Those of you who like to knock one back now and again will be happy to learn that premium wine and liquor store at 43rd and Chestnut that has been discussed for what seems like a few years will open – on Tuesday!

The free booze will be flowing at the Premium Wine and Spirits Shop – if you are 21 and prove it of course – beginning at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The store has been in the works for a long time and was approved by the city, despite some protests from neighbors. It replaced an adult video store and check cashing joint. The store’s “premium” label means that no pints will be for sale. Read the whole saga behind the opening starting here.

The store’s opening will likely take much of the customer pressure off the store near 49th and Baltimore, which absorbed much of the traffic after the liquor store closed near 41st and Market in January 2012.

Here is the tasting schedule, according to Philly.com:

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.:

• Grand Marnier Raspberry Peach
• Hennessy VS Cognac
• Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut
• Chandon Napa Brut

4 p.m.– 6 p.m.:

• Barefoot Cellars Pinot Grigio
• Barefoot Cellars Malbec
• Barefoot Cellars Red Moscato
• Barefoot Bubbly Moscato Spumante

The store hours are: Mon-Sat 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sun noon – 5 p.m.

The cease and desist order at the Watusi Lounge at 4600 Walnut St.

Editor’s Note: We are aware that the sign on the establishment at 46th and Walnut says “Watutsi.” However, the business in all its public dealings (its filings, licenses and even its Facebook page) refers to itself as “Watusi,” so that’s what we have always gone with. Both words, of course, refer to the Tutsi people of East Africa.

The Watusi Lounge at 46th and Walnut has been closed for not having a proper food license, according to the city’s Office of Licenses and Inspections.

A cease operations notice was put on the door of the bar and night club on Sept. 6. The Watusi Lounge has received complaints from neighbors for late-night noise including alcohol-fueled fights. Police are still investigating a triple shooting earlier on Aug. 30 allegedly connected to the bar.

The lounge will not be permitted to open until a food license is issued. The notice is the latest in a list of violations the city has issued to Watusi.

In other Watusi-related news, the Watusi II at 45th and Locust, which has also received complaints, got a new paint job over the last few days. Local businessman Noel Karasanyi runs the Watusi Lounge, Watusi II and the Third World Lounge at 49th and Baltimore. The Watusi II was the subject of a community meeting in August, where some community members complained about noise and open drug use. But other members of the community have defended the businesses, saying they are among the few black-owned establishments remaining in the neighborhood.

After six years of providing affordable acupuncture treatments to West Philly residents, Philadelphia Community Acupuncture (PCA) announced that it’s closing its doors in mid-October.

According to owner Ellen Vincent, the decision to close PCA came after facing a lease renewal and learning that its current practitioners—Billy Scott, Bob Conrique, and Sarah Lefkowich—have or are relocating out state and leaving the clinic. Vincent, who herself now lives in Tuscon, Arizona, also stated that plans to bring in another lead acupuncturist to replace Lefkowich and to transfer ownership fell through, informing her “heartbreaking” choice to shut down PCA. She is currently working on establishing a firm closing date for the clinic.

Photo from Philadelphia Community Acupuncture’s Facebook page.

“I am heartbroken that the clinic needs to close. [Philadelphia Community Acupuncture] has been such a second home to so many people … more like a third place for them to go to rest, recharge, and heal,” Vincent, who moved to Tucson last year, wrote to West Philly Local in an email. “So many relationships have been formed and nurtured there and I hope they can somehow continue.  I have many incredible memories of being there, but the best are always those of a full room of people napping with needles—that’s what we’ve been trying to accomplish every day.”

Philadelphia Community Acupuncture, located above Satellite Café at 701 S. 50th Street, was one of the first businesses to move into the reincarnated firehouse on 50th Street in 2007. The mission of PCA was to always provide affordable acupuncture (at a sliding scale of $15 – $35) in a community setting—breaking away from the tradition of individualized, private sessions of typical U.S. acupuncturists to Asia-inspired settings where patients are gathered in groups in a large, relaxing space. PCA has serviced nearly 10,000 acupuncture treatments yearly “for the majority of our open years,” Vincent said.

PCA’s location in Mt. Airy, at 538 Carpenter Lane, is still open to the public, though. According to Vincent, her partner at that locale, Erin Schmitt, is “committed to the area and to the clinic long-term,” and she hopes West Philly patients will make the trip to Mt. Airy for treatments. Patients that are unable to use gift certificates and/or credits with PCA before it closes in West Philly can redeem them at the Mt. Airy center.

Still, Vincent hopes an acupuncture clinic similar to PCA opens in its place in West Philly, and is open to discussion with anyone interested in taking over ownership.

“All of this is way too difficult to manage long-distance without a partner at that location,” she said. “If I weren’t in Tucson, the clinic wouldn’t be closing.   I wanted that clinic to be there forever.”

Until it closes, Philadelphia Community Acupuncture will operate on limited hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

–Annamarya Scaccia

If you are a noodle lover, this news should make you happy. Ramen Bar may be coming to the former Locust Moon Comics space at 40th and Locust Streets soon if their liquor license application gets approved. The building at 4040 Locust Street, owned by 4040 Locust Street Partners, L.P., formerly also hosted Strike Bowling Lounge, and the Redcap’s Corner gaming shop. Keswick Cycle opened at this location last year.

Foobooz reports that an ad looking for a head chef for a ramen restaurant close to the University of Pennsylvania was posted online back in January. The opening date listed in the ad was May 2012 and it looks like it could be for this restaurant. Judging by the boards covering the building, the opening may be later than May. We’ll let you know as soon as there is more information available.

A popsicle shop is planning to open soon at 265 S. 44th Street in the vacant space formerly occupied by Unitea coffee & tea shop.

Local resident Jeanne Chang is going to open Lil’ Pop Shop in early April if licensing and inspections go as planned. Chang lives right around the corner from the shop and says she’s very excited about opening in West Philly. The shop is planning to sell artisan popsicles with rotating seasonal flavors using local dairy and produce. We’ll keep you posted on the progress.

This part of 44th street features three other businesses – Tampopo, Local 44 and recently opened Honest Tom’s Taco Shop.

After six years of operation, Wake Up Yoga is closing its West Philly location at 49th & Baltimore. The announcement was posted on their website and Facebook page. The studio will be staying open through April 17 when the last class will be taught.

To read the announcement click here.

Wake Up Yoga has two other locations – in Fairmount and South Philadelphia.