Some of you caught a blip of this new column a couple of weeks ago when we got the exclusive ICandy second-anniversary pre-party photos. We mentioned the new shop across from Giovanni’s Room and a few other items. Our intention is to give everyone a heads-up on store openings, restaurant closures, salon specials and any miscellaneous events that may or may not be on the high-profile radar, but still worth telling you about.
‘Hood happenings is, for all intents and purposes, about stuff in the Gayborhood — that roughly delineated area where you’ll find rainbow street signs and a higher concentration of LGBTs moseying around. I say roughly because who wants to be constrained by a street sign? Broad Street is our west-side boundary and Market to the north, but we’ll play the rest of the area by ear.
For instance, on April 25, PE6 (or Pennsylvania6, as the official moniker seems to be in flux) opened at 11 S. 12th St. just in time for Dining Out For Life. It’s included here because its proximity puts it in the ’hood hopper despite what others say.
PE6 is a fun space with a jaunty attitude. It is a throwback to 1940s dining and Chef Pleissis, who brought XIX into its outstanding standing, is at the PE6 helm with a raw bar, apps, sandwiches, crudos and entrees inspired by local seasonal ingredients. The bright-red wall and seating accents with the wood, marble, mirrors and oversized prints of Lauren Bacall and other icons of the ’40s and ’50s give the space an upscale but fun atmosphere.
For now, PE6 is open for dinner every night, but plans are in progress to open for lunch and brunch hours soon. Check out their website to stay on top of this new eatery; pennsylvania6philly.com
Are there other limits? Sure. We’re not repeating parties or bar specials here and we’re not going to announce every sign that pops up saying something is coming in a month. Feel free to share those upcoming with us and we’ll be sure to check them out for inclusion.
Lastly, we’re hoping that we inspire you to rediscover the ‘hood during a weekend afternoon or after work some days. It’s not all clubs and coffeeshops, though we expect to cover those as well.
Cheers!
Send your ‘hood happenings comments, suggestions, special offers and free meal tickets to [email protected].