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Inside the Art Star Gallery & Boutique

New art exhibit? Complimentary mimosas? Free tote bags? Sold.

This weekend, the Art Star Gallery & Boutique in Northern Liberties is hosting a Summer celebration, in honor of Ashley G and Drew’s new show, Party Cat, and the start of Summer.

Lots of deals through out the day. Spend $25 – $49, and get a free $5 gift card. $50+ gets you a $10 gift card. And with every purchase of $25, you’ll get a free Art Star Craft Bazaar tote bag.

Stop by, check out some art, and sip on free mimosas. Great way to start the Summer.

Art Star Gallery & Boutique
623 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-1557
www.artstarphilly.com

Crab Cake Sliders & Yucca Fries @ Rum Bar

Last week, the folks at Rittenhouse Square’s Rum Bar were kind enough to invite me in to try their new lunch menu.

Sporting a number of delicious Caribbean-inspired options, from Ahi Tuna Tacos to savory Crab Cake Sliders (my absolute favorite), Rum Bar’s chef, Oscar Tecuapacho, has really outdone himself with this impressive and surprisingly affordable menu, with all entrees priced at $12 or less.

Peach Rum and a Close Up of the Crab Cake Sliders @ Rum Bar

For my entree, I tried the Crab Cake Sliders w/ Fries ($12), paired up with a sweet Peach Daiquiri, whipped up by Rum Bar’s owner and chief mixologist (and in that day’s case, cook) Adam Kanter.

The peach rum went perfectly with the sweet lump crab. Adam advised us to substitute our steak fries for yucca fries, which any visitor can do at no additional cost. They were quite tasty, and I highly recommend you do the same.

Ropa Vija, Served Up With Yucca Fries @ Rittenhouse Square's Rum Bar

My dining partner, Sean, selected the Ropa Vija for his entree, and also opted for the yucca fries option. The shredded steak dish is served over a bed of spicy rice, topped with cheese, and priced at a very modest $7.

That’s $7 with the fries. Definitely a great deal for a delicious dish.

Jerk Chicken Caesar Salad and a Cucumber Sour Mojito @ Rum Bar

Other highlights on the menu include a Burger Trio ($10) and Chicken Salad Wrap ($8), both of which come with fries. Salad options include a BLT Salad w/ Egg & Mango Honey Mustard ($8), and a Jerk Chicken Caesar Salad ($8).

You can also look forward to midday cocktail specials, with discounts on Rum Bar’s popular Springtime Mai Tai, Rejuvenation Daiquiri, and the Cucumber Sour Mojito.

The lunch menu is offered daily, 11:30am to 3pm. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Rum Bar Lounge & Restaurant
2005 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 751-0404
www.rum-bar.com

Outside the Rittenhouse 1715

Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse 1715 was named in the top 100 US hotels in Fodor’s Gold Choice Awards. The boutique hotel was highlighted in the “Best Urban Escape” category, which describes hotels that offer a relaxing getaway within a city.

Here’s what Fodor’s had to say about the Rittenhouse:

“Like a manor straight out of a period movie, the Rittenhouse has a quiet regal look perfect for unplugging from the modern world. Rooms are decorated with Louis XVI–inspired chairs, vintage mirrors, Chippendale-style tables, and neoclassical rugs; some have skylights and a whirlpool. Every evening a wine reception is held in the lobby, where you can relax on fauteuil-style chairs and play a game of chess.”

Check out the full article over on Fodor’s official website.

Best Urban Escapes [ www.fodors.com ]

Vegetables at the Fair Food Farmstand (photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

You shop at farmers markets and choose your restaurants based on whether they source locally. Isn’t it time you paid a visit to a farm? Consider buying a ticket to Dining Al Fresco at the Farm, a special farm-to-table dinner organized by White Dog Cafe and Fair Food.

The dinner will take place at Fox Hollow Farm, in their horse paddock (it’s far more lovely than it sounds). You’ll meet the farmers over a five-course tasting meal that will feature local delights including cheeses from Shelbark Hollow Farm and Birchrun Hills Farm.

Prior to the meal, join your fellow diners for a tour of the Two Gander Farm and Apiary. Farmer and apiarist Trey Flemming will lead the tour and show you what it takes to raise honeybees.

The event takes place on Sunday, June 27 and starts at 2 p.m. The one drawback to this event is that it’s quite pricy, tickets are $125 a pop. However, if you’ve got a bit of special occasion cash saved up, this might be just the ticket for you. To reserve your spot, contact Andrew Welch from White Dog Cafe at andrew@whitedog.com. If you’re interested in just the farm tour (at a reduced price, I’m assuming), contact Christina at christina@fairfoodphilly.org.

Free Admission for Dad @ the Please Touch Museum, Free Brewery Tours @ Philadelphia Brewing Company, and Special Father's Day Programing @ the NCC!

Still trying to figure out how to spend Father’s Day in Philadelphia? Well, you’re in luck. I’ve got some great picks for you, right here! From fishing trips at Linvilla Orchards to dining deals at places like Jack’s Firehouse and Valanni, there is a lot going on, and plenty of great opportunities to show your Dad you care.

Dining deals? Jack’s Firehouse is offering up a special father’s Day brunch, whilst Valanni is serving up a special Scotch & Steak Dinner.

Not up for just sitting in one place? Why not take a Philadelphia Cheesesteak Tour? For just under $16, you can sample all the cheesesteak-goodness Reading Terminal has to offer. MealTicket has the full story.

Alright, I get it. Your Dad is the manly type who likes to catch his own dinner. Why not visit Linvilla Orchards? Take Dad fishing, and pick some fresh fruit for a side dish.

Feel like visiting a museum… or two? The Please Touch Museum is dishing out free tickets to Dads on Sunday, the National Constitution Center is hosting a special Fathers of the Fatherland program in conjunction with Ancient Rome & America.

Need even more history? Why not pick up a joint ticket to see Cleopatra at the Franklin Institute and scope out the Egyptian artifacts at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology? You can pick one up at the Franklin when purchasing your tickets to Cleo.

Music Man? Aaron covered the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival, which is happening this weekend. There’s also a nighttime folk concert, featuring John Gorka, at Longwood Gardens this weekend.

Want to celebrate a day early? No? You might want to reconsider, especially if your Dad loves beer. Why not take him on a free tour at the Philadelphia Brewing Company, or at Yards, this Saturday? See, I knew you’d give it a second thought.

Dad not from Philly? Why not take him on the All About Philly Tour?

Have some more suggestions? Leave them in the comments! Happy Father’s Day!

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)

ArtBites, a mix of culinary and art history founded by art historian and trained chef Maite Gomez-Rejón, hits the Philadelphia Museum of Art this Tuesday, taking visitors on a grand tour of the museum, followed by a cooking class and dinner.

The tour of the museum will guide you through the PMA’s collection of British, French, and Italian paintings and decorative arts, followed by a feast “fit for a British aristocrat.”

Tickets for this event are priced at $130 per person, which includes museum admission, tour, van transfer from the museum to the kitchen, ingredients, recipes, and wine with dinner. If you’re a WHYY or Philadelphia Museum of Art member, you can score 15% off the ticket price.

Registration is required and space is limited. Visit ArtBites’ official website to register.

ArtBites @ the PMA
Tuesday, June 22nd, 10:30am – 2:30pm

Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th Street and the Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100
www.philamuseum.org

The Bar @ Valanni

Still looking for a place to dine for Father’s Day?

Valanni on 12th & Spruce is featuring a delicious-sounding Scotch & Steak Dinner this Sunday, from 5pm to 10pm.

Priced at $30, you’ll get a 16 oz. grilled, bone-in cowboy steak, baked potato, and asparagus with hollandaise sauce, served with Johnny Walker Gold. For an additional $5, you can have the meal served up with Johnny Walker Blue.

Reservations are recommended. Call ahead to save your spot.

Valanni Restaurant & Lounge
1229 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 790-9494
www.valanni.com

Late Renoir, the latest exhibition to arrive at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, opens to the public tomorrow, June 17th. This show centers itself around the work done by Pierre-Auguste Renoir during the last three decades of his life and features 92 pieces, 79 of which were done by Renoir. The pieces by other artists are included in the exhibition to show the ways in which Renoir influenced many of the artists who followed him.

This is the final stop for the show and the PMA is the only east coast venue. Before it came to us, it was in Los Angeles and Paris. The show is larger in Philadelphia than it’s been anywhere else, thanks to the fact that the PMA can enhance the show’s collection with works from their collection, as well as loans from area collectors (there are 181 Renoir works alone in the Barnes collection).

This show will be on display June 17 through September 6, 2010. Tickets cost $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, $20 for students and $14 for children ages 5-12. Kids ages 4 and younger are admitted for free. Museum members are eligible for discounts, click here for more details. There’s also a discounted rate of $19 for week-day, afternoon tours.

For more of our photos of the exhibition, click here.

Living the ice cream dream? A summer you won’t forget? You better believe it.

Check out one of our brand new With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® television commercials for summer 2010… this one was made especially for families.

Enjoy!

With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® [ www.visitphilly.com ]

Now through Sunday, July 11th, Fairmount’s London Grill is serving up a number of specials in honor of the World Cup.

While watching the World Cup on the restaurant’s numerous HD televisions, you can enjoy $3 Carlsberg beers and $6 wines from South Africa, including Brampton Sauvignon Blanc and Indaba Merlot. For Saturday morning games, the restaurant is dishing out $3 Carlsberg beers, hardboiled eggs and ham pie, and opening early at 10am.

And you can feel good about yourself while nibbling and sipping away. London Grill has partnered with the Great Lake Brewing Co. to support Manayunk’s Starfinder foundation. During Argentina games, $1 from all Great Lakes draughts will be donated to the organization.

London Grill
2301 Fairmount Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 978-4545
www.londongrill.com
Twitter: @LondonGrill