plus a Philly interpretation of the traditional British crumpets: Krimpets. TONY is baby, pet, and boyfriend-friendly, so bring the whole gang.

TONY Boutique
47 N. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 592-TONY

Northbrook Canoe Company and Lake Nockamixon (Photos by K. Ciappa and B. Krist)

The temperature’s been rising lately (finally), making it the perfect time to cool off with some awesome water activities!

Philly’s countryside is home to a ton of lakes and rivers that offer boating, tubing, rafting… well, basically any aquatic activity you can imagine. Overwhelmed?  Don’t worry, we’ve pulled together the top five places into a neat, concise list.

CLICK HERE to check out our picks.

Did we miss your favorite? Let us know!

Top Five Places in The Countryside to Play In and On the Water [gophila.com]

Post by Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

If you have a craving for ice cream that is cheap, not from a grocer’s freezer, and crazy delicious, Dairyland on Main Street Manayunk is the place for you!

Dairyland has a variety of homemade ice cream flavors, ranging from the classics like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Mint Chocolate Chip, to new creations such as Blueberry Cheesecake and Banana Fudge.

Choose between soft serve, water ice, gelati, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, chocolate covered bananas, and many more great treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, the price is cheap! For $2.75, you can get a small “blizardo”, which is soft serve ice cream with one mix in. Or keep it original with a small sugar cone with any of the 15+ flavors for only $1.75. I highly recommend going for the peanut butter Kandy Kake Blizardo.

For the late night bar hoppers in Manayunk who need a quick snack, Dairyland has hot dog specials, soda, and soft pretzels. For people at home, Dairyland also makes ice cream cakes, cup cakes, and individually wrapped ice cream sandwiches.

Take a trip to Manayunk to get a cone of some of the best, and cheapest, ice cream flavors in the city!

Dairyland
4409 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA

Of course you prefer email. I mean, you still have a roll of stamps that requires you to add enough penny stamps to cover the right side of the envelope. But the next time you need to make a snail mail trip, consider walking over to the B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum in Franklin Court. Franklin was the father of the U.S. postal service, as he was the first Postmaster General appointed by Continental Congress in 1775. What didn’t B. Frank do??

Snag a few stamps and take in some history while looking at miniature models of postmen, all wearing the array of uniforms from 1770 til now. Soak up Mr. Franklin’s wise words stenciled on the walls as you’re writing your return address.

And if you still want to feed your need for history, walk upstairs to the United States Postal Service Museum. This historic spot is worth the quick visit as its contents only take up the space of one room. Although it’s a stamp collector’s dream destination, as it has several cases filled with rare and commemorative stamps, you can also take a peek at an original coin counter, images of vintage mail transportation, and learn about the origins of the famous USPS motto “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

I’d share the answer, but why not go see it for yourself? Just call it a little historic motivation.

B Free Franklin Post Office & Museum in Franklin Court
316 Market St, Philadelphia, PA

Breakfast at the Melrose Diner; photo by G. Widman

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Philadelphia is bursting with diners, restaurants, cafes and delis, all serving up world of a.m. eats. With all those options, how can you be sure you’re getting the best morning meal possible? By checking out our five favorite breakfast spots, that’s how!

So head over to gophila.com and check out the list. Then come back over here and tell you us what you think about our choices. Whether you agree or disagree, we want to hear from you!

Top Five Breakfast Spots [gophila.com]

I used to think that Smiths, called a “Restaurant and Lounge,” was really just a bar where business-types would hold their lunch meetings and stop in to watch the game after working late. Happily, I couldn’t have been more wrong. After hearing about their salad menu and the delicious-sounding history of executive chef and owner Brendan Smith, my mouth started watering. I’m a salad fanatic – no “starter” salads for me: I want my salads to be entrees. Smiths has the same idea, apparently, and their massive salads will certainly fill you up; I had just mini portions of each, and rolled home.

I decided to sample four out of their six salads, which you can see pictured above. Clockwise from the left: Crispy Shrimp and Miso, Chicken Chop Chop, Arugula and Spinach, Signature Salad. My hands-down favorite was the Arugula and Spinach salad, which came with a wedge of grilled ricotta salata and fresh bing cherries soaked in aged balsamic vinegar. It was tossed in a perfect and flavorful vinaigrette and topped with a deliciously salty crostini. This salad is a staple of their menu, but it changes slightly by the season – it will feature the cherries (I’m actually salivating thinking about them now!) through the end of July.

The Crispy Shrimp and Miso salad is another summery delight, featuring lots of big, tasty shrimp and a spicy miso dressing, which delivers quite the kick. It’s unique and crunchy, perfect when you’re in the mood for something different. As the name would imply, Smiths’ Signature Salad is a perennial favorite. The homemade Thousand Island dressing, tomato wedges, and twisted breadstick are all nice touches, but they’re trumped by the giant balls of crusted goat cheese, which are warm and gooey on the inside and nutty and crunchy on the outside. Why doesn’t every restaurant put these in their salads?! The Chicken Chop Chop salad has a Latin American flair, with chunks of mesquite chicken, fresh pineapple, and a cilantro pepita dressing, all topped with crispy strips of red tortilla, creating a nice mixture of textures.

In addition to the fabulous salads, Smiths also runs some crazy specials. An appetizer of a dozen mussels is normally on the menu for $8, but on Tuesdays (when I happened to be there), they’re just $2! I couldn’t resist getting an order to whet my palate. I also lucked out, arriving just before the end of happy hour, and was able to grab a half-priced cherry-infused margarita. They run awesome specials every day of the week – check out the full schedule on their website.

Smiths Restaurant + Lounge
39-41 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 546 2669
www.smiths-restaurant.com