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When I first heard about The Lockhart, Percy Street Barbecue’s everything-on-the-menu deal, I was instantly smitten. You see, I’ve always been the type to struggle with decision-making at restaurants, particular at those with expansive, mix-and-match options. With five different kinds of meat and a whopping nine sides, Percy Street was just the type of place to send me into a option-induced tizzy.

But that’s where The Lockhart comes in and saves me from dallying and frustrating my dining companions. For $24 a person (you must have at least four people in your party), they deliver every single meat and side on the menu directly to your table. The only choices you have to make are what to drink and what to get for dessert (well, and which perfect morsel to take to your mouth first).

And truly, this meal is full of perfect flavors. The brisket is super tender and barely  needs to be chewed it’s so ready to fall apart. The chicken (even the breast meat) is completely moist and kissed with smoke. The jalapeno and cheddar sausage is smooth and meaty (and the spice and cheese don’t overwhelm).

And the pork belly. Oh god, that pork belly. It’s got this amazing, crisp, thin crust of flavor on the outside that, with the slightest bit of pressure, gives way to the divine, tasty meat below. I have never seen my friend Dan look happier than he did upon that first bite of Percy Street pork belly.

The sides are equally terrific. The mac and cheese is creamy and touched with hint of smokiness (I wonder, do they smoke their own cheddar?). The pinto beans are flecked with bacon and would easily make a meal just on their own. The coleslaw is fairly standard, but still creamy and the perfect foil for the fatty meats. The green bean casserole of a very nice rendition of that classic side.

The German potato salad has a nice tang and also has bits of bacon strewn throughout it. I adored the collard greens, although they weren’t as popular with the rest of my party (not everyone appreciates the collard). The root beer chili was good, although honestly, I was more excited about those pintos. The black-eyed pea salad was nice, but in comparison, it was one of the weaker players.

The vegan chili. There wasn’t anything wrong with it. But in comparison to all those richly flavored sides, it just tasted thin. However, I do understand its presence on the menu. And a vegetarian could make a nice meal out of the mac and cheese, coleslaw and the vegan chili. However, I don’t see a vegan being happy dining at Percy Street.

All in all, it was a fun and delicious meal. The portions are reasonably sized, so when you leave, you don’t feel like you’re rolling out the door. The price is amazing for the amount of food you do get. And the service is friendly and unrushed. I don’t know why there aren’t lines out the door for this dining deal.

Percy Street Barbecue
900 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 625-8510
http://www.percystreet.com/

Catch musical comedy at the Magic Gardens on Saturday

Friday

Philadelphia Dance Projects
This series of dance performances kicks off tonight, running through the end of March.

Breath of Life @ the Lantern Theater
This wonderful show closes on Sunday, February 28th. It’s your last weekend to see it. So go! The folks at the Lantern know how to put on a play.

George Washington Carver @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
Lots of closings this weekend! The George Washington Carver exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences closes up this Sunday. See it over the weekend, while you can.

Saturday

Musical Comedy @ Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Swing by the Magic Gardens for an evening of comedy and music! Tour the gardens while the bands play.

Pabst Blue Ribbon Crafting Challenge
Studio 2424 is playing host to one of the most unique craft fairs in Philadelphia… every craft is made of PBR cans! Come buy some one-of-a-kind gifts.

Clothing Swap @ Bella Sera Cafe
Trade your old clothes, give back to the community, and sip on delicious coffee at Bella Sera today.

Vodka & Caviar Tasting Class @ Hudson Beach
Still time to register! Visit their official website and sign up. $50 gets you vodka, caviar, and two fancy glasses from the studio.

Craft Jewelry @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
Stop by the Academy to create jewelry from plants… with a judge from the Philadelphia Flower Show!

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Great comfort food and a happy hour menu @ Mixx

Flustered and famished on the Main Line? Fret no more. Get your nosh on comfort food-style at Mixx, the brand new restaurant, bar, and lounge in Villanova. I visited this fabulous new hotspot for dinner last week, and fell in love with its casual elegance.

The dinner menu is large and varied, with nothing over $18, and much under $10. To start, I tried the French onion soup—chef’s original recipe!—which came covered with warm, melted gruyere. Mmm! Between bites, I stole nibbles of my boyfriend’s calamari (fried with roasted peppers, jalepenos and spicy plum sauce), and was delighted by the tangy kick. It’s like comfort food with flair!

Drinks at Mixx

High ceilings and cozy brick make up the main dining room, with happy hour specials posted on blackboards. The beer list is varied and affordable—mixing local(ish) faves like Victory, Troegs, and Slyfox with quality domestics. There’s also an impressive cocktail list—I tried the Bellini (sparking wine, NUVO liquer and raspberry puree), and found it fruity AND intoxicating.

Dinner proved equally delectable—my beef brisket sandwich came with thick, doughy bread for dipping and a heaping pile of plump, peppery fries. The BF did the brioche burger and it was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and high-quality meat. Talk about an American classic!

Mixx desserts are all homemade; I chose the Choco Bomb: rich, warm chocolate cake with fresh berries compote and vanilla ice cream. Let’s just say I had no trouble polishing it off! I look forward to another delish visit soon.

Mixx Restaurant
789 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 527-0700
www.mixxrestaurant.com

Inside Union Trust steakhouse

Is March the best month ever? For steak lovers in Philadelphia, the answer is most definitely yes.

Eight popular Philadelphia’s steakhouses will begin offering up special prix fixe menus, Sunday through Thursday, through out the month of March. Participating steakhouses include:

. Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
. Delmonico’s Steakhouse at the Hilton
. Morton’s the Steakhouse
. Palm
. The Prime Rib
. Saloon Restaurant
. Smith & Wollensky
. Union Trust

The three course menu is priced at $50 a per person, with each steakhouse offering up their own, signature dish. Call in advance to see what’s being offered up.

For addresses and websites for all the steakhouses, hit the jump!

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The Plaza Cafe @ Table 31

Tonight, Table 31 debuts their new Thursday Night Music Series, serving up jazzy piano and a beautiful voice alongside Chef Chris Scarduzio’s Italian dishes.

The first performance tonight will feature singer-songwriter Jessy Kyle. She’ll be performing covers and original songs in Table 31′st Second Story Lounge. There’s no cover, and Table 31 will have specialty cocktails for $10 during these musical events.

You can catch her and her group performing every Thursday evening, starting at 8:30pm.

To scope out Table 31′s full menu, be sure to visit their official website.

Table 31 @ the Comcast Center
1701 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 567-7111
www.table-31.com

Jose Garces shows off his olive oils, desserts, wine boutique, and cafe inside the recently opened Garces Trading Company.

Thanks too Foobooz for the tip.

Garces Trading Co
1113 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 574-1099
www.garcestradingcompany.com

[ via Foobooz ]

Tony Braithwaite performing in Look Mom, I'm Swell!

Barrymore Award-winning actor Tony Braithwaite is hitting the stage again with the fourth production of his side-splitting one man show, Look Mom, I’m Swell!. Braithwaite, a Rosemont native, has since decided to make some exclusive enhancements to his show playing at the Hedgerow Theatre.

Expect new songs, new tales, new impersonations and all-new laughs written especially for this run. He’s also thrown in some collaborations with local talents including pianist Gina Giachero and vocalists Maria Brinkmann and Tracie Higgins who will sing, play and joke along with Braithwaite.

Prepare to expect the unexpected with Braithwaite’s signature ad libs and his nack for including the audience. If you suffer from stage fright, avoid the front row.

Tickets range from $18 for kids and $25 for adults with $3 discounts for students and seniors.

Tony Braithewaite’s Look Mom, I’m Swell!
Thursday, February 25th to Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Hedgerow Theatre
64 Rose Valley Road, Media, PA 19063-4218
(610) 565-4211
www.hedgerowtheatre.org

Lewis Carroll, Dalziel Brothers, after drawing by Sir John Tenniel, "Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?": proof. London, 1864 or 1865, courtesy the Rosenbach

If you are as excited as I am to see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (opening March 5, 2010), then the Mad Tea Party at the Rosenbach Museum is the perfect mid-week night out for you! This event plans to celebrate the works of Lewis Carroll with a first edition copy of Alice in Wonderland for museum-goers to examine up close, along with an evening enjoying Rosenbach’s new exhibition Moore Adventures in Wonderland, created by Rosenbach Artist-in-Residence, Sue Johnson.

You can’t have a tea party without some tea, right? Local tea companies Cha Cha Tea and NecessiTea will be on hand with a variety of tea samples for everyone to enjoy. Scott Chamberlin Hoyt, the director of the documentary The Meaning of Tea and Alexis Siemons, local tea enthusiast will be hosting a discussion on the important role that tea plays in our busy lives.

Take some time out of your fast paced life to stop and smell the roses… and enjoy a nice cup of tea.

A Mad Tea Party is free with museum admission, registration required. Admission to the Rosenbach is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and free for children under 5. To register, please contact Mary Duffy, Development Associate, at (215) 732-1600 ext. 123 or rsvp[at]rosenbach.org. For additional information, visit the Rosenbach’s official website.

Rosenbach Museum & Library presents A Mad Tea Party
Wednesday, March 3, 6pm – 8pm

The Rosenbach Museum & Library
2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 732-1600
www.rosenbach.org

Photo by Chris Kendig (chriskendig.com)

Gentle, yet intense. Effortless, yet deliberate. Fluid, yet at times, intricate. Warm, steamy, intoxicating. Familiar. Dance with a good Blues dancer and You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman will play in your head as you swoon back to your seat.

Jesse Young, Carsie Blanton, Cheryl Caraan, and Jon Darvill founded Lindy and Blues – affectionately known as LaB – in 2007. The organization’s lessons and dances have been a popular destination for swing and blues dancers alike ever since. In addition to seasoned dancers, the events attract an ever-growing number of new dancers eager to learn more about these intriguing partner dances that originally gained popularity between the early 1900′s and 1930′s.

I found out about LaB while walking through Rittenhouse Square one Sunday and stumbling on a group of people swing dancing merrily away. I stopped to watch and was pretty impressed. They clapped, hollered, swung and hopped, somehow managing to look totally cool doing dance steps that seemed just as relevant today as they were 100 years ago. I picked up a flier and eventually found my way to the Tuesday night dance. Every Tuesday night, LaB holds a one hour beginner lesson starting at 8pm, followed by a three hour dance. The entry fee is $5, and they alternate between Lindy Hop and Blues each week.

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The Sopra Lounge at Positano Coast, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Recently, Positano Coast brought back their wildly popular 5 course, $55 menu. Designed for two guests to share, this special limited menu is currently available, Sundays through Thursday, until March 4th, 2010.

Highlights from the menu includes Tuna Crudo, Grilled Tiger Prawns, and Braised Berkshire Pork Shoulder.

Positano Coast goes BYOB on Sundays and Mondays, so be sure to bring your favorite wine if you visit on those days. Be sure to try their signature drink, the Lemon Drop cocktail. It’s one of my favorite cocktails in the city.

Positano Coast
212 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-0499
www.positanocoast.net