Archive: June, 2010
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Busy Wednesday night at the Center City steakhouses:
That was Robert Redford among a party of four at Barclay Prime on Rittenhouse Square. He'll be speaking to the Chamber of Commerce about entrepreneurship on Thursday.
Danny DeVito and a small crew hit Butcher & Singer at 15th and Walnut Streets before he attended the grand-opening party of Mac's Tavern in Old City -- co-owned by his It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia castmates Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson. Around midnight, DeVito left in a taxi -- riding in the front seat.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
This one is a ways away, but why not be the first on your blog, er, block, to know: Hop Sing, an upscale Chinese resto-lounge, at 1029 Race St., where Indonesia used to be. Owners are keeping a lid on details for now. If you're an old coot like me, the name will ring a bell. If not, there's Wikipedia.
Table 31 has not only installed wicker furniture and a real bar in the plaza in front of the Comcast Center (17th and JFK Boulevard). Later this summer, there are plans to build an enclosure so the patio can be used 10 months a year, says chef/owner Chris Scarduzio. The enclosure will be topped by an orange roof and feature removable sides.
Wilmington has two newcomers -- actually one oldcomer and one newcomer. The oldcomer is the Columbus Inn (2216 Pennsylvania Ave.), which has been gutted and fabulously redone. It's bidding for business and leisure crowds as it tries to shake its old blue-hair rep. Chef Chris D'Ambro worked in Philly at Bocca. His dinner menu is here. His lunch menu is here. His brunch menu is here. His tavern menu is here. Wilmington's newer newcomer is FireStone (110 S. West St.), a grill-pizza-bar in a business park by the Christina River. Last occupant was CW Harborside. Interior has lots of fieldstone, and there's a pizza oven in the dining room. There's a large bar indoors, and a patio bar by the river that heats up at happy hour and for late night.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Congrats to Glen Mills' Bob Wittman, the former FBI agent whose tales of rescuing some of the world's most prominent artworks appear in the new book Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures.
Variety reports that Graham King -- whose IMDB list brims with projects such as The Departed and The Aviator -- has bought the film rights, a mere four days after publication.
A script has not been written.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
The Pennsylvania Ballet just announced the engagement of company member Lauren Fadeley and soloist Francis Veyette.
On a private island in the Bahamas on Sunday, he dropped to one knee in the water and popped the question.
The two, together for two years, met in 1997 at the Rock School for Dance Education. They reconnected 10 years later, when Fadeley joined Pennsylvania Ballet. They live in Center City with their cat, Lily, and dog, Emmett. No wedding date has been set.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton cut up yesterday in a conference room at Harrah's Chester casino as they shot scenes for the sixth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with Phillies players Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Day (Charlie) was impersonating Frank (Danny DeVito) at a Pennsylvania SPCA banquet. The twist here is that the Mac (creator/star Rob McElhenney) is a big fan of Utley's. Though McElhenney didn't get to act with the second baseman, he got to chat with him in his executive producer's role.
Danny DeVito and a bunch of Sunny cast and crew took in last night's fête de la music at the Sofitel: live jazz duo out front, a DJ in the bar, and comp hors d'oeuvres. The Sunny folks are in town shooting today.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Gotta love Rob Wasserman's sense of humor. For today's reopening of 500º (1504 Sansom St.), he has named the burger of the week the "The Spontaneous Combustion," the cause of the fire that closed the place for two weeks. Crafted by Matt Levin, the burger has homemade hot sauce, pepper jack and smoked mayo.
Paesano's, the sandwicheries in Northern Liberties and Italian Market, will begin offering gluten-free bread, starting next week. Owner Peter McAndrews tells me that his kids have celiac disease. The bread he'll use is expensive, so he'll have to charge $1 extra. His South Philly shop has gone to seven-day operation.
And in non-sandwich news: Stephen Starr has won the catering contract at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, replacing Restaurant Associates after 16 years.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
For half the winter, Aramark and the Phillies developed a signature hot dog to be served this season at Citizens Bank Park. (See story.)
Three possibilities were put up to a public vote, and the South Philly Dog – a roast pork-like sandwich topped with broccoli rabe, spicy roast peppers and sharp provolone cheese on an Italian roll – was the wiener, announced around opening day.
The South Philly Dog is being served at the ballpark.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Munish Narula, the owner of Tiffin, is partnering with Dranoff Properties on an upscale Indian restaurant that will be opening this winter at Dranoff's new project at 777 S. Broad. All seats will have a view of the open kitchen and the restaurant will wrap around the corner of Broad and Catharine.
No name yet, according to Narula, whose Tiffin has locations in Northern Liberties, Wynnewood, Elkins Park, and Mount Airy. (A Bryn Mawr location is on the way.)
In a statement, Narula says the new restaurant will use sophisticated Indian grilling methods including Tandoor (a clay oven), Sigri (char broiler), and Tawa (cast iron griddle). "Food will be seasoned with subtle, yet complex marinades and seasonings then cooked using one of these ancient methods and served in small plates," he says.
An open kitchen will be the visual centerpiece of the restaurant where every seat will provide guests with a view of the artisanal custom made ovens.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Just announced: Jackson Rathbone and Nicola Peltz, two young stars of the M. Night Shyamalan flick The Last Airbender, will appear at Saturday's "Taste of Philadelphia" festival at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing.
They will appear at 12:30 p.m. and sign autographed posters at 1 p.m. (You need a wristband to get in line for the autograph; they'll be available at 11 a.m.).
The film, shot here in spring 2009, opens July 1.
Michael Klein, Philly.com
The cast and crew of the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia have made their annual trip east to shoot scenes, mainly exteriors to give the show a hometown flavor. As I previously reported, they will be working here Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22 only.
They will appear the evening of Wednesday, June 23 at an invitation-only grand-opening party for Mac's Tavern, 226 Market St. in Old City. Cast members Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, and Danny DeVito are due to walk a red carpet about 8 p.m. McElhenney and Olson are among the bar's investors.
McElhenney, Olson, Howerton and some production folks visited Mac's Saturday night and mingled with the locals.
As for filming info:
