Manayunk.com Magazine - Winter 2013

MANAYUNK LIVE|SHOP|DINE|PLAY

.COM WINTER 2013

Rock Stars Meet Main Street Mainstays Norma and Gary Mann The All-Manayunk Gift Guide Where to BYOB on Valentine’s Day A Cyclist’s Guide to Staying Fit Through the Winter

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Winter 2013-2014 | manayunk.com

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MANAYUNK.COM

The strongest buzz continues to surround The Transfer Station (pictured), a sleek, four-story, retail-professional-event cathedral that’s in development for the corner of Main Street and Green Lane, where a defunct power substation now stands. While the project’s originators, brothers Adam and Simon Rogers, attempt to get a “crowd-funded” capital campaign off the ground—believed to be a first in Pennsylvania real estate— they took over the former Restoration Hardware building on Main Street.

There, at “Transfer East,” as they’ve dubbed it, parts of their master plan are already in motion between a mix of customizable, below-market value storefronts and communal and private office space.

In a feature that appeared in our last issue, Adam Rogers estimated that once the sale of the substation was completed, the renovation would take six to eight months and cost roughly $2.5 to $3 million. If those numbers don’t scare you off, visit The Transfer Station’s page at www.fundrise.com.

And, technically, while Manayunk Brewing Company’s (4120 Main St.) been open for almost two decades, it’s worth noting that its brewery is undergoing a massive expansion, largely to keep up with the MBC’s growing reach. Aside from keeping its own brewpub’s taps flowing, the brewery also supplies an imprecise-but-growing number of pubs and stores throughout the region.

After the overhaul, the brewery’s expected to churn out 4,000 barrels a year. Its current pace stands at 1,800.

Taqueria Feliz is now officially open on Main Street and people are still buzzing with excitement about the restaurant. With everyone wanting to try the newest addition to Main Street, the wait for a table has been long.

Call ahead and make a reservation if one is available, the carnitas tacos are guaranteed to please or walk on the wild side with the cricket taco.

Even as the summer was winding down, Manayunk managed to grow a little greener. The Art of V (4165 Main Street), a vegetarian restaurant, opened in the space previously held down by the Persian restaurant Ali Baba Palace behind Benhaz Shiraz, who owned Ali Baba, and Arthur Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department.

The longtime friends brought on chef Muss Clark to develop the menu, which also features fresh juices and smoothies. The food, however, is only part of Johnson’s vision. In an interview published on the eve of the opening in late August, he discussed an interest in hosting art shows, dinner theater and karaoke.—Scott Edwards

Manayunk.com Magazine is published quarterly by the Manayunk Development Corp.

Manayunk Development Corporation 4312 Main Street Philadelphia, PA 19127 215.482.9565 | info@manayunk.org 4

manayunk.com | Winter 2013-2014

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contents 06

December 2013 February 2014

Mark Your Calendar Santa’s comin’ to town—aboard a hand-carved sleigh of ice

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Sneak A Peek Scenes from a post-apocalyptic Manayunk

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Cover Profile After 25 years, jeweler Gary Mann inspires a devout following

LIVE

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Expert Advice The ultimate insider’s map of Manayunk

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Public Art Our favorite shots from the Instagram “takeover”

SHOP

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Gift Guide A holiday gift guide that covers everyone on your list, curated entirely from the shops on and around Main Street

DINE

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BYOB it this Valentine’s Day Inexpensive, but no-less-romantic Valentine’s Day dining spots

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Taste This A better fruitcake: Sweet Elizabeth’s sugar cookies

PLAY

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Get Physical The cyclist’s guide to staying fit through the long, cold winter

COVER Norma and Gary Mann photographed by SUSAN BEARD

/ SUSAN BEARD DESIGN (www.susanbearddesign.com). Assisted by Erika Smith. Sculpture by Gary Mann.

Editorial + Production Editor

Scott Edwards

Design

Cantor Design

Sales

M7 610.417.9261 bauerjim7@gmail.com

PHOTO (NOW OPEN) COURTESY THE TRANSFER STATION

NOW OPEN

LIVE SHOP DINE PLAY

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Small Business Saturday As a national occasion sponsored by a corporate giant (American Express), Small Business Saturday began in 2010 to help small businesses get more exposure during the biggest shopping weekend of the year. This event was practically made for Manayunk, a neighborhood where almost all of the businesses are owner-operated. On this Small Business Saturday, November 30th, enjoy a unique shopping experience complete with discounts, special events, and giveaways. Give back - shop small, shop local and support small businesses.

SMALL.

SHOP LOCAL.

SHOP MNYK.

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Holidays in Manayunk Santa is busy making his rounds this holiday season, but has managed to squeeze Manayunk into his busy schedule on three different occasions: November 30th, December 7th, and December 14th. Before he arrives on December 7th, ice carvers will be hard at work carving Santa a large ice sleigh. Watch the live carving and then sit on Santa’s lap for a picture during the Santa On Ice event. After getting your picture with Santa, you can stick around for holiday performances and the annual Manayunk Tree Lighting Ceremony in Canal View Park. Christmas carols, hot chocolate, Santa, and a giant tree – is there any other way to kick off the holiday season?

Each day Santa is in town, you’ll also be able to ride Santa’s trolley up and down Main Street.

Ride from one shop to another or ride to a restaurant for a much needed post shopping dinner.

Did we mention it’s free?

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Valentine’s Day If you haven’t already started planning your Valentine’s Day, flip to page 24 and read why you should BYOB it this Valentine’s Day. Once you finish the article, make sure to follow our instructions and make a reservation now, you don’t want to miss out like you did last year. Visit Manayunk before Valentine’s Day and you can pick up a shiny piece of jewelry, a bouquet of flowers, local homemade chocolates, or even cupcakes, whatever suits your Valentine’s fancy. Then before you head to your BYOB reservation, stop by Main Street Wine Cellar and pick up a bottle of their award winning wine.

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SHOP

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

DECEMBER 2013 / FEBRUARY 2014

First Friday When First Friday finally arrived in Manayunk a couple years back, it felt overdue. With the intimate shops and galleries along Main Street, and the ones just off the beaten path, along Shurs and Green lanes and some of the other quaint side streets, it’s the kind of downtown that’s begging to be discovered during a casual stroll, display window by display window. And when there are cozy restaurants to duck into at regular intervals for a warming cocktail and a nosh, four hours can fly by rapidly. Follow the flags Dec. 6, January 3 and February 7, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Event details can be found at MANAYUNK.COM. 6

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SNEAK A PEEK

We Survived the Apocalypse

From fairy princesses to the spiders who haunt them, Manayunk was overrun with elaborately-costumed characters from seemingly every age bracket for the neighborhoodwide Halloween celebration October 26. The day culminated in a zombie-infested dance-off, featuring a Michael Jackson look-alike or two, that put the “Thriller� video to shame.

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BUY SOMETHING SPECIAL. SOMEPLACE SPECIAL.

THIS SEASON, IT’S MANAYUNK! SHOP SMALL. SHOP LOCAL. SPECIAL EVENTS HAPPENING EVERY SATURDAY!

. " / " : 6 / , $ 0 .

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LIVE.EXPERT ADVICE

WELCOME TO ANN TETREAULT’S MANAYUNK

Where there’s avant-garde shopping and indulgent eating.

And possibility percolating everywhere.

For me, Manayunk is more than just Main Street. It’s the neighborhood where I purchased my home, got married and, now, the place where I’m raising my daughter. It’s the place where I opened my shop, The Spiral Bookcase. I love the narrow streets, the ubiquitous rowhomes, the hundreds of stairs leading up the steep hills and our proximity to the river. I love coming to work, selling books and chatting with customers, neighbors and friends.

My daily routine consists of a walk down the hill to the Canal Tow Path and stopping at Volo Coffeehouse (4360 Main St.) for a cup of coffee on my way to the shop. Lunch usually leads me to Smiley’s Café (110 Cotton St.). On my way home, on occasion, I’ll dip into Lucky’s Last Chance (4421 Main St.) to catch up with some of the other business owners from around town.

Chris Pelusi, the bartender and manager, has a keen intuition about the drink that’ll remedy my stress at any given moment.

If the grandparents are in town, with baby nestled in bed, my husband and I will head out to dinner at Yanako (4255 Main St.) for the best sushi in the city, or Manayunk Brewing Company (4120 Main St.), and then check out a show at The Grape Room (105 Grape St.).

Since the holidays are getting close, I’m already envisioning a full day of holiday shopping, with stops at The Little Apple (4353 Main St.), Meadowsweet Mercantile (4390 Main St.), Orbit Art (4312 Main St.), Latitudes and Longitudes (4325 Main St.), (4403 Main St.), Main Street Music (4444 Main St.), Tiny Terra Ferma (4324 Main St.), Petit Gourmand (103 Cotton St.), and Hidden River Yarns (4358B Main St.). The independent, small businesses are the heart of Main Street.

I’ll pop by Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes (4409 Main St.) to recharge over a signature cupcake and warm up my bones at Han Dy10

nasty (4356 Main St.). I’m already daydreaming about sipping a Three Chili Margarita from Taqueria Feliz (4410 Main St.) to unwind after the long day.

Beyond my daily routines and holiday shopping, I take advantage of living in an area where so many people and organizations enhance the neighborhood through cultural programming and community initiatives.

So, to explore my Manayunk, I suggest that you start by attending a meeting of the Roxborough, Manayunk, Wissahickon Historical Society (philanet.com/historical.html) or volunteer at Pretzel Park (www.facebook.com/PretzelPark). Watch the Manayunk of tomorrow take shape at a Destination Schuylkill River (manayunk.com/dsr) meeting, where projects like linking the Cynwyd Heritage Trail with Manayunk’s are originating and evolving. Become a member of the Manayunk-Roxborough Food Coop (www.facebook.com/manayunkfoodcoop), and be sure to visit its new farmers market. Stop by The Transfer Station (www.thexfr.org), the innovative co-working space on Main Street. And don’t forget about the Manayunk-Roxborough Arts Center (mrartcenter.org) and North Light Community Center (www.northlightcommunitycenter.org).

Whether you spend a day hitting my favorite Main Street spots or decide to delve a little deeper into our charming neighborhood, you’ll be surprised at how much Manayunk has to offer.

And, be sure to pick up a book on your way home.

Ann Tetreault is the owner of The Spiral Bookcase, 112 Cotton Street, Manayunk; 215-482-0704; thespiralbookcase.com.

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The Bazemore Gallery is excited to share our space and love of art with the community. Our gallery design is based on our intuitive perception of the five elements of feng shui. The art on our walls is food for the soul. We aim to sell our paintings to new and seasoned collectors, interior designers purchasing for their clientele and buyers for corporate collections.

The Bazemore Gallery is a boutique art gallery. We are proud to be located in the historic section of Manayunk, Philadelphia.

4339 Main Street • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19127 215.482.1119 • www.thebazemoregallery.com

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LIVE.PUBLIC ART

MY MANAYUNK

A couple months back, we put the call out to Manayunk residents to takeover our Instagram feed for a week. The aim was simple: for Manayunk residents to showoff what they love about their neighborhood from obscure angles and some familiar ones. We’re featuring a few of our favorite snapshots from our Instagram Takeover hosts so far here-and, hopefully, baiting the next one. This is too much fun to call it quits anytime soon. If you want to show everyone what you love about Manayunk, reach out to us.

STAY SOCIAL Instagram @manayunkdotcom Facebook /Manayunk Twitter @ManayunkDotCom Pinterest /manayunkdotcom

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Valet Parking - 7 Days a Week Complimentary on Mondays & Tuesdays

Book your next Private Event for 20 to 250 people.

Everything from cocktail parties to happy hour’s and office gatherings to holiday celebrations are available.

To book contact Melissa at mgregory@bourbonblue.com or 215.508 3360

Live Acoustic Music every Wednesday through Sunday starting at 8PM

2 Rector Street Manayunk BourbonBlue.com 215.508.3360

Sign up for our Guest Rewards Card and receive 50 FREE Bonus Points!

Gift cards now available in any denomination!

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SHOP.GIFT GUIDE

Gifts Galore

You’re welcome, of course, to spend an afternoon window shopping in Manayunk.

After all, there’s Reason No. 3,696 to frequent independent shops: You don’t know what you’re looking for until you find it. But, if you’re short on time this Holiday shopping season, here’s a gift guide hand selected by each stores owner that will cover everyone on your list.

PRECIOUS GEMSTONE RINGS, 14 to 18 karat, yellow and white gold and platinum, prices start at $750, Gary Mann Jewelers, 4349 Main Street, garymannjewelry.com

CROSSING VINEYARDS AWARD WINNING WINE, $20, Main Street Wine Cellar, 4386 Main St., 267-385-7084

HANDMADE APRON (available in various prints, materials and sizes), $20 to $35, Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes, 4409 Main St., www.sweetelizabethscakes.com

PAULA HIAN SABINE DRESS from the Holiday 2013 Collection, $1,495, paulahian.com 14

HERMÈS SILK SCARF (new), $195, Remix on Main, 4355 Main St., remixonmain.com

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THE WALL CYCLING STUDIO GIFT PACKAGE (includes unlimited access for one month and four small-group personal training sessions), $150 (offer valid through December 22), The Wall Cycling Studio, 100 Levering St., thewallcyclingstudio.com

LA LOOP, $210, and ANNE ET VALENTIN FRAMES, $490, The Eyeglass Works, 4407 Main St., www.theeyeglassworks.com

BODUM TRAVEL PRESS, $20, Petit Gourmand, 103 Cotton St., petitgourmandphila.com

REWINED SIGNATURE WINE BOTTLE CANDLES, $30 each, Latitudes and Longitudes, 4325 Main St., www.facebook.com/LatitudesAndLongtitudes Winter 2013-2014 | manayunk.com 15

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SHOP.GIFT GUIDE

WOODWORKSBYTIM RAZOR, $120, AND ACRYLIC PENS, $230 each, Orbit Art, 4203 Main Street, orbitartonline.wordpress.com

JL RACING ZIPTECH LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT, $52, AND TIGHTS, $55, JL Racing, 4361 Main St., jlracing.com

NICOLE MILLER LIMITED EDITION “PHILADELPHIA”-PRINT TIE, $95, AND SCARF, $70, Nicole Miller, 4249 Main St., www.nicolemillerphiladelphia.com

WHITE PINE CHRISTMAS TREE (to be replanted in January as part of Tiny Terra Ferma’s local reforestation effort), prices vary, Tiny Terra Ferma, 4324 Main St., www.tinyterraferma.com

THETFORD HILL ROCKER, prices start at $1,990, Pompanoosuc Mills, 4120 Main St., www.pompy.com

WHISKY STONES (set of nine), $25, and VITAL INDUSTRIES MIXOLOGY ROCKS GLASSES, $12 each, The Little Apple, 4353 Main St., www.thelittleapplestore.com 16

CHEW PHILLY FOOD TOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE, $60 (offer valid through December 31), Chew Philly Food Tours, 4312 Main St., www.phillyfoodtours.com/gift

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SPECIALIZED ALIGN (his), $40, and ASPIRE (her), $65, HELMETS, Cadence Cycling & Multisport Center, 4323 Main Street, www.cadencecycling.com

BABIATORS (available in sizes 0 to three-yearsold and three- to seven-years-old), $16 each, Worn Yesterday, 4228 Main St., www.wornyesterday.com

Now With Three Locations!

THE FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN (Taschen), $40, The Spiral Bookcase, 112 Cotton St., thespiralbookcase.com

Jefferson Division of Internal Medicine Proudly Announces

New Bala Cynwyd Satellite Location Jefferson Internal Medicine Associates at Bala 225 E. City Avenue, Suite 109, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Top 5 Indian Restaurant, Philly Hot List Ashley Summer, MD

BYOB

Dine-In

Manayunk: (215) 508-2120 4425 Main Street Lunch Specials

Takeout

East Falls: (267) 335-3312 3492 Tilden Street Lunch Specials

Delivery (NEW!): (610) 658-2120

Now accepting new patients.

Call 215-503-3838 or 1-800-JEFF-NOW. Most insurances accepted. Convenient free parking available.

Lunch Buffet

@LaxmisIndian

www.LaxmisIndianGrille.com

THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY

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SHOP.GIFT GUIDE

from

hance

Last C 's y k c u L t a w e the cr

2013 Philadelphia Burger Brawl People’s Choice Winner

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Monthly

4 courses | 4 beers | $25 December

January

February

visit www.kildaresirishpub.com/beer-dinner for this month’s menu

Shop Kildare’s Online

Licensed Guinness Products| Irish Apparel | Home/Bar Merchandise

www.kildaresirishpubstore.com 4417 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127 | (215) 482-7242 S.ThingsWeLove.MNYK.Dec13Feb14.05.indd 19

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COVER PROFILE

All that Glitters Jewelry will never be anything short of pure spectacle for two of Main Street’s longesttenured shop owners.

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PHOTOS BY SUSAN BEARD (WWW.SUSANBEARDDESIGN.COM) / ASSISTED BY ERIKA SMITH

In exchange for a guarantee of stability, most small business owners would seriously consider signing away their rights to any number of coveted attachments—a car, a house, a firstborn. So, Gary and Norma Mann, with 25 years beneath them as the owners of Gary Mann Jewelers, are well aware of just how good they’ve got it.

Consider how much the landscape around their store on Manayunk’s Main Street has changed over that time and you’ll begin to grasp an appreciation for that longevity from the other side of the display case. Most of their clients aren’t loyal.

They’re devout believers in Gary’s ability to transform gold, platinum and gems into revelatory art. When you gift something like that and get the reaction it deserves, Christmas shopping immediately gets a whole lot simpler (and more expensive) for the rest of your life.

When he’s not in the midst of handfuls of engagement rings and bespoke jewelry-in-the-making, Gary favors the seclusion of his sculpture studio—he holds a sculpture degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology—where his constantly-humming creativity is drawn to the flexibility of bending shapes on a larger scale. Some of it has spilled into the store, where he sells his own line of landscape garden sculpture and fountains.

We caught the couple just before they battered down for the onslaught that is the holiday shopping season, seeking a bit of insight into the kind of people it takes to sustain a run like theirs. Chip Kelly, you better be reading this.

—Scott Edwards

I was born in … GARY: Buffalo. NORMA: Syracuse.

I am a … GARY: tinker who tends to be fascinated with how objects are designed and constructed. NORMA: mother, wife, daughter, sister, Manayunk business owner and pioneer. Part-hippie chick, partfashionista, part-party planner.

My mother taught me … GARY: to bake cookies. NORMA: “True friends are like diamonds—bright, beautiful, valuable and always in style.” And how to get dinner on the table in five minutes flat.

My father taught me … GARY: to keep my options open. And to be smart in business, but not at someone else’s expense. NORMA: to always ask questions.

Jewelry piqued my interest because … GARY: it all comes pretty naturally to me. I’m the tenth generation of jewelers, watchmakers, engravers and silversmiths. NORMA: it’s the ultimate adornment.

Sculpting opens my eyes to … GARY: the possibilities in design of larger forms versus small details. My large sculptures are built from aluminum and copper, which allows me to be more playful than I can be with platinum and gold.

My greatest hero is … GARY: Hans Christensen, the renowned Danish silversmith, who I was lucky enough to study with at the Rochester Institute of Technology. NORMA: my father.

GARY MANN’S A “TINKER WHO TENDS TO BE FASCINATED WITH HOW OBJECTS ARE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED.”

I don’t tell many people that … GARY: I wish I could play guitar like Mark Knopfler and sing like Johnny Hartman. NORMA: I love watching “The Real Housewives.” Any of them, really. And that I’m perfectly

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positioned to be a matchmaker.

I couldn’t live without … GARY: my 27-speed hybrid bicycle.

NORMA: the sustenance of evenings out with strong girlfriends, pondering the meaning of life, dissecting celebrities and People Magazine and trying to figure out kids and husbands.

The most underrated part of Manayunk is … GARY: how walkable Main Street is. NORMA: the small-town feel in a big city.

One thing Manayunk really needs is … GARY: a trendy boutique hotel overlooking the canal and our new “high line” bridge. NORMA: an indie film theater.

People tell me all the time that … GARY: our store is their favorite jewelry store. NORMA: I’m so lucky that I’m married to a jeweler. I can wear whatever I want, right? Yes. And it is a great perk.

My drink of choice is … GARY: a dirty martini. NORMA: an extra-dirty martini, with plenty of blue cheese-stuffed olives.

The best book I ever read was … GARY: Sophie’s Choice.

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The last movie I saw was … GARY: Gravity. NORMA: Enough Said.

The achievement I’m most proud of … GARY: is being the father of two smart, open-minded, creative kids who aren’t afraid to work hard. NORMA: is the whole of my life: my marriage, my kids and my business.

If I could design a piece for one person, living or dead, it would be … GARY: Elizabeth Taylor. Or Bruce Springsteen.

NORMA: Gwen Stefani.

Every day, without fail, I … GARY: think about how lucky I am.

NORMA: make to-do lists.

One thing I would change about myself is … GARY: I would find more time to spend in my sculpture studio, just creating what feels right. NORMA: to slow down and enjoy moments while they’re happening.

The part of my job I like the least … GARY: is having to tell a customer that I can’t create a custom piece by the end of the day— which usually happens on Christmas Eve. NORMA: is the paperwork.

REAL ESTATE AROUND PHILLY Small Business To Do: 1.

2.

3.

Form LLC

Sign lease

Hire Employees

1. Call Philly Small Business Lawyer small business help from a small business owner

My greatest unfulfilled ambition … GARY: is backpacking through the Italian Alps. NORMA: is to travel the world.

I want to be remembered as … GARY: a nice guy who was talented at what he did. And who knew when a story ran too long and a joke crossed the line. And, of course, as the husband who delivered the perfect present to his wife every time. NORMA: a passionate business owner with integrity. And as a wife and mom who helped create good memories for her family.

215-482-0285 or info@phillysmallbusinesslawyer.com 103 Cotton Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127

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DINE.NIGHT ON THE TOWN

BYOB it in Manayunk this Valentine’s Day

By Scott Edwards

Whether you’re trying to impress someone new, celebrating with a spouse, or looking to just have a good time with a friend, it’s time to start formulating a game plan for Valentine’s Day now. We know, it may seem early, but we just want to help you get ahead of the game.

Large restaurants can be too rowdy and big names tend to bump up the prices for the special occasion, so we’ll make this convenient for you: choose Manayunk for Valentine’s Day. Plenty of restaurants. And they cover just about every kind of food you and, more importantly, your significant other crave. .

(If you don’t have their favorites pegged at this point, ask them flat out. Better to be obvious than wrong.) Better yet, 24

if you’re on a tighter budget, there’s no shortage of BYOBs. Instead of grabbing a box of chocolate, sparkly jewelry, or that perfect tie, grab their favorite bottle and head to one of these Manayunk BYOBs. Your dollar (or minimal credit card balance) will carry you far at Laxmi’s Indian Grille. The menu is loaded with heaping portions and reasonable pricing. And, since they’re on this vegetarian kick (and encouraging you to follow), they’ll appreciate the not-few veg-friendly dishes—hearty samosas, chana masala (chickpeas sautéed with onions, tomatoes and herbs)—while you hover over the massive mixed tandoori plat-

TOP PHOTO COURTESY YANAKO; PHOTOS BELOW RIGHT COURTESY OF LAXMI’S INDIAN GRILLE.

Bring your special someone and your favorite bottle of wine (or spirit if you’re so inclined) to one of these five Manayunk BYOB’s this Valentine’s Day

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attention—even if they’re not big on raw fish. 4255 MAIN ST.; WWW.THEYANAKO.COM

HAN DYNASTY’S LEGENDARY DAN DAN NOODLES (ABOVE).

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: YANAKO’S SUSHI BAR; BOTTOM RIGHT: TWO SUCCULENT DISHES FROM LAXMI’S INDIAN GRILLE.

ter (beautifully-grilled chicken, lamb and seafood), in awe, but unnoticed. In case you start to feel a little too full of yourself because of how well this is going, don’t ask for anything above mild spiciness. This is not the night to be a hero. 4425 MAIN STREET;

TOP PHOTO COURTESY HAN DYNASTY: RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY JAKE’S AND COOPER’S WINE BAR.

WWW.LAXMISINDIANGRILLE.COM

In a setting that’s been described as “nurturing” by none other than the always-cynical Philadelphia Weekly, chef and owner Moon Krapugthong aims for authenticity at her Chabaa Thai Bistro by enticing every sense. She doesn’t need to try that hard. As genuine as a person gets, her warmth seems to rub off on everything and -one she comes in touch with. Why is this worth noting? Because, when you think about it, a fraction of any given dining-out experience is spent actually eating. So, the more comfortable you feel during those lulls, the more relaxed their mood’s likely to be when exiting the restaurant. Plus, it’s all, at the very least, a good distraction from the sound that’s required of a bowl of crispy-duck pad Thai, which is why you’re really there. 4371 MAIN ST.; WWW.CHABAATHAI.COM Just down the street is Chabaa’s sister restaurant, Yanako, Krapugthong’s take on traditional Japanese and sushi. Instead of reserving an out-of-the-way table, take the opposite tack and grab a couple of stools at the sushi bar. There, without being pretentious about it, spark up a dialogue with the chef and encourage him to make a couple suggestions, or even map out your entire meal, if he’s willing. Not only is he likely to take you to the prime cuts of his menu, like the much-loved Seven Seas Roll (tuna, yellowtail, cucumber and masago topped with avocado, tempura crunch and a spicy aioli), he may even lead you away from it. Your guest will enjoy the hyper-focused

If you’re the sort of couple that prefers finding each other at the end of the day over some choice takeout and a couple of cold beers, Han Dynasty would be a treat, while keeping you squarely in your comfort zone. In fact, it probably already is your choice takeout. Still, put in a little effort and actually go to the restaurant this one night. For the rest of you, the setting is relatively low-frills, but the food is far from generic. Don’t even call it Chinese, because no such cuisine exists. It’s Szechuan, and meticulously-depicted at that. There’s no way around it here; you’re going to sweat. But, as long as you’re both doing it, you can laugh about it. You’ll be too consumed by the legendary Dan Dan Noodles, the double-cooked fish and the eggplant in garlic sauce to care anyway. 4356 MAIN ST.; HANDYNASTY.NET Jake’s and Cooper’s Wine Bar is not a BYOB. Obviously. But, as long as you’re eating in the dining room, you can bring your own for a $15 corkage fee. Which isn’t unreasonable if your favorite kind didn’t make it onto the wine list. If you choose to drink there, the wine list is loaded with obscure but affordable finds.

And, it’s tailored to chef and owner Bruce Cooper’s locally-driven menu, which is ONE OF JAKE’S & COOPER’S WINE especially-conducive BAR’S TANTILIZING PIZZAS. to sharing. Sure, the prime burger is screaming your name, but it’ll be much more romantic to graze fingers over the charcuterie board and the potato hazelnut gnocchi. 4365 MAIN ST.; WWW.JAKESRESTAURANT.COM While your stomach’s grumbling, make a reservation. You’re going to be plenty distracted over the next month, so having one less thing to worry about is a good thing. Every one of these restaurants is intimate (read: relatively small), which makes them perfectly-suited for Valentine’s Day—unless you stall on making that reservation until the week of.

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D I N E . TA S T E T H I S

Forget the Fruitcake Doling out baked goods as gifts? Make them personal and, even more importantly, crave-worthy. Chef Elizabeth Paradiso shares such a recipe that she grew up baking alongside her grandmother. We won’t tell if you claim it as your own.

My grandmother had quite a knack for baking. Most do, but none, I’m sure, could make anything that rivaled her sugar cookies. The time and care she devoted to each one somehow seemed to make them taste even sweeter, even more delicious.

Naturally, she was known well beyond our family for these sugar cookies. And apple pie—also a force that froze us in awe. Come the holidays, she put special cookie cutters to use and packaged the palm-size Christmas trees and snowmen in flashy tins, which were doled out liberally.

What made her even more special to me was that she never treated her recipes or process like closely-guarded secrets. There 26

was always a batch of dough waiting within easy reach every time one of her 12 grandchildren visited. As soon as I was tall enough to see the top of the counter (with the aid of a small stool), we started spending entire days together in her kitchen.

Even now, I remember feeling like the luckiest girl when she encouraged me to use her rolling pin to roll out the dough.

Together, we’d sprinkle every last cookie with shimmering, colorful sugar and candies. But the height of the experience was sitting down with her at the kitchen table and savoring the fruits of our labor. We dove into that small pile like we were starved, biting off a mouthful from the first cookies we could grab and letting all the pleasant sensations warm us from the inside out: crunchy, sweet, buttery. She washed hers down with tea, mine, with milk.

Not surprisingly, the obvious love my grandmother filled that kitchen with sparked my own passion for baking. And when I felt I was ready for my first job, she led me into our local bakery.

I’m grateful that she was there when I graduated from culinary school, but I wish she could have seen me open a bakery of my own. Still, Sweet Elizabeth’s helps me feel more closely connected to her. And during the holidays, she’s with me for every tray of piping-hot sugar cookies I slide from the oven. In her spirit, I’m sharing the recipe with you here.

Elizabeth Paradiso is the co-owner (with her husband, Owen Paradiso) and baker of Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes, 4409 Main Street, Manayunk; 267-331-8949; www.sweetelizabethscakes.com.

manayunk.com | Winter 2013-2014

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New! Kitchen, Gourmet & Gifts!

Shop Small. Shop Local. Petit Gourmand.

HOLIDAY SUGAR COOKIES

PHOTOS BY CANTOR DESIGN

8 ounces butter 2 cups sugar 3 eggs (room-temperature) 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture turns a light yellow and takes on a fluffy consistency.

Then, add the eggs one at a time.

Scrape the bowl in between each.

Next, sift the dry ingredients and add the mixture to the mixer.

Mix on low until the flour is incorporated. You may need to scrape the bowl in the midst of mixing.

Press the resulting dough into the shape of a disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. Then, chill it for at least a few hours. At that point, let the dough warm up a little— too much and it’ll become sticky.

Use as little flour as possible to roll out the dough. That will keep your cookies buttery and crisp.

103 Cotton Street, across from Whirled Peace and Smiley’s.

FOR THE ICING 1 pound confectioners sugar 4 egg whites Pinch of salt Dash of vanilla Mix everything together with the whip attachment on low. Once the sugar is incorporated enough to not fly out of the bowl, scrape the bowl down and run the mixer on high for four to five minutes, or until the icing holds stiff peaks.

You can use food coloring to tint the icing. It’ll go on easiest with a piping bag, which will also give you enough control to create fun, seasonal designs.

The icing’s going to dry hard in a few hours, so cover the bowl with a wet paper towel while you’re applying it and scrape the sides of the bowl down often.

Store the extra in an air-tight plastic container with a wet paper towel in contact with the icing.

It’ll stay good refrigerated for up to two days.

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PLAY.GET PHYSICAL

t S g

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The threat of cold and snow was once enough to scare even die-hard cyclists into abandoning their bikes. But a new breed of serious training centers in Manayunk is bridging the void—and forcing the reconsideration of personal bests and goals.

By Scott Edwards

Block for block, Manayunk may be the fittest neighborhood in Philadelphia. From straightforward fitness centers such as GoalsFit ( ) to sport-specific ones like Joltin’ Jabs ( ), a boxing gym, there’s a workout suited to your ambition (or flicker thereof). A breed of serious training centers catering to the immense cycling community that’s left out in the cold come winter is entering the frame, too.

The freedom of the open road comprises a lot of the allure of cycling, which, in turn, makes riding an indoor trainer through the densest part of winter a daunting prospect. But when the alternative is hanging up the bike altogether, it’s at least digestible as a necessary evil. The following programs are making it more palatable still by setting up structured, intense workouts fueled by a healthy dose of competition.

If you refer to the next few months as the “off-season,” the Walton Endurance Training Studio at Human Zoom Bikes & Boards ( ) is holding a slot for you. There, you ride your own bike on a CompuTrainer, which delivers a relatively-realistic feel and feeds your need to constantly process numbers—don’t act like they don’t matter to you.

Pushing you through those pedal strokes are trainers with the kind of credentials that’ll make you want to go faster through 28

simple eye contact. Brian Walton is a three-time Olympian.

Dana Walton is a six-time masters world track champion. Mike Gibbons is an ex-pro mountain biker. And Bob Clowry is a certified-USA Triathlon coach. Sessions include “The Sustained Hour of Power,” Tuesdays, 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.; “High-Intensity Training,” Thursdays, 6:30 a.m.; and informal, indoor group rides Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. The rates are $60 per month for a weekly class, $100 for two weekly classes and $20 to drop in for a single class.

Cadence Cycling & Multisport Center ( ) offers a comprehensive approach that includes CompuTrainer rides too, as well as a smattering of sessions that focus on pulling you off the bike to improve your weaknesses on it, like “Yoga for Cyclists” (Fridays, 6:30 a.m.) and “Strength Circuit Training” (Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m.). The latter runs an hour and alternates between indoor riding and four strength exercise stations at a high-intensity pace. Basically, prepare to suffer.

If all of that feels a little too hard-core, there are a couple of sessions that are directed more toward the cyclist who’s interested, simply, in not morphing into a couch potato. Hone in on Colin Sandberg’s “Intermediate Cycling Class” (Mondays, 6:30 a.m.), which, in spite of its title (and time) is geared toward

manayunk.com | Winter 2013-2014

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PHOTOS COURTESY THE WALL CYCLING STUDIO (ABOVE) AND WALTON ENDURANCE TRAINING STUDIO (OPPOSITE)

newcomers. And, every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., is “Open Trainer Night.” Grab a trainer and ride as slow and as long as you want.

The cost is $50 per month for a weekly class, $90 for unlimited access, $135 for a 10-session block and $15 to drop in on a class.

For those just beginning to explore their interest in riding, or even seasoned cyclists angling for a slight change of pace, take a long look at The Wall Cycling Studio (www.thewallcycling.com)— and shake out of your head the ridiculous notion of spinning you’re probably carrying around.

“Spinning isn’t a bunch of crazy maniacs sitting in a dark room, listening to techno music, sweating up a storm,” says Juliet Sabella, The Wall’s owner and an instructor. “Spin is a workout that is solely in the hands of the rider. You’re in full control of your workout, your cadence and how much resistance you put on that bike.”

Sabella’s enthusiasm runs deeper than a sales pitch. She says she turned her own life around with spinning, and now she’s determined to prove to the masses how far relatively-little effort can go. “It’s an activity where you can unplug from reality for 45 minutes and push yourself past a threshold or comfort zone that you didn’t think you could conquer the day before,” she says.

“The Trail Riding Class,” which uses simulations to improve strength and stamina, and “Spin & Sculpt,” a high-intensity session that meshes interval riding and weight training, were

JULIET SABELLA, THE OWNER OF THE WALL CYCLING STUDIO. OPENING PAGE: A SESSION AT THE WALTON ENDURANCE TRAINING STUDIO AT HUMAN ZOOM.

designed with the hardened-but-homebound cyclist in mind.

(Check the schedule on the Web site for times.)

Rates run $48 per month for a weekly class, $72 for two weekly classes, $98 for three, $110 for unlimited access and $15 to drop in on a single class. If you’re new to The Wall, the first class is on the house.

As depressing as the forecast is likely to be for the foreseeable future, clearly, there’s little reason not to keep those legs ticking over. Come April, you’ll be more likely to strain your way to the top of The Wall with the kind of form that usually eludes you until mid-July.

We Know the Neighborhood.

We’re proud to serve the people who call Manayunk home. Whether you live here, work here or both, we’ve got your banking needs covered. Call us today at (267) 295-6420 or drop in and see us to learn more about our full line of personal banking and business banking services.

Neighborhood Banking.

Wherever You Go. Mobile + Online Banking

With our suite of online and mobile banking services, a network of 50,000 Allpoint® ATMs, free interbank fund transfers and even a courier service for business accounts, you can bank conveniently and securely, wherever you go.

Roxborough (267) 295-6420

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Manayunk Garden Apartments Magnificent hillside setting...unique apartments are nestled in the popular hills of Manayunk.

Our management team offers great customer service! We are within walking distance of the bus and train station, allowing easy access to Center City, main street Manayunk and the Main Line. Also close to 76, 476 and I-95.

Come visit and see the breathtaking view of Philadelphia from your new home.

• 2BR Starting at $924 • Pool with magnificent view • Patios and balcony • Cable ready • Public transit ate your front door • Garbage Disposal • Laundry facilities • Large closets • Indidvidually controlled heat / air conditioning • Dishwasher • Pets Welcome • Central Air • On-Site assigned parking • 24-Hour emergency maintenance • Wall-to-wall carpeting

3901 Manayunk Avenue • 215.482.2819 MANAYUNKGARDENS.COM

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