On Location

Transformers 2 edition.

by Adam Erace

Of all the flicks filming in Philly this summer, I’m most excited about one in particular: the sequel to the amazing—moment of silence, please—Transformers.

Though seeing our fair town on the silver screen never fails to make my heart go pitter-patter, Marley & Me and Happy Tears are as likely to make it into my Netflix queue as In Her Shoes. But Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? I’m all over that like Megatron on the allspark. Sharon Pinkenson, you Goldilocked minx of the Philly Film Office you, muchas gracias for luring Michael Bay and those lovable robots in disguise to our humble streets. One thing’s for sure: Some shit is about to get blown up, and little gets the appetite going like explosions.

How fortuitous that filming starts off at Penn before heading off to Ivy rival Princeton. Cowinkydink, Shia LaBeouf! I too am of the Quaker persuasion, and I can tell you from personal experience that eating on campus is a good time—and I don’t mean just at one of the sorority houses.

The backbone of Penn dining is the food truck scene, mobile gypsy camps that sell everything from fresh honeydew to falafel to chicken tikka. Get in line with the HUP residents and overachieving summer classers at the MexiPhilly truck at 37th and Spruce. Bundled in a plancha-blistered tortilla envelope, the overstuffed sweet potato burrito was the reason I rarely made it to Comm 130 on time.

Nutella makes all things better at the Crepewalk truck across the street, where a friendly Greek couple spreads the love on thick, or check out Penn’s firmly entrenched Chinese truck rivalry between the Real Le Ahn and the Original Le Ahn. Most important: The bacon-egg-and-cheese on a long soft hoagie roll at Hemo’s. It sounds unexceptional, but you’ll thank me when you’re hungover with an early call.

Avoid Wharton as you head west. Investigate the ethnic scenes at Pattaya (Thai), Fatou & Fama (Senegalese), Dahlak (Ethiopian) and Vietnam Café (Vietnamese), where speedy servers deliver peanut-dusted pork meatballs, effervescent limeade and mountains of minty squid com tom. They could probably give Bumblebee a tune-up too if you ask nicely.

Also heard you were filming in the Italian Market. Nice choice, Michael Bay. Duck into Fante’s for a cappuccino granita when the Ninth Street stickiness and odor starts getting to you. Celebratory drinks should go down at nearby James—a must, brother.

Megan Fox, only one dinner suggestion for you: my house, 8 o’clock. A little Cinnamon Toast Crunch, a little Ketel One. Whaddaya say, my tall drink of wrong-side-of-the-tracks hotness? I’ll send a car. Didn’t you hear? Philly’s scary.