Ramsayings

Awoke this morning to a few tweets between Kristina Burke of James on S. 8th St. and former cheftestant Jen Carroll that suggest James is shutting down operations in South Philadelphia.

What a great restaurant. Loved the atmosphere, the service, the drinks and the food. Helen and I went exactly twice: first for her 30th birthday and then Valentine’s Day this year. Both meals were probably the best I’ve ever eaten. Always felt that James delivered an amazing food experience without feeling like a Stephen Starr experience, which is to say, great food in a sometimes cartoonish atmosphere. I guess he’s on to something.

Here’s to whatever incarnation the Burke’s dream up next. Whatever it is, I know I’ll eat there.

My eyes rolled very hard when I read this bit from Michael Klein. Fishtown needs another fancy beer place like a hole in the head. I may be willing to give it a pass if the food isn’t just another run-of-the-mill gastropub as they say, but the thought of squeezing into Moe’s doesn’t really appeal either. It would be like setting up a restaurant in my skinny little home.

I know I complain about this all the time, but restauranteurs looking to take advantage of reasonable terms here in Fishtown and beyond: please understand that simply boasting a craft beer selection won’t be enough to lure customers away from their regular haunts. Even bars like Starboard Side offer some nice taps. Want to know how often I go to the Abbaye now that I’m around the corner from Memphis Taproom and Kraftwork? Hell, I don’t even venture as far as Johnny Brenda’s unless I’m going to see a band. Be more creative!

I know most local beer critics revel in this. It’s an embarrassment of riches, to be sure. But I can’t help but think that Philly could really use an enfant terrible in the beer scene. It’s soft and bloated and increasingly self-important. Who will set things straight?

I participated in the Save the Library protest back in November 2008. When I recently visited, I checked into Foursquare. If I check in again, I’ll be mayor of the joint. At a time when people are checking into Wawa, you’d think at least a handful of folks would still be willing to pop in for a book or two. Does it really make more sense to pay for every book you read?

C’mon, denizens of Fishtown! Visit your local library. Check out a book! It’s free and it will make you smarter. And you can hit Kraftwork immediately afterward to reward yourself.

Proof that Philly’s still weird: I met Phillies’ set-up man Ryan Madson at the Troc’s downstairs bar at Yo La Tengo last Thursday night.

He was floored by the band, calling it “pure music,” asking if they were on iTunes and was just an all-around sweet guy. He also shared that his dad played in a band like that in the ’70s. (Ryan, if you ever find this post, can we talk about your dad’s band?)

Me? I played it cool. You see, Ryan Madson is one of just two Phillies that I have a rehearsed story about their career. My Madson moment? 7 relief innings against the Mets. He gave up a homer to Beltran in the 13th, but I told him that he really showed something there. Gutting it out as a struggling young pitcher ain’t easy anywhere, let alone Philly, but he did it. Can’t wait until he’s our closer in 2012.

Yo La Tengo? Predictably great, although the cruel wheel (pictured above) fell on Sounds of Science, Part 2. Ouch. Definitely a “for fans only” set that was a slow burn. They finished with a dazzling second set that blew Ryan Madson’s mind. “Doesn’t it sound like 6 people are on stage?”

I ran a quick search of the archives here at Ramsayings before I started writing this post. Felt sure I’d written about Cliff Lee before, because, really, how has anyone with an interest in the Phillies not written about him? Whether it was his acquisition at the deadline in ’09 or his inexplicable trade before Roy Halladay arrived, I’ve somehow managed to not directly address the magical left hander.

My first memory of Cliff Lee is a fond one. Charlie fell asleep on my chest while we laid on the couch, watching Cliff carry a no-hitter through six innings. It was everything skeptical Phillies fans wanted to see in their new stud pitcher. I mean, how many players had we acquired in the past that just didn’t work out? What is Travis Lee up to, after all? Lee’s acquisition showed that the Phillies organization was serious about being a contender and not just a flash in the pan. It was a refreshing change from my youth, when the Phils were routinely a doormat and most Philadelphia teams found uninspiring ways to trade away their top-tier talent for little return.

That was just how we felt when Lee was traded in the 2009 offseason. Three nobodies who aren’t even seen as developing talent that can succeed at the professional level. We may only ever know Tyson Gillies for his run-in with the law last year. It was about money and restocking the farm system, we were told. Seemed an awful way to dispense with a player who single-handedly pitched us back into the ’09 series.

Now it seems the Phillies are atoning for all of Philadelphia’s sports sins. It’s as if Ruben Amaro is making us forget every bad trade and draft pick and free agent acquisition. Makes it easier to forget how Barkley and Schiling exited or how Shawn Bradley arrived. It’s a reassurance that last season was a precursor to the fall. We’re not selling off yet. The Phillies are transforming Philadelphia into a knowledgeable, passionate baseball town like it’s never been before. The Four Horsemen ride!