Philadelphia ideas

The Study at University City is a new hotel within walking distance of both the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University campuses. The property features a bright color palette, outdoor terraces, and a living room adorned with artifacts from three local museums. In addition to 212 guest rooms and suites, the property offers 7,000 square feet of event space divided into six venues of various sizes. The 2,253-square-foot Banquet Salon, for example, accommodates 48 guests conference style, 144 classroom style, and 150 for mixed receptions. The 2,111-square-foot Drafting rooms fit 30 guests classroom style or as many as 72 for receptions, and the 268-square-foot Boardroom accommodates 18.

Atop chic new Center City hotel the Logan is a 4,000-square-foot alfresco lounge named Assembly. The space towers high above Philadelphia, with sweeping views of Logan Circle. The sophisticated atmosphere extends to its beverage program, which offers an extensive list of champagne by the glass. For events, the space can hold 100 seated guests or accommodate 150 cocktail style. It opened in April.

Following a $20 million renovation and reflagging, the Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel Philadelphia hotel took over the former Radisson Plaza—Warwick Hotel Philadelphia in October. The space maintains its historic charm and heritage while offering an updated, contemporary style. Plans to upgrade the meeting rooms are currently being scheduled for early 2014. When complete, the hotel will offer more than 17,000 square feet of meeting and event space. With a grand ballroom and 10 event rooms, the property will accommodate gatherings for as many as 400 guests.

The Washington Square West neighborhood welcomed Maison 208 in June. Helmed by Chef Sylvia Senat, a former Top Chef contestant, the restaurant serves a New American menu with French undertones. The two-story, 1,800-square-foot space features an open concept and is Philadelphia’s first restaurant with a retractable glass roof. A living room-style cocktail lounge on the second floor can be booked for private events for as many as 100 guests. Television screens and projectors are available for planners to use as needed. 

Located on Avenue of the Arts, Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Center City opened in March. The 223-room property includes multiple areas available for meetings or events. A 2,298-square-foot meeting room seats 120 guests theater style, 80 classroom style, or 48 conference style. The 510-square-foot boardroom seats 12 around a large conference table. Meeting amenities include a ceiling-mounted screen and projector, wireless microphones, built-in speakers, and HDMI-compatible hookups. The hotel also features a restaurant with views of the city skyline, Bluetooth compatible mirrors in each guest room, and in-room microwaves and refrigerators.

Since May, Ardmore on the Main Line is home to the Bercy, a modern French brasserie. Patrons here enjoy classic, refined dishes like foie gras, escargots, trout amandine, and steak frites. The chic restaurant measures 10,000 square feet with seating 210 total guests. A 2,000-square-foot private dining room seats 50, and a 2,500-square-foot mezzanine, complete with its own bar, accommodates 40 seated guests or 60 for cocktails.

In May, Parx Casino in Bensalem opened a 3,000-square-foot restaurant adjacent to the performance venue XCite Center. Oliveto seats 130 guests in a dining room and bar with mosaic tile floors, exposed brick, and Italian marble. New York-style pizza and classic Italian recipes like meatballs in tomato gravy and chicken marsala comprise the menu, which is accompanied by signature cocktails and a 25-bottle wine list.

Concourse Dance Bar, a retro underground dance bar, opened in February in Center City. Measuring 5,000 square feet, the venue holds as many as 1,000 guests for buyouts. Smaller spaces are also available for groups, with room for 20 in the lounge, 100 on the mezzanine, 300 in the center bar, and 500 in the main bar. Planners can use the venue’s DJ booth and concert-level lighting and sound, as well as an optional stage. Fun added touches include a 20-person ball pit and a vintage photo booth. While there is a limited in-house food menu available, planners may bring in outside catering.

Indoor-outdoor restaurant Harper’s Garden opened in Rittenhouse Square in May, offering an atmosphere that encourages socialization and relaxation. A 75-guest, 1,000-square-foot mezzanine lounge overlooks the main dining room, which measures 2,500 square feet and seats 50. Outside, a 2,500-square-foot patio, complete with twinkling lights and seasonal flowers, seats 100. Buyouts can accommodate as many as 250 guests for reception-style events. The bar features a 30-tap draft system, while the food menu offers dishes like strawberry salad, white tuna crudo, and fried cod bahn mi sandwiches.

The Spring Arts neighborhood welcomed Love City Brewing in April. The venue pays homage to its heritage as a factory that manufactured parts for the bygone Reading Railroad, with high ceilings, abundant natural light, and old machinery serving as decor. The brewery pours seven featured beers and serves food from the Baby Blues BBQ food truck, as well as house-made snacks like pickles, pretzels, and popcorn; outside catering is allowed, as well. In total, the 9,000-square-foot brewery features 2,000 square feet of space for dining and events that seats a total of 125 guests or holds 195 for cocktail-style parties, Smaller areas are available for semi-private events, including a 36-seat bar, 24 seats at tables in the bar area, seating for 48 at picnic tables and benches, and 16 comfy lounge chairs.

In May, Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room, a 10,000-square-foot modern diner, opened in Midtown Village. The decor includes red vinyl booths, eye-catching wall art and fun touches like large-screen TVs, darts, shuffleboard, and corn hole. The space is divided into two dining rooms, each with its own bar, and can accommodate as many as 215 seated guests or 350 for cocktail-style parties. Patrons enjoy comfort food like pierogis, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, and chicken pot pie, along with cocktails and a rotating selection of local and regional craft beer.

Silence DoGood’s Tavern in Old City completed a renovation in May. The restaurant now includes shiplap wood paneling, upgraded lighting, street-facing windows and an outdoor seating area. The menu was also overhauled to specialize in burgers, beer, and bourbon. In total, the 1,300-square-foot space holds 50 guests for indoor cocktail-style events or 80 for receptions that include the outdoor space. A private dining room seats 14. As part of the venue’s philanthropic focus, there is no venue rental fee for nonprofits.

Rittenhouse Square staple Branzino Italian Ristorante unveiled a renovation in March, with new floor-to-ceiling windows, an open plan for the front two dining rooms, a new marble-topped circular bar, and updated color scheme. Measuring 3,500 square feet, the restaurant is comprised of three dining rooms that seat 180 guests total and a courtyard with seating for 45. The upscale Italian menu features elegant dishes like crab ravioli with asparagus and lemon, veal cheeks with marrow in a pork wine reduction, and suckling pig with smoked eggplant puree.

Saige’s third Philly coffee shop joined the lineup of food and retail outlets at Schmidt’s Commons in Northern Liberties in February. The menu features café fare like muffins, croissants, paninis, and salads, along with Red House Roasters coffee, fruit-infused teas, and smoothies. Exuding an industrial yet inviting vibe, the 1,100-square-foot space is available for meetings, small gatherings, or performances for as many as 35 seated guests.