Press Release

NEW GAY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND NIGHTCLUBS OPEN IN PHILADELPHIA AND NEW HOPE
Philly’s Still The Place To “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay”

PHILADELPHIA, October 5, 2007 - Philadelphia’s lively “Gayborhood” has become even more colorful with the addition of rainbow-branded street signs, but that’s not all that’s new in the city’s gay-friendly neighborhood or the region’s gay-friendly town of New Hope, an artsy enclave less than an hour’s drive from Center City. A slew of new gay-friendly restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops and more give GLBT visitors plenty of reasons to revisit Philadelphia and The Countryside®:

Gayborhood Street Signs

Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC

 

• Bindi, a bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) Indian restaurant slated to open in late October, emphasizes locally grown products and fresh drink mixes. It’s the creation of life and business partners Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, owners of the Nuevo Mexican BYOB Lolita and other 13^th Street businesses. 105 S. 13^th Street
• Brew HaHa, on a busy corridor near the popular 12^th Street Gym, offers a prime spot to sip espresso and people watch. The inviting cafe features plenty of indoor and sidewalk seating and serves a full range of coffee and espresso-based drinks, along with sandwiches, salads and a variety of fresh-baked goods. 212 S. 12^th Street, (215) 893-5680, www.brewhaha.com
• Knock, opened by brothers brothers Bill and Steve Wood, former proprietors of Philly’s best known gay bar, Woody’s, is an upscale restaurant and bar featuring dishes like grilled pork chop with chocolate sauce and herb biscotti and yellow tail tuna prepared three ways. After the dinner hour, the tables fold down to lounge level to accommodate the evening cocktail crowd. 25 S. 12^th Street, (215) 925-1166, www.knockphilly.com
• The locally owned Marathon Grill’s latest location cooks up a wide range of dishes, from brunch and burger items, to sophisticated fare (grilled swordfish Provencal) and down-home items with a twist (truffled macaroni and cheese). This corner spot boasts sidewalk seating and a daily happy hour from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 10^th & Walnut Streets, (215) 733-0311, www.marathongrill.com
• A haven for tea lovers, TBar offers an extensive drink menu categorized as “Steep,” consisting of 70 loose-leaf varieties; “Shake,” featuring tea lattes, pearls and smoothies; and “Fizz,” serving up tea and herbal tonics for the health-conscious set, along with tea sandwiches and pastries by local patisserie Miel. The all-tea theme continues with a selection of teapots and cups, as well as tea-based hand and body lotions, candles and bath tea. 117 S. 12^th Street, (215) 625-3936, www.tbarteas.com
• Tria’s newly opened second location provides a daily changing list of wines, beers and artisanal cheese selections grouped in diner-friendly categories like “Luscious,” “Sociable,” “Invigorating,” “Stinky” and “Approachable.” There’s also a regular menu of bruschetta, salads and sandwiches—all in a casual yet stylish setting, with indoor bar and table seating and sidewalk service too. 12^th & Spruce Streets, (215) 629-9200, www.triacafe.com
• Zinc bistro takes its inspiration from the typical Parisian bistro and its name from the handsome, refurbished zinc bar gracing the intimate storefront dining room. The menu covers all the authentic bistro bases, with an emphasis on fresh seafood, a large selection of cheese and charcuterie and gourmet salads. The wine list is presented on a chalkboard to allow for frequent changes and additions. 246 S. 11^th Street, (215) 351-9901, www.zincbarphilly.com

• Duross & Langel’s new space, with exposed brick walls and a soaring ceiling, offers a gallery-like setting for their wide selection of all-natural skin, hair and body care products, as well as their signature handcrafted soaps by the pound in intoxicating flavors like chocolate cherry almond, mojito, green tea and “Mighty Aphrodite,” a mix of ylang ylang, patchouli, orange, lavender, sandalwood and jasmine. 117 S. 13^th Street, (215) 592-7627, www.durossandlangel.com
• Philadelphia Home Art Garden boasts a range of contemporary furniture, stylish bar and tableware and unique accessories. Owned by Jason Crook, the store stocks its own line of PHAG-logo candles, glassware and clothing, as well as handcrafted goods and original creations by local and international artists. On the second floor, shoppers will also find campy kitchen magnets and novelty items. 1225 Walnut Street, (215) 627-0461, www.thephagshop.com
• Another new shop, Absolute Pop, opening October 31, is a spinoff of the adjacent Absolute Abstract Art and sells smaller, more affordable versions of the original store’s “art block” prints by artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Owners and life partners David White and James McManaman aim to make art more affordable by offering everything for less than $39. 137 S. 13^th Street, (215) 733-0190, www.absoluteabstractart.com

• The popular Martine’s Riverhouse is still serving its seasonally changing menu of classics like filet mignon au poivre and French onion soup, but now they’re in a new location right on the river with lovely views from the bar and outdoor deck. Ferry Street at the Delaware River, (215) 862-2966, www.martinesriverhouse.com
• In Martine’s old space at Ferry and Main Streets is Marcella Nord, a Northern Italian BYOB restaurant formerly located in Washington’s Crossing, New Jersey. Specialties at this dinner-only establishment include veal marsala, fettuccine alfredo with lump crabmeat and seafood fra diavolo. The cozy dining room is further warmed by a fireplace in the winter months, while outdoor seating is available in the warmer weather. 7 E. Ferry Street, (215) 862-1700    

• Whatever’s Hot is a shopper’s paradise for fans of classic rock ‘n’ roll. The store is a trove of T-shirts, stickers, sterling silver jewelry, license plate holders and other memorabilia celebrating groups like the Grateful Dead, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and the Rolling Stones. 93 S. Main Street, (215) 862-7028

• Bob Egan’s Cosmopolitan Club at the New Hope Inn presents acts like Karen Akers and Julie Wilson, as well as top regional talent at the Big Monday Showcase, in an intimate 112-seat theater with the feel of a 1940s supper club. Egan, a performer himself who produced cabaret at the now-closed Odette’s, has been a mainstay on the local entertainment scene for some two decades. 6426 Lower York Road, Route 202, (215) 862-5221, www.thecosmopolitanclub.com

• The completely renovated gay-owned Raven Resort boasts a range of amenities, including a fine dining restaurant whose wine list has been cited by Wine Spectator magazine, a handsome piano bar with drag acts and other entertainment and a 10-room inn. The pool and deck, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, is where the boys (and some girls) are all summer long. 385 West Bridge Street, (215) 862-2081, www.theravenresort.com

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery. On the pressroom, you can also subscribe to RSS feeds to receive updates on topics that are specifically of interest to you: What’s New, Dining, Events, Seasonal Travel, Hotel Packages and Tourism Research.

CONTACT:

Jeff Guaracino, GPTMC
(215) 599-2290, jeff@gptmc.com

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