The Owlery

The features blog of The Temple News

Monthly Archive: May 2014

Monday

12

May 2014

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COMMENTS

Mystery customers leave $7000 total in tips at Rouge

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

There is such a thing as leaving a generous tip for your server but a couple of mystery men who dined at Rouge have gone above and beyond the conventional amount. According to Philly.com, two customers, described to be middle aged, came into the restaurant last Thursday paying with Amex Black Cards for their $258 dinner check. The server, Jess Nguyen, noticed that they had left behind a $5,000 tip as well as the words, “God Bless!!” and “Boom!!!”, on the check. They then proceeded to leave behind a $2,000 tip on a $150 bar tab for the bartender Sam Trasatti, again writing on the check, “God Bless!!”.

The group known as Tips For Jesus was apparently behind the generous donations, as pictures of the incidents can be seen posted on their Instagram page. They asked that their identities be kept anonymous and even scratched out their names on the checks.

Monday

12

May 2014

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Night Market Philadelphia Begins May 15

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

The Food Trust, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization headquartered in Philadelphia, is celebrating street food culture with its series of food festivals called Night Market Philadelphia. With four different festivals spread throughout the summer, the first will be held in Old City on May 15 on 3rd and Arch streets. The outdoor celebration will feature over 85 of the area’s biggest food trucks and restaurants like Han Dynasty, Serrano, The Franklin Fountain and Amada. The events will also feature various forms of entertainment and the music set to perform is Johnny Showcase and the Left Lucy Cabaret with their soul and funk music.

The subsequent Night Markets will be held at West Oak Lane on June 19th, Lancaster at 35th on Aug. 21 and Chinatown on October 2nd. The Old City Night Market starts at 6 p.m.

Tuesday

6

May 2014

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COMMENTS

Controversy over Philly’s first tiki bar

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

PYT owners Tommy Up and Sarah Brown recently turned to Kickstarter for some help with funding $36,700 for Philly’s first tiki bar, The Yachtsman. They had run into some structural problems and having spent most of their budget on getting those problems corrected, they hope the public can help them achieve their dream of bringing an “authentic, and authentically fun tiki bar” to Fishtown’s Frankford Avenue, according to the page.

However, some publications and commenters have taken issue with this venture. Some have commented on the poor choice of location. Other people like Emily Guendelsberger of City Paper have called the Kickstarter “annoying” with its pledge goals of offering exclusive bathrooms and bar stools to people who donate more.

The campaign has reached $11,521 of its goal and lasts till May 22.

Tuesday

6

May 2014

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Di Bruno Bros. celebrates 75 years

Written by , Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Food

Di Bruno Bros. is turning 75 this year. Their original location opened in the Italian Market in 1939, and since then, the company has added five more to its name.

At their location at 9th and Sansom streets, every Thursday throughout the summer, Di Bruno Bros. will be having a free Cheese Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m. Attendees can enjoy three cheeses with three pairings of beer or wine carefully selected from Di Bruno’s very own “cheesemongers.” So far, Southern Tier Brewing Company and Victory Brewing have been featured.

In addition, fans of the family-owned market can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where they are running digital contests in celebration.

Friday

2

May 2014

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COMMENTS

More than 10 festivals to be celebrated on May 3

Written by , Posted in Art, Arts & Entertainment, Food

Spring is coming in full swing throughout Philadelphia this year with more than 10 festivals on one single day. On May 3, Philadelphia will celebrate the upcoming season in nearly every part of the city with events like the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, The World’s Largest Bar Crawl and the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival.

Last year, the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival featured more than 20 local businesses and this year, it will return with double the amount of participants. The event will take place from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m from Front Street until 8th Street and will include the 2nd Street plaza between South and Lombard streets.

Well-known for not only their unconventional flavor combinations for hot dogs, but also their prominent illustrations within the restaurant Hot Doggity will be a part of the festival. Owner and chef Keith Garabedian said he loves the opportunity for the business to be part of any creative or fun local opportunities.

Keeping local culture in mind, Hot Doggity hired Philadelphia-based illustrator Hawk Krall as their residential artist. Considered as “Philadelphia’s preeminent hot dog expert,” Krall has been drawing food for well over a decade. His portfolio includes work for City Paper, Philadelphia Magazine, Lucky Peach and more.

Being a part of the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival just another way for Hot Diggity to be a part of Philly culture.

“I think events like this show off the flavor of each neighborhood,” Garabedian said. “Philly really is a city of neighborhoods, each has its own atmosphere so it gives off its own vibe, its own crowd of people. Philadelphia over all is cool for people watching, but especially South Street I think.”

In addition, Spruce Hill – along with the Woodlands – will be hosting a festival of their own called the Go West! Craft Fest. Mt. Airy will also join in with Mt. Airy Day, Logan Square will hold Sister Cities Park International Festival and the Science Festival Carnival, the Graduate Hospital area will host Plazapalooza, Bella Vista will have Brauhaus Schmitz Maifest and Northern Liberties is hosting the Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party.

Although each neighborhood is bound to change over time, Garabedian believes that South Street has changed significantly just in the last few years.

“South Street has really changed and a lot of people don’t realize that,” Garabedian said. “So it’s a great opportunity to show that off. There’s a lot of great restaurants now – we got Serpico, Nomad Pizza, Percy Street Barbecue – it’s kind of the new dining destination in Philadelphia when it wasn’t like that before. There’s a lot of boutiques and cool new men’s shops, it’s a lot different than the South Street that people once knew.”

The event will not only include South Street restaurants and boutiques that will be holding pop-up shops and discounts.

Hot Diggity will have a mobile cart that will be offering some new flavor variations for their hot dogs as well as a farmers market special.

“It was great putting this festival together, it’s amazing how many local businesses want to do stuff, I’m just excited about bringing different groups of people, this is going to be a fun day,” Garabedian said.

The event is free and open to the public.