Well if you haven’t signed up to eat lions and bears oh my! Head out to happy hour and consider the Center City District Sips Contest and vote for your favorite caipirinha drink. With our enjoyment this week of ginger in drinks as well as Varalli’s talented bartenders, we’re looking forward to trying their Ginger Rio.

The Center City District’s Summer Events kicks off today with a concert this afternoon plus summer happy hours today. The weather has moved the Latin and Salsa concert indoors to the Reading Terminal Market but the happy hours will be going on regardless of the weather.

In Today’s Metro, The Bite highlights which bars and restaurants are putting forth the extra effort by offering more than just wings and Yuengling Lager.

Among the highlights:

• Pearl - Tempura beef short rib with red jalaepno, wasabi cream and ponzu.
• Table 31 – Victory St. Boisterous and Riverhosre Double White are pouring.
• Ristorante LaBuca – “Italian Water Ice” – Blackhaus and limoncello served over crushed ice plus Crespelle, crepes stuffed with spinach and ricotta.
• Helium Comedy Club – Free admission to the the night’s comedy show if you stop by for happy hour.

Also tonight Philadelphia Style is kicking of Center City Sips with a party feturing Brazilian dancers and music at Vango.

We tipped you off about changes to Center City Sips and new participants last week. Today, the Center City District has a list of all the participating bars and restaurants on their site.

Check them out, there’s more than 60 participating spots.

Center City Sips [Official Site]

The hugely popular Center City Sips will be back this spring but with at least one change of note, appetizers are no longer a dollar but half off. Cocktails are still $4, wine $3 and beers are $2.

There is also a big bump in participation from just over 40 last year to more than 60 bars/restaurants participating this year, including some notable new spots like G Lounge, Jose Pistola’s, Lucky Strike Lanes, Pearl and Table 31.

It all starts Wednesday June 4th and runs through August 27th.

Kids Table Week may not win any awards for generating buzz or even for its short restaurant list but it is for a good cause.

Kids Table Week runs from Monday, December 10 through Sunday, December 16, 2007. Each participating restaurant will donate a portion of its sales to Children’s Hospital.

Kids Table [Official Site] via Phillyist

Last Friday we were so excited to see Bindi’s menu for Restaurant Week we neglected to highlight some other numbers.

• Restaurant Week Meals are now $35, up from $30.
• 110 Restaurants are participating.
• Center City District’s Restaurant Week is from January 27th to February 1st.

Restaurant Week [Center City District]

Sometimes after an all too festive Saturday night the thought of getting out of bed and waiting outside a favorite brunch spot is just too much to even contemplate. So when getting out of bed seems difficult and showering is out of the question why not have brunch delivered? Marathon Grill (215-569-3278) can deliver to you the sustenance you so desperately need and typically in less time than you would spend milling about on the sidewalk waiting for a table. Belgian Waffles with bananas and chocolate chips delivered to your door, now that’s living.

Marathon Grill [Official Site]

Eating local can mean delicious gelato from Capogiro. Farm To Philly tells you how.

The Mora Gelato is made from blackberries sourced from Green Meadow Farm in Lancaster County. The blackberry flavor in this gelato is intense and concentrated, yet it is still bright with an almost citric freshness.

The Rosemary, Goat’s Milk and Honey Gelato, however, is not to be missed. The rosemary is sourced from Overbrook Herb Farm in Landsdale, PA, the goat’s milk comes from Pequea Valley Farm in Lancaster County and the buckwheat honey comes from New Jersey.

Capogiro – Blackberry Gelato and Rosemary Gelato [Farm To Philly]
Capogiro [Official Site]

Frommer’s gives a list of the world’s best street food and includes a section on the best Cheesesteaks from street vendors in Philadelphia.

Albert Yee of MessyAndPicky.com picks the stand at 50th St. and Baltimore Ave., out in West Philly: “It’s a ’steak on the skinny side, not overstuffed, but with a good amount of juiciness from the oil and steak fat.” (Steak fat is a good thing in the world of cheesesteaks.) David Snyder of PhilaFoodie.com goes with Domenic Dooley’s cart on 9th between Chestnut and Sansom, in Center City: “In addition to a great steak and lively conversation, Dooley gives you something extra: He often breaks out into song a la Frank Sinatra.” Andy Zahn of Philadelphia Magazine recommends Anna’s cart at 18th and Chestnut for cheesesteaks and hoogies (”especially the Chicken Italiano”), and John’s at 18th and Market for cheesesteaks and chicken cheesesteaks.

Editor’s Choice: The World’s Best Street Food [Frommers.com]

Keep your eyes peeled today and through next Sunday as DOVE Women will be around Philadelphia handing out samples of DOVE Chocolate.

Whether you like your chocolate smooth and milky or rich and dark, DOVE will have some samples and coupons for you. And if you happen to come across the DOVE caramels with chocolate and hazelnut don’t share them with anyone (well except us). They’re way too good!

Chocolate pick-me-up locations after the jump.

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