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Explore With Cassie

Lifestyle & travel blog finding the unusual out of the ordinary.

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  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Pizzeria Vetri is Brick Oven Pizza Served Family Style

    November 3, 2017 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Brick oven, thin pizza pie with fluffy crust and only the best and freshest ingredients… that pretty much describes Pizzeria Vetri. We chose to go to the Art Museum area location because if you get there early enough, there’s plenty of parking nearby (other locations near Rittenhouse Square and King of Prussia). Good food, good drinks & good people. Get delivery, dine in but make sure to sign up for the e-mailing list for a free rotolo (trust us, it’s soooo worth it). Not all pizza is created equal and as a person who eats it at least once a week and have eaten it in…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Wine Loving Tria Taproom Adds Cocktails to the Boozy Menu

    July 5, 2017

    Barrel’s Fine Food: A South Philly Family Food Tradition

    June 20, 2018

    Bluecoat Gin Helps Expand Sofitel Hotel’s Outdoor Cafe, Liberté Blue

    November 22, 2017
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Bar Amis Adding Flavor to Vetri Empire at Navy Yard

    November 2, 2017 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Bye bye Lo Spiedo and hellooooo Bar Amis! The Vetri Family empire replaces Lo Spiedo with Bar Amis at the Navy Yard and we welcome this new concept in its place. Located right next to the Navy Yard gate at 4503 South Broad Street, executive chef Brad Spence takes the helm of this Italian tapas style eatery. Another location opened in Westport, CT this year but in order to save yourself the hike, we’ll cover the East Coast location. The spacious location offers whatever dining style you may feel that day – indoor bar style setting, more formal dining upstairs and outside patio style with views of the magnificent…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Chris Tucker Sells Out Comedy Shows at Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino

    July 11, 2018

    Explore Chacchoben Ruins and Blue Lagoon in Costa Maya, Mexico

    April 4, 2023

    Opera Philadelphia Paints La Bohème Love Story at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia

    September 25, 2019
  • Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    On the Riviera: Seafood Dinner with James Beard Winner Chef Greg Vernick at Osteria

    November 1, 2017 /

    Photos, story by Tyra Gardner James Beard Award winner Chef Greg Vernick and Chef Jeff Michaud took over the kitchen at Osteria located at 640 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia and prepared seafood inspired by French and Italian cuisine. The amazing evening is part of a growing and glowing private chef series hosted by URBN Food & Beverage. Osteria has been open since 2007 and is one of the country’s most critically acclaimed Italian restaurants. Osteria customers at this event shared how the food here is “one of a kind and keeps them coming back for more”. The five course meal began with stuzzichini (appetizers), which included: Second courses were…

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    Tyra Gardner

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    Drinking For Fun, And Drinking To Excess: A Primer

    January 12, 2024

    Explore One of the Most Magical Villages in France, Cotignac

    December 15, 2025

    Drink the Pope’s Wine at Châteauneuf du Pape near Avignon, France

    January 26, 2026
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Boardroom Spirits Distillery Launches ‘C’ Made Entirely from Raw Carrots at Aldine

    October 12, 2017 /

    Story, photos by Cassie Hepler What’s up, doc? Someone had to do it… take carrots and make booze out of it. And we’re glad it was a relatively new startup company Boardroom Spirits from Lansdale with awards to back them up. C, a first-of-its-kind 92-proof eau de vie-style spirit created entirely from carrots, literally and figuratively, follows ‘B’, distilled entirely from beets, and is expected to have the same kitchen to bar versatility. Sold in their Lansdale, PA Distillery, it is available at Aldine, Martha, and Harvest as well as nationally through Ezra’s.  It takes about 12.5 pounds of carrots to create one 375 Ml bottle of C. Much like all of Boardroom Spirit…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Membership Not Required at Springfield Country Club’s Tavola Restaurant

    September 12, 2018

    Bertucci’s is Not Just a Chain Restaurant, It’s Italy on the East Coast

    June 14, 2017

    Dramatic Fine Dining at Elvira’s DC Ranch in North Scottsdale

    May 5, 2025
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    From Farm to Home Grass Fed Meat Delivery, Lil’ Ponderosa is a Grill Master’s Dream

    October 11, 2017 /

    Story by Explore Philly, Photos courtesy of Lil’ Ponderosa Lil’ Ponderosa is a new farm-to-home grass-fed meat service for Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The sustainable ranch based near Lancaster, PA provides grass-fed meat for its own award-winning farm-to-table restaurant John J. Jeffries, and now offers its meats through special combination boxes and a monthly subscription service. Shop all cuts of beef and organ meat, house-made jerky, and farm heritage pasteurized pork from the neighboring farm. Now carnivores don’t even need to move off the couch to order home delivery of locally raised grass-fed beef and pork products. Products are currently available a la carte or in special combination boxes, and…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    How to Move to Greece as an American

    August 31, 2026

    Affordable Cambria Hotel Templeton Joins Paso Robles, California Wine Country

    October 26, 2026

    Glamping in an AirStream at The Cozy Peach at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, Arizona

    March 1, 2024
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Sit Outside and Enjoy Sunset Views, Chews at Winnie’s LeBus in Manayunk

    September 21, 2017 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Winnie’s in Manayunk is a Main Street Manayunk staple, full of fresh food and sweet sunny – or sunset – views. Usually I always do brunch or lunch there and once upon a time, they did quizzo during happy hour for a steal and I would leave every night with a ridiculously large chocolate cupcake as a snack for later. This time we were invited for a lazy Sunday dinner with a fresh abundance of summer fruits and vegetables prepared the homemade way. In a culture of pre-prepped, packaged and ready-to-eat, it’s nice to know that there are still some hometown Philly favorites that are…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Ancient Theater in Orange, France is the Most Preserved Roman Theater in the World

    January 19, 2026

    Online Dating Abroad Without the Hassle

    February 9, 2026

    Get Shredded with Bouldering and Top Rope Climbing at Philadelphia Rock Gym

    January 31, 2018
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Era Ethiopian Bar and Restaurant Expands to Breezy Sidewalk Cafe

    August 23, 2017 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler If you know where the Philadelphia Zoo is located, Era Bar & Restaurant is about a mile from there. Where North Philly meets West Philly, you can find this hidden gem for over 15 years in Brewerytown. A fantastic new addition to the row home bar and restaurant is the outside patio space where guests can people watch, feel the summer breeze and enjoy sunsets with a medley of music rolling by in various cars. What makes this place unique is there is something for everyone. You can be adventurous and eat your way through traditional Ethiopian cuisine, you can play pool in the throwback…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    July 14, 2025

    Philly’s Real Life ‘Rocky’ Bantamweight Christian Carto, a SugarHouse Sweet Boxing Treat

    October 5, 2017

    Drive a Boat in Lawless Lake of the Wild West in Lake Havasu City, Arizona

    May 2, 2018
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Mark and Donnie Wahlberg Bring Wahlburgers Franchise to Fishtown’s Piazza at Schmidt’s

    August 10, 2017 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Deco on the Delaware: Picnic in Roaring 20’s Fashion at Glen Foerd Mansion in Philadelphia, PA

    September 25, 2018

    Weft and Warp Transports Guests to Portugal Passport Wine Dinner at Andaz Scottsdale

    June 23, 2025

    Explore With Cassie as I Move Out West!

    December 29, 2017
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Wine Loving Tria Taproom Adds Cocktails to the Boozy Menu

    July 5, 2017 /

    Story by Tiffany DuBois, photos by Eric Morales On a beautiful and warm afternoon, local Philly favorite Tria Taproom launched a new series of cocktails that will leave you feeling really good. The trio of Tria restaurants have always been known for their incredible selection of wine and craft beers but now they have thrown their hat into the cocktail ring with four new cocktails and all four were delicious. Your hardest decision will be which one to try first. I recommend you try them all but make sure you have a safe way to get home afterwards! Tria has always been in the forefront of being environmentally conscience. There…

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    Tiffany Dubois

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    Cider Sparkles at Fairmount Park’s 3rd Annual CiderFest in Philadelphia, PA

    December 4, 2019

    Affordable Cambria Hotel Templeton Joins Paso Robles, California Wine Country

    October 26, 2026

    Explore the Rich Cultural Tapestry of Arizona’s Native American Indian Tribes

    November 3, 2025
  • Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Carrabba’s Italian Grill Begins Wine Pairing Dinners for a Steal

    May 16, 2017 /

    Story by Meg Arbo Let’s face it, Tuesday is generally nothing to get excited about. In fact, it can be pretty ho-hum at best. So when Explore Philly was invited to a wine pairing meal at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Willow Grove, we were pretty happy because, hey, that beats the usual Tuesday night of nothingness. This was a chainwide, national event for Carrabba’s and was touted as the World’s Largest Wine Dinner with over 4000 bottles of wine uncorked for the 7000 diners’ viticultural pleasure. Four curated wines with four courses for $40 – a steal! The dinner began with a salad course with a Northern Italian pinot grigio…

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    Cassie Hepler

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