All for...

Alfa, a great Rittenhouse bar with a great HH (love the $3 hummus/pita plate) has decided to make me swoon even more by offering ...wait for it....$20 bottles of wine and champagne every Tuesday night.  This just got dangerous!  And what's even better is this Saturday night at Alfa, we'll be celebrating a very special/fabulous/gorgeous lady's birthday all night!  Come look for us in the back and wish her a very happy one!  Cheers!

What's Going On?

There are so many reasons why I love Spring.  Let me count the ways...heavenly, flowery aromas/fresh, ripe fruits and veggies/drinking and dining al fresco and....festivals!  And within the next few weeks we have some pretty great ones to look forward to.

Let's start off with the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival this Saturday and Sunday.  Rain or shine from 10am - 5pm, enjoy sausage and broccoli raab sandwiches/Italian ice/gelato/meatballs/cannolis ...any room left in those skinny jeans??  You better hit the gym for this one!

Then walk off that feast by heading up to Penn's Landing for the Art Star Craft Bazaar which is also open this Saturday and Sunday from 11am - 6pm.  Check out the handmade goodies that over l00 local and national artists will be offering.

And, lastly, one of my personal favs, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival is happening next Saturday, May 21st.  Walnut Street will be closed off to transportation from Broad to 18th and filled with food vendors/a runway/live music all day.  It's the perfect excuse to put on that flirty sundress and show off those cute espadrilles.

Fine and Dandy

My new favorite place in the city, The Dandelion, is highly recommended and worth checking out.  Stephen Starr has hit this one out of the ballpark and across the pond.  Having been three times already for drinks/dinner/snacks, I have yet to be disappointed with any selection, and I am continuously surprised by my findings.  The two-story, double wide restaurant and bar is handsomely sexy and yet still cozy and inviting at the same time.  The stately staircase, tin ceilings, dark wood fireplaces (that actually work), and wallpapered walls all play a major role in the old English charm that The Dandelion exudes.  Whether, I am sitting at the crowded bar and laughing with great company, snuggled up in a corner next to the fireplace with another, or gathered around a large farmhouse table that seats 20, it is a completely different experience each time and keeps me coming back for more. 

The beer and cocktail list is inspired/original/mighty delicious, and although I wouldn’t call myself a very big beer drinker, the Raison D’etre could easily convince me to become one.  The dinner menu is classic/warming/magnificent, and the Duck Bolognese is something to be marveled.  Other dishes like the Fish and Chips (the most incredible I have ever tasted) or the Rabbit Pie are certainly worth licking your lips over.  Smaller dishes like the Salmon and Trout Pate and The Cheeseboard leave no room for complaints either.  The portions are all a great size and can easily be shared.

In addition to the great fare, the crowd is a mix of old and young/very good looking/ oh-so Rittenhouse.  This is the perfect spot for a date or a night out with your favorite guys and gals.  I am anxious to go back and check out their brunch menu or even sit down for a spot of tea, which is served daily between 3pm and 5pm.  A true ace!

Manning it Up

20 manning, fka Twenty Manning, has been a favorite of mine ever since I tried it a few years back.  I revisited this somewhat transformed goody just recently and it still has yet to let me down.  The new dandelion  yellow banquet seating that has been splashed around the dining area adds great function/flexibility/color to the space that I could easily see it transforming to a chic lounge in the later hours.  Besides some new pendant fixtures and artwork though, the restaurant has pretty much remained unchanged.  And, that's a good thing!  It's simple/quaint/cozy and has the perfect level of intimate lighting that I easily find myself not wanting to leave.  The menu has also altered slightly (both dinner and drink) but still no complaints are to be made.  The cocktails are just as good as ever; TMG Old Fashioned is sensational.  And, the food is so very fun/creative/scrumptious! that trying everything on the menu would not be a problem for me.  The butternut squash ravioli and Ahi tuna, either served as an app. or entree, are a must order.  It's always packed during the week and weekend so reservations are a must.  And, with 20 Manning's excellent location in Rittenhouse, it's a superb way to start off an evening of fun in the city.

Franklin vs. Ranstead

Franklin Mortgage and Ranstead Room are two bars that have very similar concepts.  Both play on the 1920s prohibition/speak easy era, neither serve vodka, and the drinks are marvelously inventive and delicious.  I’ve been to both recently adding to the handful of visits in the past, and while I am never disappointed with what my bartender is serving, I have come to the conclusion that I do prefer one bar over the other.  So, let’s break it down.

  

Franklin Mortgage                                                                                          

The entrance is off the street, down a set of stairs, and guarded by a man dressed in black.  With no windows or visible sign, it is easy to pass up or probably never notice; true speakeasy qualities!  The décor is handsome/cozy/true to the 1920s, and the lighting is perfectly balanced, providing a subtle and appealing sexiness to the environment making everyone around seem mysterious and intriguing.  The wait staff is attractive/witty/charismatic wearing stylish attire that has hints of that old world glam while still being modern.  While there is not a food menu, the cocktails more than make up for any appetite that would be cured with a fork and knife.  The little black book of drinks can be overwhelming with its ingredients and combinations, but you can easily rely on the fact that any selection made will be divinely pleasing.  Whether I am gathering with one or five friends, I have never been disappointed by Franklin Mortgage, and honestly there isn’t one bad quality I could find there.  The concept and its offerings are quite a success! 

On to the next one…

Ranstead Room

The entrance is located in the middle of a dark alley, and the only light provided is shown dimly on the front door that is labeled with an “R”, making its appearance temptingly forbidden.  The décor is straight out of the 70s, complete with questionably themed paintings and photos of pirates/hookers/driver’s licenses/porn stars, and the lighting is dim, so that reading the cocktail list by candlelight is actually necessary.  The wait staff carry tea lit candle holders creating an eerie, glowing orb of light reminiscent to scenes from Are You Afraid of the Dark?.   And the outfits , they remind me more of a 1950s saloon keeper than chic 20s speakeasy.  I am not quite sure what the intention is behind the music.  The volume is usually a little too low creating that weird, awkwardness where your voice is in between a whisper and a normal tone trying not to be the loudest person in the room yet also wanting what you’re saying to be heard by those sitting next to you.  And, there also happened to be one too many disco beats for my liking.  Food can be ordered from El Rey’s menu, since Ranstead Room shares a wall with the kitchen.  And although it’s appealing to be able to order a few small plates while at the bar , I am not quite sure how Mexican cuisine ties into the theme?  The cocktail menu has about a dozen drinks to choose from, and a “bartender’s choice” option for the adventurous.  I have taken the bartender up on their offers numerous times and I have never been disappointed.  Cheers to you, bartender!  But, excellent cocktails aside, overall the appearance(from what I could actually see) and vibe of Ranstead Room can be  quite confusing and sometimes uncomfortable.  It is not a place to gather with more than one or two others without feeling like all eyes are on you (and not in a good way).  However, if you want a smashing drink and pirate hookers are your thing, you might find this spot to be rather appealing.   No judgment!

The Conclusion…

While I’m not one to turn down a good drink, Ranstead Room has a discomforting and crazy, randomness to it that leads me to cast my vote towards Franklin Mortgage.  I enjoy the atmosphere and crowd, and the bar, overall, just seems a bit more sane than its contender.  Franklin Mortgage all around! 

Coat Check Redemption

Well, well, well, it is about time!  After 3 calls (2 sober, 1 drunk) to Whisper regarding my "missing" coat, I finally received a call back and even a follow-up text!  In between providing me with several apologies, I had learned that not only did my coat go missing but so did the rude coat check girl (aka, she was fired). They also told me my coat was never found :(  Sad, I know, as it was the perfect black velvet blazer for going out.  However, they heard the sadness in my voice ;) and greatly made up for my losses.  Mr. Whisper gave me his personal number and informed me that the next time my friends and I felt like coming to Whisper, all I needed to do was ring him up and all expenses would be paid for us (including coat check).  Success!  Now, who wants to Party??

Whisper While You Work-It

A few weekends ago, my friends and I made some plans to have a GNO in CC.  We planned for dancing, one too many G&Ts (preferably free), and showing off our cute/short/new/shiny outfits;  checking-out Whisper Club (formerly, Denim) seemed like a great idea.  And, it was (for the most part...more on that later)!

Like most after-hours clubs, the crowd didn't get there until just after midnight.  We, however got there a little early, to scope out the scene and all of the in's and out's of the club.  Whisper is basically made up of one main dance floor, two mezzanine levels towards the back of the club which overlook the dance floor, and several bars on all levels (I believe I counted five, but that could also be the number of drinks I had).  The bartenders and bouncers were all super friendly; making strong drinks and willing to take pics.  The DJ was great, the crowd was enthusiastic and good-looking (we quickly made friends with a well-dressed Jay-Z look-alike), and dancing on random platforms was encouraged by all.  Overall, it was a fantastic time, until....Duhn, Duhn, Duhn....The Coat Check.

Unfortunately, my coat, which my friend paid their employees to look after, was lost/misplaced/stolen, still waiting for the details, by the end of the night.  A shrug of the shoulders, (not even a sorry) and "next in line" was what I received from the young "lady" after informing her of this loss.  Realizing, that she would be of no help whatsoever, I talked to the manager downstairs, and he very politely apologized and gave me his card and told me to call him in the next few days. And that is exactly what I did.  However, I am still waiting for a call back.  I will be very disappointed if this is how Whisper plans to treat their clientele, but I'm hopeful that they will make-up for it soon, and I will be DMAO there soon again!