🚍 PA electeds, SEPTA funding, & empty promises

🛒 Swipe, Scan, Save: How Philly Shops for Groceries

Do you hit up the big-box stores or like to stroll at weekend farmers markets? Are you an extreme couponer or are you willing to splurge? On today’s episode of City Cast Philly, the team gathered around to discuss our go-to shops, where we’re finding deals, and which grocery stores we just like to hang out in. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

🚌 Will They or Won’t They: PA Politicians Yet To Commit on Transit Funding

The clock is ticking to secure SEPTA funding in the state budget before the system slashes service, and elected officials aren’t making any promises. Governor Josh Shapiro said mass transit “is important” but, along with Democrat House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, has yet to explicitly say he’ll hold up the budget if SEPTA doesn’t get its money. Meanwhile, Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman still refuses to budge. [🎧 City Cast Philly, 🔒 The Inquirer]

🗳️ What’s Going On With Dwight Evans?

After a stroke last May that led him to miss seven months worth of votes, the third district's congressman, 71-year-old Dwight Evans, is back to work and plans to run again. But his health may be an issue on the campaign trail as other Democrats gear up to run against him. There’s a movement in the Democrats’ grassroots against the party’s elderly leaders, but challengers will have a tough time against someone in public office for more than 40 years who’s supported by the party bosses. [📝 Hey Philly, NOTUS]

📧 This Is Why We Don’t Hit Reply All

City Council has been busy addressing the opioid crisis in Kensington, with recent hearings on involuntary treatment, art therapy programs, and SEPTA’s contracts — or lack thereof — with social service providers. And not everyone’s in agreement. Tensions between city council members arose in a email chain after an invite to attend a documentary screening on mobile crisis units was confused for the mobile service providers who were recently restricted in District 7 (and could soon be banned in other districts). [Kensington Voice, 🔒 The Inquirer]

Inside Fishtown’s Anna & Bel Hotel, Caletta has been mixing Mediterranean-inspired drinks in its intimate space since opening last year. But now, the cocktail lounge is switching up its menu with a new summer pop-up series that brings in Philly’s best bartenders to show off their mixing skills.

“Drinks We Love” is the latest concoction from Benjamin Kirk, beverage director at Caletta. Kirk’s inspirations for the series were the businesses and people he looked up to in the local beverage industry when he moved here three years ago. “I just really wanted to showcase some of the top people that I think are wonderful humans to begin with, and just have great products, and extend it out to the community,” he said.

The series, taking place once a month through September, features a guest bartender who serves up special, one-night only drinks typically not on Caletta’s menu.

“We try to have fun with it and do something a little off-brand to bring in some new clientele … and not take ourselves too seriously,” Kirk said.

So what is on-brand for Caletta? The bar typically serves items with a Mediterranean flavor profile, but it doesn’t shy away from exploring other corners of the world to introduce different flavors and techniques.

Kirk described the typical Caletta drink as having a “light, easy breezy” vibe – a well balanced cocktail. But it incorporates “weird flavor profiles,” too. Vegetables help give the cocktails extra savoriness, stepping away from the traditional cocktail with either liqueur, bitters, or fruit juice.

Kirk didn’t want to give away too many spoilers on what to expect from the guest menus, but he gave a quick glimpse into what the first two events brought to the table.

April’s event with Dre Ulush and April Haruko from Poison Heart eased the audience in with a menu that Kirk said wasn’t too different from Caletta’s. The night brought back old favorites from both Poison Heart’s and Caletta’s original menus, while introducing new mixes.

“It was a full, cohesive menu,” Kirk said. “There were some savory effects to it and there were later, I would say, tiki vibes to it – which, personally, that’s my favorite style of cocktail.”