exotic family getaway

For some reason we had a long weekend off at school, so the D'Amato family took a very exciting trip to Philadelphia. We stayed overnight in a hotel in the city center, next door to the Reading Terminal Market.

The trip included many firsts for the child: first long car ride, first time sleeping away from home, first swim in a pool. All these challenges were met with aplomb and every sign of enjoyment.

Mom and Dad enjoyed the change of scenery and the hustle and bustle of the big city. Philly is great, and the market is like an amusement park for us. Great fresh food and ingredients and interesting things and all kinds of people. We planned our visit around our meals, of course, we had soul food in the market for lunch, then a late dinner (for us) in Old City, and breakfast at the market again.

Our evening out in Old City is worth telling about. We went back to the belgian bar we stumbled into last summer. Back then, my heavily pregnant wife could not manage the moules and frites but this time we made up for the missed opportunity. I had a great sour beer, Duchesse of something or other.

The boy, of course, came along with us. Now that bars and restaurants in NY, NJ, and PA are smoke free it makes the whole adult world a lot more family friendly. The kid loves to get out and look at new places, and be admired by strangers, and when he gets tired or hungry it's easy enough to hide him under a blanket. We're pleased with ourselves that we manage to get out and about, showing him a good time and taking care of him while doing some of the things we enjoy doing.

This little picture came from my phone and it shows how much fun we were all having. Maybe G will write more about our trip later.



On Saturday we went to see Andrew and Farah, we had a great time hanging out and talking about babies and fussing over Himself, who was very well behaved.

So here is the summary of our trip:

Lunch: Ribs & collards at Delilah's in Reading Terminal Market

Dinner: Moules and frites, some beer too, at Eulogy in old city

Breakfast: Egg and pepper sandwiches, coffee, croissants at the market

Lunch: Pho #36 (beef eye round and brisket), avocado smoothie, iced vietnamese coffee at Cafe Viet Hoang at 11th & Washington

Afternoon snack: Cupcakes from Flying Monkey and an Amish organic cheese pastry that we brought from the Market

Dinner: Quesadilla and a goat burrito at the Caballitos Cantina on Passyunk

Breakfast: Andrew's white boy bacon and egg breakfast

And on our way out of town, a quick cheesesteak at Jim's on South St.

And since every cup of coffee I have ever had in a vietnamese restaurant has been exceptional, I bought a couple of the little brewing doodads they use and I've been experimenting with them this morning. This is possibly the last coffee-making apparatus I have not previously owned. Watch this space for updates.