Yeah, so, with the help of Kelly Turso (photographer), Charles Churchill (hair stylist) & Marni Simon (make-up), they transformed me into a awesomely-tacky-slightly-crazy-overly-exuberant- 1960’s- psychadelic-Barbie to celebrate the start of summer (all inspired by that amazing psychadelic one-piece. HOT!!!) In this “Rachel’s Guide to Summer“, enjoy my picks for summer… from favorite summer looks to margarita madness to great outdoor spots to dine & hang and of course, all things summer vintage. These are purely editorial picks - my take on summer in the city and living it up. There will be more stories to come throughout the next few weeks, including picks from some other fabulous Philly gals and photos all along the way. Have fun, Happy Summer!

Johnny Brenda’s is a classic, like it’s sister Standard Tap. Great local beer on tap, great gastropub-style food… and now great outdoor seating! They’ve opened up the formerly dark-seedy dining room to be much more airy and lovely. You can hang for hours as the sun goes down on a quintessential city summer evening…

Johnny Brenda’s | Frankford & Girard | www.johnnybrendas.com

I can’t mention margaritas & summer dining al fresco without a shout-out to El Vez. On the corner of 13th & Sansom, it’s a Stephen-Starr-style Mexican (aka: a little more chic than authentic) but you can’t beat the margaritas & people watching. Perfect for Happy Hour… and after a few drinks the photo booth is a must!

El Vez | 13th & Sansom | www.elvezrestaurant.com

Azure in N Libs closed, Cantina Dos Segundo opened in their place. (The sequel to the Cantina on Passyunk.) Just a lil tip.

My friend Taryn always knows how to make a good time. I asked her for her picks for summer, and here they are:

Best Place to Take Your Girls:
Azul Cantina
941 Spruce Street

From the endless list of fine tequilas to the mouth watering Mexican influenced entrees, Azul Cantina is the perfect place to kick start your girls night out. Located on the northeast corner of 10th and Spruce, this brand new tequila bar and cantina is quickly becoming one of center city’s most popular destinations. I blame it on the variety of must have smashed fruit mentas and complimentary baked tortillas, but my girls made it pretty clear that it’s the smashed fruit mentas and the painfully good looking staff. Either way, the food is to-die-for, perfectly proportioned and somehow, refreshingly guiltless.

You’ve got to try:

• Seared Tuna Appetizer
• Guava Tropical Salad
• Blackberry Mint Manta
• Rice Pudding Tostado

Best Place to Take Your Guy:
Mama Palmas
2229 Spruce Street

If you live in the Rittenhouse area, chances are you’ve been drawn into Mama Palmas
by the hypnotically lip biting scent of gourmet pizza that lingers in the air, but for the rest of
us outside of the square, Mama Palmas is a hidden gem for pizza enthusiasts. Located on
the northeast corner of 22nd and Spruce, the bright yellow painted, blue awning-clad pizza
shop is hard to miss. Always bumping with couples and hip families, the atmosphere is
both casual and intimate. The menu features Peroni beer on tap and an impressive amount
of irresistible low fat pizzas that will definitely fool your man.

You’ve got to try:

• Peroni on tap
• Pesto Salad
• Grilled Teryaki Chicken Pizza
• Grilled Veggie Pizza

(Photos by Lisa Hause)

I haven’t decided yet if it’s “Dirty 30″ or “Flirty 30″ - perhaps one by day and one by night. Many thanks to Alfa for helping me ring in a new decade with free-flowing bloody marys and enough champagne to flood Rittenhouse. Oh wait, that was the torrential downpour that happened during my birthday brunch. Thankfully everyone was down to jump in some puddles… By the way… ALFA HAS THE BEST BRUNCH EVER!!! Saturdays & Sundays. Yum. Awesome. Yeah.

… because not only did he answer my prayers that Alfa would start serving brunch, but he also guided them into making the most amazing FLIGHT of Bloody Marys I’ve ever tasted in my lift. Actually, let me rephrase that - the ONLY Bloody Mary flight I’ve ever even seen. I had barely made it into my seat when Leah magically appeared with 6 different flavors of Bloody Marys in double shot glasses. I thought I was seeing sextuple (is that a word?) due to mass vodka intake from the night before until I realized the true gloriousness of the moment: they were each deliciously different! One was Tai with curry & coconut milk, one was Cajun & super-spicy, one had carrot juice in it, another was made of tomatillos… I hear the full-size even come with andoulle sausage & shrimp cocktail as garnish. I shit you not when I tell you I thought about those damn bloody marys for hours, months… DAYS! Of course the bacon-wrapped filet with a blue-cheese & red wine reduction and two eggs over-easy was nothing to shake a stick at either… Joe Beckham is, like, “When Smart People Own Restaurants.” Go. Trust.

Brunch @ Alfa: Saturdays & Sundays (more…)

Loie, a French Brasserie in Rittenhouse, offers a delightful Sunday brunch. Here’s the deal: You pay $25 & get 2 Brunch Courses & either Endless Bloody Marys, Mimosas or a Bottle of Champagne from 11am-3pm. Yes, I said ENDLESS. Umm, best idea ever? (You can also just order ala carte, as usual, if you don’t want the prix-fix.)

Here are the menu options: (more…)

I am SO SO SO SO SO happy for Jim & Kristina Burke of JAMES Restaurant! Jim was just named one of the top 10 new chefs in the entire country!!! Food & Wine Magazine put them up in a fancy-schmancy hotel in New York to present the honor and they’re flying them out to Aspen to cook in the Food & Wine classic! How f*cking exciting is this?!?! They are totally putting Philly on the national food map, and I could not be more proud. They deserve it all. CLICK HERE to see the article online & make sure you pick up a copy to see the whole photo shoot. Philly Represent!
Peep JAMES here: www.jameson8th.com Stop in for dinner or their Tuesday night Happy Hour & congratulate them! (more…)

As you may have heard, Laura Vernola closed Deuce on April 6, stating to me that it was her decision and she’s very sad about it. I don’t have the full story yet, but considering she also left her position at Tower Investments (who funded Deuce), I’m guessing it was a Bart Blatstein scuffle. Rumor has it Deuce will re-open in a few weeks under different management. Whatever the drama, just want to give Laura a shout out and say thanks for the good times at Deuce and I’m proud of all you did with the place!