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archives 2008 » may. 14th

Drink It!

It’s been hard to find an interesting, let alone properly made, cocktail in this town that isn’t being mixed behind the bar at Southwark. We’ve got plenty of lovely gastropubs, corner bars and sports bars (which have their place) and a world-class selection of dives, but the high end is dominated by Stephen Starr—and that ain’t right. Apothecary Bar + Lounge, the new cocktail spot on 13th Street in Midtown Village, will help change that. Opened by restaurateurs Bruno Pouget and design-build firm UrbanSpaceDevelopment, the bilevel space has a more contemporary feel than the very masculine Southwark, with limed Austrian oak floors, marble-topped tables and bars, and mod green chairs. There’s a roof deck that isn’t open yet, but we got a peek at it last week and it should be a sweet spot for summer sipping. What exactly will you be sipping, by the by? Beverage consultants Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci, also known as the Tippling Bros., created a cocktail collection that runs the gamut from classic to quirky, from a Clever Club, a gingko-infused twist on the pre-Prohibition gin-based Clover Club (trivia: invented in Philly at the Bellevue Hotel), to the RustOleo, an allegedly antioxidizing blend of rum, honey liqueur, acai and blueberries, among other things. While the apothecary-themed menu details possible health benefits of each cocktail in the randy-dandy style of our own Lord Whimsy, it feels a little overwrought. Best to ignore it and just enjoy the drinks for what they are. Exceptional (we’re talking apple foam tops). Ethereal (try the violet one). Oh, and pricey, but the quality’s there to back that pricepoint up. >> Apothecary Bar + Lounge, 102 S. 13th St. 215.701.4786. www.apothecarylounge.com

Have Fun at It!

What could be better than wandering Ninth Street, eating your face off all weekend? Maybe you do this anyway, but this weekend you can do it officially at the Ninth Street Italian Market Festiv—ahem, the Sorrento Cheese Ninth Street Italian Market Festival—with the street blocked off while DJ Bob Pantano sets the tone with some oldies. Last year we took a stroll through the festival and ended up stuffing ourselves with tacos al pastor from Taquitos de Puebla, but we just as easily could have overdone it on sausage and cannoli, which were everywhere. There’ll also be a “Pastapalooza” pasta competition and a softball tournament to benefit the family of South Philly native and baseball personality John Marzano, who passed away unexpectedly last month. Visit the website for details on signing up. >> Sat., May 17-Sun., May 18, 10am-5pm. Free. Ninth and Montrose sts. www.9thstreetitalianmarketfestival.com