Tag: Pottstown

Comfort Food

Still the very best!
I rolled into town last Friday night, battling allergies or a spring cold, and needed some quick and simple sustenance to get me through a meeting that would start in less than an hour. First off, for anyone from out of town, do you realize that on-street parking in downtown Pottstown is free? And even if you can’t find a spot on the street, parking in the lots around town is incredibly cheap? So I parked in the Shop & Park lot at High and Charlotte, slid a quarter in and headed for The Very Best, Pottstown’s oldest restaurant, open since 1921, where they’re still kickin’ it old school. As soon as I sat at the counter, I was greeted with, “How ya’ doin’, sweetheart?” And I knew I was home.

I ordered a grilled cheese and cup of hot tea. The bill, including tax, was $3.87. Seriously. Where I live in NJ, parking’s always a hassle, no one calls me “sweetheart” and dinner never costs $3.87. I felt like I really ought to get something else.

The cakes along the counter looked tempting – banana, chocolate with cream cheese frosting – and I asked if they were baked on-premises. No, they came from Company Cakes, a bakery on Charlotte Street that I’d passed a couple times and have on my list of places to visit. A hand-written sign touted a slice of chocolate cream pie for only $1.85, and I couldn’t resist. The creamy, dark chocolate mousse filling was complemented by a layer of lighter chocolate mousse on top and then bits of dark chocolate sprinkled on top of that. The crust was thin and, more importantly, didn’t detract from the chocolate, which is as it should be. For just a few moments, all was right in the world.

By time I’d finished, it had gotten cloudy and cooler, and rain was threatening. Now fortified, I zipped up my coat and was on my way.

The Very Best
252 East High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 323-5224

Company Cakes
26 N Charlotte St
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 705-9450

Trash Talk

Although I’ve done my share of trash-talkin’ on basketball courts in PA and NJ, this post is actually about real trash 🙂 This Saturday from 8 am – noon, there will be neighborhood clean-ups happening around Pottstown. The clean-up was organized by Councilman Mark Gibson and Bill Sharon of the Codes Department. Details can be found on the Borough website & in The Mercury. The gist of it is that you can get trash bags at Borough Hall or Empire Hook & Ladder at Franklin & Chestnut. Fill the bags with trash from your neighborhood and leave them on pre-approved street corners, where they’ll be picked up later in the day. (Exelon has donated two dumpsters for the stuff.) And don’t forget to stop by Empire afterward for free refreshments, donated by Genesis Housing Corp.

For information contact: Bill Sharon 610-970-6507 or Mark Gibson 610-960-9445

And now for another kind of trash-talk…

The current exhibit at The Gallery on High is “Ecoart,” and it features pieces made from recycled, re-used and salvaged materials. It’s free and open to the public and runs until April 24. Check it out. Who knows? You might pick up something Saturday morning that you’ll want to turn into a work of art!

The Gallery is at 254 E. High St. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 4:30pm; Friday 10am to 5:30pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

US Rails at Tri-Pac this Friday, 4/16

The indie folk/rock group US Rails is performing at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center for one show only this Friday, April 16th at 8 p.m.

If you’re not familiar with US Rails, they are Ben Arnold, Scott Bricklin, Joseph Parsons, Tom Gillham and Matt Muir. Here’s how they describe themselves at their MySpace page:

“Echoing some of the great folk, pop and rock unions of the 60’s and 70’s as well as the newest super-groups and dream bands spanning the globe these days, US Rails emerges as the underdog collective of songwriters, singers and musicians who deliver not just a night of cool songs and great harmony… It’s in the sum of the parts, not the star of the show… US Rails is five distinctive personalities who met originally while living in and around Philadelphia, PA but have since scattered all over the map to France, Germany and Austin, TX… Their first recording, produced in a cottage house just South of Paris, will be released overseas this spring.”

Sounds pretty cool, huh? It definitely intrigued me enough to click through and listen to some of their tunes. The folk influence is evident in “Rainwater” and “Burning Fire, ” the latter of which is filled with sweet harmonies. And “Simple Plan” is light rock – the electric guitar and back-up vocal harmonies reminded me of the overall sound of Elton John’s 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album. (FYI, to me, invoking the great Elton John is the highest praise possible!)

Ticket prices for US Rails:
Adults: $17
Student & Seniors: $15
Children 12 and Under: $13

Tri-Pac is at 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 970-1199
info@villageproductions.org

Authentic Mexican cuisine now available at Juan Carlos

The last time I was in Boyer’s Shoe Store at the corner of High and Penn, I think I bought a pair of Earth shoes. Who’d have thought the former shoe store would make an ideal location for a restaurant? Ron Garza, chef/owner of Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine knew it as soon as he saw the interior’s stone walls, the brick-arched windows and the cobblestone road running up Penn Street.

“I wanted a place with a real urban feel, not a shopping center,” he said.

On a recent spring day, when Juan Carlos had only been open about a week, I stopped by and did a double-take inside. The decor is chic, yet the stone and brick, the walls painted terracotta, and the Spanish guitar music coming through the speakers made for a warm, inviting atmosphere. Now let’s talk about the food…

I’d had a late breakfast and only had room to sample a couple appetizers. Red & blue tortilla chips dipped in creamy guacamole (with just a hint of cilantro) were out of this world. It’s made fresh for each order and it shows. Then I tried a mini-chimichanga – chicken and cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, lightly fried and served with ranchero sauce. The chicken and cheese just melts in the mouth.

Chef Garza describes the menu as authentic Mexican, with a South American flair, that includes elements of modern Mexican cuisine. Mexico is a melting pot of numerous Latin American cultures, and Garza incorporates dishes and flavors from Brazil, Argentina and Cuba. And there’s something for every price range.

“We’re a casual, elegant restaurant. There are menu items for a casual night out or for a very special occasion.”

Juan Carlos is BYO, but offers one complimentary glass of sangria for guests who order any steak or fish entree for dinner on Tuesday through Saturday. They also provide margarita mixers for your favorite tequila.

By July, Garza plans to remove the display windows out front to make space for fair-weather outdoor dining, which will be a first for High Street. They’ve got a private party & meeting room downstairs, which is accessed by an original, Amish pegged wood staircase. The room has WiFi and a 12-foot ceiling and can seat 25-30 people. Check it out.

Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine, 235 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464; 484-624-4931; www.jcmexicanfood.com. Lunch:Tues-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm; Dinner: Tues-Thur 5:00pm to 9:00pm; Fri and Sat. 5:00pm to 10:00pm; Closed Sundays and Mondays, except for private parties.

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