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The Bike Tour Stops to Admire a Mural

Sure, you’ve seen some of the murals scattered throughout the city – with more than 3,000 gracing the walls of Philadelphia it would be impossible not to! But do you have any idea why these murals were painted, the inspiration behind each one, or how they were created? Now’s your chance to find out… all while riding your bicycle.

The recently launched bicycle tour is the perfect way to discover the murals of the city while remaining active and on the move. The tour is approximately two hours long and occurs the second Saturday of every month from now until November. The tour consists of about 20 murals and is led by trained and experienced guides who can tell you everything you could possibly want to know about each and every mural.

Tour Guide Stops to Discuss a Mural

A truly hands-on experience, you can actually go right up to the murals and feel the materials used to create it and see how it was transferred to its current location. Each tour is limited to a small group creating a very interactive experience. Another perk of the bike tour is the opportunity to stumble upon murals that you otherwise never would have found – those hidden away in gardens, backyards, or between buildings.

Although each mural is striking, even more significant is what each one represents and its contribution to the Philadelphia community. See Philadelphia like you’ve never seen it before with the Mural Arts Program bicycle tour. To see a full schedule of all tours, please visit www.muralarts.org/tours.

Upcoming Bike Tour Dates:
* July 10, 2010
* August 14, 2010
* September 11, 2010
* October 9, 2010

Mural Arts Tours [ www.muralarts.org ]

Inside Varga Bar, Photo courtesy of the Restaurant

Walking into Washington Square’s Varga Bar feels like a little trip back to the 1930’s. Inspired after the first true pin-up girl artist, Alberto Vargas, the deco of the gastropub consists of gorgeous detailed murals of sultry pin-up girls and rich patterns featuring variations on black, white, and maroon. The inside of Varga is small enough to be cozy, but not uncomfortable, with a large inviting bar, intimate tables by oversized windows, and an abundance of outdoor tables perfect for people watching.

Varga’s extensive menu will not disappoint. Divided into four different sections (bar snacks, plates, cheeses, and salads & sandwiches), you’re bound to find the perfect platter whether you’re simply looking for a something to munch on while you finish a drink or a large meal to satiate a hearty appetite.

Mini Burgers, Cheese Fries, & Salad @ Varga Bar, Photo by Kate Bracaglia

You must order their duck confit chicken wings. By far my favorite wings in the city, the perfectly cooked chicken is coated in a delicious pomegranate molasses-bourbon-chili sauce and served with homemade bleu cheese and a side of celery. Another tasty option is the jumbo lump cheese fries (crisp fries topped with a generous amount of jumbo lump crab meat mixed with white cheddar and Parmesan cheeses). Make sure you ask for their homemade ketchup to dip the fries into!

The kobe burger is another signature item to check out. Lancaster County aged cheddar cheese, apple-wood smoked bacon, caramelized shallots, organic greens, heirloom tomato, and a large sesame seed bun all perfect an already juicy burger. A healthier option is the varga salad, featuring a tasty combination of baby spinach, sliced pear, bleu cheese, spiced cashews, red onion, and applewood smoked bacon mixed together in a light champagne vinaigrette dressing.

Summer Cocktail @ Varga

Varga’s drink list is as pleasing as their food selection. With over 20 beers on stock, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect beer to accompany any meal. The beer selection constantly changes to reflect new and unusual brews. If you’re not a beer lover, check out their cocktail list.

Tying into their pin-up girl theme, Varga has a specialty cocktail dedicated to each month of the year. This summer, they’re featuring Miss June, July, and August. Make it your summer goal to sample each one.

Varga Bar
941 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-5200
www.vargabar.com

Tasty Desserts Served Up With Tea @ the Four Seasons

Thought that afternoon tea was only for friends across the pond? Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. Dig into your closet and pull out your Sunday best. The luxurious British custom has made its mark in Philadelphia at Center City’s acclaimed Four Seasons Hotel.

The hotel offers the afternoon tea six days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 3PM to 5PM in their gorgeous Swann Lounge. Rich tunes from a beautiful baby grand piano, deep and inviting couches, and majestic marble-topped tables all set a lavish and elegant atmosphere.

Tea Box Full of Tea Leaves

Tea-goers have two packages to choose from: the social tea or the royal tea (same as the social tea but includes a cocktail of your choice). Upon arrival you are greeted with a tea box full of nine loose leaf teas with detailed descriptions.

The teas selection includes green, herbal, and black teas – all of which can be sampled for smell. The tea is then freshly brewed right in front of you in a personal tea pot.

Three-Tiered Trays of Desserts & Finger Foods

A stunning three-tiered display of food is provided for each table, with seasonal finger sandwiches and canapés, Scottish scones, and assorted tea cakes, fruit tartlets, and pastries. Each tier is more delicious than the previous, and the mouth-watering Devonshire clotted cream, homemade jam, and lemon curd sides are an added treat.

If you’re not feeling hungry enough to do an entire package or don’t care for everything it includes, you’re welcome to pick and choose from the a la carte menu.

The excellent drinks, dining, ambiance, and service will leave you feeling like a queen or king – and everyone deserves to be treated like royalty once in awhile!

Four Seasons Hotel
1 Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 963-1500
www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia

Wall Mural @ Bikram

Hot yoga is a relatively young yoga practice, in existence for approximately 30 years, while traditional yoga has been around for more than 3,000. Slowly but steadily, Bikram yoga is making its mark on the world as an emerging form of both physical and mental exercise, and Center City’s Bikram Yoga Studio is a great place to learn it.

The typical class is 90 minutes long and consists of a series of 26 postures… all in a room heated to 105 degrees. The high temperature is said to enhance the stretching, balancing, and strengthening of your body while cleansing away toxins, regenerating cells, and loosening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to safely stretch. Practicing in the heat is also believed to bring greater mental clarity, self-control, and concentration.

Center City’s Bikram Yoga Studio has been around since 2001. Tucked away on top of a shoe store on Sansom Street, you’ve probably passed it numerous times and not even noticed.

Don’t let the unexpected location trick you, the two spacious studios are decorated with gorgeous murals and stained glass windows to set the perfect atmosphere. An extensive class schedule, with classes from 6:00 in the morning to 7:30 at night, is bound to have a convenient time for even the busiest of people.

Still not convinced that Bikram yoga is for you? The studio offers an intro week package for only $20.

Bikram Yoga
1520 Sansom Street, Third Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 977-9642
www.bikramyoga.com

The Upstairs Lounge @ Tabu

“There cannot be good living where there is not good drinking,” declares Ben Franklin’s portrait on the menus in Midtown Village’s Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar.

Ben Franklin’s got it right because good times and good drinks is what the Tabu experience is all about. Since its opening in mid-March, Tabu, located in the heart of one of Philadelphia’s most diverse neighborhoods, has made it loud and clear that this is a place where everyone is not only welcome, but also warmly accepted.

Multi-colored cocktails @ Tabu

The first floor of Tabu serves as a sports bar where the game can always be found on TV, while the second floor operates as a lounge with cozy seating and a dance floor. With different specials and events almost every day of the week, you’re guaranteed to have a great time. Monday nights are devoted to karaoke, Tuesday you can put yourself to the test with sports Quizzo, Wednesdays you can rock out to the 80’s, and Sundays are ESPN classic sports nights. Drink specials vary each night, so check out their site for a full listing.

In honor of baseball season, there’s a special MLB Drink Menu with a personalized drink in honor of every team (i.e. Colorado Rockies: Makers Whiskey on the rocks, Minnesota Twins: 2 shots of tequila, Boston Red Sox: Jameson Irish Whiskey… I think you get the idea).

Crostini Trio and Crispy Calamari

Tabu also features an extensive menu full of delicious comfort foods designed to compliment your drink of choice and satisfy any craving, like a crostini trio plate, and crispy calamari.

Stop by Tabu today and raise your glass to Ben.

Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar
200 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 964-9675
www.tabuphilly.com

Photo by Johanna Austin

Are you a fan of the George Orwell classic 1984, the chilling and riveting tale of a totalitarian future where individuals no longer have the freedom to make their own choices?

With security measures increasing and privacy becoming a rarity, Orwell’s novel has never been more relevant then today. Rebecca Davis Dance Company’s upcoming world premier Braving the New World strives to convey the struggle between societal control and individual freedom in the format that they know best: dance.

For two nights only, the imagined worlds of authors such as Aldous Huxley and George Orwell will be depicted beautifully and innovatively on stage through the extreme dance moves of Rebecca Davis Dance Company. In the ballet’s fictional future, human beings are not born, but grown to conform in every way to a destiny that has already been engineered by an omnipresent “Big Brother.” When one man refuses to surrender his individuality and emotions, he must find a way to rescue a true human connection and find freedom.

Don’t miss the chance to see their last world premiere to be performed in Philadelphia! The company, founded by Temple Alum Rebecca Davis four years ago, has experienced amazing growth since its first production and will be expanding their performances to other U.S. cities.

Braving the New World @ Rebecca Davis Dance Company
May 7th and 8th, 2010
$25 General Admission, $20 for students
www.rebeccadavisdance.com

Outside Town Home

Choosing the ideal gift for a special occasion is rarely an easy decision to make. Countless time can easily be wasted debating over “the perfect present.” Center City’s Town Home simplifies the decision making process for customers. While many gift stores are filled to the brim with every gift idea imaginable, Town Home boasts a select amount of one of a kind gift options.

Fudge at Town Home... Yum!

Nestled away between two high rises on the prestigious Rittenhouse Row on Walnut Street, Town Home contains the best of the best for every occasion. Carrying everything from candles and incense, to greeting cards and picture frames, to books and stuffed animals, the boutique is certain to have a gift for every occasion. Recently, Town Home has made jewelry their main focus occupying half of the tiny store with a jewelry display of beautiful exclusive lines, such as Me&Ro, Jennifer Meyer, and Heather Moore.

Cards Hanging Up @ Town Home

In existence since 2003, Town Home only recently moved to their Walnut Street location this past September. Dana Bank, Town Home’s owner, opened the store to embrace her passion for consistently finding new trends and overall best sellers.

Dana’s personal touch and thoughtfulness behind the store’s selection is inherent in every item. Each and every customer is guaranteed to leave feeling confident that they just made a special purchase…and after all, isn’t that the most important thing when buying “the perfect present” for a loved one?

Town Home
1616 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 972-5100
www.townhomeonline.com

Kebabs and White Bean Salad @ the S&H Kebab House

South Philly’s S&H Kebab House recently celebrated their first year of bringing authentic Turkish cuisine to Philadelphia. However, the idea behind the restaurant was in the works for much longer. Owners Sal Kucuk and Huseyin Yuksel first met 13 years ago in Turkey when they worked at the same restaurant. That’s when their partnership began and plans for a restaurant in the U.S. commenced. Their dream became a reality one day last February when they finalized a deal for their location at 6th and Passyunk. From that day on, they have been happily introducing Philadelphians to one of the world’s oldest cuisines.

Cheese Rolls & Falafel at the S&H Kebab House

The extensive menu of this BYOB is guaranteed to offer something for everyone’s tastes, even if it’s your first time sampling Turkish food. Appetizer-wise, you can’t miss out on S&H’s remarkable falafel and Turkish cheese rolls. Think of mozzarella sticks and taquitos combined to create a pan-fried crispy dough oozing with warm feta cheese.

If you’re in the mood for a lighter and vegetarian-friendly meal, both the shepherd salad (a combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, and parsley in a delicious olive oil and vinegar sauce) and white bean salad (similar to the shepherd salad, but with the addition of white beans) are delicious combined with S&H’s warm, fresh pitas and homemade hummus or cacik (cold cucumber sauce and yogurt sauce) spreads.

S&H’s has every type of kebab you could possibly desire, offering everything from shrimp, salmon, and grilled fish to chicken, lamb, and Turkish meatballs all of which are served with rice pilaf and garnished with roasted vegetables. The majority of the kebabs, which are skewered on metal spits and cooked over open charcoals, marinate for days before they are finally cooked to ensure tasteful, tender, and succulent meat and many of the meats are organic and locally raised.

Baklava and Kazandibi @ the S&H Kebab House

If you’re craving something sweet once the meal is over, don’t miss out on the mouth watering baklava, which resembles a piece of artwork with its layer upon layer of paper-thin dough filled with crusted walnuts, or the kazandibi, which is a baked and caramelized light milk pudding . Turkish coffee or tea is the perfect addition to both of these desserts, as well as the perfect ending to an authentic Turkish meal.

The lunch special, offered seven days a week, is extra motive to stop by. The set price of $8.95 includes an entrée of your choice and a soup, salad or appetizer. If you’re stopping by for dinner, try to make it on a Friday or Saturday night (now open till 4AM on these two nights!) when S&H’s has a belly dancer to entertain customers all night long.

S&H Kebab House
611 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia , PA 19147
(267) 639-3214
www.kebabhouseonline.com

There’s something uniquely appealing about purchasing an item with a history. Whether it’s investing in a well worn book by your favorite author with all of the best passages already highlighted, a gorgeous painting that has made its mark in countless homes before your own, or a one of a kind graphic t-shirt that was made for an unknown reason, but makes you laugh out loud every time you put it on. Unquestionably, discovering the perfect find at a thrift store is beyond satisfying. Philly AIDS Thrift offers even more of a reason to leave your thrifting experience with a smile upon your face.

The ultimate Mecca for thrift store lovers, Philly AIDS Thrift sells everything from books and records to clothing and home goods. To add to the value, Philly AIDS boasts a variety of sales every day, to keep the turnover of merchandise constant. Monthly rotating color-coded tags can be found on the majority of the items in the store, offering anywhere from 25-75% off the current price.

By far the best part of Philly AIDS Thrift, is that a percentage of every purchase is donated to local organizations involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This past January, the store donated $154,000 to AIDS organizations within the greater Philadelphia area.

Whether it’s making purchases or donating items for this worthy cause (or both!) make sure you stop by today and do as their site says and “give and let give.”

Philadelphia AIDS Thrift
514 Bainbridge St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 922-3186
www.phillyaidsthrift.com

The Scorpion Bowl @ Sampan

Celebrity Chef Michael Schulson has certainly made his mark in Philadelphia with Sampan, an intimate Asian fusion style restaurant located in the heart of Midtown Village.

The menu, which offers a variety of small plates that are ideal for mixing, matching, and sharing, is easily divided into five sections (Satay & Salad, Hot & Cold, Noodles & Sides, and Meat & Fish) to help guests make the right selections. Many of the menu items involve a unique pairing of ingredients that ultimately compliment each other perfectly. Don’t miss out on the crab and curry fritters, the chicken satay, and the crab and udon noodle – all of which are flawlessly prepared.

Sampan stays true to their philosophy of sharing with the scorpion bowl (the perfect addition to any menu item), which involves a delicious mixture of gin, white wine, and rum blended together with fresh fruit and served in a fishbowl with as many straws as needed.

If the food doesn’t instantly win you over, the atmosphere sure will. Color washed paintings immediately greet visitors with a rustic and glowing ambiance, while reclaimed timber furnishings create a comfortable and natural effect. An extra bonus is the well-informed serving staff who are happy to help with menu suggestions.

Sampan
124 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3501
www.sampanphilly.com

Forget spending your Sundays leisurely laying around. Come on now, don’t be lazy, get out of bed and put on those yoga clothes!

Every Sunday morning, from 10am to 11am, Lululemon Athletica offers a complimentary yoga class to the Philadelphia community. The class, which has been offered since the store opened in November 2008, is a surefire way to start the new week focused, centered, and relaxed.

Instructed weekly by Nadja Eisenberg, the class welcomes yoga lovers of all levels, so don’t be embarrassed if you’re a yoga newbie. Don’t own a yoga mat? No problem, they’re offered free of charge.

Waking up early on a Sunday to work out deserves a reward. Lululemon offers an extensive range of yoga-inspired attire for both males and females. Don’t forget to take a look once class ends and the store opens to the public!

Check out their online calendar for other store happenings on their official website.

Lululemon Athletica
1527 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 563-4806
www.lululemon.com

Get your weekend started early at Silk City every Thursday night with “Mo Money, No Problems.” Cheap drinks, no cover until midnight (sorry guys, but after midnight you have to dish out $3 – ladies, you get in for free all night long), and music you can’t help but get down to. What more could you really ask for?

The party kicks off at 10PM and features an eclectic mix of music, with everything from new hip hop to electro, indie dance to club. The weekly event, which has been in existence for about a year, is a collaboration between local DJs Sammy Slice, Cool Hand Luke, and Tu Phace. The three got together with one major goal in mind: to bring together a unique group of people who love hearing and dancing to a diverse variety of music all night long.

Every week, a new guest DJ is brought in from a different city to add some out of town talent. Shake it up this Thursday and see what the Silk scene is all about.

Drink specials vary every Thursday so check out Silk City’s official website for details. Or call them the night of.

Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge
435 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 592-8838
www.silkcityphilly.com