August Philadelphia LT meet up?

Several of us in the 75 Books group have been discussing getting together in Philadelphia in August. I'll visit my parents in Bucks County, just north of the city, from August 13-28. At the moment the group appears to have decided to meet on Saturday August 15th.

If anyone is interested in meeting up, please let us know if you can likely or probably make it, where you'll be coming from, and what day(s) would be best for you. I'll add names to the list as they are posted.

Yes:

Darryl (kidzdoc): Bucks County, PA
Bill (weird_O): Lehigh Valley, PA
Mike (CurrerBell): Drexel Hill, PA
Katherine (qebo): Lancaster, PA
Monica (crazy4reading): Boothwyn, PA

Maybe:

Sharon (snash): Philadelphia, PA

No:

Deborah (Cariola): Chambersburg, PA
Laura (lauralkeet): Chester County, PA

I'm a probable. Weekends are simplest. Other days are generally possible.

Likely. I'm a likely. Aug 25 is definitely out for me, but other dates are ok at this time.

I'm interested! Weekends are best with a slight preference for Saturday. Fridays are also possible; at this moment it looks like I could take a day off from work. Aug 20 is my wedding anniversary so best stay away from that.

I'm a very likely (coming from Drexel Hill, a fairly short commute to Center City). As of the moment, any date is good (but no guarantee that won't change) other than Sunday August 9 or Sunday August 23, both of which involve some things at church that could be difficult to change.

Would Saturday August 15th work for everyone?

>6 kidzdoc: I have a book group meeting that morning, so it's not ideal, but I wouldn't be devastated to skip the book group this one time.

>6 kidzdoc: so far, yes.

>6 kidzdoc: Seems good to me.

I'm a possible and the 15th works for me. As for where I'm coming from -- Center City (21st and Walnut)

Just a confirmation that the 15th works for me.

What is the difference between "Likely" and "Probable"?

In terms of percentages I think of "probable" as being around a 50-75% certainty, whereas "likely" is around 75-90% certainty, and "definitely" is >90 kidzdoc:% and closer to 100%. That may not be accurate, but that's what I had in mind.

I'd put myself as "definitely", but I need to confirm that my parents and brother don't decide that they want to do something with me that day.

Ha ha! Get out the dictionaries and thesari; call in the scholars. You used the word "probable" (>2 qebo:) and I used the word "likely" (>3 weird_O:); is there really a difference? :-)

>13 kidzdoc: I think you are making stuff up. :-) By "probable" I meant essentially "definite" unless a schedule conflict that currently does not exist emerges within the next few weeks and it's something I can't reasonably miss.

>14 weird_O:, >15 qebo: Ha! When I say that I'll "probably" be somewhere, to me it means that there is a slightly greater chance that I'll be there than not. "Likely" to me is more than "probably", but less than "definitely". That is honestly the way I think about those adverbs!

Would it be easier to indicate "Yes", "No" and "Maybe" instead? It's less confusing that way. If we did that all of us except possibly Sharon (snash) would probably be "Yes". ;-)

What should we do while we're there? I assume that proof of my first taste of scrapple is a must. There is at least one restaurant in Reading Terminal Market, the Dutch Eating Place, that serves it and is open on Saturday morning. Visits to at least one bookstore is generally a requirement of LT meet ups (although we didn't do so for the last three group meet up I attended, in Essex (Saffron Walden and Thaxted, UK), Amsterdam and Utrecht). I'm always up for a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I'm now a member, so I may be able to get one or more visitors in for free.

>16 kidzdoc: That may be what you think, but isn't necessarily what everyone else understands. :-) I'd say "maybe" for I haven't decided one way or the other, and "probably" or "likely" interchangeably for I expect but can't yet guarantee. Of course, nothing is 100% certain, so "yes" covers what I mean by "probably".

>17 kidzdoc: I'd vote for Reading Terminal Market and Joseph Fox Bookshop. Dunno what's going on at various museums...

>17 kidzdoc: Got it, Katherine. :-)

I put you and everyone other than Sharon as "Yes".

I agree with going to Reading Terminal Market and the Joseph Fox Bookshop.

Unfortunately my basic membership to the Philadelphia Museum of Art doesn't include guest passes. There are several exhibitions there that I'd like to see, but I could go there on other days in August if the group isn't interested in going. I'd like to visit the Barnes Foundation, but again I could go any free day in August.

There is an exhibition of leading Impressionist artwork at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting that some may be interested in seeing (I'd certainly like to go).

This extraordinary gathering of paintings reveals the story of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Pissarro, and their visionary art dealer and champion, Paul Durand-Ruel. The artists now known as the Impressionists once struggled to introduce their new style of painting to critics and the public. With Durand-Ruel, they forged an identity and moved from the margins to international fame.

Recaptured in this exhibition are the often forgotten setbacks and breakthrough triumphs of Impressionism. Monet’s visions of graceful poplar trees, Renoir’s joyous dance paintings, and Pissarro’s luminous cityscapes showcase the talent recognized by Durand-Ruel.

Durand-Ruel secured Impressionism’s place in history through tireless promotion across Europe and the United States—enthusiastic Americans ensured its success.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is the only US venue for this landmark exhibition.

The 21st annual Festival of India will take place at Penn's Landing that day, from 1-7 pm:

"The annual Festival of India hosted by the Council of Indian Organizations (CIO) of Greater Philadelphia celebrates India’s Independence Day while highlighting the vibrant Indian American community. Now in its 21st year, the free festival is a colorful panorama of art, music, dance, and cuisine."

http://www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/peco-multicultural-series-at-penn...

>23 kidzdoc: Ooh, that would be of interest!

*sitting quietly on the sidelines while you all work out the "operational definitions" for our RSVPs :) *

"Darryl Eats Scrapple" is a must and photographic evidence will be required.

>23 kidzdoc: ooh! The festival sounds interesting. The Art Museum is very nice too, and if we chose to do the Festival of India we could keep the museum in mind in the event of rain or extreme heat.

>23 kidzdoc: I'd be very interested in going to the Festival of India, too.

>24 qebo: Will I be the only one eating scrapple, or are others required (or at least encouraged) to join me?

>26 kidzdoc: I've been vegetarian for going on 40 years. :-)

Pretty sure that I can make this. It's a bit of a drive from Chambersburg (almost 3 hours), so if I come, I'll probably try to arrive in town the night before and stay over for a day or two, depending on what's on the agenda. I get a discount at Marriott, so it all kind of depends on whether there's anything available nearby on that weekend. Last time I had to stay in NJ and take the train in from there. If the date is definite, I can start looking.

I'd be interested in the Indian Festival, and I wasn't able to make it to Joseph Fox last time and would like to do that.

Unfortunately I'll be out of town that weekend, but let me know if your trip will include a visit to New York!

>27 qebo: I'm vegetarian too. But not vegan, so the Reading Terminal will probably have something pretty easy for me to find.

The Indian Festival sounds really interesting. I didn't know anything about there being one. And some of that Indian cuisine is definitely vegetarian (and maybe even vegan?).

I'm not a big fan of Joseph Fox, but that's only because my addiction runs more to used. There are some really great used book stores in the area, but they may not be conveniently accessible to Center City (a couple being a bit west, on the U of Pa campus). I'm perfectly agreeable to whatever other folks want where book stores are concerned, considering I live in Drexel Hill and my church is on the U of Pa campus so I'm down that way quite frequently.

Remember that this is summer in Philly. We're having a bit of a heat wave right now (a good excuse for me not to mow my lawn!) and I don't know what the weather's going to be like in mid-August. It might be a good idea to avoid too much walking.

>27 qebo: Not a problem, Katherine. There's always vegan scrapple:

http://www.nourishbreathethrive.com/blog/2014/02/healthy-bites-curried-root-vege...

>28 Cariola: Great! From the responses so far I'd say that the 15th is definite. I'll add you to the list.

>29 _Zoe_: Hi, Zoë! Yes, I'll definitely visit NYC during this upcoming trip. There are several exhibitions at MoMA that I'd like to see, and my membership to the museum allows me four or five guest passes at $5 per person, along with early entrance to certain exhibitions. I'll be there from August 13-28, and the 15th and the 22nd-24th are already spoken for. Let me know if you'd be interested in meeting up during a weekday during that time.

>30 CurrerBell: I'm mostly vegan but not that picky when I'm out and about. Indian unlikely to be vegan.
>31 kidzdoc: Hmm, vegan scrapple looks pretty good. Somehow doubt it'll be available at Reading Terminal Market.

Reading Terminal Market to Penn's Landing is a relatively short and interesting walk. Maybe we could pause somewhere in between depending on weather and timing. Along the way are:

African American Museum
National Museum of American Jewish History
Chemical Heritage Foundation with current exhibit books of alchemy

I am a definite affirmative on the scrapple. And like Mike, I am pro-used book stores.

This is shaping up nicely!

I'm always up for used bookshops (The Last Word near UPenn, and Book Trader near Old City, are both excellent). Also we might be able to use The Philly Phlash to get around, at least from Reading Terminal to Penns Landing.

>34 lauralkeet: Also in the UPenn area (practically just around the corner from The Last Word) is House of Our Own. For a museum, we could take in The Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (just $10 general admission), but caution, it's a bit of a distance from the book stores and the public transit in the area isn't all that great. Parking is a little better than in the Old City neighborhood, though.

I haven't been to Book Trader in years -- not because I don't like the store but because of the near impossibility of getting parking in that neighborhood, and it's a long way to walk with heavy books if I park down by Spruce or points further south. But here we're planning on some kind of public transportation, and if we went to that Indian Festival at Penn's Landing, the Book Trader's right in the neighborhood.

Something else to consider is The Franklin Institute, which is currently running a special Genghis Khan exhibit. It's a little bit pricey, but admission to Genghis Khan seems also to include general museum admission as well, and that seems to include one Planetarium show.

Alternatively, for those interested in something a little less bloodthirsty, the FI is also running The Art of the Brick, which seems to have the same general pricing system as Genghis Khan.

On the other hand, the FI is a little bit out of the way, but Philly Phlash seems to go there. We won't be near any good used book stores in the FI immediate neighborhood, as far as I'm aware, and it's a chore getting to the UPenn area from the FI.

Over all, the Book Trader (on North 2d, just a few steps north of the Market Street subway) could be the best bet if we want to do the Indian Festival with the African-American, Jewish, or Chemical museums as a back-up for bad weather (and these three museums are all in the Independence Square neighborhood). The Book Trader's open until 10pm, which means we could take it in last and be just a few steps from the Market Street Subway when we're done.

>35 CurrerBell: I'd be interested in either/both of the Franklin Institute exhibits. And I'd be happy with the Book Trader, especially at the end when acquired books don't have to be hauled around all day.

>36 qebo: Caution, that the Franklin Institute's a little ways out of things. Folks, take a look at this Google Map and you'll see 7-9 North 2d Street over there to the right, just west of the Delaware River. The Franklin Institute is circled in red toward the upper left of the map. According to Philly Phlash, the last pickup at the Franklin Institute seems to be 5:57pm. Miss that and it means walking to the SEPTA station at 15th and Market (which I've circled in green near the center of the map), assuming we don't want to walk all the way to Book Trader (which is about two-and-a-half miles, and which means crossing Broad Street around City Hall, which is a slight hassle).

If we're going for Book Trader, I'd suggest we stay more toward the Old City and Independence Mall area. Reading Terminal's not that long a walk down to the Indian Festival and we've got those three museums along the way. Incidentally, there are also a good number of restaurants in the Old City area if the Indian Festival's a rain-out.

What's really great about Book Trader is its location right near the 2nd Street station of the Market Street Subway – or, if you prefer a bus, right near the Penn's Landing Route 21 bus that runs west on Walnut Street. Either one of them will get folks reasonably close to Suburban Station if they want to connect with SEPTA regional rail lines.

Again, since I'm a local boy, I'm going to go with whatever everyone else wants since out-of-towners don't get into Philly as often.

ETA: And the walk from the Reading Terminal toward the river also takes up past Independence Hall as well as the Constitution Center.

This all sounds good! Even though I'm coming from Atlanta you can consider me a local, since I visit my parents in Bucks County every 2-3 months, and I'll gladly go along with whatever the group decides. I love good vegetarian and vegan food, especially Indian, so I'd be happy to have that, or nearly anything else, for lunch (and it should nicely counteract the effects of the scrapple).

>37 CurrerBell: I lived in Philadelphia for nine years, am comfortable w/ walking to/from Franklin Institute (and it's reasonably close to Joseph Fox Bookshop). However, zigzagging about is more difficult with a group, and if the agenda includes Reading Terminal Market, Festival of India, Book Trader, maybe Franklin Institute is too much of a detour, and we should focus on other venues / events in the general vicinity, with alternatives in mind in case the day is 90+ degrees with a thunderstorm.

I'm game for pretty much anything. I haven't been to either bookstore and will eat vegetarian or non-vegetarian. I'd be interested in the Festival of India. I'd be more keen on an art museum than the three mentioned in post #32, but that's OK--I'm sure I would find something of interest in any of them, and I visited the Barnes and the Philly Art Museum. I haven't been to Independence Hall or the Constitutution Center in years, so I'd be up for that, too, if anyone else is interested.

>39 qebo: Great way to put it. "Zigzagging." I think that's my concern that I was trying to get at.

>40 Cariola: Trouble w/ Independence Hall et al is long lines and tight security. Art museum is even further afield than Franklin Institute. We went there at the big Philadelphia meetup two years ago, via Phlash IIRC, but activities were more concentrated in Rittenhouse Square.

42> Fine. As I said above, I went to the Philly Art Museum and the Barnes when we met up in 2013. (I shared cabs with others.) Whatever works for everyone else is fine with me; I'll be coming as much (if not more) for the company than the activities.

I looked at Philly via Google Maps, and I'd be inclined to stay between the Rdg terminal market and Penn's Landing. I'll echo Deborah's comment about coming for the company more than activities. Looking forward to meeting some LTers face-to-face, and sharing some scrapple with Darryl. :-) That last means, too, that I'm an omnivore.

Activities: I've never actually been to the Constitution Center, and I'd like to give it a look. I've seen TV promos for the African-American museum, and that has appeal for me. Noticed too that there's a seaport museum at Penn's Landing and that appeals to me. Ditto on that there Book Trader place.

>Ooh, seaport museum--I'd be up for that!

>46 CurrerBell: Me too! I hadn't thought of that. For all my photo safaris through Maine, I've never been to the Maine Maritime Museum and I've been meaning to go if I get up there next year. (Can't afford to go this year after spending $4240 for a new heater in February. {grrr})

>46 CurrerBell: I've been to Mystic Seaport in CT. I'm not too interested in the shipbuilding or wartime aspects, but I am interested in the mastheads, old whalers, scrimshaw, ship logs, maps, etc.

So we have...

Reading Terminal Market (12th & Arch) : convene for breakfast / brunch
African American Museum (7th & Arch) : hours 10am - 5pm, admission $14
Constitution Center (6th & Arch) : hours 9:30am - 6pm, admission $14.50
Independence Seaport Museum (Penn’s Landing): hours 10am - 5pm, admission $15
Festival of India (Penn’s Landing) : hours 1pm - 7pm
Book Trader (2nd & Market) : hours 10am - 10pm, end of day

Think this is enough to keep us occupied? The African American Museum and Constitution Center are a block apart, can split up depending on interests. The Festival of India and the Seaport Museum are in essentially the same place, can go to either/both depending on interests and weather. Lotsa interesting stuff to see in the vicinity for anyone who wants to wander independently. If we want an indoor sit-down snack or meal, there are a bazillion restaurants on Market and Chestnut from 5th to Front.

>48 qebo: you have a bright future as an event planner!! :)

Sounds like you've all got this pretty well figured out and sticking to the east side of Center City will allow you not to spend all of your time getting from place to place. I've been to all of the places mentioned and all are interesting (I'd go to any again) Not that you need any more ideas but the Philadelphia History Museum is on 7th St just south of Market 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
$10 adults, $8 seniors. The Seaport Museum is particularly impressive, too.

I just checked in to see what was in the works, but we are committed to some family stuff that weekend already. Next time. Have a great time.

Does anyone know if the Downtown Marriott, 1201 Market St, would be near our central area?

>52 Cariola: Better than "near"; it's across the street from Reading Terminal Market.

>53 qebo: Thanks--I got a great deal! Plan to arrive late Friday afternoon and stay over Saturday night to avoid the long drive in crazy traffic.

I am so glad I happened to stop in at Kidzdoc's 75 thread this afternoon and saw the link to this thread. I would be very interested in meeting up in Philly. I would have to take the train in and could meet everyone at the Reading Terminal Market. I am very familiar with it now that my daughter moved to Northern Liberties this past year. I am from Boothwyn, PA.

Mmmm. Scrapple!

A friend posted this on her Facebook page, and I thought I'd repost it here to get Darryl's saliva glands going. Personally, I like scrapple sliced just a bit thinner and broiled until it is really crispy. Other preferences vary.

>55 crazy4reading: Excellent, Monica! It will be great to see you again. I'll add your name to the list.

>56 weird_O: Hmm. That doesn't look as good as the haggis I had on my roast pork, haggis and apple sauce sandwich in Edinburgh last month. How much scrapple do I have to eat?

It is entirely up to you, doctor. The trick to eating an entire serving is taking the first bite. If you don't want it, no worries.

Can you get haggis at the Reading Terminal Market? Anyone. Anyone.

If you don't want it, no worries.

Thanks, Bill. I'll plan to take one bite, and leave the rest for Laura and Katherine.

Can you get haggis at the Reading Terminal Market?

And, does it taste anything like the presumably authentic version I had in Edinburgh?

I'm sorry, everyone, but I won't be able to make it this time. I forgot that I have another event I previously committed to, the annual volunteer picnic for the animal rescue group I work with. Broke my heart to cancel those $59/night reservations at the cushy Marriott, but I promised to bring food and really want to get to know more of the volunteers now that I am retiring. I've been working so hard that I really haven't had time to meet many people outside of the university in the past 18 years. Maybe next time. Enjoy some curry and garlic naan for me!

Sorry to hear that you won't be joining us, Deborah. Hopefully we'll get to see you next time!

Could everyone who is willing send me their cell phone numbers as private messages? I'll compile a list, and distribute it to everyone who is planning to attend.

I am sorry to say that I won't be able to join you either. I need to go to Cincinnati to visit my parents. My dad, who is 80 and has Parkinson's, just moved to a new care facility yesterday. We have been waiting a long time for a place to become available that would be more secure with increased care. I'm going to see how he's getting on in his new apartment, meet the staff, etc. and check in on my mom who remains in an independent living area of the retirement community.

I'm bummed that I will miss the GREAT SCRAPPLE CHOW DOWN but will look forward to photos of same.

>62 lauralkeet: Oh no! (But a very valid excuse.)

>62 lauralkeet: I'm sorry that you won't be able to join us, Laura. Family always comes first IMO, so you're doing the right thing. Hopefully we can plan another meet up later this year.

So we need a plan... presumably a time to meet at Reading Terminal Market would suffice, and everything else can be flexible. I'll be traveling by Amtrak / SEPTA, can arrive at RTM around 9:30 (possible though an awfully early start here) or 10:30 (more comfortable).

10:30 is fine with me. I'll travel to Center City on SEPTA's West Trenton line, and get off at Market East Jefferson Station.

Please continue to send me your contact numbers. Once I have them all I'll post a list to each of you, via private message.

I'm a sleepy head, so I prefer 10:30 ... but I'm extremely flexible since I'll be parking in 69th Street and taking the Market Street subway, which is about as quickie as you can get.

I will be taking SEPTA's Wilmington Line and get off at Jefferson Station. I am fine with whatever time we decide on. I am usually up early so either time is fine with me.

10:30 is fine with me also. I'll be driving--NE Extension, in the Schuylkill, parking in a lot between RTM and Penn's Landing.

I fear I won't be able to meet you on Saturday. I, too, have elderly parent duties that are beckoning. They're 90 and 96 and are still trying to insist they can do everything for themselves, until they admit at the last minute that they need help.

>70 snash: Have you read Can't we Talk About Something More Pleasant? Something tells me you might appreciate it ...

I just picked up the train schedule and my train arrives at Jefferson Station at 10:36.

Amtrak train is scheduled to arrive 30th St station at 10:05 and I'll get to Reading Terminal Market as soon as I can. 10:30 is optimistic.

I arrived at my parents' house in Bucks County last night, so I'm here. My train (West Trenton local) has hourly service that arrives at Jefferson Station at 55 minutes after the hour. I'll take the train that arrives at 9:55 am, and I'll look for a place that serves (urk) scrapple. I'll plan to meet y'all at the Food Court, as we did in 2013.

I'll send the list of cellphone numbers I have a bit later.

I'm sorry that you won't be able to join us, Sharon; family comes first, of course. Hopefully we can plan another meet up later this year, or possibly next spring.

So, that leaves Katherine, Monica, Bill, Mike and I. Everyone except Bill has met before, so we shouldn't have any problems locating each other. Bill, can you wear those eyeglasses and fake nose you sported in your profile photo so that we can recognize you? ;-)

>71 lauralkeet: I'm with Laura in recommending Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?.

Darryl, where's your scrapple hang-out. I'll meet you there and then seek something vegetarian at one of the other booths. 10:30 good for you?

At some point during the day I'm going to break company with folks for a couple hours to visit someone in the ICU at Pennsylvania Hospital (8th & Spruce). As long as I'm coming in by the Market Street subway anyway, I figure tomorrow will be a good time.

ETA: Our messages must have crossed each other, Darryl. Anyway, folks, I just posted my own mug shot as my main photo, and I'll be wearing a small turban of some color or other to cover my bald head.

>75 CurrerBell: I'll have to look for a place that serves scrapple, Mike. My first thought was the Amish place were several of us bought breakfast from in Reading Terminal Market. I know where it is in the Market, but I'll have to look at the Market's web site to see if I can find the name of it.

I'll be in the Market around 10 am or so.

I remember what you and Monica look like, and Katherine, of course, since she & I have met multiple times. Bill is the only person who (I think) none of us have met before.

I think Down Home Diner might be the place to get scrapple at RTM. Here is a list of places that have Scrapple at RTM:

http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/smart-search?q=scrapple

Thanks, Monica. Smucker's was the Amish restaurant that I was thinking of; several of us ordered breakfast there during the 2013 LT meet up.

I'll wear my duck boots. Look for the big guy in orange Crocs.



ETA: Say which stand we should meet at, and I'll show up between 10 and 10:30.

RTM map: http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/merchants

I'll probably get there after several of you, so maybe I should start with the seating area?

>79 weird_O: Great Crocs, Bill! I'll be on the lookout for them.

>80 qebo: Thanks for posting the RTM map, Katherine. What if we met at the central seating area, as we did last time? Here's a photo of the spot:



I'm at the right rear, behind Zoë.

I will look in the seating area for everyone. I should have no problem finding the RTM this time!!

Attending the 15 August 2015 Philadelphia meetup were:
crazy4reading (Monica)
CurrerBell (Mike)
kidzdoc (Darryl)
qebo (Katherine)
weird_O (Bill)

The first stop was Reading Terminal Market where kidzdoc finally made good on the scrapple challenge.


weird_O, kidzdoc, crazy4reading in line at Smucker’s.


weird_O and kidzdoc place orders for scrapple.


weird_O makes sure it’s authentic.


kidzdoc dramatizes the event.


weird_O and kidzdoc photograph for posterity.


kidzdoc eats scrapple.


crazy4reading


CurrerBell

Then past the Independence Visitor Center to Penn’s Landing, where the Festival of India didn’t quite meet expectations, especially with limited shade in 90+ degrees, so we looped into Olde City and had lunch at Rotten Ralph’s.

The last stop was The Book Trader used books.


crazy4reading


CurrerBell


kidzdoc


weird_O

Great photos, Katherine! You'll note that Bill (orange Crocs) and I (orange KNVB (Royal Dutch football club) T shirt) are color coordinated. The other three didn't get the memo.

I'll post photos tomorrow, after I buy an adapter that will allow me to transfer pictures from my camera's SD card to my iPad.

Oh, very cool. But did Darryl like the scrapple? :)

Loved it!

>84 kidzdoc: Wadja mean I'm not color-coordinated? The turban matches the pants, and the shirt ain't far off! That took many, many hours of agonizing in front of the one mirror I've got that isn't obstructed by book piles.

What are scrapples. I've no clue what it is even with the photos I can't find out.
Please could somebody help me?

Doesn't the orange top on the book cover CurrerBell is holding count? Ha. Great photos. Scrapple doesn't look like anything I know Darryl.

>87 CurrerBell: Ha! Your outfit was well color coordinated, Mike. It didn't match Bill's crocs or my T shirt, though.

>88 Ameise1: According to Wikipedia, "Scrapple is typically made of hog offal, such as the head, heart, liver, and other trimmings, which are boiled with any bones attached (often the entire head), to make a broth. Once cooked, bones and fat are removed, the meat is reserved, and (dry) cornmeal is boiled in the broth to make a mush. The meat, finely minced, is returned to the pot and seasonings, typically sage, thyme, savory, black pepper, and others are added. The mush is formed into loaves and allowed to cool thoroughly until set."

Scrapple is a Pennsylvania, um, delicacy (using the term a bit loosely), and is associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch (the Amish and Mennonites), along with rural areas of the state. The heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country isn't far from Philadelphia, and Reading Terminal Market, the indoor market that is one of the oldest ones in the country, has several restaurants and shops operated by Amish merchants, including Smucker's, where Bill and I got the scrapple, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches from. Although his head is down, the Amish man in the second photo who is at the counter at Smucker's is dressed in a traditional Amish fashion, and the women who worked there were also wore proper Amish clothing.

>89 Caroline_McElwee: Nope, that doesn't count, Caroline! Once Bill announced that he was wearing orange Crocs I decided to wear my orange T shirt. Mike could have worn an orange turban in the spirit of the meet up. ;-)

This may be a stretch, but scrapple may be similar in its composition to haggis, in that it consists of offal and other scraps from hogs, instead of sheep. It's typically sliced thin and then deep fried. You can now probably imagine why I've put off trying it for over 40 years!

Thanks so much, Darryl.

BTW I love the photos. You're such a great bunch.

Glad you all had a great meet-up yesterday and that you finally had a chance to sample scrapple. It is also very common on the Eastern Shore of Maryland - along with muskrat!

You're welcome, Barbara. I took at least a dozen photos as well, and I'll post them here tomorrow.

Great pictures! I forgot my orange shirt..

Since Katherine took all the photos that've been posted thus far, here's visual evidence she was there.





Marching toward Penn's Landing.

Darryl, as you all know, has been extremely anxious to savor scrapple (oh...or is it anxious about eating scrapple). Whatever. Eat some he did.


He and I each got an Amish egg mcmuffin--hamburger bun with scrambled egg topped with swiss cheese topped with a slice of fried scrapple. I ate a bit of the scrapple by itself. It was less spicy than what we get at our regular butcher (Dietrich's in Krumsville, Berks County) and it was fried rather than broiled. The whole sandwich was kinda greasy. But...just fine.


The doctor savors the first bite. He ate the whole thing. It was all we could do to restraint him from going back for seconds. Heh heh.

Excellent photos, Bill!

>96 weird_O: I would have liked to see them walking Monkees-style

>97 weird_O: oddly enough, at first glance that scrapple looked like carrot cake.

>96 weird_O:, >97 weird_O: Great photos, Bill! I hope to get mine posted tomorrow.

>98 lauralkeet: I would have liked to see them walking Monkees-style

Here they come, walking down the street...

>98 lauralkeet:, >99 kidzdoc: Oh dear, we’re dating ourselves...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rqxk_the-monkees-season-1_fun
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x78o8_the-monkees-intro-tv-theme-song_music

>98 lauralkeet: I forgot to mention that I also thought that the scrapple sandwich was a slice of carrot cake when I first saw the photo!

>100 qebo: The Monkees was on the air when I was a child (1966-1968), and for a few years afterward as reruns. They just don't make intellectually stimulating, high quality TV programs like that one any more.

Hey hey it's the Monkees!

WHAT GREAT PHOTOS!!!! Thanks, Katherine and Bill. I'm most impressed with the scrapple-eating and with the fact that Mike found a Virago for his portrait! Looks like a super way to spend a day.

Looks like you all had a great time! Sorry I missed it.

>101 kidzdoc: 1966-1968
I was in elementary school, which seems about right for the target audience.

Oh I watched the Monkees as reruns. I loved that show!!

>100 qebo: Thanks for the videos!!

More great pictures! I didn't take many since I didn't have a camera.

>91 kidzdoc: It occurs to me (or maybe I read this somewhere) that the great difference between eating scrapple and haggis is that with haggis you have a bottle of single malt at your elbow to cleanse your palate and maybe the memory of what was on your palate. Just saying....

>107 LizzieD: Ha! I didn't have a single malt when I tried haggis on my roast hog sandwich when I was in Edinburgh in June, but the ginger beer I had could have cleansed my palate.

To be honest, I enjoyed the taste of haggis and scrapple!

Coincidentally, the (remaining) Monkees will be here tomorrow. Bonus: Lego Monkees video created by a local 8 year old.

Aw man, it's too late for me to take the day off! Lol

awh, I wish I could've come! all the great meetings are never near the eastern USA area!