I’m someone who’s supremely into doing all the things. Seven-course chef’s tasting menu and wine pairing? Take my money! Spontaneous palm reading by a sketchy psychic with 40 cats? Let me slap some mascara on my third eye! Living in a city affords you the opportunity to have a lot of “firsts,” should you be comfortable with the blow to your wallet and proactive enough to seek out novelty.
One of the themes of 6th & Bainbridge is what I call “living extra on a budget.” Being independent requires constant mindfulness of your financial situation. However, I don’t believe in sacrificing your heart’s desires for a cushion in the bank. Life’s too short, and that’s why we have retirement plans. I am living proof that with a little finesse, you can swing the bills and the brunch. I personally work a couple side gigs in addition to my full time job to support my outgoing lifestyle, but I know not everyone’s full time job offers the flexibility to do that. That said, even when I’m knowingly making poor spending choices, I’m still a self-proclaimed expert at deciding between splurge and save, and my tips and tricks should be relevant to a variety of income levels.
Alas, I present to you: 6th & Bainbridge Weekly Roundup! I’m going to keep readers apprised of my outings in Philly and beyond, giving reviews and offering tips to guide your choices in food, drink, entertainment, and more. Anyone who follows my Instagram knows I’m an oversharing wanderer who’s no stranger to a geotag. I can’t wait to start housing full reviews here on my blog. Disclaimer: as much as I love being out and about, I also value low-key weekends spent whipping up plant-heavy dishes and reading in coffee shops, so expect to see that stuff, too.
I’ve been super busy this week between work and preparing to move (more on that soon), so I’m just barely dropping this in time for your weekend plans. Today’s roundup features last weekend’s outings at Mission Taqueria and Concourse Dance Bar.
Mission Taqueria
Last Saturday, I wanted to celebrate my best friend and her boyfriend’s final week in the city. We decided Mexican and margs were the move and tuned into our collective party planning frequency. Most of us hadn’t been to Mission Taqueria, so it was met with unanimous agreement.
This place… is everything. Tucked away on Sansom above their sister restaurant, Oyster House, Mission Taqueria is an aesthetic dream. This was largely unsurprising given the minimalist-cool feel of their website. These people clearly know how to serve a branded look. (I should probably take notes.) Crisp, bright colors, greenery galore, modern furniture and decor, neon pink signage—it’s like an LA Instagram explosion right in Rittenhouse Square. Mission draws a busy, diverse crowd mostly comprised of young professionals, and they played enough Kanye to keep us all rapping through guac-filled mouths. The food is traditional Mexican with quality ingredients and a modern presentation. Prices were standard, running you around $15 for a plate of three generously-filled tacos and around $10 a cocktail, $5 a beer. I had the grilled wild shrimp tacos, which were bursting with juicy flavor. Drink-wise, they have a solid selection of crafty concoctions, though not a prime spot for bourbon/whiskey faithfuls. I took the boring, economical route of the $8 house margarita, which you could make spicy for no extra charge. My only complaint is that their spicy is not my spicy, and that’s being forgiving. I even had them make it spicier, and it still had the kick of a banana… aka none. Sorry, Mission; that’s your singular strike. The waitstaff was friendly and offered excellent service. Needless to say, I will be back ASAP for happy hour (ranked one of the best in Philly)!
Concourse Dance Bar
Yes, the place with the ball pit. No, I did not go in. I was wearing over-the-knee high-heeled boots that require more work than a spin class to get on and off. No regrets.
Concourse has been a hot spot for the few weeks that it’s been open. It’s in an unlikely nightlife location through a back entrance on Market Street amidst big bank and law firm skyscrapers. I hadn’t heard a single negative review, so I was hype to check it out. They boast being an inclusive, open dive-bar-meets-dance-spot where you don’t deal with the pretentiousness of clubs with bottle service, dress codes, and expensive covers. Unfortunately, it still was not my vibe.
The line to get in was literally a mile long. Luckily I bartend with some girls who work there, so I had a 10-person guest list allowing us to skip it and waive the $5 cover. It was absolutely packed with a super young crowd. This was to be expected. The bar is crazy spacious, though, so they were able to accommodate the crowd size. Getting a drink was a bit of a nightmare, so I only had one and a shot. If Concourse played good music, there would be some redemption from the clubby, college atmosphere. But middle school dance throwbacks filled the air from 11-2. No Lil Jon feature went amiss, and I just begrudgingly twerked it out until heading home. I can see the appeal of this place, but the older I get, the more I realize I am not about that club life.
Though, you can still catch me poppin’ bottles at Vesper every now and then. Get it how you live, right?
So, Mission Taqueria: Wholehearted YES!
Concourse Dance Bar: Hard pass.