Philadelphia Museum of Art

Part 1 of my Philadelphia reflection/visitor's guide: The Philadelphia Museum of Art!!

Iconic Rocky statue out front. Be sure to get a pic at this wonderful photo op!

I have only been here twice I think, yet I love the museum even more every time I visit. Check their website, because I think every 2nd Sunday of every month the museum is "pay what you want" (aka free). It's worth paying though even if you can't make it on Sunday. I highly recommend going here as I think I would consider it my favorite art museum in the United States. 

Aside from their amazing collection of paintings, sculptures, and more, the museum is set up with parts of the artwork almost being built into the walls.  This adds to the old atmosphere of the museum and provides wonderful visuals throughout your visit.  On the second floor there is also a collection of tapestries depicting certain events in the life of Alexander the Great. These are worth checking out and listening to the free phone guide that you can call. PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER: The docents will ask you to please hang up if you are making a call anywhere inside the museum as cell phones aren't allowed (except for the phone tour). Cameras are allowed though!

If you return to the museum, beware! Sometimes they switch around their collections so that favorite painting may have been moved to a new location! This can be annoying, yet kind of fun because it forces you to look at new things.

Here are some of my favorite things I have spotted in the museum:
#1 - William Penn Miniature Model
I didn't find the information about the sculptor or anything, but the model was used to build the one on top of City Hall.

#2 - "Spring" by John La Farge (American)

1900 - 1902, Opalescent Glass, Painted Glass, Lead

This is one of the most beautiful stained/painted glass windows I have seen. It's not a window in the museum really, but rather backlit with a light behind it on a wall. It's definitely worth checking out.

#3 - Asian Orb Thing - ???

For some reason due to my inadequate search abilities, I cannot find the name of this orb/metal sculpture work. I think it is Chinese and will continue my search through the library collection to find it. Isn't it so cool though?

#4 - "The Archangel Michael" by Juan Correa the Younger (Mexican)

1739, Oil on Canvas

This is one of my absolute favorite paintings in the museum. There is also another painting by Correa of the Archangel Raphael which is usually in the same room as this one.



#5 -

I love this painting just because there is SOOOO much going on in it. It is so intricately detailed too that you constantly find new things everytime you look at it.

I could keep going, but I think the best advice I can give is to go see the museum for yourself! You won't be disappointed I guarantee it. I think this February they're opening a new exhibit on Van Gogh too which would be worth checking out.

Have any favorite museums or places to go in Philly? Share!!

Stephanie, WWT

The Mutter Museum

Part 2 of my Philly Guide! The Mutter Museum!!

Photo taken from here.

If you live around Philly, chances are you may have heard about this medical museum pronounced the Moo-ter Museum. Or you may have even been there yourself.

Regardless of if you are a med student, or just a fan of House, this museum is sure to captivate you, that is, if it doesn't gross you out.  If you don't have a strong stomach, or if you are pretty squeamish, you may want to opt out, however the displays aren't presented in a way that is designed to induce grimaces in its visitors. It represents a large collection of bones, wax replicas, and medical instruments, as well as preserved organs and body parts.

Photo taken from here.

I had been wanting to go for a long time, but never had the chance. If you go, I would advise getting off at 30th street station and walking across the bridge down Market st. and down 22nd.  The museum is actually located within the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, which is the oldest professional medical organization in the country.

If you want to visit the museum, it is open Mon - Sun (10am - 5pm) and there is a special student discount for only $10 if you show an ID.  Although you cannot take photography inside, there are plenty of things to occupy yourself with.  In the top floor, walk past the huge case filled with skulls of various ages, ethnicities, and medical abnormalities and diseases. Also check out the exhibit about the "Soap Lady" as well as the cases about the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln and Garfield.

Downstairs there is a collection of more skulls, skeletons, and organs as well as a huge colon, a giant and dwarf skeleton, and casts of the conjoined Siamese twins Chang and Eng. There is also a room dedicated to Gretchen Worden. Don't forget to see Benjamin Rush's medicinal herb garden outside!

BE WARNED!! Some of the exhibits were a bit disturbing.  I couldn't really bear to look at all of the preserved fetuses and babies, maybe because I'm a woman and couldn't picture that being my baby. I wouldn't suggest bringing your kids under 15 here. Maybe even under 20 because they might just act all immature and joke around about stuff.

Overall, the museum was very nice, and gave off an old sort of feel to it.  There was a funky smell downstairs, and in one of the rooms there was a fan blowing constantly, which made it super cold! I am glad to have finally seen it, but it is a little overwhelming.  It is probably an essential visit for anyone considering going into the medical field. 

More museum reviews to come!

Stephanie, WWT

Franklin Fountain

So... one of the things on my Philadelphia to-do list was to visit Franklin Fountain ice cream shop and I did!! Yesterday... yes I know it was cold and I wasn't even sure they'd be open but they were!!!

Front entrance and menu.

Although I was like the only other person in there besides this couple. Anyway, it was a little hole in the wall and I admit I went down a couple wrong streets having forgottene the address, but quickly found it on the corner of like 2nd and ???

The shop itself is so adorable and transports you back to a soda-shop-esque type establishment.  Their menu is kind of intimidating for the first time, but I decided due to my not overly large appetite to avoid one of their signature sundaes. They are however, most famous for them as they were featured on Man vs. Food for their Mt. Vesuvius sundae that Adam Richman devoured.
Yeah, wasn't gonna happen.

Ben Franklin all decked out for V-Day.

So instead I asked the guys behind the counter what they recommended and the lovely young gentleman told me the the pistachio and cherry vanilla were his favorites.  I sampled the pistachio (with a small silver spoon, not that plastic crap you get at 31 flavors) and it was very yummy, but I wanted a topping too. So I decided to go with 1 scoop (aka like 2 baseballs) of the mint chip with their hot fudge topping. My kind server told me to take a seat anywhere and he would bring it over to me after he was done making it.

1 "scoop" of mint chip with hot fudge topping.

The sundae was fantastic and I almost finished it all, but instead took the leftovers to-go in this awesome little cardboard container.  Cool huh?

To-go container is so cute!!

After my sugar overload, I talked to the guy working there some more and he told me some interesting facts about the shop. It has only been open for like 6 or 7 years, however the building itself is original including the molding on the ceiling (not the fungus lol) as well as the tiles on the floor.

They also have the oldest working soda fountain in America! Pretty cool. Overall, I would definitely come back. If you're with a couple friends, opt for one of their bigger sundaes which go from like $9 - $15 I think.  You can also order by the scoop and add on toppings. For one scoop, one topping mine came out to $6 something. Pretty reasonable for fantastic service and good ice cream.

The oldest working soda fountain!

Since they're a soda shop, they also have shakes, banana splits, sodas, and these things called phosphates which I'll have to try sometime. They also have plenty of flavors, including one called hydrox cookie, which uses the original hydrox cookies which were an early version of an oreo. They also have sugar free and soy ice creams too.

Go check them out! They are open from 12 pm - 12 am (nice!) and their service is fantastic.  You won't be disappointed. 

Stephanie, WWT

Travel 2012 Plan

Ok, time to get serious here. I only have like 4 months before I return to the West Coast for good ending my Senior year here at Nova. I still have so much to do!! AAaaahh! Freakout time!!!......
Ok, let's get planning.

Aside from my much anticipated Atlantic City trip scheduled for spring break in March, I've been wanting to go to Philly again and what with Fridays free, I think I definitely have enough time. Here is a list of things I'd still like to, no, scratch that have to do!

1. Go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art one last time! (preferrably on one of the free Sundays!)

2. Go to the Mutter Museum (home of fascinating medical oddities)

3. Try a Geno's cheesesteak (so I can compare it to Pat's!)

4. Eat ice cream at Franklin Fountain (you can see how my list is quickly becoming dominated by food)

5.  Go to Penn's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

6. Somehow find a way to Gettysburg


Heck, while I'm at it, here's the New York List too!

1. See the Statue of Liberty

2. Go to the top of either the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock

3. See a Broadway show (preferrably Phantom)

4. Find another food truck and sample their delicacies!

5. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

6. See the Wall Street bull

7. Go to the Natural History Museum


And just one more thing in D.C.

1. Go to the Crime and Punishment Museum


I'm also trying to figure out if I can take a trip to Boston sometime too, but I might run out of time :(

Does anyone know of anything fun to do in Baltimore by any chance? That's pretty close as well.
Looks like I have a lot to do and see still. Sigh. World, here I come!

Happy travels during the new year! Have any plans?? Share them :)

Stephanie, WWT

Halloween Haunts: Eastern State Penitentiary

Looking for a great place to go to get in the mood for Halloween? One haunted place I love is Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary, that was first opened in 1829.  Although other prisons in the area preceded this one like the Walnut Street Jail, Eastern State had a different goal in terms of punishment.  People thought that by confining prisoners in solitude and making them work, it would change their behavior and encourage them to repent for their crimes. Some may have found a higher spiritual meaning of life through the valuted ceilings and skylights in the cellblocks, while others may have just gone insane. 

Ever wonder where the word penitentiary came from? The goal of this type of prison was to make the prisoners penitent and regretful for their crimes, hence the name.  This theory was nicknamed the Pennsylvania System, largely due to it's practice in the state.  Throughout it's use, Eastern State housed some famous prisoners like Al Capone, whose lavishly furnished cell is on display, and is the site where he was supposedly haunted by the ghost of one of the victims from the St. Valentine's Day massacre.  The prison also had an inmate that wasn't actually human... yes, Pep the Dog was sentenced to a life sentence for murdering a cat.

Various riots, fires, and a partially successful escape went on before the prison was officially closed in 1970.  Most of the inmates were moved to Graterford (where I volunteered to teach inmates last year!). Now the prison remains intact, right in the city of Philadelphia, reminding us of a gothic-style castle with the high walls and turrets. It is a national landmark and is open for tours during the year. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the audio tour unless you're a huge fan of Steve Buscemi, who narrates the tape.  You may also recognize the prison for it's use as a setting for various movies.  12 Monkeys along with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen were both filmed here. 

But... on Halloween, things get a little hairy. The prison hosts numerous haunted houses, located right in the cellblocks of the prison.  Complete with scary volunteers and an eerie location, you're sure to have a great time if you love haunted house type things.  Or you can go to learn a bit more about penology and corrections. It really is a creepy, yet cool place.

Have any other favorite Halloween-themed tourist spots? Please share!!
Happy Haunting!!
Stephanie, WWT

Macy's Flower Show

I know this post is old and from a while ago, but I had to fit it in with my Philly trip before I move on to my New York posts!

There's me! lol

Sadly the Macy's Flower Show in Philadelphia ended on April 10th, but I was fortunate enough to stop in and catch it in March. I have to admit, it was very cool to have amazing floral displays surrounding you as you walked through the shoe and jewelry department in Macy's. Each day they had a different designer bouquet and the one on display when I went was this one:

As you can see, it was pretty tall.

The colors were kind of crazy, but it was beautiful.

Can you imagine if Macy's was like this everyday? It would take an enormous amount of upkeep, but think of how many customers it would attract! Having a department store that is filled to the brim with fresh flowers and plants is sort of relaxing.

Enjoy all of the photos!

Can you feel the springtime weather yet? It is so humid here in PA yet we're supposed to have thunderstorms tomorrow I think. Oh joy. One more week and I'll be back in Cali! Can't wait!

April showers bring May flowers! 3 more days until May is officially here!

-Stephanie, WWT

Capogiro Gelato Artisans

Another stop on my Philly food day was Capogiro Gelato Artisans where you can get fantastic gelato, sandwiches, and many other wonderful snacks.  Although it was chilly out and my nose was running when I stepped inside, I couldn't resist and had to get some. After much indicisiveness and 6 or 7 samples later I finally made my decision. For about $4.50 I was able to get a small cup and try two flavors.  Here is a picture of my selection:

1/2 Banana Chocolate gelato + 1/2 Dulce de Leche gelato = heaven

The gelato was simply amazing. I wanted to try all of the flavors, many of which are exotic.  I think they change their menu daily however, so certain flavors may not be available.  The people there are super nice and the guy let me sample about 6 flavors. From what I remember:

Cioccolato Banana = perfect mixture of bananas and chocolate
Bananas Foster = a little bit more banana-ey, I preferred the chocolate
Dulce De Leche = very sweet with a caramel swirl
Mint something?? = can't remember the name but it was very minty, almost like toothpaste
Coffee something?? = also don't remember, but it was okay

I looked on the website to search the names of the types of gelato that I tried, and they already changed the menu! I would suggest looking at their online menu the day you visit so you know ahead of time if they'll have the flavors you're looking for. They only have a couple that seemt to be consistent every day.

I went to the Capogiro in Rittenhouse at 117 South 20th St althought there are 3 more locations I think the others are on 13th and the other is on Walnut somewhere. The atmosphere is one where you could bring a laptop and hang out for the day, or just come with some friends. It's still pretty small, about 10 tables maybe? Overall, it was a nice snack, that I honestly didn't need, but wanted to indulge in anyway. I would definitely go back and hope to catch some more interesting flavors like their basil or avocado flavors, yum!

Have any favorite gelato spots or flavors?
Hopefully warm weather is on the way!!

-Stephanie, WWT

Termini Bros. Pasticceria

So my day in Philly ended with a stop at Termini Bros in Reading Terminal. I had to try a cannoli here, although Hershel's had filled me up. What do I do? Naturally take it to go! I asked the lady piping my cannoli shell with ricotta if it would last until later that night and she assured me it would. She also assured me I would love it! Boy did I enjoy that cannoli, I wish I had another one right now...

Honestly, this cannoli was amazing!! The shell was so crispy and crunchy while the ricotta was filled with chocolate chips, and these little jello chunks flavored with lemon. They certainly don't skimp on the filling either!

I had to add another pic of this beautiful dessert!

I hope someday to return and try some cookies, or perhaps a pecan bar at Termini Bros. They also have a wide variety of cakes and other goodies to buy. Last year at Easter, they had these cakes displayed:

Aren't they adorable? I think they have these every Easter, so they should be coming in soon!
Go enjoy a cannoli at Termini's for an amazing dessert!

-Stephanie, WWT

Herschel's East Side Deli

Here is my review, as promised, of Herschel's located in Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia, PA.
It was my first time going to Herschel's and let me tell you, it can be a little overwhelming at first.  Fortunately, i read some reviews about what to get on Yelp before going so I pretty much knew what I was going to get.

There are several clear cut favorites to order. Choosing between the pastrami, reuben, and corned beef was definitely hard as all three look equally mouthwatering. In the end, I went with the corned beef special, piled with meat topped with coleslaw and russian dressing. It also comes with a pickle spear!

My corned beef!

If you're someone who prefers to not have your stomach stuffed to the max then GET THE 1/2 SANDWICH!! As you can see in the pic below, this was plenty for me. I'll admit I finished the whole thing but it was difficult.  The carvers there are just as proud and happy to serve you a half sandwich as a whole and it is a couple bucks cheaper too.  They are so nice and will be happy to answer any questions as well.

So I order my sandwich and move down the line where I proceed to ask them to make my a NY egg cream, something which I also have never had in my life.  Egg creams are common in New York (hence the name NY egg cream) and other parts of the East Coast.  Growing up in California, I had never heard of one until I came here. I had originally planned on trying one in New York, but the one at Herschel's was only $1.95, about half the amount you would pay for one in New York. An egg cream basically consists of chocolate syrup, milk, and selzer and it has neither eggs nor cream in it. Funny huh? I think they were originally made with eggs, but restaurants had to stop making them that way because they couldn't serve people raw eggs. This makes me wonder about egg nog. Isn't that made with raw eggs?

1/2 Corned Beef Special

Anyway, my egg cream was alright I guess. Not something I'm going to be craving any time soon. It was just different. My corned beef special on the other hand was, hands down, THE BEST SANDWICH I HAVE EVER EATEN!!! No I'm not exaggerating. The corned beef melted in your mouth and literally had no fat on it whatsoever. That little piece you can see in the picture is the most fat I found on the meat. I can't speak for the pastrami, which to me, looked a bit more fattier.  My sandwich was so good, but messy too! I ended up eating the rest with a fork and knife it was that bad :)

I could have used more coleslaw, but overall, this sandwich definitely makes my top 5. Phenomenal. I think my 1/2 sanwich came out to around $5 or something. The full size was around $8 I think.
I also ordered a knish to go. This was another thing I had never ever heard of in my life, so I had to try it. I got a broccoli one and heated it up later that night. It was a nice, ball of potatoes and broccoli in a pastry dough outside. Not the best thing I've ever eaten, but I would try another kind in the future possibly.
That was around $2.75 I believe. So my sandwich, egg cream, and knish only cost me $10.75

Broccoli Knish

If you're ever in Philly, I totally recommend stopping by the market and getting a sandwich at Herschel's. They are out of this world, seriously!

Where have you eaten the best sandwich of your life?

-Stephanie, WWT

Gastronomic Delights in Philly

This past Sunday was my big day out in Philly, a city that I've come to know and love these past three years.  I have to confess that my main motivation was not to go to the art museum, like my fellow dorm members, rather, I was seeking out the tastiest treats in Philly, that I hadn't already tried of course.

This whole trip was spurned by my dorm offering a free trip to Philadelphia and back, something which is the best deal for a college student short on cash. To take the R5 train to 30th Street and back costs $10, which won't break the bank, but it does add up.  While the rest of my floormates went straight to the museum, I walked the 30 minutes down Benjamin Franklin Parkway, past the iconic statue of LOVE, and down around City Hall to make my way to Reading Terminal Market, a foodie's paradise.  Located right across from the convention center, it may be hard to spot for someone who has never been there before.  Just look for a) the huge sign that says Reading Terminal Market, b) little hanging whales, cows, and fruits, or c) a huge tunnel. Any of these signs will let you know you're in the right place.

Now I have been to this market many times, but never have I had the pleasure of eating at Herschel's East Side Deli. Let me just say, the experience was heavenly! A review is forthcoming by the way.
From there I went to Macy's, right next to City Hall.  I really wanted to see the flower show there, something that is only in its second year. It lived up to the hype as Macy's was decked out in floral arrangements that made it seem more like a tropical paradise than a huge department store.

After that I decided to take a walk to Rittenhouse Square because of the awesome weather. I was also seeking out a gelateria in the area which I did find. Called Capogiro, this is a chain that has several locations around the city. Even though it was windy and a little chilly out, I couldn't pass up on this delectable Italian treat. (Again, I will post a review and pics soon!)

On my walk back to the market I stopped in an Anthropologie 4 floors high! I didn't buy anything though, in favor of saving my money for my upcoming New York trip! I decided to head into Chinatown, somewhere I had never been before. It is relatively close to the market, off of Arch street.  Anyway, it was fun to pop in and out of some souvenir shops and bakeries, but again, I didn't buy anything, for I knew what treat I wanted to take with me.

So my journey concluded back at Reading Terminal at Termini Bros. This Italian bakery served my the best cannoli I have had to this day, which, I guess isn't really saying much cause I've had very few cannolis in my lifetime. I got a regular ricotta filled shell to go, which surprisingly lasted until later that night without getting soggy at all.

Overall, I have to say my day was filled with walking, eating, and just enjoying the city.  Now, it's back to crunch time, and the crazy mess of the last month of my junior year of college.

Do you have any favorite food spots in Philly? If so, please share!
Also, check out my post from a year ago on Reading Terminal for more reviews!

-Stephanie, WWT

Reading Terminal Market, Philly, PA

A visit to Philadelphia wouldn't be complete without heading over to Reading Terminal Market (pronounced like 'red-ing'). This hodgepodge of eclectic foods will definitely not disappoint. Whether you like sweets, looking for a cheap meal, or just want to shop around for some produce, it is a spot to check out.

I was fortunate enough to get to the market early when it wasn't so hectic. My goal was to try something that terrified me since I first heard about it: scrapple.

This fried slab of unidentifiable pork scraps is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meal that is usually served for breakfast. I was lucky enough to try my first scrapple from an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch stand in the market. I have to admit, I liked it! The crunchy outside was a great contrast to the mushy sausage tasting inside and went great with some scrambled eggs.

My best advice is to try things you wouldn't normally try at the market! It can be really overwhelming so try to plan out what you really want to try beforehand. You can check out all of the vendors and get a map of the market at its website:

http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/

When I went to visit I tried:

• Scrapple, eggs, and toast breakfast at the Pennsylvania Dutch stand (try it, seriously)
• Cherry Vanilla and Raspberry Truffle ice cream at Bassett's Ice Cream (so good on a hot day)
• Baklava from Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties (nothing to write home about)
• Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie from the Famous 4th Street Cookie Company (very good)
• And, I had to buy some fresh produce at Iovine Brothers Produce (great prices)

I suggest you go early for breakfast when its not too crowded, then hit the town and explore Philly, and come back to experience the mad rush at lunchtime. Be sure to wash your clothes afterwards though. You will notice a variety of strange smells from your visit to the market.

Still sick, but still bloggin,'

-Stephanie, WWT