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.

Vango Lounge & Sky Bar is offering a good deal on Monday nights. You can get $2 house wine, $2 domestic beers, & $2 well drinks every Monday night from 5pm to closing.

Vango Lounge & Sky Bar [Official Site]

Trey Popp peers behind the surprisingly heavy door of Vango Lounge and Sky Bar finding a nightspot with legitimate culinary ambitions.

Surprisingly good eats behind the velvet rope at Dia Sawan’s latest night spot.

Lounge Wizards [City Paper]
Vango Lounge and Skybar [Official Site]

You can get full on all of our Quick Bites today so we broke it into two courses for your enjoyment.

Rejoice, rejoice fans of Lolita and Indian food. Wednesday, December 12th is the expected first night at Bindi! [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Moctezuma Restaurant, another Mexican restaurant has opened on 9th Street. Seafood and service set this one apart. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Look for a new Fishtown bar with a bad-ass name, Kung Fu Neck Tie to open New Year’s Eve at Front and Thompson. [Ice Pack, City Paper]

Gasp, Swallow is now saying they’ll open December 15th on Liberties Walk. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Keep reading Quick Bites after the jump.
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Depending on who you believe Vango has an opening day set. Icepack reports it being Saturday, November 10th. However an ad on page 64 of City Paper lists the date as this Saturday. Vango soft-opens Saturday with an official opening set for November 10th. Michael Fee who has experience at Nobu is the chef. [Icepack, City Paper]

G, downstairs from Davio’s sounds pretty cool. And big. This 10,000 sqft lounge is set to debut November 29th, it’ll have Philadelphia first like “movable wall panels and ‘electronic wallpaper,’ projection technology that can change the mood of the lounge in a few clicks.” [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Le Virtù is just about set to open at 1927 E. Passyunk Ave. Shockingly this isn’t a BYOB. But it is Italian. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Just married couple Scott and Erin Wallace who own Manayunk’s Old Eagle Tavern are transforming the former Felicia’s at 11th and Ellsworth into the Devil’s Den, a beer bar with 28 taps by the end of the year. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Butcher’s Cafe which long lived in the shadow of Sabrina’s has closed. Todd Bergman has moved on to New Wave Cafe where chef Ben McNamara has headed North to St. Stephens Green. [Food and Drinq]

You have until noon today to get tickets to Taste of Philly for just $15.

It is always nice when someone answers your hypothetical question. This morning in our Quick Bites post we asked if the SkyBar in Vango Lounge & SkyBar would truly be outdoors. And sure enough Michael Klein posts that yes there will be a roof deck. He also has a photo to whet your appetite.

Sneak peek at Vango [food and drinq]

Cochon is now looking for a mid-October opening. The Passyunk Avenue BYOB’s menu will “strike a balance between rustic, comfy French country (steak frites, pork confit) and more adventurous “foodie food” (Gene’s tripe and pig’s feet stew).” [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Joe Pesce has been built over the ruins of Pompeii on Walnut Street. The Mediterranean seafood heavy eatery is the first of two as a second Joe Pesce will open in about a month in Collingswood. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

The former Taco Bell on South Street is becoming a pizza spot owned by the family that brought us Hollywood Tans. Venuto’s Old World Pizza is planning to stay open till 3:30 AM on weekends to offer sustenance to the bar crowds. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Cafe Estelle is planning a November opening for its fresh baked and made from scratch goods in the Lofts at 444 N 4th Street. Marshall Green will be doing the cooking, he’s currently sous chef at Meritage. He’ll be joined by his girlfriend Kristin Mulvenna who you may have seen at Cantina Los Caballitos, she’s the curly headed manager who is always on the move. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Le Virtu is another restaurant opening along East Passyunk. Blogalicious has all the details and photos of the spot. He got a tour after being spotted spying in the window. [Blogalicious]

Vango Lounge and Skybar, the Japanese fusion lounge from the people who brought us Byblos is looking to open in mid-October on 18th between Market and Chestnut. No word on if you can see the sky from the Skybar though. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Michael Klein has a rundown on the Belgian Cafe, the latest from Tom Peters and Fergus (Fergie) Carey. Brunch starts September, 29th and lunch will follow after that. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Miami Cafe is set to open around June 11th in the spot that once housed Abilene on South Street. Cuban Sadwiches will be featured heavily as well as fried plantains served with shrimp, chicken or chorizo. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Almaz Cafe isn’t just about coffee. There are also affordable Ethiopian dishes at this 20th Street coffee shop. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Go North, at least that’s what the owners of L’Angolo are thinking as they plan to open a Salento, an Italian BYO where Fellini Cafe once resided. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Byblos owner Diaa Sawan is bringing Vango Lounge and Skybar to South 18th Street this August. It’ll be a 120-seat bi-level spot with Japanese fusion cuisine. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Silk City should be back in business next Thursday and the yet to be open Stephens Green already has a new name, St. Stephens Green. [Table Talk, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Seats are still available for Rae’s wine dinner on June 19th. [Foobooz.com]