Disclaimer: I don't know that much about Italian food. It was only about a month ago that I learned how to pronounce gnocchi, and I'm still not entirely sure what prosciutto is. (Google tells me it's ham, but I'm not convinced) Basically, I'm pretty easy to please.

Old Original Bookbinder's has been a Philadelphia institution for over 140 years. It's been in the family of current owner John Taxin since his grandfather raised the money to buy it from it's founders. According to Taxin, his grandpa worked at the grocer across the street and ate lobster at Bookbinder's every day, breakfast and lunch.

Prepare to embark on a journey to the legendary Cote d'Azur. Located in the heart of Old City near 4th and Market streets, Patou Restaurant and Bar will allow the Philadelphia resident to be transported to the land "blessed by the gods" through both its decor and dishes.

At La Terrasse, food is art. This, mind you, is coming from a person who loves to scoff at those establishments that serve you meager amounts of food decorated with superfluous frills, all while charging you an arm and a leg. But at La Terrasse, you get what you pay for - which in this case was simply a superb culinary experience.

My tongue walked into a creamy winter wonderland with a 1908 soda shop feel. Franklin Fountain, a small "ice cream saloon" on the corner of Letitia and Market streets in Old City, flings you into a timeless vortex of sundaes, phosphates and ice cream sodas The shop was opened a few years ago by Ryan and Eric Berley, two brothers who traveled across the country every year and compiled their ideas, along with those of the rest of their staff, to create the old-fashioned candies and goods supplied at the store.

Beyond the pizza joints whose main draw is their cold beer, Italian dining near Penn's campus is hard to find. Little do most students know that across the Walnut Street Bridge, exists an option for finer Italian cuisine. Salento, located just before 22nd Street, offers students willing to spend a few extra dollars the chance to experience the tastes that made Italian food ubiquitous in American culture.

When Brian Voelker was hired as the men's lacrosse coach before the 2003 season, he took the helm of a program that had not been to the NCAA tournament in 13 years. But within four years, he had taken his Quakers there twice. Now, if Penn wants to return to the postseason after last year's absence, Voelker will have to navigate a boatload of young talent through a harsh regular-season schedule.

If you believe in saving the best for last, a trip to Sazon Restaurant and Cafe is definitely in order. Sazon, a Venezuelan BYO located at 10th and Spring Garden streets, offers a delicious assortment of appetizers and entrees, but the highlight of any trip there is the chocolate caliente that follows the meal.

Penn may be guilty of its share of faults this season, but it can't be accused of lacking intensity during Ivy play. This weekend's two games at the Palestra were no exception. Coming off last Tuesday's foul-fest of a win against Princeton - in which the teams combined for 52 fouls and four technicals - Penn's game lost none of its physical character.

It is no wonder the restaurant named for the landmark city of Morocco is also a landmark of fine cuisine in Philadelphia. Located off of Fourth and South streets, an auspicious alley conceals this gem of high-dining. Immediately after being greeted at the door by a fez-wearing host, you will notice how the traditional Moroccan decor reflects the authenticity of the cuisine.

Several Web sites that require users to log in with their PennKeys for access - including PennPortal and Blackboard - were unavailable for several hours on Sunday afternoon due to problems with the server that allows for PennKey authentication, according to Robin Beck, vice president for information systems and computing.

Thhhwack! That's the sound of bare skin against foam padding as I smack the daylights out of an oncoming assailant. Don't worry. Hidden behind the pads is none other than my smiling instructor, Michelle Ray. This simple exercise is part of my first lesson in physical self-defense.

Who knew SEPTA went to Turkey? While I've never actually been to the land of hummus and ottomans, Konak restaurant certainly met my expectations. Owners Melek Basaran and her daughter Aysa Atay have transformed one of Old City's many cramped buildings into a palace.

Pennsylvania's putting all its votes in one basket. A recent report issued by Common Cause and the Verified Voting Foundation identified the Keystone State as one of 17 states at "high risk" for voting-machine problems. The reason? While voting machines in Pa.

Achieving an atmosphere that is both cozy and sleek can be a difficult task. But for Twenty Manning, a neighborhood bistro whose menu combines traditional American cuisine with Asian-inspired dishes, doing two things at once seems to be no problem. Tucked into 20th Street between Spruce and Locust streets, the restaurant maintains the elegance of the surrounding Rittenhouse Square.

With the addition of the Radian to residential options, sororities are having an unusually difficult time filling their houses for next year. Because rush occurs during the spring, many girls have already signed contracts for housing next semester. Most off-campus leases are signed during the fall, as are contracts for in-house room change.

Several Nursing students may be traveling to rural areas in Honduras - but that won't stop them from blogging about it. As part of the Nursing course, Infant and Maternal Care in the Americas, nine Nursing undergraduate and graduate students will help out in underserved communities in Honduras to improve health care, particularly in midwifery, for two weeks this May.