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I've got a dinner reservation you're going to want to snap up ASAP — because I can guarantee it's about to become much harder to get.

What's happening: I spent my Saturday evening at the first-look dinner for Elma, the brand-new, 12-seat Fishtown BYOB from chef James Nardone.

You might know Nardone from his time as a sous chef at Suraya or via his former pop-up Nardone Pasta Co., which put him on my radar from its stops at Northern Liberties' Ortlieb's and South Philly supper club Santé.

What to expect: Saturday's six-course prix fixe meal celebrated Elma's opening "as well as the spring harvest," and it showed from the scallop crudo starter all the way through to the blackberry-topped dessert.

But the highlight was, unsurprisingly, the pasta — specifically, an artichoke and ricotta-stuffed casoncelli.

The bottom line: This was one of the best dinners I've had in Philly in a long while. I almost don't want to tell you that, but I have a feeling the secret's gonna get out anyway.

Elma is about to be Fishtown's toughest dinner reservation

Elma's scallop crudo. Photo: Shane Savitsky/Axios

I&#x27;ve got a dinner reservation you&#x27;re going to want to snap up ASAP — because I can guarantee it&#x27;s about to become much harder to get.What&#x27;s happening: I spent my Saturday evening at the first-look dinner for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Elma" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/elmaphilly/" data-vars-content-id="1af95c38-37ac-4148-a5e0-bea68b078fee" data-vars-headline="Elma is about to be Fishtown&#x27;s toughest dinner reservation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/elmaphilly/" target="_blank">Elma</a>, the brand-new, 12-seat Fishtown BYOB from chef James Nardone.

Food and Drink

Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar, tucked away in Fishtown, might not be slinging anything new to Philadelphia, but it's a mighty fine addition to the neighborhood's scene.

What's happening: I checked out Tulip's second preview weekend on Friday, which featured four courses with wine pairings — but the spot is set to start its regular, a la carte service this weekend.

The big hit was the charcoal roasted beet ravioli. I heard someone at the next table telling our server that the dish had "converted" her, despite being a noted beet hater. (Fair warning here: if you don't like beets, it was very beet-y.)

I was also all about the stuffed zucchini blossoms, fried up and packed with a variety of local cheeses. They're the fanciest mozzarella sticks you'll ever have.

Don't miss out on sampling the wine. Tulip is a partnership with Wayvine Winery & Vineyard, out in Nottingham, and all of the sips were absolutely excellent. The highlight was the Sauvignon Blanc — level and floral, not overly acidic.

Between Tulip, Mural City Garden and Fishtown Social, you could have a nice little natural wine walk down Frankford Ave.

The bottom line: If only every quiet corner joint could crank out food like this. 

Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar brings fine Italian eats to Fishtown

Tulip Pasta &amp; Wine Bar, tucked away in Fishtown, might not be slinging anything new to Philadelphia, but it&#x27;s a mighty fine addition to the neighborhood&#x27;s scene.What&#x27;s happening: I checked out Tulip&#x27;s second preview weekend on Friday, which featured four courses with wine pairings — but the spot is set to start its regular, a la carte service this weekend.

Indie rocker Lucy Dacus is set to kick off the next leg of her tour supporting last year's lauded "Home Video" on Thursday at Franklin Music Hall in Philly, where she moved in 2019.

I'd been wanting to ask her how she'd spend her Best Day Ever in the city since she told Pitchfork about ringing in 2020 at Johnny Brenda's (which, frankly, sounds like the Best Night Ever).

Dacus tells Axios that she moved to Philly from her hometown of Richmond, Va., because she hadn't lived anywhere else and "wanted that experience of moving to a new place" that still harbored a good number of friends.

But she moved just before COVID hit, an experience that was "really tough": "It didn't help that I wasn't familiar with my surroundings, didn't know by heart where the nearest pharmacy was, and I felt very far from my family at that time."

With things feeling a bit more normal, "getting to know the city has been a real treat."

🥯 Breakfast: "Whitefish on a salt bagel from Philly Style Bagels. My drummer Ricardo lived in Philly for over a decade and gifted me the knowledge of this order."

☀️ During the day: "It's an extremely rare day when I have time to waste. But if I'm not in a hurry, I'll walk to all my errands. I've done over 15 miles some days. I'm still not doing that many indoor things, but there's a lot I look forward to doing, like going to see the orchestra and seeing more movies."

"If it's a Saturday, heading to the farmers market with some friends, grabbing a breakfast burrito from Tacos Don Memo and eating it in the park. Then buying some flowers and carrying them around to feel like a part of the scenery of a nice day."

🍄 Dinner: "If I'm feeling indulgent, I'll go to Vedge. What an incredible restaurant. The whole menu is vegan, but I think anyone who loves food will be thoroughly pleased by whatever they get. The menu changes, but I'm a fan of the rutabaga fondue, and I had a really good maitake steak one time."

🏠 The rest of the night: "To be honest, watching trash TV or a movie with my roommates. Or just sitting around talking or playing a game. I have such little time at home between touring, I try to make most of my days about catching up with friends."

How Lucy Dacus would spend her Best Day Ever in Philly

Philly Style Bagels and Vedge are on the indie rocker's list.

Indie rocker Lucy Dacus is set to kick off the next leg of her tour supporting last year&#x27;s lauded &quot;Home Video&quot; on Thursday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at Franklin Music Hall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axs.com/events/443764/lucy-dacus-tickets" data-vars-content-id="82d73cf3-b483-41c6-8560-47212dab9e3e" data-vars-headline="How Lucy Dacus would spend her Best Day Ever in Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axs.com/events/443764/lucy-dacus-tickets" target="_blank">at Franklin Music Hall</a> in Philly, where she moved in 2019.<ul><li>I&#x27;d been wanting to ask her how she&#x27;d spend her Best Day Ever in the city since she <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told Pitchfork" data-vars-click-url="https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/19-artists-on-their-favorite-independent-music-venues/" data-vars-content-id="82d73cf3-b483-41c6-8560-47212dab9e3e" data-vars-headline="How Lucy Dacus would spend her Best Day Ever in Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/19-artists-on-their-favorite-independent-music-venues/" target="_blank">told Pitchfork</a> about ringing in 2020 at Johnny Brenda&#x27;s (which, frankly, sounds like the Best Night Ever).</li></ul>

Things to Do

News

I've been tagged in as Axios Philadelphia's resident Swiftie to offer my prognostications on the "surprise songs" Taylor Swift will play at her shows this weekend — and I feel reasonably confident we can predict one for each night.

Arguably the most heart-wrenching song in Taylor's catalog, she wrote it to honor 3-year-old Ronan Thompson, who died of cancer in 2011. Today would have been Ronan's 16th birthday. His mom Maya will be in attendance.

It mentions an "Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door." Come on. Of course, we still don't know whether Taylor's talking about the team or the band — something I've been emailing her publicist, Tree Paine, about for months now.

It's Mother's Day. It's about Taylor's mom, Andrea. What more do you need?

What I'm hoping for: I'll be there Saturday and Sunday and I'd give anything for "Long Live."

Predicting Taylor Swift's surprise songs for Philly

Axios Philly's resident Swifties predicts one for each night.

Photo: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

I&#x27;ve been tagged in as Axios Philadelphia&#x27;s resident Swiftie to offer my prognostications on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the &quot;surprise songs&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/" data-vars-content-id="bf4ca386-f64c-4112-804c-8c4f9b260a25" data-vars-headline="Predicting Taylor Swift&#x27;s surprise songs for Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/" target="_blank">the &quot;surprise songs&quot;</a> Taylor Swift will play at her shows this weekend — and I feel reasonably confident we can predict one for each night.Friday: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Ronan&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdiBc40gW7s" data-vars-content-id="bf4ca386-f64c-4112-804c-8c4f9b260a25" data-vars-headline="Predicting Taylor Swift&#x27;s surprise songs for Philly" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdiBc40gW7s" target="_blank">&quot;Ronan&quot;</a>

It sure seems like a sister restaurant to Pizzeria Beddia is coming to East Kensington.

What's happening: Rising Real Estate noticed earlier this week that permits had been issued to transform the former Weisbrod & Hess Brewery on Martha Street into a restaurant from "a major Philadelphia restaurant group."

The permits (view them here) show that the LLC behind the project has the same address as Defined Hospitality, which runs Pizzeria Beddia, and the architect worked on Beddia's Fishtown location — as well as other Defined Hospitality spots, like Suraya and Condesa.

Most tellingly, Joe Beddia shared — and later deleted — a post on his own Instagram story from Michael Parsell, one of the developers of across-the-street neighbor Martha, that said Beddia "and co. are doing right by this building."

Screenshot of an Instagram story posted from Joe Beddia’s account, @pizzacamp, late Wednesday and deleted sometime Thursday.

Defined Hospitality didn't respond to Axios' request for confirmation that it is indeed a Beddia-linked project.

What's next: Given that the site remains something of an urban ruin, it's probably not wise to expect any restaurant to be occupying the space for a while.

In the meantime, if you're hungry around that area, keep an eye out for the group's forthcoming bigger version of South Philly Thai favorite Kalaya — projected to open later this year. 

Is Joe Beddia plotting a new restaurant in East Kensington?

Permits have been issued to transform the former Weisbrod & Hess Brewery on Martha Street into a restaurant from "a major Philadelphia restaurant group."

The vacant building at 2421 Martha St. Photo courtesy of the City of Philadelphia

Restaurants

It sure seems like a sister restaurant to Pizzeria Beddia is coming to East Kensington.What&#x27;s happening: Rising Real Estate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="noticed earlier this week" data-vars-click-url="http://www.rising.realestate/historic-brewery-in-east-kensington-to-become-a-restaurant/" data-vars-content-id="c4f6b612-be9b-4a1d-b904-ba30c85115b0" data-vars-headline="Is Joe Beddia plotting a new restaurant in East Kensington?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://www.rising.realestate/historic-brewery-in-east-kensington-to-become-a-restaurant/" target="_blank">noticed earlier this week</a> that permits had been issued to transform the former Weisbrod &amp; Hess Brewery on Martha Street into a restaurant from &quot;a major Philadelphia restaurant group.&quot;

Shane Savitsky

Featured stories

Elma is about to be Fishtown's toughest dinner reservation

Predicting Taylor Swift's surprise songs for Philly

How Lucy Dacus would spend her Best Day Ever in Philly

Tulip Pasta & Wine Bar brings fine Italian eats to Fishtown

Is Joe Beddia plotting a new restaurant in East Kensington?