Hummus restaurant (!) in ardmore --they also have a sister restaurant at 40th and walnut, west Phila. smooooth and creamy with homemade pita

i don't want to get into the food debate --but want to tell you that DW is for really young kids --maybe 7 and under. it's not a big amusement park --it's a collection of little kiddie rides. great and fun if your kids are really young. Hershey Park is a real amusement park -- for all ages with rides for adults, teens AND little kids. our family has loved and visited Hershey for many years...

that Hershey's chocolate cake is our favorite!!it's a classic and easy to make parve with any milk sub. I remember the first time i made it --you add a cup of boiling water at the end and the batter is thin, you're sure it's wrong .... and it's delish!
happy birthday!--

we call it lox and fish tray and I go to Steve Stein's Famous Deli (Krewstown rd in the Northeast, one block off Grant and Bustleton) he has better prices than the main line delis and very nice fish

the convention center is with/next to Chinatown --and almost all C'town restaurants are kid-friendly. we like Charles Plaza (on 9th near Vine) b/c he makes lots of veggie options --but owner CharlesChen (who will greet you like he knows you) will customize anything (always useful with kids) like, leave off a sauce or add more noodles. not fancy but always good.

two big yeas!!:
the fig butter, (in the shelf with peanut butter and jelly) it's really delish fig jam --dense with seeds, yummy
and the chocolate covered caramel balls, single serving snack pack that i gave in at the register and impulse bought, really nice dark chocolate shell on salted caramel. just chewy enough not to pull out my fillings...

it might be a crack too early --every drugstore has them...but a little closer to easter. They all have Valentines candy now

with all due respect to sylvia ( i love your reviews!) you would never fit 300 people in Evviva --125 tops. It is not a large mansion, it's a smallish house, with several small rooms and a separate bar/cocktail room. we have been to many over-crowded, tight parties there.

thanks for the write-up. we keep k but eat in restaurants..so it was sort of under the radar. we will have to try it and not wait for special occasion

i went to applebees once when my kids were little and that would have been preferable to having to endure the self-satisfied lecture i was given with my beer about locavore farming and meat cheese paradigms

we went a few weeks ago --it's two (former) stores combined, and one is a nice&crowded bar. it was packed with 30+ age people when we left at 7:30ish. we ate early so the restaurant had some families with kids...please pardon my recall if this is not exactly correct... i remember a kind of limited menu, several entrees that were $22-27 , and some good sides b/c i had a very good Kennett Sq mushroom soup, a side of kale and french fries. my husband had lasagna --i think recommended by the server that he thought was OK. It's a much needed, nice addition to the neighborhood and i had the feeling that people who know these things, already know about the bar.

just read in the Inky that Iron Hill Brewery is going to open in Ardmore next to DSW the old Norman carpet! Any info anyone? Is it a nice brew-pub--I've never been.
Had one of the WORST hipster, unpleasant experiences ever at Tired Hands brewery a block over - bare bar with no napkins, no nuts, no service. the "owner" actually told me it would "violate his meat cheese paradigm" to offer a cheese plate of different cheeses, on one plate (when I asked why 2 oz of heirloom cheese was $9) He told the women sitting next to us that they only had "bad wine, one kind, because they are a brewery." But I'll stop ranting now --I can't wait for Iron Hill to put them out of business

me too! I have used the moosewood cookbook for 30+ years --so was super excited to visit the restaurant 5 years ago. all i remember is that service was terrible and the food was like any coffee shop. if you can't remember the food, how good could it have been . really disappointing after making all those veggie canoes...

have to warn/share -- we had a terrible dinner last nite at David's (corner of 9th and Race) My pick b/c I thought it was the place in Chinatown that had hot pots --it was NOT --(if anyone can post the name of the hot pot restaurant -- I would appreciate it).
3 people--- 2 dinners arrive....15 minute wait for the last one. This was happening at other tables around us. Family waited at the front door for take-out order for 30+ minutes.
room temp eggrolls, lukewarm soup.
Veggies were average and cheap--I hate it when menu says "mixed veggies" and then when entree appears it is onions, three pieces of green pepper and carrot coins --the cheapest veggies you can buy. Son's dinner (which featured said green peppers and onions) was un-cooked --veggies were beyond crunchy, white raw onions --with 5 small shreds of precooked chicken in a gloppy, weird sauce. we should have sent it back, but then we would have waited another 20 mins.
yes, it was cheap, but would much rather pay a bit more and get something good.

just had breakfast at Kettle (on the corner of Darby rd and Brookline Blvd) in Havertown. Cute, new spot --with nice (granite top bar, white beadboard, new dishes) renovations. Your choice 3 ingredient omelettes, big mug of coffee, southwest egg burritos. choices for lunch looked good too. I think they will have soups (b/c of the name, duh) and the special board featured butternut squash..but we just had a nice breakfast. It was busy with neighborhood folks on a Wednesday... I'm trying to spread the word so this new place will survive in our restaurant deprived neighborhood.

we ate at Jake's in manayunk for RW it was $35 - 3 courses. the first was lobster dumplings or mushroom salad--i had the salad that was very good if a little weird w/warm mushrooms on it. Main was salmon or short ribs- the 2 who had salmon enjoyed it and i had short ribs on polenta that were delicious. falling apart tender with a bit of veggies too. dessert was honey cake or plate of 4 ice creams -- both enjoyed --i had the ice creams -- vanilla and something else and an amazing salted caramel w/brownie and chocolate. The portions were small-ish but we didn't mind because it was very delicious. service was meh --it took us 35 minutes to order and the waitress came out from hiding in the back saying she was "giving us time to get settled." The RW menu had 6 items on it so we didn't really need time. She also chatted a bit and inserted herself in our conversations.. which I don't like. Plus points in that Jake's has recently redecorated and it's beautiful and they let us BYOB for $10 corkage

+1 for Gentiles-- a straight up produce stand with great prices and fresh stuff --they also have milk and a small amount of eggs, cheese. much closer to Broomall -- heading west- it's left at the intersect. of 252 and Rt. 3

don't change hotels --HI is nothing special, but nothing bad either. centrally located/better for dining. also, no one mentioned cabs --Phila has plenty. that's another easy option to get to Temple U. don't know if you are used to the subway from NYC.
just my 2 cents.

although not in your geographic area --The Head Nut at the corner of Wynnewood and Haverford roads in Wynnewood/Havertown is a family-owned spice/nut/candy/coffee/tea wonderland. They have pine nuts (from Europe i think, they are round) for $7.99 a half pound. I have just used them and they are superb. my only problem with the Head Nut is that I inevitably buy sour patch kids, coffee, spices and dried fruit --when I came in for pine nuts. It's worth a field trip. (I think they also do on-line/mail orders) and they have another store in Swarthmore (i think)

NY bagels is in the small strip mall, with the city line deli and a day care center, right next door to the McD on Haverford Ave at City Ave. Very authentic bagels and indifferent staff --just like New York

do not go to that TGIFridays --they can get a rough crowd there. if you have a GPS --go 4 miles to teh suburb side to ardmore, there is Primavera -Italian, http://www.yelp.com/biz/primavera-piz...
Hummus -Israeli falalfel, Sam's Grill -hamburgers and sandwiches and Auspicious - Chinese

we just used foodarama for the first time --shivah --bagels, lox, whitefish etc. and were VERY happy. the quality was good, the delivery prompt etc

Hooray!!I'm getting some biz for Lipkins so they'll stay afloat for a few more years!!! I looked up if they are kosher --and I think "yes" It says it on teh site in one place... and I know there are always boxes of cakes, for local onegs waiting to be delivered.... website: http://lipkinsbakery.com/now i have to make a pilgrimedge myself!

the best place for knishes --worth the trip --is Lipkins bakery on Castor ave --inside, mitch lipkin makes knishes of all flavors--mini ones and full size. potato, veggie , mushroom, kasha, fake liver, cheese, pizza.. etc. read the old newspaper clippings on teh wall and you'll see he's been at it for 25+ years... i never get less than 2 dozen. they freeze excellent and you won't be disappointed. get a chocolate babka while you're there :).

ooh she'll figure it out... pesachdik cereal is the worst; maybe not as bad as pesachdik granola bars (which taste like gravel) the cold cereal is like puffed dust/lint. i used to try it every year when my kids were younger..esp. when they make the box look cute..

i will share my secret pretzel fix place --- halfway down umbria street in manayunk, across the street from the train station there is a large warehouse with a beer distributor in the front and the Furniture Workshop...there is a small sign to make a right for soft pretzels. make a right and go into the parking lot --the pretzel bakery (Twistys?) is the building on your right. park, go in the secret door and tell the grandmom at the counter what you want. she will go in the back and return minutes later with warm, soft pretzels.umbria street is on the way to anywhere and this is a 1/2 block detour.....mmmmm

i agree with Bride that if you want a seder --you'll prob need to go kosher to avoid having bagels and rye delivered. we've used Barclay caterers for several events --wonderful food and Steve is very easy to work with --stayed within budget, honored special requests etc. maybe he could tell you a venue too.
http://www.barclaycaterers.com

just had a great lunch at garces trading Company (GTC) between 11th and 12th on Locust Street. All three of us had the soup and sandwich combo -- mine was turkey&bacon w/french onion soup; second was grilled cheese w/creamy tomato soup and the third was ham&cheese w/ fr. onion. came with fries or salad or chips --it was generous portions, a nice full cup of soup, and it also came with your choice of non-alcoholic drink. We had hot, bottomless cup of really good strong coffee --that made the $14 price really worth it. We also enjoyed a really good profiterole/creamy, puff pastry dessert and were comped on our side of a cheese choice, b/c it came out a bit late. (very nice gesture! unasked for but appreciated) service was friendly and fun. after lunch, you can be tempted to purchase most of what you ate at the take-out cheese, charcuterie and dessert counter... along with balsamic vinegar, olives and coffee. felt like a special experience; will def go back and recommend!

a super yay to the dark chocolates, filled with soft carmel and sea salt on top. really delish chocolate and the caramel is liquid enough not to damage dental work..

we had a reservation. the restaurant was busy, i couldn't tell if it was totally full because we were seated in the bar. good luck friday, ask for a table in the back room