Midtown Village Update 8/28 2020

August 28, 2020 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

In another series of Hughe Around Town I’m updating you on the progress of Midtown Village. It looks great. Lots of places re-opening, a new business, and two places saying good bye to the neighborhood.
For the third week Midtown Village / Gayborhood will be dining outside with many of the streets closed. It’ll be the 2nd time for McGillin’s Old Ale House to participate, after a sold out weekend. Make sure you make reservations at the eatery of your desire before heading there, so that everyone can socially distance safely.

I wrote about it on my blog earlier this month in greater detail.

One restaurant/bar you won’t be hanging out at in the future is Tiki Bar. It is permanently closed. I had been watching it for a few weeks and even saw them cart the Tiki’s off about 2 weeks ago. It was a cool spot, but like the ones before it, and the spot before that, it just never took off. I don’t know why, I love the corner location especially their roof patio.

Good News: Opening between the former Bella Turka and the re opened Duross & Langel is Morton Contemporary Art Gallery at 115 S 13th St in the old Paper on Pine location. It opens on 9/1/20. The owner Debbie Morton is no stranger to Midtown Village as she used to operate another gallery nearby. I stopped by earlier this week, and really enjoyed all she had to offer. She has many local artists as well whom we all enjoy. Check out their website to see her art, as well as the store to welcome her back to the neighborhood.

Speaking of Paper on Pine, they love being in Midtown Village as well and moved just around the corner to 1310 Sansom Street. The store looks great and is stocked with all the items we love about Paper on Pine.

It’s right across from TIME, which I’m excited to see is now re opened. Great to see our City, especially Midtown Village bouncing back. Have a great weekend. See you on Social where I multiple times a day of things I see, for you to do or birds and flowers I come across. This weekend I’m in Cape May, then next weekend I’ll be going to Lancaster, for more than just my normal day trip. Have a safe weekend, be kind, and thank you so much for stopping by. xo HughE

Uncategorized

Midtown Village’s OPA Pivots and Expands Drury Beer Garden

June 23, 2020 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

I just got a email from Cashman PR: Some exciting restaurant news! Drury Beer Garden will be re-opening on Wednesday, June 24^th with a new look and completely new menu. The revamped space has expanded into the area formerly occupied by Opa and will feature outdoor and indoor seating (indoor opening Friday) and a global street-food inspired menu. The Drury Beer Garden expansion is Phase I of a two-phase project that will conclude with the return of Opa on the 2^nd floor of the building in 2021.

Drury Beer Garden

· The colorful and energetic space was re-designed by co-owners Vasiliki and George Tsiouris, with help from George’s wife Annette. Notable design features include two murals by Philadelphia artist, Paul Santoleri, a lush green canopy wall, a concert-poster collage, seven TV’s, a vintage coke machine that doubles as a backdoor, and a metal wrapped bar.

· The new menu will feature cocktails such as the “All About the Benjamins Baby”, a whiskey cocktail featuring an edible $100 bill and the” Purple Haze Froze” made with froze, citrus vodka, and blackberry

· Drury Beer Garden will also feature a Craftsman Row Saloon (also co-owned by George and Vasiliki) pop-up featuring their famed Milkshakes and Milkwich (details below)

· Hours of Operation: M-F 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; S-S 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

New mural by Paul Santoleri in the former dining area

Menu features include:

Salads:

o Cobb – grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, romaine, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, lemon vinaigrette

o The Wedge – iceberg, sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, croutons, parmesan, ranch dressing

· Starters

o Octopus Ceviche – plum tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, fried plantains

o Chicken Skewers – mango-habanero-honey sauce

**Watermelon Salad**– mango, goat cheese, arugula, mint, balsamic vinaigrette

o Chicken Taco- marinated, pico de gallo, corn tortilla

· Strombolis (A throw-back to a pizza shop that was co-owner George Tsiouris’ first business for 10 years in West Chester, PA)

o Italian Stromboli- cheese blend, prosciutto, mortadella, genoa, capicola

o Cheese Stromboli- cheddar and provolone cheeses, marina o/s

o Cheesesteak Stromboli- cheese blend, sautéed onions

Cheers:

COCKTAILS:

· All About The Benjamins, Baby – jim beam black, orange-cherry, bitters, edible hundred dollar bill

· Purple Haze Froze – froze, citrus vodka, blackberry (add-on CBD drops optional)

· Cool as a Cucumber – cucumber vodka, lemon, dill (used to be called “Antho” at Opa, the garnish and name are different now)

· Mango Tango Margarita- tequila, mango, lime

· Ginning From Ear to Ear – gin, elderflower, honey, rosemary

· Watermelon Spritz – watermelon vodka and puree, mint, basil, cava

· Lime-Ging Mojito- rum, mint, lime, ginger

MOCKTAILS:

· Fauxito- mint, lime, ginger

· Berry Tasty- Strawberry, pink peppercorns, basil, lemon

Philadelphia

Tinsel Christmas Bar Pops Up in Midtown Village

December 12, 2017 by HughE Dillon

Tinsel is most definitely back, as festive Pop-up Bar Opens in Center City

In the past couple years Philly has become the Christmas capital of the state, with the 10th year anniversary of Christmas Village, Dilworth Park’s celebration of the holidays with it’s ice skating rink, Philly Made Shops and

the amazing Christmas Tree on the North Apron. Now a Christmas-themed bar decorated in twinkling lights has opened in Center City to the delight of everyone, a place where you can go and soak up the holiday spirit. Tinsel
Teddy Sourias (l) and Craft Concepts Group announce the grand opening of Tinsel Christmas Pop-up Bar last week at 116 S. 12th Street, Philadelphia. Midtown Village in the space formerly occupied by Simpson’s Jewelry. Kory Aversa, Aversa PR & Events (r)

Tinsel bar consists for three rooms, the first was the original showroom for the jewelry store, and sit at the 25-foot bar on top of the former jewelry counter, Teddy and a friend traveled to Lancaster to pick up the custom wood bar top, which they plan to re use at one of their other properties. There are also 12 bar stools, some of them have Santa hats that say Naughty on them so you know exactly where to sit. The detail in the decorations are amazing, and this photo doesn’t do it justice, see the ornaments and how they had to be hung just perfect to create a festive atmosphere.

Last night was a media party and I ran into a lot of friends including Alex Holley, Fox29, who is taking up the photography hobby. Follow her on instagram to enjoy the fruits of her labor. In the 2nd room, there’s a real Douglass Fir covered in Tinsel, which Teddy bought from his worker, who also sells Christmas trees.

In the former diamond safe is a glowing “fireplace”.
On the night I was there I asked Teddy where the Mistletoe was, he said it keeps getting stolen. He’s replaced it twice already.

The decorations of my favorite kitschy kind, and Teddy was able to buy a lot of them online as he needed envisioned what he wanted and needed to obtain them as quick as possible, as they decorated the place in the past week. Check out each ceiling tile which was gift wrapped individually. There’s the Christmas Story‘s lamp.

The custom wood bar top, with the jewelry case full of ornaments and cute houses used in a train set.

Tinsel will serve specialty cocktails and Christmas themed beer on draft included Troegs Mad Elf, Hardywood Bourbon Gingerbread Stout and Chimay Grande Reserve. The Christmas cocktails, $8-$10, will rotate each week throughout the season. They’ll be a lite bite menu, including an array of Christmas cookies.

As a tool to encourage good behavior in children, Santa serves as the carrot, and Krampus is the stick. Krampus is the evil demon anti-Santa, or maybe his evil twin. Krampus Night is celebrated on December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Day in Austria and other parts of Europe.

In the third room you can drop off your letters to Santa, and use the Gender Neutral Bathroom.
Tinsel will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday and Saturday 2:00pm to Midnight, and Sunday Noon to 5:00pm. Tinsel will offer happy hour specials Tuesday through Friday 5:00pm to 7:00pm with $5 select Christmas Cocktails and all drafts. Previously schedule to close around Christmas, tentatively the Tinsel will be open until the Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day) in which is January 6, 2018. You can thank me for that idea. Christmas music and commercials can’t start early enough for me, and the holidays end too soon as well. If I had a tree I wouldn’t take it down til Valentine’s Day.