The Artful Dodger is a quaint eating and drinking establishment where the weary pub crawler can belly up to the bar and enjoy a pint of his/her favorite brew. On the weekends, there is live music playing in the dining area.  Unfortunately my photo of the place (above) is upstaged by a parking sign. Hey what can I say, I thought about running the thing over with my car, but I didn't want to ruin my cherry paint job.   

The Artful Dodger is actually 2 townhouses under one roof. If you enter the left entrance, a bar runs the length of the room, with a path about 6 feet wide leading to a dart board and unisex bathroom. Yeah there's been a few occasions where I almost impaled a person either exiting or entering "the can." It just makes going to the bathroom all that more fun and exciting. At the back of the room a doorway leads into the dining room area which is where you would be if you came in through the right entrance off of 2nd Street. 

The dining room area is where the live musical acts perform. Practically every time that I have visited the Dodger, the dining room area was standing room only . The acts that perform are usually local talent, most likely one or two guitarists providing music that is the perfect accompaniment to a nice pint of Guinness or whatever else you enjoy drinking. They tuck the live acts in one corner of the room, right in front of the bay window store front with a good view by all. The seating in the dining room area is a bit odd. The Dodger has these huge cafeteria tables that look like something the Vikings might have used (thick wood and they seat 10 people). I just have this thing about sharing a table with strangers when I'm dining or checking out the live music. Not to worry thought, there are a few booths located around the room too, but get there early to land a seat in one of these primo seats. 

If the live music isn’t to your liking you can travel to the other side of the establishment into the bar area where the bartenders throw a mix tape in a cassette player. They have a couple of TV's hanging up on that side too in case you get bored or want to watch a late Phillies game. 

True to it’s Olde City pedigree, the interior of the Dodger contains wood paneling half way up the wall, a huge Guinness mirror on the wall, and a great looking old fashioned wooden bar. Sure you'll find some bric-a-brac hanging on the walls around the entire establishment but it works. This bar is a definite stop if you happen to be in the South Street/Olde City Area. 

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