[quote="brooke"]
i hear that. apparently forks used to be a really classy irish pub called hennesey's about 20 years ago or so. huge windows along both sides -- very open and inviting. hopefully the new guy will bring some respectability back to the place.

Open 'til 6pm which is mystifying to me. The most dead hours in any place are after the lunch rush ends until the dinner one begins. They might as well close at 2:30pm if they aren't open for dinner. Anyway. Random thoughts I ponder.

Looked cool on the inside when I walked past to go to the Arts & Crap festival two weekends ago.

I still have to make it to Jovan's per Dan Roth's directive.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

Not for long if I'm going to be hanging out there...

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

right. rumor has it that the new owner is installing heel-resistant wood for the bar surface. you're in luck, brooke.

I thought El Mercado was only open thurs-sun? I went by there the other day and man has the place gone to crap. When they first opened, the lot outside was spotless. Now it is a trash wasteland. Last summer I remember listening to live salsa music on the deck, eating authentic foods, playing frisbee in that lot. too bad. I heard other things about some of the merchants closing down.

...hopefully they get things back together for the warm weather.

L

If you actually go to Frankford and Girard you might notice that there is a pizza shop/resturant called The Manhattan Grill, it has been there for at least 6 or so years. I might venture a guess that this might be where the Manhattan Room would be. I heard a rumor along time ago that Greg from Silk City bought it, but I'm not positive.

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Teahead215
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thanks -- haven't spent much time down there other than at JB's. i'll have to take walk down soon and see exactly where you're referring to.

chris

I hope Manhattan doesn't get converted... I love their pizza...

I walk past there almost daily and haven't seen any signs of conversion. Of course, anything that happens in Fishtown will be cool, so I have no fear.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

Regarding the Mercado, those hours seemed to correspond to last year's schedule. Unfortunately, since then a lot has changed. Elvin, whose baby it was, left Norris Square Civic for a fellowship opportunity in California, and nobody else seems to have stepped up to take over. The last few times I found it open, I noticed a some vendors were gone, or at least closed, including the bakery, as well as the bulletin board. Nobody has heard anything yet about the summer music series either. That land was under consideration for a much needed new high school, but I haven't heard much about that lately.

The Manhattan Room is the re-vamped Manhattan Restaurant which has been in the middle of the block between Frankford & Leopard (at the bend) forever. They're re-opening to the public this Saturday, May 15th.

It must be at least 30 years since the Forks was Hennessey's or anything remotely resembling classy. My Nana lived on that block of Cedar, and as far back as I can remember, the only window was for take-out from their kitchen. My sister's in-laws also ran it years ago, and since then, its really gone down hill. I hadn't heard it sold, but it will be nice to see it renovated, and I'm sure neighbors will appreciate less broken glass and fewer underage kids hanging around.