Jenn Sharon
These two bars have opened in the past year. They both boast outrageous beer menus and culinary delights. So what’s the difference? Here’s a pro/con list for ya’s. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Jenn’
The Wishing Well vs. City Tap house
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010Sampling: Bad Beers
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Mass Market Beers
Philadelphia can make someone a beer snob very easily. Beyond the 20 tap systems in beer bars, craft beers from across the nation, and the endless lists of Belgians, any given dive bar is guaranteed to have at least a few local beers with Yards and PBC making themselves widely available.  Golly, even our local cheap beers Yuengling and Lions Head are better that most of the generic mass produced beers we constantly see advertised at all sporting events and every third commercial in prime-time. Or are they? I have to admit, for the most part I managed to skip the whole cheap commercial beer phase that most people go through. Being from PDX my folks tried hard to raise me not to be a cheap date, drink-wise, and when I hit legal age to drink outside of my home, I never even bothered tasting what I had always been told was drivel.
So I had a terrible idea the other day to sample the generic beers widely available, to test to see if what I had always heard about them was true, that they were flavorless, low alcohol and not worth the time. PBR I was already well acquainted with, being a patron of Mom’s establishments, and on very hot summer nights when I am exceptionally poor of pocket, I’ve been known to drink Miller High Life. I’m unable to tell if these are good beers or not – I solely associate them with certain drinking environments. But perhaps there is a best among the worst, perhaps the masses know something that in my snobbery¬† I’ve missed. And so the Art in Bars contributors gathered at a household to sample some mass market beers. Here are our findings. (more…)
Beer Observations – Fancy Philly?
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
In this friendly, freedom-loving land of ours - Beer belongs . . . enjoy it!
By Jenn Sharon
You can’t throw a bottle in this city without hitting a bar that boasts the best selection of beers these days. Bars that have beer from every freakin’ country on this planet! Bars have turned into gastropubs and gastropubs into craft beer hubs. Now, I’ve had a lot of these beers and most of them are fantastic. My concern and question is– Is this a good thing for Philadelphia? Philadelphia is a union clad, working class town, and after all of the citiy’s hipsters move to New York or get business or construction jobs where will all of the craft beers go? Will the people who are 19 and 20 today carry on this mircobrew revolution as they become the old heads of this town? (more…)
The Gasolina!
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
The Gasolina!
Jenn Sharon
Last month my friends recently come back from Puerto Rico brought back possibly one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. The Gasolina! This pre-made cocktail comes in a juice pouch, you know like the one’s for kid’s lunchboxes with the straw on the side and everything. But the stuff inside is not for kid’s. No sir. It is labeled as a high octane rum cocktail with rum, tequila, fruit juice and natural flavoring. Very mysterious, indeed.
The color of the gasolina is red and it is sweet, but not too sweet. The taste of cinnamon opens this drinks profile, then you taste orange (juice?) and then tequila. And so on, with the rest of the rummy juice flavors falling behind that. 200Ml and it’s 11% alcohol– not bad at all! It’s perfect for those long Puerto Rican days lounging on the beach.
Why am I telling you readers about this drink? I mean, you can’t even buy it in the U.S.A. The answer is I just thought it was cool! I’ve never seen anything like it before and I couldn’t find any real information on it on the world wide web.
The Gasolina goes down so smoothly and inoffensively that I can guess this drink can get vacationers and residents in a lot of Puerto Rican trouble.
There is a cocktail out there called the Gasolina, but believe me it’s not the same at all. Not even close. The Gasolina is so deliciously unique that if you or your friends ever find yourself on that island territory– bring some back for me!
{ED NOTE: there’s been talk around Art in Bars of this being the “Summer of Rum” where we take this oft maligned ingredient and try to discover why it holds such sway. Look for more rum-centric updates in the weeks to come.}
Pineapple Lavender Margarita
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Pineapple Lavender Margarita
Jenn Sharon
It occurred to me too late that this recipe would have been good for Cinco de Mayo. Oh well! Summer is on its way and when the warm weather arrives– there isn’t anything better than a lovely margarita. This drink requires a bit of prep unless you have a store bought lavender syrup.
Remember the At home with Jenn where I told you how to make simple or flavored syrup? Make yourself a quick batch of Lavender syrup (1 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup lavender, fresh or dried. Simmer, cool, ¬Ω oz of lemon juice). After that bit of prep, you’re on your way to this delightful concoction. You need tequila, pineapple juice, triple sec, lemon or lime juice and your lavender syrup.
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz triple sec
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz lemon or lime juice
- ½ oz  lavender syrup
From there you can serve it over ice or blend it up. Put in your glass and enjoy this drink with friends. This cocktail is light and fruity with a floral whisper. Still not zazzy enough? Freeze some chunks of pineapple for about an hour and put them in your cocktail with your ice! It’s sure to be a hit!
Ask an Artist Erin Murray
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Erin Murray - Ugly and Ordinary Animal Hospital
By Jenn Sharon
What is there to say about today’s Ask an Artist artist Erin Murray? More than you’d think! After getting her BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art back in ’01 Erin returned to Philadelphia and it’s art scene with a mission. She’s been shown various places around town including the Painted Bride, Projects Gallery, F.U.E.L., Artist’s House, Center for Emerging Visual Artists — just to name a few. Her paintings of urban structures will strike a chord in any metro minded mortal. She recently took about 2 years off while she was building her Fishtown multi-unit house/artist space practically from scratch, and now that she has captured her vision for that building in 3-D, Erin is focused on returning to her art. I recently got the opportunity to chat with Erin about her views on different citrus fruits. No, wait, art– her views on art. (more…)
The Joan Collins
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Joan Collins the legend
Classy, elegant and graceful this drink has it all! Named after the 1970’s and 80’s scarlet of the silver and small screens, this twist on a Tom Collins is just as sophisticated as the lady herself. You’ll need: lemon juice, gin, bar sugar or simple syrup, crème de violette and club soda.