Philadelphia has lots of parks. Some of them are large, stretching from one border to the other (eastish to westish), or straddling rivers; some are mid-size, a community center, and often have a large ego since the neighborhoods are named after the park; some are small, offering a small respite from the street, or a safe place for children to play (until they get eaten by a dragon and the parents sue the city).
It would be rather silly to try to list, describe, codify, or otherwise engage in witty reparte about every park in this city, especially since the city lists them all anyway, with some descriptions, occassionally a photo, and at times info about what to do there.
I think, though, that lots of people in the city (and around it) think that Philadelphia has only one big park (Fairmount), a couple of center city parks (those ego ones) and what ever they know of in their own neighborhood. Now, I can't blame people for this, but for those who ignore the greenery in their own city can forgo realizing that it's not ALL urban jungle.
My goal will be to give any reader out there (anyone? Hello?) a little bit of extra knowledge tinged with a bit of my own observations and editorial content.
So dust off that bike, clean out that picnic basket, buy a bottle of bug-spray, it's time to see some green (or courts, jungle-gyms, and concrete).
Saturday, July 23, 2011
TBAR
Tbar
117 S. 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
I've had my eyes set on Tbar for sometime, after a search of coffee shops and tea shops in Philly. I just never found the time to go, since I was in the area always on errands leading me to other places, other food adventures. So, on a Friday, I texted Caligirl "hey do you want to go to Tbar after work" which she responded to with a very enthusiastic yes. After a moment or two, I knew she didn't recall this place and was thinking solely about the word "bar".
Tbar serves teas. A hundred and something teas, all neatly described in binders available at...the bar. However, there are plenty of seats, mainly in sets of two, and if you are lucky, you can score one of the few couches they have. The atmosphere is a mix between modern-somewhat utilitarian and comforting lounge-like. All of the tables in the front half of the store look like they can belong anywhere. The character comes out better at the back of the store and the bar, where there are couches and some odd seat/cart thing, and inlaid whole-leaf teas under plexiglass, respectively.
You can easily spend a few hours here lounging back with friends, reading, or doing work, without being a bother to anyone. It's the largest space of the few study-friendly coffee shops I've been to in the area that aren't franchise or chain. Wi-Fi is available, but I believe you have to ask for a code.
The base teas are white, green, rooibos, oolong, black, and herbal. From this, you move on to the flavor profile. They also have pearl tea and can add what they call "fizz". You can get regular teas like you see in the supermarkets, or mixed up versions, such as Peach and Ginger Black Tea. And you can get them hot or cold. Caligirl ordered a taro ball tea and was asked which kind of milk she wanted in it, a question that she has never been asked before, even in hippie filled San Francisco valley. She was quite happy with her brew, and it came out in her favorite shade of purple-blue. This is why she named her car Taro. I ordered mine hot, and it comes as whole leaf with pieces of the infusion flavor added in. They use new tea sachets for every tea, so your cup is made fresh.
They serve pastries, cookies, and when available, sandwiches. I had a chocolate pastry, which was pretty good, though could always have used more chocolate.
There is also an abundance of tea related books and objects for sale.
A large black tea, a cold pearl tea, and a pastry, plus tax: $11
Market-Frankford subway to 11th or 13th Street, walk south to Sansom.
Broad Street subway to Walnut and walk east to 12th street, and north to Sansom.
PATCO to 12/13th Street, walk north to Sansom.
23 Bus southbound.
117 S. 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
I've had my eyes set on Tbar for sometime, after a search of coffee shops and tea shops in Philly. I just never found the time to go, since I was in the area always on errands leading me to other places, other food adventures. So, on a Friday, I texted Caligirl "hey do you want to go to Tbar after work" which she responded to with a very enthusiastic yes. After a moment or two, I knew she didn't recall this place and was thinking solely about the word "bar".
Tbar serves teas. A hundred and something teas, all neatly described in binders available at...the bar. However, there are plenty of seats, mainly in sets of two, and if you are lucky, you can score one of the few couches they have. The atmosphere is a mix between modern-somewhat utilitarian and comforting lounge-like. All of the tables in the front half of the store look like they can belong anywhere. The character comes out better at the back of the store and the bar, where there are couches and some odd seat/cart thing, and inlaid whole-leaf teas under plexiglass, respectively.
You can easily spend a few hours here lounging back with friends, reading, or doing work, without being a bother to anyone. It's the largest space of the few study-friendly coffee shops I've been to in the area that aren't franchise or chain. Wi-Fi is available, but I believe you have to ask for a code.
 |
| The back |
 |
| The bar |
 |
| Sample of items for sale. |
The base teas are white, green, rooibos, oolong, black, and herbal. From this, you move on to the flavor profile. They also have pearl tea and can add what they call "fizz". You can get regular teas like you see in the supermarkets, or mixed up versions, such as Peach and Ginger Black Tea. And you can get them hot or cold. Caligirl ordered a taro ball tea and was asked which kind of milk she wanted in it, a question that she has never been asked before, even in hippie filled San Francisco valley. She was quite happy with her brew, and it came out in her favorite shade of purple-blue. This is why she named her car Taro. I ordered mine hot, and it comes as whole leaf with pieces of the infusion flavor added in. They use new tea sachets for every tea, so your cup is made fresh.
They serve pastries, cookies, and when available, sandwiches. I had a chocolate pastry, which was pretty good, though could always have used more chocolate.
There is also an abundance of tea related books and objects for sale.
A large black tea, a cold pearl tea, and a pastry, plus tax: $11
Market-Frankford subway to 11th or 13th Street, walk south to Sansom.
Broad Street subway to Walnut and walk east to 12th street, and north to Sansom.
PATCO to 12/13th Street, walk north to Sansom.
23 Bus southbound.
Friday, July 15, 2011
12th Street Cantina
12th Street Cantina
Reading Terminal Market
Philadelphia, PA
After a good walk fullfilling a to-do list in the AM, I found myself just outside of Chinatown, thinking about my next move as the little voice inside my head said "lunch". A quick glance at my watch confirmed my internal clock, and since I was by the market, didn't want to walk around aimlessly, and plan on finishing it one day, I ventured in ready to fight the crowds. Note to self: mid week lunch is actually fairly empty!
I didn't walk to far in before I came across 12th Street, billing itself as Mexican fare. I haven't had any in a long time, there were open tables, and it was cheap. All signs of something good. There is a limited menu, based on the Mexican American Dietary Rules: Food ends in OS or AS. Tacos, Nachos, Burritos, Quesedillas, Ensaladas (salads), Fajitas. Nothing is more than ten dollars, and they even have a lemon-lime-aide that was good enough for me to get seconds.
Hungry for a salad, I was looking at the pork abodabo and the taco beef. The guy taking my order said "go for the beef, you get your money's worth". Now the beef is the cheaper of the two, so I was inclined to take him up on that. And yea, he did not lie. Sliced iceberg, dumped with taco flavored beef, with tomato salsa, cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. There was enough beef to feed two people happily. It was actually too much. Nothing here will assail your senses, the beef is well seasoned to be tasty. If you want spicy, there are condiments available.
The lemon-lime aide was supposed to be hand made. I'm not so sure, but it was not sweet like you get out of a mix, so they get bonus points for that, and a free refill (though they may usually charge 50 cents if it's more crowded).
A taco salad and a small fountain drink, plus tax: $8.56
Reading Terminal Market is open until 6 PM on the weekdays, earlier on the weekends. No it doesn't make sense at all.
Reading Terminal Market
Philadelphia, PA
After a good walk fullfilling a to-do list in the AM, I found myself just outside of Chinatown, thinking about my next move as the little voice inside my head said "lunch". A quick glance at my watch confirmed my internal clock, and since I was by the market, didn't want to walk around aimlessly, and plan on finishing it one day, I ventured in ready to fight the crowds. Note to self: mid week lunch is actually fairly empty!
I didn't walk to far in before I came across 12th Street, billing itself as Mexican fare. I haven't had any in a long time, there were open tables, and it was cheap. All signs of something good. There is a limited menu, based on the Mexican American Dietary Rules: Food ends in OS or AS. Tacos, Nachos, Burritos, Quesedillas, Ensaladas (salads), Fajitas. Nothing is more than ten dollars, and they even have a lemon-lime-aide that was good enough for me to get seconds.
Hungry for a salad, I was looking at the pork abodabo and the taco beef. The guy taking my order said "go for the beef, you get your money's worth". Now the beef is the cheaper of the two, so I was inclined to take him up on that. And yea, he did not lie. Sliced iceberg, dumped with taco flavored beef, with tomato salsa, cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. There was enough beef to feed two people happily. It was actually too much. Nothing here will assail your senses, the beef is well seasoned to be tasty. If you want spicy, there are condiments available.
The lemon-lime aide was supposed to be hand made. I'm not so sure, but it was not sweet like you get out of a mix, so they get bonus points for that, and a free refill (though they may usually charge 50 cents if it's more crowded).
A taco salad and a small fountain drink, plus tax: $8.56
Reading Terminal Market is open until 6 PM on the weekdays, earlier on the weekends. No it doesn't make sense at all.
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