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By AML Publisher
Photos by Life Art Imaging

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and for Center City restaurant owner and bachelor Joe Beckham, the opportunity came knockin’ in the form of our new summer singles column with AroundMainLine.com. We’ve been putting feelers out with our connections and friends and when Beckham’s name surfaced not once but four times as a top single in the city, we had to give the Wyndmoor native a call. So, we are excited to highlight Beckham as the first eligible and sensational single-in what I know will be a well-received series.

The 36-year-old baby-faced entrepreneur is 6’3”, with brown curly hair, soft blue eyes and a sensational personality to match. Beckham resides in Fairmount but you can find him most Sundays at home having dinner with his family in Ambler-parents, sister and grandmother included. The next lucky lady who gets to wine and dine with Beckham and the ‘rents’ better come prepared for a sophisticated dinner experience. “We are a family who loves conversation. There is nothing idle about our family chitchat. It’s like the McLaughlin Group -my mother will lead the charge on politics and my father on religion. I try to play the devil’s advocate, and my sister is the voice of compassion. Dinner at the Beckham house is not for the faint of heart. You have to know your history, your vocabulary, and your rhetorical skills must be honed. Otherwise you can probably get by if you can do a funny accent that will make us all laugh,” Beckham explained.

Beckham opened Alfa Bar, an upscale pub, in April of 2006 with longtime friend Giancarlo DiPasquale after they launched the Walnut Room on the second floor of the property the year before. “I try to keep my friends close, but it proves more and more difficult as I get older. My closest friend Giancarlo is my business partner-we’ve known each other since childhood. Working in the restaurant industry together has made us more into ‘war buddies’ than childhood friends,” said Beckham. Singles, and for that matter all discriminating diners looking for a great night out in the toniest section of Rittenhouse, can choose from a sensational small plate menu (at Beckham’s Alfa) and an eclectic, American main menu including: Crispy Baby Eel Fritters with Lemon ($6), Blackened Chicken Quesadilla with Oxaca Cheese and Bacon ($13), Ahi Tuna Slider with Avocado, Tomato and Lemon Pepper Aioli ($17), Grilled Pesto Chicken Sandwich on Ciabata with Provolone and Garlic Aioli ($12), and Guinness Bread Pudding with Jameson Crème Anglais ($7).

As for Beckham, he wants to dispel the myth that working in the restaurant industry in one of America’s largest cities gives him a daily opportunity to meet a number of women. “I am very focused at work, running Alfa, so it’s not really the environment in which I am going to meet someone. There are so many misconceptions about the (restaurant) business because a lot of people get into it for the attention and glamour-and that’s not why I do what I do. It’s a career for me-I’ve worked in restaurants since I was very young and I’m not relaxed enough at work to shift gears that way. I think it’s important to keep that part of my life separate. But, I want people to know that I don’t work all the time, another industry misconception, and I have the time in my life to find and date an exceptional woman.”

Get to Know Joe

Age: 36

Hometown: Wyndmoor, PA

High School: Springfield (Montgomery County)

Occupation: Owner of Alfa Bar, Center City

Sign: Sagittarius

What Are You Looking for in a Woman? Balance, for one. This is crucial for all of us. (See the Greek concept of the Golden Mean) The other thing I look for in a woman is summed up perfectly in Jack Nicholson’s line, “You make me want to be a better man.” Finally, she’s gotta dig on poets – Baudelaire and Rilke would be enough.

What Makes a Great First Date? I have witnessed many first dates, and many last dates in my years in the restaurant business. I have come to the conclusion that the vast majority of bad restaurant experiences occur because we go to restaurants with people we don’t like. Therefore, if I am into the person we could go to Chili’s; we could go to a dirt track race; we could get drive thru from a Sonic and I wouldn’t really care.

My First Kiss Was: Messy

First Time My Heart Was Broken …It was well deserved

In High School I Was: A Thespian Nerd

Faith: Nothing organized. If I had to describe it I would probably say it was a blend of Taoist transcendentalism mixed with Spinoza’s quasi-Christian ethos.

Political Affiliation: Progressive with oscillations between Rand and Hayek

Voted For: Obama

Celebrity Look Alike: I hear one of the guys from Wings

Female Celebrity Dream Date: Monica Belluci

Biggest Misconception About Me Is: I work all the time

Favorite Sports Teams: Fightin’ Phils

Favorite Philadelphia Professional Athlete: Ron Hextall

Wheels: 1999 Toyota Tacoma

Secret Date Spot in the City: I will absolutely not tell! That being said, the bar at XIX (at the Bellevue) is always nice.

Describe What You Would Make a Date for Dinner at Home? Simple in the summer: Marinate calamari and throw it on the grill, caprese salad, then some pasta basilica. I’ll have some Italian white on hand, preferably the Jerman Tunina, but I will probably be drinking the High Life in pony bottles.

Favorite Jersey Shore Town? I don’t really do the Shore. I am more of a mountains kind of guy. When I go away, I like it to be very quiet and very serene.

My Mom Would Say I Am: The best son she has

My Friends Would Describe Me As: Just this guy, you know?

Kiss on a First Date? I’m sorry, did I just time warp back to 1956?

Five Bands on My iPod Today: Fela Kuti, the Kooks, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Death From Above 1979, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Favorite Musician: Frank Black

Favorite Morning Radio Station: NPR

Thing About Philly I Love the Most: The Parking Authority because it brings all Philadelphians together in an unbreakable bond of mutual hatred.

Philadelphia is a City of: Magnificent Potential

Most Attractive Physical Part of A Woman Is: I’m an enthusiast, so all the parts are great.

I can’t stand women who: Fortunately, I never have to stand women; they seem to do a pretty good job of standing for themselves these days. So I guess the answer is I can’t stand a woman who can’t stand for herself, metaphorically speaking of course…

I love women who: Eat, drink, smile, laugh, play, and aren’t afraid of getting dirty

Favorite Food: Batali’s Truffled Egg Toast from Enoteca – but they make a pretty decent one at Tria too.

Favorite Cocktail: The Boodles Gibson but the onions have to be just the right size and not too sweet and very crunchy, and the Boodles can’t be shaken and I have to be at the bar at Caesars in Vegas.

Favorite BYOB In the City: Matyson is always good, but to be fair I rarely go to them because the damn things close their kitchens way too early for me. They also don’t open on Mondays. I really want to try the new Melangrano. I love their space.

Favorite Coffee Shop: The Beehive – South Side, Pittsburgh

Best Way to Spend a Sunday Afternoon: Hiking in Utah

What About the “M” word? If the right person comes along, I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to the idea.

If you could ask a Philadelphia TV personality out on a date who would it be? Sorry ladies, but it would be a ‘man-date’ with the late, great Harry Kalas. We would watch a double header at The Dive (so he could smoke), and at the end of the night I would put him back in a cab to Heaven.

I make a great catch because: I had so much practice playing right field in Little League. (Layers of meaning, people…layers of meaning)

Favorite Movies: Glengarry Glen Ross, All Cohen Bros but Barton Fink in particular, Empire Strikes Back, Amelie (for the girls), Caddyshack, Life of Brian

Date Pet Peeves: I am really, fundamentally, truly and wholly not interested in your ex-boyfriend. I’m sure it was traumatic, or there were good times-or there was really this funny story once. But please, keep it all under your hat. This was a public service announcement brought to you by all men, everywhere.

When I date a woman they can expect: To come to my rescue when I forget EVERYBODY’s name. Also, you might have to listen to one or two of my harebrained schemes, sorry.

Joe Beckham is the owner of Alfa Bar, Restaurant and Lounge located on 1709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. For restaurant or lounge reservations, call 215-751-0201 or check out their website at alfa-bar.com. Alfa is open 5pm-2am, 7 days a week with their kitchen open till 1am. Joe Beckham is active on Facebook.

Want to nominate a sensational single for AroundMainLine.com to consider? Email: singles@aroundmainline.com with a picture and a maximum 50 word description. Singles can reside anywhere throughout the Delaware Valley, minimum age required is 21. Nominations will be kept strictly confidential.