The beginning of September is when University City shakes off its lazy summer vibe and springs to life again, awash with the freshly tanned faces of university folk and locals returning from summer vacation, all ready to jump back into their school year routines. But let's break that routine before it gets too ingrained. What better way to do so than with that other hallmark of the summer-to-autumn transition, the Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival!

The festival kicks off this Friday and will run for two performance-packed weeks at venues all around the city including, of course, our fair West Philly. “The Festival” is actually two separate festivals under the same cover – Live Arts consists exclusively of shows by a handful professional companies that have been selected to perform, while Philly Fringe is a massive extravaganza of almost 200 different productions put on by professionals and amateurs alike. Both festivals are overflowing with the vibrancy, energy, and excitement of experimental and avant-garde performances, and you never know quite what to expect when you walk into a show.

This year’s festival has an emphasis on theater, of course, but also includes tons of shows that are better classified as dance, music, comedy, improve, visual art, puppetry, and even “buskers.” The official Festival website has all the info you could possibly need, including an online box office (the already cheap tickets are extra cheap for students and anyone under 26). Check out the show finder tool to hone in on performances taking place in West Philly. For Live Arts, they include the Bang on a Can Marathon at World Café Live, a documentary about Headlong Dance Theatre, and “Stew and the Negro Problem,” a performance by an Afro Baroque cabaret that’s halfway between rock concert and theater. There are tons of Fringe performance going on in the neighborhood as well, including theatre, comedy, and a one-night mini-festival by Penn’s experimental theatre company, iNtuitons.

Check out the festival guide or the website to choose your favorite, and be sure to catch as many shows as you can!

Live Arts & Philly Fringe Festival
September 3rd – 8th
www.livearts-fringe.org

Related Tags: Entertainment, Culture

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Free Summer Performances: Rennie Harris RHAW, KeturahNicole, and Project Capoeira Strut Their Stuff Outside the Free Library

Posted by Samantha Lazar on August 23, 2010

Summer may be drawing to a close, but it’s not over just yet. Capitalizing on the warmth before it wanes, University City District, Penn, and the Rotunda have teamed up to offer a fabulous free outdoor dance show. We’re not talking tutus and ballerinas here – we’re talking about rocking, hopping, acrobatic moves to Afro-Brazilian beats and athletic street dancing.

On Saturday evening three Philly-based dance companies will take over the green space behind the Free Library at 40th and Walnut. Two performers you might not be familiar with are KeturahNicole, a West Philly breakdance and funk troupe, and Project Capoeira, which performs dances that merge rhythmic music, intense gymnastics, and deadly martial arts moves. In fact, “Capoeira” was a dance form originated by African slaves in Brazil as a secret cover for practicing the fighting techniques that the salves used to fight off colonizers. How cool is that?

In addition to those exciting groups, the world-famous Rennie Harris will take the stage with RHAW, his youth-driven company. A Philly native, Harris’s street dancing company Rennie Harris Puremovement has garnered an international reputation. RHAW teaches and performs exhilarating street moves like Campbell Locking, Popping & Boogaloo (the best-named technique, for sure), as well as House and Hip Hop dance. Don’t worry if you don’t have a clue what any of these techniques are – that will just make it all the more thrilling.

Checking out these exciting homegrown companies will make for an awesome late-summer evening. Oh, and did I mention there will be free Rita’s water ice?

Free Summer Performance, Outdoor Dance Event
Saturday, August 28th at 6 pm
40th and Walnut, behind the Free Library
More details here.

University City District
www.universitycity.org

Related Tags: Entertainment, Culture

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An Unexpected Ice Cream Destination: Desi Chaat House

Posted by Samantha Lazar on August 10, 2010

Since it opened earlier this year Desi Chaat House has been steadily gaining a reputation for serving the best Indian street food in Philadelphia (some would even say on this side of the world, but since it's the only chaat I've ever tried I'll abstain from weighing in on that). The lines, which sometimes stretch out the door, attest to the deliciousness and popularity of the chaat. But salty, tangy, spicy snacks aren't the only thing that people are lining up for anymore: now the little eatery is dishing out Indian ice cream, too.

When I first checked it out in the spring, the friendly owner told me to stay tuned because he was going to start whipping up special Indian ice creams for summertime. I regret that it took me so long to come back for the ice cream -- I could've been indulging all summer!

The ice cream case houses about ten rotating flavors, with standards like strawberry and chocolate (with big chunks of strawberries and chocolate in them, of course) that even timid kids will go for. The really special flavors, though, are the ones you won't find at Ben & Jerry's or even at Capogiro: the Indian flavors. Kulfi, saffron, and a special floral-scented flavor were all choices when I visited. If you have a tough time deciding you can always opt for "Crazy Ice Cream", which is a mishmash of all the previous day's leftover flavors. I detected bits of mango, strawberry, and kulfi all swirled together. For just $1.50 you can get one scoop of any flavor (a scoop is nothing to scoff at), which has to be the cheapest price the world has seen for ice cream since approximately 1975. Make sure to specify if you want only a scoop though -- if you just ask for ice cream you'll get whatever flavor you've selected piled high with rich caramel sauce, candied nuts, and sliced bananas. This veritable sundae clocks in at only $3.99, and oh boy is it delicious.

Stop in on the next hot afternoon for a real treat (weather update: yeah, that'll be everyday for at least the next month).

Desi Chaat House
501 S. 42nd Street (42nd and Baltimore)
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 386-1999
www.desichaathouse.com

Related Destination: Desi Chaat House »

Related Tag: Dining + Food

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Atiya Ola’s: Raw Foods on Baltimore Avenue

Posted by Samantha Lazar on August 2, 2010

The raw food revolution has been embraced by a lot of West Phillyites, but there’s a dearth of places in the neighborhood to find the uncooked, unprocessed, and organic fare. The popular Milk & Honey Market helped a bit when it opened last year, but there’s another place new to Baltimore Avenue in the past year that’s sure to be any raw foodie’s delight: Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods.

The little café offers up vegan and vegetarian dishes, along with a few meat dishes, in addition to its raw food specialties. It is most popular for breakfast and lunch – so much so that I didn’t even realize that it was also open for dinner until I was told so (the grill closes at 7). I decided to stop by for an early dinner on my way to Shakespeare in Clark Park this past weekend to give my body a blast of nutrients.

The menu consists of sandwiches and wraps, salads, and a selection of raw foods that changes daily, with a few mainstays. There are also vitamin-rich smoothies. The smoothies aren’t what you’ll find at Freshens or even Jamba Juice, though – these drinks consist of fruits blended up with all sorts of green things . . . think kale, moss, and detoxifying berries. My favorite raw food was the couscous, which is so popular that it’s always on the menu even while other selections rotate. What I liked even more, though, was the fresh Avocado Salad, which came with an entire perfectly ripe chunked avocado drizzled with an Asian-like dressing called “Magic Marinade.”

Be warned, though: much of the raw fare isn't for the uninitiated. My boyfriend almost gagged on the first sip of his "Peach Moss" smoothie, despite the healthy 92 minerals imparted by the sea moss. He pushed it away and munched happily on a salmon and goat cheese sandwich instead.

Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods
4505 Baltimore Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 939-3298

Related Destination: Atiya Ola's Spirit First Foods »

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“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – Free Shakespeare in Clark Park!

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 26, 2010

Free, outdoor theater performances in public parks on summer evenings: it’s one of the great traditions of summer. Shakespeare plays are undoubtedly the most chosen for these picnic performances; I don’t know why that is… maybe it’s their universal appeal, their familiarity, the outlandish humor of the comedies, or the undeniable brilliance of the bard. Whatever it is, there’s no doubt that Shakespeare is tops – and the most performed of all his park-staged plays is certainly the comedic gem that is perfectly suited to both wooded glens and a summer evenings: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Shakespeare in Clark Park, West Philly’s resident Shakespeare company, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year with the classic production. Their shows are always stellar, with solid acting, impressive production values (the show is outdoors, for crying out loud!), and overflowing energy. The production will expand on an awesome element of last year’s show by including a musical component. Instead of just a few bizarre musical interludes, a three piece band will be accompanying the performers, featuring unique compositions played on accordion, violin, and percussion. Shakespeare wrote song-and-dance sequences into the play but didn’t include any actual musical notations, so this production will bring the segments to life and would certainly make him proud. Spectators’ picnic blankets, lawn chairs, bottles of wine, and romping dogs will combine with the excitement of the show and the loveliness of Clark Park to create a festive one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

The show will run for five performances, opening on Wednesday night and running through Sunday night, always at 7pm. Get there early – crowds on weekend nights can top 1,000 audience members, and prime seating gets claimed quickly! (In the event of rain, the performance gets moved inside to the Calvary Center at 48th and Baltimore.)

Catching a performance is a cultural rite of summer. Put it on your calendar: with Puck, Oberon, and Titania flitting about Clark Park (on BMX bikes, rumor has it), it’s sure to be an enchanted evening.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Presented by Shakespeare in Clark Park
Wednesday, July 28 - Sunday, August 1, 2010
All Performances at 7PM
www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org

Clark Park (Near ‘The Bowl’)
Intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.clarkpark.info

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Related Tags: Entertainment, Family Fun, Clark Park, Culture

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Marrakesh Express: Authentic Moroccan Cuisine, Like You’ve Never Had Before

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 21, 2010

Marrakesh Express has been open for less than a year, and in that time it’s already become West Philly’s go-to spot for authentic north African cuisine. There are several so-called Moroccan restaurants in the city, but Marrakesh Express is the only one that’s actually owned by Moroccans – and, lest you think the background and upbringing of the owners doesn’t matter much, it shines through in every tender, flavorful bite.

The citizenry agree: the tiny restaurant has a perfect 5 star rating on Urbanspoon and 4.5 stars on Yelp, in spite of the fact that Yelp has mysteriously decided to filter out 10 top-notch reviews. (Scroll down to the bottom of the Yelp page and click on the tiny “10 filtered” to see them – one woman has lived and traveled extensively in Morocco and swears this food is some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

The restaurant is in a diverse neighborhood and has the feel of a local joint, with a mix of actual Moroccans, students, and those in search of strictly halal food all stopping in and mingling. Brahim, the super-friendly owner, will be sure to explain each dish to you if you have any questions. But here’s some advice: try the daily special, and make sure to taste some hummus too. I stopped by for lunch on Friday, which means the couscous special had been simmering all morning (and would sell out in just a couple of hours). The restaurant is so small, with such a devotion to real, home-cooked food, that everything is made fresh and to order, which also means in small batches destined to go quickly.

The couscous was heaped with veggies and chicken so tender that the meat of the leg and thigh fell right off the bone. Lamb is big on the menu, and is perfectly spiced. The flavors are complex and pronounced, but not enough to overpower the outstanding taste of the tender meat. Oh, and remember that hummus I told you about? It’s divine. Simply the best I’ve ever had. Maybe that’s because it takes them three days to painstakingly make the fresh, slightly chunky dip, which is served up with an enticing pool of oil in the middle. Though I didn’t try one myself, I’ve heard that the tangine dishes are phenomenal as well. I washed my meal down with a pomegranate soda (exotic!).

Check this place out for lunch sometime soon. It’s affordable, delicious, and already a neighborhood gem.

Marrakesh Express
4407 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 222-9008
www.halalmarrakesh.com

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Dining Days are Upon Us!

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 14, 2010

Every West Philadelphia foodie’s favorite time of year is just around the corner:University City Dining Days! This year’s event, the fifth annual, begins on Thursday and will run through July 29th. In case your math skills are lacking, that’s two full weeks, extended from what used to be just one.

Dining Days veterans know that restaurants are divided into three categories. Each restaurant offers a special prix fixe meal for either $15, $25, or $30. That’s an appetizer, main course, and dessert at some of the area’s hottest eateries for as little as $15! A whopping 29 restaurants will be participating this year, including some places that are relatively new to the area. If you haven’t heeded my advice and checked out City Tap House, Landmark Americana, or Sang Kee Noodle House yet, now’s a perfect time to get a taste of these new favorites.

Adding to the festive feel of these fabulous mid-summer weeks, some live entertainment will be on hand Thursday through Saturday (the 15th – 17th) and next Thursday and Friday (the 22nd and 23rd). The performances will feature jugglers and fire dancers in the vicinity of 40th and Walnut. Check out the official Dining Days page for the full deets on the entertainment and the list of participating restaurants along with their special menus.

Just like the Hess Truck, Dining Days is back and better than ever this year. So make your reservations quickly – prime spots fill up in a hurry!

Dining Days 2010
July 15th – 29th
Restaurants all over University City!
www.universitycity.org/diningdays

Related Tag: Dining + Food

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Silk Road Summer Nights: a Pay-What-You-Want Wednesday Evening Music Series at the Penn Museum

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 7, 2010

What’s there to do on a sultry Wednesday evening this summer? You could venture eastward across to the bridge for Center City Sips special happy hour deals, but you’d work up quite a sweat just getting there, and then fighting for space at a bar. You could catch a Metropolitan Opera performance at the Rave University City 6 movie theater (formerly The Bridge) – more on that in an upcoming post! Or, seeing as we’ve been spotlighting the fabulous programs of the Penn Museum lately, how about checking out their Silk Roads Summer Nights music series?

Step out of your over air conditioned office or classroom at 5 o’clock tonight – or any Wednesday night this summer – and head over to the museum’s beautiful Warden Garden. A different ensemble will be playing each week, and all have exotic, eastern-inspired sounds. You won’t even have to forgo that obligatory happy hour cocktail, as they’ll be serving up drinks and light fare to nibble on while listening to music inspired by different stops along the ancient Silk Road, which connected the east and west.

In addition to the music, the pay-what-you-want program (that’s almost as good as free!) also opens up select museum galleries for perusing. It takes place every Wednesday from 5 to 8 all summer long, rain or shine. There’s even wifi in the garden, creating an environment that’s perfect for any type of person: bust out the laptop and do some work while enjoying beautiful weather, lovely live music, and sipping a cocktail. Or duck inside for a respite from the heat and check out the museum’s collections before heading back to the festive concert.

Tonight’s event will feature an ensemble from Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture playing Egyptian music. Click here for the full schedule of who’s playing each week, along with more info on the events. You can always count on the Penn Museum for programming that’s fun, cultural, and a great way to break your dull routine!

Silk Road Summer Nights Music Series
Wednesdays through August 25th, 5pm - 8pm

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-4000
www.museum.upenn.edu