Barcade: Or I guess I didn't play enough video games as a kid

Facts:

• Barcade opened in the past year in Fishtown (yeah, I know, Fishtown)
• Beer on tap rotates daily
• Each arcade game is 25 cents
• I suck at arcade games

Do:

• Keep an eye peeled for the building - it's not as obvious as you'd think
• Go to their happy hour starting at 4pm - 7pm for $1 off drinks Monday - Friday (it's pretty empty on a Monday so you'll also be able to play a lot of video games)
• Try their Sriracha Deviled Eggs

Don't:

• Be fooled - beer nuts are just peanuts (I thought maybe they'd be coated in beer or something exotic)
• Worry if you run out of quarters - they have a change machine
• Play Dig Dug - it's a totally stupid boring game and yes, I am also terrible at it too
• Come in if you're under 21

Location:

• 1114 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between Girard Avenue and the Delaware Expressway
• Also locations in Williamsburg and Jersey City (which really it's a toss up of three locations I'd least like to visit)

It's Not Easy Being Green: Or finding healthy vegan food in Philly is an art

Facts: (sort of)

• Philadelphia is a place of many many fine restaurants. 
• So you'd think that finding vegan food wouldn't be that hard. You'd think wrong. 
• Sure there are places that serve french fries but that isn't really a healthy alternative. (No, really people. French fries - not a good vegetable choice)

Do:

• Go to Vedge!
• Try MiLah
• Taste Mumbai Bistro's vegan offerings

Don't:

• Forget to make a reservation at Vedge. They are popular for a reason. Their food is delicious. 
• Eat too much tofu - moobs anyone?
• Be shy - ask for veggies instead of bread when you're at a restaurant! The worst that could happen is that they stare at you incomprehensibly and then talk about the crazy person at table 8 when they're back in the kitchen.

Vedge:
1221 Locust Street
MiLah:
218 S. 16th
Mumbai Bistro:
930 Locust Street

No Cause For Alarm - But.... I'm in Love

with Molton Brown's (not to be confused with Alton Brown) Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod Bath & Shower Gel. 

Quite simply - it smells divine. (not to be confused with THE Divine) I will probably be discretely sniffing myself because I smell so good.

Fact:

• Molton Brown's slogan includes the phrase "Unmistakeably English"
• Molton Brown originated in London but was purchased by the Japanese corporation Kao in 2005

Located at:

Blue Mercury: 1707 Walnut Street

Blue Mercury's Rittenhouse location is small and very friendly. It also includes a spa. 

Do:

• Get on their mailing list to be invited to in-store events
• Ask for advice from their knowledgeable employees

Don't:

• Bring in a stroller - it is a small space
• Miss their great holiday value packs from:
• Laura Mercier
• Molton Brown
• Fresh

Tria: Or a place I've actually never been to

So I had a blind date here but it wasn't very successful - the date that is - so I guess you'll just have to try it based on what I've heard.

Tria at 12th and Spruce



Photo from their website

 I don't have much to share about this place. Simply put, my "date" did not consider the huge wait time. We stood around trying to make small talk (unsuccessfully) until we went for a coffee instead.  It was a gorgeous night but instead of wanting to walk around he asked if we could stand on a corner.
WHAT?
Perhaps he wanted to pick up a hooker. I don't know. Needless to say, we did not meet up again.

Tria:
Two center city locations: 12th and Spruce and 18th and Sansom
12th and Spruce:
Outside seating with heat lamps available when cold

Monday – Friday	4pm – Late Night
Saturday + Sunday	Noon - Late Night

Do:

• I have no idea as I haven't actually been here
• I have heard that they have excellent Happy Hour deals
• Go to Happy Hour M-Th 5-7pm at the 12th street location

Don't:

• Come at 6pm on Thursday night and think that you'll be able to sit immediately

Old City: or where Hipsters, Tourists, and the Overindulged Unite

Facts:

• I used to live in Old City until I could no longer handle hearing "American Woman" blaring out of the Big Bus tour, or the loud obnoxious blowing of the Duck tour kazoos, or the sound of bongos playing on First Friday.
• Actually, I also had a tiny bit of concern about the people hanging outside of the drug rehab center next door to me.
• Old City formally extends from Spring Garden Street, 4th Street, the Delaware River, and Walnut Street. But I never go as far as Spring Garden - maybe Race street.
• Old City has galleries, historic buildings (ie the Liberty Bell Center), shops and the aforementioned hipsters, tourists, and people with lots of money and a sense of entitlement (much like the main line).

Do:

• Check out Lost and Found - an affordable shop (unlike many of the surrounding boutiques) for men's and women's fashions/accessories at 133 N. 3rd St.
• Go to nearby Cafe Ole at 147 N 3rd St. for great hummus and ice tea.
• Visit PAWS at 100 N. 2nd street to volunteer and/or adopt a sweet cat or dog.
• Walk and visit historic spots like Elfreth's Alley, Franklin Court, and Independence Hall.

Don't:

• Forget to visit the Betsy Ross House (next to the former Real World Philadelphia house).
• Try and engage the guy playing a cittern in conversation at the Visitor's Center at 599 Market St. as he is a jerk.
• Miss First Friday, where galleries show new art and provide some nibbles and wine on the first Friday of every month (but you may have to suffer through pretentious patrons and the overlymonied)
• Pass on Franklin Fountain -which has awesomely extravagant ice cream creations made from local Bassetts ice cream. Though the owner's handle-bar mustache is a little off-putting.

Memphis Taproom: or a special journey into Kensington

Facts:

• I cheated and did not take public transport. I got a ride. There is a simple reason for this. It's in KENSINGTON. I'm not saying that you can't take public transit to Kensington but I am saying if you can get a ride - then do so. 
• Good place to take vegetarians or vegans.
• I went here because I saw it on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and I'm a sucker for marketing. 

How to get there (if you're not getting a ride):

• Take Market-Frankford subway to Spring Garden.
• Take SEPTA bus 25 to Cedar and Cumberland streets.
• Address: 2331 E. Cumberland Street at Memphis (which I guess explains why it's not a bbq place like I originally thought)

Do:

• Order the Beer-Battered Kosher Dils.
• Check out their new beer garden - open from April to October.

Don't:

• Walk around alone at night.  Does the Kensington Strangler ring any bells?

Chemical Heritage Foundation - or a place I've walked by but had no idea what it was

Facts:

• The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) began in 1982 as the Center for the History of Chemistry.
• It was a pilot project of the University of Pennsylvania and the American Chemical Society.
• It was made a non-profit organization in 1987. And became the CHF in 1992.

• Today the Chemical Heritage Foundation has a library, museum, and a conference center. It also supports research, produces educational materials and offers fellowships.

 

Swiss Bakelite phone. Photo by Gregory Tobias from the collection Making Modernity.

  

Location:

• The Chemical Heritage Foundation is located at 315 Chestnut Street in what used to be the 1865 First National Bank. It was renovated and opened on October 3, 2008.  

Do:

• Visit the Museum - it's free! Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
• Use the restrooms in the Museum/Conference area - the floors are made of recycled cans!
• Check out the exhibition Making Modernity!

Bakelite and Lucite Handbag. Photo by Gregory Tobias from the collection Making Modernity.

Don't:

• Want to take a guided tour of the museum? (Because really - who has the attention span or the ability to deal with cantankerous old people?) Take a self-guided tour using your cell phone! 215.525.1682
• Miss First Fridays - the museum hosts events and guest speakers and is open until 8pm.