While our lovely city has no shortage of restaurants, specialty stores, outdoor markets and fried-chicken-and-donut jawns, sometimes we’ve got to cook for ourselves. Peapod, as part of GIANT grocery stores, just launched their at-home grocery delivery service here in the Philly area, plus additional markets in Delaware and Southern Montgomery counties.

This online grocery delivery service has been around since way before Facebook or the Dominos pizza app (Antoine has placed your pizza in the oven!), but never before in our area. Now, you can browse their extensive inventory on a fairly simple website, fill an online shopping cart and select a delivery time that works for you.

Peapod shoppers will pick the items for you, pack them in bins and bam! Fresh groceries sent to your apartment door, without having to wait in line. (more…)

Meh, who wants to actually talk to their children, especially on Thanksgiving when you’re gathered around a large dinner table as a family? Asking questions about why we celebrate Thanksgiving, what’s the deal with the turkey, etc? Psh. No one, that’s who.

Well, thanks to the folks at the National Constitution Center you won’t have to explain a thing, as “millions of students across the country will learn the origins of the most-celebrated holiday in America…with the latest installment of the National Constitution Center’s popular webcast series, Constitution Hall Pass.”

The latest episode, entitled The History of Thanksgiving, went live on Monday on the Constitution Center’s official website. And starting today, educators and students can log onto the Constitution Center’s website to chat with members of the NCC’s education staff for additional insight.

For more information, and a great excuse to not speak to your children and watch football, visit the Constitution Center’s official Hallpass website.

You know how on Cheers whenever Norm would enter the bar everyone would shout his name? I plan on spending as much time at Barcade to earn myself such a welcoming.

The just-opened Fishtown bar combines two of this Geekadelphian’s favorite things — old school video games and craft beer. The result is the sort of place that hardcore gaming geeks and the general populace can all call their home. Having already opened successful Barcades in Brooklyn and Jersey City, owners Kevin Beard, Paul Kermizian and Pete Langway complete a hat trick of awesomeness with the opening of the Philly location.

The beautiful space features such yesteryear classics as Burgertime, Tron, Tapper, Joust, Super Mario Brothers, Tetris, Popeye, Double Dragon, Rampage, the ageless Ms. Pac-Man and many others. The best part? They will still only cost you a quarter, which will leave you with plenty of cash to sample the bar’s impressive beer selections. I recommend the Southampton Pumpkin Ale. If all the vigorous games WWF Wrestlefest have you working up an appetite, there’s food ranging from Siriracha-infused deviled eggs to a 3-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches available. Seriously, once you go there you are totally going to want to move in.

In conjunction with Barcade’s opening, I had the chance to talk with co-owner Paul Kermizian (who also directed the 2004 documentary American Beer) about the business, video gaming and what visitors can expect. Here’s what he had to say. (more…)

Our friends over at Seamless are launching the CRAVED Restaurant Awards, it’s a program that allows you the chance to honor your favorite Seamless restaurants. Nominations are currently happening and continuing through this Saturday, October 15th. Between the 16th and the 30th, you’ll be able to vote on the restaurants with the most nominations in each category.

My nominations/votes would probably go to Philly establishments such as Tiffin, Machismo and Mr. Chicken, provided their wings are as good as I remember.

To get the CRAVED Restaurant Awards their proper kick-off in Philadelphia, the folks over at Seamless are happily giving away a $20 gift code credit. In order to participate, just simply comment below with a valid email address and tell me… What Seamless restaurant would you nominate?

Comment away. I’ll be contacting a random winner at the end of this week, just in time for CRAVE Restaurant Awards voting to begin. To learn more about Seamless, the nation’s leading digital service for ordering delivery and takeout, visit their official website. They’ve got over 250 Philly restaurants listed.

Fact: Any reason to party at National Mechanics is a good reason, as far as Geekadelphia is concerned. Even the release of a new operating system.

A local chapter of Ubuntu lovers are hosting a release party for Oneiric Ocelot this Thursday, October 13th at the popular geek hangout.

For more information, and to register so they know you’re coming, visit their event page over on Ubuntu.

Oneiric Ocelot Release Party
Thursday, October 13th, 6PM – ?

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

No word if there will be popcorn…

Attention beer geeks and Swedish food enthusiasts: have we got an event for you!

The American Swedish Historical Museum is throwing one Hemnes of a party on Saturday, October 15 from 4-7pm. Interested? Unleash your inner-Swede and cut a Flokati.

The event will feature beers from Yards, Triumph Brewery, and the Bottle Shop. Representatives from all three will be there to advise you on how to pair the beer with a selection of Swedish snacks – meatballs, mini sausages, cheese, and more!

Tickets (for geeks 21 years of age and up) are $25 each or 5 for $100 and all proceeds benefit the ASHM. Three hours of beer and food AND it benefits a great Philly spot? Win.

Smörgåsbeer’d
October 15th, 2011 4-7pm

American Swedish Historical Museum
1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145
www.americanswedish.org

Whipped Bakeshop, a Geekadelphia favorite since forever, creates a stunning array of cookies, cakes, and cupcakes. These creations aren’t your standard baked goods – they’re works of art. And now you can explore the deliciousness through their revamped website – zooming over the frosted treats, learning how the cakes are sized and browsing by theme, color, or occasion.

And now there’s Whipped Bakeshop’s live CakeCam, sure to hold anyone’s attention. In fact, the first time I tuned in, I spent a solid 10 minutes watching a decorator frost a gorgeous and delicious looking cake.

Fun fact: Whipped Bakeshop created a Battlestar Galactica cake for the Geekadelphia / Hacktory / Indy Hall Battlestar Galactica party way back when.

It was years ago, and we still talk about it.

Head over to their website to scope out the new digs. And make sure you use the CakeCam. Awesome.

Whipped Bakeshop
www.whippedbakeshop.com

You’re a nerd.

You’ve known it for a while, but haven’t been able to admit it just yet. You have always known you were different, but couldn’t put your finger on what it was. And now you know.

And now it’s finally out in the open and everyone knows. Doesn’t it feel better knowing that you can now get on with your life? And you’re in good company since Philly is a town overflowing with nerds and geeks of all types.

Need proof? Well, make sure you check out the return of Nerd Nite in Philadelphia on October 5th. Starting then and the first Wednesday of every month thereafter, nerds from all over the area will gather at MilkBoy Center City to meet, hear speakers and see some of the nerdiest entertainment around.

So make plans to get your nerd on and join in the fun. Because no one parties like a nerd! I think it may be because we don’t get out much, I’m not sure…

Nerd Nite Philly
Wednesday, October 5th
philadelphia.nerdnite.com

Milk Boy Center City
1100 Chestnut St, Philadelphia PA 19103
www.milkboycoffee.com

Already planning to hit up National Mechanics tonight? Great! Because the popular geek haven is hosting a special food-centric Science on Tap this evening.

Entitled Chile Peppers: Heat and History, this session will be led by Joseph Rucker, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development at Integral Molecular, Inc. Here’s the details from the Academy’s press release.

In this spicy illustrated talk, biochemist Joseph Rucker will share his personal interest in the history and science of chile peppers.

Chile peppers are one of the most notable gifts of the New World to the Old. The global spread of chile peppers altered world cuisine, giving us everything from moles to masalas. Just as important, the “heat” of chile peppers provides a window for understanding the sensations of pain and temperature.

This month’s Science on Tap is being presented by the APS museum. I’ll see you there, geeks!

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, September 12th at 6 pm
www.nationalmechanics.com

You’ve probably already seen this site making the rounds, what with its major local appeal. It was all started internally at Neiman Group. They’ve got something called Neiman Labs.

The entire goal of the group is to explore the new developments that have come about with the adoption of tech and social media, Philly SteakOut is a product of that exploration. I had a chance to chat briefly with Chris Reif (a Tony Luke’s guy but admitted Steak ‘Em Up is his dark horse) and George Ward (cut from the same cheesesteak wrap as I, being a fan of the steaks from John’s Roast Pork) from Neiman to learn a bit more.
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The origin was simple. Jeremy Sanchez and Marc Levy, along with some friends wanted to head out to a different bar instead of the usual 12 Steps Down. After some quick online searches and reading reviews, there wasn’t anywhere to see pictures of the different bars. All the sites were full of ads or cluttered with randomness.

So TheJawn.com was born. So appropriately named for anything/everything Philly. I love it.

They came up with the idea to create a simple site just for Philly bars and restaurants with clear photos and information. (Later to be expanded to include any type of business.)
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Love camping? Live in Philadelphia? Then you might want to check out this Kickstarter, launched by a group of Philadelphia-based camping lovers, notably product designers Ben Ashpole and Jay Olman.

Meet the Pocket Grill, the world’s most compact, full-size camping grill that can, as you can imagine, fit right in your pocket. And just like most cookware you’d take on a camping trip, this little guy is made out of stainless steel.

Their goal is a lofty one, set at $40,000. But with the sort of perks these guys are dishing out, I can definitely see them reaching it. Donate a mere $40, and you’ll get a grill in the mail when they go into production. Kick in an extra $10, and they’ll throw in a cookbook made just for the Pocket Grill.

So! Hit up the Kickstarter, check out their official website, and follow them on Twitter for updates regarding the product. Best of luck, guys!

The Pocket Grill
www.kck.st/qrLcLq
www.pocketgrill.com