by Jackson Hunter
in Fashionable
on 07/29/2009
For those who read yesterday's entry, you’ll know that the shops at the Bellevue are all having sales this week, and today I took a walk down to the Polo Ralph Lauren store. A host of nice shirts and polos are on sale for up to 60% off. Various jackets and pants are also on sale for up 60% off.
As for me, I was pretty intrigued by the tie selection. I'm kind of into the bowtie look recently, so it was nice to see that polo had a wide assortment of different ties and bowties. Surely they have something for everyone, but if that’s not your thing, you can stick to the polo and Ralph Lauren has your favorite styles in a variety of colors in the classic look.
August may be here in a couple of days, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of the colorful summer style that Polo Ralph Lauren has on sale right now. Go check it out and see for yourself.
by Jackson Hunter
in Delicious
on 07/28/2009
This week walking around The Bellevue, you may notice that many of the stores are having sales. In my summer interning here in The Bellevue, I haven’t had time to visit many of them, so I thought this week I’d visit a couple and report back.
Today I thought I’d start with a store more familiar to my parents than to me. Williams-Sonoma has always been adored store by my parents, because they’ve upheld the tradition of purchasing fine cooking equipment. While I’m not at the point yet in my lifewhere I have my own kitchen or can cook something other than pancakes I can appreciate all that Williams-Sonoma has to offer.
But if you’re like me, you may not be looking for a new copper kettle or be on your way to the next Iron Chef, but you may be a cookie fiend. My favorite thing I saw in the store was a collection of cookie cutters that are in the shape of animal cookies! I’m sure you remember those delectable little crackers in the box with the rope and train wheels! Well, it’s safe to say I was reliving my childhood, and you can pick up your set for just 20 dollars at Williams-Sonoma. Either for you or a friend, this looks like a really fun gift.
Stay tuned this week for more reporting on the stores in the Bellevue.
by Jackson Hunter
in Delicious
on 07/23/2009
For those of you who read yesterday’s reporting on the sandwich make-off, you may have noticed it a was simple and factual, well at least in my view, reporting the events of the day. But Alas! Anna, our PR Director, insisted that stories for the blog include a little more “color”.
For this reason, I was given the go-ahead to write my own thoughts about the sandwich make-off. Those of you that may be aggravated by the comments to follow, I’m giving you the opportunity right now to stop reading…I’ll wait a minute…still there? Ok here we go.
So, the proclaimed winner of yesterday’ Judges Competition was Bassett’s BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich, which was absolutely fantastic! But then again, anyone who puts a properly aged smoked piece of brisket in front of me would be a winner in my book, and is that fair? It was a sandwich that was not on their regular menu (although they will be selling it from now on starting a week from Monday, the 3rd of August, YAY!!!). Nonetheless, it was a great sandwich, and I look forward to getting one on Monday.
Bain’s deli went home with the victory of People's Choice, and I have to say his sandwich was one of my favorites. The name of the sandwich was especially interesting. The Juan Epstein? I had no idea who or what that was, so I contacted one of my favorite and all knowing professors from Cornell, Professor Wikipedia. Does “Welcome Back Kotter” ring a bell for you? That was long before my time. Juan Epstein was a Puerto Rican Jewish kid, and the name fits for the sandwich. I give Bain’s points for wit and creativity. I think it is one thing that keeps people coming back to Bain’s and makes them worthy of the People’s Choice Award.
Other sandwiches which I enjoyed were the Lamb Wrap from Boutros and The Rickter Scale Sandwich from Rick’s. My personal vote for People's Choice went to Boutros, because, well I’m a sucker for Mediterranean food, and the flavors involved in the wrap were distinct and well balanced. The Rickter Scale Sandwich from Rick’s Steaks, eminded me of a Florentine-esque panini with the roasted red peppers and pesto, but it also had a nice Philly style with the chicken cheese steak. The flavors were all there, but the pesto overwhelmed the rest of the sandwich. I liked the overall direction in taste, and the mixture of cuisines.
I guess that’s enough commentary from the summer intern. I’ll leave you to make your own decision. Everyone seems to have their favorites. All this talk about food is getting me hungry. Too bad the sampling is over and I have to bring lunch again.
Yours truly from the fifth floor last cubicle on the right,
Jackson Hunter,
Intern, Bellevue Management
by Jackson Hunter
in Delicious
on 07/23/2009
Yesterday, at one o’clock marked the end of the Fourth Annual Sandwich Make-off in the Bellevue Food Court and what a day it was.
Coming to Bellevue management this summer for an internship, I have never witnessed this event, or anything else like it, and I mean that in the best way.
Entries from eight of the Bellevue Food Court vendors and the best of the best in the sandwich world competed for prestige and bragging rights, under the two categories of “people’s choice” and “judge’s choice”
The event was kicked off Monday during lunch with samples and voting ballots available to the public. The ballets allowed for just one choice of your favorite, and after personally tasting each vendor I don’t know how anyone could decide. With ballots collected and the fabulous task of counting the ballots completed (by me), part two of the competition began two days later on Wednesday with the Judge's Choice competition.
This year's judges included Kathy Orr of CBS3 and CW57, Glenn Schwartz of NBC10, John Bolaris of Fox 29, Philadelphia DA candidates Micheal Untenyer (R), Seth Williams (D), two Phillies ball girls and Jamie Smith of Philabundance.
With the judges in place and the crowd ready, on came the sandwiches, and just as they wowed the public Monday, the vendors generated similar enthusiasm for sandwiches from the judges. Entries included a Chicken Parm Wrap from Amazon, a Roasted Lamb Sandwich from Boutros, a Chicken Romano from Angelo’s, a Buffalo Chicken Wrap from Salad Works, a Chicken Sicilian from Ellen’s, The Rickter Scale sandwich from Rick’s, a BBQ beef brisket from Bassett’s and the Juan Epstein from Bain’s.
With anxious anticipation we waited for a decided winner, and John Gulino’s BBQ Beef Brisket from Bassett’s came out as the Judge's Choice winner, making this his second win in two years. The Peoples Choice went to Michael Jolles of Bain’s Deli for the Juan Epstein. With the winners announced, the crowd quickly devoured the remaining samples of the day’s specialty sandwiches. Bassett’s winning sandwich will be on the menu Monday if you want to go taste just how good it was. We look forward to next year, to see whether this year’s winners can retain their glory.
by Anna Iredale
in Fashionable
on 07/21/2009
My favorite part of Nicole Miller at The Bellevue's twice annual sale (besides the 50 to 75% off) is that owner Mary K. Dougherty challenges her sales associates to utilize materials on hand (hot pink tissue paper, tulle, the cheetah-print bags, Nicole Miller ribbons) and dress the mannequins in Nicole Miller styles.
The first day they're up you might walk by thinking it's an expensive dress.
Yesterday when I was taking photos a man asked me if I liked the dress and was surprised to learn upon closer inspection that it was made of tissue paper!
by Anna Iredale
in Delicious
on 07/20/2009
Jackson Hunter, Bellevue Management intern, gets ready to count the results just after 2 p.m. for the People's Choice voting for the 4th Annual Sandwich Make-Off at The Bellevue to benefit PhilAbundance.
The actual Make-Off takes place on Wednesday, July 22 starting at noon with meteorologists John Bolaris, Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz, and Kathy Orr doing the judging. Members of the Philadelphia School District's Summer Band Camp will be providing brass flourishes throughout the judging and Phillies Ballgirls will also be in attendance. It's free and open to the public!
by Anna Iredale
in What's New
on 07/11/2009
For the second year in a row The Sporting Club hosted Kids Run Philly Style which means several things had to happen: basketball players gave up their court on a Saturday morning! Personal Trainers volulnteered their time on a Saturday morning! Hannah Purbe had to come up with a three hour program that motivated 100 kids between the ages of 12 and 18 along with 30 of their mentors.
Kids Run Philly Style is such a great program. The focus is on mentoring but they accomplish this by working with the kids on distance running, according to Heather McDanel, who's the director and also a Sporting Club member. When they came to the club each of the trainers ran them through various drills, basketball, boxing, agility drills, etc. and it all culminated in a relay race which ended with the winning Kids Run team competing against the trainers--which the trainers didn't find out about until the last minute! TV stations 3 and 6 came out to cover it, look for the story on the 6 p.m. news.
Hannah Purbe checks the scene.
Heather McDanel being interviewed for Channel 3's news.
The Sporting Club's trainers gather for a group shot after the final relay.
by Jackson Hunter
in What's New
on 07/07/2009
You know The Bellevue, you know The Fountain Court, and while you may have tasted all the vendors, and be on a first name basis with them, do you know Anita Roy? Tucked away at the bottom of the steps by Polo, and around the corner from Tien Bo, resides the Gateway Newstand and Anita Roy.
Up on entering Anita’s store, I was greeted with a euphoric hello and a welcoming smile. In my quest to inform the readers about the happenings of the Bellevue, I prompted Anita for a photo of her at work in the store, but she proudly insisted that the photo be of the store and not her. Just goes to show you there is always a surprise in store for you at the Bellevue.
Whether your on your way to work, on your way home, or just sitting down for lunch, come visit Anita Roy and the Gateway Newstand for a paper, lottery ticket, refreshments, and more. If you’re lucky, maybe you can get her picture for me!
by Anna Iredale
in What's New
on 07/02/2009
Just took a spin through the Williams-Sonoma store. It's the start of their summer sale and lots of stuff can be found under red sale signs. I spotted: a beautiful, big clear glass bowl reduced to $14.99; toile aprons in blue or green: $12.99; French toile tablecloths, $51.99; Russian lemon jacquard tablecloths, $48.99; lots of different kitchen towels, but my favorites were bright yellow and green organic for $14.99.
And that's just the beginning, new wares are brought out daily.
