Will Jenn visit the Liberty Bell? Will she run off and join the Pennsylvania Dutch? Will she break her no-red-meat rule and try a cheesesteak? Find out here...
And if some hot Amish guy insists on taking you out to dinner, I would suggest going here: Buddakan. Michelle and I went there a few years ago when we went to Children's Museum conference and that place was really amazing!
First time in Philly. What a cool city! I just went over to the Convention Center to pick up my stuff and of course got totally lost. Luckily, though, City Hall is right next to my hotel and is a very easy to find - there's even a statue of what appears to be Paul Revere (don't quote me on that - it could well be some other guy) on top serving as a landmark. And the Convention Center has a big sculpture of a paintbrush in front for some reason that I don't understand but do appreciate. I've only been here a couple of hours. First order of business: Cocktails and snacks with the Brodart gals. I'm taking off for that after I finish writing this. If they're professional drinkers as Robert claims, I am in serious trouble, although I must admit a cocktail or two or twelve does sound refreshing after a long day of travel. I'll give Buddakan a whirl, Robert. Tomorrow, our panel is going out for dinner after our rehearsal, so perhaps Friday, when the presentation is over and I'll be needing a nice meal to celebrate (or wallow, as the case may be). So...happy to be here, exhausted from getting up long before the sun, excited about the panel presentation, geographically challenged as always, but optimistic and happy.
I never even got a chance to meet our Brodart people! The restaurant was very loud and crowded, and I couldn't tell who was who. I stayed for about 30 minutes, had some wine and pasta, talked to someone from Chicago, mainly just because we were squished into the same corner, and then called it a night.
Well, I'm writing this in Redlands, so I think I missed the chance to try Buddakan. Oh well, it's an excuse to go back one day. I didn't see the Liberty Bell either. Everyone who went said it's crowded and there are more security measures in place than at the airport. They search your bags and make you go through a metal detector. And then they all stand there and stare at the bell, then leave.
I went to the Reading Terminal Market, which is similar to the LA Farmer's Market or the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. It's a fun, vibrant market that smells wonderful - so many different types of foods! I did not give in the cheese steak temptation, but I can't say the same about the crepes.
Restaurant review: We (the TLA50 people) went to a restaurant called Lolita. It's a BYOT (bring you own tequila) restaurant - you bring the tequila and they mix up a pitcher of margaritas and then charge you $18 for the honor of having done so. Philadelphia has weird, prohibition-style liquor laws... Anyway, the food was wonderful. I had enchiladas with shrimp, shitake mushrooms, and the most yummy salsa ever. The place was tiny, though, and LOUD! It was impossible to carry on a conversation, so we all sat and shouted at one another. It was in a historic brick building, but pretty much everything around here is in a historic brick building.
I think one of the best things about going to conferences is the informal networking that goes on outside of the actual conference. Getting to hang out with people from the State Library is invaluable.
Did Stacey join you for dinner? (And who suggested that you free-form your presentation?...)
Stacey skipped the dinner, but we did do some chatting during our pre-presentation meeting. She seemed rushed. It was Suzanne who suggested the free-form. She seemed to think it was a great idea at the time, but the next day she just seemed embarrassed and said she should never drink tequila.
Have you been to Philly before? Definitely lots of history there!
ReplyDeleteAlso send photos of you partying with the girls of Brodart. (But warning, they are profession drinkers, so tread lightly!)
RK
And if some hot Amish guy insists on taking you out to dinner, I would suggest going here: Buddakan. Michelle and I went there a few years ago when we went to Children's Museum conference and that place was really amazing!
ReplyDeleteI always think of the movie Witness with Harrison Ford as the undercover cop pretending to be an Amish guy when someone mentions the Amish.
DeleteFirst time in Philly. What a cool city! I just went over to the Convention Center to pick up my stuff and of course got totally lost. Luckily, though, City Hall is right next to my hotel and is a very easy to find - there's even a statue of what appears to be Paul Revere (don't quote me on that - it could well be some other guy) on top serving as a landmark. And the Convention Center has a big sculpture of a paintbrush in front for some reason that I don't understand but do appreciate. I've only been here a couple of hours. First order of business: Cocktails and snacks with the Brodart gals. I'm taking off for that after I finish writing this. If they're professional drinkers as Robert claims, I am in serious trouble, although I must admit a cocktail or two or twelve does sound refreshing after a long day of travel. I'll give Buddakan a whirl, Robert. Tomorrow, our panel is going out for dinner after our rehearsal, so perhaps Friday, when the presentation is over and I'll be needing a nice meal to celebrate (or wallow, as the case may be). So...happy to be here, exhausted from getting up long before the sun, excited about the panel presentation, geographically challenged as always, but optimistic and happy.
ReplyDeleteHow were the Brodart people? And if you get to Buddakan, I think you will like it. (Black cod with miso glaze!)
DeleteI never even got a chance to meet our Brodart people! The restaurant was very loud and crowded, and I couldn't tell who was who. I stayed for about 30 minutes, had some wine and pasta, talked to someone from Chicago, mainly just because we were squished into the same corner, and then called it a night.
DeleteWell, I'm writing this in Redlands, so I think I missed the chance to try Buddakan. Oh well, it's an excuse to go back one day. I didn't see the Liberty Bell either. Everyone who went said it's crowded and there are more security measures in place than at the airport. They search your bags and make you go through a metal detector. And then they all stand there and stare at the bell, then leave.
DeleteI went to the Reading Terminal Market, which is similar to the LA Farmer's Market or the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. It's a fun, vibrant market that smells wonderful - so many different types of foods! I did not give in the cheese steak temptation, but I can't say the same about the crepes.
ReplyDeleteOr the Pikes Place Market in Seattle! I remember that place. (No cheese steak either however...)
DeleteFlying fish though! You have to be careful at Pike Place not to get smacked in the head by a salmon.
DeleteRestaurant review: We (the TLA50 people) went to a restaurant called Lolita. It's a BYOT (bring you own tequila) restaurant - you bring the tequila and they mix up a pitcher of margaritas and then charge you $18 for the honor of having done so. Philadelphia has weird, prohibition-style liquor laws... Anyway, the food was wonderful. I had enchiladas with shrimp, shitake mushrooms, and the most yummy salsa ever. The place was tiny, though, and LOUD! It was impossible to carry on a conversation, so we all sat and shouted at one another. It was in a historic brick building, but pretty much everything around here is in a historic brick building.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the best things about going to conferences is the informal networking that goes on outside of the actual conference. Getting to hang out with people from the State Library is invaluable.
DeleteDid Stacey join you for dinner? (And who suggested that you free-form your presentation?...)
Stacey skipped the dinner, but we did do some chatting during our pre-presentation meeting. She seemed rushed. It was Suzanne who suggested the free-form. She seemed to think it was a great idea at the time, but the next day she just seemed embarrassed and said she should never drink tequila.
Delete