The newest addition, Zoom Room, celebrated its grand opening last week. Zoom Room is a national chain of indoor dog parks where  your dog can have its own private playground whatever the weather. They offer agility classes, obedience, training, puppy enrichment , and merchandise such as food, treats and toys. This is not doggy day care. Owners stay for training to learn the training techniques as well. Training classes can be purchased for four at $120 or ten at $235. Zoom Room Philadelphia is offering a special introductory rate to new clients where two classes may be purchased for only $35. There is also is a free 30 minute orientation all new clients must go through without their pups.

We stopped by the grand opening last weekend and the place was packed. When chatting with a lot of the other dog owners, I was surprised to learn while some were neighbors, most were not. Many people were hailing from the suburbs, Northeast, or other neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Zoom Room is a national chain and already has a good reputation, so it’s nice to see people coming to our neighborhood as a destination to stop by with their pooches.

Hopefully, one or two more destination commercial businesses will take up the vacant space adjacent to the Zoom Room. Zoom Room is located at 180 West Girard Street with the main entrance being on the south side in the parking garage. You can sign up on their website or by phone at 267.825.7375.

For the first course, diners will have a choice between a Lemongrass Soup or Coconut Soup. The soups will be paired respectively with a Bells Amber or Avery White Rascal. The second course is a Papaya Salad paired with a Saison DuPont. Next, diners can choose between Chicken or Seitan Satay both paired with Stoudts APA. For the fourth course, diners may choose the Drunken Noodle paired with a Yards IPA. The Vegitarians option is the Pumpkin Curry paired with a Green Flash/ St. Feullian Friendship. Lastly, for dessert, is a Coconut Custard paired with a Breckinridge Vanilla Porter.

Tickets are $50 per person and $45 for groups of four or more. With Restaurant Week currently going on at $35 a person with no booze, we think this is a much better deal. Tickets may be purchased online.  Circles Contemporary Asian Cuisines is located at 812 North Second Street.

Emmanuelle is the brainchild of PYT owner Tommy Up. The name is inspired by French soft porn films of the 70s. Katie Loeb, esteemed cocktail connoisseur and published author, created Emmanuelle’s menu. This menu will feature a wide selection of aperitifs, sparkling cocktails, French cocktail classics and new twists featuring French spirits. A curated selection of wines and beers will also be available. Katie herself will be greeting patrons behind the bar along with Phoebe Esmon (Farners’ Cabinet, Kennett, Chick’s) and Michael Burleigh (Industry).

Emmanuelle sits behind the Piazza facing Hancock Street directly behind PYT. First impressions for a visitor outside are a towering wall of exposed reclaimed wood covered in murals. One reads “Fine drink, fine people” under the profile of a man in a top hat and monocle, reminiscent of the Monopoly man. Under the bright pink Emmanuelle logo, the other mural, sits a pair of ominous black doors. Through those doors awaits a cozy and comfortable French inspired cocktail hideaway. The ambiance inside suggests the perfect date nightspot for before or after dinner delights. Dimly lit, patrons can make out a quirky portraiture of Farah Fawcett that hangs behind the bar while an octopus chandelier hangs overhead. Cherry oak tables align paisley print banquettes where drinks may be consumed and enjoyed by all.

Now, the residents of Northern Liberties don’t have to stray far from their back yards to sample expertly made libations. The craft cocktail trend once found only in Center City has come to us, and aren’t we the lucky ones.

Emmanuelle opens daily at 6:00 PM and features happy hour from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM on weekdays.

Head to the Northern Liberties Community Center at 3rd & Fairmount, either Saturday or Sunday from Noon to 6pm.  It is the perfect place to find anyone on your list a holiday gift!

Happy Shopping!
~Danielle

Looking to support local businesses this holiday season?  Greensgrow Farms in Philadelphia is a perfect choice!

They are hosting a holiday bazaar this weekend and next inside their warm greenhouse!

Stop by to pick up a Christmas tree or wreath, local produce from the farmers market, and beautiful locally made gifts.  You will find dozens of local artisans and crafters selling their unique gifts.

They will be open Saturday from 10A to 4P, and Sunday from 11A to 4P for you to shop, pick up some local ingredients for dinner, and get into the holiday spirit!

~ Danielle

Happy Homeowning!

Last weekend the city was alive with the start of Beer Week and the events leading up to Oktoberfest. Stephen Starr’s Frankford Hall will host a nightly Count Down to Oktoberfest. The MGK Brew Blast will play out on the deck of the Battleship New Jersey. South Street will host a 4-block long Bloktoberfest Festival in October. In addition, you will find fun events at Philly favorite beer spots all around Center City.

Some other fun Fall events to enjoy over the next few weeks include the Dragon Boat Festival on the Schuylkill River, Fall Festival at Midtown Village, Taste of Fall at Smith Playground, OutFest Philadelphia, Greensgrow’s Fall Festival, and the Night Market Philadelphia in Chinatown, complete with food trucks, music and more.

Philly sports are also in full swing. The Eagles pulled out a second win of the season against the Baltimore Ravens, thanks to Vick’s touchdown run and despite the turnovers. The Phillies had a tough weekend against the Astros, and need to get a
few more wins on the board to take the wild-card spot.

And for those of you Apple lovers, this time of year is even sweeter as you jump online or head downtown to the Walnut Street Apple store to pre-order your new iPhone 5.

Happy Fall Philadelphia!

What this means:

The proposed exemption will be on a portion of the value of your home, and currently is estimated to be around $30,000 of your home’s assessed value.

The City Council has announced that you do not need to reapply for this tax exemption each year unless the deed to your home changes.

What is required of you now:

Fill out and mail in the Homestead Exemption Form by July 31^st!  If you don’t apply you can’t get this possible exemption for this year and will need to wait to be considered until the 2014 tax year.

Link to downloadable PDF file

What happens next:

If passed, all homeowners who turned in an application will be notified if they have qualified, as well as the amount of their tax relief.  This should happen when you receive the real estate tax assessment in the fall of 2012.

If you are granted an exemption, the assessed value of your residential property will  be reduced by the amount of the exclusion before real estate taxes are computed.

Don’t wait!  If a property is your primary residence click here to download the Homestead Exemption Form. It must be mailed as it can’t be submitted online.

The form is quick and simple, so fill it out today!

On the waterfront, the Race Street Pier will be hosting Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas.  This cultural festival will feature live music performances, Children’s activities, Zumba sessions, cultural crafts and food trucks parked along Columbus Blvd at Race Street.

Just down from the Pier at Penn’s Landing, enjoy the Delaware River with the “Paddle Penn’s Landing” program.  You can rent a kayak or swan boat to enjoy the riverfront and the beautiful weather this weekend.  Check it out at the Marina on Columbus Blvd and Dock Street in Old City.

The brand-new Barnes Foundation on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Center City will host their opening weekend over this long Memorial Weekend.  They are offering around the clock activities through Monday evening to celebrate.  Some examples are sunrise yoga, garden tours, live music, and access to the world-renowned art collection.  All these activities are being offered for free this weekend only.

The National Liberty Museum will honor the nation’s veterans and active service members this weekend with free admission to those who bring donations of non-perishable food items, clothing and hygiene items for the city’s homeless vets.  The Liberty Museum is located on Chestnut Street in Old City. 

Fairmount Park will host a Hang Free party on Monday.  This event will feature multiple DJs in the beauty of the Park for free. The exact location is just after the Strawberry Mansion Bridge on the left side.

Proposed Penn St Trail

The Delaware River Waterfront Corp. is getting ready to create the next section of the waterfront trail in Philadelphia.  This section will connect Spring Garden Street to the trail built by SugarHouse Casino.

The design and construction work for this trail is funded by a $500,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. The DRWC matched that money with an additional $500,000. SugarHouse will spend about $300,000 to build the portion of the trail that will run through their parking lot, and connect with the finished section that already runs behind the casino.  The DRWC is also using a $50,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Department to further their environmental research and study to the area.

The Delaware River Waterfront Trail will follow standards along its entire length that will be showcased by the Penn Street portion of the trail.  These will include a standard width to allow for maximum pedestrian access as well as a 2-way bicycle portion separated from the vehicular traffic by gardens and plantings.

The Penn Street Trail and other efforts are all part of the Central Delaware Master Plan, which outlines the initiative for a trail to link parks and green spaces and for those spaces to prompt and enhance development along the waterfront.   For example, there are plans in the making for a park and pier at Washington Street to connect the two with the trail and make improvements like a self-supporting boardwalk, living shoreline and a kayak launch.

Plans will be rolled out this summer for the section of the waterfront from Washington Avenue to Spring Garden, where there are more businesses and current waterfront access and therefore the design will be more constrained.

To read more about DRWC efforts and the updated plan check out www.planphilly.com