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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 21, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dining Days are Upon Us!

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 14, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Samantha Lazar on July 7, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Penn Museum Teams Up with The Franklin Institute for the Ultimate Egyptian Experience

Posted by Samantha Lazar on June 29, 2010

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is a world-renowned history museum known for, among other things, its ancient Egyptian collections.

The Egyptian galleries contain crowd-pleasing and awe-inspiring artifacts like the third largest sphinx in the world, giant columns from ancient temples, and, of course, those desiccated organ-less bodies that everyone loves so much: mummies. It’s not just the archaeologists at the museum who love the ancient world – it seems all of Philadelphia has caught Egyptian fever recently. Hot off the heels of its recent King Tut exhibit, the Franklin Institute has opened a brand new exhibit that offers an intriguing glimpse into the ancient dessert empire, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt. Luckily for Egyptophiles, The Penn Museum and the Franklin Institute have teamed up to create a double ticket that offers visitors the ultimate Egyptian experience.

The discounted double ticket, which can be purchased by calling 1-877-TFI-TIXS or in person at the Franklin Institute, will save museum-goers money off of the price of two separate tickets. It will be available as long as the exhibits are – that means until January 2011. ...
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Free Jazz in Cedar Park Puts Some Swing in Your Step Friday Evenings

Posted by Samantha Lazar on June 24, 2010

If farmers' markets, dollar strolls, and dining al fresco haven't put you in summer mode yet, how about the sultry strains of jazz wafting through the park on a warm Friday evening? If you haven't caught Cedar Park's weekly jazz concerts yet, you're behind the curve – they've been going on for almost a month even though summer officially began just this week.

Like any good event in a park, the concerts are free and casual, so you can come and go as you please. Relax for the full two hours if you've got the time, and hang out afterward to chat with neighbors or stroll down Baltimore Avenue in search of dinner (sorry, you'll have to wait a couple more weeks for the next Dollar Stroll!) Or, if you're in a bit of a rush (but really, who's in a rush on a warm summer evening?), swing by for just a few minutes.

Tony "Stickman" Wyatt Crew will be this week's artist. Wyatt is a jazz master and is recognized as one of the top drummers in the tri-state region, having played with Hank Mobley, James Moody, and Bootsie Barnes, among others. Check out the full schedule of upcoming bands here. The concerts are yet another great community event hosted by this little triangle of a park, and one of the things that make living and playing in this neighborhood so enjoyable.

Friday Night Jazz in Cedar Park
6 - 8pm, Friday nights (weather permitting)
50th St. & Baltimore Ave.
http://www.cedarparkneighbors.org/category/friday-night-jazz-in-cedar-park

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Summer Farmers’ Markets and Fresh Goods in University City – Farmers’ Market at the Radian every Friday in June and July!

Posted by Samantha Lazar on June 21, 2010

There's no shortage of organic, locally-grown produce in West Philly, and now that summer is here, we can bask in the glory of all those fresh fruits and veggies. The popular Clark Park Farmers Market has been a big draw of the area for years and always brings a large crowd and fun vibe to the park. After its winter hiatus the market is now back in full swing. Hit it up on Thursday afternoons for a quick re-stocking of fresh vegetables, or stop by on Saturday mornings for the full market experience, complete with a whole lot on top of the bounty of Pennsylvania’s fields: in addition to the vibrantly colored produce you’ll also find homemade honey, jam, fudge, and breads along with a veritable flea market offering jewelry, clothing, handmade goods of all sorts, and kids running amok.

When Milk and Honey Market opened this past year, it brought a dose of the farmers’ market to Baltimore Avenue, which was great for the winter months as well as freshness ...
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Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll Tomorrow!

Posted by Samantha Lazar on June 9, 2010

Baltimore Avenue is a mecca for diverse and eclectic energy in University City, be it in the form of food, drink, shopping, or entertainment. I’ve highlighted many of the street’s shops and cultural attractions on the blog before, but never before has there been such a perfect opportunity to check out so many of them in just one evening! Tonight is the first installment of the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which will take place on the second Thursday of each month throughout the summer (the next ones are July 8th and August 12th, if you want to mark your calendar). Fifteen businesses along the Avenue, between 43rd and 50th Streets, will be offering special wares for just a buck each. Who says a dollar can’t buy anything nowadays?

Start your stroll with a $1 cup of coffee or tea at the Green Line Café at 43rd and Baltimore, and then wend your way westward. Some highlights from the restaurants include $1 scoops of ice cream at Milk and Honey Market, $1 finger foods and salads at Dahlak, raw foods at Atiya Ola’s, tofu skewers at Vientiane Café, and sandwiches at The Gold Standard. There are several places to get your one dollar drink on, including Queen of Sheba, Elena’s Soul, and Dock Street (which is also offering $1 souvenir pint glasses!). For shopping you can check out Young Love’s or browse homemade gifts at VIX Emporium. If you’re feeling energetic swing by Studio 34, which is offering special yoga classes for just a dollar! Perhaps the most interesting offering of the evening is from Curio Theatre Company, which will be presenting previews of its upcoming performances for just one measly dollar.

The weather should be glorious and the neighborhood will certainly be hopping. Check out the full list of participating venues here, and make sure to come back next month too!

Baltimore Avenue, between 43rd St. and 50th St.
June 10th, July 8th, August 12th
5:30 – 8:30pm