Blogger Challenge, Day Three - Something Pretty

For the first time since I was 17 years old, I honestly have no idea if I will have enough money in my bank account to pay June’s rent. Yet, I still really want to buy something at this weekend’s Art Star Craft Bazaar. What is wrong with me?

As much as I want to appear consistently optimistic, meticulously organized and all around put together, I recently reached a new point of surrender. It’s embarrassing and I’m cringing at the idea of putting my brutally honest business out there into cyberspace where I have been carefully crafting my personal brand for the past year. But the weight on my shoulders has finally made me cave and I’m tired of hiding in a corner of isolation, afraid that you may see me sweat. There is freedom at reaching a bottom, as there is nowhere lower you can sink.

A year ago, I was an independent woman making a $140k salary, eating lunch in fancy restaurants, buying a new pair of heels every weekend, summering in the Hamptons, writing short stories, blissfully in love and living between a Union Square apartment and a garden townhouse in Old City.

In the last year, I lost my job, filed for unemployment for the first time, moved in with my boyfriend, lost my boyfriend, and got back together with my boyfriend. He broke his foot in four places, can no longer work and has moved into my apartment so I can look after him. Within a few short months, I’ve become unemployed, uninsured, a nurse and maid to a reluctant relationship, and someone that wears flats and goes to Ikea for Memorial Day.

I share this humiliation with you because I’m guessing I’m not the only one out there determined to survive. A legion of others are trying to keep it together, holding on by the last string, eating sandwiches for dinner and making coffee at home. We are all survivors.

When I was seventeen, I ran away from home and spent the next year sleeping on seat cushions I stole off my mother’s garden furniture. I woke up at 5:30 AM to make Lattes, worked 9 to 5 at Costco running SKU numbers, spent my evenings selling furniture at the Tacoma Mall and managed the apartment complex where I was living on “I” street. One day a week, I volunteered at the pound hosing down dog kennels. After time, I started my own business, paid my way through college and graduate school, and healed my family relationships. I survived.

When I was twenty-eight I moved to Washington DC with my fiancé and my Masters in International Relations. No one would hire me, I lost the fiancé to a horrible cheating accident, I lost my home, and I was fired from two waitressing jobs within two weeks of one another. Eventually, I was cast on a reality TV show, offered a fat salary for a job in Manhattan, moved to a charming exposed brick apartment in Union Square and started hanging out with supermodels. I survived.

This recent adventure of misfortune will be no different. Already, the experience has deepened my relationships, challenged me as a girlfriend, strengthened me as a female mentor and planted the seeds of a lucrative business plan. You see, no matter how far down I’ve gone, I’ve always been able to pull myself back up on my feet and be a better person for my suffering.

We will survive. I will survive. And I might even be able to buy something pretty at the Art Star Craft Bazaar. It just has to be something cheap.

One fish, two fish...

I don't have much today, but since I've had jewelry on the mind I thought I would share these lovelies which are currently in the display case at Anthropologie on Walnut Street. Wouldn't they be great to wear for a big evening out? So quirky and dramatic, I declare them to be must haves.

Now Anthro, all you have to do is mark them 75% off. In which case, they will be on my ears tomorrow night!

ah, the humanity!

My life is full of confessions, professions of love and faith, avowals and disavowals offered by friends and strangers. Each one is a novel in a sentence, and I'll share just a few: the test was positive, on our first try. My friend died yesterday. If he moves to Florida, our son won't even remember him. I always cry at weddings. If he ever hurts my kids I'll kill him. I lost my job. I love my job. It's been six months since my last cigarette. It's been six months since I got the new liver. His hands were shaking and I felt a tear fall on my cheek. She was the perfect type for me. We had already given away the baby things. We kept a few little things, even after. I wondered if I'd ever wake up.

So many lives to write, so many stories!

The Highs and Lows of Strong Opinions

Everybody has an opinion and I am on the internet to read as many as I can and appropriate them for my nefarious uses. Some opinions I reshape and then restate as my own. These opinions rarely find new territory, but restate the obvious. Examples include #twittertrendofthemoment or a fresh opinion 5 days ago that now sounds cliche (eg. "nuke North Korea."). Parenthetical opinions are my particular favorite because one can hue factual content with shades of emotional unbalance (excessive traffic on 95 is ruining my life).

Sometimes other people's opinions seem necessary, almost important to one's functioning in daily life. And that is what the review is for me. Without someone else's opinion out it first, I rarely can enjoy a movie, a restaurant, a tourist attraction or even a date. I am devoted to reviews to the point where they sometimes are more satisfying than the real thing.

A really good review can spoiled the experience that is reviewed and I mean that in the best way. Sometimes it is good to be spoiled for the experience because then we have a reference point for our pleasure or pain. "Oh, Racer X reviewer was dead on about how the precious cinematography distanced me from the splatter of viscera." Or thank God this dorky reviewer, who I imagine as my only friend also disliked Star Trek.

For opinions that while not always credible, but rarely boring, I go to Yelp.com. Here I go to learn bits and pieces of a restaurant, attraction, or neighborhood so I can have a better experience. I've used Yelp specifically to pick an entree, lessen my fear of a trendy bathroom, or get the basic details of a place. There are some regular contributors to Yelp who are like columnists there. @Chrissmari is my favorite of people of that ilk. She is a goddess (trollop?) of the internet because she gets around.

Day 3 - Blogger Challenge

"Gentleman, Start Your Engines!"

Tonight it is a race against time to get this blog up and meet the challenge deadline of midnight. I'm counting on this challenge to bring my writing back to life. Right now it's road kill, bleeding profusely and barely moving on the side of the cyber-highway.While I know that today the pen weighs ten tons, tomorrow will be easier. That is just the way it goes with writing.

When I first started to blog in 2005, my blogs read like diary entries - Really juicy stories of an exciting New York life. I didn’t proofread or spell check, there was rarely a point, and the writing style was inconsistent and, well, pretty much sucked. Over time that changed.

With practice, stories began to emerge with beginnings, middles and ends. I established a consistent voice and developed my writing style. Publishing daily really elevated my writing and I hope that this challenge will have the same effect.

Writing has been a safe spot most my life. When I was a troubled teenager, I wrote through a lot of my more difficult life stories. I poured my anger and shame into wide ruled pages of a spiral notebook that I hid under my bed. In my twenties, I cataloged every love, every date and every painful moment of rejection. My early thirties are saved in a file on my desktop marked “Daily Log”.

Since I stopped blogging daily, I keep my daily log filled with stories, feelings, ramblings, rants and prayers. I write them as if no one will ever read them. I don’t try to tell a story, I just try to fill the page and in the process empty out every negative thought or fear being harbored in my brain. I also use the pages to be grateful and appreciate all the gifts in my life. Writing outside of the safety of my log is a little bit scary. Am I ready to let the outside world back into my fragile heart?

I don't know if I'm quite ready, but it's time to just jump. Over the years, writing has been my very best friend. Sometimes I stray, but she is always waiting for me with open arms whenever I wish to come back. It’s been a tough year and I need her more than ever.

Let's get blogging and see where this challenge takes us!

A Fashion Rant for the Fellas

As we all know, there are many sartorial sins committed each day throughout our fair city. Don't even get me started on the fact that leggings are now being accepted as a reasonable substitute for pants... that's for another time. What I'm here to address is my biggest fashion pet peeve, and this one is being perpetrated by our male counterparts. I am talking about Oakley-style sunglasses being worn with a business suit or any other form of street clothes.

Every day I walk around this city and I am constantly presented with men in their dress shirts and khakis, strolling to lunch or wherever, donning a ridiculous pair of wrap-around performance glasses such as one might wear to, say, cycle in the Tour de France. Gentleman, may I ask... do you put on running shoes with your business suit? I didn't think so. Seriously, unless you are headed over to Citizen's Bank Park to field fly balls on your lunch break, you should consider purchasing a second pair of sunglasses, something appropriate for non-athletic pursuits. For instance, no one has ever gone wrong with a pair of classic Ray-Ban aviators.

Shopping can be a pain, but it can also be fun... especially when you are searching for something that has the ability to make you look like George Clooney or Daniel Craig, instead of A-Rod hanging in the dugout. And there are many stores in Center City with a selection to satisfy every taste and facial shape. Try Macy's for a wide range of brands and price points, A/X Armani Exchange or Banana Republic for something urban and sleek, Urban Outfitters for the hipster or hipster-at-heart, or Modern Eye at 13th and Walnut for the unique and fashion-forward.

International fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld with his bear doppleganger, also named Karl.

I do not advocate buying a cool pair of sunglasses for your Mini Me, but to each his own.

I am aware of the frustration that might be associated with buying a second pair of sunglasses. You might be thinking, "the ones I have are perfectly fine; they block the sun, and don't fall off my face when I get tackled or hit by an errant pitch." But why not consider them like shoes, or really anything else in your wardrobe, in the fact that not every item serves every purpose. And believe me, you will look more handsome and more pulled together. I will certainly thank you, and I have a feeling the ladies in your life will too.

Why this post might have been late but isn't.

My son woke up at 5:55 this morning. As he crawled into bed next to me I gave him a big kiss--mainly because he usually wants breakfast NOW and can't be convinced to eke out another hour of snooze. So, we woke up around 7 and I rushed him off to school via car share. He goes to preschool in South Jersey, but that's another story. Traffic sucked on the way back in, but I managed to park (in a lot) and get into my doctor's appointment by 9:15. Back out by 10:00, prescription in hand (again, another story). I have the car for another 2 hours, so off to Ikea I go. On the list: a wicker cat tree and a kitchen cart. I get these, plus three bookshelves from the as-is section.It is important to note here that I had a Prius. Paying for it all makes me want to curl up all fetal, but then I realize I have 45 minutes to get the car back. I back into the loading zone and a dude helps me get the biggest bookshelf in. I realize I'll never get it into the apartment. Then I realize I won't get the other two shelves in anyway. Plan B: they hold the big shelf there, and I take the rest. (fingers crossed I can make it back tomorrow!). Now I have 20 min to get back home, unload, and drop off the car. 10 minutes left and I'm still in South Philly, so I call and add another half hour. I get everything into the hall of my building and park the car back in its spot: 2 minutes early for the original drop off time. Sigh. Anyway, back home, I take all the stuff up to my place, and begin assembling. This requires a total rearranging of the downstairs, which involves moving a lot of books. The cats love the tree. I love the kitchen cart. The two smaller shelves work great although I no longer have room for my tiny tv. 5:00. Time to shower, shave my legs, try on seven different outfits, do my hair, do my makeup, eat a yogurt, and head to Pistola's for a political fundraising event, which I'm squeezing in before the opening of Grey Gardens tonight at 7:00. So the fact that I'm sitting here typing this entry ON MY IPHONE, at the bar, shows my dedication.

Also, I dropped the largest bookshelf (an Expedit, you know the one) on my toes. I don't think they're broken. I'm wearing heels regardless.

Scandal Gosselin Style

The season 5 premiere of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" on Monday drew 9.8 million viewers, which was a record for the TLC network. With the scandals swirling around the marriage of Jon and Kate Gosselin, people could not resist to see the drama played out on television

The bodyguard, mistress, and hair scandals are just a few of the juicy backstory that punctuated the first episode.

Now how can we here at One Fine Philly capitalize, er comment on this story of a family in turmoil in nearby Berks County, PA. We can learn from the Gosselins, in that scandal will create a deluge of attention.

And that attention may be converted in cash, which means that One Fine Philly can stop working and devote our time to blogging full time. And we all know what blogging full time brings.

In the interests of boosting readership, I've decided to disclose a few choice Philly-themed tidbits about myself. These disclosures may shock, but they are here to educate. I hope you use them to feel superior.

Disclosure one: I am a Philadelphia schooling failure. I dropped out of Drexel University's accelerated nursing program. My rotation at Hahnemann's labor & delivery unit was the worst kind of hell I had ever experienced. I became barren from the experience, as my uterus fled the state and is living under an assumed name.

Disclosure two: I am a big liar. I tell people I attended Live Aid in 1985 as a fetus in mommy's tummy. But really I was 15 and long out of the womb by then. And actually my parents wouldn't let me go. But I redeemed myself (sort of) by dancing my face off to Def Leppard during Live 8. The kids around me were horrified.

Disclosure three: I am a stupid criminal. After some imbibing at the now defunct West Philly Walsh's bar, I and five others were arrested at 30th street station for defacing a Coors light billboard. It was our 4th outing to the same location at the same time of night. Cops were waiting for us. But in the paddy wagon, we got a good laugh when Bernie dubbed us the "Coors six pack."

Day 2 - Blogger Challenge

My Sprout!

So my first post is late, late, late... but still somehow still on time!  I made it home and in front of my laptop in enough time to slip in a BLOG CHALLENGE post-- no surprise for those who know me.  So, even though I am short on time I thought I would simply post a picture of what holds my heart and thoughts captive in recent days: gardening.  Yes, I said it, gardening.  

Please, indulge me and say hello to my pride and joy: one very fine Heirloom Tomato Sprout!  ...Wait, don't congratulate me just yet, as she is young and fragile.  Yet, with hope and a bit of hard work, I may just be having a delicious crop to share at summer's end!

Getting Away from Philly

So I think we all agree that we can't hang out in Philly all the time. That's how I was feeling this weekend when my boyfriend and I took a little jaunt down to Atlantic City for some sun and fun. On the top of my list of things to do was checking out The Chelsea, the hot new hotel and nightspot on the Boardwalk. Let me tell you, it is worth the hour drive alone! The place is more fantastic than I could have imagined - a real design lover's dream. Conceived as part retro motor lodge and part luxe boutique hotel, the Chelsea is a total Hollywood Regency bonanza of style. Think Jonthan Adler, glossy white Rococo-style tables, zebra upholstery, funky animal figurines, tons of mirrored surfaces (this view of the spa is fab) - basically, glam meets vintage with a generous dose of wit and whimsy thrown in for good measure. 

I only wish these images from the hotel's website did the place justice. It's actually much more quirky, colorful and wow-inducing in person. The coolest spot is the the fifth floor roof deck, which features a gorgeous pool, rows and rows of perfect white chaise lounges, a huge round bar, all surrounded by the most wonderful cabanas cloaked in black and white stripes. It's like the roofdeck at Continental Midtown times about a thousand... and it's open until 4am, so you can hang out under the stars to your heart's content.

A view of the roof deck...

The poolside dining room at Teplitzky's on the ground level. I am obsessed with the palm leaf wallpaper, the bamboo bar stools, and the tole chandeliers.

All in all, a pretty fabulous place to grab dinner and drinks (did I mention there are two Stephen Starr restaurants on the premises - the diner-style Teplitzky's and the very chic Chelsea Prime), or to spend the weekend if you're so inclined. I'm planning my next visit already!

Big Day Leads to Blogger Fail

In under the wire...just before midnight:

The fates are conspiring me to fail on day one of the blogger challenge. Big news day. I was glued to Twitter feed all day with Obama's nomination for Supreme Court. And then the Proposition 8 ruling. I Twittered and frittered my afternoon away.

And then I went to my volunteer job in the ER. I was planning on leaving but I forgot that the day after a holiday is insane in an ER. People don't get checked out until the long weekend and the bbq's are over. So I stayed late.

And now I am home.

And hammering out this blog post before midnight.

I had better ideas than this simpering post. Really. Check me out tomorrow. I have a great idea.

oxox

P.C.

Heads Up for Philadelphians!

Here are some of the things I plan to enjoy in this beautiful city over the next few weeks:

• May 30-31, at Penn’s Landing, the Art Star Craft Bazaar! 11-6 both days, with live music, and also gift bags to first 250 attendees. Come check out some of our fave local crafters and artists!

• You’ve seen the posters (seriously folks, they’re EVERYWHERE! Even PATCO!), now see Philadelphia Theatre Company’s Philadelphia premiere of the award-winning musical, Grey Gardens, at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on Broad Street. Opens May 27 and runs through June 28. After that: Second City, straight from Chicago!

• Odunde! This year it’s June 12-14, assuming the organization can raise enough money to offset cutbacks in city services like sanitation, fire and police services, and other expenses that have threatened both the Mummer’s Parade and the TDBank Bike Race already. Check out the food, music, and vendors in this annual summer kick-off.

And some of my favorite haunts for a variety of things, and a variety of reasons:

• The basement of Anthropologie. I know, it’s one of your favorites too!

• Fitler Square. Smaller and quieter version of Rittenhouse, with cool turtle statues to rival the Goat for kid appreciation.

• House of Tea, on 4th just south of South (between Bainbridge and Fitzwater). Best leaves in Philly!

• Betty’s Speakeasy Fudge Shop, 23rd at Gray’s Ferry and South Streets. My favorite’s Lava (with a chipotle kick); what’s yours?

• Spool fabric shop and their sister yarn shop, Loop, on South Street. Bright, airy, and full of beautiful colors, textures, and patterns. A treat for the eyes!

• The community garden at Schuylkill River Banks Park, at Spruce Street. The iron gate alone is worth seeing, and this time of year is glorious with irises, roses, and other floral explosions.

• La Citadelle, my favorite coffee shop on the corner of 16th and Pine, where Said knows my name and speaks to me in French, some of which I understand. Runners-up: Chapter House on 9th and Bainbridge, LaVa Café on 21st and South, and Good Karma Cafe on 22nd and Pine.

• The rooftop garden at the Kimmel Center. Yes, it’s ungodly hot up there. But still, it’s pretty neat, and my son likes to run around the trees and tell me how high up we are as he stands close enough to the windows to give me vertigo. A bonus: lovely public restrooms!

• Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, in Fairmount Park. Imagine a mansion devoted entirely to children, with floors devoted to certain age groups, and a giant wooden slide out back. So great!

• Pure Design, on the corner of 22nd and Lombard, has a small but very nice selection of indoor plants, none of which (so they claim) are poisonous to house pets. I’d double check to be sure. But I’ve got my eye on the Lipstick plant, the Prayer plant, and the Crown of Thorns. Pretty!

• The Rosenbach Museum and Library is modestly tucked in a rowhome on the 2000 block of Delancey. You've missed the Maurice Sendak exhibit (which was amazing!), but come for a glance at selections from the manuscript of Joyce's Ulysses, Marianne Moore's papers, and original notes for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Don't forget Bloomsday on June 16th! This will be the Rosenbach's 17th annual celebration, so check it out!

See you around town, Philly friends!

Open Houses and Hidden Cities

YIP Summer Series Kick-Off
Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 5 - 7PM
XIX Nineteen, Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Broad & Walnut, Philly, PA 19146
FREE with drink specials

Come out and enjoy the view of the city from the 19th Floor at XIX and mingle with some politically-active, young involved Philadelphians.

WXPN Live Music Non-Commvention
Thu. - Sat, May 28-30, 2009
World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philly, PA 19104
$75/$100 (single or pair pass)

Music discovery. Kind of like South-by (SxSw). If the ticket prices are too rich for your tastes, selected bands will perform live on WXPN (check the live broadcast schedule for details).

Society Hill Open House & Garden Tour
Sunday, May 31, 2009, 1 - 5PM
Starts at Old Pine St. Church, 412 Pine St, Philly, PA 19106
$25 per ticket (buy tickets at starting location)

I've always wondered how magnificent the interiors of some of those elegant Society Hill townhouses may be. Yet, I've managed to miss this event the past two years in a row. Maybe I'm going for plausible deniability (e.g. it's better to know *not* how glorious some Society Hill manses really are).

Hidden City Philadelphia Commences
May 30 - June 28, 2009

I've seen "viral" ads for this in the form of for-hire-type tearaways posted in many random locations around Philly. It sounds like it has potential to be very interesting. Open up some of Philly's most interesting but unused/moth-balled architectural spaces for art and performance. There is also a really cool card game that you can buy decks for that will have you traipsing around the city.

3rd Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Festival
Saturday, May 30, 2009, 11:00AM - 5:00PM
Franklin Square Park, 6th & Race, Philly, PA 19106
FREE

"Enjoy Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese arts and cultural performances, an exquisite variety of ethnic foods, handcrafted and imported ethnic art and merchandise, and interactive childrenʼs activities offered by the regionʼs museums and arts organizations. Last year, over 3,000 adults and children took part in the festivities."

Credit: Creative Commons photo by kellygrape

30 Day Blogger Challenge – Day 1

When the weather goes warm, I find myself staring languidly out the window for long periods of time, I take more walks and more naps, I want to be outside at all times, I write less. Writing less is not a good thing for an aspiring writer.

So I’ve challenged myself and a few of my blogger friends to join me for a 30 day writing challenge. Starting today, Pop Culture Casualty, Carrel Dweller, Planet Caroline, and Angel, will be sharing their daily ramblings with One Fine Philly.

Please be gentle with us as we find our stories. And please feel free to join us on our quest to re-ignite the writer within. Send me an email if you want to join our challenge. We'd love to challenge you to a writers duel!

Why you should be Making Time with Caroline

Making Time, 9th Anniversary Freakout
Friday, May 22nd, 2009, 9pm-3:30am
Pure 1221 St. James St. Philadelphia, PA

Dave P is back at Pure with his electroclash party Making Time. Since 2000, this party has been legendary in Philadelphia. Here are 5 reasons to make Pure your spot to dance.

5. It's a local Philly party...No need to travel to NYC or DC for this.

4. It's the 9th anniversary of Making Time, which means there will be 138% percent more freakout.

3. Even though it's referred to as "straight night" at Pure, you are guaranteed to see various conglomerations of boys & girls macking.

2. Making time residents led by Dave P know how to open & close a show.

1. Co-headlining performers The Juan McLean (DFA/NYC) & The Field (Stockholm/Kompakt) are playing LIVE!!! These live performances are guaranteed to be electrifying.

Advance tickets avaiable at:

The Last Drop Coffee House
1300 Pine St.
Philadelphia, PA
&
Tequila Sunrise Records
525 W. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
& online at:
Music Today

For more info sights and sounds:
www.myspace.com/davidpianka

Lincoln and Zen

UArts' Graphic Design Senior Exhibition
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Artemide, 232 N. 2nd St., Philly, PA 19106
FREE

As someone who communicates in concrete concepts, I think one of the most interesting things about moderate to far -Left visually-driven people is listening to them talk (as they will during the presentation portion of this event). Flash presentation of the UArts Seniors' portfolios here.

Lecture: "Abraham Lincoln: A Place in Time"
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 6:30PM
Hamilton Auditorium, Historic Landmark Building
PAFA, 118 N. Broad St., Philly, PA 19102
$15

Dr. Alexander Nemerov, Professor in the History of Art and American Studies from Yale University, will talk at length about "one of the boldest and most distinct voices of our country".

"In addition to being a wise politician, Abraham Lincoln was also a wise humanist. [I want to] talk about Lincoln's aesthetics, specifically Lincoln's thoughts about the pleasure and the sadness, the exhilaration and the loneliness, of certain moments of being alive."

If I wasn't already RSVP'd for another event, I'd so be a Lincoln biographical groupie this evening.

East West South North: Beijing Photos
Thursday, May 21, 2009, 4:00 - 6:00PM
Charles Addams Fine Arts Gallery
200 S. 36th St., Philly, PA 19104
FREE

Fairly interesting photos taken by UPenn students. Don't go just to stop by, go to ask them about their experiences in Beijing, China.

Brandywine River Blues Festival
Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford, PA (Directions)
Saturday - Monday, May 23/24/25, 12:00 - 6:00PM
$25

If you aren't doing the annual Ocean/Eastward migration to the shore, consider a shorter, local trip out of town to the iconic rural land of Andrew Wyeth, Brandywine Valley.

Garden of Sounds: John Cage's Ryoanji
Saturday, May 23, 2009, 3:00PM
The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., Philly, PA 19104
FREE

"Brooke Eplee, a recent graduate of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, will illuminate the musical and philosophical dimensions of Cage’s work in the context of Zen Buddhism and Japanese aesthetics. Drawing from scholarly research and her firsthand experience of Ryoan-ji, the lecture will feature photographs of the garden as well as a recorded performance of the composition."

Ryoanji: A "meditative exploration of presence and absence, sound and silence.

If I weren't already meditating on how old I am getting while watching my nephews destroy the sound of silence while my siblings drink wine, I'd be lurking in the audience.

Sun Ra Arkestra Special Performance
Sunday, May 24, 2009, 8:00PM
Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. Philly, PA 19125
$10

From the solitary and influential class on Jazz Appreciation I took at college, I feel that Sun Ra is to Jazz like Willy Wonka is to Hershey. Willy Wonka is fiction and Sun Ra could qualify as fiction. He's eccentric to the margins. Maybe it helps to be under the influence when you listen to his stuff. Come in celebration of the coming of the 95th anniversary of Sun Ra's arrival on Earth.

Credit: Creative Commons Photo by Robert Swier

Breaking story: Polite chat at Philadelphia workplace feels hollow

The following exchange happened recently at a Center City office. Some details have been altered to protect anonymity and bolster drama.

An administrative assistant is a busy-appearing office was engaged in a brief conversation by a company superior. "I was on my way to the bathroom and was taken by surprise by the Comptroller," said Jaimie R. who reported that senior staff "hold it in" to avoid facing subordinates. "I guess the turnaround on her takeout from Tiffin was too quick." Ms. R. remembers the conversation distinctly,

"Hi Ms. G"
"Hi Jaimie, how are you?"
"I'm okay and you?"
"Good. Thank you for asking."
"You’re welcome, Ms. G."
"Thank you again, Jaimie. That shirt you're wearing...blue?"
"Yes, blue"
"Fabric?"
"Yes, it's made of fabric, Ms. G."
"Great talking to you, Jaimie. Excuse me, please"

Ms. R. describes mixed feelings about the exchange. "That was our longest talk in my 4 years at the company." "But I felt empty afterward, like nothing had really changed between us.” Ms. R. returned to her desk and the rest of the day unfolded without incident.

Italians and Kinetics

Far Side of the Moon
Monday, May 11, 2009, 7:00PM
Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. Philly, PA 19147
FREE but first-come, first-serve

A special one-night only screening of Far Side of the Moon (2003) directed by Robert Lepage.

Considered to be one of the foremost directors of theater and film in Canada and internationally acclaimed around the world, Lepage offers us "a fantastical voyage into space - outer space, and the space within ourselves."


Last Night at the Five Spot
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 7:00PM
International House, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philly, Pennsylvania, 19104
$10

A visual valentine to the legendary Old City nightclub/dance club, The Five Spot, which burned down tragically in early 2007.

Maya Solovéy
Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 7:00PM
Wooden Shoe Books, 508 s. 5th Street, Philly, PA 19147
FREE

I love Latin American culture and their passionate women.

Maya has "a voice like a warm wind and croons stories of a soul caught somewhere between sorrow and orgasm. " Will be singing in English, Spanish, and Portugese. No guarantees made that you won't fall in love with her, her songs, her voice, her soul.

Meet the Candidates for City Controller
Thursday, May 14, 2009, 7:00 - 8:30PM
South Marble Room (use 15th St. entrance), Union League, 140 S. Broad St. Philly, PA 19102
FREE

Young Involved Philadelphia, Center City Residents' Association, and Washington Square West Civic Association bring you this forum to meet this election's candidates for the job of City Controller. Drinks afterwards at Time.

Secret tip: One of the best ways to practice public speaking is to ask a question at a public forum like this.

WASTE: ReThink, 2009 PennDesign Student Show
Friday, May 15, 2009, 5:30 - 8:30PM
Meyerson Hall Terrace, UPenn/210 S. 34th Street, Philly, PA 19104

Waste is the 2009 annual PennDesign Student Show, showcasing work from all disciplines completed over the course of the spring semester. WASTE "challenges students to not only show their work, but to ReThink the concept of waste when representing their body of work."

Kinetic Kensington Annual Kinetic Sculpture Derby
Saturday, May 16, 2009, 12:30PM (Parade starts)
Part of Trenton Ave. Arts Fest 2000-2300 blocks of Trenton Ave. (directions)

For those of you brave enough to venture out of the green zone of Center City, you might be well rewarded by a visual feast of the most interesting "bicycles" and the people who ride the "bicycles".

9th Street Italian Market Festival
Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 2009, 10:00AM - 5:00PM

In case you needed a reminder - this weekend is the Italian market Festival. Always crowded. Sights, sounds, smells, people-watching, and tastes galore.

Credit: Creative Commons photo by pwbaker

Post-Mother's Day Pampering

If you, like me, view Mother's Day as a cynical and exploitative holiday meant to guilt us into paying attention, for one day, to those who bore us (double entendre intended), then you could probably use a little R&R after this weekend. (Yes, I know Mother's Day was originally an anti-war statement. I think Hallmark might beg to differ.) As a mother, I feel it would have been nice if I could have had some pampering on the day itself, but I came down with a nasty stomach bug. No mimosas for me!

But I digress. For those of you looking to freshen up for spring, head to bluemercury at 1707 Walnut Street. I've walked past this spot any number of times without going in -- do I really need to spend $25 on mascara during a recession? -- but finally a makeup artist friend of mine convinced me to check it out. (Her pitch? Great free samples!) I went for a makeup application event, one of many the shop holds, and came out a convert.

I showed up for my appointment right on time, but the artist was still working on her previous client. The staff turned this into an opportunity, handing me a mimosa and offering a free chair massage while I waited. DIVINE. Kelly worked her magic on my stiff shoulders as we chatted about the Chinatown Bus, from which I had disembarked only an hour earlier. I loved her comparison of that bus to the Muppet Bus, with feathers and passengers flying out the window ... and two mimosas and a great massage later, my makeup artist was ready. (Here I have to apologize, as she was great but I can't remember her name. This was a few weeks ago. Bad blogger!) She listened to what I wanted, put together a great easy daytime look for me with some beautiful Trish McEvoy products, and I walked out with an eyeshadow/liner, brow pencil, lip color, and gloss that I've been using nearly every day since. Of course, she used plenty of other products to complete the look, but I never once felt pressured to buy anything I already own or wasn't totally sold on. I even asked about eyebrow shaping, as I've never had mine done professionally, and their eyebrow person said she wouldn't change a thing with my brows. Imagine, telling a potential client that no, she's doing a great job on her own, don't bother giving you her money? Excellent.

Meanwhile, the rest of the staff attended to late afternoon customers with friendly professionalism, matching one woman's lipstick shade, the name of which she couldn't remember; giving another woman a quick lipstick application; providing product information; making sure everyone was well-supplied with orange juice and champagne. I never once felt anyone was being pushy, or snooty, or inattentive. I may have walked out somewhat cash-poor, but the smile on my face was worth it.

My Top 10 Favorite Philly Restaurants

May’s Philadelphia magazine fails to accurately rank the top 50 restaurants in Philadelphia. What I suspect this list more accurately reflects is the top 50 restaurants in Philadelphia to invest in promotions and advertising with Philadelphia magazine.

Zahav at number 1? While offering a distinct menu of Israeli cuisine, there is nothing unique about the dishes or special about the preparation that would lead you to think of Chef Michael Solomonov as an artist in the kitchen. The hummus, chopped liver, sausage and roast lamb that Zahav makes are just as good at Whole Foods (missing from the ranking). When I go out for a meal, I want to eat something I can’t prep in my own kitchen.

To counter Philly mags list, I’ve outlined below my top 10 favorite places to eat in Philly. I used a simple methodology: Where would I want to eat if I was asked out on a date where I was not expected to pay?

1. Tinto – My number one favorite (not just because my sweetie works behind the bar)! The prix fixe brunch and lunch specials are completely inspired and both under $20. Jose Garces is a food genius and I can’t get enough of his very special cuisine.



2. Vetri – The menu changes nightly, so there is always something new to try. It’s the only place in the city where I can find true Italian pasta the way it is meant to be prepared and served. Too bad eating here with a guest costs the same as my rent.



3. Amada – The complete package of ambiance, service and great food. I’m partial to the grilled tapas. Cilantro, garlic, and EVOO make a simple marinade for the city’s highest quality meats and seafood grilled to perfection. Iron Chef winner Garces knows that if you start with quality ingredients, the rest is simple.



4. Fork, etc. – Every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM, the Chef at Fork previews new menu items at a chef tasting available for $40, first come-first serve. It’s one big table and one very special experience.



5. Distrito – I have finally succumbed to Elizabeth’s assertion that Distrito makes the most original Mexican food in the city. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive.



6. David Mae Lae Wah – The salt & pepper shrimp is prepared with jalapenos and the dumplings are served with shaved ginger. Service and ambiance is pretty horrendous, but the food is a hidden Philly treasure. Sang Kee can not compare. Open 24 hours, take-out available, no delivery.



7. Lolita – This modern Mexican BYOB is totally sexy. Tucked into the gayborhood, darkly lit tables are surrounded by soft glowing orange walls, excellent service, and good food. They would be higher up on my list if they took reservations and didn’t make guests wait up to two hours for a table on a Friday night.



8. Lacroix – When my “ex-turned-current-boyfriend” took me here to ask me back into his life, he made a smart choice. A gorgeous buffet of little spoonfuls of gourmet delicacies is only a tease for the full offering of breakfast foods laid out in the kitchen. You are invited back into the Chef's domocile for personal souffles cups, house-stuffed sausage and a chocolate fountain that make all-you-can-eat a classy affair. At $100 a head, this is not the right place to tell your date you don’t think it’s going to work out.



9. Honey's Sit 'N' Eat – If I had mom that cooked, then this place would feel like home. Comfort food made with quality ingredients make this a favorite brunch spot. Think OJ served in jam jars and fresh strawberry preserves on biscuits still hot from the oven.
   



10. Bar Ferdinand – Oh God, the fried manchego foam simply explodes in your mouth causing a mini food orgasm. I recommend two orders.
    
    
11. **Bonus ** Vietnam - Sometimes I dream about the crispy spring roll. I like it so much that I don’t even remember anything else on the menu.
    

Other places I might want to go on a date, but need to try a few more times before I can say they are a favorite are Pumpkin, Supper, Melograno, Raw and Audrey Claire.

What did you think of Philly mags top 50? If your date phoned to ask where you wanted to go to dinner, what would you say?

Mother's Day Shopping @ Petulia's Folly

Have you done your shopping for mom yet? If not, then get yourself to Petulia's Folly over at 17th and Sansom Streets to peruse their comprehensive and lust-worthy selection of John Derian decoupage.

In my opinion, these gorgeous decorative plates, paperweights and lamps are perfect for Mother's Day or any day. Derian's decoupage pieces (decoupage is the art of gluing cut-out paper onto an object) are all handmade in his New York studio, and feature lovely antique images of botanicals, animals, insects, and so on. I have started my own little collection, and often stop in Petulia's Folly to compile my wish list. What's great is that you will find something perfectly pretty for mom, while also finding something pretty, yet subtly quirky and humorous, for yourself!

Prices range from "utterly affordable" ($25 for a glass drink coaster) to "splurge" ($200 for a 14" platter) to "investment" ($950 for a glass lamp) with LOTS of options in between. I recommend the round dome paperweight, which at $60 is a hefty gift at the pefect price.

Oh, and if you don't find the Derian decoupage to your taste, the store carries an impressive array of home decor, jewelry and fashion from the likes of Hable Contruction, Tamar Mogendorff, Pade Vavra, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Paul & Joe, Hanii Y, Catherine Malandrino, and many more. Something there is certain to strike your fancy and solve your gift-giving conundrums!

Petulia's Folly can be found at 1710-12 Sansom Street.

Fight Club and Networking

Comic Vs. Audience Comedy Show
Monday, May 4, 2009, 8PM
The Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St. Philly, PA 19147
$5

Recession Friendly. Cheap Date. Laughter is always healthy.

Five Stand-up Comedians:
Johnny Goodtimes, Tommy Papa, Jack Martin, Kerri Lendo, Andy Nolan.

Jazz Trio Hat Trick
Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 8PM
Play and Players, 1714 Delancey Street. Philly, PA 19103
$10

Provocative Philly music promoter Bowerbird presents three experimental jazz trios. Don't go expecting Smooth Jazz.

Headline act:
Fabrizio Spera (Percussion) - Alberto Braida (Piano) - Jack Wright (Saxophone)

Local opening acts:
Mike Szekely (Percussion) - Matt Mitchell (Piano) - Matt Engle (Bass)
Larry Toft (Trombone) - Dawn Webster (Trumpet) - David Fishkin (Saxophone)

Chuck Palahniuk at FLP Lecture
Friday, May 8, 2009, 7:30PM
Central Library, 1901 Vine St. Philly, PA 19103
FREE (Info: 215-567-4341)

Chuck Palahniuk, the best-selling author of "Fight Club", "Choke", "Haunted", and "Lullaby", will be speaking at the Free Library of Philadelphia. If you like great writers and/or Chuck's books, I highly recommend rescheduling your commitment(s) and waiting in line (yes - waiting: the line will probably start forming around 5PM) for this rare opportunity.

Mambo Night at the Kimmel Center
Friday, May 8, 2009, 8PM
Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St. (on the Avenue of the Arts), Philly, PA 19102
FREE to $64

FREE: 6:30PM and approx 10pm, Johnny Cruz Latin Ensemble performs in the plaza. Always a good turnout. Wear your soft-soled shoes!
$26 - $64: 8:00PM, Conga Kings and Tiempo Libre perfom at Verizon Hall
$33: Concert + Forte Young Professionals Post-Party

From the Kimmel's copy: "Don't even think about staying in your seat!" Enough said.

Objectified Documentary Screening
Monday, May 11, 2009, Two showings: 6:30PM and 9:00PM
Drexel University, Bossone Auditorium, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philly, PA 19014
$20 (tickets)

I love industrial design. I wanted to be an architect but I never learned how to see/draw. This documentary is all about how some of those shiny, happy objects go from a gleam in a designer's eye to your hands. I know that $20 for a film screening qualifies as a unqualified splurge, but what price to be inspired by some of the creative geniuses (Jonathan Ive of Apple [iMac, iPhone, iEverything!]) and Karim Rashid (made Tar-get cooler) who make our daily lives a little more fun. Director Gary Hustwit will be in attendance.

YPN's Success in the City
Monday, May 11, 2009, 6:00PM
The Down Town Club, Public Ledger Building, 6th & Chestnut Street, 11th floor, Philly, PA 19106
$20 (Pre-registration required by May 10)

I've only been to a few but YPN events are a great opportunity to meet Philly-based entrepreneurs and young professionals. This event promises to be interesting, with a panel of regional experts discussing on "what the plans are to make Philly a more sustainable place to live, work, and play".

Credit: Photo by AlexRan

Entrepreneurs and Tomatos

Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals

Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 1:00 - 6:15PM 

Pre-register here or on-site
Jon M. Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut Street, Philly, PA 19104

If you know anyone young or old who is seriously considering the path of entrepreneurship, attending this afternoon-consuming series of twenty-minute (10/10 split - Presentation/Q&A) presentations from biz school students may be worth the investment. Pitching your startup is more an art than a science. I went last year and was alternately intimidated (by the business confidence and post-event networking skills of the top-tier students) and inspired (maybe I could grow a team to execute a startup).

Mashable and IndyHall Mixer on the Waterfront

Friday, May 1, 2009, 8:00PM until close
Cavanaugh's River Deck, 417 N. Columbus Blvd., Philly PA 19123

Do you like free drinks on the waterfront? This is going to kind of like the Philly Tech Scene's debutante ball. Mashable, a leading Internet news blog and IndyHall, our leading coworking space are joining to throw a party (generous sponsors providing the bar tab). Expecting geek lameness? You'd be surprised at how many interesting extroverts (guys and gals) are part of the Philly entrepreneur/tech community. T-Storms on Friday? Like the fortune cookie says: "it remains to be seen". The venue offers plenty of covered space.

Ignite Philly #3

Saturday, May 2, 2009, Doors 7PM, Starts 8PM

Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. Philly, PA 19125

Ignite = 5 minute talks, 20 slides (auto-advanced every 15 sec.). After the success of the first Ignite Philly, I was worried the event was not going to be sustainable (as in how many interesting projects are going on in Philly), and I've been proven wrong. Past events have featured everything from sustainability (100khouse.com) to "How to hack cats into dogs" to paper airplane madness. I can't promise paper airplanes, and this is guaranteed to be an interesting 2 hours to spend drinking a lager and soaking up the interesting-ness of Philly's hackers and DIY-ers.

Headhouse Farmer's Market - 2009 Opening Day

Sunday, May 3, 2009, 10:00AM - 2:00PM  
Headhouse Shambles, 2nd Street between Pine and Lombard

Come out and support and celebrate our local sustainability stars. This event will feature local cookbook author signings with live entertainment from local musicians. The regular farmer market will be open until it gets chilly again - Saturday (10 vendors) and Sunday (30 vendors) from 10am - 2pm.

(Photo credit: Creative Commons photo by Jill Clardy)

Home Improvements

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I've posted (though you may have seen me Twittering) and I've missed you. What's been keeping me so busy? As usual... house projects galore! Now that spring has officially sprung, I am in the mood to spruce things up. There are many things on my to-do list - planting flowers, painting the fence, wallpapering the bathroom - but the task I decided to take on first was my tiny laundry room (check it out HERE).

I believe that paying attention to even the smallest, most utilitarian space in one's home can be tremendously rewarding. It perks me up every day to see the bright walls surrounding my washer and dryer, and makes doing laundry much less of a chore. Why not take a Saturday afternoon and, instead of sunning yourself in Rittenhouse Square, use the time to breathe new life into a sad corner of your house? Line the back of your bookshelves with a bold patterned paper, paint the interior of your linen closet a sunny hue, create a gallery-style picture wall in your hallway... none of these projects take much money, but will bring enjoyment every day!

So tell me, do you have any home improvement projects on your to-do list for spring? Please share!

Salsa and Crayons

Philebrity Salon

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
700 Club, 700 N. 2nd St. (Fairmount Ave.) Philly, PA 19123

I've always been a fan of attending the kick-off, first-ever events (because they have the buzz and you get the cachet of being there for the birth). The 1st StorySlam was legendary. "Jazz music" and "Creative types encouraged to attend" proclaims the white-on-red poster advertisement for the 1st ever Philebrity Salon. I assume creative types will infer the starting time (none given, probably after dinner). It sounds promising, might attract some interesting characters.


VizThink Philly #1
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 6:30 - 8PM
Free Library of Philadelphia (Independence Branch), 18 S. 7th St., Philly, PA 19106

As someone who communicates better through written words, I'm interested in this. At the 1st VizThink Philly event, participants will spend an hour doing "a visual mind spill, where you will spill out images onto paper and share them with your neighbors." No experience necessary, just bring crayons/markers. Limited seats, pre-registration required.

The Art Criticism Junto
Thursday, April 23, 2009, Food/drink 6PM, Discussion begins 7PM
P'unk Avenue, 1168 E. Passyunk Avenue, Philly, PA 19147

What do you think about the state of art discourse in our fine Philly? The Junto, a club for mutual improvement, is discussing art criticism this month. All-star list of panelists: Sid Sachs, Roberta Fallon & Libby Rosof of Artblog, Katie Murken, Andrew Suggs.

Latin Dance Network Opening Party at Club Adesso
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 9PM
Club Adesso (above Il Portico), 1519 Walnut St. Philly, PA 19102
$10 cover

I've been to Salsa club grand-openings. The live performances by Philly's top Salsa dance will astound you (much better than DWTS' shlock - though DWTS is getting better). Philly has a decent salsa scene, the social dancing at clubs like Brasil's in Old City is pretty good, and this grand opening will probably draw the best dancers in the tri-state area, for one amazing long night of performances and dancing. If you think you can't dance (but want to be entertained), go anyway.

(Photo credit: Creative Commons photo by Ananth BS)

Steak With a Side of Ostentatious

Buzz has been spreading lately about a fairly new steakhouse in Center City. Ever since Craig Laban, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s rather rigid yet informed restaurant critic, wrote a bashing review on it, not hesitating to comment on the restaurant’s substandard food, I have been curious. Do these professional restaurant critics even attempt to relate a layperson’s experience at these dining establishments? Or are they required to follow some sort of industry standards that requires them to taste, smell and experience things completely different? I read Craig Laban’s reviews every week, having read them for quite some time, and am pretty shocked if I actually come across a positive one. The dining experience tends to be primarily subjective in nature, hence how can one accurately rate the food and the ambience? So I was anxious to compare my experience at the highly-touted Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. As I noted in my review of Butcher & Singer, I am not a huge steakhouse lover, but for reasons of pure curiosity, I needed to know what my beloved Butcher was up against.

I had some preconceived ideas of Del Frisco’s prior to even entering the doors that did not stem from Craig Laban. A friend of mine had recently commented that Del Frisco’s was turning in to the new hot-spot bar scene on the weekends. He said the girls gussy themselves up so they can sit at the bar, looking pretty, sipping their martinis, in hopes of attracting one of the many wealthy patrons who are just finishing dining on their ribeyes and lobster tails. When I walked in the door, I was greeted by 3 hostesses and 2 coat girls, all garbed in low-cut, sexy black dresses. I decided to keep my coat on in order to hide what I was wearing because I felt like a total frump standing next to these girls in my oversized cardigan and black tights. It was becoming clear to me immediately that the restaurant was catering to the politicians, lawyers and bankers who all inhabit offices in the immediate area, thus my friend dining with me would fit right in. The dining room was a sea of suits, primarily filled with men, feasting on huge cuts of meat that their respective firms would comp. It was a Monday night, so I was surprised to see the lack of empty tables. Clearly these people were not taking heed to Laban’s review. The space was rather breathtaking – cathedral ceilings, gorgeous mahogany bar and a balcony of tables overlooking the entire restaurant. The waitstaff was attentive, too attentive at times, but in defense of the establishment, lawyers do like to have their asses kissed.

We started with the Shangai-style fried calamari, sweet and spicy, teasing the palate, but tasty on all fronts. The portion was more than enough for two to share. We were invited to dismiss all rules of etiquette, and rip the bread apart with our hands, which was fresh and soft as it is advertised to be baked daily and served piping hot to the table. Now normally if I am attending a steakhouse, I would order a steak, just as I would order fish at a seafood restaurant. On this particular occasion, I was watching my diet (which I will expand on in another blog post), so I decided to stick with a healthier option and order the one thing on the menu that I normally wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole – the salmon. In retrospect, this was a ridiculous idea, as salmon is my least favorite fish, but the error was made and the damage done. The salmon was served in a Tschoupitoulas sauce, which was a somewhat spicy, creamy tomato-based sauce. Apparently Tschoupitoulas is a street in New Orleans, hence the dish was Cajun in nature. The sauce was good, the salmon not so much. It was pretty dry and rather bland. My friend was the smart one and ordered the boneless prime rib. I have to admit it was delicious – the spices on the outside brought out the flavor of the beef and made me wish I had not been so health-conscious. The highlights of the meal, however, were the side dishes. The macaroni and cheese was a delight – not quite as good as Parc’s version, but would give it a run for its money. My favorite of the night was the skillet potatoes and onions. I am a potato chip junkie, and these came very close to resembling that of a potato chip so, needless to say, I was eating them like I would if I had a bag of Herr’s on my lap in front of the television. They were a tad greasy, but I didn’t care, the more grease the better at the time. On the other hand, my stomach was not thanking me later. We were going to forego dessert, and were surprised when a sinful slice of strawberry cheesecake was placed in front of us. Fortunately my dining companion has friends in high places, thus compliments of this considerate friend, we stuffed our already full stomachs with dessert. The cake was creamy and perfectly-textured, and drizzled with a sweet strawberry sauce.

Overall the experience was enjoyable and the food was very satisfying. As I mentioned previously, dining out is so subjective. My personal preference is to not sit in a room full of pretentious lawyers and politicians who ogle the teeny bopper hostesses in their skin tight dresses and argue over who is going to pick up the bill in an effort to prove who makes more money; rather, I tend to lean more towards the comfort of a quiet, comfortable atmosphere like Butcher & Singer, where I can talk to my dining companion without worrying if I’m in the waiter’s way while he’s trying to fill up my water glass for the hundredth time of the night. Craig Laban was not entirely amiss in his review, yet, still much too harsh in my opinion. My advice, however, is when your lawyer invites you to dinner at Del Frisco’s, by all means, accept the invitation because when is the next time you will get to eat a $10 bag of potato chips while watching the mayor lick lobster off his fingers at the table next to you?

Frog and Toad in the City

Once upon a Sunday noon, a fabulous boy and his fabulous mama went to see a play. Not just any play, but A Year with Frog and Toad, now playing at the Arden, and running through April 19. The boy was filled with youthful anticipation, and skipped the whole way down to 2nd Street. The mama felt a bit like skipping too. As I am the mama of this boy, I was lucky enough to interview the young patron of the arts following the performance; here is his expert assessment of the afternoon.

Mama: What were your favorite parts? I noticed you dancing in your seat quite a lot.

Fabulous Boy: I liked it when Frog tried to wake up Toad, and Toad said, “Blegh!!!!” Also do you remember when Toad took his shoe and went like this [here our reviewer gestures wildly] and smashed his clock? That was hilarious! [Yes, my five-year-old says hilarious.] The best favoritest part was when Frog threw a snowball at Toad and Toad looked like [FB gives arch, comical expression], and when Toad went the wrong way on his sled and got really frightened and cold.

M: It sounds like you really enjoyed it!

FB: It was okay.

M: Were there any parts you didn’t like?

FB: Frog and Toad didn’t look like a frog or a toad. [I’ve interviewed several other young reviewers, and they all shared this critique. Not even green face paint! Nor a head-dress of any sort!] But the actors were neat, and the set was pretty neat. I liked the spinning houses.

M: Did any musical numbers stand out for you?

FB: The “Cookies” song was exciting. Cookies cookies cookies cookies we are eating cookies …

[Here our reviewer gets a bit distracted remembering his enjoyment of said musical number. We resumed after a minute or two of singing, and several loud requests for cookies.]

M: That was fun. I wonder if there’s a soundtrack available?

FB: What’s a sound trat?

M: Any other comments you’d like to share?

FB: The kite flying part was not so exciting. I could see the string holding the kite up.

M: Yes, me too. Who do you think should go see this show?

FB: I recommend it for people ages 2, 3, 4, 5, and 23, and for mommies and daddies. And also for people who never saw a frog.

Jerry and Coffee and Me

Philadelphia coffee shops have become my office away from office. Had I an office in which to sit, I would leave that office and go sit in a coffee shop and do much the same thing I would do in said imaginary workspace: position myself in front of my laptop, mug of coffee in hand, half a dozen browser tabs open, iTunes downloading something to watch later, and at least three Word documents underway. I would type noisily in this little cubicle of my fancy, as I do here at the shop, averaging about 100 wpm and gazing around me all the while. But would I be able to observe humanity quite as well from my corner office on the 47th floor—as I stand there in my impeccably tailored suit, weight balanced evenly on my Louboutins, hands masterfully on my hips—as I can from the table near the outlet, prime real estate of the coffee shop neighborhood?

And perhaps in this dreamscape office, all flashing lights and stainless steel and flat panel screens, staffed by agents who look like Daniel Craig and talk like … well, like Daniel Craig … perhaps in this office I wouldn’t be exposed to quite the species diversity I’ve found in the java huts of our fair city. It goes without saying that at The Last Drop you get hipsters, at La Colombe you find your euro-types (trash is such a derogatory term, I shan’t use it!), and at Cosi there'll be office workers grabbing the same quick and overpriced sandwich they come in for at least three times a week. But every so often, here in the caffeinated realms, you find a Jerry. Or more to the point, he. finds. YOU.

I use the name “Jerry” as an erudite and timely reference to Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story, in which a derelict character of that name can NOT STOP TALKING ON AND ON AND ON AND ON to the unsuspecting middle-upper-class Peter as he attempts to read a book. Peter sways from disinterest to interest to disgust and back again any number of times throughout the one-act play, much as I did the other afternoon as I was accosted by my very own Jerry. I have no idea what his actual name was; thank the heavens above we did not exchange names, or I would be in serious trouble. (Having a unique first name means that sharing it with someone is as good as giving them your address, phone number, and top five favorite hangouts. True story.) At any rate, I will call him Jerry.

Here I am, sitting in the crowded café, drinking my cuppa and attempting to find job postings that sound like something I could conceivably do without loss of sanity or dignity or clothing. Within five minutes of my sitting down, Jerry moves in. A seat opens up next to me and sure enough, Jerry swaps his seat for this one; he begins to make small talk. I am a friendly person. I like people, and I’m apparently rather approachable. So talking a little bit about the coffee, and the day, and what I’m doing, does not seem unreasonable. At first. But over the course of the next five hours (no lie), as I try to make use of my dwindling online time (can’t afford internet access at home), Jerry proceeds to share with me his life story, or stories. The time he was in Thailand, going from ashram to ashram. The cat he befriended while he was there. His work as a stand-up comedian. How different this coffee shop is from the ones he likes in Paris. How he hates the internet, and can’t understand people who come to public places like coffee shops and then don’t want to be talked to. (Oh, Jerry, where to begin with my explanation of this phenomenon!) Seriously, I think I’m accidentally making the man sound interesting. And the thing about him is, he could be interesting. He had more interesting life experiences than most people, even if they all only happened in his mind. But Jerry, as with all Jerrys (no offense to people actually named Jerry), has no sense of social cues. Had I been sitting there in the coffee shop hoping someone would come talk to me so that I could turn him into a character in a book (a very long book), I would have been set. As it was, I spent five hours and wrote one (1) cover letter. I didn’t even have a chance to update my facebook status! THE HORROR!!!!!

I’m realizing now that I could go on and on about Jerry, and my inability to cut someone like Jerry off mid-sentence with a stern “I’m trying to work here.” But perhaps, in doing so, I would become a Jerry myself, leaving you to give thanks that you are reading this rather than sitting next to me in a coffee shop. Instead, I'll leave you with this: Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo, which is comprised of The Zoo Story as a second act and a new play, Homelife, as the first act, is now playing at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, home of the Philadelphia Theatre Company. I saw it opening night, and it was the first show I’ve seen in quite a while that didn’t leave me making mental tweaks during the performance. I recommend it.

Buddha-licious

A couple weekends ago I dined at my ultimate Philadelphia favorite. It is probably apparent at this point that Stephen Starr tops my list of favorite restaurateurs, and on this particular occasion I was quite excited to be hobnobbing with three of my very good friends at Buddakan. It was my best friend’s birthday and I was thrilled to be taking her to Buddakan for the very first time! Buddakan originally opened in 1998 and I have dined here countless times over the years because it never fails to satiate the senses nor the stomach, usually leaving me to roll my Buddha-like belly out of the door.

The event was planned to be a small surprise for my friend, as she originally thought it was just to be the two of us having dinner; however, I arranged for two of our good friends, Shander and Tobias, to join us. It came as no surprise that Tobias was prompt and prepared by the door waiting for us, while Shander swaggered up about 15 minutes late. Tobias: 1 point. Shander: -1 point. Stepping in to Buddakan is like stepping in to another little world – the opulence of the restaurant is immediately apparent marked by the ultra-high ceilings and the gigantic gold Buddha that sits at the head of the communal table in the center of the dining room. Buzzing with energy, the restaurant has an air of social-euphoria, as Buddakan tends to be the place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other special events – just as we were doing.

The food is all served family style, in shareable portions and served as it is prepared, thus we all agreed on three appetizers and three entrees. We started with the Kobe Beef Satay and the Pork Belly Buns. The Beef was juicy and full of flavor, and was served with tempura vegetables – crunchy, fried little delights. The pork was not something I would make a meal out of, due to the fatty, chewy consistency, but it was certainly a tasty meal-starter. Stuffed into floury buns, the dish made me imagine what a $15 hot dog might taste like. Timed perfectly, the Asian Caesar salad was served, thereafter. Loaded with
cashews, parmesan and leafy green lettuces, the Asian Caesar is always a favorite and more than enough for all four of us. I made sure to leave room for the best yet to come, however, our entrees and, my particular favorite, dessert.

The Aged Beef, prepared to a perfect medium rare and sliced into small bite-sized pieces, was presented with a mountain of szechuan fries, drizzled with wasabi sauce and a watercress salad. The Aged Beef is a house specialty, and bursts with flavor. The pork tenderloin, also served in bite-sized portions, is dressed in a tasty barbecue sauce and served with three giant panko-crusted onion rings. Anything fried at Buddakan is going to be a hit in my book. There is nothing greasy about the onion rings and each bite is filled with crunchy goodness. The Chinese broccoli served with the pork was also rather addictive and I couldn’t help going back for seconds. Finally we tried the pan-roasted duck breast served in a five-spice jus and served with a corn and scallion spoon bread. The duck was tender, juicy and aromatic, but the corn and scallion bread really caught my attention. It melted in my mouth and left me craving more.

After ordering dessert, Shander happened to take note of the desserts whizzing by, some of which were adorned with tall sparklers for the diners’ who were celebrating special occasions. He looked at me and asked, “Are we going to get one of those?” referring to the sparklers. Now, tell me if I’m wrong, but generally it should be a surprise when we arrange for candles to magically appear in the dessert upon being served. It is that thoughtful little gesture we make for the celebrant ahead of time. Apparently, however, Shander was going to do his best on this night, to make sure there were no surprises. I tried to ignore the question, but he was not ready to end his inquisition. “Seriously, I didn’t see you ask anyone for a candle, what’s the deal?” Despite my urge to jam my fist in his mouth to get him to shut up, I finally had to put Shander at ease, and reveal that we would indeed be receiving a sparkler, due to Tobias’ diligence in getting to the restaurant early in order to make the request. Surprise #2 ruined. Tobias: 2 points. Shander: -2 points. At about this time, Tobias, got a little excited and dumped the entire contents of his soda onto his lap. This spiced things up a bit and I’m going to give him another point for livening things up. Needless to say, his pants were soaked, but at least we all got a laugh out of it.

And then the holy grail of the night was placed onto our table – the Banana Tower, standing tall in its glory, the caramel walls glimmering beside the infamous sparkler. The inside was stuffed with bananas, caramel and cream making this one of my favorite Buddakan desserts. The other favorite was being devoured by Shander and Tobias, the Dip-Sum Doughnuts – sugar mini doughnuts served warm with blackberry jam, chocolate sauce and ginger cream cheese. Upon finishing up the rest of the ginger cream cheese , Shander so eloquently described that it was “like wiping God’s ass” with the last bit of his dip sum doughnut.

Almost three hours later, we had finally finished another amazing Buddakan experience. What a wonderful way to celebrate an entire year of sobriety – good friends, good food and one huge Buddha. Final score: Tobias: 3 points. Shander: -2 points. Me: 10 points (for making the whole night happen, of course). My Best Friend: well she wins, of course, to offset the pains of aging, as I’m sure winning at my juvenile scorekeeping game for this event will make her feel so much better about turning a year older.