CityLurve: Philly (Redux), or: The Changing Eatery Scene In My 'Hood

admittedly, i've only lived in philly for a year... and i don't spend as much time exploring the city's culinary variety as i would like to.

but my most recent return to the city, after a month away (i was in bombay and charlottesville, which explains the radio silence on this blog), has been awesome, not only because it feels like a real homecoming, but also because i've noticed that change is on the food horizon.

it began earlier this summer, in fact. mid-may, i noticed that a large, empty ground-floor store on the same block as my new-apartment-to-be was getting frantically painted and polished. turned out it opened soon thereafter: the newest iteration of the green line café -- see <http://www.greenlinecafe.com/2008/06/new-green-line-on-locust-now-open.html> for the joyous news on the green line blog. it looks large, and welcoming, and it brightens up the whole block. i'm not a coffee drinker, but it looks like i'll have to start!

mid-last week, after my return, i was walking from the english department to the pool and noticed that the jeweller on 34th and walnut had finally closed while i was gone -- about time, as it had been threatening to do so all spring. coming in its place: the naked chocolate café (<http://www.nakedchocolatecafe.com>). excellent!

and then, as i found out on friday night while poking around centre city for outdoor-seating BYOB options, melograno (on 22nd and spruce) has just closed down (although apparently it will be reopening in the fall at 20th and sansom). to come in its place -- something called memé. if it's anything like its neighbourhood buddies audrey claire (<http://www.audreyclaire.com>) or tinto (<http://www.tintorestaurant.com>), or even its former avatar (which made up for its lack of website by having outdoor seating, accepting major credit cards, and serving up delicious mushroom-filled food), i will be pleased.

i like knowing where one might go to try out a particular cuisine/feature in philadelphia -- whether BYOB, or wine+cheese pairings, or ethiopian, or sushi, or most recently (after today's bout of research on yelp and citysearch), dim sum. (my answers: audrey claire/mercato, tria, almaz cafe, swanky bubbles, ocean harbour/joy tsin lau.) what's even better is the assurance that more good things keep happening in this town. bring it on!