As pretty much everyone knows by now, the good folks at Johnny Brenda’s have been hard at work for over a year now on a live music venue above the bar that is already there. And we simply can’t front on this: We’ve seen the spot, and it is mind-blowingly rad. One snag: The good ship JB’s has to get approved by the neighborhood association before they can roll out live music and outdoor seating. They’re taking a vote tonight on this issue, so if you’re a local, please read on. And if our testimonial is worth anything, here it is: This place and these people are awesome. Philebrity, having been started in part by a 4th gen Fishtonian and abetted by a few other converts, has been consistently impressed by how the bar has integrated residents both new and long-standing, as well as having great food and a friendly staff. It’s an asset to the community in so many ways, and with the addition of the live music venue, as well as the other bits of commerce cropping up, a completely re-invigorated East Girard Avenue could be a soon-in-coming reality. JB’s would be a keystone of this. In fact, it already is.

After the jump, info on how that all happens and how you can help.

If you live in Fishtown, go to the Fishtown Neighborhood Association
meeting, ask for a vote on Wednesday March 22 at 7pm.

Between Palmer and Montgomery, about 1/2 block north of Girard, entrance
through the playground! Sign in and ask for a vote!

We’d also like anyone who supports Johnny Brenda’s expansion, the addition
of an upstairs music venue and sidewalk seating, to write a letter of
support that includes your name and where you live to be presented to the
Zoning Board of Appeals on April 5 when we go to try to get our approvals.

You can drop them off at the bar or you can mail them to us (though we’d
rather see you because we love you!). We also have a letter of support for
neighbors to sign at JB’s.

Mail letters before April 2 to:

Johnny Brenda’s
1201-03 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125

Related: Johnny Brenda’s On Myspace

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 at 3:05 pm.