Rum Bar was the only Philadelphia establishment to be a finalist in any of the award categories, and it beat out other finalists The Cedars Social (Dallas, TX) and The Cocktail Club (Charleston, SC). Owner and mixologist Adam Kanter (who previously made the Top 10 in the national Tommy Bahama Rumologist search), said, “It’s the biggest honor we’ve ever received. It’s a great validation for all the hard work our staff has put in, and it provides some energy going into 2012.”

So a big congrats to Adam Kanter and Rum Bar, you guys deserve it.

On a beautiful day like today, you may not think we need Punxsutawney Phil very much at all (especially with his paltry 39% accuracy rate). But nevertheless, Groundhog Day is exactly the kind of tradition that makes Pennsylvania so hilarious and weird, so why not join in on the celebration?

According to the people over at Drink Philly, the Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford Ave.) is holdng their traditional Groundhog Day Hawaiian Shirt Beer Breakfast tomorrow.

“Starting at 7 AM, proprietor Mike “Scoats” Scotese invites fans of rodent prognostication and great brew alike to assemble at the Northeast Pub to watch the 7:20 AM broadcast of Phil emerging from hibernation. In order to promote the warm weather vibe, bead necklaces and tropical shirts are the attire of choice, and in order to promote the warming of our insides, special beers will be on tap (some of which have been squirreled away for almost a year in anticipation of this event).

The Grey Lodge will also be hosting an 8AM Hawaiian shirt contest, a 9AM hula hoop contest, and more. The whole party rages on until 1PM, and it cash-only. Beers that have been pulled together for the event include: Founders Breakfast Stout, Flying Fish Exit 8, Ommegang Aphrodite, Russian River Temptation and Supplication, Sly Fox Coffee Porter, and Yards Old Bart.

So set that alarm for early, and take in a few brews waiting for Phil. After all, you won’t have another reason to drink some morning beers for a whole month.

Tonight at The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., head bartender Al Sotack and Chicago’s Freddie Sarkis will be tackling a new menu every hour from 7PM to midnight inspired by their favorite bars in the world. The bars include: Milk & Honey, Rickhouse, The Violet Hour, Door 74, Death & Company.

The Franklin has previously appeared on GQ‘s list of the best cocktail bars in America, so stop by to see it pay respect to some other greats.

This reminds us of MTV‘s Is She Really Going Out With Him? (yeah, we’ve seen a few episodes, and we’re not proud of it). On that show, most of the “douchebags” who were featured proclaimed themselves to be “party promoters” or something along those lines, which we’re pretty sure was code for “I love to talk about myself and am able to convince people to spend $15 for a beer if there are enough Affliction t-shirts in the crowd.”

So what did that last graf serve to do other than embarrass our TV selections? That’s the kind of vibe we get from this whole competition. We understand that bars and restaurants survive on how many people come in the door, but valuing someone’s promotional abilities rather than their actual bartending or people skills just seems bizarre and misplaced.

A problem with a lot of bar service is that sometimes it feels like you’re at a private party you weren’t invited to, and this just furthers that vibe.

Owner George Reilly and Chef Michael Stevenson have put together a menu full of down-home favorites with a twist. Some of those include the Kettle Chip Crusted Crab Cake and Primal Chili (with house cooked meats, white beans, and chocolate sea salt). The upstairs juke joint has also opened and will feature live blues/soul/classic rock/etc. music year round

For a full look at the menus and bourbon list, go here.

The New York Times has unveiled part one of their North Philly Beer guide, which tackles the 700 Club, Standard Tap, The Foodery, North Third, and The Abbaye. But our favorite part is the picture of and quotes from Philebrity/Phoodie favorite Anders Larson. A snippet below:

“For years, everyone here drank cheap macrobrews—now we’re seeing people drink so much more Kenzinger,” Larson said. “It makes sense, because this city is a union town; it’s what happens when you have the political, the social, the financial concentrations of power to the North and South of you. There’s this profound regionalism here, this sense of tribalism—you can taste it in our beer, especially the Kenzinger, which is kind of the people’s beer of Philadelphia.” But his favorite local beer? Pikeland Pils from Sly Fox Brewery, in nearby Phoenixville, Pa. It’s thirst quenching, clean and delicious, the first of many local beers that seem perfectly suited to the heat of Philadelphia in the summertime.”

We’ll be keeping our eyes out for the upcoming part 2.

[Photo Credit: Tiffany Yoon]

Last night, Downey’s Irish Pub, the “Worst Irish Pub in America” was featured on Spike TV‘s new show Bar Rescue.

On the show, bar and restaurant consultant Jon Taffer goes all Kitchen Nightmares on bars across the country, hoping to save them from shutting down for good. The main issues at Downey’s? Cleanliness, service, quality of food, and just about everything else.

But, as the Daily News reports, nothing short of a miracle could save Downey’s. “After the makeover,” the report says, “Downey’s revenue increased by 15 percent, according to Spike TV. But Downey’s owes the city $125,881 in taxes. The pub is up for sheriff sale Aug. 2 to satisfy millions owed to Wells Fargo. That will be followed by a sale of the bar’s assets on Aug. 12 for money owed to the city.”

To catch the episode again, keep an eye on the show’s airing schedule here.

Head over towards Eastern State Penitentiary Any time in the next four days to celebrate a critical moment in the French Revolution, starting tonight with the Fairmount Fling Bar Crawl, which features 8 bars around Eastern State starting at 7:00PM. Tomorrow night, there are a multitude of events going on to celebrate all things French (isn’t it so very American of us to celebrate Bastille Day by screening Pepe Le Pew cartoons?).

But the big day is Saturday, featuring the Bastille Day Street Festival, which includes a pet parade, bike parade, fashion show, and costume contest. But the big celebration is the re-enacting of the storming of the Bastille. According to the Eastern State Penitentiary website, you can “take part in the “rain” of terror with your supersoakers or grab a pitchfork and storm the walls! Armed troops will capture Marie Antoinette (tossing over 2,000 Butterscotch Krimpets from the prison’ medieval towers), and, ignoring her mocking cries of “Let them eat TastyKake,” drag the monarch to a real, functioning guillotine and deliver her into the hands of the “Executioner.” The crowd will decide her fate!”

Next Friday, from 5:00PM to 10:00PM, Sixpoint Brewery will be taking over the taps at Johnny Brenda’s. Music will be provided by the Choice Tasters Selectors, spinning tunes from all across the board.

Tap list includes:
The Crisp Pilsner
Bengali Tiger IPA
Righteous Rye Ale
Otis Oatmeal Stout
Triple Sweet Action
Mad Scientist #4: Hibiscus Ale
BKLYN Invasion Pale Ale (one-time-only custom brew for JB’s)
Brevity Wit (firkin with custom dry-hopping)
and one more TBA