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]

There’s really no arguing that Philadelphia is a great beer drinking city. And this summer things are just going to get better.

Let the summer drinking begin [Metro Philadelphia]

Brauhaus Schmitz, the German bar and restaurant coming to South Street this Spring has named Jeremy Nolen its Executive Chef. Nolen was most recently Chef de Cuisine at Coquette and has experience cooking German food at Liederkranz, a private German club in Reading.

Read Nolen’s full bio and take a look at the menu at Brauhaus Schmitz’s web site.

Brauhaus Schmitz [Official Site]

Here’s the latest on the highly anticipated Brauhaus Schmitz, the German bar and restaurant that is looking to open this Spring on South Street. 

• Looks like May will be the opening month.
• The waitresses WILL wear Dirndls.
• Stoudt’s Brewery will make the house beer.
• There will be 20 taps, 16 dedicated to German beer.

Brauhaus Schmitz [Official Site]

The Oyster House is more than just an empty shell now. The cocktail bar, oyster bar and much of the rest of the interior has been framed out. [Oyster House]

It wasn’t that long ago that we peeked in Ladder 15 and saw just wooden frames. Now comes word it will open in early t0 mid-March and the place will be more upscale and less collegiate than partners Mike Mastellone’s and Max Tucker’s Mad River bars. [Meal Ticket]

Brauhaus Schmitz, the German Bier Hall that’s aiming to open on South Street in April is at a point where it’s looking for a head chef. [Brauhaus Schmitz]

SnugBar is probably not a bar that will smell like a fabric softener. It probably is an Irish bar. It will be located in the former Peacock on the Parkway. [The Insider]

Snackbar has a new winter menu with hearty dishes like braised lamb shoulder with smoked pappardelle and sherry-glazed cipollini onions. [Meal Ticket]

Between Barack and baseball (and our trip to Seattle) we let a few things slip through the cracks in the past month, one of which was a request from Doug Hager and Kelly Schmitz, proprietors of the hopefully-open-by-Beer-Week-German-beer-bar Brauhaus Schmitz which now has an official website if you want to check it out or sign up for a mailing list.

Doug and Kelly would like to know what the Foobooz readers think about the issue of uniforms for their staff. Per Doug:

Kelly and I go back and forth regarding staff uniforms. I think the waitresses should wear Dirndls and she thinks it is too much ‘kitsch’. we would love to hear what the public has to say.

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Brauhaus Schmitz [Official Site]

Jose Garces’ whiskey bar at 20th and Sansom has a name, Village Whiskey. Look for it after the New Year. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Zahav included on Fodor’s International Travel Hot List this week. Represent! [Fodors]

AD Amorosi says, “I’m hearing rumors ye old Abilene on South Street is turning into something German.” Perhaps he means ye old Abode might just become something German. Yeah, like Brauhaus Schmitz. [IcePack, City Paper]

Slightly more plausible is Amorosi’s blurb that the Kimpton Hotel set for the Robert Morris building at 17th and Arch will house a Marc Vetri restaurant. Back to the less plausible, the Wawa stays. [IcePack, City Paper]

What’s next for the Trojan Piñata? A Carnival spokeswoman is unsure. Can we suggest torches? [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Asian small plate spot, MangoMoon from the Chabaa Thai folk is looking to open on Main Street just after Thanksgiving. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Rejoice, forlorn fans of the recently deceased Ludwig’s, the last German-style beer hall in Philadelphia! That sweet, sweet orange transfer sign pictured above is just for you, as it’s delivering big big BIG beer news. As the cherry on top of our Oktoberfest coverage, we’re bringing it to you first: a new German beer hall is coming to Center City. The orange sign was just slapped up in the window of 718 South Street last night by owners Doug Hager and Kelly Schmitz, who expect to open Brauhaus Schmitz in March of 2009, just in time for Beer Week, (if construction and government bureaucracy don’t gum up the works). Why should you be excited about this, other than the fact that SOMEONE IS FINALLY OPENING A GERMAN BEER HALL? How about twenty taps of German beer? 100 bottled beers? Bratwurst sold by the meter? Lots more details, a photo and rendering after the jump.

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