The Garden at City Tavern reimagines one of the country's original gathering spots
The Garden at City Tavern is open for the summer with a beautiful park-like setting featuring lite bites, canned cocktails, mocktails and visits with some of history's most memorable characters.
City Tavern was originally built in 1773. It burned down in the 1800s and then was rebuilt for the bicentennial in 1976. It operated as a restaurant until the pandemic shuttered the space and the building fell into disrepair. For America 250, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. in partnership with the Independence National Historical Park reinvented the garden behind City Tavern into a welcoming new destination for food and drink.
The drink menu includes a mix of canned cocktails, mocktails and local beers. The food is lite bites from Cescaphe, with items like a charcuterie board for sharing, a vegan wrap or a turkey sandwich among others. And the atmosphere is accentuated by "colonial" games like cornhole.
While visiting the garden guests will encounter History Makers, historic interpreters portraying real people from the past. It's all part of a modern reimagining of a historic space.
The Garden at City Tavern | Facebook | Instagram
South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hamilton's First Bank of the United States reopens for America's 250th birthday
The First Bank of the United States just underwent a 3 year, $40M renovation that included restoring every single pane in the glass dome. The gilding is fresh. The pillars are patched and marble revealed.
The ground floor is filled with 2 temporary exhibits. Items from the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel show how Philadelphia welcomed the world for its anniversaries, starting with the Centennial Exposition in 1876. The State Department loaned items amassed over 250 years of diplomacy. There are textiles from Kenya, a dragon robe from Hong Kong, and a clock from France sitting on a table from Argentina alongside a chair from the Czech Republic.
Drexel is now working on a permanent exhibit that will tell the story of Alexander Hamilton and America's first bank. Before the bank was chartered by Congress in 1791, every state issued its own currency. Hamilton argued for a central bank that would enable the new nation to pay off its massive Revolutionary War debt, stabilize its credit, and establish a national currency.
The grand bank building opened in 1797, beginning a long tradition of the federal government asserting its power through monumental architecture. When the bank's congressional charter expired in 1811, merchant Stephen Girard turned it into a private bank and the interior was remodeled in 1902. The National Park Service took it over in the 1950s and made it the first visitors center, until closing it in 1976.
The First Bank of the United States is now open to visitors again, Thursdays-Sundays, 11am to 4pm.
The First Bank of the United States | Facebook | Instagram
120 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
The 14 Founding Fathers Who Held the Title of President Before George Washington
George Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789, but 14 men held the title of President of Congress before him.
The story begins in 1774 at Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall, where the First Continental Congress met to coordinate a response to the British King and Parliament after the Boston Tea Party and the imposition of what were known as the Intolerable Acts. At the time, the colonists still identified themselves as British citizens and Pennsylvanians or Delawareans or New Jerseyans, rather than as Americans.
As representatives of the colonies gathered to debate strategy, they needed somebody to preside over meetings, receive foreign dignitaries and sign official documents. Those men were given the title President of Congress.
Peyton Randolph was the first, followed by leaders including John Hancock, made famous by his bold signature on the Declaration of Independence, and John Jay. John Jay would go on to become the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court under George Washington.
In all, 14 men served as President of Congress before the Constitution defined the executive powers of the presidency and the Electoral College unanimously chose George Washington as the nation's first President. Letters, signatures and other documents in the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania help tell their stories. Visitors can also explore a free exhibit covering the decade before and after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Historic Philadelphia, Inc and Carpenters Hall also partner on Cocktails & Congress, an opportunity to listen in on some of the issues being debated during that first Continental Congress.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania /| Facebook | Instagram
1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Cocktails and Congress |Facebook | Instagram
Carpenter's Hall , 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
The Dish: Charmoula from Soufiane at the Morris in Center City Philadelphia
n this edition of The Dish, we're heading to Center City, where a well-known face in Philly's culinary scene just opened a brand new French Moroccan restaurant.
It's called Soufiane at the Morris, and we got a peek inside Grandma's recipe book for a traditional Moroccan herb and spice marinade called Charmoula. This is Soufiane Boutliliss' second restaurant in Philadelphia. This new spot comes with a side of history.
Soufiane at the Morris shares a scenic courtyard with the storied Morris House Hotel on South 8th Street.
"In 1787, the year the Constitution was written a block away, this home was built," explains Jerry Morris, the concierge and assistant innkeeper.
The Morris family's history runs as deep as our country's. "The family is a first family of Philadelphia," says Morris. "They followed William Penn to Philadelphia in 1682."
There are 17 hotel rooms, and just across the garden, Soufiane's new spot. "It's a French Moroccan experience," he says.
Soufiane's new dining space is stunning. The flowers are always fresh, and the cocktails are flowing, including a unique take on the tradition of Moroccan mint tea, only this time they add gin. After dinner, stay for the drinks and the dancing.
Grandma's Charmoula Recipe from Soufiane at the Morris:
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro and parsley
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons)
- 5 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Stir together all ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Use it to marinade seafood and veggies.
Mount Airy jewelry designer honors family and culture through Janaki Mosaic Arts
Meena Davi Chandrasekaran is turning beads, pearls, and gold into meaningful handmade jewelry through her business, Janaki Mosaic Arts.
Working from her Mount Airy home, Meena creates bracelets and necklaces inspired by her travels, personal experiences, and her grandmother, Janaki, who inspired both the company's name and mission.
What started as a necklace for her daughter's high school graduation has grown into a business selling pieces online and at local pop-up markets. Each design tells a story, with collections named Strength, Love, Healing, Joy, and more.
Her next pop-up will be at the Mt. Airy Village Fair on September 20th and at the Fall for the Arts Festival in Chestnut Hill on September 27th.
Janaki Mosaic Arts| |Instagram| Facebook
One-stop shop for barbering and custom hats from Philly native Jamel Workman
When he was young, Jamel Workman looked up to his grandfather for his sense of style, and to his cousin who he wanted to be just like. His grandfather wore hats, and his cousin was a barber, and those two influences likely helped guide his destiny - Jamel has been a master barber for 20 years, and a custom hatmaker for the last 12.
His shop in West Philly houses the Workman Gentleman's Shoppe in the front, and his hatmaking business in the back - J Workman Millinery.
He learned hatmaking by studying for years with some of the most well-known factories and artisans in the country. He designs every style of hat, including top hats, each one custom made to order. He focuses on methods and techniques that have been used for hundreds of years, and wants to bring back the elegance of foregone eras. His talents have been recognized in the industry, including being chosen as a participant in Philadelphia's Fashion Incubator, and as the first male 'feature designer' in New York's Great American Hat Show.
Workman Gentleman's Shoppe
5415 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
610-605-1345
hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 7am-7pm
J Workman Millinery | @jworkmanmillinery | @numb1contender
by appointment only
The Philly Pops Perform Aug. 21, 28 and Sept. 18 at the Highmark Mann Center
The Philly Pops are heading to the Centennial District in West Fairmount Park. "This summer at the Highmark Mann Center, we have three performances," says Matt Koveal, Executive Director of the Philly Pops.
These collaborative concerts feature an array of artists. The Philly Pops' music director, Chris Dragon, is conducting two performances in August, starting on the 21st.
"We're delighted to have Gregory Alan Isakov, a Philadelphia native, here with the Philly Pops. He's a poetic songwriter," she says.
"He is a folk indie vocalist," says Koveal. "He's an incredible artist."
On August 28, it's tribute night. "We're going to be celebrating 60 years of Jerry Garcia's music," says Koveal.
And on September 18, the Philly Pops perform with the best-selling R&B group of all time, Grammy Award-winning Boyz II Men.
"That's going to be conducted by Anthony Parnther," he says. "We're gonna be showcasing all of their incredible hits that they've had over years."
The Philly Pops are performing August 21, 28 and September 18 at the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts.
Philly Pops | Facebook | Instagram
Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts
5201 Parkside Avenue, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Exhibition looks to weave together community at Taller Puertorriqueno
Taller Puertorriqueno, located in the Fairhill area of Northwest Kensington, stands for community and cultural representation, hosting multiple workshops for the arts, from youth and teen programs to their cultural exchange program.
Their newest exhibition, Tramando, means to plot, scheme, or the weft of a woven. In this case, it meant weaving together the community.
"How can we plot and scheme in order to bring people to the space and teach them about these cultural textile practices while also building community," says Richie Lopez Taller Puertorriqueno's Special Art Program Manager.
Surrounded by historic Puerto Rican neighborhoods, they give back through enrollment.
"The way that the program was structured, we tried to have at least 50% of our enrollees be from the neighborhoods that we serve, which are Norris Square, Kensington, and Fairhill," Lopez shared.
The exhibition shows what each module of the course learned and completed on full display. Starting with natural dyes and fiber spinning with 'Trama Antillana' from Puerto Rico. The second module follows Mayan backstrap weaving with 'Trama Textiles' from Guatemala. The last module was 'Embroidery.'
The exhibition is available for free until August 31st, open Monday through Saturday.
Taller Puertorriqueno | Facebook | Instagram
2600 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19133