Johnny Brenda's

        This week I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia right now, Johnny Brenda’s.  The bar is located in Fishtown on the corner of Frankford and Girard Avenues. It was opened in 1967 by small time boxer Johnny Imbrenda, who owned it until he got sick and decided to sell it in 2003.  That is when William Reed and Paul Kimport, owners of Standard Tap in Northern Liberties, decided to buy it.  They changed Johnny Brenda’s from the neighborhood tavern to a gastro-pub that has great food, a variety of beer, and live music five nights a week.

        The first floor is a bar and a restaurant while the second and third floors are the music venue that can hold up to 250 people.  The second floor holds the stage while the third floor has another bar and a balcony that provides a great view of the performers.  This set up makes for a very intimate viewing experience that almost makes it feel as if you are on stage with the musicians.  Another thing that makes Johnny Brenda’s so cool is its obvious connection to the community they are in.  They built the business based on the philosophy of supporting the local community.  To do this they often feature local musicians, they serve all draft beers from only local brewers, and they offer an ever changing menu that utilizes fresh ingredients supplied by local area farmers.  This means you will not find any Miller Light here, and will instead be able to choose from better local craft beers such as Yards, Victory, Sly Fox, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, etc. 

        Attending a show at Johnny Brenda’s is as simple as going online and buying tickets on their website, or purchasing tickets using cash from the bartenders on the first floor.  If you are curious who is playing, you can find a full calendar with the details of each show they are having for the next couple months by clicking here.  It is worth mentioning that you must be at least 21 years old to attend a show here.  Some of the more noteworthy performances coming up include A Silent Film, who is playing tonight at 9pm, and Anna Wise, who is playing next Wednesday at 9pm.  A Silent Film is a band originating from Oxford, UK, who have a couple critically acclaimed albums and are currently promoting their new album.  If you don’t recognize the band’s name, you will probably recognize their song titled You Will Leave A Mark while listening to it.  Anna Wise is a Grammy winning singer/songwriter from Brooklyn, NY, known for her work with Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, Flying Lotus, and more.  Whenever you find yourself craving a good time, Johnny Brenda’s will not let you down!