Kiddin' Around: East Passyunk Ave. Beer Garden

The long: Once-empty lot across from Pat's gets made over as the city's second temporary beer garden, planted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, decorated with old bicycle wheels, dappled with families whose grownups could use a beer - or vodka-spiked watermelon lemonade.

The short: Toys, microbrews, air-conditioned restrooms . . . paradise.

How it works: Sign in. Snag a table. Order at the bar. Grab your drinks. A server will deliver your food.

The menu: The folks behind the Cantinas, Royal Tavern, Khyber and Triangle Tavern do up roast pork empanadas, fries and grilled chicken, all spiked with long hots, broccoli rabe and/or roasted tomatoes.

Kids' menu: Grilled cheese, PB&J with banana, all-beef hotdogs, organic chicken nuggets.

The drinks: Twelve local beers on tap, fresh-fruit margaritas and, starting this week, just-bottled pomegranate apple juice and agave-sweetened lemonade.

BYO-cheesesteak: Sandwiches vended nearby (or brought from home) are welcome. Bar asks that you buy your drinks there, though.

Playthings: Hula-hoops (during a recent visit, some were bent) and a platform with wooden blocks. During same recent visit, grown-up Jenga players deigned to share.

Best spot: Any table with an umbrella, near the blocks.

Better spot: Deluxe porta-potties have A/C.

Get out: By 7:30 or 8 p.m., it's mostly 21-and-over.

The basics: 9th and Wharton streets, garden open noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday, 2 p.m.-midnight Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. Food & drink served 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 2 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. Free, 215-988-8800, phsonline.org.