A group of four mechanical engineering students from Drexel University are working on a computer automated brewing system as a senior design project. In order to make it a reality they are putting on a beer fest fundraiser to raise funds for a prototype.

This Saturday from 4 to 8pm they are hosting a beer fest at the Blockley. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and include beer from the following brewers:

• Appalachian Brewing Company
• Yards Brewing Company
• McKenzie Brew House (Malvern)
• Sly Fox Brewing Company
• Rock Bottom (King of Prussia)

Micro-Brew Fest Fundraiser [eventbrite]
The Blockley [Official Site]

This Saturday, the Blockley is hosting the Philadelphia Winter Beer Festival from 5 to 8pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. There’s also a VIP option for $35 and includes a pre-party in the Mary Oaks Room and the opportunity to meet Tom Kehoe of Yards.

Philadelphia Winter Beer Festival [Official Site]
The Blockley [Official Site]

The Blockley has gotten its hands on a keg of Mad Elf and is tapping it at 8pm. And if that isn’t mad enough, they’re offering the potent Troegs beer for just $2 a PINT.

Luckily the dry-aged burger, usually $10 is being offered as a two for one special. It’s essential to establish a solid base before wrestling a Mad Elf.

The Blockley [Official Site]

If you’re a Penn State football fan or lover of all things fried, you might be interested in this deal from the Blockley Pourhouse.

During all Penn State games (first game is September 5th vs the Akron Zips) the Blockley will offer all you can eat wings, corn dogs, fries and onion rings for $10. There are also some beer deals but they don’t come up to the minimum quality requirements to be mentioned on Foobooz.

Also, through the end of the baseball season the Blockley will be offering $1 Jumbo Hebrew National All Beef hot dogs during all Phillies games.

Blockley Pourhouse [Official Site]

This week in Philadelphia Magazine’s Restaurant Club Newsletter.

• First Look: Who is Jose Garces?
• Citizens Bank Park Eating Guide
• Sneak Peek Photos: A Look Inside Max Brenner Chocolates
• Food for Thought: Do Kids and Restaurants Mix?
• Restaurant Club Deals: House specials at the Blockley, free wine at Le Bar Lyonnais.

Restaurant Club Newsletter [Philadelphia Magazine]

The Blockley Pourhouse has opened at 38th and Ludlow and Meal Ticket has the pics. [Meal Ticket]

The Korean BBQ spot, Miga has opened on 15th Street. But no table-top barbecue or liquor license yet. [Meal Ticket]

Tomorrow, across the street from Miga, Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man opens.

The Beer Lass twitters that South Philly’s Sticks & Stones is less than two weeks away. [@BeerLass]

Media is getting Ariano Cafe, a quaint little Neapolitan pizza spot from Anthony Bellapigna who owns Fellini’s. [Restaurant Club]

Sycamore isn’t just a tree, it’s a new BYOB in Lansdowne. [Meal Ticket]

Daniel Stern’s Rae-placement is now set for November high above the city in 2 Liberty Place. It’s also not going to be Rae but rather R2L. [The Insider]

Gayle a top-50 American cuisine restaurant according to OpenTable diners. [OpenTable via Illadelph]

Today’s Metro chronicles just some of the issues that have slowed the progress at Brauhaus Schmitz and Blockley Pourhouse and how some places, most recently the Oyster House, against all odds, hit their opening.

Smooth opening for Oyster House [Metro Philadelphia]

Philadelphian Ned Taddei plans to open The Blockley Pourhouse and Mary Oaks in late April. The Blockley will be a bar with pub fare and live music while Mary Oaks will be a beer and wine-centric restaurant. Both are located at 38th and Ludlow in West Philadelphia. The menus are by Ross Essner who has been at Django, Rx and most recently, Taproom on 19th.

At The Blockley, the stage will be the centerpoint with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. Gradually rising seating around the stage should give a good vantage point from throughout the venue. With a capacity of 800 people Taddei hopes to bring in up and coming acts much like the old Chestnut Cabaret. The food menu will include interesting pub fare like jerked chicken “nuggets,” Chesapeake Bay Fries with vermont cheddar and jumbo lump crab meat plus wild boar sausage. Prices will top out at $14. 

Mary Oaks will have a more extensive menu meant for sharing. There will be 24 beers on draught, 80 bottles of beer and 40 types of wine, many available by the glass. Mary Oaks is meant to be more low key than the Blockley but a wooden barn door can be opened to join the two spaces. 

Joe Sixpack has the opening draft list over at Beer Radar. 

The Blockley [Official Site]
Menus for the Blockley Pourhouse and Mary Oaks [Meal Ticket]
New in West Philly [Beer Radar]

Tandoori chicken pizza? That’s just one of the pies slated for the Tiffin backed pizzeria headed next door to the popular Girard Avenue establishment. [The Insider]

Meal Ticket has Ross Essner’s menus for The Blockley and Mary Oaks. Esnner was at Django before a recent stint at Taproom on 19th. You’ll find interesting options from lobster pierogies to garlic and rosemary scented slow roasted pork on the menu. [Meal Ticket]

If you like Pils style beers you’ll love Citizens Bank Park this summer. Victory Prima Pils, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils and Troegs Sunshine Pils are all on tap. [Beer Radar]

Bish Bish Cafe offers up pizzeria and Middle Eastern eats at 1740 Sansom Street. [Meal Ticket]

Fork’s Thien Ngo surfaced at Coquette about a month ago. Meal Ticket details some of the flavors he’s brought to the under $20 menu. [Meal Ticket]

Maia’s Main Line saga has taken another turn as Patrick Feury says he’s at Nectar full-time. [The Insider]

Restaurant Alba in Malvern is getting a liquor license. [Main Line Dine]

Today’s edition of The Bite runs down March’s openings from tasty menus for Center City bars to frozen yogurt off of Rittenhouse Square.

Fro yo (and more) added to the menu [Metro Philadelphia]