It's an easy drive from Center City to Glenside, well worth it to see Bobby Keys, the man behind the music of The Stones and other legendary groups. (Photo courtesy Keys)

Rolling Stones sax player Bobby Keys and his group The Suffering Bastards, a super-group of musical legends rarely seen outside of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will perform at the Keswick Theatre on Saturday, March 10 at 8 p.m.

Many of the greatest rock hits of the past five decades bear the unmistakable thumbprint of Keys, one of America’s most accomplished rock & roll icons.

His discography includes album-defining contributions with the Stones (Exile On Main Street, Sticky Fingers), work with each of the four Beatles and Elvis.

His group The Suffering Bastards is comprised of an all-star cast of renowned Nashville musicians. Together, they recreate spot-on renditions of hits from Keys’ storied career, as well as new compositions for an upcoming album.

In other Keys news, his long-awaited autobiography “Every Night Is A Saturday Night: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys” is set to be released, in addition to a new documentary about his life, as well as a number of high-profile tour dates throughout the US.

Tickets for Bobby Keys & The Suffering Bastards start at $20 and are available online.

Bobby Keys & The Suffering Bastards
When: Saturday, March 10, 8 p.m.
Where: 291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside
Cost: Tickets start at $20
More info: www.keswicktheatre.com

Pay tribute to one of the greatest singers of our time at Warmdaddy's tonight. (Photo courtesy Whitney Houston)

The loss of Whitney Houston, one of music’s most powerful voices, is felt especially in Philadelphia, home to a number of powerhouse divas.

Warmdaddy’s blues club is celebrating the legacy of Whitney tonight with a tribute featuring some of those local songstresses: Philly 360 Creative Ambassador Carol Riddick, Helen Bruner & Terry Jones, Jaguar Wright, Leah Smith, Jean Baylor and more.

Tickets, $10, will only be sold on a first-come-first-served basis the night of the show. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

There will be a complimentary buffet, half-off apps, $2 off drinks and half-off glasses or bottles of wine until 10 p.m.

Philadelphia Whitney Houston Tribute
Where: Warmdaddy’s, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd.
When: Tonight, Wednesday, February 22, Doors open at 5 p.m., shows at 7:30 and 9 p.m.
Cost: $10 donation
More info: www.philly360.com

The James Beard Awards are considered to be the 'Oscars of the food world.' (Image courtesy James Beard Foundation)

The 2012 James Beard Award Semifinalists have officially been announced, and Philadelphia is representing in a big way.

Tashan, The Farm and Fisherman and Zeppoli are all in the running for Best New Restaurant.

We have four nominees for Best Chef Midatlantic: Pierre Calmels of Bibou; David Gilberg of Koo Zee Doo; Konstantinos Pitsillides of Kanella and Marcie Turney of Barbuzzo.

We also have two nominations for Rising Star Chef: Le Virtu’s Joe Cicala and Fond’s Lee Styer. Jessie Prawlucki (pastry chef at Fond and her newly opened Belle Cakery) is up for Outstanding Pastry Chef. Well done, East Passyunk!

Below, check out what other local restaurants are in the running for an “Oscar of the food world”.

Outstanding Restaurant
• Vetri

Outstanding Service
• Vetri
• Fountain Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel

Outstanding Bar Program
• Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.
• Standard Tap

Outstanding Restaurateur
• Stephen Starr

Outstanding Wine Program
• Tria

Check out the James Bear Twitter page on March 19: they’ll be announcing the narrowed down list of Restaurant and Chef Award nominees.

Awards Watch: The 2012 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists [James Beard]

Launched by two Penn students, Kembrel offers 40-75% discounts off retail prices online and in two popup boutiques in Philly. (Photo courtesy Kembrel)

Kembrel, a flash sale website following a format akin to Ruelala and Gilt, has opened a pop-up shop in Rittenhouse Square, at 1822 Chestnut Street.

Founded by two University of Pennsylvania graduates, Kembrel.com grants members access to limited-time flash sales that offer serious discounts on designer names, like Chloe, Leigh & Luca and Missoni.

The start-up’s second store after its headquarters/showroom at 1219 Locust Street, Kembrel’s two-story Rittenhouse location offers the same merchandise found on its website, with inventory rotating weekly.

Expect apparel, footwear, accessories and gifts for men and women, at 40-75% off retail prices.

Kembrel’s Chestnut Street store hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

Kembrel
1822 Chestnut Street
www.kembrel.com

A White-out at the Liacouras Center for the Owls earlier this month. (Photo by Mitchell Leff / courtesy Temple University Athletics)

March Madness is right around the corner and the Temple men’s basketball team is coming in hot.

Temple, in the midst of a 10-game winning streak and sitting alone in first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference, has cracked the country’s Top 25 for the first time this season. (It marks the third straight season the Owls have been ranked.)

The Owls (21-5, 10-2 A10) are ranked #22 in both the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today polls.

Meanwhile, the Owls play two very important Big 5/A10 games on the road this week, taking on La Salle tonight, Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then Saint Joseph’s for a nationally-televised game against the Hawks on Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m., before their final home game of the year next Wednesday, February 29 against UMass.

May be time for another white-out.

Temple vs. La Salle
When: Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m.
Where: Tom Gola Arena (at La Salle)
www.goexplorers.com

Temple vs. St. Joe’s
When: Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m.
Where: Hagan Arena (at St. Joe’s)
www.sjuhawks.com

Tiny Dynamite Productions has announced that the second season of “A Play, A Pie, And A Pint,” following a hugely successful sell-out run last fall, will launch March 6, once again at The Red Room of The Society Hill Playhouse.

The season will run for four weeks on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. A new show will be produced each week (all comedies) and, as always, will be served up alongside a pie (slice of pizza) and a pint (or another beverage of choice).

The concept of “A Play, A Pie, And A Pint” launched at The Oran Mor Theatre space in Glasgow seven years ago; they’ve since produced more than 250 plays.

The premise is simple: plays are performed at a non-traditionally early time on days when most other theaters are often dark, with food and drink built right into the ticket price.

Reserve your seats online.

A Play, A Pie, and a Pint
When: Every Tuesday & Wednesday at 6 p.m., March 6-28
Where: The Red Room, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th Street
Cost: $15
More info: www.brownpapertickets.com

Peppermint Sugar Cookies are just one of dozens of flavors available at Cookie Confidential, soon to go mobile. (Photo courtesy Cookie Confidential)

Melissa Torre, the wildly inventive chief cookie concocter (remember those Hot Wing cookies!) and owner of Cookie Confidential, will be rolling out a new dessert truck located on Temple’s Campus (on 12th street just south of Norris) by Mid-March.

Says the busy baker, “I am doing Brewer’s Plate this year which is March 11, so I want to make it through that madness first.”

Planning to open five days a week, Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Torre will offer a rotating menu of cookies including Raspberry Balsamic, Maple Bacon Oatmeal and Cheesesteak; undercover cupcakes in jars and pops; as well as One Village coffee and other tasty beverages.

The operation will undergo a Cookie Confidential makeover (right now it’s the Sugar Rush truck), and hopefully by the summer, Torre will be approved to install a utility pole to allow for cool treats like Franklin Fountain’s ice cream and Capogiro’s gelato. Sounds like ice cream cookie sandwiches to us!

“At first I won’t be doing deliveries, but hopefully [I'll] be able to add it down the road along with online ordering maybe by Fall,” Torre concludes.

A sweet addition for Temple’s Campus!

Cookie Confidential
www.cookieconfidential.com

One lucky winner will receive two VIP tickets (valued at $125 each), which gets you early entry into the event and access to the VIP area featuring special beer tastings and a Jose Garces cooking demonstration.

To enter, just fill out the form below by noon on March 2. You may enter once per day per email address, so enter daily to increase your chance to win. Click here for the official rules.

Brewer’s Plate 2012
When: Sunday, March 11, VIP 5-9 p.m., General Admission 6-9 p.m.
Where: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street
Cost: $65 general admission, $125 VIP
More info: www.fairfoodphilly.org

Proving Philadelphia's culinary scene is always on-trend, Magpie capitalizes on the pie craze of-late to bring both sweet and savory varieties to the Graduate Hospital neigborhood. (Photo courtesy Magpie)

Dessert lovers, take note: Magpie Artisan Pie Bakery & Boutique is set to open at 1622 South Street this June.

Former Philly ad exec Holly Ricciardi will unveil sweet and savory pies created with seasonal ingredients at this 20-seat vintage-modern bistro.

Sweet selections from the opening menu include: sour cherry almond streusel; salted chocolate meringue; orange blossom peach raspberry; blueberry cardamom polenta; toasted coconut rum cream; butterscotch bourbon custard; and a new take on the classic Shoofly.

Savory pies, to be served with a side of homemade pickled vegetables, include: croque monsieur; spinach dill feta; ham potato leek; and chicken tarragon.

Ricciardi will also be introducing Pie Fries to Philadelphia, a Ricciardi childhood snack: French-fry-sized piecrust strips served with seasonal fruit sauces for dipping for $3 per order. Opening sauces include a sweet strawberry rhubarb compote and rich bourbon peach puree.

Ricciardi is planning to introduce seasonal pie and beer or spirits tasting events, plus a wholesale menu in addition to the by-the-slice and whole pie menus.

Magpie will be open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. We’re drooling already.

Magpie Artisan Pie Bakery & Boutique
1622 South Street
www.iluvmagpie.com

You only have one day to see Brat Productions’ presentation of The Bald Soprano at Plays & Players Theater. But if you care to, you can watch it many times during that 24-hour period.

The Bald Soprano, penned by Eugene Ionesco, is a one-hour metaphysical romp. Directions at the end of the final act call for the performers to do it all over again, from the very beginning, with actors changing roles for the next go ‘round.

Brat takes those directions to heart, repeating the show, over and over, for 24 hours straight. There are no breaks. For real.

The set-up makes this absurdist play about British social manners, or lack thereof, even more preposterous. Each show is different, even though the lines are exactly the same. You never know how an actor will deal with fatigue, or boredom, and therein lies the fun.

Brat has done this 24-hour marathon before, and every time it’s a hit. Tickets are sold in two-hour slots (so you can see the actors switch roles back to back), and also allow for admittance to other shows, space permitting.

If you want to take a break between viewings, you can head upstairs to a bar where they’ll also have additional absurdist events.

Get tickets online.

Brat Productions’ The 24-Hour Bald Soprano
Where: Plays & Players Theater, 1714 Delancey Place
When: February 24–25
Cost: $20, $224 VIP Party
More info: www.bratproductions.org

This Saturday, February 25, show your support for Reading Terminal Market at its annual fundraiser, “Valentine to the Market.” You’ll be treated to dining, dancing, drinks, two stages of live entertainment and appearances by famous Philly guests. Tickets are available for an additional $175 for a special VIP pre-party event starting at 7 p.m. featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a celeb chef cook-off. This year marks Reading Terminal’s 120th Anniversary, so join your fellow food enthusiasts as they help to keep this phenomenal space running for another 120 years. [Valentine to the Market]

Get your Mardi Gras on tonight at The Franklin with specially crafted New Orleans-style cocktails. (Photo by Doug Keith courtesy The Franklin)

Like New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras is one of those festive occasions when one is, shall we say, expected to imbibe a bit.

So in true New Orleans fashion, where the celebration has a long-standing history, Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., deemed one of the best bars in the country by Esquire Magazine and the Huffington Post (among others), is offering a Mardi Gras cocktail menu full of concoctions generally swigged only in Louisiana.

Drinks such as Pimm’s Cup, typically found in oyster bars throughout NoLa, will be included on this special menu. So will pick-me-ups like Sazerac, often considered America’s oldest cocktail, as well as a Roffignac, a traditional 19th-Century highball.

Of course, no Mardi Gras-themed bar menu would be complete without the Vieux Carré, a favorite at New Orleans’ famed Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.

Each of these Big Easy-inspired cocktails is only $10.

Like they say in New Orleans, “Laissez le bon temps roulé!” Or in Philly-speak, “Let the good times roll!”

Mardi Gras-Inspired Cocktail Menu at The Franklin
When: February 21
Where: 112 S. 18th Street
Cost: $10/drink
More info: www.thefranklinbar.com