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Sips and Eats: Philly’s best food and drink picks for Sept. 25-29

The Spotlight of the Week: National Lobster Day 

National Lobster Day in on Wednesday, September 25. Here are some great places to get sizzling and savory lobster dishes.  

(Ocean Prime’s Lobster Ravioli)

Ocean Prime: Ocean Prime, one of Philly’s most gorgeous seafood restaurants and steakhouses, is featuring a decadent Lobster Ravioli ($32) with corn, asparagus and Champagne cream sauce for National Lobster Day. Guests can also enjoy additional lobster offerings, available daily on the dinner menu, including a sushi Lobster Roll ($20), Chilled Whole Maine Lobster ($32), and Twin Lobster Tails ($50).

Royal Boucherie: Royal Boucherie has a fantastic buttery Lobster Roll ($27) topped with herbs, celery, lemon, and Kewpie mayo, and served with a side of fries. Guests looking to enjoy the Lobster Roll are encouraged to stop in soon, as this seasonal favorite won’t be on the menu much longer.

Square 1682: Square 1682 is offering its popular Surf & Turf special for National Lobster Day. Boasting a sizzling seared 10 oz Angus Ribeye with a half-grilled Maine lobster, crushed fingerling potatoes, charred lime, roasted garlic, drawn herb butter and chimichurri sauce, this hearty dish from Executive Chef Mackenson Horebe is just $25 all day.

This Week in Cocktails:  MilkBoy’s 25-Year-Anniversary Weekend

(MilkBoy)

Music lovers,  stop by MilkBoy South Street on ThursdaySeptember 26 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. for Return of the Spins, a listening party of songs produced in the MilkBoy Studio. The most famous songs produced in the MilkBoy Studio include Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River, Kayne West’s Flashing Lights and Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die.

Next up, MilkBoy South Street will be hosting  a blowout block party on SaturdaySeptember 28 from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. There will be live music, an outdoor bar, drink specials ($5 Pale Ale, CBD cocktails), a Southern Tier beer van, and a pop-up market with local arts and crafts. Just in time for the anniversary, MilkBoy fans now have the chance to purchase MilkBoy merchandise from MilkBoy’s new online store. MilkBoy representatives will be handing out discount codes all weekend as a little thank you gift for the support over the last 25 years.

Additionally, MilkBoy Chestnut Street’s new drag brunch series, Milk & Cookies, returns on SundaySeptember 29, from 11 am to 4 pm. Guests can look forward to delicious brunch items, CBD cocktails, drink specials, and more at the downstairs bar-area before heading upstairs to the 2nd level concert venue for fun drag performances.

International Coffee Day 

International Coffee Day on Sunday, September 29. There are tremendous deals and options all over the city. 

(Art in The Age’s Espresso Cappuccino. Photo Credit: Punch Media)

Art in the Age: Art in the Age, Old City’s one of a kind tasting room, home bar supply and bottle shop, is offering coffee connoisseurs two coffee cocktail creations for National Coffee Day. Guests can enjoy an Espresso Martini, made with Powderhorn Vodka, espresso, Dashfire Mole Bitters, oak milk, cinnamon and a coffee bean garnish, and a Cold Brew Old Fashioned made with Kinsey Bourbon, Grady’s Cold Brew Coffee Syrup, Orleans Bitters, cardamom bitters, and an orange peel garnish.

Bluebird Distilling and Menagerie Coffee: Bluebird Distilling and Menagerie Coffee at The Bourse have partnered to create not one, but two coffee cocktails. Guests can enjoy a PSL ($11), made with Bluebird Vodka, Menagerie Cold Brew Concentrate, pumpkin, Orgeat, and egg white and the Teacher’s Pet ($11), made with Phoenixville Whiskey, Menagerie Cold Brew Concentrate, sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters, and Luxardo cherry.

CO-OP Restaurant and Lounge: CO-OP Restaurant and Lounge, the bustling corner hot-spot in University City, is bringing together decadent flavors for their National Coffee Day offering – a Salted Caramel Affogato. Made with vanilla bean ice cream and a salted caramel sauce ‘downed’ In Illy Espresso, this sweet treat is available for $8 all day long.

Jet Wine Bar: Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia’s “global vineyard” located on South Street, is offering guests a classic coffee and booze combination with their Espresso- made with vanilla vodka, espresso, and Kahlua. Available for $12, this cocktail is available all day for Sunday imbibers.

Philadelphia Brewing Co.: Philadelphia Brewing Co., one of Philadelphia’s oldest and largest breweries, is offering a brewed awakening to Sunday imbibers with pints and bottles of their Joe Coffee Porter. This ale is brewed with locally-roasted, organic, coffee from Coffee Roasters. Dark Munich and chocolate malts combine to create a well-balanced, flavorful porter with a fresh roasted coffee aroma.

Red Owl Tavern: Red Owl Tavern, located on the corner across from Independence Hall, is offering guests a draft of Tröegs Java Head Stout ($8).This creamy oatmeal stout is infused with locally roasted, cold steeped coffee through a HopBack vessel, which releases subtle hints of cocoa, roasted nuts and dark mocha.

Urban Farmer: Urban Farmer, is partnering with Commons Café, a coffee shop located on the lobby level of The Logan hotel, for a Coffee Happy Hour from 9 to 10 am daily, September 29 through October 4, featuring their new Fall Drink Special, a Cinnamon Mocha Latte ($4). This coffee shop offers a respite from the daily morning madness with comfortable seating and plenty of freshly made bakery items an exclusively brews La Colombe coffee.

Seafood Boil at Kensington Quarters

(Kensington Quarters)

On Sunday, September 29, at 3 p.m., KQ’s Executive Chef Matt Harper and 13th Street Kitchen’s Executive Chef Nich Bazik will be leading a fun and educational seafood boil that’s open to the masses. Both chefs will be doing a quick demo on a different seafood regional boil style — New England-style and “Low Country”-style — and then everyone gets to taste test each style and walk away with recipes for recreating the tasty conceptions at home.

Participants can opt for the all-you-can-eat class option for $45 or all-you-can-eat and drink Miller High Life for $65. Folks can reserve their spot for this “sea-foodie” fall event on the patio.

Last Parks on Tap: Strawberry Mansion 

(Parks On Tap)

This is the last week for the roaming beer garden, Parks on Tap, to provide brews, fun, and relaxation. The closeout week will be at Strawberry Mansion Bridge. There’s free yoga on Thursday, food trucks each day, plenty of beers and cocktails, and so much more.

Weekly Events

Each week, Philly Influencer picks the best parties, events, and social gatherings the area has to offer.

Center City Restaurant Week Continues:  Center City District is offering up three-course lunches for a  $20 and three-course dinners for $35 through Friday. Don’t miss your chance to taste these special menus and dishes.

Manayunk Restaurant Week Continues: Manayunk Restaurant Week will continue its run of specialty menus and prix fixe meals through this Sunday. Come out to any of the participating eateries to have three-course meals ranging from $15, $25, and $35.

Philly Fashion Week: Philly Fashion Week will continue to bring the masses out to the runway, parties, and discussions through Saturday. Don’t miss your opportunity to see some stellar designs, attend wrap parties, and be swept away by Philly fashion.

Philly Music Fest: The 3rd annual Philly Music Festival kicks into gear this Thursday. Be prepared to celebrate the best Philly music acts at the weekend-long. World Cafe Live, Milkboy Philadelphia, and Johnny Brenda’s will be hosting amazing acts from tremendous local talent.

Emo Night Brooklyn: Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, and Simple Plan fans your wait is over. Emo Night Brooklyn will be taking over The Foundry this Friday. Come to the popular Fishtown venue to hear the best music from an era full of angst.

Bloktoberfest:  Bloktoberfest is taking over South Street this Saturday. This annual event has several beers on tap for you to choose from. This rain or shine event will have some of the best brews in the business, entertainment, local deals at neighboring shops, and more.

Piazza Pod Park Oktoberfest: After last weekend’s plethora of Oktoberfests, there are several events for you this weekend. Come to  Piazza Pod Park’s Oktoberfest this Saturday. There will be food, drinks, and more.

Uptown Beer Garden’s Oktoberfest: Uptown Beer Garden will be hosting an Oktoberfest this Saturday. The German-themed event will be flowing with beers, traditional food, games, music, and more.

The 70s Disco Dance Party: The Foundry will be hosting Gimme Gimme Disco party on Saturday. Disco hits and bangers will be filling the entertainment center starting at 9:30 p.m. Come out for a night of dancing and fun.

Bee’s Knee’s Wrap Up Party: 13th Street Kitchen’s iconic Prohibition Taproom will be participating in this year’s Bee’s Knee’s Week, which is dedicated to saving bees and other vital pollinators. Stop by for the “Bee’s Knee’s” cocktail, dubbed the “Twelve Bees,” featuring Bar Hill gin, pear-honey-champagne syrup, lemon juice, and pink peppercorn. One-dollar from every “Twelve Bees” cocktail sold — which run for $12 each — will directly benefit The Bee Cause Project. Sticking with the bee theme, Pro-Tap will be going above and beyond — much like the bees do — by serving some spicy honey wings at $10 a pop for six wings. The party is Sunday, September 29 from 8 p.m.-10 p.m.


You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected].

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