Just sharing my love for Philly-based company Rita's Ice. Which up here, is not Italian Ice, but Water Ice. And they pronounce it "wooder" ice. I tried it once last summer in Abington, and didn't have it again until this summer. Blue raspberry in Wilmington got me started, but it's the new Swedish Fish flavor that got me there twice in a week. You get an extra bag of mini Swedish Fish with it. And with a location near you, how can you turn that down?
With that said, I have also hit up Capogiro Gelato recently, as well as every major new tart frozen yogurt with toppings place in town (Yogorino, Phileo, Sweet Ending) in the last two months. summer came a bit late, but it is here and the frozen treats are on.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Forbidden Drive
So last Wednesday, a jogger got killed by a large tree branch falling and hitting her while she was running in Fairmount Park. The story freaked me out because we were the same age, taught in local schools, and lived in the same neighborhood. Oh, and she was also 4th in her high school class (nothing like the little details to really shred your nerves). So I decided to continue with my running routine in preparation for an upcoming 5K, without the use of my iPod while on trails. There I was yesterday afternoon, just jogging along Forbidden Drive (it's a popular jogging trail, not at all forbidden) when I passed by the spot where she died, marked with various crosses. Nothing makes you want to get out of the woods quicker than that, so I decided to head up a hiking trail in an effort to get back to the main roads. As I was emerging back into the sunlight, I noticed a man in a FOX 29 news van. He yelled to offer me a word of warning, which I figured was about falling tree branches or the like.
Nope. Seems there was a reported "attack" on a woman in the same stretch of park near a parking lot a mile down the road. I had inadvertently run to where the press conference about said attack had just finished. He then cautioned me not to run alone. I made it back home and read the story. For some reason, the word attack made me conjur the image of a mugging, or attempted assault where the would-be victim got away. No, this was rape. It reminded me of a Jezebel item about the news media's inability to use the word. It happened before dark in what I thought was a pretty active and popular parking lot. Finally, if you watch the FOX video, the women interviewed say they plan to bring their husbands or other large, burly men along next time they go running. Which leaves us unmarried running ladies with not as many options. I have pepper spray and a cell phone, but no large dog or running partner. Also, I hate treadmills.
Nope. Seems there was a reported "attack" on a woman in the same stretch of park near a parking lot a mile down the road. I had inadvertently run to where the press conference about said attack had just finished. He then cautioned me not to run alone. I made it back home and read the story. For some reason, the word attack made me conjur the image of a mugging, or attempted assault where the would-be victim got away. No, this was rape. It reminded me of a Jezebel item about the news media's inability to use the word. It happened before dark in what I thought was a pretty active and popular parking lot. Finally, if you watch the FOX video, the women interviewed say they plan to bring their husbands or other large, burly men along next time they go running. Which leaves us unmarried running ladies with not as many options. I have pepper spray and a cell phone, but no large dog or running partner. Also, I hate treadmills.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Newspaper update
So I should probably find it ironic (or just sad) that I read about the Philadelphia Inquirer's serious troubles in the New York Times. What's a Big City Without a Newspaper?
But while reading one of my favorite local food blogs, I found this great article from the Inky's Craig LaBan all about hard-shell crabs. And the inevitable drive further south to obtain them. It made me want to incorporate the phrase "regional foodways" into my daily vernacular. Isn't that most of what I write about anyway?
P.S. If nobody's going to click on the funny, interesting or cool buttons, then I'll get rid of thme. But then I expect any lurkers to actually comment once in a while.
But while reading one of my favorite local food blogs, I found this great article from the Inky's Craig LaBan all about hard-shell crabs. And the inevitable drive further south to obtain them. It made me want to incorporate the phrase "regional foodways" into my daily vernacular. Isn't that most of what I write about anyway?
P.S. If nobody's going to click on the funny, interesting or cool buttons, then I'll get rid of thme. But then I expect any lurkers to actually comment once in a while.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
home again home again
I went home to VA last week (albeit briefly) and forgot to have any sweet tea. Sacrilege, I know. But I did have Chesapeake Bay steamed crabs, and encountered beach traffic on I-95 both Friday and Saturday. So 2 out of 3 summer rituals in Virginia were successfully upheld. Thanks to my parents who are probably reading this with their new and exciting broadband.
We're about to get a grocery store right by my office. It's slated to open later this month (probably when all the students come back). My excitement can hardly be contained, because it means an end to the weekly Rite Aid trips. These usually culminate with bags of hot fries for me, pork rinds for my colleague, and too much chocolate and/or soda. This week, we had a taste testing of the new Sour Patch kids in fruit shapes. I'm hanging my head in shame as I write this. Once Fresh Grocer opens, there shall be healthier lunches and snacks around here. I will need to vacate my desk around September when the new AmeriCorps person comes in. Right now, the top middle drawer holds office supplies, the bottom right drawer contains files and important documents, and the top right drawer is home to my snack collection and extra plastic bags I keep meaning to recycle.
If you just read the above paragraph, you may realize that a new AmeriCorps person will be starting here in September, meaning that I am no longer in AmeriCorps. My term ended two weeks ago and it hasn't really hit me yet. I'm still doing the same basic things (teaching summer programs to middle schoolers, helping out with the home visiting paperwork, living in the same place, etc.). I'm waiting for it all to sink in: no more member meetings, no capacity building sessions to plan, no Dexter St. parties or cookouts, many fewer rides on the last bus home. Sigh.
We're about to get a grocery store right by my office. It's slated to open later this month (probably when all the students come back). My excitement can hardly be contained, because it means an end to the weekly Rite Aid trips. These usually culminate with bags of hot fries for me, pork rinds for my colleague, and too much chocolate and/or soda. This week, we had a taste testing of the new Sour Patch kids in fruit shapes. I'm hanging my head in shame as I write this. Once Fresh Grocer opens, there shall be healthier lunches and snacks around here. I will need to vacate my desk around September when the new AmeriCorps person comes in. Right now, the top middle drawer holds office supplies, the bottom right drawer contains files and important documents, and the top right drawer is home to my snack collection and extra plastic bags I keep meaning to recycle.
If you just read the above paragraph, you may realize that a new AmeriCorps person will be starting here in September, meaning that I am no longer in AmeriCorps. My term ended two weeks ago and it hasn't really hit me yet. I'm still doing the same basic things (teaching summer programs to middle schoolers, helping out with the home visiting paperwork, living in the same place, etc.). I'm waiting for it all to sink in: no more member meetings, no capacity building sessions to plan, no Dexter St. parties or cookouts, many fewer rides on the last bus home. Sigh.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Overheard in Philadelphia Potpourri
"You want some fries with that shake?" - 11 year old boys across the street from me up at Fern Rock station. I never thought I would actually hear these words uttered in any measure of seriousness.
"I just wanted to let you ladies know that you are smelling good and looking fine. Mmm yes." - Girard Ave., 9PM. My only scent that evening was Secret antiperspirant, so only part of this compliment could possibly apply to me.
"It's like when you go in your room. What do you do? You close the door." - 12-year-old in one of my classes describing the act of fertilization in an example his friend could understand. The sperm shutting the door to the egg so that no other sperm may enter, for those of you who were unclear.
"Oh, I love Harrisonburg!" - lead singer of Perkasie after I gushed about seeing them last summer at Blue Nile (they'll be playing there again soon). I got to see them on Sunday at the XPoNential Music Festival and am now even more in love with Peter Bjorn & John, among others.
"I just wanted to let you ladies know that you are smelling good and looking fine. Mmm yes." - Girard Ave., 9PM. My only scent that evening was Secret antiperspirant, so only part of this compliment could possibly apply to me.
"It's like when you go in your room. What do you do? You close the door." - 12-year-old in one of my classes describing the act of fertilization in an example his friend could understand. The sperm shutting the door to the egg so that no other sperm may enter, for those of you who were unclear.
"Oh, I love Harrisonburg!" - lead singer of Perkasie after I gushed about seeing them last summer at Blue Nile (they'll be playing there again soon). I got to see them on Sunday at the XPoNential Music Festival and am now even more in love with Peter Bjorn & John, among others.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The best Philly commerical I've seen yet, featuring the Phanatic and a Butterscotch Krimpet. Magical.
Then there's this less magical story about one of my favorite South Philly spots, the mermaid fountain. Way to go, Fumo.
Then there's this less magical story about one of my favorite South Philly spots, the mermaid fountain. Way to go, Fumo.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
running & walking
Philadelphia has inspired me to run again. Of course, I live in the hilliest part of the city, so this may not have been the best athletic decision on my part. It is happening nonetheless as I roughly follow the Couch-to-5K plan. I skipped ahead a little (the former track runner in me needed less walking and more sprinting) and I am running two miles straight on week 5. Perhaps I will end my triumphant completion of 3.1 miles by running up the art museum's steps, Rocky style. Probably not.
Several college friends have visited me here, each with varying degrees of touristy activities in our itinerary. I think Greg P's wins for walking distance, though:
We took the bus from my place to center city around 11AM, getting off at 19th and Chestnut, then walked to Rittenhouse to eat our Wawa breakfast (no food or drink on the bus). We then walked around City Hall and Love Park before heading to Chinatown (10th and Arch). We wanted dim sum and mistakenly believed the restaurant called 'Dim Sum Garden' would have what we were craving. Not so. We decided to order a duck entree (I have frequent duck cravings), and several small appetizers of dumplings and buns. We unknowingly ordered Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings and managed to eat them successfully, which entails poking them with your chopstick and letting some of the soup drain out so that you don't scald your tongue when biting into them.
We had many leftovers and dropped them off at a friend's office refridgerator, only after a trip to CVS for blister pads. I wore the wrong shoes for city gallavanting, that's for sure. We then took a bus from Broad over to 22nd (only 8 blocks but I was in pain) to visit the Mutter Museum. Fetuses in jars, horns growing from heads, and a special exhibit on conjoined twins. After this, it was cocktail hour at Continental in Old City. They were premiering their new martini menu and I had a couple on the sweeter side. There was also partaking of the cheesesteak spring roll, a Philadelphia classic. Then we strolled down to South St., purchased a new pair of sandals for my aching feet, and met up with relatives at Gnocchi, a delightful cash-only Italian BYOB on Passyunk which has a killer recession special.
Total walking distance throughout the day was around 4 miles, give or take. I managed to cross the Mutter off of my 'Philly Bucket List', too. Not bad for a Monday. Pictures of other visitors and happenings (The Roots Picnic on my birthday weekend, happy hours galore, and more) to come.
Several college friends have visited me here, each with varying degrees of touristy activities in our itinerary. I think Greg P's wins for walking distance, though:
We took the bus from my place to center city around 11AM, getting off at 19th and Chestnut, then walked to Rittenhouse to eat our Wawa breakfast (no food or drink on the bus). We then walked around City Hall and Love Park before heading to Chinatown (10th and Arch). We wanted dim sum and mistakenly believed the restaurant called 'Dim Sum Garden' would have what we were craving. Not so. We decided to order a duck entree (I have frequent duck cravings), and several small appetizers of dumplings and buns. We unknowingly ordered Xiao Long Bao, or Shanghai soup dumplings and managed to eat them successfully, which entails poking them with your chopstick and letting some of the soup drain out so that you don't scald your tongue when biting into them.
We had many leftovers and dropped them off at a friend's office refridgerator, only after a trip to CVS for blister pads. I wore the wrong shoes for city gallavanting, that's for sure. We then took a bus from Broad over to 22nd (only 8 blocks but I was in pain) to visit the Mutter Museum. Fetuses in jars, horns growing from heads, and a special exhibit on conjoined twins. After this, it was cocktail hour at Continental in Old City. They were premiering their new martini menu and I had a couple on the sweeter side. There was also partaking of the cheesesteak spring roll, a Philadelphia classic. Then we strolled down to South St., purchased a new pair of sandals for my aching feet, and met up with relatives at Gnocchi, a delightful cash-only Italian BYOB on Passyunk which has a killer recession special.
Total walking distance throughout the day was around 4 miles, give or take. I managed to cross the Mutter off of my 'Philly Bucket List', too. Not bad for a Monday. Pictures of other visitors and happenings (The Roots Picnic on my birthday weekend, happy hours galore, and more) to come.
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