June 23, 2008

Stephen Starr Buys Broad Street Diner

Stephen Starr has bought the Broad Street Diner at Broad and Ellsworth streets. Michael Klein notes that Kirsten Henri dreamed of this in January on Foobooz. Starr says he googled "Broad Street Diner" and found the post after he signed the letter of intent to buy it.

(Google now updates its results so quickly the new posts about Stephen Starr at the diner are up on the front page. It would be much funnier if Stephen Starr googles himself or perhaps this.)

Henri's reaction: "I AM INSIDE THE HEAD OF STEPHEN STARR."

Photo by pwbaker, Creative Commons license

Posted by D-Mac at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2008

Get Drunk And Curse Out Castro

Now that Fidel Castro is dead no longer Supreme Leader of Cuba, people are celebrating the day when America and Cuba will be have open borders and free trade and good relations. This will never happen, of course, even though everyone everywhere ever is pretty much in agreement that the U.S. embargo against Cuba is harmful to the U.S. and to Cubans.

So, hey, Cuba Libre says, let's just get really drunk and celebrate anyway! Until Thursday, you can get a free cocktail if you buy food a the Second St. restaurant or the one in Atlantic City. And the one in Philly has "Fidel Castro's yearbook" on display! This is as good as we'll do until Dan Gross exhibits his Lower Merion H.S. yearbook with Kobe Bryant.

Down Goes Fidel! Lets Drink! [Foobooz]

Posted by D-Mac at 01:28 PM | Comments (2)

November 30, 2006

Continental: The Hotel To Open In NYC?

As you may remember, earlier this year Stephen Starr became yet another Philadelphian to try New York City, opening Morimoto and Buddakhan up in the original five boroughs.

In an interview in the current issue of New York magazine, Starr explains his newest idea for New York: a hotel.

What’s next for you in New York?

We’d like to do one of the Philly restaurants here, Jones or Continental. I’m also thinking of opening a small hotel in New York. I used to just want to do it in Philadelphia, but the more I’m here the more I feel confident I could do one here.

Stephen, how could you? You're supposed to do your cool things in Philly first (for much cheaper, might I add!) and then move them to New York or Atlantic City or wherever you're planning on going next.

Come on, open a hotel near the Convention Center or something. We have hotels here in Philadelphia that were built on top of parking garages. And that hip Aloft hotel is going near the airport instead of in, oh, a good location.

As The Illadelph wrote, "You need to open a boutique hotel in Philadelphia. And you need to do it soon.... Philadelphia wants a fucking original. An independent. Be the man. Think the James, but even a little more urban. You’ll own the market." I can't help but agree.

Time's yours, Stephen.

Mr. Big Box [NY Mag]
Breaking: Stephen Starr’s hotel dreams resurface [The Illadelph]
Jan. 25: Morimoto, Buddakan latest Philly expats

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June 15, 2006

Breaking: Smoking Ban Actually Freaking Passes

We have a smoking ban.

No, really.

Well, if the mayor signs it.

Yes, today City Council went up and randomly passed the smoking ban, 9-6, in the final session before summer break. (Brian O'Neill was seen going "No more teachers, no more books!" after the session.) The bill has exemptions for "neighborhood bars" and outside seating.

And, yes, we're crediting Stephen Starr with everything. Still, with the neighborhood bar exemption, basically the only bars you won't be allowed to smoke in are Stephen Starr's 12 bars.

City Council Passes Compromise Citywide Smoking Ban [KYW 1060]
Breaking: Smoke 'Em While You Got 'Em [Philebrity]
Earlier today: Starr Of Smoking Ban?

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Starr Of Smoking Ban?

If you want something done right in Philadelphia, you usually have to go outside City Hall to find someone who can do it. The smoking ban is no exception. City Hall has failed to pass the ban approximately 400 times in the past year, even without Rick Mariano there to muck things up.

Enter, of course, Stephen Starr, as Michael Klein reports today is going smoke-free at Alma de Cuba. The restaurateur will then decide in 90 days whether to take all 12 of his popular bars/restaurants smoke free. (The chain-smoking sorority girls at Penn would be pissed!)

Starr says his management team thinks this will increase business, and obviously this will be good test. He also says he spends about $5,000 a year on ashtrays at each location, which makes me want to go smoke at Jones, since maybe I can run off with a solid platinum ashtray.

But, still: Allowing a restaurant owner to decide for himself whether to take his place smoke-free or not? Gasp! What a concept.

Inqlings | No smoke at Starr's hot spot [Inquirer]
Archives: Smoking Ban
Photo by Pål Berge, licensed with Creative Commons

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March 02, 2006

Stephen Starr cares for serfs' well-being

Food blog Eater got an exclusive look inside Philly restaurateur Stephen Starr's NYC version of Buddakan, and it seems you could fit at least 35 Alma de Cubas into it:

It looks like a spruced-up Dark Ages castle. No word as to whether this NYC Buddakan will have court jesters serving giant turkey legs. They've been posting photos all day over at Eater.

Buddakazam! Kalina Gets Inside [Eater via Gawker]

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January 25, 2006

Morimoto, Buddakan latest Philly expats

We here in Philadelphia love to see our home grown kids out in the world. It doesn't happen that often -- Philadelphians tend to stay close to home -- and when it does, we get excited. All we require is that you shout "Philly, what?" or something like that when you get big. This is how Eve handles it. This is why we loved, say, Wilt (even though he went to L.A.), but will always be a little meh on Kobe Bryant.

Where am I going with this? Oh, right, The New York Times today profiles the latest Philly expat, Stephen Starr. He's not leaving Philadelphia, per se, since he still has 400 restaurants here and commutes to New York. But he is opening up Morimoto next Tuesday and Buddakan about two weeks later in the Big Apple.

We Philadelphians, of course, all wish him the best, even if we're still a little ticked we have to spend $6 for a drink at Pod. (Gee, who knew Penn kids had so much disposable income?) And, come on, Morimoto is the Iron Chef, how can he fail?

The Philadelphia versions of these restaurants are, of course, wildly popular, and he expects the New York ones to be the same. The Morimoto in NYC is going to look a little different, especially with this kind of wall decoration:

For Morimoto, the Japanese architect Tadao Ando agreed to take on his first restaurant project. Morimoto is on two levels and has walls of nearly 20,000 of the new clear, shimmering Ty Nant water bottles.... At a design meeting with Mr. Ando there was considerable discussion among the architects and engineers about whether the Ty Nant water bottles should be full or empty. Mr. Starr's only comment was that Ty Nant "should give us the water free for all the publicity they're getting." They did. But the water has to be served in the restaurant.

Enjoy staring at those bottles all night long, New Yorkers!

With 420 New Seats to Fill, Restaurateur Banks on Buzz [NYT via Philebrity]

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