Uwishunu.com

Photo courtesy of Del Frisco's

Center City Restaurant Week is approaching. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be spotlighting select participating restaurants, grouped together each day by a common theme.

Today’s theme: Steakhouses.

Below are some suggested steakhouse picks for Restaurant Week.

Note: be sure to do your own due diligence by previewing the menus before picking a restaurant. Menus for most participating restaurants can be found on the Center City District website.

Steakhouses, with the meals available at each during Restaurant Week:

- Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, Dinner

- Davio’s, Lunch and Dinner

- Del Frisco’s, Lunch and Dinner

- The Palm, Lunch and Dinner

- The Prime Rib, Dinner

- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Lunch and Dinner

Center City Restaurant Week [Gophila.com]

Left to right: The bar and the Mille Fieulle dessert at Bistrot La Minette. (Photos courtesy of Bistrot La Minette)

Philadelphia foodies are counting down the days until September 13, the first night of Restaurant Week‘s (two-week) fall edition, and the $35, three-course meals it entails.

Enter one-year-old French restaurant Bistrot La Minette, who, with its September special — a $30, three-course menu, or $42 for a wine-pairing option, available throughout the month — insists that one week (or two, as it happens) isn’t enough for us hungry diners, and that you need only look forward to tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 1) for your prix-fixe fix.

Local food blog Foobooz has the skinny on the special menu, which includes one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert, with two choices per course.

So, to recap: 3 courses, $30, 30 days. This Restaurant Week die-hard is convinced.

Bistrot La Minette Scoffs At Your Restaurant Week [Foobooz]
Bistrot La Minette [gophila.com]

Relax; Labor Day Weekend is within your sights. (Photo by M. Kennedy)

Nockamixon State Park [gophila.com]

Ever since that ubiquitous culinary villain Mystery Meat began appearing in the budget-slashed cafeteria steam trays of America’s public high schools, people have been wary of the word ‘mystery’ accompanying their food and drink. In some ways, eating out is always a bit of a mystery; a leap of faith where you offer your palette to the whims of another. But the typewritten acknowledgment of this paradox can cause discomfort.

We have a feeling, though, that you will make an exception for this one. Memphis Taproom’s Mystery Beer Weekend takes 33 kegs that the prolific bar and restaurant has never featured before and brings them front and center for you. The only catch is the beers are unlabeled, separated only by style.

For just $10, you can sample three of a particular variety. It then becomes your job to tell your tapmaster what you think you are drinking. Mystery ballots will be available at the bar and online. Don’t have a ton of Sherlock in you? Don’t worry. Like every good mystery, there will be plenty of clues. And the winner will be handsomely rewarded with a beer-filled prize package and, more importantly, barroom bragging rights.

As you can see the mystery meat comparison doesn’t apply here. Its more like one of those chocolate boxes: you are not sure what is going to be in your glass but hey, its still beer. So live a little, you sudsy sleuth and see if you can solve the mystery

Mystery Beer Weekend
September 4th, 5th and 6th.
Beginning September 4th, Noon. Ballots due by 4PM on the 6th.

Memphis Taproom
2331 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 425-4460
www.memphistaproom.com

It’s no secret that “Chuckleball”—the Jersey-based production company known for creative sports parody—is meant to be funny. And their fall 2009 production of Brotherly Glove is no exception. Laughs were plentiful at their Saturday night debut, as the actors paired lively tunes with hilarious portrayals of some of the most famous names in sports.

From a soulful Temptations’ take on George Foreman cooking products (“My Grill”) to a downtrodden Plaxico Burress crooning along to Daniel Powter’s “I had a bad day,” Chuckleball succeeds by taking tunes everyone knows, and infusing them with clever pop culture references.

I loved the spirited tribute to Veterans Stadium (“for it smelled like fish and poo,” declares the cast) and a jaunty Brett Favre, who, with the help of Billy Joel’s “We didn’t start the fire”, promised the crowd that he will NEVER retire (“I’ll just keep on playing while my arms are decaying”) had me in hysterics.

The 4-person cast proved particularly adapt at changing characters—with a little help from stick-on facial hair, actor Davon Williams became Donavan McNabb, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and more; a few wigs and headpieces transformed Jill Jacobs from tennis star Michelle Wie to Danica Patrick to Posh Spice to Kendra Wilkinson.

The 90-minute performance covered just about every sport known to man, and even though I’m far from an ESPN addict, I found myself laughing along nonstop. Check out Chuckleball (every Saturday at Doc Watson’s Pub!), before it rolls out of town for good!

Brotherly Glove, every Saturday at 8 p.m. at Doc Watson’s Pub
216 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(646) 307-4410
www.chuckleball.com

Philadelphia is rife with low-priced, high quality hamburgers these days. Between the well-seasoned burger at PYT, the amazing $5.95 Butcher & Singer deal and the always appreciated $6 burger at National Mechanics (11 a.m. -7 p.m.), you can get your grilled meat fix for cheap all around town.

Now there’s one more to add to the list. The Bards, the Irish pub at 20th and Walnut that isn’t The Irish Pub, is selling their burger on Sundays (all day long) for just $5. The made-to-order burger come with fries, but any additional toppings (like bacon or cheese) are extra. This is a burger that normally sells for twice that, so it’s quite a bargain.

CLICK HERE to visit The Bards official website.

Joy Ike & Brook Annibale, performing at Milkboy on Saturday

FRIDAY

Never The Sinner @ the Adrienne Theatre
Samantha reviewed (and loved) the show. It’s the last weekend to catch Mauckingbird’s production, so check it out while you can.

Lauren Lark @ Chris’ Jazz Cafe
Feldie sure was excited to hear about Lark coming to Chris’ Jazz Cafe, claiming that she’s not just “another talented but unoriginal singer trying to get some more mileage out of the American songbook. But once she starts to sing, she really comes to life: Her sense of time, her creativity, and her spirit will amaze you.”

SATURDAY

Shrimp Boil @ Greensgrow Farm
Marisa has all the details on this fundraiser. Kicking off at 4PM, proceeds go towards shrimpers who’ve been “battered by hurricanes and are now contending with record low prices on shrimp world-wide.”

Hirlinger/Mitchell/Mateen Trio @ Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus
Drummer Doug Hirlinger, pianist Matt Mitchell, and bassist Tarus Mateen join together for a night of awesome jazz.

Velveteen Playboys @ World Cafe Live
Boston’s “super group of musical talent” hit up the World Cafe, performing musical styles ranging from “New Wave to Cabaret, the Beatles and Beach Boys to Burlesque, Big Band to Heavy Metal.”

Joy Ike & Brook Annibale @ Milkboy in Ardmore
Pittsburgh singer/songwriters visit Ardmore’s Milkboy Cafe. Go make them feel welcome.

Wanamaker Grand Court Organ Tour
Hosted by Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (organs have friends?), these tours happen on the last Saturday of every month at noon. Reservations are required, so check out the Philly Fun Guide for more details.

(more…)

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

I can’t decide if I am happy or sad that ‘bathing suit season’ is coming to a close. Obviously, this means no more trips down the shore, which is depressing. However, cooler weather is right around the corner, and it is always more comfortable to hop into a hoodie than squeeze into a two-piece. It seems so long ago that my friends and I were “getting ready” for ‘bathing suit season’ by running on treadmills, climbing Stairmasters, and gliding on elliptical.

It may almost be that time of year to shove your bathing suit to the back of the dresser again, but there are several great opportunities this fall to stay in ‘bathing suit’ shape. Two words: road races. If you enjoy running or walking, then read on.

Enjoy the fall air, lace up those Nikes, and get rid of post-summertime blues by signing up for a local 5K or two. Road races are a great way to motivate yourself to keep working out so that you are prepared to kick butt on race day. Here’s a handy list of races and walks coming to Philly this fall:

9/5 – 2nd Annual Race For Jobs
More info on Philaup.org. Here’s the registration form (note: it’s a PDF).

9/12 – 20th Annual 5K Paper Mill Run
More info on Active.com.

9/26 – The Great Urban Race
More on Greaturbanrace.com.

9/20 – ING Philadelphia Distance Run
Info on Competitor.

9/27 – The Parkway Run
More on Parkwayrun.com.

9/27 – Walk For Hope
More on Cityofhope.org.

Just an FYI – the earlier you sign up for a race, the cheaper it will be. Plus, most of these races/walks are for a good cause, which makes the registration fee worth it alone. Now that you have a list of road races and walks in front of you, get registered and start moving!

Ah, the Fringe Festival. It comes but once a year, but packs a mighty wallop with what seems like thousands of surprising, cutting-edge, hysterical, often low-budget and simply fun shows stretched out over two weeks in September. I always try to catch as many Fringe shows as humanly possible, and this year I’m already marking my calendar for Wawapalooza 3: The Dark Roast.

I’d Rather Be Here is a small film and theatre production company, and for the past couple of years their Wawapalooza Fringe shows have seen sold-out runs and rave reviews. They’re back this year with the third installment of the hysterical comedy show, where they’ll poke fun at tons of local Philly targets.

The 75-minute show will intertwine 6 live plays and 3 short films. I’m particularly looking forward to the mockumentary about the epic battle between Whole Foods and Superfresh, which plays out in my head every time my fridge is empty. Stomach, Mouth, and Brain, perched on my left shoulder screaming “Whole Foods!” My wallet, perched on my right shoulder, yelling “Superfresh!”

This year’s Wawapalooza show is going to take place in a much larger space than ever before, inside the 240-seat main stage at the Society Hill Playhouse. Come check it out and fill the house; tickets are just $10, and come with a free drink!

Wawapalooza 3: The Dark Roast
September 4th through the 19th
Schedule & Times on the Live Arts website

Society Hill Playhouse
507 S 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 923-0210
www.societyhillplayhouse.com

The Phillies return to Philadelphia tonight to take on the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by G. Widman)

Philadelphia Phillies [gophila.com]