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Standing in Front of Fish on 17th and Lombard

I was distraught when Little Fish, my favorite BYO in Bella Vista, shut its doors. Fortunately, though, I won’t be deprived of what I consider to be the best seafood in the city. That’s because the chef of Little Fish, Mike Stollenwerk, recently opened a larger restaurant, Fish, at 17th and Lombard.

A full dinner at Little Fish or Fish costs more than I can spend on a regular basis, so I used to think of the restaurants as only for special occasions. But, to my delight, Fish started offering an exceptional splurge-free happy hour that can brighten my after-work mood any day of the week. In addition to its 47-seat dining room, Fish also has an intimate bar next to its open kitchen, which is perfect for casual tippling and nibbling. The happy hour menu is small but rotating, and everything I tried met the level of perfection that I’d hoped for.

Cocktails @ Fish

Kick off happy hour with a specialty cocktail for just $6. All of them are springy and-fish-friendly. The guava margarita is made with fresh puree, the pink lemonade with Stoli is tasty, sweet, and refreshing, and the limon mojito is perfect if you don’t want something quite as sweet or pink. There are also bottles of craft beer for just $3 a pop as well as a couple of wines. The vinho verde is an effervescent white wine made from green Portuguese grapes, and is wonderful alongside the seafood.

Oysters Served Up @ Fish

You have to order up some raw oysters for just a dollar each. There were two west coast varieties and an east coaster on the menu the evening I stopped by. I decided to try them all, and they came arranged in a specially made ice-filled trough. Served with a delicious mignonette of shallots and vinegar, they were tangy, creamy, and cool. The East Point, from Delaware, was nice and plump, but my favorite was the Chefs Creek from British Columbia. If you want to spice up your oysters a bit more you can opt for a shooter – there’s a “spicy bloody” oyster shot as well as a “chilly” shot with cucumber sorbet and lemon.

The best deal on the happy hour menu has to be the shockingly cheap $5 “snacks.” My favorite dish from Little Fish, the Blue Bay mussels in a coconut, panang curry, and lemongrass sauce, make an appearance here. The super-plump shellfish have a wonderful spice that creeps upon you. The whole soft shell crab, atop a bed of fennel slaw, is also mighty tasty, as well as being hearty. I have to get back to Fish for a full dinner once I save up the dough, but until then I’ll be frequenting this delightful happy hour!

Fish
1708 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 545-9600
www.fishphilly.com

Self Portrait by Margaux Kent

Every year, InLiquid hosts Art for the Cash Poor, an event that showcases a number of fantastic artists from around the region. These artists meet their admirers and sell their work at an affordable price. For all you amateur art-collectors out there, everything at Art for the Cash Poor is priced at $199 or less, with most items priced well under $100.

Art for the Cash Poor takes place June 12th and 13th, rain or shine, at the Crane Arts Building. I’m highlighting one artist every week leading up to the arts-filled weekend, because seriously, you should be getting excited. Today’s pick is Margaux Kent, a creator of beautifully intricate handmade jewelry and housewares.

Margaux Kent is a member of InLiquid’s pool of incredibly talented artists, and a graduate of the Tyler School of Art. She creates a signature line of tiny journal necklaces and metal jewelry called Black Spot Books, and collaborates with her husband on a collection of housewares and garden accessories made from reclaimed materials, entitled Peg and Awl.

Books

“We are constantly working or looking!” Margaux says when describing her and her husband’s artistic process. “We find an old object or old materials, connect it to an idea, spread dirt and dust about to clean it up and soon enough something knew arises!”

For more information on Margaux and her work, visit her profile on InLiquid. And be sure to check out her jewelry at Art of the Cash Poor 11!

Art for the Cash Poor [ InLiquid.com ]

Sushi @ Fat Salmon

Fat Salmon opened in early February, created by the same owners / chefs of the former Shinju Sushi that closed its doors back in October.

The inventive menu and the modern atmosphere at Fat Salmon are the perfect combination and a great pick for both adventurous sushi eaters and those with more tame taste buds.

Seafood Salad @ Fat Salmon

We sampled some seaweed salad and an assortment of specialty rolls and were impressed with everything we ate, which was a lot. Our favorites included the Old School Roll, a vegetarian option packed with fried onions and shitake mushroom and doused in spicy sauce; the Sleeping Volcano Roll, featuring spicy tuna, cream cheese and tomato; and the Locust Roll, topped with a freakishly delicious piece of cooked tuna.

What really impressed me about the menu here were the little additions to the rolls that were unexpected, yet absolutely delicious. Fried onions, tomatoes, cooked fish!? Who knew!

On top of the food and décor, the service was great too—professional and efficient and most important, no rush to turn our table. Fat Salmon is open seven days a week for dinner, with lunch served Monday- Friday. I would recommend calling for reservations and, while you’re on the phone, ask to reserve the table closest to the window. It is absolutely beautiful on a warm Summer night.

To get an idea of what else is on the menu, scope out February’s menu via Mealticket, here.

Fat Salmon
719 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3208
(215) 928-8881

Carousel is one of those Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals that’s oft overlooked in favor of shows like The Sound of Music, South Pacific and The King and I. It certainly doesn’t deserve this second-tier billing, and the Plays & Players Theater Company know that.

P&P will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel beginning with preview performances May 27th and 28th, with opening night May 29th. The show, going on at Plays & Players Mainstage, runs through June 12th.

Carousel’s story centers around two generations living in a small New England town, beginning with the budding relationship between Julie Jordan, a young mill worker, and Billy Bigelow, the local Carousel barker. Other relationships emerge as the young couple eventually marries, and Billy struggles make ends meet and their relationship begins to crumble.

The story then moves away from clam bakes and gossip to tragedy and redemption after a botched robbery attempt finds Billy trying to make amends for the mistakes he’s made during his life, in an effort to get into heaven 15 years after his death.

Carousel’s known for being one of the first musicals to rely heavily on tragedy in its plot. But like all good musicals, it’s just as well known for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s tunes and lyrics as it is for its story. Even casual musical fans will recognize cuts like If I Loved You, June Is Bustin’ Out All Over and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Carousel
May 29 – June 12, 2010
$25-$30 ($15 student rush tickets)

Plays & Players Mainstage
1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia PA
(215) 735-0630
www.playsandplayers.org

Find both Pumpkin Market and Pumpkin Cafe on the 1600 block of South Street (photos by M. McClellan for GPTMC)

I’m hoping you’re all familiar with Pumpkin Restaurant by now. Opened more than five years ago, this single-room restaurant is an anchor institution on that strip of South Street the resides west of Broad. It is my very favorite spot for celebratory meals. Since opening their initial eatery, chef and owner team Ian Moroney and Hilary Bor have also birthed Pumpkin Market and Pumpkin Cafe, adding to the wealth of edible riches available in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood.

You’ll find the market at 1610 South Street. Step into this tiny shop and be greeted by all manner of locally grown and crafted produce, meats, jams and more. They roast their signature blend of coffee just downstairs and if you’re a regular, your picture will hang on the wall (it also serves as your coffee loyalty card).

The cafe is just across the street at 1609 South Street. Here you can order up a morning smoothie, a midday sandwich or a casual evening meal. It has a decidedly neighborhood vibe, complete with friendly service, outdoor seating (at least during the summer months) and the occasional dog calmly lolling under an umbrella as its people finish eating.

The market also sources locally whenever possible and features plenty of seasonal produce in their array of soups, sandwiches and salads. They are happy to pack up their food to go, and have been a particular boon to the areas families, saving many from a 5 p.m. “what’s for dinner?” meltdown.

Next time you’re searching for a Graduate Hospital location for a few local ingredients or a quick meal, consider swinging by one of the Pumpkins (vegetarians should definitely check out their black bean burger!).

Outside Memorial Hall, Photo courtesy the Please Touch Museum

This just in, the Please Touch Museum is offering adults a chance to try their Centennial Grown-Up Tours this Thursday, for half off the regular admission. Tickets are only $7.50.

The tour is being filmed for a NYC television story to air in June, so you might even see yourself on television.

You’ll learn about the history, art, and architecture of Memorial Hall, which was the first home of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the 1876 World’s Fair. For more information on the tour, visit the Please Touch Museum’s official website.

This deal is only good this Thursday, May 27th. Go!

Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

Inside the Constitution Center, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

This weekend, the National Constitution Center has a number of events planned for Memorial Day, with special activities all about the history of the holiday.

Visitors can check out the Center’s main exhibition, the Story of We the People (pictured above), as well as some new programs planned just for the weekend. This includes Memorials: How a Nation Remembers, a 20-minute, interactive program that tells the history of monuments across the country. The Center is also hosting a unique craft making workshop, where families can create their own Memorial Day poppy pins and star memorial wreathes.

This weekend also marks the first anniversary of the Pennsylvania Liberty Tree dedication. You can listen to the story of the Liberty Tree during an interactive presentation at 11am and 1pm, all weekend long.

Everything during this celebration is free with regular museum admission.

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6700
www.constitutioncenter.org

Another week, another Phanatic statue. We’ve reached week seven of the “Phanatic Around Town” photo submission contest and aren’t slowing down any time soon, so remember to send us your best photos for a chance to win free Philly baseball gear! Check out last week’s winners after the jump.

Week Seven’s featured Phanatic Around Town location: Franklin Square

This week’s featured statue is Franklin Square’s “Phrankenstein’s Mascot” statue and the deadline to submit your photo is Monday, May 31st.

Photo Op:

As Memorial Day approaches, what better way to enjoy a three-day weekend than enjoying the sights, sounds, food and activities at Franklin Square?

Head to Historic Philadelphia’s family-friendly wonderland and grab a delicious lunch at Squareburger, take a ride on the Liberty Carousel, enjoy a round of Philly Mini Golf — just be sure to snap a photo with the “Phrankenstein’s Mascot” phanatic statue before you leave the park.

To submit your photo, upload it to our Visit Philly Facebook fan page or share it on Twitter using the hashtag: #Phanatic. Each week’s winners will receive free Philly baseball gear. Click here for all the details.

Who: You and a “Phanatic Around Town” statue.
What: Take a picture of you with the “Phanatic Around Town” statue of the week and share it with us via Facebook and/or Twitter.
When: Every week for 20 weeks beginning on Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Where: At 20 locations across the city, changing each week.

“Phanatic Around Town” Program [visitphilly.com]

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Pieces from Other Nature, a New Exhibit @ Bahdeebahdu

Other Nature, a fantastic new exhibit at bahdeebahdu, features stunning works made from found objects… aka, trash.

The show is the brainchild of RJ Thornburg, co-owner of bahadeebahdu, interior designer and admitted clean freak, who became obsessed with tidying up detritus found near his country house. In all the piles of junk he collected, RJ saw an opportunity to craft works of art.

He’s clearly got a fondness for rusted objects — paint cans, nails, cooking pots — where various stages of deterioration create intriguing patterns. Now hermetically sealed in Plexiglas containers, these items are elevated to elegant beauty.

RJ invited eight kindred spirits to display their wares as well. Robert Larsen creates meticulous quilt-like canvasses from discarded Marlboro cigarette packs while Kent Latimer’s provocative works are fashioned from items popular in the African-American community — his “Fear of a Black Planet” is built with a bunch of Afro hair picks.

A Porcelain Piece by Lauren Herzak-Bauman

A few artists use raw materials to make things that look like they were used by humans and then left somewhere. Lauren Herzak-Bauman’s porcelain pieces, which look like used envelopes and stacks of paper, are marvelous.

The show fits snugly into bahdeebahdu’s usual fare, the spectacular light sculptures by Warren Muller are made from, you guessed it. Found objects.

Other Nature run through June 3rd, 2010

Bahdeebahdu
1522 N. American Street. Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 627-5002
www.bahdeebahdu.com

The Academy of Natural Sciences, Photo by Will Klein

From Memorial Day (May 28th) to Labor Day (September 6th), active duty military and their families are invited to the Academy Natural Sciences, completely free of charge.

This comes just in time for the opening of the Academy ‘s latest exhibit, Creatures of the Abyss, which opens at the museum on June 5th, running until Labor Day.

For more information on the Academy and the number of events at the museum, be sure to visit their official website.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org