May this autumn bring you a harvest of fun times and laughter with family and friends!
Make New Feline Friends Over Coffee at Kawaii Kitty Cafe
As the name implies, Kawaii Kitty Cafe is a unique space where cat lovers can come and spend time with adorable kitties while enjoying delicious, fresh cafe treats.
This Japanese, vegan, and vegetarian gem in Philadelphia’s Queen Village neighborhood serves a variety of breakfast and lunch specialties, from bagels with edamame spread or whitefish salad to traditional Japanese dishes like ronkatsu, made with breaded and deep-fried pork. Enjoy your meal with a hot or iced coffee, specialty drinks, a large selection of teas, or refreshing smoothie.
Kawaii Kitty Cafe is a great place to bring kids or cat-loving friends — they’ll love being able to play with the cats, and all cats at Kawaii are adoptable, so if you fall in love you can take your cat home with you!
Check out the cafe on Facebook for regular updates about the cats residing in Kawaii Kitty Cafe and for cafe specials.
Kawaii Kitty Cafe
759 S Fourth St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 372-7763
www.facebook.com/kawaiikittycafe
The Why and How of Staying Hydrated While Exercising
Keeping your body hydrated during exercise helps your heart pump blood through your blood vessels to your muscles. It also helps your muscles work more efficiently. Needless to say, it's important to make sure you enough water before, during, and after your workout. Follow these tips on staying hydrated while exercising.
- Keep count. It's important to drink 17 to 20 ounces of water 2 to 3 hours before exercising, 8 ounces 30 minutes before exercising, 7 to 10 ounces every 10 minutes during exercise, and 8 ounces 30 minutes after you exercise.
- Supplement. For your average 60-minute workout, you won’t need anything more than water. If you’re going longer than that, or if it's humid outside, you may need a sports drink to get the extra calories and electrolytes.
- Drink when you feel thirsty. You body is designed to tell you when you need to hydrate, so pay attention to its signals..
Athletes: The Importance of Good Hydration [Family Doctor]
What Should I Drink While Exercising? [The Starting Line]
Staying Hydrated – Staying Healthy [American Heart Association]
Rittenhouse Square Park: Where Philly Goes to See and Be Seen
Philly's Rittenhouse Square Park is a wonderful place to enjoy a little digital detox. Located in the very heart of Philadelphia, the greenery of this historic city park is surrounded by some of the city's most architecturally notable buildings. Turn-of-the-century apartment buildings, brownstones, and several mansions surround the park, along with countless shops and places to dine.
If you have a free afternoon, you can grab a coffee or a bite to eat and sit on a bench in the park to people-watch. If it's warm out, consider packing a picnic and laying out a blanket on the grass. There is no shortage of events and festivals held here, either. Farmers' markets are held during prime produce seasons, all around the perimeter of the park.
Rittenhouse Square Park is a great place to spend time with friends and family!
Rittenhouse Square Park
18th and Walnut Sts
Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/rittenhouse-square-park
South Helm: A Farm-to-Table Eatery in South Philly
South Helm is a Philly farm-to-table restaurant specializing in unique and creative dishes, all made from scratch using seasonal, local ingredients. The talented chefs at South Helm have artfully created a simple menu with ingredients and flavors as the stars of the show.
On the menu, you'll find various small plates so that you can try a little bit of everything, from the Bucatini pasta, served with soft shell crab and pepperoncini, to the seafood fra diavolo, served with fava beans and basil. Other local favorites include the fried oysters and the quail made with wild mushrooms and hakueri.
You’ll find a laid-back vibe when you arrive, providing a comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy your upscale meal, and South Helm is a BYOB, so grab your favorite wine or beer and some friends, and enjoy a memorable meal at this local Philly gem!
South Helm
100 Morris St
Philadelphia, PA 19148
www.yelp.com/biz/south-helm-philadelphia
The Little Lion: Contemporary Dining in a Historic Atmosphere
The Little Lion is a one-of-a-kind modern dining experience in a historical setting. Located in Old City, The Little Lion features a stunning open space with Revolutionary decor. This is a great place for dinner or, better yet, happy hour. From 5-7 p.m., you can take advantage of discounts on food and drinks. Burgers are $10 and oysters are $1 apiece. Drafts are only going to run you $3, so make sure you stop in before the dinner rush. And be sure to order the poutine!
If you don't make it in time, don't worry. Burgers, ribs, fish, and other coastal delicacies pack the dinner menu. You won't leave hungry, but you will leave happy you came. In fact, chances are you'll want to come back time and time again like so many already have.
The Little Lion
243 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 273-0688
www.thelittlelionphilly.com
Heading to a Picnic? Keep These Food Storage Safety Guidelines in Mind!
The only thing that can spoil a picnic more than rain is spoilage in another area: the food! You might be so concerned about mastering your mom’s potato salad recipe that you forget to properly protect it from the hot sun, and that will put quite a damper on your fun day outdoors. Follow these safety tips for properly storing and serving picnic food:
- Keep cold foods cold. This may seem obvious, but you’ll need to thoroughly line a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs to ensure that your food stays cold even as the temperatures rise. This includes things like creamy salads, meats, and cheeses.
- Use a thermometer. Perishable foods should be stored at a temperature of 40°F or below, so use a thermometer to make sure that you maintain that temperature all day long.
- Keep the cooler closed. Store water and soft drinks in a separate cooler from the perishable food to minimize the how often the cooler is opened throughout the day.
- Prevent cross-contamination. If you’re grilling meats at your picnic, be sure to thoroughly wrap them in plastic wrap or store them in plastic containers. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat, and don’t let meats touch fruit, veggies, or other foods.
Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely [FDA]
Perfect Food Safe Picnics! [FoodSafety.gov]
Picnic Food Kids Will Love: Pack A Safe & Healthy Basket [Parents]
Philadelphia Dance Theater: Plié Your Way to This Classical Ballet School
Whether you want to take in a beautiful ballet performance or learn the art of the ballet yourself, the Philadelphia Dance Theater is one of the best places for ballet lovers in the Philadelphia area. This renowned dance school is one of the only ones in the region to offer both classical ballet training and a contemporary dance program, and it has won a number of awards for its fresh, creative choreography.
Classes are available for everyone from first-time dancers to pre-professional ballerinas and for ages ranging from children to young adults. The facility contains three spacious dance studios furnished with hardwood floors and sunny outdoor areas, as well as a viewing room with a one-way window where parents or other supporters can observe the lessons. Twice yearly, the company puts on dance recitals for the public that showcase what they’ve learned that year and enable ballet fans to enjoy an evening of beautiful dancing.
Philadelphia Dance Theater
7500 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119
(215) 247-4272
www.philadancetheatre.org
www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-Dance-Theatre/273065792710297