Run-A-Muck & Countryside Bash

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at Heartwood in Newtown Square for an event hosted by the Willistown Conservation Trust. After a 5K run/walk through the countryside, Victory beer and chili-filled bread bowls were served beneath a giant white tent. I'd say there were an equal number of kids as there were doggies as there were adults. A mechanical bull, a band, and a basket crane that lifted us up to the sky were the main attractions... at first. Later on, a hay fight erupted amongst the kids that captured everyone's attention.

Our team! I was at Run-A-Muck to support Sunshine Landscaping's new business endeavor: Vegetable Gardens R Us. The team also included our English Springer Spaniel, whose name is Emma :)

What's Up, Philly?

Credit: Christian Carollo of photoblog Picture Philly

A few weeks ago, two of my girl friends from Pitt came to visit me in my hometown. Mary is from southern West Virginia, and Kristina was raised in Latrobe, near Pittsburgh. Neither of them had ever been to Philadelphia.

I grew up in Malvern, Pennsylvania. That's in Chester County, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia referred to as the Main Line. Malvern is less than 30 miles from Center City; about a 40 minute drive, depending on traffic. Throughout my life I had gone into Philadelphia for many reasons: museums, field trips, sporting events, parties, restaurants, concerts... Even when I was in school in Pittsburgh I drove home once every 4 to 6 weeks, and often made the trip into the city to see friends. 

Which is why I was surprised to learn that my friends had never been before. It's true that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are about as far east and as far west as you can get in Pennsylvania, respectively. It's a 300 mile drive on the Interstate from one to the other. Yet I felt that at some time or another most Philadelphians would have visited Pittsburgh and vice versa. Apparently not. These cities are very different and have distinct cultures, not to mention a heated sports rivalry. Even I have to admit that before enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh, I knew absolutely nothing about whatever lie west of Harrisburg. 

Anyhow, to prepare for Kristina and Mary's visit, I thought hard about the best things to do in my city, the City of Brotherly Love. And this list is what I came up with. Here are some of the best things for students to do in Philadelphia year-round.

ART

Philadelphia Museum of Art   A world-class collection in a beautiful building. Take the back exit for a view of Boathouse Row. $14 for students, closed on Mondays. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, click here for more information.

Barnes Foundation   So long as your tickets are reserved in advance, you will enjoy a wonderful and uniquely curated collection at Barnes. $10 for students, closed on Tuesdays. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, click here for more information. 

FOOD

Reading Terminal Market   This year marks the 120th anniversary of the historic Reading Terminal farmer's market. Given its location in center city beside major hotels, bus and train terminals, this indoor market could well be your first or last stop during your visit. Although the booths can be hit-or-miss, there are several established and consistently delicious food stands worth visiting. [I suggest ending with Bassett's Ice Cream or Hope's Cookies!]  51 North 12th Street, click here for more information. 

Pat's and Geno's   Ahh, the Philly cheesesteak. True, you've probably tried one elsewhere, but it only hails from one place. If you end up in South Philly for any reason, you cannot leave without trying either Pat's King of Steaks or Geno's Steaks. Decide if you want your cheesesteak 'wit' or 'wit-out' onions and what kind of 'whiz' (cheese) you're going for. As far as the best cheesesteak in Philly goes, Cathy of food blog Gastronomy said it best: "While there are definitely superior cheesesteaks to be eaten in Philadelphia, it's Pat and Geno who get the most press and accolades due to their hilarious rivalry and close proximity." It's time to take a side. Head to 9th Street and East Passyunk Avenue and you'll find them both. 

MUSIC

Theater of Living Arts   Converted from a single-screen movie theater into a small concert venue, the TLA on South Street has something going on almost every night of the week. See up-and-coming acts like Emeli Sandé, White Panda, and Kimbra, as well as bigger names like Newfound Glory, Waka Flocka Flame and Owl City. 334 South Street, click here for more information. 

Trocadero   The Troc is located on the border between Center City and China Town and can boast that it is "the only 19th century Victorian theater still in operation in the United States." It is only very slightly larger than the TLA. This fall Bloc Party, Stephen Marley, and Sean Paul will all be playing here.  1003 Arch Street, click here for more information. 

Electric Factory   Before you ask, yes it was converted from an electric factory... into one of the biggest venues in Philly. Look to the Electric Factory for a constant line-up of big names in music. In the next two months catch Tyga, Alanis Morissette, Citizen Cope, and Taking Back Sunday will be getting down on this stage.  421 N. 7th Street, click here for more information. 

Mann Center   The Mann Center for Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization. This Fairmount Park concert venue can seat 5000 people inside (not to mention outdoor and lawn seating) and presents a range of music and performance art from classical to contemporary. Upcoming events include Bon Iver, Animal Collective, and Disco Biscuits. 5201 Parkside Avenue, click here for more information. 

HISTORY/LANDMARKS

John F. Kennedy Plaza   It's a simple park, with a large fountain and plenty of steps and benches (occasionally being used by the homeless). What makes this tiny plaza special? It's former reputation as a beloved skateboarding locale and, oh yeah, the LOVE sculpture designed by Robert Indiana. You've just gotta snap that touristy picture (or pay the hustlers there $1 to do it for you.) Intersection of 16th Street and John J. Kennedy Boulevard.

Historic Philadelphia   Philadelphia used to be the capital of our great nation and is home to such historical gems as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Both of these sites are free to visit (though timed tickets required to tour Independence Hall). My favorite place to go for history is the third museum on Independence Mall: the National Constitution Center. There is a charge for admission ($13 for students) but I think it's worth it. Constitution Center at 525 Arch Street. Independence Hall & Cracked Bell at 6th and Chestnut. 

SHOPPING

Rittenhouse Square   It may surprise you to learn that Philadelphia was named one of the World's 10 Best Cities for Parks by Frommer's. Rittenhouse Park is just one small park among many, but it is a peaceful lunch spot in Center City, surrounded by luxurious hotels. It also marks the beginning of some great shopping. Walnut Street, which branches off of the park, as well as Chestnut Street, which is one block away and runs parallel to Walnut, are probably two of the the chicest and highest-density streets in the city for shopping. BONUS: In Pennsylvania, clothing is tax-free! Check out visitphilly.com's ideal three-day shopping itinerary.

South Street   When visiting South Street, I usually begin around 10th and wander all the way down to the Pier over the Delaware River. If you come here to shop, you'll find plenty of delightfully counter-cultural stores to explore. Try Condom Kingdom for laughs (read: penis pasta); I also like Garland of Letters and Retrospect Vintage. In between thrift shops and hookah bars, there are plenty of spots to grab a bite or a beer. On the cheaper side, Johnny Rockets and Lorenzo's are reliable. Keep an eye out for the tile and mirror mosaics on alley walls.  ***Note: Lorenzo's is recovering from a fire this June - Get Better Soon!

SPORTS

If driving to the stadiums is too daunting - or you don't have a car to tailgate with - there are other ways to reach the stadiums. Either take the subway (Broad Street Line southbound from Center City) or hail a taxi; neither option will break the bank. Standing room tickets can be found cheap. Be prepared for, ahem, passionate fans.

Citizens Bank Park   Catch a Phillies game from April to September. Click here for more information. 
Wells Fargo Center   Watch our fly boys knock the puck around from October to April.  Click here for more information. 
Lincoln Financial Field   E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! Watch 'em fly from September to December. Click here for more information. 

For special events and seasonal or once-a-year occurrences, the best websites to check are Philadelphia Magazine and Uwishunu (the official tourism blog of Philadelphia).

The Color Me Rad 5K

Photos from the sold out race to benefit the Special Olympics in Fairmount Park this morning.

The before, and the after.

"Does this shirt make my butt look fast?"

My whole body still looks like this... despite a vigorous loofah-ing with exfoliating scrub. 

It was totally worth it!

Off to the Races

The 82nd annual Radnor Hunt Horse Races, that is. A reason to masquerade as a prep, stroll around the well-manicured club hunting grounds, and drink all afternoon with many of Philadelphia society's best.

At Radnor Hunt, the yearly theme is a challenge to patrons. Awards are given for the most creative tailgates and outrageous hats. Last year the theme was "The Great American Novel," and this year: "Islands Big and Small." I found Treasure Island, Hawaii, Great Britain, and the Galapagos, and the winner was Fantasy Island (I have family members who serve on the panel of judges and they were completely charmed by it). 

I watched the first steeplechase race from my preferred perch on the swing on the hilltop by the clubhouse. They were off to a worrisome start with riders thrown at jumps and errant ponies trotting around the track; more than half of the jockeys were dismounted before the finish. I think we were all anxious to see more successful races later on! Here are some photos from Saturday afternoon:

In all my preppy glory with the obligatory hat, pearls, and Lily Pulitzer linen dress; with friends Misty and Marc and sister Amanda

Samples for the tailgate judges!

Ba-dum... ba-dum, ba-dum... 

["Two notes, and you've created a villain!" - Jack Black in the Holiday]

My beautiful neighbors, a couple of ladies getting their sugar fix!

Group photo of the tailgate winners - congratulations, folks! 

 The carriage parade

A candid shot of my race day crew ;)

Dreaming in Color

I just signed up for the COLOR ME RAD 5K, which comes to Philadelphia on Sunday June 17th.

Admittedly, I am not the greatest runner. But that hasn't stopped me in the past - last year I was able to finish two races: the annual Firemen's 5K in Ventnor, NJ (officially known as the Kenny Wayland Memorial Run) and ZTA's 5K for Breast Cancer in West Chester, PA (see below).

Me, my brother and my mom post-race. One woman was wearing a shirt that read across the chest: "Yes, they're fake. The real ones tried to kill me." That was a highlight.

So if you need a reason to get in shape, if you want to raise money for the Special Olympics, or if you just want to be covered in rainbow chalk as you struggle to the finish line after running upwards of three miles, COME JOIN ME for a run in Fairmount Park! This should get interesting...

Van Gogh Up Close

My beauteous sister Amanda outside the Museum

The collection in Philadelphia was full of sunflowers and Japanese-inspired landscapes. I was struck by the movement in his still life paintings of pears and apples. There was a disturbingly dark hued emperor monarch towards the end that was very memorable. Highlights for my brothers included Undergrowth with Two Figures and Road Menders at Saint-Rémy. 


I really preferred "Van Gogh Up Close" to the last exhibition, "Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus," because it was more varied and more imaginative. The subject and the colors were the same for nearly all of Rembrandt's portraits: the head of a man painted in brown and black. The mood and the tone were in stark contrast to the gorgeous August weather outside when my father took me to see it. 


I CANNOT WAIT to see the next exhibition: Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia (opening June 20th)! An earthly paradise, or arcadia, sounds just like heaven to me. 

This Week I'm Loving

"What's this?! A new blog post?! Whatever could this mean?!"

Drumroll, please......... I've decided to resurrect my blog from its three-month hiatus!

I am very excited to return to the blogosphere. With two months to readjust to my American lifestyle, I finally feel able to resume my beloved semi-regular posts.

"But why did you stop?"

The obvious answer would be: I stopped blogging because this was ostensibly a travel blog, and I was no longer abroad. Another acceptable answer might be: I am overwhelmed by written assignments as it is. I am a full time student (Psychology major, Comparative Political Science minor, French Language and Culture minor, Certificate in Western European Studies) and a communications intern in the Study Abroad Office - which translates to tons of reading and writing for school, as well as publishing a monthly newsletter for Pitt students abroad. Throwing a blog into the mix seemed too daunting.

"That's understandable. So what made you change your mind?"

Really, this is what I am passionate about - and who says that you need to leave home to travel? I love to try new things, which in a way makes me a tourist even in my home state. Furthermore, blogging does not have to be a huge commitment. What I can commit to is this: Every Monday I'll give you a snapshot of what's inspiring me and what my week looks like, and maybe later in the week I can follow up with a more in-depth post about one of the restaurants, books, or events.

We'll take things slow until graduation on April 29th, after which I'll be making new travel plans (which will involve a passport, I promise). Stay tuned!
________________________________________________________________

Food: Fork Restaurant, Philadelphia and Morimoto Restaurant, Philadelphia

On Saturday, I'll be visiting the Philadelphia International Flower Show in center city. Afterwards my parents, my sister and I plan to dine at Fork, where our family friend Terence Feury is the Chef. I'll also have the chance to try Morimoto, one of the twenty Stephen Starr restaurants in Philadelphia, before heading to the Art Museum for some colorful post-Impressionism. 

Event: The Van Gogh Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Van Gogh's vibrant sunflowers and evocative paintings of the countryside in Provence always bring me back to those five months in Aix. I had the chance to visit Saint-Rémy for a long lunch chez Lolo, just across the street from the hospital where Vincent painted Starry Night. The collection is on tour in Philadelphia through May 6, 2012.

Book: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Film: The Counterfeiters
A very good movie about a Jewish counterfeiter named Solomon, or Sally, who is forced to produce counterfeit money to fund the Nazi war effort. He chooses his team from among the concentration camp inmates, saving them all from the physical labor and humiliation to which the other prisoners are subjected, but introducing a new kind of moral dilemma: would they rather die than continue to work with the knowledge that their project is prolonging the war?