Amina Ocean Restaurant is coming to 3.0 University Place at 41st and Market.

The team behind Amina Restaurant & Lounge in Old City is opening up a new venture, Amina Ocean, in University City. The new seafood-focused restaurant has inked a deal with University Place Associates (UPA) to become the anchor retail tenant in 3.0 University Place’s ground floor retail space. The new 250,000 square-foot eight story commercial lab and office building is located at 4101 Market Street.

Encompassing 4,800 square-feet, the upscale dining and nightlife brand is the second retail partner to be announced by UPA, and will be located on the northeast corner of 41st and Market Streets. Lancaster, PA-based Fulton Bank, which occupies 2,250 square-feet in the center of the street level retail corridor, opened on August 7.

“My vision for Amina Ocean is ‘Southern Seafood Fusion,” entrepreneur Felicia Wilson said in a statement. “The theme and vibe of the restaurant will provide a Tulum-meets-Morocco feel.”

Continue Reading

A new seasonal pop-up beer garden officially launched last night on The Lawn at uCity Square (37th and Filbert). The bar is inspired by local creativity and activation and offers locally-sourced food, brews, and cocktails.

The beer garden is operated by and in partnership with MilkBoy Restaurant Group. It offers a diverse array of beverages including offerings from Two Locals Brewing Company, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned brewery, and local rap artist Chill Moody’s nicethingsBEER. In addition, it will have an ever-evolving selection of seasonal brews from both Yards Brewing Company and Love City Brewing, as well as craft and canned cocktails, wine, and a rotating lineup of food trucks.

Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of UCD.

The popular community and business event, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, is set to return for the second and final time this year. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5-8 p.m., when visitors are invited to stroll up and down Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets for $1, $3, and $5 deals on food, drinks, merchandise, and more from local businesses and neighborhood vendors.

Due to this week’s heatwave, University City District (UCD), the longtime event organizer, urges all attendees to wear cool clothes and make sure to bring water so they can hydrate before and during the event.

Continue Reading

Parks on Tap (Instagram photo)

Here’s a great chance to spend more time outdoors this summer while enjoying some craft beer and delicious snacks in a beautiful green setting. Parks on Tap, the traveling beer garden presented by the Philadelphia Parks & Rec, will make another stop at Clark Park at 43rd and Baltimore this year (the first appearance was in May). The beer garden is returning Wednesday, Aug. 16 and will stay through Sunday, Aug. 20.

The beer garden hours are:

Wed-Fri: 4-10 p.m.

Sat & Sun: 12-10 p.m.

Continue Reading

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (Photos by Lora Reehling).

West Philly folks and visitors are invited to this summer’s first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which will take place Thursday, June 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The popular outdoor event, organized by University City District (UCD), features dozens of local businesses and vendors offering deals on food, merchandise and other items along Baltimore Avenue between 40th to 51st Streets.

This year, the event will again feature $1, $3, and $5 bargains from neighborhood standouts like Booker’s, Vientiane Café, Dahlak Paradise and more, as well as newcomers including brewery Carbon Copy and Ethiopian chicken house Doro Bet. The vendors list, including West Philly-based merchandise vendors and food trucks, has also expanded since last year.

Continue Reading

Unfortunately, there have been reports of two more food establishments closing in West Philly.

• University City’s iconic City Tap House unexpectedly announced permanent closing after 13 years  in operation at 3925 Walnut Street on Feb. 23 and closed three days later. The following message was posted on City Tap House University City’s Instagram page:

“It is with a heavy heart that we are informing you that the last day of service will be Sunday, February 26th. This was a difficult decision, as this location was the launchpad for our company’s growth over the last 13 years.”

Following the announcement, numerous messages of support followed in the comments. Continue Reading