August 20, 2009
Post by Tyhira Stovall
The weekend is quickly approaching, and when I’m choosing what I want to do on a Saturday night, my friends often suggest Shampoo Night Club for their Spoiled Saturdays Parties.
The parties won’t keep you too late, but they certainly satisfy your craving for dancing and fun. Get their early, because there can be a bit of a wait, but it is SO worth it once you get in. Check your coat, and maybe head down to the lounge area for hip-hop, or upstairs for their huge dance floor. Six different rooms, a DJ spinning everything from pop to house music, and of course, the foam room, where my friends and I have the most fun.
Just because the summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean Shampoo is. Shampoo Night Club will not let the summer fade away without a big party. The final two Spoiled Saturday parties are on August 22nd and August 29th. Doors are at 6PM and it’s all over at 10PM, so your parents don’t have to worry or go through the whole thing about curfew.
Checkout Shampoo’s official website for more events for teens like us! Have fun!
Shampoo Night Club
Willow Street (Between 7th & 8th Streets), Philadelphia, PA
(215) 922-7500
www.shampooonline.com
August 20, 2009
Kayaking at Dusk
Have you ever run the Schuylkill Trail down near the boathouses and watched the boats on the water? It’s a time-tested Philadelphia memory shared by millions. Have you ever wanted to be in one of those boats?
Now is your chance. With Schuylkill Banks Midnight Kayak Tours, you can live the dream as you paddle between the Walnut Street Dock and Fairmount Water Works. You can travel the waterway that famous Philadelphians have traveled since the early days of independence. Travel the waterway numerous collegiate rowers use for regatta races. Ride along the picturesque stretch that ends at the foot of Boathouse Row.
Known for runners and bikers, this section of the river will allow you to exercise your upper body as you paddle down the river. And with a half-hour of instruction, you will be ready to take on the river with confidence.
So get ready to live the dream as the next trip launches Saturday, September 12th at 7:30pm. Call 215-222-6030 x100 for details.
Schuylkill Banks
www.schuylkillbanks.org
August 20, 2009
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Napoléon exhibition at the National Constitution Center. It was my first time at the NCC and my first real introduction to Napoléon (I skipped Les Invalides when I went to Paris). The exhibition is only on display for a few more weeks, so if you haven’t seen it (or if you want to see it again) you should hurry to the NCC.
In addition to the large number of war memorabilia, decorative arts and historical documents, the Napoleon exhibit also features personal articles like his and Josephine’s hair, his camp bed and his famous hat. I was particularly excited to see the fine art renderings in the collection. A number of important artists of the era are showcased in the exhibition–this is a must for history buffs and art lovers alike!
Organized in twelve sections comprised of over 300 items, the tour mirrors the stages of Napoléon’s life–twisting and turning through his rise to power, marriages, campaigns, exiles and death.
The exhibition lasts until September 7, 2009 at the National Constitution Center.
National Constitution Center
525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org
August 19, 2009
Stay cool tonight with a concert in the park; Photo by M. Kennedy
Tonight is the second Wednesday of the Concerts in the Park concert series by Philadelphia Weekly. However, last week’s show was moved indoors due to rain so here’s hoping for better luck tonight.
The bands playing this week are 1) Kurt Vile & The Violators and 2) Mondo Topless.
Check out Center City Sips first. And then stop by afterward.
Concerts in the Park [gophila.com]
August 19, 2009
Let’s face it – when it comes to professional sports, Philadelphia fans are like no others. We’re loyal, enthusiastic and (dare I say?) a little bit crazy about our teams – and no one can take that away from us.
But just because we’re diehards doesn’t mean we can’t laugh at ourselves—and that’s where Chuckleball Philadelphia comes in. A musical comedy revue that lampoons sports history from the City O.B.L. and beyond, Chuckleball’s 2009 production, Brotherly Glove, touches on everything from T.O.’s touchdown theatrics to soccer moms in the suburbs, with all the humor and pizazz they can muster.
Not up to snuff on Philly sports? No worries. Producer Jason Goldstein swears that people “who don’t know the difference to between a slam duck and a touchdown†will find just as much to love as hardcore sports fanatics.
So grab a brew (the show, delightfully, goes down at Doc Watson’s – one of ny fave Center City bars!) and maybe don your Phils jersey – and prepare to laugh the night away. The show goes up Saturday, August 22nd and continues every Saturday after that.
Doc Watson’s Pub
216 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(646) 307-4410
www.chuckleball.com
August 19, 2009
The outdoor movie has been a summer tradition in American suburbs for decades. Ever since the Drive-In movie created a cinematic summer experience, people from Salem to Sacramento have gathered outside to watch their favorite films.
But what happens when you bring this concept to a hip, urban neighborhood? Well, for one thing, no cars allowed. It’s too close in and besides, who needs the pollution when you can walk everywhere? It would have to be cheap because this is a recession and hey, its an outdoor movie.
How about content? You wanna watch some cable-approved teen movie you have seen twenty to thirty times? No sir. This Mifflin Street Moviefest provides you with a number of local and national films you won’t see anywhere else. From animated and youth-produced films to documentary and experimental flicks, these features focus on environmental justice, immigration, violence in our communities, sustainable foods, and urban green spaces.
So for a quick lesson in how cultural trends evolve and reshape with time and environment, or if you just want to see a great free movie in South Philadelphia’s hidden-gem neighborhood, check out Street Movies at Mifflin Square. The fun begins at Mifflin Square Park this Saturday, with future films TBA. So grab a lawn chair and participate in a cultural experiment. Don’t forget the popcorn.
Street Movies in Mifflin Square
August 22, 2009, 8:30pm, FREE
Mifflin Square Park
6th and Ritner Philadelphia, PA 19148
August 19, 2009
Local artist and writer JL Schnabel’s work has a certain… emotional charge. Schnabel, whose second show at the Mew Gallery runs through September 10th, is well known for her Blood Milk jewelry line, created from “haunted” antique objects and bone.
Her exhibit at the popular gallery in the Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philadelphia, called “I Am Writing to You With My Eyes,” is a new collection of emotionally turbulent portraits, texts and drawings.
It is said to be “based on the idea of the feminine heart being displaced by psychic trauma, teetering on the edge of madness and yet still retaining a desire to be hopeful.”
There is nothing light about that! Sounds intense!
JL Schnabel’s I Am Writing to You With My Eyes
On Display Now Through September 10th, 2009
Mew Gallery
906 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147-3808
(215) 625-2424
www.mewgallery.org
August 18, 2009
top, Buddakan; bottom, James
Back in the thirties, forties and fifties, my family had a restaurant in Philadelphia. Called The Russian Inn, it was one of the few spots in the city that was appropriate for those special occasion meals that graduations, birthdays, promotions and anniversaries call for.
In the last fifty years, Philly’s restaurant scene has changed dramatically. Where there was once just a handful of places to go for a red-letter meal, these days it is impossible to count all the options on both hands. We’ve got upscale asian fusion, a Peruvian and Cantonese mash-up, elegant tapas as well as the more traditional but still lovely French, Italian and Contemporary American spots.
left, Waterworks; right, XIX
Yesterday, we asked our Facebook fans to name their favorite spots for special occasion meals. More than forty people offered up their favorite spots and the list runs nearly fifty restaurants long. It seems that people have a particular affinity for Buddakan, Le Bec Fin, Morimoto, James, XIX and the Waterworks. Smaller spots like Matyson, James and Friday, Saturday, Sunday also got several nods.
Where do you like to go for a meal when you’re celebrating something special? (Our complete list of suggested restaurants is after the jump, if you want to see all the spots that were recommended by our Facebook friends).
Dinner at Morimoto
(more…)
August 18, 2009
Dining al fresco on a tree-lined street in the picturesque Fairmount neighborhood is the perfect summer treat. Add to the mix a vast list of 200+ bottled beers from around the world, a rotating list of 12 draft beers covering the best of Belgium and the U.S., plus some of the city’s most raved about pommes frites, and you find yourself in (a beer lover’s) paradise at the Belgian Cafe. Recent highlights from the tap include the spicy, golden blonde St. Feullien Saison and LaRulles Estivale, a crisp complex Summer ale, which translates to “Summer Rules.†Beer novices need not fret as the friendly and knowledgeable staff can find the right beer for any palate.
According to the menu’s inside cover, co-owners Tom Peters and Fergus Carey (who also own the city’s beloved Monk’s in Center City) invite patrons to think of the Belgian Café as their “second home.†The warm orange art-nouveau influenced dining room, cozy rustic bar, and prime sidewalk-seating attract large crowds of guests who—besides coming for the brews of course—take advantage of the café’s extensive and reasonably priced ($7-15 range) menu options.
Appetizers like vegan spring rolls topped with a sour cherry compote, 8 different styles of steamed mussels served in small and large pots depending on the size of your appetite, fresh-cut frites with a bourbon mayo and the café’s own smoked Ketchup, and fresh burgers (vegan, chicken, or beef served 8 ways on artisan rolls) are just a few of the delicious food options to choose from. And since mussels aren’t just great for dinner, be sure to check out the delicious brunch mussels and libations (Blanche Mimosas anyone?) on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On September 10th, stop in to celebrate the Belgian Café’s 2nd birthday! One thing on the birthday menu you can bet on— lots and lots of great beer.
The Belgian Café
2047 Green Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 235-3500
www.thebelgiancafe.com
