PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — FYI Philly previews the Atlantic City Restaurant Week menu, a trip to the zoo, and a new cafe featuring cats and coffee.

Bastia offers a menu inspired by Corsica and Sardinia
When acclaimed chef Tyler Akin (Res Ipsa, Stock, Le Cavalier at Hotel du Pont) was given the opportunity to create a menu for a restaurant in the new boutique hotel Anna & Bel, he chose the Mediterranean.

However, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia seemed less well known to him as culinary inspiration, even though he had traveled to this region before.

Named after a port town in Corsica, Bastia creates dishes such as braised veal with French lentils, salt-roasted turnips finished with a Calabrian chili gastrique, and the country’s national dish – storzapretti, a vegetarian dumpling dish that looks like meatballs.

Located in the heart of Fishtown, Bastia currently serves brunch and dinner, with plans to soon expand the cafe to include all-day, seven-day-a-week operation.

Bastia | Instagram
1401 E. Susquehanna Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Get a Gato is a full-service cafe with a cat lounge
“Get a Gato” is a traditional cafe in the front, a cat-themed shop in the middle, and a nonprofit cat lounge in the back.

All cats come from Fishtails, a foster home in Fishtown.

Jackie Starker, who also owns the nearby shop Amelie’s Bark, opened Get a Gato this spring.

She was inspired by a trip to Japan, where full-service cat cafes are all the rage.

She wanted to combine the atmosphere of Japanese cat cafes with the aspects of an animal shelter.

The name comes from Jackie’s father. He also makes the tie-dye T-shirts for sale.

Her mother hand crochets cat toys and one of the store’s baristas makes earrings that are also for sale.

In addition to coffee, there are also specialty drinks.

The menu pays homage to Jackie’s Colombian grandmother, with sweet and savory pastries from local Colombian and Brazilian bakers and Puerto Rican pastelillos from Amy’s.

Jackie took advantage of her degree in industrial design and added cat-themed details throughout the room.

The Colombian flag appears in a gradient around the café counter.

And although you may come with the intention of adopting an animal, many people just want to spend a few hours with cats.

And if you take a seat at the extremely popular cat window, you can spend the day watching cats at play.

Get a Gato offers cat yoga in the café.

There is a cat quiz night and a date night that includes a romantic table for two and a curated playlist or movie.

All proceeds go towards caring for the cats.

Get a cat | Instagram
638 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Amelie’s Bark Shop | Facebook | Instagram
1600 East Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148

Animal Rescue Fishtails | Facebook | Instagram
233 E. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19125

The Gelato Shop serves authentic Italian gelato in New Hope
Gianluigi Dellacio is the proud owner and president of Gelato Shop in New Hope.

Dellacio produces more than 450 flavors of ice cream and also offers plant-based ice cream.

You can try Pure Pistachio with roasted and salted pistachios or its vegan salted caramel.

The shop is full of other delicious treats like cannoli, sorbet and espresso.

He was born and raised in Naples, Italy, where he played water polo professionally.

After winning the Italian championship, he changed his career and now makes gelato.

Shortly after he started giving gelato classes, he attended a cooking school in Milan.

In 2011, he came to the States and opened his first store in DC.

Over a decade later, he owns four stores in the DMV area.

With the title of the first Gelato Ambassador, he wanted to expand his audience and decided to open his first brick-and-mortar location, “The Gelato Shop,” in Bucks County last February.

Gianluigi plans to create new flavors for fall and add pizza to the menu in a few months.

Gelato Shop | Instagram | Facebook
87 S Main St, New Hope, PA 18938

Longwood Gardens is nearing completion of the largest expansion in its history
All parties involved in the upcoming opening of Longwood Reimagined say it is the most ambitious project since the gardens were created.

The centrepiece is the brand new West Conservatory, a huge glass building with the latest eco-technology, which will house a Mediterranean garden.

Many of the plants pictured are not grown anywhere else on the East Coast.

The 3,000 square meter building will appear to float, with water outside, inside and throughout the building.

In addition, the historically significant Cascade Garden by the well-known Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx will be completely relocated and much more.

Longwood Reimagined will open the new space to the public on November 22nd and it is important to reserve early.

Longwood Gardens | Facebook | Instagram
Longwood Gardens
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
610-388-1000

Philadelphia Zoo welcomes baby orangutan Jambi
In June, the Philadelphia Zoo welcomed a new baby orangutan named Jambi.

For parents Tua and Sugi it is the second child.

Orangutans are an endangered species, meaning they are just one step away from extinction.

The baby is named in honor of a province in Sumatra where the species is native.

There are only 14,000 specimens left in the wild.

The Philadelphia Zoo is part of the American Zoological Society’s Endangered Species Conservation Plan to conserve the species.

Philadelphia Zoo | Facebook | Instagram
3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104

A preview of what to expect at AC Restaurant Week October 6-11
Atlantic City Restaurant Week will take place again from October 6th to 11th.

More than 50 restaurants in Atlantic City and the region participate, offering dining options for every taste.

The list of participating venues includes independent restaurants, casinos and celebrity chefs.

Restaurants offer a three-course fixed price menu that includes starter, main course and dessert.

They serve lunch for $20.24 and dinner for $40.24.

Girasole Ristorante | Facebook | Instagram
3108 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Superfrico Atlantic City | Facebook | Instagram
#18 of 21 places to eat in Atlantic City
2100 Pacific Avenue Caesars Level 1, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

La Strada on the coast | Facebook | Instagram
The Harrah’s
777 Harrah’s Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

The best ABC Secret Sales for travel essentials
From travel pillows to bags and other essentials, make sure you have everything you need before your next trip – and at a great price.

The Shawnee Playhouse is a historic performing arts center in the Poconos
The Shawnee Playhouse continues to be a cornerstone of the Poconos, offering a wide range of performances and programs that bring the community together through the arts.

Founded in 1904, the Playhouse has become a cultural beacon, providing a space where local talent and audiences come together to celebrate the performing arts.

Whether it’s a children’s play, a musical like “My Fair Lady” or a sensory-friendly show – the Shawnee Playhouse has something for everyone.

Local artists, including educators such as David Arzberger and Sarah McCarroll, can give free rein to their creative passion on stage.

Executive Director Midge McClosky emphasizes the importance of the theater as one of the few dedicated theaters in the area, providing a much-needed opportunity for creative expression.

For more information about their upcoming shows, visit shawneeplayhouse.org.

Shawnee Playhouse |
552 River Rd, PO Box 67, Shawnee on Delaware, PA 18356, USA