A new Philly Finds is coming atcha today. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy the Philly Finds-writing process. I don’t actively seek out places or things for this series – rather I scroll through my phone to see what photos I’ve taken recently, which jogs a memory about something in our fair city that I was really taken with. It’s a nice stroll down memory lane each time I prepare to work on a post. We live in a pretty awesome city, don’t we? Let’s start off with dining, shall we?
Porcini
A lovely Italian BYOB is one of life’s simple pleasures. Porcini in Rittenhouse should then be considered a luxury. This hidden BYOB on 21st and Sansom is rated by Zagat as a top 1,000 Italian restaurant in America. I’m assuming the gentleman who greeted us was the restaurant owner – no matter who he was, he greeted us so warmly and we felt immediately at home. Service, food and atmosphere were everything you could want in an Italian BYOB experience.
Cheu Noodle Bar
A hearty bowl of ramen is an ideal dish during the cold, winter months. Cheu Noodle bar serves up heaping ramen bowls in an intimate setting, including a wall made of ramen. I’ve only sat at the counter here, and it’s the only place I’d ever want to sit after witnessing the preparation of each divine meal in front of me. My favorite are the curry noodles, and no matter how stuffed you may feel, you gotta get the black garlic wings. For my Fishtown friends, there’s a location in Fishtown as well.
Philly Game Shop
I stumbled upon the Philly Game Shop in Queen Village by chance, a very happy accident. As I entered the shop, I spotted a group completely encompassed with a board game, which by their reactions, looked incredibly fun. You know when you walk into a store or a restaurant and feel immediately at ease, like you could easily chat with anyone in there? Yea, that’s how I felt at the Philly Game Shop.
The Philly Game Shop specializes in “board and card games, role playing games, indie games, and geeky gifts”. In addition to their retail store, they focus on building community around inclusivity, which is apparent with the many Pride flags throughout the store. So next time you’re thinking about purchasing a game on Amazon, consider the Philly Game Shop first and shop local!
Amy Sherald Mural
Walking through the Gayborhood, you probably have noticed the stunning (and fairly new) mural above the Target on 11th and Sansom. The mural was done by Amy Sherald, who you’ll know from her portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. I recall stopping in my tracks when I first came across this mural – a sea of blue with a pop of yellow and two beautiful eyes staring back at me. Such a welcome sight to the city. See more of Amy’s work on her Instagram here.
Winterfest at Xfinity Live
I hope to see you at Winterfest at Xfinity Live on February 15! Listen to live bands all day with unlimited samplings of 100+ great beers from different breweries.Enjoy winter-warm-up lagers, porters, and stouts in your own custom stein. Plus a day filled with live DJs, amazing bands, super-fun contests in Victory Beer Hall, outdoor fire pits, games, activities, prizes, and giveaways. Use code CAMILLE for $5 your tickets. Full disclosure – I get paid a small fee for every ticket sold using my promo code
Articles I’ve recently enjoyed and think you might too:
- Nature’s Best Poetry of 2019: Clouds
- The unusual redemption story of the man who gives voice to Philly’s waterfront
- “No Capricorns Allowed”: A Deep Dive Into Zodiac Hate
There’s some fun blog stuff coming up which I’m really excited to begin working on. Stick around for the ride, friends!
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