PHS hints of more pop-up beer gardens
More details are known about two of the confirmed sites, at East Passyunk and South Street West.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is hinting at even more pop-up gardens this summer and fall, aside from those already announced, name-dropping Center City, Northern Liberties and Southwest Philadelphia.
Celebrations to mark the opening of the gardens are planned in early June. The gardens will be open through Oct. 1.
The so-called East Passyunk garden, in a vacant lot at Ninth and Wharton Streets, will be designed by the PHS Public Landscapes team and will incorporate recycled bicycle parts, reclaimed wood, and permeable pavers. Mass plantings of Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’ will create a hot pink wave throughout the landscape, which will also feature tobacco plants, Agastache and Verbena highlights, under a canopy of honey locust trees and twinkling market lights.
Food and beverages in the East Passyunk garden will be provided by the team behind Cantina Los Caballitos and Royal Tavern. The menu will be influenced by those great restaurants, but will borrow from the Italian flavors of the neighborhood and offer vegan fare and kids' favorites, too. The garden will have 12 taps serving craft beers brewed for summer nights, as well as cocktails, wine, and frozen punch.
The South Street pop-up, at 1438 South St., will get a new design with Bohemian flair from designer Karen Regan of Tallulah & Bird. She's adding a wooden trellis, clusters of container gardens, and niche rooms offering public and private spaces. The garden will include large banana trees, a fern installation, exotic vines, and a potpourri of whimsical and airy annuals.
Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery, the beverage partner at the South Street garden, will introduce new beers at the garden throughout the summer and offer craft cocktails, beer cocktails, a selection of wines, and Wyndridge Farm Hard Cider. Barren Hill will bring in a series of guest taps as well, including notable brewers such as Free Will Brewing, Omegang, Boulevard Brewing and others. There will be two constant Barren Hill beers on tap: Where Do I Go From Here and Garden Variety Wit, a Belgian wheat that will be exclusive to the pop-up garden throughout the season.
Dietz & Watson, a sponsor of the garden, will serve snacks like candied bacon and a pretzel and cheese dip trio, and a variety of franks and sausages, including a Classic "Super Frank" and rotating monthly specials like a Bahn Mi Dog with Wasabi Mustard and a Buffalo-Style Chicken Sausage sandwich. Also on the sandwich list: an Italian Prosciutto Caprese and a rotating grilled cheese special that includes a South Philly style sandwich with broccoli rabe and roasted red peppers and an Artisan Triple Grilled Cheese. The menu also includes and a rotating weekly sandwich special that includes Gouda & Grilled Peach on a pretzel baguette and Sriracha Chicken and Asian Slaw on a sesame bun.