- Architecture, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Travel
Bank on Delicious Tastes, City Views at Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA
When in Philly, stay and eat at Loews Hotel and Bank & Bourbon; both rate high marks in my playbook. “New York is a place where people go to reinvent themselves; Philadelphia is a place where people discover who they are.” – Chef Peter McAndrews Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Maybe like me, you’re a country mouse, living outside Philadelphia’s suburbs while still close enough to identify Philly as your home city. Country life has its pluses: falling asleep to the sounds of crickets, sweet silence for lack of passing vehicles on long and winding roads and land expanses with more nature than neighbor views are just a few. I’m talking…
- Casino, Day Trips, Drink, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Music, Nature, Restaurants, Sports
Hopping into Spring with Fishtown Hops at Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia, PA
Story, photos by David Krakow It is of course a paragon of journalistic integrity that one should not write a subjective story infected by mood. If I had just finished a knock down, drag ’em out with my wife or boss, I probably wouldn’t turn around five minutes later and pen a piece on mindfulness. It was with this potential conflict in mind that I gritted my teeth while staring at an uninspiring plate of nachos during a recent Saturday night visit to the new Fishtown Hops. The conflict? On this particular afternoon, most of the many television sets above the bar and seating areas were showing a playoff game…
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Restore Medical Marijuana Center Opens Second Cannabis Dispensary in Elkins Park, PA
Extracts, capsules, serums, salves, liquids via syringe and tinctures make for a variety of choices of one of Restore’s featured brands. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Restore Integrative Wellness Center has done it again! They opened a second medical marijuana dispensary on Old York Road in Elkins Park, PA this fall. Restore has the distinction of being Philadelphia’s very first such outlet, when its premier location was launched in the spring of 2018 in Philly’s Fishtown section (just across from the Fillmore). Both dispensaries are similar in size and staff, all of whom are at the ready to dispense not only product but a wealth of information and knowledge. A…
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Step Inside Philadelphia’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Fishtown
Media members (and other invitees) check in for the May 2nd preview ahead of Restore’s official May 30th opening. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Cannabis be true? While never imagining I’d find myself in the vicinity of a medical marijuana dispensary, that’s precisely where my Uber driver deposited me on the evening of May 2nd, when Restore Integrative Wellness Center hosted a VIP preview party to introduce members of the media, politicians and business owners to Philadelphia’s first such “house of well repute” located on Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia’s Fishtown. Finally and at long last (Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 3, legalizing medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, on April 17, 2016),…
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Mark and Donnie Wahlberg Bring Wahlburgers Franchise to Fishtown’s Piazza at Schmidt’s
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler You got the right stuff, baby. (Sorry, not sorry. This video had to be added so you, too, can have the ear worm while you read this story.) Meat, cheese, tater tots and booze is a great way to put a smile on anyone’s face and that’s the goal for the Wahlberg’s Wahlburgers growing empire (say that 10 times fast). Not only is Marky Mark still killing it and shredded for his movies, they also have Donnie still touring with New Kids on the Block… possibly coming soon to a venue near you in Philly too. Will Donnie make an appearance at Wahlburgers while in Philly with…
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Explore with Cassie Celebrates 2 Years of Exploring at Stateside Vodka in Fishtown
Story by Tiffany DuBois, Photos by Stephen Lyford Two years can happen in an instant for some people. It can change the direction that you take a company in, change who works for you, or how they critique your work or even what your logo looks like. Two years ago, a little blonde lady with the many titles of photographer, model, actress and writer named Cassie Hepler took her talents and made a lifestyle magazine that incorporates passion, numerous contacts and events that boggle the mind as far as the scope of what you see, hear, touch and taste. On Thursday, March 9th, 2017 Cassie Hepler’s blog baby, ExplorewithCassie.com celebrated their two-year anniversary.…
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Taste and Tour at Philadelphia Distilling’s New Location in Fishtown
Photos, story by Dana Prophet Gaining popularity in the 17th century and still going strong today, gin lovers can tell you they appreciate the herbal flavors derived from juniper berries and citrus that make a wonderful array of cocktails. In the past, gin was once used for medicinal reasons. As you devour a cocktail, tell yourself that you are indeed “drinking to your health”. Now you no longer need to rely on imported gin, we can covet our own hometown made, award-winning Bluecoat® American Dry Gin. Philadelphia Distilling relocated to a prime location in Fishtown much to the praise of anyone who truly appreciates a classic cocktail such as Gin…
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Former Buzzfeed Comedian Matt Bellassai Slays at Punch Line Philly Comedy Club
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Only in America can you become famous for drinking at work. And not in the bad way! Former Buzzfeed boy toy Matt Bellassai is a drunk genius. He started Whine About It Wednesdays and had people in their cubicles green with envy as he drank copious amounts of red wine at his desk during work and still got paid to do so. “It got to a point where Buzzfeed told me I had to make a choice,” he said. And so the Drunk and Alone tour was born and Bellassai was thrust upon the world at only newly 26-years-old and ready to tear it up. His…
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Mugshot Diner in Fishtown, Philadelphia Hits the Spot
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler The problem with Philadelphia diners is that you get thismuch food when you really want THIS MUCH to fill your growling belly. Well, Mugshot Diner in Fishtown has the cure for your stomach eating itself while looking at… you guessed it, mugshots of famous celebrities lining the back wall. Not only that, it is attached to a huge studio warehouse in the back where the owner displays his impressive collection of Cadillacs, people rent space for photoshoots (happening during my tour) and other random in need of massive space events. And props to Robert Wright from Small Talk Media for reaching out, being pretty awesome…