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Sun Ra Arkestra, performing free in University City tomorrow afternoon, Photo: Mark Lazarski

Friday

Ballet X’s Summer Series
Catch this stunning performance at the Wilma Theatre this weekend, before Ballet X wraps up on Sunday. They’ll be back in the Fall, but that is way too long a wait!

Saturday

Meet PaperMonster @ the Vincent Michael Gallery
Blogger Lauren Russell scoped out the first exhibit at the new Vincent Michael Gallery, and absolutely loved it. She also reported that PaperMonster will be at the No. Libs gallery, giving an artist talk today.

Summer Ale Festival @ the Philly Zoo
Sip on tasty brews and explore the Philadelphia Zoo. Try some Summer Love Ale while you’re there.

Weekend Centennial Tours @ the Please Touch Museum
These tours, aimed at the older crowd, are finally taking place on the weekend! Try one out, and learn about the history of Memorial Hall.

Free Sun Ra Arkestra Concert in University City
And not just music… fire! The Scorch Fire Show will be there, combining flames and movement-arts.

Out of the Wild @ Art Star Boutique & Gallery
New exhibit opens today, featuring the works of three talented artists. You should stop by, maybe meet them during the artist reception.

6th Annual Belle & Sebastian Dance Party
Our buddies Philebrity are hosting their annual dance bash at National Mechanics. Come shake it up.

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On Twitter? Want to keep up on everything that’s going on in our fine city? Well check these Twitter accounts out!

You should already follow Uwishunu, but you might also be interested in our handful of other specialized Twitter accounts, which dish out information on everything from historic Philadelphia facts to underground dance parties, great deals on Latin dining to local hotel discounts.

Get to following!

@visitphilly – Caroline tweets from here as the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. Expect tips on where to stay, where to shop, and what’s going on around town.

@philly360 – The Twitter account for our Philly 360 campaign, giving African-American travelers and the world a 360° view of Philly’s creative, historic and modern scenes.

@phillyteama – Eric & Phillyteama invite you to feel the vibrant pulse of Latino Philadelphia. Learn how to become a “Philatino” with his fantastic tips.

Blueberry French Toast @ Garces Trading Co.

The Iron Chef’s vibrant gourmet market/cafe hybrid just got even tastier with the introduction of Weekend Brunch offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to the GTC dishes you’ve come to love (deep dish pizza anyone?), the menu also includes a three-course $25 prix fixe option featuring 2 dishes of your choice, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Fresh Summer Melon @ Garces Trading Co.

Firsts include Fresh Summer Melon with mint labneh and spiced pecans (to die for!), Chef’s Cheese Selection served with housemade condiment, Cured Salmon Tartar with pea shoots, fresh sourdough bread and creme fraiche, as well as Baby Artichokes with preserved lemon, honey, dates and walnuts.

For the Second Course, choose from classic Blueberry Muffin French Toast served with Lancaster County maple syrup and goat butter, or Organic Poached Eggs with hot smoked pastrami, pain au lait, and whole grain mustard hollandaise.

Shirred Egg with Soft Polenta @ Garces Trading Co.

Quiche prepared with roasted tomato, housemade bacon and bucherondin and an Omelette du Jour are also options, although a personal favorite is the Shirred Egg with soft polenta and red chile marinara.

As for dessert, make sure you ask for the daily specials- we enjoyed fresh blueberry panna cotta with lemon curd, rich chocolate bouchon and a cheery green pistachio macaroon. Drinks include Rosemary Lemonade, Virgin Bloody Mary, and the must-have smooth GTC Reserva Coffee. The light, cheery atmosphere inside the Trading Company makes for a highly enjoyable, relaxed experience. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself browsing the shelves stoked with gourmet items post-brunch to stock up on some of the Iron Chef’s favorite ingredients!

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

This past Wednesday I was awe-struck by three amazing performances during the opening night of Ballet X’s Summer Series at The Wilma Theater. The ballet opened with Matthew Prescott’s vivid Journey of the Day piece. The music was both lively and symbolic as the characters presented a journey through life’s most charismatic, upbeat moments.

“The essence of the piece came from the music,” said Prescott, on the album Appalachian Journey by Edgar Meyer.

Risk of Flight by Adam Hougland electrified the stage with powerfully explosive movements and harsh lighting. As you become entranced by the music, take a moment to notice the muscle tone and intensity within the frame of each dancer.

The performance concluded with the world premiere of The Last Glass by Matthew Neenan, danced to using the playful melodies of Beirut.

This performance reflected emotions of joy, angst, and romance, and was a delight to watch with colorful costumes, multiple storylines and intertwined relationships.

It truly was a night of celebration and dancing, highlighting the heart and soul of every dancer. There’s still time to catch this performance. Ballet X’s Summer Series runs through Sunday, July 25th.

Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors, and $20 for students. For more information on this awesome dance company, visit Ballet X’s official website.

The Wilma Theatre
265 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org

Tagliatelle Mixed Seafood @ Alba

There’s a lot to be said for the menu options at Alba, the cozy Italian joint tucked away on King Street in Malvern. Chef Sean Weinberg makes full use of the open kitchen’s large wood-fired grill, churning out fresh takes on Northern Italian courses with a focus on local ingredients. But that freshness comes with a price — Alba changes its offerings on a regular basis, ensuring you won’t have the same dining experience twice.

In fact, only two dishes are mainstays on the menu — the Wood Grilled Octopus and the Rabbit Agnolotti Del Plin. But it’s easy to see why Alba keeps them around. Both made great use of their slightly more exotic main ingredients. The octopus had a great texture and was grilled well, with crisp grilled edges contrasting the tenderness of the meat.

Rabbit Agnolotti @ Alba

The rabbit agnolotti (think really, really tiny raviolli) showed the craftsmanship that goes into many of the dishes, with a mild rabbit flavor that was far from overwhelming inside the pasta.

The third appetizer, and the highlight of the course, was the Antipasto. The selections change daily, but the highlight of our plate was most definitely the bruschetta with local sheep’s milk ricotta, amazingly sweet English peas and pickled onions.

For our main course, we opted for the Wood Roasted Lamb and the Tagliatelle “Al Covo” Mixed Seafood. Once again, the wood grill made the lamb deliciously crispy, accented by its accompanying crispy spaetzle.

And as with the agnolotti del plin, the fresh pasta was the best part of the dish — though the excellent scallops, mussels and other seafood offerings didn’t hurt either.

Dessert @ Alba

It’s this varying menu with consistent flavors that sets Alba apart. And Apartivo, a new Wednesday night happy hour, will make sampling a selection of the menu and a few drinks that much easier. Once a humble BYOB, Alba now has a full wine menu as well as traditional and in-house cocktails (try the “Alba” — a refreshing sparkling drink made with Moscato d’Asti and Aperol).

In addition to libations, Apartivo will offer complimentary small plates of appetizers and main course offerings. It’s as good an excuse as any to stop by after work one night — but you’re probably going to want to stay for dinner too.

Alba
7 West King Street in Malvern, PA.
(610) 644-4009
www.restaurantalba.com

Starting today, Rum Bar is launching a fun new Thursday night event… Dominoes & Demerara.

Swing by tonight for the first in this weekly event, and compete in domino tournaments complete with prizes and El Dorado rum drink specials. Highlights include Demerara Daiquiris ($5), El Dorado Mai Tais ($6), and Guyana Rum Punch ($7).

The prizes? You’ll have a chance to win $100 gift cards to Rum Bar as well as El Dorado domino sets.

Registration is at 8:30pm, with games at 9pm. Best part? There’s no fee to play.

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

Planet Earth Live

On Thursday, July 29th at 8:30pm the Philadelphia Orchestra will be offering a very special season finale performance at the Mann Center that promises to enchant both aurally and visually: they will be performing selected pieces from BBC’s multiple award-winning television series Planet Earth. The performed score will be accompanied by a large-screen projection of the corresponding scenes from the program.

British composer George Fenton, who received an Emmy Award for his original score of the hit documentary series, will be conducting the Orchestra himself as the audience marvels at the beautiful cinematography.

From the darkest caves to the heights of the Himalayan mountains, into the depths of the ocean and the densest, wildest jungles, the audience will be spell-bound by flourishing landscapes and mysterious animal life as Fenton’s compositions sonically capture the ceaseless flow and pulse of being in the world.

Planet Earth Live: The Philadelphia Orchestra
Thursday, July 29, 8:30pm
Tickets: $10-$55

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 878-0400
www.manncenter.org

Inside the New Vincent Michael Gallery

In it’s first exhibition since opening this month, the Vincent Michael Gallery is hosting PaperMonster Ate That Little Boy, a masterful exploration into the emotions and stories of women.

Using stencil graffiti, the artist puts faces on the internal struggles of everyday women. The process involves using comic book collage background and layers of spray paints and stencils. What emerges is a work of art that displays the raw beauty, strength and mystery of the female psyche. It is honest and challenging, causing a stir of emotions to viewers both male and female.

You Never Know by PaperMonster

The contrast of black and bright pinks, blues and greens add vitality to the work, amping the impact of the subtle facial expressions, sometimes matched with faces of wolves, cheetahs, T-Rex’s and other forceful creatures to present woman’s power within.

Pieces in the Exhibit

This is an exhibit not to be missed. Vincent Michael Gallery plays home to the exhibit from now until July 31. Stop by July 24th, for the Artist Talk and Presentation, from 2-4 pm.

The contemporary gallery, which opened its doors with the July 2nd opening of PaperMonster, is the perfect place for such an influential exhibit. With natural light pouring in from large windows, the gallery is clean, spacious and modern. The avant-garde space uses progressive technology, which gives it a leg up from other institutions, though it is inviting to all artists and non-artists alike. The brand-new gallery, located in the Piazza, is a place that will challenge artists, engage the community and educate people on art and art galleries.

For more information on the Vincent Michael Gallery and the exhibit, visit www.vincentmichael.com.

Vincent Michael Gallery
1050 North Hancock St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
www.vincentmichael.com

Ribs @ Pub & Kitchen

Last week, Pub & Kitchen announced their new Wednesday “Ribs & Grits Dinner,” dishing out an affordable  Southern, Summer dish.

For just $17 per person, guests are served a half-rack of ribs that have been braised for over seven hours, slathered with Pub & Kitchen’s own Blue Label BBQ sauce. You can also look forward to a side of corn grits and house-made coleslaw.

P&K has also taken the time to pair up the perfect brew, serving a pint of Tröegs Sunshine Pils to compliment the meal. Try it tonight!

For more information on Pub & Kitchen, visit their official website. And while you’re at it, follow Chef Adams on Twitter.

Pub & Kitchen
1946 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146-1411
(215) 545-0350
www.thepubandkitchen.com

Inside Restaurant Alba

This Sunday, July 25th, our good friends Victory Brewing Company (they make a little something called Summer Love Ale) are taking over Restaurant Alba in Malvern, PA, for a special Victory Beer Dinner.

Priced at $65 per person, guests will enjoy a five-course menu, with each course paired with a Victory beer. Victory’s VIP, Steve German, will be at the dinner, discussing the characteristics of each brew. Highlights from the menu include goat cheese ravioli and slow roasted pig.

Reservations are required, so be sure to call the restaurant.

Restaurant Alba
7 West King Street, Malvern, PA 19355-2409
(610) 644-4009
www.restaurantalba.com