The Spirit of the Riverwards - April 26, 2017

HYPE RLO CAL

D ONE DI FFER ENTLY

FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG

SPIRIT NEWS 2017

NO SOUP FOR YOU LEAVE YOUR INSIDE VOICES BEHIND AT PERRY’S BAR IN OLDE RICHMOND

BOTTLE SHOP

PAGE 9

BAR & RESTAURANT EDITION

BRIDESBURG BOTTLE SHOP BRINGS CRAFT BEER TO THE ‘BURG PAGE 10

MAD REX

CORPORATE FILINGS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT UPCOMING CONCEPT RESTAURANTS, MAD REX AND URBAN EEL PAGE 11

SIPPIN' IN THE SUN BEST PLACES TO ENJOY A DRINK OUTSIDE PAGE 16

COCKTAIL GUIDE WE RANK THE RIVERWARDS BEST COCKTAILS PAGE 7

BONK’S BAR

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN AT THIS PORT RICHMOND BAR AND CRAB SHACK PAGE 4

ELWOOD BYOB

JB’S CHEF ADAM DILTZ TO OPEN FRANKFORD AVE. RESTAURANT LATER THIS YEAR PAGE 6

A COLLECTION OF LOCAL STORIES HIGHLIGHTING RIVERWARDS EATERIES, WATERING HOLES, AND PERSONALITIES

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

THE

local lens

BY THOM NICKELS

W

hen people ask me, “What was your favorite world trip?” I have to say Lapland and Finland.

For starters, there’s not much to the Finnish Lapland day during the winter months. The sun rises around 10:30AM and then begins to set around two in the afternoon. In the summer, it’s a different story. 24 hours of sunlight make this the land of the Midnight Sun. It’s also a time, however, when Laplanders admit to having trouble sleeping.

“Even if I draw the curtains and make my bedroom as dark as possible, I know the sun is out there, and this makes it hard to sleep,” is a comment you might hear if you ever make the day-and-a-half journey to this faraway place.

A winter’s day in Lapland is a fragile thing. I know because I traveled to this unique part of the world a few years ago.

My first view of the Lapland sunrise was from the lobby of the Levi Soko Hotel where I roomed with other members of a small international press corps after our “getting acquainted” dinner the night before. The sunrise on that first morning was hardly spectacular. The sun’s rays were so weak throughout the day that I commented to someone, “It looks like the sun is very sick and in intensive care.”

We were seven journalists from Russia, England, Austria, Italy, Germany, Poland and the U.S. As the only representative American journalist, I had traveled the longest with multi-hour stopovers in Copenhagen and Helsinki before hopping a jet to Rovaniemi, Lapland, where I met my colleagues.

The Rovaniemi airport was my first sense of being near the North Pole. A large neon Santa sleigh that looks as if it’s emblazoned in the sky hovers over the airport as a sort of reminder that the world’s only official Santa Claus post office box is in this very town.

In Rovaniemi—where the journalists, as if in a synchronized trance, studied the tall, snow-capped Finish trees—we boarded a small chartered bus for the two-hour trek into Levi Lapland. It was snowing lightly, but snow is the Arctic’s version of the daily “pineapple mist” rain in the Hawaiian Islands. The flakes fell gently from the sky. Never did we feel that our driver would get stuck in a snow drift as she drove with military-like precision into the Arctic Rim. The Finns, after all, are geniuses when it comes to dealing with snow.

During the ride we were given a rundown on the two Finnish personalities. “There’s the winter persona - dour and introspective; and the summer self, which is high, sunny and extroverted,” Leena, our Lapland tour guide, explained.

Later, in restaurants, I’d notice Finnish couples and families who’d sit and brood in silence, as if awaiting execution. Couples and small groups sat with their backs to walls rather than facing one another. It was a very strange thing to observe, especially as conversation in the restaurant was soft and muted. Only Americans, it seems, raise their voices. Leena explained that although the Finns seem cold, they have very good hearts. “Once they decide you are a friend, they are there permanently,” Leena said. Certainly not like those fickle Californians who have made an art out of the easy, meaningless smile.

Our hotel was a good place to observe interactions between Finns and Russians. Because the December-January holiday is the Russian ski season, many of the Russians were checking out of the hotel while we were there, so it was easy to observe classic Bolshevik boisterousness, which reminded me of Philadelphia Flyers fans after a winning game. Yes, Virginia, the Russians are loud.

Snowmobiling is big business in Lapland. We donned thick zoot suits and helmets and signed waivers promising we would not hold the snowmobile company accountable if we got into an accident.

Snowmobile injuries and deaths are not uncommon in Lapland. In fact, it was only after our snowmobiling excursion that I checked the Internet for the grisly facts associated with accidents and injuries. After reading this I understood why the Berlin journalist who was my snowmobile passenger had been so frightened. While I proved to be a fairly good driver — I kept myself in the lead section throughout much of the ride — there were a couple of near skirmishes in which my snowmobile wobbled and, at least once, almost toppled over.

Our snowmobile safari traveled for miles through the Lapland wilderness, stopping periodically for photographs or to let the slower drivers catch up. Our destination was a reindeer farm by Perhesafarit, where we would meet our guides, a young married couple in traditional Laplander clothes. At the farm we were taught how to feed and walk the animals after taking the obligatory reindeer sleigh ride. Lunch was in their private home at a long wooden table near a blazing fireplace. Salmon soup, bread, and an iced berry drink warmed us considerably.

By the time we said goodbye to this very 1960s “Alice’s Restaurant” couple, the sun was beginning to set.

On the snowmobiles again, there was a rush to beat impending darkness. Our guide was in the first snowmobile, and he upped his speed, which meant that the “babysitting” portion of the ride was over. The snowmobiles in front of me, headlights on, bolted away in a jet propulsion thrust. I didn’t know that speed like this was possible on a wintry terrain.

Then I recalled our guide’s warning: “Slowing down out of fear or paranoia only increases the chances of wobbling or tipping over, so keep at it.” With this in mind, I stepped on it as the Berlin journalist behind me held onto me for dear life.

“We’re going to be all right,” I said, more out of self-affirmation than certainty.

During the ride back two journalists fell far behind the group, lost somewhere in the snowy forest. For some reason I thought of the infamous Donner Party, although they eventually surfaced.

Nightlife in Levi has the exuberance of a 1980s U.S.A. disco.

I witnessed twentysomethings in knit hats wave their hands in unison to a DJ and sing along enthusiastically as if acting in a Pepsi commercial. Crowds in Philadelphia or New York

bars are not this happy, so I wondered if the mood had something to do with living on the Arctic Rim. When I saw so many men dancing with men, I asked the guide if we were in a gay bar, but she told us that it is a Lapland custom for men to dance with men when there are no women around. Dancing, in this case, applies to slow dancing as well. I was amazed to hear that there are almost no bar fights or mean drunks in Lapland. In fact, happy drunk men wandered around the bar like zombies. There were no bouncers present.

We writers had no trouble dancing together in Lapland’s many bars and clubs. A few of us even joined the Moscow writers for vodka at an Irish pub. The two Russian women proved to be champions at drinking vodka. Breakfast the next morning was a little later than usual.

At Levi’s Polar Speed Husky farm we watched as hundreds of huskies, some of them mixed-breed wolves, barked in unison. Huskies live to work, but while waiting to pull sleds they can look sad or anxious. The sled ride itself, at least in the beginning, is a fast and furious affair. I definitely got the feeling that one miscalculation by the dogs or driver could have wrapped the lot of us around a tree or two. Still, few things in life are as beautiful as finding yourself in a sled being pulled by dogs over a vast frozen lake surrounded by tall snowcapped trees. An experience like this can only be described in music—or poetry.

No trip to Finland is complete without a traditional Finnish sauna. In our case the men and women split up, as is the Finnish tradition, and headed towards separate cabins on a frozen lake. There, fully naked, each of us climbed down a ladder off a dock into a hole in the frozen lake and then resurfaced almost immediately. The idea was to soak your body up to your neck, the traditional opening ritual before experiencing the pleasures of the sauna. After the dip, the guide handed us a towel, and we proceeded into the sauna where we baked for a good 15 minutes. The high point was the time we spent in the outdoor warm whirlpool, beers in hand, under the Finnish snow-capped trees and night sky.

A traditional Lapland dinner (with reindeer meat) in the big lodge house followed. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

S E V E N D AY F O R E C A S T F O R T H E R I V E R WA R D S

accu-reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE

L

ast week was cool, rainy and yucky! We were stuck in a malaise of clouds and rain for much of the week. This week is absolutely insane for April! It’s like we flip a switch to another climate zone. The weather this week is something we would normally see at the end of May or June. Summer-like weather will be the norm this week.

We start the week in the 60s before spending the next five days in the 80s. The weekend days will flirt with or surpass 90 degrees! Temperatures will warm dramatically on Thursday and continue warm until early next week (Monday). What’s so striking about this early bout with summer heat is not so much the extremely high temperatures but

how long it stays warm. We’ve hit 90 degrees in April before, but to stay at 80 or more for almost a week is pretty impressive. We kick the warmth out on Tuesday, and it looks like cool and rainy weather returns later next week.

Wednesday may start with some light rain but there will be gradual clearing as the day goes on. We will get at least some sunshine. Temperatures will get to near 70 most places.

Thursday is the start of our warm streak. Temperatures jump to 80 degrees!

Friday continues warm as temperatures make it all the way up to the middle 80s. We need to watch for an afternoon shower or thunderstorm, but it should not be a big deal.

Saturday and Sunday are the warmest days of the week as

temperatures get near or above 90 degrees! It will also be humid, so it will feel very summer-like. There is a small chance for a late- evening shower on Saturday and a better chance for showers and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening. Keep the umbrella in the car just in case.

Monday is our last day with mega April warmth. If we get more sun than clouds we could make another run at 90 degrees. A cold front will come through overnight Monday into Tuesday with thunderstorms and torrential rain.

Tuesday will be much cooler as we drop back into the 60s.

As always, be sure to check on social media for daily updates! •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HANISCO

Bonk’s Bar

W H AT ’ S O L D I S N E W A G A I N AT T H I S P O R T R I C H M O N D B A R A N D C R A B S H A C K

B

onk’s Bar was a Port Richmond institution for decades. The bar and crab shack on the corner of Richmond and Tioga Streets was run by the Bonk family and served the best crabs in the city for years, according to Port Richmond locals. After the family sold the bar in the mid-2000s, however, the quality and service fluctuated wildly and Bonk’s became a shell of its former self, ultimately closing its doors.

The bar sat vacant for nearly two years before it was brought back to life late last year by new owners Mike Scotese and Pat McGinley. The pair know a thing or two about niche Philly bars. They also operate the Grey Lodge, a craft beer Mecca in the Northeast, and Hop Angel Brauhaus, a traditional German beer hall in Fox Chase.

It was a no-brainer to keep the Bonk’s name and concept after reopening, according to General Manager Bobby Rea. Rea is an Irish immigrant who speaks with a heavy accent and is known around the bar as Irish Bobby. Rea met Scotese a decade ago when he stayed at a hotel owned by Rea’s father in Ireland. They’ve been close friends ever since.

“The Bonk’s name is so well-known and the restaurant has been here so long,” Rea explained of the decision. There is almost an air of reverence about the bar in Port Richmond.

Bonk’s even served as the titular setting for a 2009 fictional novel, Bonk’s Bar, by Daniel Putkowski.

While the name and concept remain the same, things have naturally changed a bit under the new owners, according to Rea. The recipe for Bonk’s broth, for instance, is a nod to the original but has been updated for today.

“We didn’t want to try and get their original recipes because we didn’t want to be chasing them and trying to be them. We have to be something a little bit different. Even if we found their recipe and their sauce and did it perfect… people are always going to think it’s different or build it up in their minds that it was something better [before],” Rea said.

In that same vein, the new Bonk’s also boasts an expanded food menu that goes beyond the crab shack staples of yesteryear.

“We’re not just crabs,” Rea said. “We also have a variety of American food and [other] seafood.” He hopes to keep the menu fresh and offer seasonal food specials that will keep people coming back again and again.

For example, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Rea’s mother sent over her recipes for traditional Irish dishes that were served during the month of March. The ham and cabbage sold out in just a few hours on St. Patty’s Day, he said.

As we head into summer, the specials board will feature an influx of fresh seafood, according to Rea. “We have our standard menu, but our specials board people will have to keep an eye on. And that changes all the time depending on what we can get, what’s fresh, and what’s good,” he said.

It’s clear that Bonk’s is not trying to out-compete the many craft beer operations in the Riverwards. The modest draft list features a few macro beers with six taps dedicated to some of the more well-known local craft varieties. Think Tröegs, Yards, and Flying Fish.

Rea said the response from Bonk’s neighbors, both new and old, has been positive. Members of the Bonk family have even stopped in to give their well wishes. The new owners recognize some of the changing dynamics in the neighborhood and want Bonk’s to be a place where everyone feels welcome.

“We’re trying to bring back a little of that old-school flavor, but then some New Age beers and drinks. It’s a cool neighborhood — Port Richmond. It’s got a lot of different vibes in it. You got a lot of the new age moving in and a lot of oldschool Polish, old- school Irish, a lot of blue-collar workers.

It’s a real mixed vibe in the neighborhood, and we’re not trying to be for any specific people or group. We’re just trying to deliver really good food and a variety of different beers and keep people happy,” Rea said. •

Address: 3467 Richmond Street, Port Richmond Happy Hour: Monday – Friday, 3:00 to 6:00 PM House Favorite: Blue Claw Crabs, served “clean” or “dirty

Clean Plate - Confetti Cookies

By Casey Ann Beck (with the help of the fifth and sixth graders at St. George School) Recently, I had the pleasure of joining the fifth and sixth grade classes at St. George School in Port Richmond. My cousin, Jaime — also known as Miss Cheafsky — teaches the latter of the two and was introducing a project to her students that combines recipes and creative writing.

The students were warm and welcoming, and the first segment of the class was filled with their curiosity about my favorite things to make, the easiest thing to cook, and even stories about kitchen disasters. They were just as eager to hear my stories as I was excited to share them, and I could have talked with the students all day about food.

But then, they wanted to get down to business.

A student in the front asked, “What’s your process?” and another followed with a question about what inspires my writing. And just like that, Ms. Cheafsky followed her students cues, fired up her smart board, and smoothly transitioned to a brainstorming session. We passed around cookies I had brought with me and the students resisted the urge to taste them so that we could first use our other four senses to create a list of words that describe the sweets.

When I first laid eyes on the recipe for these sugar cookies smothered in jimmies (or sprinkles - there was a conversation about that, too) I was sold. Thanks to my fifth and sixth grade friends, I can now convince you to bake them: They’re “as colorful as a box of crayons,” are “sweet” and “buttery” and “taste like vanilla cake.” And best of all - and probably the highest compliment any baked good can receive - they “smell like Stock’s Bakery.”

Confetti Cookies From Smitten Kitchen 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¾ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup unsalted butter ¼ cup cream cheese 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar 1 large egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon almond extract 1 cup rainbow jimmies and/or sprinkles Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking large sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad. Place flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the work

bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to blend.

Add butter and cream cheese, in large chunks, and sugar and blend until mixture is powdery. Add egg, vanilla and almond extracts and run machine until the dough balls together. Scrape down the sides of the work bowl in between steps to make sure ingredients are incorporated. Scoop tablespoon sized balls of dough and roll them briefly in the palms of your hands before dropping them in a bowl of rainbow sprinkles and gently rolling to coat them evenly. Transfer balls dough to baking sheets at least two inches apart. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, press down on the cookies until they are about ½” tall. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes until the cookies just golden. Allow to cool for several minutes on a baking sheet before transferring cookies to a cooling rack. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y J E N C O L L E T TA

Parks on Tap

A

PA R K S O N TA P R E T U R N S T O L O C A L S P O T S F O R S E C O N D S E A S O N

fter a banner first year, the city’s traveling beer garden was renewed for what is expected to be an even more successful return engagement.

Parks on Tap rolls out next month, bringing the popular program to 20 city parks, including Penn Treaty Park and Powers Park in the Riverwards.

Launched in 2016, the initiative was spearheaded by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Fairmount Park Conservancy, in partnership with Avram Hornik of FCM Hospitality. The inaugural season included 14 stops, with more parks and several weeks added for this summer’s festivities.

“The biggest takeaway from last year was that people wanted us to keep doing it,” said Elizabeth Moselle, associate director of business development at the Fairmount Park Conservancy, noting “overwhelmingly positive” feedback and a very high response rate on post-event surveys. “So we decided to do it in even more places and to scale it up a bit.”

Penn Treaty Park (1301 N. Beach St.) will welcome the program Aug. 16-20, while Powers Park (2965 Almond St.) will be the last event of the season, slated for Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

John Kalicki, president of the Powers Park Conservancy, estimated that about 600 people turned out during last year’s five-day affair.

“The expectations were that folks would come out, it would bring the neighborhood together and just be a good time, and it exceeded all those expectations,” Kalicki said. “It was just a wonderful experience. And [organizers] were satisfied enough that they’re coming out again.”

Parks on Tap features beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. Guests can bring blankets, and organizers also supply an array of comfy chairs and hammocks, as well as restrooms.

Dogs are welcomed, as are children.

Marc Wilkens, director of business and event development for Parks and Recreation, said organizers are amping up the kid-friendliness this year.

“We got a great response from families and folks bringing their kids to play; it’s a fenced-in area, so parents really enjoyed letting the kids run around,” Wilkens said, noting cornhole was a big hit with youngsters. “We wanted to accommodate that experience and add more elements to it by bringing in more games and more kid-friendly food options and amenities.”

Many of the sites also complement the programming with their own additions.

Last year’s Powers Park event included an Indego bike ride, quizzo and bingo, all of which Kalicki said will likely return.

He said he’s also considering musical elements, such as local bands and a karaoke or talent showcase.

Wilkens said Parks on Tap is a good way to get locals involved with city and neighborhood parks, as well as connected to other residents. •

“There are amenities that are not normally there, like restrooms and food and drink, and they encourage folks to spend time in the park when they might not normally,” he said. “It activates park spaces in different ways and also brings a sense of community, as you get to engage with other folks and neighbors.”

Parks on Tap kicks off May 17 at the Azalea Garden near

the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Programming at each site is from 5-10PM Wednesday-Thursday, 1-11PM Friday-Saturday and noon-10PM Sunday.

For more information and a full schedule, visit www.parksontap.com. •

Penn Treaty Park was home to Parks on Tap last year./Michael Klusek

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY AMY STRAUSS

Elwood BYOB

N E W R E S T A U R A N T T O O P E N O N F R A N K F O R D AV E . L A T E R T H I S Y E A R

I

n July 2016, Fishtown resident and chef Adam Diltz announced his intent to debut a restaurant of his own, Elwood, at 1007 Frankford Avenue across from the Fillmore.

Those familiar with the Fishtown dining scene have become accustomed to Diltz cookery by way of Johnny Brenda’s, a kitchen he landed at in 2014. There, Diltz helped refocus the bar-meets-concert venue’s culinary program into a richer, locally sourced experience deepened with rabbit rillettes, Griggstown Farm chicken breasts and BBQ-dressed seitan sandwiches. Heck, he even makes his own scrapple for brunch service too.

It has always been important to the chef in his 20-year career to respect the bounty that surrounds the region he cooks in and to pay tribute to the culinary traditions that are deeply rooted there. This is why his forthcoming 30-seat BYOB will celebrate Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic cuisine through its dishes.

Though he was raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Hetlerville outside of Bloomsburg, he clocked a laundry list of national accomplishments before he returned to his home state. After studying culinary arts at the Penn College of Technology in Williamsport, he traveled to Boston, where he began to build the foundation of his career under Barbara Lynch — recently named in TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” — at the legendary No. 9 Park.

Eventually, he progressed to Everest in Chicago and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee — where he gave up everything to go work there and do it “for real.” It wasn’t until six years ago that his career brought him back to Pennsylvania, working first at Old City’s Farmicia until he claimed kitchen residence on the corner of Frankford and Girard.

Now, at 37 years old, it’s time to build something of his own.

On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon, I caught him in the Johnny Brenda’s kitchen breaking down pheasants for dinner service. He explained that our city has minimal regional-specific restaurants.

“There are so many Italian and Mexican restaurants, but no one in the Philadelphia area celebrates our heritage,” Diltz

said. “My name isn’t on the door — it’s ‘Elwood,’ my grandfather. It’s not about me and my ego. It’s more about what we are missing in Philadelphia. This city was the Hong Kong, the Marrakesh, the London, the Paris in the 1800s. And now it’s not. I want to bring it back.”

Diltz reveals he’s always held a passion for Pennsylvania’s culinary history, so much so that he began reaching out to Pennsylvania food historian Dr. William Woys Weaver in high school. He actually hosted a Pennsylvania Dutch brunch with Weaver this year, taking no shortcuts in creating fromscratch dishes like stuffed pig stomach for the event. “Delaware River used to be the caviar capital of the world,” he said.

“Native Americans used to catch eels. The Mid-Atlantic has tons of history and I’m going to try to showcase it.”

Diltz believes a progressive neighborhood like Fishtown has room for a regionally inspired concept like Elwood. “I live and work in Fishtown. My wife and I really love it, so it’s only natural to want to open my own place here,” he said. “I am from Pennsylvania—this is what I want to do.”

Currently, he is working through menu development. “I want my cooking to be like your great-grandmother cooked it, but she was trained as a chef,” he explained. His grandmother was famous for preparing soul-warming dishes for the whole family — and always had fresh-baked desserts, including shoo-fly pie. He will source from local farms and forage as possible and feature sharable whole-animal options, like venison rack for two, or a whole roast duck for four with all the necessary fixings. He’s shying away from offering a tasting menu, and is more inspired by the structure of communal dining like that seen at Korean BBQ that keeps eating fun throughout the whole meal. Elwood will also be a place for those who are looking for an intimate dinner for two.

Diltz will continue to run the kitchen at Johnny Brenda’s until Elwood gets its start. The restaurant project is currently in zoning-approval mode, with his next development slated for approval on June 7. His wife, Jenny Ko, and sister-in-law own the Elwood building and lot next door. Ko is an architect by day and will be designing the space.

In the meantime, you can receive a preview of Diltz’s cook-

ing at an upcoming Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery wine dinner he’s hosting at COOK on June 29. If you’re in luck, you’ll also find him teaching classes at Greensgrow, including his popular scrapple-making course.

Stay tuned for developments on the Elwood project and news of its opening date. •

Guinea hen terrine, example of Diltz’s cooking./ Courtesy of Diltz

Photo of chef teaching in Greensgrow classroom./Courtesy of Greensgrow

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y P TA H G A B R I E

Cocktail Guide W E R A N K T H E R I V E R WA R D S B E S T C O C K TA I L S

T

he cocktail is an artistic way for mixologists to exhibit their knowledge of spirits and present the patron with a one of a kind beverage. A good cocktail makes me forget about a tough day at work, or break the ice on a nervous first date. A great cocktail whisks me away to Hemingway drinking mojito’s on a beach in Cuba and makes me forget the reality of being an overworked millennial drinking alone in a bar. I don’t need a participation trophy. Just give me a delicious drink, a table outside in the sunshine and I’m good.

Philadelphia’s culinary scene has been filling in spots all over the Riverwards and many restaurants seeking to capture the same demographic who would go out for dinner and drinks in Center City offer innovative cocktail lists. Many feature locally made ingredients, including spirits from the several distilleries in the area.

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite cocktails to get you thinking about your favorite place to be in the summer time.

The cocktails are in no order and we think they are all delicious. The list comes from a recent bender — I mean tasting tour — of standout cocktails in the hood. We think you will enjoy them. Cheers! #1 Gin and Tonic — Root (1206 Frankford Ave.) Root can be found along along Frankford Aveue, just a few steps away from the bustle of Girard Ave. The front windows open up when the sun is warm, so you can enjoy a beverage or some fine crafted nosh on the sidewalk while people watching.

I often find myself beginning my evening with a cocktail at Root during happy hour. The cocktail list includes Root’s takes on classics like the Sidecar and the Old Fashioned.

They have four different house gin and tonics made with beefeater and Bluecoat gin. All four are discounted during happy hour.

The Number 1 Gin and Tonic is my favorite of the bunch.

This mediterranean-themed gin and tonic uses Bluecoat Gin, mediterranean tonic, rosemary, thyme and slices of lemon and lime. I expected a burst of herbal fragrance, however it was much more subtle, and proved to balance the citrus and gin flavor in this refreshing take on the classic gin and tonic.

The Capeside Minuteman — Bourbon and Branch (705 N 2nd St.) Bourbon and Branch is a well-rounded bar and restaurant along 2nd Street in Northern Liberties. They have everything you need from a great sounding live venue on the second floor, to a fantastic selection of craft beer, whiskey and some

Baba

unique cocktails.

If you find yourself sitting at the bar waiting for a show to start, try The Capeside Minuteman. If you like Manhattans and smoky flavors, this is in your wheelhouse. This cocktail is carefully crafted with Kinsey Rye, Antica, Campari, Benedictine, Agnostura and Smoke Tincture. It’s garnished with a lemon peel.

This is an easy drinking cocktail. The smokiness compliments the Antica Vermouth, but doesn’t overpower the sweetness of the Campari. This was delicious and I recommend having one, though you may find yourself ready for another once it’s all gone.

Baba — Martha (2113 E York St.) East Kensington is quickly becoming a landing spot for people being priced out of other parts of the Riverwards. Their thirst for craft beer and local spirits carried over with them and Martha is becoming a beacon for great food and drink on the cusp of East Kensington’s renaissance.

The modest industrial exterior hides the posh interior. Inside, the bartenders and cooks are serving up food and drink with attention to natural and locally sourced ingredients. As I gazed at the electronic menu looming over the bar, I was intrigued by one cocktail’s ingredient and felt the urge to satisfy my curiosity.

The Baba is Martha’s interpretation of the Manhattan.

This standout ingredient in this cocktail is burnt eggplant skin infused bourbon. Other ingredients include Linfield Rye, Soom Tahini Washed Vermouth and Orange Bitters. It comes with a lemon peel.

This was unique and the burnt eggplant skin is prominent, though not bad. It’s like you just over baked some eggplant parm in the oven. The drink has an earthy taste that isn’t bitter or smoky. The indescribable taste of umami could be applied to this cocktail, and I recommend this to anyone ready for a different type of Manhattan.

Hues Cup Maryland oysters. The brininess of the oyster was a perfect counterpoint to the sweet lime taste of the cocktail.

A slight taste of coconut fizzes in your mouth, and the jalapeno gives you a spicy kick in the back of your throat, much like an afternoon rush hour ride down I-95 from the Academy Avenue all the way to the Vine Street Expressway.

Mutter’s Charm — Philadelphia Distilling (25 E Allen St.) It seems like every month there’s a new brewery or brewpub opening in Philadelphia. We were excited to hear Philadelphia Distilling would be moving all of their production to a facility in Fishtown and would be opening a cocktail bar to show of some of their hand crafted house and specialty cocktails.

Sunlight shines through the windows that cover the wall along Allen Street and you can gaze at all the towering distilling equipment that faces you from behind the bar. The cocktail list features many of Philadelphia Distilling’s spirits including Bluecoat and Barrel Finished Bluecoat Gin as well as their take on the Absinthe called Vieux Carre. I was torn between barrel finished or Absinthe in my cocktail. I decided the latter and chose a cocktail that would be tasty on a warm afternoon.

The Mutter’s Charm did not disappoint. I was quite surprised by the beverage that was placed in front of me. The pinkish orange cocktail is made with Vieux Carre Absinthe Superieure, Bitter Apertif, honey and citrus. Once all the ingredients are in play, the cocktail is shaken before being served.

This was so refreshing, and if I didn’t have prior engagements, I would have sat there and had a few. The honey foams up in the cocktail, giving it a frothy taste much like other cocktails that use an egg white to achieve the same mouth feel. The licorice taste of the Absinthe blends perfectly with the citrus and honey to form a delicious cocktail that will leave you ready for another. •

95 Project — Bait and Switch (2537 E Somerset St.) If you’re looking for a top notch bar that serves quality seafood in Port Richmond, there’s only one place to go and that’s Bait and Switch. This former neighborhood dive was recently converted into a chic seafood restaurant serving local beers, and some very tasty cocktails.

After some careful thinking, the cocktail I chose was the 95 Project. It’s Bait and Switch’s homage to the unwieldy beast of a highway that influences our lives in someway on a daily basis. This summer cocktail consists of Tequila, St. Germaine, lime, pineapple. Coconut soda and jalapeno.

I decided to upgrade my experience with a pair of Honey

Mutter’s Charm

#1 Gin & Tonic

The Capeside Minuteman

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95 Project

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

Page 9

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY MEGAN MATUZAK

No Soup For You L E AV E Y O U R I N S I D E V O I C E S B E H I N D A T P E R R Y ’ S P L A C E

I

f you are going to talk with Perry Hagan in his own bar, you are going to talk to the whole bar. There are no inside voices, no topics that are out of line. Perry’s Place, across from POPS Skatepark on the border of Olde Richmond and East Kensington, is a neighborhood bar, through and through. It does not sell soup anymore, despite what the sign outside reads, so don’t ask for any unless you want to hear a story about it.

Squinting behind the bar through his Coke-bottle glasses and slicked, short white hair is Hagan, who’s there tending bar most nights. He’ll take breaks to scratch his lottery tickets, thumb through the paper or rub chalk on the end of his pole stick here and there, but as soon as the last sip is taken or the ashtray starts to fill, he hops out of his bar stool without any hesitation.

Hagan has lived in this neighborhood for more than 76 years. Born at Memphis and Lehigh, across from the Rectory, as Hagan says, he grew up shining shoes at the local bars and pool halls. Unable to get into the Navy as a teenager due to health problems, he worked at a textile factory in Kensington as a stockboy and ready set of hands.

Any of the bar’s patrons sitting on the black, duct-taped stools will tell you that Hagan is full of stories. The stories generally start around the time that Hagan got drafted around 1966 and was stationed 30 miles outside of Frankfurt, Germany. At the time, he rode train to train, town to town, helping West Germany rebuild.

One story he loves to tell is about the grapes in Mannheim that were the size of baseballs. “Don’t throw them away.

The German’s will shoot you!” Hagan jokes (kind of).

Another story was a bit more harrowing. “A big ice box fell on me when I was unloading. Two times as big as this,” Hagan said as he places his hands on either side of the bar, as far as his arms would reach. “Hit me like this, cracked this, couple broken bones here and ribs. Concussion here, concussion in the back. I woke up and there was a chaplain. I guess I went to a church after the hospital.”

Hagan continues: “He said to me, ‘Hey! Welcome back to Private Hagan!’ They all started cracking up and they were having fun. He made a big joke of it. He said, ‘Tell them what you said to me when I went to give you the blessing.’

I didn’t know, and he said, ‘Get the fuck away from me’. I never talked that way to a priest, never.”

After returning to the States in August 1968 by way of Fort Dix, he worked building forklifts at Yaletown. Fast forward to the early 70s. Perry Hagan, Jerry Booth, John Everly and Frannie Dougherty — later to be known as the Magna Four — began hanging around at the bar that would later become Perry’s Place. Soon enough, they scraped together all of their money, and with a little luck, they bought the bar around 1972. They renamed it Perry’s Place for no particular reason, Hagan claims. However, the Magna Four’s

SERGEANT STORAGE Notice is hereby given that that undersigned will sell to satisfy the lien of the landlord at public sale by competitive bidding on Friday, May 5th, 2017 at 10:30am. Sergeant Storage located at 2541 Gaul St, Philadelphia PA 19125 THE PERSONAL GOODS STORED IN SPACE NO.

302 436

Richard Banocy Joann Moll

Purchases must be made in cash only and paid for at the time of sale.

All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase.

Sale is subject to adjournment.

Sergeant Storage Inc. 215-739-9226

Perry Hagan stands behind the bar at Perry’s Place./ Megan Matuzak

partnership was short-lived — Hagan bought them all out, one by one, by 1977.

One of Hagan’s warmest memories of the bar is from New Year’s 1978. It was a celebration of ownership and the place was filled wall to wall with familiar faces. The pool table and shuffleboard were stacked. “Everybody came to see me, to congratulate me,” Hagan said. “All of my friends.”

“You’re not going to get the WHOLE story,” a patron named Jerry said matter-of-factly from across the bar.

“But make sure you mention Pole with the Soul, the DJ. He played here a lot, made the place,” Hagan said.

Hagan remembers how the street looked when he was young thanks to a framed picture he keeps atop the bar’s sliding-door beer cooler from the 1900s. Hagan worked at the bar with his five sisters and brother, and Mrs. Booth, Jerry’s mom, would bring in “some of the best bean soup you would ever have,” Hagan recalled. “She was like my mom. If you said something bad, she would smack you.”

Once Hagan’s children got older, they started picking up shifts as well. Hagan’s wife, Josie, also maintains regular bar shifts to this day.

Hagan knows he’s lucky to be working now, but there’s more to it.

“That’s why I come over here to work. I get tired of watching TV or reading the Daily News, the funnies… that’s it, “ he said. “I like seeing all these people all the time… and even the new people! If you come in here night after night, I’ll remember you!”

Hagan has seen the neighborhood change, but he thinks it’s for the best. One thing that hasn’t changed much at the bar are the patrons’ faces and their claimed stools at the bar with orange marble-looking tops.

“Jerry and I have been coming here for the past 30 years,” a regular leaned over in his stool to say, one leg in mid air. “[Hagan’s the reason] why.”

The real lasting appeal is Hagan himself. He’s attentive but crass, and not shy to hand out some blows to the ego here and, more often, there. He has heart, even taking his 90s dirty joke book he’s jokingly eager to show into account. When someone new comes into the bar, they still have to pass the last standing 19125 bar test. But, when you do, you’ll be getting one last round and burning the filter of a cig talking to people who might as well be family. It’s Perry’s way. •

Page 10

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HANISCO

Bottle Shop

C

BRIDESBURG BOTTLE SHOP BRINGS CRAFT BEER TO THE ‘BURG

had Weizer noticed something missing from the Bridesburg bar scene. The northernmost Riverwards neighborhood is decidedly old school when it comes to nightlife. The tight-knit community is dotted with great neighborhood dives and corner pubs where everyone knows your name.

“Bridesburg offers your typical corner bars, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Weizer said. But he recognized an opportunity to attract residents who might be looking for something a little different. That was the inspiration for Bridesburg Bottle Shop, a bright and welcoming bar owned by Chad and his fiancée, Ashley Lewis, that offers more than 100 craft beers and American comfort food on Orthodox Street.

“There was no craft beer in Bridesburg. Some people don’t want it and that’s okay. We offer almost every style of domestic too,” Weizer said. “But we have a completely different atmosphere than your typical [Bridesburg] bar.”

That unique atmosphere includes crisp branding, a beautiful pine wood bar and dining room, and hipsterish touches like bright chalkboard specials, board games, and 1980s-themed table markers. Weizer said he and his staff worked hard to make the space a destination for residents of all backgrounds to come in and try new beers.

The impressive craft beer selection isn’t the only thing that sets the Bottle Shop apart. The bar is attached to the Bridesburg Commissary Kitchen, which is also owned by the Weizer family. The massive kitchen is used for food prep by more than a dozen of Philadelphia’s most well-known food trucks every day. Working alongside food truck operators inspired Weizer to bring the food truck taste experience into a brick-and-mortar setting.

The menu is loaded with big-flavor items that you’d find at a typical food truck festival, including inventive grilled cheese variations, street-style tacos, and apps like fried Oreos. “The Bridesburg” is an impressive Kielbasa sandwich, loaded with kraut and Kielbasa from the famous Lachowicz Quality Foods down the street (and served with a side of pierogies, of course).

Weizer has even partnered with some food truck operators to feature rotating appetizers straight from their own menus. The Bottle Shop is currently serving up MomMom’s Pierogies and Fried Mac and Cheese Balls by Dr. Wutzit’s Wonder Balls for instance.

Since opening in October of last year, the bar has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from Bridesburg locals and visitors to the neighborhood. “We’re the new kids on the block, and we have been accepted by most of the neighborhood,” Weizer said. Bridesburg Bottle Shop was even featured in a recent “Taste of the Northeast” food

write-up of Northeast Philly by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig LaBan. The big-time attention was a bit surprising for Weizer, but he was flattered and thankful to be recognized so quickly after opening.

“A lot of people have mentioned the article to me. I have seen a lot of new faces since the release,” he said.

Weizer is hopeful that Bridesburg will ride a wave of recent momentum and see an influx of new business, much like Fishtown and Kensington to its south. He plans to add three more doors to the beer fridge soon, upping the selection to nearly 200 beers when all is said and done.

“I love Bridesburg,” Weizer said. “I would love to see more small businesses [here] as there is plenty of opportunity.”

Address: 2549 Orthodox Street, Bridesburg Happy Hour: Tuesdays-Thursday, 4:00 – 6:00PM. $1 off all drafts and $6 Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

House Favorites: The Bridesburg and the Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

W R I T T E N B Y S H E A LY N K I L R O Y

mad rex/urban eel CORPORATE FILINGS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT UPCOMING CONCEPT RESTAURANTS

B

ack in January, Spirit News spoke to Michael Johnigean, the Florida-based businessman behind two new entertainment restaurants coming to Fishtown: Mad Rex and Urban EEL. Documents obtained by Spirit News show that Antonia Z. Brown — whose husband, Brent Brown, founded Latitude 360, and is the target of at least 57 lawsuits alleging fraud and failure to repay loans in numerous states — is listed as a member on corporate filings for Rex Gryphon and VRex Lounge, the limited liability corporations associated with Mad Rex and Urban EEL. So how did we get here? Let’s explain.

Outisde of Urban EEL./ Shealyn Kilroy

WHO IS BRENT BROWN? Latitude 360 was an entertainment company in Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis that raised millions and then suddenly shut down. In an article for BuzzFeed, journalist Matt Stroud writes in-depth about how Brown allegedly mismanaged the business’s money. Stroud reports that investors in Latitude are asking where the estimated total of $100 million dollars that they put into the company went. The money kept coming in despite Latitude’s lack of success, but Brown’s wallet was suspected to be thick.

From accusations of bounced employee checks to allegations of Brown convincing an elderly couple to empty their retirement savings, Brown is accused of owing millions of dollars to investors, contractors, landlords and employees.

Brown has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has stated that he’s a victim in all of this, too.

THE RESTAURANT CONCEPTS Latitude, Mad Rex and Urban EEL share similar concepts.

The three Latitude locations existed as large complexes comprised of entertainment options such as bowling, dining, movie theaters, live music, arcade games and a cigar lounge. According to its website, Mad Rex will feature a multitude of amusements with a post-apocalyptic twist: virtual reality gaming, dining and live entertainment. Urban EEL, the “sister location” of Mad Rex at 1000 Frankford Ave., aims to have a cigar lounge, multiple theatres and other options as well.

Most of the images on the restaurants’ websites can be reverse image searched. Doing so reveals that most of the photography on the websites come from other businesses, such as Burn by Rocky Patel. This isn’t out of the ordinary; the following disclaimer is posted on Mad Rex’s website: These photos are conceptual and final designs may vary.

Because this is the first location of its kind, we’re sorry to say the Mad Rex must maintain a bit of mystery. Prepare for a unique experience, full of surprise & excitement, as the Mad Rex will be something you have never seen before.

Be sure to subscribe right below this text for the date of our unveiling & information on how to win a complimentary VIP table for Opening Night!

WHAT IS REX GRYPHON? On various Mad Rex and Urban EEL-related websites, logos for a company called “Rex Gryphon” appear throughout. The contact email listed on both Mad Rex and Urban EEL’s websites is info@rexgryphon.com.

According to Mad Rex’s Fundable page, Rex Gryphon “was established in 2016 to acquire space in the new Penn Treaty Village in downtown Philadelphia and open the first Mad Rex location.” The same page lists the Rex Gryphon team, made up of three members who have former relations to Latitude: Pavel Rathousky, Mauro Monz and Dennis Hopper (not the actor of “Easy Rider” fame). Rathousky was a shareholder of Latitude, holding an estimated 959,910 shares at one point. Monz served as Entertainment Director at the Latitude location in Pittsburgh. Hopper held many Latitude management positions.

JOHNIGEAN’S PAST Johnigean, who we interviewed about Mad Rex back in January, held no explicit titles within Latitude. The Florida-based one-man band prides himself on being a luxury real estate agent, restaurateur, entrepreneur, filmmaker and business broker. Johnigean has a list of companies he expects to be “household” names on his website including Mad Rex, Urban EEL, VRex Lounge and Rex Gryphon.

Johnigean presented himself to Spirit News as a successful businessman. However, many filings made in Florida courts show that Johnigean has failed to pay back loans and has a spotty entrepreneurial history.

In 2010, Johnigean was the debtor in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, racking up $12.8 million in liabilities. Johnigean faced over 100 creditors in the 85-page-long document.

Johnigean’s two-year-old papillon, lovebird and parakeet make an appearance in the document as well.

The rest of his history in the Duval and St. Johns County Clerk of Court Offices is littered with foreclosures, breach of contracts and indebtedness.

THE PHOTO Spirit News looked for ways to connect Johnigean to Brown.

Being that it’s 2017, we started with the obvious first place: social media.

Users “Brent W. Brown” and “Michael Johnigean” are Facebook friends. This same Michael Johnigean user on Facebook posted a photo on October 16, 2016 tagged in Philadelphia with the caption, “Working hard in Philly.

Working on a very exciting project. Stay tuned.”

In the photo, there’s a man wearing a backpack. Multiple sources have identified this man as Brent Brown.

Spirit News asked Johnigean about the photo.

“Mr. Brown was there with the Land lord [sic]. He had a business that I believe he was planning to put in a location their [sic] but the business failed. So I guess he was helping the landlord find a tenant for the space,” Johnigean responded in a text.

Spirit News made multiple attempts to contact Core Realty, the real estate agency managing the Penn Treaty Village property, but never received a call back.

Before the three Latitude locations were shut down in early 2016, documents show that Brown had plans in Penn Treaty Village. According to a statement dated October 28, 2015, “Latitude 360 Penn, LLC” was registered for 1000 Frankford Ave., Suite 102 with the typed signature “Brent Brown.” A Latitude location never opened in Penn Treaty Village. In November 2015, Philly.com reported that Latitude 360 had plans to be in the area. However, bowling alley entertainment zone Revolutions popped up instead.

THE RILEYS Our investigation then led us to folks in Florida who had issues with both Brown and Johnigean: Bob and Aaron Riley.

Bob said his family had a neighborhood utopia with their next-door neighbors, the Browns, in Jacksonville. Bob claims his girls would babysit the Brown children and watch Brown’s dog, Bud, when the family was away.

Now the utopia is no longer. Bob’s son, Aaron, has filed a civil lawsuit against Brent Brown and his wife, Antonia Brown. Aaron claims that Brent failed to disclose the company’s liabilities when they traded Aaron’s Aston Martin for six-figures of worthless Latitude shares.

Both Rileys spoke at length to Spirit News about their prior business dealing with Brent Brown. They believed that Antonia’s name would be used in any new venture to conceal Brent’s involvement.

During our investigation, Johnigean filed a restraining order against both Aaron and Bob. The orders were later denied. Aaron says he hasn’t spoken to either Brent or Antonia since the end of 2015. Both men also claim to have never met or spoken to Johnigean.

A DUNN DEEL After asking Johnigean about the structure of Rex Gryphon and the photo, he referred us to Brian Dunn, who Johnigean claimed was his Philadelphia-based business partner in his upcoming ventures. In a telephone interview, Dunn explained to Spirit News how these restaurants are connected. An actual parent company to these restaurants has not been decided on, Dunn claims. However, he told us that eventually Rex Gryphon will “fall” into being their parent company.

Urban EEL was created first, Dunn told Spirit News. His name, as well as Pavel Rathousky, a Latitude shareholder, is on the Urban EEL liquor license, which has a “pending” status on the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s website. Dunn’s name is also identified as a “Member of the Borrower” on a Urban EEL LLC corporation statement.

Opening up Mad Rex became a possibility after Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar left a space open at Penn Continued on Page 12.

Page 12

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6 Thursday, April 27, 7PM GREEN PARTY MEMBERSHIP MEETING The Green Party of Philadelphia will hold a membership meeting at Shissler Recreation Center (1800 Blair St.) to discuss ways to prevent climate change and provide healthcare for all. The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information, please call 215-843-4256 or email gpop@gpop.org.

Thursday, April 27, 6:30-8PM HACKETT SCHOOLYARD DESIGN PRESENTATION Join Friends of Hackett for the final Schoolyard Design Presentation and see how we have integrated play equipment, green spaces and sports areas into an inclusive play space for Hackett Elementary and the surrounding community.

We will be joined by representatives from PWD and PSD. Meeting at St Michael’s Church, 2141 E Cumberland St. Thursday, April 27, 7PM NLNA MEETING & BOARD NOMINATIONS Nominations for the NLNA Board of Directors annual election begins this week. This year, online nominations are being accepted. The nomination window will end with in-person nominations on April 27 at the Northern Liberties Community Center (700 N. 3rd St.) Anyone can be nominated, and one can self-nominate. At large seats have the following requirements for nominees: be 18 years and older and live in Northern Liberties or own or operate a business in Northern Liberties.

Thursday, April 27, 7PM INTERFERENCE: SELFHOOD Philadelphia Photo Arts Center is partnering with First Person Arts to host the first-ever event in which photographers, musicians and storytellers use photographs to explore memory family, stereotypes and culture. This show is inspired by current exhibit Interference featuring Andre Bradley and Paul Anthony. Performers for the night also include Jarred McCreary, Neil Bardhan, Esther Chiang and Joshua Machiz. The event will be held at the PPAC Gallery (Corner of N. American and N. Master Streets) Tickets are $10 and available on PPAC’s website. Seats are limited.

Friday, April 28, 8PM ELI CONLEY WITH SILVERTOWN RELEASE SHOW Contemporary folk artist Eli Conley and local indie band Silvertown are playing a CD release show at The Evangelical Church of Atonement (1542 E. Montgomery Ave.) Conley is releasing his sophomore album, Strong and Tender. Doors are at 7PM, and the show begins at 8PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $1-$10. No one will be turned away if they don’t have the funds.

For more information, call 718-484-8704.

Saturday, April 29, 10AM FREE PAPER SHREDDING & ELECTRONIC RECYCLING At the Schmidt’s Commons (2nd & Germantown). Are you concerned about the safety of your personal information when discarding important documents? If so, please bring your unneeded, personal financial and confidential papers to be shredded on site. Bring up to three boxes or bags - no televisions or monitors.

For more information please contact State Representative Mike O’Brien’s district office at 215-503-3245.

Sunday, April 30, 2-5PM INTERFAITH WALK The 14th Annual Interfaith Walk will be walking in strength, beginning at Masjidullah (7401 Limekiln Pk.) Buses to Masjidullah will be leaving from 1:15PM at Al-Aqso Mosque (1502 Germantown Ave.) Tuesday, May 2, 7PM FNA ZONING MEETING Tuesday night’s addresses of discussion are 29 W. Wildey St. and 1502-8 Frankford Ave. The meeting will take place at the Fishtown Rec Center (1202 E. Montgomery Ave.) Fishtown residents and business owners are eligible to vote with proof of residence or business ownership in the

form of a driver’s license, photo id, lease, utility bill or an addressed piece of mail.

Tuesday, May 2, 6PM FNA/SPIRIT NEWS DA CANDIDATE FORUM The Fishtown Neighbors Association has partnered with Spirit News to host a Candidate Forum this year focused on the District Attorney’s Office. The Forum will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Kensington a fully-accessible location at 418 E. Girard Avenue (please note EAST Girard Avenue) on Thursday, April 27th. The event will begin at 6PM with a chance for candidates to meet and greet residents with the forum beginning at 6:30PM. We anticipate a crowd between 150-200 people for our event. The Forum will be moderated by staff of the Spirit Newspapers and include questions submitted by members of the community as well as policy driven questions. All Candidates for office from both major parties have been invited. It will not be a debate, so all candidates will be given a chance to answer questions.

Please submit any questions to news@spiritnews.org.

May 3, 6PM RAIN CHECK WORKSHOP The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be hosting a Rain Check Workshop at the Fishtown Library. Learn how to get your free rain barrel. Come to PWD’s Rain Check Workshop and learn how you can get a free rain barrel.

Reduced pricing for downspout planters, rain gardens, depaving, and permeable pavers will be offered. PWD believes that everyone can make a difference in transforming Philadelphia into a greener city with clean water.

For more information and to register, please visit www.phillywatersheds.org/raincheck or call PHS at 215-988-1698.

Friday, May 5, 5-10PM CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION The Piazza at Schmidt’s will be holding a fiesta in celebration of Cinco de Mayo with live bands, entertainment, dancing, dance lessons, sobrero races, pinatas and more.

The event kicks off with Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol, a group bringing music consisting of romantic Puerto Rican Boleros to lively Mexican Mariachi. Come thirsty and hungry: Revolution Taco will debut their new food truck; Gunners Run will be serving Mexican style foods and Margarita and Mojito Pitchers. The event is free, and attendees must be 21+ with identification to drink.

For more information visit the Piazza at Schmidt’s website.

Friday, May 5, 5-7PM 10TH ANNIVERSARY FACULTY EXHIBITION NLArts turns ten this year, so to celebrate, they have created ten unique events for our families and artists to participate in. NLArts has hired city artists and makers to display their figurative, abstract narrative, sculpture and photography that centers on community. Artists include Pat Aluiso, Lily Brown, Rae Burns and more. Part of the proceeds of purchased artwork will be donated to NLArts.

For more information, call 973-868-6675.

Friday, May 5, 7PM-12AM 26TH DISTRICT AWARDS BANQUET AND REUNION The 26th Police District will be hosting their 26th Annual Banquet and Awards Gala at SugarHouse Casino. An open bar, gourmet food, photobooth, and DJ Jose Rodriguez will fill the event. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the District (615 E. Girard Ave) or by calling 215-686-3233. Reservations for tables can be made.

Saturday, May 6 and Saturday, May 20, 8AM-3PM FLEA MARKET The Friends of Konrad square will be hosting a flea market at Konrad Square (Tulip and Dauphin Streets.)

Anyone interested in renting a space or looking for more information should call Vicky at 215-426-9654.

Saturday, May 6, 12:30-4PM KENSINGTON COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP EVENTS The Kensington Community Food Co-Op (KCFC) is hold-

ing two events at 2670 Coral St. The day will start off with a KCFC Community Meeting to discuss project updates and unveil the new KCFC logo. Later, the KCFC will be celebrating their march to Groundbreaking and store construction with food, fun, prizes and more.

Saturday, May 6, 9AM-2PM NLNA PLANT SALE Annuals, perennials, flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetable plants, and more will be sold on during the day at the Northern Liberties Recreation Center (321 Fairmount Ave.) For more information or to volunteer, email sugarvision10@ gmail.com Sunday, May 7, 12:30PM POLAND’S CONSTITUTION COMMEMORATION To celebrate the 226th Anniversary of Poland’s Constitution, a mass will be held at 12:30PM at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa (654 Ferry Rd. in Doylestown, PA.) At 2:30PM, a youth program and performance will take place at the Shrine’s Visitor Center. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Theresa Romanowski at 215922-1700.

Sunday, May 7, 8-10AM ADAIRE APPLEBEE’S FUNDRAISER BREAKFAST A Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast will be held at Applebee’s (2501 Aramingo Ave.) to support Alexander Adaire Home and School. The cost to attend the breakfast is $7.

For more information, contact Julia at 267-312-8461 or Jenn at 267-407-4301.

Friday, May 12, 7:30PM-12:30AM COMEDY NIGHT Friend of Mother Divine Grace and Columbia Social Club are hosting a Comedy Night at the Columbia Social Club (3529 Almond St.) The night will be filled with a comedy show, food, beer, wine, a DJ, 50/50 and Chinese Auction.

Tickets are $30.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Frank Valentino at 267-408-4926.

Saturday, May 13, 12-5PM LEHIGH AVENUE ARTS FESTIVAL The 10th Annual Lehigh Avenue Arts Festival is coming back to its original location — Lehigh Avenue! Come out to Belgrade Street and Lehigh Avenue for art activities, food trucks, moon bounces, music, raffles. The Portside Arts Center (PAC) will also be having an open house. All proceeds will benefit the PAC’s student scholarship fund for families of limited resources.

For more information, contact Jenna Wilchinsky at jwilchinsky@porsideartscenter.org.

Saturday, May 13, 10AM-3PM MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS & FLEA MARKET Penn Treaty Park will be distributing free Mother’s Day Flowers at 11AM when one visits the park for the Flea Market. Anyone looking for more information or to participate in the Flea Market should contact Barbara Morehead at 215-850-3709.

Page 13

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017 Continued from Page 11.

Treaty Village, according to Dunn.

A Havertown native, Dunn said he met Johnigean as a potential investor, not related to the Philadelphia area projects, while in Key West. When Spirit News asked Dunn whether he had any personal ties to the Browns, Dunn admitted that he knows the family. He also explained how he was aware of what happened with the Browns and Latitude.

“I feel bad for [the Browns],” Dunn said. “You and I don’t know the whole story.”

Dunn claims he did not invest in Latitude because “economically, it did not make sense” to him. Dunn gave his opinions about why Latitude failed, questioning the board of Latitude and company’s eagerness to take on loans. But if Brown wanted to open up another bar, Dunn believes he’s allowed to do so.

As for those who are angry about Brown’s Latitude hardships, Dunn expressed criticism. “If [Brent] did something wrong or illegal, he’d be in jail...”, Dunn said. “People are mad, I get that. People are mad because they lost money. I get mad just like everybody else [when one of my own investments doesn’t pay off].”

At the same time, Dunn criticized Brown’s own business practices. He told Spirit News that the business decisions he would make if he was in Brown’s position are different, but seem logical. Dunn’s economic thinking is to be reflected as what’s to come at 1000 Frankford Ave., so he says. “Urban EEL is not going to fail,” Dunn said.“I’m not going to not pay my people.”

Concerning whether Brent or Antonia Brown were involved in Urban EEL, Mad Rex or Rex Gryphon, Dunn added: “No, they’re not involved.”

THE DOCUMENTS After speaking to all these people, Spirit News looked into corporate filings. Rex Gryphon LLC is registered in Delaware, so we called the Delaware Division of Corporations and asked if any members were named on the documents.

The attendant on the other end told us there was a name there. We threw darts and got no points. Our attempts led the attendant to confirm that Antonia Z. Brown is listed as a member on Rex Gryphon formation document. We submitted a request for this document.

As Spirit News patiently waited for the paper to come in via USPS, we looked up other terms associated with Mad Rex and Urban EEL in the state’s corporate filings.

VRex Lounge LLC lists Antonia Z. Brown as a managing member. The VRex Lounge plans to be a virtual reality hangout hub in Mad Rex, with a private chamber on the side for “customer’s intimate VR desires.” VRex Lounge appears next to “Survivors Kitchen” on the Mad Rex logo as well.

After the physical documents arrived, Spirit News reached out to Brent Brown. In a text exchange, Brown supplied

Outisde of Mad Rex./ Shealyn Kilroy comment into his reasoning why Antonia’s name was on the documents.

“It was done in the beginning to help Johnigean organize a team to build two concepts. Her name was used as a registration purpose. It’s pretty simple and people do it all the time. These entities do not own the restaurants. Period.

They really have no purpose presently other than group identity,” Brown stated in a text.

Brown denied having investment funds in the Philadelphia projects as well. “I nor my wife nor any family member nor latitude 360 have any investment $ in these restaurants,” Brown said in a text message. Spirit News could not confirm or deny that Brent Brown has any money invested in Mad Rex or Urban EEL. Spirit News also contacted Johnigean, who texted us referring us to Brown. Johnigean did not answer our calls.

When asked about the document, Dunn backtracked on his original statement that Gryphon would fall into being the parent company of his bar, Urban EEL. “No it states the same what Rex did has nothing to do with my bar,” Dunn sent us via text message. “Rex Gr has nothing to do with urban eel bottom line and I have everything I need filed with my lawyers if you want to talk to 1 of them.”

As of the time of publication, Rex Gryphon logos still adorn Urban EEL’s website and state “The URBAN EEL Concept

by Rex Gryphon.”

BUILT ON RISK It’s been more than a year since the three Latitude locations closed, and as of April 25, 2017, Brown has not been

charged with a crime related to Latitude. Last August, former Florida State Attorney Angela Corey told Action News Jax reporter Jenna Bourne that Corey’s team was actively investigating the situation. Corey told Bourne that “there’s a world of white-collar crimes we can go after them on.”

Corey is no longer the State Attorney and the status of the investigation is unknown. Spirit News has not confirmed any ongoing investigations into Latitude or any of these Philadelphia restaurants.

Mad Rex and Urban EEL have not opened to the public yet. Neither a single criminal charge nor a public suit has been publicly filed in relation to these restaurants. Spirit News hasn’t heard any accusations that funds have been mishandled within Mad Rex, Urban EEL, VRex Lounge, and Rex Gryphon.

However, there is a paper trail that leads the Browns to Philadelphia. Johnigean has promised Spirit News a walkthrough and tasting before Mad Rex opens to the public.

When Johnigean spoke to us in January, he told us the restaurants would be open by the end of April or early May 2017. More recently, Johnigean has pushed that back to mid year.

As for Dunn, he knows that every investment is risky, no matter who you go into business with.

“Any startup no matter how big or small is the greatest risk we take in America everyday,” Dunn said. “Not for anything, it’s how America was built — on risk.” •

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Page 14

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

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Advertising is a privilege which must be protected against misuse. All classified advertisements subject to pre-payment. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the advertisements each time it is published.

No responsibility is assumed by the newspaper for errors. Errors will be rectified by reinsertion in the following issue only.

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Interfaith Peace Walk 2017

By Jim McGovern I believe it is Peace Walk # 14 that will be stepping out on Sunday April 30, 2017. It’s been kind of a crazy year and the end result will have us walk to only one house of worship and a playground in this years’ walk in Philly’s West Oak Lane neighborhood. That one house of worship is the huge, warm and wonderful Masgidullah at Limekeln Pike and Washington Lane. We’ll start there…and we’ll end there, where there will be food and dialogue and networking galore. We’ve been having somewhere between 400 and 500 participants lately and I see no reason we can’t have the same number this year… maybe even more in this season of our discontent. Yet regardless of our issues with the issues, we will be just as adamant this year, as we are every other year that there will be no political agendas in our walk.

However in the walking time and in the dialogues we will have at the closing stop, people can talk about whatever they choose. And even as we embrace our diversity, we will not condemn others if they do not. We will NOT think in terms of us vs. them; what we will do is to “pray with our feet.”

And so we members of the PW committee will continue to meet once a month in the beautiful Al Aqsa mosque at 3rd and Germantown Avs. When certain of my friends tell me how much more safe and secure they are with the new laws and restrictions concerning Muslims, I tell them about the kindness, friendliness, humility and welcoming we experience in their house worship each month (usually the 3rd Wednesday). Same with almost all our stops on the walks. Seeing Jews talk to Muslims

talk to Christians talk to Sikhs talk to Hindus talk to secular humanists and so on….does a heart good.

There will be buses leaving Al Aqsa at 1:15 to 1:30 to take people to the walk and to bring them back after the banquet. We hope you all can make it. •

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Page 15

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY SHARON ISABEL CURLEY

Spirit Astrology YOUR DOSE OF HYPERLOCAL SPIRITUAL ADVICE

Aries: I am pretty certain I suffer from ADHD of some sort.

I cannot sit still. I start on one project, and I immediately switch to another. I get super involved in one thing, and then I am pacing around the house, starting on another project. I move from that project, try to get back to the next, feel completely overwhelmed and then take a nap. I wake from the nap feeling loads of awful, try to take a walk, and then try for some project, be it new or old, before getting utterly frustrated upon another incomplete act. I am often, for this reason, left feeling unrested, underachieved, and speaking to my shrink about this. It’s like I hit this certain part of the day, where I find myself walking up and down the Kensington streets, with my friend Simone the dog. We pass by our regular spots, and I try to talk to her about it, but she isn’t very responsive. I tell you this, because one thing I know about Aries, for sure, is that you love to procrastinate. So, I think in this regard, you may be able to relate to my project-related difficulties. Perhaps if we could share a brain I could get you to start sooner, and you could at least help me to finish ever. Alas, this is not an option.

Keep up your finishing process. If it’s stressing you out lately, be grateful you’re at least completing something at some point.

Taurus: Today marks the birthday of one of my oldest and dearest friends. Her name is Ruth. Ruth is the type of gal who is very giving among her friends. She is also smart, and she chooses her friends wisely. I always want to be better about the company I choose, as I’ve been hurt quite a bit, giving too much and getting too little. If I truly chose people who treated me as I want to be treated, and vice versa, I’d be surrounded by people like Ruth. Taurus, if you’re not the kind of person who is capable of always knowing and appreciating at least someone around you at all times, perhaps it’s time for you to follow this style, and choose wiser.

Imagine if every time you were with someone, you felt fulfilled, like there was nothing to hide, like you could be yourself. Imagine that the love you expressed to this person was felt within you just the same. Treat yourself to this Taurus, and Happy Birthday to you!

Gemini: I’ve been practicing yoga more seriously lately. It’s as if, with every session, my body is moving in ways I didn’t know I needed it to. I finish every practice feeling better and better. I do this from the comfort of my own home, rather than getting involved in the yoga community. There’s a reason for this, but I am not quite sure of the reason, nor am I totally sold on it. It’s some kind of strange insecurity, perhaps. Do you have moments of feeling this way? Where you’ve got something special that you do all alone, that you know you’d benefit more from doing with other people, but choose not to? I think it’s time for you to make the leap into the community. Let’s do it together. I will try out Motherheart Studio or Amrita Yoga and Wellness, and you get the band together, or whatever it is you feel you need to do.

Here’s to hoping this brings us all new success.

Cancer: I am currently dressed in my old, worn-out Pink Floyd shirt and some multi-pink weed socks. I’m listening to the Strokes’ “Is This It”, while writing horoscopes at noon on a Sunday. All the while, my boyfriend is downstairs in his shop, painting a door to be made for some friends, and working on my car, whose engine has been smoking pretty badly. I woke up early today, and I baked some rosemary, fig, and olive oil challah bread for breakfast. Simone the dog is staring at me. To say I am not feeling happy would be a total lie. Last night, I had dinner with some friends. While there, they put their three year old to bed, and I learned their bedtime routine, which involved the child saying one thing he is thankful for from the day. He does this every night. I decided I needed to take this into my own life, and to learn to be thankful for some things.

Some things like right now. Cancer, when we get wrapped up in the stresses of our daily life, we often forget to take the time to be grateful for the things we cherish. I urge you to stop what you’re doing right now, and tell yourself something you’re thankful for.

Leo: The problem with being a drinker and a lover of wine is the option to buy it boxed. It’s like an endless trap. You can just keep going back for another little splash, and before you know it, you’re all alone in your house, late at night, in your underwear, eating popcorn in bed while

watching Girlboss and looking through old photos on your phone. Sure, maybe that’s just me, but don’t we all have a similar vice? I’ve seen ads for these shows where people get addicted to coupon clipping. A similar endless trap of deals. Whatever your little vice is, Leo, don’t look at it as a fault anymore. From this point on, or at least for a trial period, see your vice as exciting. See it as an outsider, and learn to enjoy it, instead of thinking of it as a vice. Hopefully, I am not pushing you do something that’s not great. So perhaps try to choose a healthier vice. I don’t want to feed your drug habit, or the things you do that your wife complains about.

I just want you to learn to love yourself a little more.

Virgo: After a long stint of being unemployed and underemployed, I am now employed! I am working for a company owned and operated by an old friend of mine. The company is called Volta Natural Cleaning, and it is pretty self-explanatory. All of the products are made from scratch, bottled by employees, and are used with love. It’s a nice gig, and if you need to clean your house, get in touch and tell her I sent you! The job has actually been quite inspiring in two ways for me. The first is, it’s an all-female staff, and I love being around other women. The second is, it’s taught me the importance of cleanliness in my house (only took 37 years). It’s a whole method she’s taught us, and spring couldn’t be a better time to be learning it! Virgo, you are often organizing things in your brain, but what if you came up with a physical way to express these things? I’ve always seen cleanliness, but am just learning to express it. Maybe you’re the type to have conversations with people in your mind, but let’s say it’s time to actually get out and have those conversations. Let’s say you keep telling yourself you’re going to try something new, and now it is time to try that new thing! It will feel rewarding. Take it from me.

Libra: Sometimes things work out exactly as you want them to. Sometimes it is shocking how much you can create something in your mind that is then carried out to a T. These are glorious moments that should be carried around in your memory pockets for when things don’t work out as planned. Last week, I was driving home from Whole Foods, and four hours later, I made it to my front door. After two separate AAA trucks came out, and the car was taken to Frankford Auto, I was finally able to come home and be too hungry to make food, so yet again I ate chips and salsa for dinner. Upon picking my car up, I was happy every time it started, for it had stopped starting, making the case for the tow. Then, just a few short hours after driving my little wagon, smoke began pouring from the engine. And now, I can no longer drive my car, until it is fixed. It’s time now for me to pull out one of those memories I’ve got stored in my brain pockets and remind myself that things can and will work out. With the good vibes from the AAA guys, the honesty of the Frankford Auto guys, the work my special dude is doing on my car now, and the willingness to believe, I will have my favorite little car working in no time. Libra, pull out some old memories of time’s past when things went just right. Remember that ease and channel as you wish.

Scorpio: As most of you readers are aware, Kensington is sadly an opiate haven for some. The scene is pretty gnarly.

As I live up in the K&A cut, I can tell you it is very sad. The recent attention brought to this neighborhood for reasons of hoping to reach out to addicts in need is a lovely thing, despite the controversy of this versus the crack epidemic in the 80s. This past weekend, I know of three heroin overdoses, including two deaths, within my circle. It’s an oppressive neighborhood, full of neglect. The intersection at Somerset Street and Kensington Avenue is not the happiest corner this side of Lehigh. It’s an El stop, with a lot of police activity, and for someone like me, not much else but a short walk from the Village Thrift. For most people who frequent this corner, they’re selling their bodies or their drugs, they’re buying the bodies of the others, or maintaining an awful habit. Or they’re building Ruth Street Lofts?!

Seriously, now? I would like to see a turnaround in this neighborhood. I’d like a walk to a coffee shop. I’d like flowers that aren’t carnations or that aren’t set up for a funeral plot. And yes, I agree with the NKCDC and their mission of connecting this strung-out community with better resources, but I don’t think this hood is quite ready for the only crowd who will be able to afford this place, nor is this crowd

going to get what they pay for, i.e. a safe, pleasant neighborhood, in walking distance to anything. Scorpio, I share this complaint with you, because I know you often see success in your changes. Yet sometimes, you really need to consider the effects this will have on others, and take a step back before making a change. The time for this is now.

Sagittarius: If every person were given the chance to know what it feels like to walk outside and do whatever they want, I think the world would be a better place. There is always more to dream, there is always more to do, but some of us are simply stuck in dreams of more to do. I enjoy making lists of things I want to do. I enjoy channeling the feeling of the things I want to feel upon achieving my goals. I find it hard to believe that these things are so hard for me to get.

Things I want in life are a family, a washer/dryer combo, and just enough money to feel at ease. Most of my peers have some variation of this, yet I am stuck without. Is this a good way to look at things? I do not know. However, it is my way. To not forget who I am and why I’m here. Sagittarius, if you’re feeling lost or swayed off your tracks, because other people are telling you to do something different than you want, it’s time for you to get back on track. You’re only you here, not always in need of the collective consciousness you often like to feel.

Capricorn: Sometimes, on a hot summer day, I want to lie down in the produce section of the grocery store and close my eyes. I want to feel the cold, dirty floor attaching itself to my sweaty skin. I want to feel the eyes of my observers passing by me in confusion and disgust. And when I stand up, I want to just get up and walk out and not buy a single thing. I have this image appear often, and I think it’s some sort of control vibe or freedom cry. I’m not sure. Either way, it’s an exciting process, and I hope to achieve this goal, come summer. If you’ve got something on your mind that is so frequent, but seems absurd, maybe it’s time to go for it. Do something that would impress everyone around you.

Do something big. Make a choice, and go for it, and let the gratitude and love pour in, as you’ve never known it to.

Aquarius: Four cups of coffee is leading me to a quick heart and scattered mind. The weather is not too hot, not too cold. The sun is showing, and I have been inside writing horoscopes for five hours now. I did take a yoga break.

I want to get outside, but I want to get outside and into the deep, quiet woods. I want to get outside and into a boat built for two. I want to get outside as the sun is setting, but the clocks aren’t moving their hands at all. I want that feeling of a late-night trip to the beach with my friends, not minding a thing at all. What do you call that feeling? Whatever it is, we can dream it all we’d like. For us Aquarians, for us sensual introverts, traveling through life in our little minds, by way of our big dreams - for us we can dream. And dream as we will, let’s find a way to get out of our heads for a little bit. It’s time to broaden our minds with news ideas, coming from the outside in. Let the birdsongs awaken you.

Let the eyes of another stare into you.

Pisces: The saying “It doesn’t hurt to ask” is potentially one of the most absurd things I choose to say. I have come up with intense, massive amounts of courage; I have had to gain loads of confidence and love for myself before asking a question. When the response is sometimes no, that rejection has hurt me beyond belief. Maybe it’s the asking that doesn’t hurt, but the response that can cause so much pain. And isn’t the answer simply a result of asking? Isn’t it part of the process? What about “Don’t ask, don’t tell”?

At least then the unknowing is agonizing in itself, yet still a mystery, while the actual answer could break your little heart. For you, Pisces, there’s a saying I’d like you to hold dear in the coming weeks, and it’s this: “Be careful what you ask for.” •

Page 16

The Spirit of the Riverwards – April 27, 2017

WRITTEN BY STEVE BOHNEL

Sippin’ in the Sun

WHAT ARE BEST PLACES TO ENJOY A DRINK OUTSIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

W

ith the weather heating up, bars, taverns and pubs have been cleaning out their outdoor spaces and preparing them for customers who want to enjoy warm weather while enjoying a cold beer, a cocktail or whatever alcoholic beverage they may crave. Spirit News spent some time during the past couple of weeks roaming nearby neighborhoods and scouting out some bars that are commendable for their use of outdoor space.

Olde Richmond: The Memphis Taproom (2331 E Cumberland St.) Picnic tables are scattered throughout the outdoor space in this establishment, known for serving a large assortment of quality beer and southern food. It’s not a large space, but a gate separates it from the sidewalk on Cumberland, almost giving it a sense of a private yard. There’s also a mini-bus in the back serving up various items from Taproom’s menu.

Our recommendation is to head there on a nice day, grab a glass of Tired Hands beer from the bar and enjoy the sunshine in between two rowhouses in an up-and-coming neighborhood.

East Kensington: Martha (2113 E York St.) Martha has one of the best outdoor spaces of any bar in the city. Sure, there isn’t the rooftop view like some in Center City, but the overall design and use of artwork and outdoor space at this place is pretty impressive. Those who want a cold brew can enjoy sitting at one of several tables, or set their beer on a cask like Spirit News did.

The crowd Martha attracts is certainly cooler than this article’s author, but that’s not to say Martha doesn’t nail the aesthetic of a quality neighborhood bar, like its website

suggests. Ultimately, it’s a top-notch spot for unwinding after a day of work.

Port Richmond: Green Rock Tavern (2546 E Lehigh Ave.)

Northern Liberties: Standard Tap (901 N 2nd St.)

So we loosely put this on the list, not because it sits right on the edge of our Olde Richmond/ Port Richmond border, but because there is no outdoor space at this place.

You can, however, do what this writer did: Grab a seat near the front door, open on warm days, and enjoy that Port Richmond breeze blowing in.

There’s a solid selection of tap beer here, but the musthave is their homemade perogies, which remind this writer of the ones his aunt makes at Christmas. Either way, be sure to enjoy a cold one at this newish tavern, which opened a decade ago. •

It’s a fairly well-known bar in No Libs, but that doesn’t take away from the second-floor patio. If you take our lead, you grab a happy hour beer (selected varieties are half-off) and sit near the ledge of that patio, overlooking the busy rush-hour traffic at 2nd and Poplar Streets.

There’s around 20 beers on tap at this place, and quality burgers to go with them. The menu also offers more sophisticated grub, like mussels and grilled octopus.

Fishtown: Interstate Draft House (1235 E Palmer St.) While many can grab a seat at Frankford Hall or outside Johnny Brenda’s, Interstate Draft House sits right near the Fishtown Recreation Center. Make your way through the bar and to their back patio, where their happy hour specials and drink options are written on a chalkboard outside.

Like the Memphis Taproom, it’s a solid use of outdoor space, and may make customers feel like they’re on someone’s back patio. We suggest grabbing a happy hour beer ($4) and relaxing in the warm weather, secluded from the busy spaces that line Girard and Frankford Avenues.

Interstate Draft House (1235 E Palmer St.)

Standard Tap (901 N 2nd St.) /All photos from Google Street View

Martha (2113 E York St.)

The Memphis Taproom (2331 E Cumberland St.)

Did you know that Spirit News has it’s own radio show? Tune into Spirit News Radio every Wednesday night on WPPM - FM 106.5 from 6-7PM. We discuss local news, arts and entertainment pertaining to the various neighborhoods we cover across Philadelphia. Can’t tune in live? You can download our radio show each week in podcast form on iTunes, SoundCloud and Google Play.

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