AUGUST, 2013

About us…

“Well, for me, the thing of the Future is

already a thing of the Past” …Bob Dylan

And what is in the future for us? What would we

like to see happen in our area of the world?

Perhaps the single most important thing would be

the ability to purchase a six-pack from a

standard beer distributor.

But wait one moment – I asked my local distributor

the question as it relates to Pennsylvania and their

incredible plan for privatization of our State Store

system. They want him to sell six-packs as well as

wine and liquor.

His answer… “Loan me $1.5 million dollars and I’ll

give it a shot. I can hear it now, I want five six-packs –

all different brands of beer and three of them will be

cold and the other two will be warm. It will drive me

out of business. I sell cases, and that’s the end of it!”

Nothing is easy.

The Restaurant Report by Bob Bickell

A New Restaurant Destination; A Vetri chef

and “Eat Italy”; “It’s Five O’clock

Somewhere”; Dining in Charlotte.

“One of the Top 10 “Best Foodie Streets In

America” Food & Wine Magazine - May, 2013

Will BYOB – Chef Christopher Kearse

From time to time a new restaurant destination

emerges seemingly overnight. Manayunk (of the

1990s) comes to mind as well as the recent amazing

turn-around of 13th Street. Collingswood in New

Jersey remains a noteworthy destination, and of

course, Rittenhouse Square might be the best

example possible

Fond – Chef Lee Styer

Now we wake-up to yet another powerful player in

the restaurant destination business. East Passyunk

Avenue is the latest and possibly, the most

surprising of all the above.

Of course, a noteworthy destination doesn’t

happen by accident. There have always been

interesting restaurants in this South Philadelphia

community, but adding three outstanding spots

certainly helps.

Noord – Chef Joncarl Lachman

Perhaps it was the moment Philadelphia Magazine

named Stateside (1536 E. Passyunk Ave.) the best

restaurant in Philadelphia, and the media has a lot

to do with it, but most restaurant destinations don’t

happen by accident. In order to produce a major

restaurant destination, there has to be tons of

planning along with some substantial cash.

In this case there was a specific organization that

must take special credit in helping to build this

concept.

PARC (Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation)

is a non-profit entity that owns real estate in the

Passyunk retail corridor. The properties include

restaurants, retail stores, and apartments.

Sam Sherman is the Executive Director, and with a

little help from his friends (that would be the East

Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District),

the area came alive.

Here is all you have to know about Sam Sherman.

The first day on the job he walked up to a fountain

that was covered by a fence and basically treated as

a neighborhood eyesore. His first act was to pull

down the fencing and beautify what soon became a

meeting place, and the town centerpiece.

Sam’s Fountain

In addition to maintaining and improving the area’s

public space, the real work was to help establish a

retail community that goes very well with

restaurants, and to attract new restaurants that

would be the catalyst for rejuvenating the entire

neighborhood. Also new apartments (many

occupied by the local chef community) and anything

and everything that helps attract people that go

where all the people go.

Mr. Sherman is the man responsible for adding the

three outstanding restaurants to the mix… Fond,

Will and Noord (and, of course, the Fountain).

In Michael Klein’s recent Inquirer column (“Philly’s

20 Hottest Restaurants”) Fond, Will, and Noord

appear.

Obviously, East Passyunk Avenue is an ongoing

project and there is certainly more to come, but

there you have it. The people involved were

successful in adding a most interesting spot in our

area of the world.

www.passyarc.com

www.visiteastpassyunk.com

Chef/Co-Owner Jeff Michaud – Osteria

And His Book, “EATING ITALY”

Photo by Jason Varney

His “culinary adventure” lasted some three years

in Northern Italy with hands-on experience with

many of the great chefs of this incredible region

of the world. The book is filled with vivid

photography of the villages and towns where his

unforgettable culinary visits took place.

The book (scheduled for early October) has to be

great because Prime Philadelphia will be involved

in the 2014 edition of the highly acclaimed

Tucson Festival of Books with Chef Michaud

representing the great City of Philadelphia.

www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville…

Success stories have been notably missing in the 2013

version of Atlantic City (until the opening of

Margaritaville at Resorts). For the multitude of fans

that follow Jimmy Buffett, the folks at Resorts have

reinvented “Paradise”. The longs lines of people just

waiting to get in tell the story. He probably won’t be

there, but it doesn’t matter.

Jimmy Buffett is a singer, song writer, and a

businessman. He has an enormous following because

he has stayed true to his music and his fans. Almost

everything he does can be characterized as an "island

escapism" lifestyle. This means beaches, water, and

suntan lotion (and things like margaritas). What’s not

to like?

The folks at Resorts seized the moment, and it’s no

surprise that the people love it. Buffet’s most loyal fans

are called “Parrot Heads” and they are the most vocal at

his ongoing live events. It doesn’t matter what you call

them, they are showing up in Atlantic City.

It’s a real pleasure to finally talk about something that

looks like a roaring success in this area of the world.

“Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville

Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame

But I know it’s nobody’s fault”

www.ResortsAC.com

BLACKFINN in Charlotte

If you find yourself in Charlotte (one of

America’s great destinations) here is a spot to

consider. You will find tons of Southern

hospitality and outstanding food and drink.

They have it all – outdoor tables, great music,

great bars and Classic Burgers. We had a rather

dramatic family event, and we certainly picked

the right place. www.BlackFinnCharlotte.com

Prime Spots – Manor Home and Gifts…

The beautiful shop located at 210 South 17th

Street is in a class by itself with an amazing

collection of home accessories, Italian Ceramics,

Dinnerware, Flatware, Glassware, etc., etc. This

spot is a unique part of the “Good Life” in the City

of Philadelphia. www.ManorHG.com

Prime Spots – Di Bruno Bros. In the Italian Market ...

In 1939, Danny and Joe Di Bruno emigrated from

Italy and opened the classic Di Bruno Bros. store at

930 South 9th Street. One can suggest that the

area known as the Italian Market has changed, but

a visit to the so-called modern version is like

walking into another world – the world of

Authenticity. It’s a Philadelphia treasure!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Prime Spots… www.PrimePhiladelphia.com

Not All Spots Are Created Equally!

PRIME Arts - Miracle Murals

We love to talk about the Arts in Philadelphia

because there is so much to present and discuss.

If you walk almost anywhere in the City, you will

find one amazing mural after another, and you will

wonder what everyone else wonders…How in the

world do they produce such a thing? And many

are thinking that it’s 1000% better than so much of

the art known as graffiti.

This one is located at 1925 Diamond Street, and

it’s the work of a group known as “Art Attack (a

partnership with Drexel University and supported

by a grant from the Knight/NEA Community Arts

Journalism Challenge, administered by the Greater

Philadelphia Cultural Alliance).

Another “Art Attack “at 1315 Pine Street

To be sure, not everyone is appreciative of this

type of art on Philadelphia buildings, but we

happen to love it. In our September issue, we will

present a piece on the “Mural People” and what

this segment of our art community is all about.

It is ART, and it’s free for anyone and everyone

who chooses to enjoy it with us.

The “Doc” at 1234 Ridge Avenue

Prime Travel…

SANDPEARL RESORT

Clearwater Beach, Florida

When you want to get away from it all,

it’s just a short flight to this beachfront

gem on the white sands of Florida’s Gulf

Coast.

If you happen to be a fan of sunsets,

you will love this spot.

You will enjoy the beautiful tropical pool

with private cabanas and a beachside

fire pit. You will also appreciate their

relaxing full-service spa and their modern

and complete fitness center.

Dining is a gigantic part of this picture.

Enjoy on-site dining at Caretta on the Gulf,

Tate Island Grill, and MarketPlace…

There are rooms and there are rooms…

SANDPEARL RESORT

500 Mandalay Avenue

Clearwater Beach

877-726-3111

www.sandpearl.com

You think English is easy? 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 2) The farm was used to produce produce. 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4) We must polish the Polish furniture. 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.. 7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13) They were too close to the door to close it. 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.. 19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?