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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Last night there was an invite-only event to birth 10 Arts, the new Eric Ripert signature restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, which I was officially invited to and officially attended, but still felt like I was crashing since a) I was wearing jeans and everyone else was clad in cocktail attire and b) I have not had any plastic surgery, which seemed to be a requisite to get into this affair. I haven’t seen so many tightly pinned-back ears and preternaturally smooth foreheads since, well, the last time I walked by Rouge. But I digress…

The most important thing to know is that the food I tried was fantastic. Which is no small feat at an affair of this size and with this many schnooks snarfing down the free food as fast as the kitchen can send it out…

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We’ve been meandering past the Bellevue in the late afternoons recently where we’ve been witnessing an interesting promotion. It involves attractive girls clad in form-fitting black outfits standing behind a table or wandering up and down Broad Street, handing out cards that look like the one pictured above. All of this nubile fuss is for JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy, the new sports bar opening today, that for some inexplicable reason, is pretending not to be a sports bar, but an under-the-radar “restaurant, sports bar, lounge.” So under-the-radar, in fact, that they’re promoting it to every single person walking down Broad Street.

My raging disinterest in sports has been well documented here (except for baseball, which I like since it’s not really about sports, it’s about food), so perhaps I’m biased, but why try to pretend a sports bar isn’t anything but a sports bar? Why not wear it loud and proud? Why pretend it’s not a place to watch TV and yell?

Since Foobooz’s resident Sporting Life Expert is currently tormenting all of us by traveling in Belgium, I’m turning to you, loyal readers, to find out what you think makes a decent sports bar? Is it the number of TVs? The crowd? The beers on tap? The variety of fans? Which is the best in the city? The worst? Also, can someone please explain Chickie & Pete’s to me?

JL Sullivan’s Speakeasy [Official Site]

Forgive us for sounding a little bit like Crazy Eddie here, but starting today, it’s pure restaurant opening madness! Madness we tell you! You can always check our regularly updated Openings feature, but we’ve highlighted the following few days of anticipated openings for you after the jump…

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Last night, we were treated to a very special preview of Apothecary Bar + Lounge, the new “cocktail restaurant” in the Midtown Gayborhood from restaurateur Bruno Pouget and Urban Space Development, a design-build firm (they’re responsible for Capogiro’s 20th & Sansom location, if you’re curious about their previous work). If all goes well with the strange and mysterious harpy known as L&I, it should be open some time next week. We’re usually reluctant to make statements of greatness before doors are open, but in this case, we’re going to make an exception. It’s going to be, as they say, The Shit.

Why? Artisan cocktails from snappy beverage consultants The Tippling Bros. Kold-Draft ice cubes that take longer to melt and are free of excess air impurities. Cocktails in bottles–not bottle service, but Cocktails. In. Bottles. A roof deck. A menu of libation-absorbing snacks meant for sharing from chef kitchen consultant Steven Cameron. We can honestly say that there’s nothing really like this going on in Philly right now. Before you all start reminding us about Southwark, which we love, we’d like you to know that this is just different. The gents of Southwark–and Katie Loeb over at Chick’s–need some company. Plus, a rising tide floats all seaworthy boats. And nothing floats our boat like a rising tide of delicious cocktails.

After the jump, a full breakdown…

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Via official email:

Tuesday night, April 22 at 5pm Memphis Taproom will open it’s doors for business.

We’ll put the Primary Election returns on the big ol’ TV, Executive Chef Jesse Kimball and his crew will offer sneak previews of the menu and beer (beer!) will finally flow forth from our taps!

Starting Wednesday, April 23, the full lunch and supper menus will be available. We’ll be open from 11:30am to 2am. Our kitchen kicks out food until Midnight, seven days a week. We’ll offer brunch soon, on Saturdays & Sundays from 11am-5pm. Stay tuned for details about our late night menu plans.

Drink, vote and be merry!

Memphis Taproom [Official Site]

No, it’s not open yet, but it’s getting closer… devotees of the Indian restaurant will recall that Minar Palace, which had to close and depart from its former location on Sansom Street, is opening a new location at 1304 Walnut Street.Manager of Operations Davinder Singh tells us that since the restaurant is still under construction and there have been some unforeseen delays the original March opening date has been pushed back. This, of course, is the norm for every single restaurant in all of Philadelphia. (Want to read about how hard it can be to get a restaurant open in Philly? Click here.)

Singh anticipates another month of construction and then, assuming inspection occurs in a timely fashion, is hoping to be open shortly after. So we’re betting first week of May. Until then, we recommend getting your Indian fix at Tiffin.

We have word that Pagano’s Market, a quick-service restaurant we’ve never heard of (perhaps because it is located below ground at 7th and Market, an area of town we hardly ever visit) is opening  uptown, in the Two Commerce Square space vacated earlier this month by Marathon Grill.

No exact opening date other than “sometime this summer.”

While we were drinking our faces off this weekend at various Beer Week events, Drew Lazor of the City Paper was burning the midnight oil. He has scoopage on new drinky lounge Apothecary, word on Bluezette’s replacement Prive and – lo! – news on the rebirth of Old City stalwart Sassafras.

Prices are going up and portions are going down in restaurants. Is it because chefs and restaurateurs just so damn generous?

The delightful Rick Nichols, in a pickle.

Just got word from Chris Leonard – owner/brewmaster of the General Lafayette Inn. We reported exclusively last week that he was looking for a Center City location for a second project, the General Lafayette Tiedhouse, and now we can confirm that he has an agreement for a space and is working out the details. You’ll find it at 2001 Hamilton Street on the ground floor of the CityView condo.

Looks like Fairmount won – our commenting Restaurant Yentas were right on the money! More info to come…

General Lafayette Inn [Official Site]