LIGHTNING YOU MISSED IN PHILLY LAST NITE WHILE YOU WERE HUNKERED DOWN THE SHORE

This was a large Southern storm where the main body was hitting Delaware down to Washington DC, plus over South Jersey. So I ran over to my mother-in-laws condo as it faces South.

The cars jockey for position at the top of the Art Museum Steps to watch the "show."

The bright lights near the grass is the stage being built for the Fourth of July concert.

This is the view from my balcony

The little dot nearly in the center is a plane approaching the airport. Can you imagine being on that plane?

This video captures a couple lightning strikes. It really shows how difficult is is to photograph them as they are unpredictable when they strike. This was a nice long storm so i was able to get a few great shots, and a few ok shots.  Just watching the lightning gets my weather geek going.

OPA'S BEER GARDEN is called DRURY BEER GARDEN & it's NOW OPEN

I popped into Opa restaurant (1311 Sansom St., 215-545-0170) to steal co-owner Vasiliki Tsiouris away to the Washington Street Night Market (Snapshots from last nights #NightMkt here). I didn't see her but I saw the back door open to the restaurant...   

I had heard inglings that a beer garden was going to pop up behind Opa restaurant on Samson St. but I had no idea it was so far along.

I found a party going on, well the end of a party with a few of the City Council member staff. Nancy, Linda Norma, Irma, Cobra and Shunperb were just winding their night down. From what I can see the place has a gorgeous floor, a ping pong table, old skool boom box (holla) and is very spacious.

I don't want to spoil the surprise as you need to check out the soft opening this weekend; the place kicks off officially on Monday and will no doubt be a huge hit throughout the summer. Watch out SIPS people, this is going to be the hot hangout. And yes food will be served. It's going to be a little different than the delicious Greek food at Opa. Co-owner George Tsiouris tells me it's going to be world, street inspired. FUN CHILL FOOD (he's so fun chill, I can't wait to see what he means.) PS maybe a gyro or other special Greek food once in a while. Please, please include the hummus and pita bread.

Random people sighting at Drury Beer Garden, photog Al B For and his gal friend Elise Kirsch. I love love love love love this place for the 5 minutes I saw of it. Great concept!! Much bigger and spacious than I every envisioned when he mentioned it in passing a year ago, and then started to plan it recently.

SNAP SHOTS: NIGHT MARKET: WASHINGTON AVE JUNE 28

Night markets or night bazaars are street markets which operate at night and are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets.

Night Market Washington Avenue - Benefits The Food Trust

9th Street and Washington Avenue
Thursday, June 28th, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Free admission

Kristen Garcia, Marketing Phila Art Museum and Meg Wise, Smith Playground

Mike Chobert and Barbara Katz-Chobert

John Weidman  and Yael Lehman

Bill Gerhman and Chris Mullins

Megan Stecher and Mac Francis

Jill Schoenfeld and Brian Duffy

A pop-up of Questlove's new culinary and music venture, ?uest Loves Food, made it's Philly debut last night at Night Market. Currently they have gigs in NYC and LA I was told, especially during the upcoming awards season, but they could infiltrate the market here in Philly - AND YOU WANT THEM TOO. Delicious!!!

Caroline and Nana Wilmont (She has her own catering company too called - Georgina's)

Britney and Latiaynna (OMG we loved Questlove's chicken. They soak it in [oh that might be the secret so I can't tell you] and it's incredibly moist.)

Hmm Questlove Carrot Cake with a Fortune Cookie - Tracy McGinnis, Quest Loves Food Pastry Chef

Cara and Chuck Bongiorno with Alexis Rosenzweig, Entertainment Brand Manager / Managing Partner at ?uest Loves Food

Alan Spooner, Molly Kincaid and Jennifer Cohan (Wants us to remember to head to the Second Annual Vendy Awards  on Saturday, July 28th. At The Lot at 39th and Market.)

Hello Ms Style. Rakia Reynolds, Skai Blue Media, and Bram Reynolds, Global Spectrum. She's being honored September 20 by Philadelphia Fashion Week as Style Icon. (That's a no brainer.)

Helena Tubis, food lover//new yorker//managing director of the @vendyawards and Jamie Shanker, Philadelphia Editor at Midtown Lunch

Thomas Price, Natashya DiBona and Megan Haney - From global phenomenon to most sought after
‘secret,’ Dîner en Blanc takes hold in a Philadelphia public space for
the first time this summer.   This très chic picnic, imported from
Paris, is part mystery tour, part pop-up feast and part je ne sais
quoi.  On Thursday, August 23, 2012, culinary and culture enthusiasts
dressed in white will converge upon a secret locale for an
unforgettable evening of elegance, beauty and magic. The waiting list for the Philadelphia edition of this world-wide viral
event is now open at http://philadelphia.dinerenblanc.info

THE FOOD TRUST - WHAT'S IT ABOUT

Doug Keith and Meghan Ross

Slice Pizza will be at the Phila Style Mag party July 19

The next Night Market is August 16 in Mount Airy (Madonna's Bday, plus the day Elvis died, just sayin')

Mt. Airy restaurants who you might see are: Avenida, GeeChee Girl Rice Cafe, Wine Thief, Earth Bread + Brewery, Trolley Car Diner, McMenamin's Tavern, Little Jimmie's Bakery Cafe, Food for All and Trio Delight (WHYY).