We’re happy to pass along some recent news from the West Philly food and restaurant world.

Renovations Underway at Rx The Farmacy

(Left to right): Danielle Coulter, Ross Scofield, and Tim Blair.

Some Spruce Hill residents and Rx The Farmacy (Facebook page) fans may have noticed that the restaurant has been closed for several days, so we got in touch with one of the owners, Ross Scofield, to see what’s going on. Turns out they are doing renovations to the kitchen. “A lot of things/equipment in the kitchen were left over from Rx,” Ross explains. ” Now that the Farm is on a steady track, we are taking the opportunity to update our little cooking space.”

Ross and his partners, Danielle Coulter and Tim Blair, who now also manage the recently opened The Barn on Baltimore, are taking the opportunity to renovate the kitchen during the slower winter season. Ross also shared some of his plans for the busy spring season.

“Spring time is a busy time for The Farmacy with UPenn having graduation and the neighborhood coming out for the nice weather. I want to have a new outside seating arrangement in place. The Farm needs a nice, big sign out front. New plates, flatware, and glasses are all needed. The kitchen also needs to be “repositioned” to handle the volume of brunch service,” Ross wrote us in an email.  Continue Reading

Girl Scout pop-up cookie shop at Lil’ Pop Shop. January, 2014. (Photo by Amy Kwasnicki)

It’s Girl Scout cookie time again! The cookie sale season starts Thursday, Jan. 15, and local Girl Scout troops, Junior troop 91143, Brownie 93273, and Daisy 91569, are passing along information on their cookie table locations and schedule (see below). Cookies will be on sale from Jan. 15 to Jan. 25. All the classics are $4 a box, plus gluten-free Trios (peanut butter, oatmeal, and chocolate) will be offered for $5.

Orders of 12 boxes or more can also be delivered (please contact Amy at kwaszilla@gmail.com; cash only).

Eastern Mountain Sports
3401 Chestnut Street

Thursday, Jan. 15 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17 2:30-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 22 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23 4:00-6:00 p.m.  Continue Reading

Hai Street Kitchen Facebook photo.

Hai Street Kitchen, the modern Japanese burrito restaurant, is opening its second location in Philadelphia this week, at the new retail space at 125 S. 40th Street (corner of 40th and Sansom). The opening celebration will take place on Thursday, Jan. 15, with free sushi burrito giveaway to first 300 customers, starting at noon.

The restaurant will officially open on Friday, Jan. 16. It will be open daily, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (the menu is available here).

Hai Street Kitchen is the fourth eatery at that location. The retail space at 40th and Sansom, which replaced an old church demolished in December, 2013, also houses Dunkin’ Donuts, Zesto Pizza, and Jake’s Sandwich Board.

A new Cedar Park bar, The Bar(n) on Baltimore, is officially opening for business this weekend.

The grand opening will take place on Saturday, Jan. 3, from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.

As we reported in November, the new bar is coming to the former Third World Lounge space at 4901 Catharine St. The Bar(n) on Baltimore (Facebook page) is a partnership among three restaurateurs, Ross Scofield, Danielle Coulter and Tim Blair who are also running Rx The Farmacy, the brunch and dinner spot at 45th and Spruce, and the building owner Noel Karasanyi.

Read more about The Bar(n) owners and their concept for the spot here.

Below is some information and holiday schedules for SEPTA and city services and hours for some local shops, cafes and restaurants. If you want to add your business hours, please do so in the comments below.

Happy New Year everyone!

SEPTA

Dec. 24, 26, 29, 30, 31: City buses and trolleys will operate on a special modified weekday schedule.

Dec. 24: Regional Rail will operate on a special Christmas Eve Midday schedule.

Dec. 25: All SEPTA vehicles will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule. All-night Train service will be available beginning Thursday at 12:01 a.m. Regular Owl Bus Service will resume Friday at 12:01 a.m. Regional Rail will operate on a special schedule.

Jan. 1: All vehicles will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.

Post Offices/Mail Delivery

Post Offices will be open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, but will close early (most of them at noon). Mail will be delivered on these days. Post Offices will be closed and there will be no mail delivery on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Trash/Recycling Collection

There will be no trash and recycling pick-up on Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 1, and collections for the rest of the week will be delayed a day. Philadelphia Streets Department is reminding residents to recycle their holiday gift materials and party supplies.

Stores, restaurants, coffee shops

Cafe Renata (43rd and Locust)

Dec. 23: Open until 4 p.m.
Dec. 24 & 25: Closed
Dec. 31, Jan. 1: Open regular hours

Coffee Market (45th and Pine)

Dec. 24: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dec. 25: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Dec. 31: Open until 2 p.m.
Jan. 1: Open until 3 p.m.

CVS Pharmacy (43rd and Locust)

Dec. 25: Store: Open 24 hours; Pharmacy: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (261 S. 44th St)

Dec. 24, 25, 26: Closed
Dec. 31, Jan. 1, Jan. 2: Closed

Mariposa Food Co-op (4824 Baltimore Ave)

Dec. 24: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dec. 25: Closed
Dec. 26, 30, Jan. 1: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Milk and Honey Market (45th and Baltimore)

Dec. 24: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Dec. 25: Closed
Dec. 26: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Dec. 31: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Jan. 1 : Closed

PA Wine and Spirits Shops

Dec. 24: Open until 6 p.m.
Dec. 25: Closed
Dec. 31: Open until 8 p.m.
Jan. 1: Closed

Supreme Food Market (43rd and Walnut)

Dec. 24: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Dec. 25: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Dec. 31: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Jan. 1: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

The Fresh Grocer

Open 24 hours

VIX Emporium (50th and Baltimore)

Dec. 24: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dec. 25, 26: Closed
Jan. 1: Closed

If you’re looking for something fun to do on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day check out the events below happening in West Philly and elsewhere in the city. For more events, check our Events Calendar. Please note that subway trains will run all night for party-goers on New Year’s Eve.

Happy New Year, West Philly!

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Bach Christmas Oratorio
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 13 S. 38 Street
4 – 8 p.m.
Choral Arts Philadelphia and the Bach Collegium present Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in its entirety on New Year’s Eve. Some Choral Arts members and artistic director, Matt Glandorf, are West Philly residents. Tickets ($45 general admission; $15 students; $30 seniors) can be purchased online or at the door.

New Year’s Eve with Philly Bloco
World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St
10:30 p.m.
Philly Bloco’s 20+ members return with their raucous mash-up of Samba, Funk and Reggae for a very special New Year’s Eve dance party at World Café Live. Get ready to dance! Doors open at 9:30 p.m. 21+. Tickets ($35) and more information are available here.

West Philadelphia Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Blowout + Balkan Feast
Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St
9 p.m. – 4 a.m.
Four bands and a DJ will be performing on the main stage and at the black box theater: West Philadelphia Orchestra, Johnny Showcase & The Mystic Ticket, Mercury Radio Theater, You Do You, and Late Night DJ Set from DJ Lebeet. $30 general admission; $40 VIP. 21+. VIP tickets include Balkan Buffet prepared by WPO! Food will be served at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Underground Arts box office.  Continue Reading