An original Victorian bar in historic Old City, Philadelphia.
I was in Old City this weekend, filming a movie.
It’s a noir thriller… A tale of intrigue and surprising revelations.
Written by me. Also, directed, by me. And (obviously) starring me.
In other words – I started my Halloween post. AND IT IS AWESOME.
(last year’s Halloween front porch)
I am single-handedly redefining the phrase – stupendous magnificence.
Not to mention the phrase – making a spectacle of myself.
Clearly, Sassafras, on 2nd street in Old City is the only suitable setting for my masterpiece.
Originally a Longshoremen’s bar, within walking distance to Front Street, and almost to the Delaware River.
It’s operated as a bar & restaurant (with a brief stint as a speakeasy) continuously since it was built – sometime around 1870.
The bar survived Prohibition, and the midcentury design-plague known as paneling… But it nearly did not survive my attempts to dismantle all of it and shove it in my handbag.
I whispered to Paul – go get your chisel. I need to take this tile home.
Then I climbed up on the bar and hugged it.
And yes, that IS the original tin ceiling. And also why I always carry a GIANT handbag.
Old City is a few small blocks in Philadelphia… full of historic buildings and cobblestone streets, bars and restaurants, art galleries and coffee shops, and the kind of boutique that only sells useless stuff.
I used to go out here ALL the time, back when I was cool.
That would have been the early 2000’s. An unfortunate time when techno music was really popular, so that anywhere you went, you could not hear yourself think.
I met Paul, right around the corner from here, at the now-defunct Five Spot.
You cannot know the depth of my love for this place, without understanding that my original plan was to go to The Ritz. And film in their lobby/bar… really fast… before getting kicked out.
I cannot say I was looking forward to that.
At all.
And then, it turns out that The Ritz has done something horribly misguided with their interior design. Something that involves mirrored cubes and purple uplighting, and apparently it has been like that for a while… So I guess my preproduction team needs to get out more.
So I posted on Facebook – does anyone have a contact at a classic bar or restaurant in the city?
And not even two hours later, a total stranger wrote – my best friend owns Sassafras.
Sort of like if I had posted for a leading man… And Channing Tatum had responded– also known as the best possible scenario.
Aside from having perfect taste in friends, my total-stranger savior writes a food and cocktail blog. And if you are having a holiday party, you should be making her recipe for autumn-spiced cocktails.
And then you should invite me (and Channing) over.
When I finally finished and got back to the car, it was just like old times– I got a parking ticket.
Unlike old times, I did not get towed. Or forget which lot I parked in.
Or get hit on by any lacrosse players.
Also unlike old times, I had a husband cameraman in tow… And he was irritated that I did not set the alarm on my phone, like he told me to, to remind us that the meter was going to expire.
I was like – seriously? Do you think Al Pacino is responsible for feeding the meter?
Probably not.
So… if you live in Philadelphia. Or sometimes go to Philadelphia. Or one time you visited Philadelphia… I would LOVE to hear your favorite place.
But please leave out anywhere that is so unbearably pretentious it makes my teeth hurt.
(I am talking to you, Stephen Starr.)
October 22, 2013 @ 11:38 am
I am so glad you blogged…! xo jody in fl
October 22, 2013 @ 11:39 am
Thanks for another great post!
October 22, 2013 @ 11:58 am
Okay. Yes, that is completely amazing and I wholeheartedly endorse this post and all it contains. That being said, you really, REALLY should make a trip here to Charleston, SC. You may want to bring a moving truck and probably bail money too.
October 22, 2013 @ 11:59 am
My sister lives in the city and has never taken me there. Sort of questioning her love for me.
October 22, 2013 @ 12:29 pm
Another great blog! Thanks for sharing the pictures. Next best thing to being there. What a wonderful place.
October 22, 2013 @ 12:47 pm
I am so thankful I found your blog! It’s so entertaining and I’m loving how you share your finds/discoveries with us. Always such an exciting adventure!
October 22, 2013 @ 1:58 pm
Victoria,
That one shot looks almost like the giant furniture piece you found on craigslist. This place should be your template for your kitchen.
I can hardly wait to see your Halloween film, do you need extras?
Karen
October 22, 2013 @ 2:03 pm
Omg, not gonna lie, when I saw those pictures of Sassafras, I thought they were of one of my favorite bars in my area- City Park Grill in Petoskey, MI. They have so many identical elements, although Sassafras does look admittedly older. Still! Cool digs!
October 22, 2013 @ 2:05 pm
I have only been to Philly once and it was a quick stopover, never left the airport. But my favorite Philadelphia export is G. Love.
October 22, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
I love the Free Library in Philly. I live way up north so I don’t get down there very often but when I do I take my laptop and write in the literature section. I keep hoping that all the inspiring architecture and being surrounded by the works of the great genius’s will work like osmosis and I will write a brilliant novel. So far no luck but you never know!
October 22, 2013 @ 2:57 pm
Could you please go back there and steal for me the lintel above the mirror? I’ve been looking for one for above one of my doors. I wouldn’t lind the old radiator also, but it must be heavy, please exercise before going!
October 22, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
I live in NJ and go into the city often. favorite place is Race Street Café!
October 22, 2013 @ 4:09 pm
Amd here I though you were the definition of stupendous magnificence! I completely understand the need for the tile. My favorite restaurant has a fabulous mirror in the ladies room that if they didn’t want me to have would me much more securely attatched to the wall but it’s way too big for my current handbag.
October 22, 2013 @ 5:23 pm
Thanks because I didn’t want to move out of the suburbs even more and now I am really starting to miss the City. And it’s not like I’d be moving to the US anytime but just the environment of that gorgeous architecture. Sigh. You’re killing me.
October 22, 2013 @ 5:51 pm
I love your blog. When I lived in Philly as a child my father took me to the Cherry Tree Bar on Baltimore Ave. at the bottom of South Melville St. I would sit at the bar with him and have a soda. Your blog made me remember that time as a child. Today I guess that would not be permitted but I loved sitting there with Dad. (It was only once or twice but I remember). I wonder if it is still there?
October 22, 2013 @ 10:25 pm
Girl, you crack me up!!! Love your posts. I wish I could see one everyday, but doggone it , I know you have a life other than blogging. But you are just so much fun.
October 23, 2013 @ 3:57 am
I was drawn to the link to your Halloween porch, and, oh, my! You are a woman after my own heart where Halloween and also sparkly things are concerned. Looking forward to your starring role!
October 23, 2013 @ 7:41 am
Ahhhh Victoria you make me want to visit Philadelphia again. I have been looking around NH for a Kingdom mirror and now I will have to broaden my search to include a really nice old bar. Wait it just occurred to me that I have 2 already in my house they just need to have the nice white paint I put on them years ago scraped off. You see my home used to be the general store/post office/phone company/town clerks office/library and I got 2 beautiful 18-20 foot counters with the house! Back in the day I thought clean and white, but I am definitely thinking I like your look better. I think the movie is your best inspiration yet and the opening of it will give me the excuse I need to race down to Philadelphia. Maybe I’ll broaden my search for a Kingdom Mirror to all of New England after all CT is not too far to go for a treasure like that.
October 23, 2013 @ 9:25 am
W. O. W.
October 23, 2013 @ 9:34 am
The place looks A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! I was so imagining what I could have been wearing while I was sipping wine from my bone china tea cup & fingering my string of pearls during probation. ;} The ceiling, the woodwork, the bar, the mirrors…it made my heart & chest sigh, longingly.
I have been dying to (no pun intended) get into the Perry Hannah house on 6th Street in Traverse City, MI. He was the City Father & local lumber baron… they are using it as a funeral home right now & will do limited tours but no one will go with me….if you’re ever in MI….