A new juice bar, Blu Diamond Juicery, is holding a grand opening today at 5144 Walnut Street. The doors will open at 10 a.m..

Blu Diamond offers fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and vegan wraps and salads, and specialty popcorn.

The hours of operation are currently 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, but will be extended starting this spring, according to owner Fred Williams.

Their website is expected to go live in a few days. In the meantime, check out their Instagram page:  Continue Reading

After more than five years of operation, The Farmacy, the popular brunch spot at 45th and Spruce, has closed. The restaurant closed at the beginning of the month, and “For Rent” signs have been displayed in the windows since then.

The owners, local chefs Ross Scofield and Danielle Coulter, want to focus on their new restaurant in New Jersey, according to Foobooz.  Continue Reading

Those on and around Penn’s campus may be happy to hear this news: Giant Food has set its sights on a location near 34th and Chestnut for its second small-format food market in Philadelphia, aka Heirloom Market. The city’s first Heirloom Market is opening this week in Graduate Hospital.

The new grocery store will reportedly open at 3401 Chestnut Street, the location previously occupied by Eastern Mountain Sports.  Continue Reading

The girl scout cookie season is here! Starting Thursday, Jan. 17, local girl scout troops (Junior 91143, Brownie 93273, and Daisy 91569) will be selling cookies Monday through Friday, 4-6 p.m. for a couple of weeks (or until they run out) at the following locations:

• 34th & Walnut
• Locust Street between 43rd and 42nd (between Penn Alexander School and the Parent Infant Center)

Boxes are $4 each, except $5 for gluten-free cookies. Large amounts can be delivered. Please email: ucalgirlscouts@gmail.com if you have questions and to place your order.

Cedar Park residents are welcome to stop by VIX Emporium (50th and Baltimore), which will also be selling girl scouts cookies beginning this Thursday. Check out the store hours here.

In the past few years, girl scout cookies were also available for sale at The Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut. We’ll keep you posted about more locations.

Kung Fu Hoagies cart (archived image).

After more than six years of operation in Clark Park, Kung Fu Hoagies, the vegetarian and vegan friendly food cart, will close next month, according to an announcement on their Facebook page.

The cart, a partnership between Paul Davis and Steve Renzi, was launched in 2010 and first rolled out in Clark Park in March 2012. It had been inspired by Davis’ love of Kung Fu (he’s a martial arts practitioner).

The reason for closing is “some life and business changes.”

“It’s a tough decision that we have to make, but can say that we have had an amazing 8 years serving the Philadelphia vegan and vegetarian community,” the Facebook message reads. “It’s been a really great experience sharing our food and passion for Kung Fu, and having such positive reception from amazing customers.”  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of Jezabel’s Studio.

Jezabel’s Studio, the Argentinian cafe and tea house that opened last year in a cozy space on 45th near Walnut, has recently expanded into the space next door (it’s now at 206-208 S. 45th). The new space allowed the cafe to double its seating capacity, and now it will be able to accommodate more customers as well as private parties and special events.

Since its expansion last month, the cafe has also extended its weekend hours – now 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – and began serving breakfast featuring traditional Argentinian dishes, like medialunas, Mafaldas (ham and cheese medialunas) and tortilla de patatas.  Continue Reading