About Philadelphia's Fox Chase

Hop Angel Brauhaus is a German style bar and restaurant located at 7980 Oxford Avenue in the Fox Chase section of N.E. Philadelphia. If your looking for authentic German food with a French flair then this is the place for you. Hop Angel Brauhaus is owned and operated by Mike Scotese, the same owner of Grey Lodge Pub in Mayfair at 6235 Frankford Avenue. Although the food menu is quite different at Hop Angel than the Grey Lodge, its beer menu can be similar at times. Hop Angel brings imported German beers and local brewed German style craft beers to Fox Chase. Recently, they were just awarded Metro's Best reason to get totally lost in Northeast Philadelphia.

Saturday, December 18, 2010 the Hop Angel Brauhaus is having a Christmas Festival and Craft Show featuring homemade jams, jellies, cookies, decorations, and much more. They will also be serving hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, Southern Tier Creme Brulee, and the "holy grail" of beers, Mad Elf. This beer only comes around in late fall/early winter, it can be quite difficult to find. Be careful not to drink too much of the Mad Elf, its 11% alcohol so it doesn't take much for a rough morning. Don't forget to have a beer with Santa at 5 PM and enjoy some music by Don Bitterlich the Accordionist. Come get totally lost in N.E. Philly with a day of crafts, food, and fun in Fox Chase.

"Trick or treat!" a woman yelled to me as I walked down the street to get home and gather my family to go to "Uncle Bob's" Halloween party. Kinda crazy someone yelling this to me, more especially me a 38 year old man dressed as a ghostly mortician. I noticed another woman placing orange Jack'o lantern style bags up the drive heading toward the mansion. "What's happening at the mansion tonight?" I yelled back as I started to cautiously cross the street. "Be careful", she replied. Hmmm...I guess I got a little more attention than I hoped for from the gaper effect.

I safely arrived and we started to have some small chat, when she told me they were having the mansion open for trick or treaters. She also told me this was the second year they had this. I did not know this, and I live just about directly across the street. Shame on me for not knowing what events are happening were I live. The only times I have been inside the mansion is during voting season working the polls, and the occasional book sales; but that is always in the back entrance in the basement.

When I arrived home I told my wife we are going to the mansion prior to going to Uncle Bob's. We turned off the lights, locked the doors, and headed up the masion driveway. When we entered the front doors of the mansion, the volunteers greeted us friendly and gave our two boys their treats. I glanced around and was amazed at what I saw. I have lived in this neighborhood for seven years and never once walked into the mansion for the free tour the volunteer staff offer. Well guess what? I think I will take that tour, and that will give me an opportunity to share my experience with the general public. Stay tuned.