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iPic Theaters Mixes Movies, Chefs and Crafted Cocktails for a Luxury Escape in Scottsdale, AZ
Story by Cassie Hepler, photos courtesy of iPic Theaters Imagine going to the movies in your own first class VIP pod for two. Now imagine pressing a button to have ninja waiters dressed in all black suddenly appear at your beck and call to deliver you chef created menu items (like steak!) and crafted from scratch cocktails. This place does exist and it exists in Arizona only in Scottsdale at iPic Theaters… a perfect luxury escape from those sweaty summer days or nights! You know how all the theaters are finally catching on to lounge chair style movie chairs instead of the stiff-as-a-board old school style? Well, iPic was the…
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Another Nor’easter Didn’t Stop People from Attending the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Restaurant Festival
Photos, story by Jill Beckel A wicked winter afternoon in March was the start of another Nor’easter! But that didn’t stop Philadelphians from attending the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Restaurant Festival which was held at the beautiful Crystal Tea Room at the Wanamaker Building. This year’s Philadelphia Restaurant Festival did not disappoint with over 60 restaurants, wineries and distilleries participating. Attendees traveled throughout the main room and the Viennesse Room of the Crystal Tea Room, stopping to sample anything that piqued their fancy. It was a great way to eat and drink your way through a showcase of Philadelphia’s vibrant local restaurant scene and try some new restaurants you may not have…
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A Night of Fashion Muses at French Bistro aMuse at Le Méridien Hotel in Philadelphia
Story, photos by Jeni Ferrell On one of the many cold days of the winter season, we ventured out decked out in my finest sweater dress and high boots to view the collection from Naveda Couture at Amuse restaurant in the elegant Le Meridien Hotel. I brought my gal pal date, Alana Jones, to enjoy the fine food and drink while listening to the DJ spin hyper hits. Against the soft periwinkle glow, the restaurant created an energetic yet calm vibe that served to be a perfect way to wind down on a chilly Friday. We nestled in a small dining room off of the main area where the show…
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The Place to ‘Vie’ was Philly Wine Week’s ‘Opening Corks’ Event
Hip hip valet (parking)! “The best way to learn about wine is in the drinking.” – Alexis Lichine Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I don’t do beer. Exception: when at Citizens Bank Park, cheering on the Phightins’. Neither is hard liquor my cuppa char. Exception: Margaritas. I just like reading drink menus’ whimsical “drinks with names” (as I call them) – creative descriptions of specialty cocktails. Same with cookbooks. Not being a cook doesn’t stop me from appreciating the photos, asides and foreign-sounding ingredients. So no brew. Nothing hardcore. What remains? WINE. Now we’re talking! Wine is in a glass (and a class) by itself, as was the 5th Annual…
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Shake Shack’s Chicken Creation is White Hot Meaty Goodness!
Story by Kelly Kusumoto, photos by Colleen Cahill Shake Shack unveiled its newest item to an already difficult-to-choose-from menu. The “Hot Chick’n” sandwich made its debut and ever since it has been taking over sales at the King of Prussia establishment. Store manager Charlotte was kind enough to take a few minutes from her hectic schedule to tell us a little more about it. She said there had been more orders for the new sandwich than for their regular chicken sandwich and that it is on par with sales for their famous ShackBurgers over the past week. While we were waiting for our food, we overheard patrons say they’d rather…
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Philadelphia International Airport Lands American Express’s Prestigious Centurion Lounge
Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “To the great city of Philadelphia, I am so grateful to bring this back home to you.” – Chef Michael Solomonov, on being named best chef in the country at the James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago, 2017. AMEX’s Centurion Lounge tapped Mike as its menu man. The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was recently honored in becoming one of only nine airports in the world to offer travelers a uniquely unique and unforgettable way to hang before, between or after flights. On October 19th (prior to an official October 31st opening), media were invited to preview American Express’s Centurion Lounge and to witness what was in store exclusively for AMEX…
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Village Whiskey Packs More Than 200 Whiskeys in Railroad Style Restaurant in Philadelphia
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Every day we’re shuffling… through the always jam-packed Village Whiskey. One, because they have some stellar food and two because the size of the restaurant. Connected to adjoining fellow Jose Garces tapas restaurant Tinto, this railroad style restaurant doesn’t have much room to move around. The sidewalk cafe helps expand the space a bit but they claim they never accept reservations… unless you do a buyout for large parties. However, they just started accepting reservations during lunch and brunch until 3:3o p.m. so lucky you! Featuring a stellar selection of more than 200 whiskeys alongside what they claim is the country’s best burger, Village Whiskey is…
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Enjoy Upscale, Eclectic Asian Food at Yangming in Bryn Mawr
Run, don’t WOK! “we are the fortunate cookies, we who were flat but now curl moonlike around thick middles, cradling happy advice and lucky numbers in our crisp bellies” – Unknown Story, photos by Sharon Kozden While Walt Whitman sang his praises of the “body electric,” I’m here to sing similarly about Yangming’s foodstuffs eclectic. Yangming is an upscale, never-duplicated, well-known and loved establishment, offering an eclectic bounty of Chinese and Asian fusion cuisine. The cocktail offerings are creative, the wine list award-winning and the desserts a blend of either decadent or light. Indulge in the sweetest of treats or restrain with a fresh berry-based, naturally sugared more healthfhttp://yangmingrestaurant.com/reviews/ul choice. Lychee nuts…
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Luke’s Lobster has One of the Best ‘Lobstah’ Rolls in Philadelphia
Story, photos by Meg Arbo I am a lobster snob. In fact, I am so particular about lobster, I don’t even eat it outside of New England. Heck, I don’t even eat it outside of Maine; that is how much of a lobster snob I am. I take my lobster very seriously. Then Luke’s Lobster changed all that when they came to Philadelphia four years ago. Simply put, Luke’s Lobster makes the best “lobstah roll” you can get outside of New England. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear that Luke’s Lobster was opening a second location in Market East! Luke is from Maine and the man…
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Old Man Winter Is No Match for Zoup’s! Comfort Soup
“A Jewish woman had two chickens. One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup out of the other one to help the sick one get well.” – Henny Youngman Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Full disclosure: I don’t much care for soup. I fault my mom for that as well as for having sent me to charm school at 12 years of age. But that’s another story altogether, which I’ll reserve for my memoir. The onset of my soup-phobia began in childhood, when our soup staples alternated between thin chicken-noodle with two pea-sized bits of poultry of questionable authenticity. It’s alternative was chicken with rice, equally runny and with the same meager addition of a barely-there protein…
