#but we got coffee and donuts and then explored my new neighborhood and we ended up walking around for like 5 or 6 hours before i had to go

[cactusdodes]

.

[emilyjoangreene]

3 Perfect Days In Seattle: A Guide

Day 1

Morning Coffee: Elm Coffee Roasters

240 2nd Avenue South | Seattle, WA 98104

If you fly in take the Link (Seattle Public Transit) downtown.

Right when you get off, you can walk a few blocks until you find Elm Coffee.

This place was recommended by new friends I found from Instagram the wide open space is filled with a white marble bar, and tables accompanied by wicker chairs that seem to fit you just right.

 Petite pastries lay across the bar. The most tempting are the vegan donuts, although you won't be able to tell the difference.

 The coffee has a light, citrus scent to the roasted beans and the pitter patter of feet fill your ears as customers line up for their morning latte. The ambience is very relaxing, light chatter feels comfortable, and is a sweet spot that isn't so touristy (like Original Starbucks, you can go there, too!)

Mid-Day Brunch: Biscuit Bitch

1909 1st Ave | Seattle, WA 98101

Walking down to Pike Place, the infamous marketplace is next. To satisfy the itch to try new food in the city, you can get your southern soul food fix closeby.

 The sidewalk is usually lined up with hungry brunchers in line or waiting for one of the (few) coveted tables. The popularity of this place is obvious with people casually walking by end up joining in on the biscuit madness. Biscuit Bitch has all the sass and snarkiness that lives up to its name. The staff has hair all colors of the rainbow, tattoos that dot their arms, and are quirky and loud. I blushed a bit while ordering the “Hot Mess Bitch” but I’ll admit it felt cool to cuss when I ordered.

 The Hot Mess Bitch had me exploring every corner of my cardboard to go box (everything is packaged to go). One bite had me chomping down smooth grits with cheese and the next bite I’d get a flavor whirlwind of sausage, jalapeno and biscuit. Every bite was a new experience depending on which ingredients I wanted to combine next.

The Hot Mess Bitch- Biscuit Bitch

The Tourist Trap: Pike Place

It’s one of those places that are cliche and iconic at the same time.The market seems to never change, it still never gets old to go back.

 Watch the fishermen throw seafood around or pick out a gorgeous bouquet for $15. There are tons of little stalls that sell fresh fruits, ethnic treats and local produce. Below the market is the gum wall where you can blow a bubble and snap a picture. they tried to power wash it all off a few years ago, but it came back strong with a force. It’s all very touristy, but sometimes the novelties in a city is what makes it fun, right?

Fresh produce and flowers at Pike Place.

The Gum Wall, Pike Place Market

A Taste of Architecture: The Seattle Public Library 

This was my new favorite place to discover in Seattle, the architecture blew my mind.

 I immediately took the elevator up to the 10th floor and highest viewing point. It’s like no other place I’ve been in before because it is a public space, but at the same time it feels like your own. The endless panes of glass stretch up, over and outwards. Depending on the weather they can give off a blue or gray hue reflecting the sky above.I spent a few hours here, meandering the levels before posting up at a table under the glass roof to get some work done.

The exterior (left) and interior (right) of The Seattle Public Library.

Happy Hour: Rachel’s Ginger Beer

1530 Post Alley | Seattle, WA

One of the most pleasant surprises of the weekend was discovering Rachel’s Ginger Beer. 

They have a few locations (including one in Portland, Yay!) Now if you’re a fan of Moscow Mules this place was crafted from your dreams. They have an array of ginger beer that you can drink plain, or get a cocktail. There is one just around the corner from Pike Place in Post Alley. The space was light and bright, the windows were open wide so the breeze from the Puget Sound came rolling in.

 After drinks we walked down the hill to the boardwalk where you can go to the aquarium, or ride the Seattle Ferris Wheel.

Top Off the Evening: Sky View Observatory

To end our day we went to the Sky View Observatory for the final hours of light in the city. 

Because Seattle is broken up into neighborhoods, it was so cool to have a birds eye view of how it is laid out. We sat by the window and watched the cars on the freeway pass by and stayed up there as a few of the buidlings began to turn their evening lights on.

Looking out from Sky View Observatory.

Day 2

The Donuts of Your Dreams: General Porpoise

1020 E. Union St. | Seattle, WA

As an active donut connoisseur, trying new pastries unique to each city is my FORTE. 

 So, when I got to try General Porpoise for the first time I was in donut heaven. The space is tucked up in Capitol Hill and is well known for selling out early.  There's one big glass case displaying their prized, puffed pastries. The array of flavor fillings include, chocolate, vanilla bean, lemon curd, strawberry rhubarb jelly and other seasonal flavors- although the pickings get slim as the day goes on.

 The donuts are fluffy and have a buttery warmness to the dough that contrasts nicely with the cool filling. A new Seattle staple, for me.

A Barista at General Porpoise and donuts

Take a Walk on the West Side: Harbor Drive

1936 Harbor Ave SW | Seattle, WA 98126

Drive over to West Seattle or take the water taxi from downtown. Walk along the boardwalk to see the skyline view of Seattle, lay out in the sun, rent bikes or kayaks. There are some food options, or continue down Harbor Drive for more food, and activities on Alki Beach. 

An Afternoon Treat: Frankie and Jo’s

1010 E. Union St. | Seattle WA 98122

A few weeks ago, I saw this picture of a charcoal gray ice cream on Instagram from this place and was immediately set on trying it.

 All the ice cream is plant based, aka no dairy. Honestly, it was the best vegan ice cream I’ve tried. We got a mixture of 6 flavors and we all liked the charcoal salted caramel one so much that we went back and bought more of that kind. The flavors are so different and interesting compared the heaviness of some ice cream shops. My top three were the sorbet, the charcoal salted caramel and the strawberry.

Ice Cream at Frankie and Jo’s

Go Green: Volunteer Park Conservatory

1400 E Galer St. | Seattle, WA 98112

Beautiful park to relax in, but can also pay $4 to walk around the giant greenhouse and learn about many exotic plants.

 I’ve seen so much about this place online, but it was a dream to see in person.

Walking around Volunteer Park Conservatory 

Dinner + Decor: Bar Melusine

1060 E. Union St. |Seattle WA 98122

Filled with some of the most refreshing decor and innovative seating arrangements, this place is an instagrammers dream and a food critics paradise.

Stop here for a happy hour (5-6pm) or dinner. The menu changes every day so you’ll have to see for yourself what the chef has in store.

Bar Melusine

Day 3

Sunday Morning Stroll: Ballard Farmer’s Market

A market filled with vendors selling artisanal  goods, fresh baked pastries, vibrant produce, and street musicians. 

This is a good start to a Sunday morning where you can meander around, and everyone can try food that they want for a decent price. If you want to sit at a restaurant there are tons around the area. I recomentd The Sexton for a good brunch.

Home Run before going home: A Mariner’s Game

If you have time to attend a sporting match, I highly recommend it. It’s is a great way to feel a part of the city you are visiting. 

We went to a Mariners Baseball Game but there is also the Seattle Seahawks (football) and the Seattle Sounders (soccer). If you are down by the stadiums, I recommend Paseo for a sandwhich before heading to the match. The #2 on the menu has been on the FoodNetwork. 

I hope this 3 day guide to Seattle gave you some ideas of where to visit in the Emerald City. If you found this helpful, please share!

Cheers,

Emily Joan Greene

[hannahgoesabroad]

Thursday night brought with it an air of uncontainable excitement amongst the study abroad students: it was finally the night of the boat party. The rain refused to halt as my sizable motley crew of friends boarded the double-decker boat. The first floor had a bar and tables for people to sit and chat while the second floor had another bar as well as a dance floor. Towards the back of the boat, you could walk through a pair of doors that opened out onto a deck. People were out on the deck all night snapping pictures and taking in the gorgeous sights around them. A sense of calm was felt out on the deck, while inside the boat you would have thought that Penn State football had just won the National Championship! (It will happen next year, I already know it.) Our trip down the River Thames lasted around 3 hours, plopping us back onto solid ground right as the London nightlife was starting to pick up. 

Roundabout Pub was our next stop on the list for the night. The atmosphere of the crew was giddy as test tube shots slid down our throats and the music started pumping. Before we knew it we were already on our way back home to grab some of the famous food at Nando’s. After our delicious meal we all hit the sack, endlessly excited about all of the things we would be experiencing while studying abroad.

Friday morning soon came ‘round and there was only one thought in my mind: I needed a day of relaxation. With school starting on Monday and Saturday and Sunday being packed with pre-arranged activities, Friday was the day to do some local shopping and exploring. Twenty minutes away from my school is a big shopping area, with plenty of foreign brands, a few American brands sprinkled around. Primark is a company that just recently expanded to the U.S.. I would describe their clothing as great and unique fashions for affordable prices. You definitely wouldn’t be breaking the bank if you wanted to splurge a bit (or in my case, a lot) in this shop. (Sorry Dad, you probably shouldn’t look at your credit card statements anytime soon…) So off towards Primark I went with cash in hand and my friend Brenda in tow. Since Primark isn’t far away, you think it would be easy to get to, right? Think again. Two trains and a bus later we finally found ourselves in front of the Holy Grail. What a trip that was! We ended the night with cupcakes and Harry Potter (there’s really nothing better).

Saturday was the day my inner English nerd was finally allowed to appropriately show her true colors; it was tour day for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The tour provided a lot of information about the history of the theatre itself and how theatre in general has evolved since Shakespeare’s time. Did you know that the Globe theatre that’s currently standing in London is actually the THIRD Globe Theatre that has been built? If you want to be completely geographically accurate, it isn’t even in the same spot as the original Globe. The original theatre is in the middle of the river under a bridge located right next to where the current theatre stands. Shakespeare had little involvement in the production of the second theatre, and had absolutely nothing to do with the third Globe due to the fact he wasn’t even alive when it was built (aka 1997). So while it was a little disheartening to find out that Shakespeare hadn’t actually been in the theatre that currently stands, the fact that his ideas could still be deeply felt and heard throughout the levels of the Globe made it equally exciting if he had been there. 

Sunday Funday was packed with activities. By the end of the day, I accomplished getting a stadium tour of the famous Chelsea Football Club, seeing astonishing pieces of street art on an East End walking tour, and participating in the legendary Jack the Ripper tour.

The Chelsea F.C. stadium tour was fascinating; seeing inside the locker rooms and walking out of the tunnel onto the field was invigorating. I felt a sudden deep nostalgia for my childhood filled with sports, one of my favorites always being soccer. Putting myself in the shoes of some of the most famous players in the world was insane; I suddenly thought, “And why am I at school when I could definitely be participating in the World Cup?! Oh wait…” My feet carried me to the edge of the field, where grass turned to turf. The urge to run onto the field became unfathomable, but I knew if I attempted it a video of me would most certainly turn up on Youtube, no doubt being chased and eventually taken down by some big burly security guards. With a sadness, I turned myself around and slunk back to the rest of my group, struggling to accept the fact that my professional soccer career would never happen (hard to swallow, honestly).

The East End walking tour was something I had been mildly excited for, but had really only joined because I wanted to meet new people. Turns out, this was one of my most favorite things I’ve done so far in London. Walking around a different part of the city and getting to see the busy Sunday markets and feel the multiple different energies was something else. Our guide was extremely informative; you could see the passion on his face when talking about the different street artists and their works. One of my favorite parts of the tour: I finally got to see a Banksy work in person! For those who don’t know who he is, Banksy is one of the most famous street artists of all time. He’s stayed anonymous for decades, creating art designed to get humans to think about the bigger pictures in life. Check out his work online, you won’t regret it. While we took a look at big street artists like Banksy and Robbo, we did stop to appreciate some artists who are still up and coming in the art world. One of the designs in particular that we saw, our tour guide didn’t even know who the artist was. It had just recently been put up, and the attention it was garnering was massive. Crowds began to grow around the ‘grafitti’ making it almost impossible to reach our next destination (one that I was overly excited for). A famous donut shop and bagel shop stood side by side down the street from the new art work. Making a beeline for the bagel shop (spelled ‘beigal’ on the door sign), I quickly got in line and order a donut and chocolate croissant. Only 1.30 pounds less in change, I walked out into the cold with my two warm purchases. Scarfing down the donut, I packed away the croissant for my morning breakfast. The art tour ended, with the fantastic guide telling us multiple stories of Banksy pranks and how the artist still manages to elude discovery to this day.

My favorite part of the day began at 7p.m. that night. Jack the Ripper tour! As the night grew later, the East End of London turned from a bustling neighborhood full of people to a ghost town, effectively transporting us back to the year 1888. The atmosphere grew tense and fearful as our tour guide took us to different places around the East End, including some of the scenes of the murders committed by Jack the Ripper. The mystery surrounding the serial killer coupled with the gruesomeness of the crimes put every member of the group on edge. Even after the tour ended, I found myself online trying to find any information I could that would lead to a definitive killer. Alas, just like the FBI detectives assigned to the case, I found nothing conclusive. Laying in bed on Sunday night, the thoughts of murder and prostitution in 1888 drifted out of my mind, and in came thoughts of Monday morning: the first day of classes. 

Barely getting two sips of coffee down, I rushed to my first and only class of the day, conveniently located on the first floor of my housing building. The usual first day of class jitters set in the moment I sat down. Luckily, my teacher swiftly ran through the syllabus and released us, leaving time for me to do whatever I wanted for the rest of the day. That brings me to the current moment: sitting in a café while typing all of my memories down.

More updates to come as the week progresses; I’m sure I’ll have tons to say about all of my English professors. Thanks for reading!

Signing off,

Hannah

[redmexicanblog-blog]

Bridgeport: Why is it snowing?

Map of the Chicago Neighborhood known as Bridgeport

Just our luck!!!  The first significant snowfall of the year happens on the day that we have to go explore one of the more spread out neighborhoods on our class field trips.  Oh well!

Our fifth and final exploration trip was of Bridgeport.  A very well known, and important neighborhood in Chicago, it’s almost as old as the city itself.  During the early years of the city of Chicago, immigrants were the main workforce that was used to build all the infrastructure and buildings to support the city.  The majority of those immigrants were of Irish blood, which settled on the southern end of the city next to the river which they had helped modified.

Bridgeport’s history has long played a key role in the history of Chicago, due to the political figures that have merged from the neighborhood.  Five major Chicago mayors have come from Bridgeport and many other government official that have worked in City Hall have originated from the same place.

With that in mind, I assumed there would be tons of nods towards the neighborhoods past.  I was wrong.

Our journey started on the eastern side of Bridgeport along 31st street westbound.  Right off the back we saw the bleeding edge of Chinatown, which is slowly creeping into the northern part of Bridgeport.  Right next to the train tracks that cross over head on 31st, was a restaurant Chinese Kitchen.  I’ve been in there prior to this trip and think it’s pretty good, then again I’m no Chinese food expert. 

Chinese Kitchen and Sushi on 31st and Canal

Don’t know if it was the fact that it was snowing or just really earlier in the day, but we saw very little movement in the area.  Even across the street from where Chinese Kitchen is located, Maxwell Depot, a place that is packed even at 2 am, was surprisingly void of customers. 

Maxwell Street Depot on 31st and Canal.  Off to the right is an empty parking lot except for the workers cars.

As we walked westward we notice a significant amount of Chinese text on business signs. There was a Chiropractic office with an Asian name on the front, which I assume is Chinese.  A child day care/tutoring center was located at the corner of 31st and Wallace, with a sign in front clearly geared towards the Chinese population in the area.

Mei Chiropractic on 31st and Normal

Busy Bee After School Tutoring Center on 31st and Wallace.  Image courtesy of Google Maps Streetview

We finally came upon our first church on this trip, which was the First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, clearly a Lutheran church.  A very beautiful parish, which seemed that it was involved in the community quite a bit considering one of it’s buildings was a community center.  As we walked by it also seemed that people there were unloading non-perishable food from trucks, what I assumed would be used for a community food pantry. 

First Lutheran Church of the Trinity on 31st and Lowe

We finally saw some signs of the other cultures in the area based on food.  There was Fabulous Freddie's Italian Eatery on one side of the street and Pancho Pistolas on the other side.  Freddie’s is a well known Bridgeport spot for pizza, and from the looks of it the place had plenty of business.  The outside of the restaurant seemed recently renovated, giving the notion that finances were good within Freddie’s.

Pancho Pistolas was the same story.  The outer face of the restaurant was rejuvenated to give it a fresh and interesting vibe to it.

Fabulous Freddie’s Italian Eatery on 31st and Union

Pancho Pistolas on 31st and Union

As we walked towards Halsted, I began to recall what I had read in the class textbook.  For a neighborhood that is so politically powerful, there were virtually no signs of it’s prowess in the city government.  I was left waiting.

Just like many of the other neighborhoods that we have visited during the class, Bridgeport had signs of gentrification slowly creeping into it’s territory.  The interesting thing that I noticed throughout this neighborhood, is that it’s yet another type of gentrification.  While in Pilsen, the gentrification is taking over the rich culture that is already there and kicking out the current residents, and in Bronzeville, the gentrification is giving a new life to the community, the gentrification that is going on in Bridgeport is different from those two.

In Bridgeport that gentrifying businesses that are coming in are not encrouching on the community.  The empty spaces and out of reach areas, where it seems that there is nothing, are being inhabited by outsiders.  This is actually enriching the community by adding to it, without taking anything away.  The Dunkin Donuts on 31st and Halsted is catering to the demographic that needs quick coffee and doesn’t care too much about the quality of the product, while the local coffeehouses are catering in part to the younger crowd and in another part to the older established residents.  The outsiders aren’t boosting the economy of the neighborhood by much, since it’s well off already.  It’s almost a commensalism relationship, in which the established community is not harmed or benefited, but the incoming outsiders do benefit.

Dunkin Donuts on 31st and Halsted

Jackalope Coffee and Tea House on Halsted and 32nd

After going into Jackalope coffee(and buying a delicious cheese danish), we continued south on Halsted.  And just like other parts of Halsted street across the city, the section that passes through Bridgeport was full of various businesses.  There’s quite a few community staple on this stretch of street, like an American food diner, two financial banks, a library, and of course bars.  Funny enough, the first nod to the past that I noticed was the name of the library, Richard J. Daley, the senior Daley Mayor.  

Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library System on Halsted and 34th street.

While there were some bars to be seen on Halsted, it seemed as if they were not welcoming to outsiders.  Most of them had very little signage, and even some had a look of being abandoned, until you notice a sign that said open, at that even subtle.  The only inviting bar was Mitchell’s Tap, which seemed like a sports bar.  I started thinking, for a neighborhood that has a Major League team on it’s territory, there’s very few places to watch a game if you aren’t from the area, other than Buffalo Wings and Rings on Halsted and 34th.

Mitchell’s Tap on Halsted and 34th street(top) and Buffalo Wings and Rings on Halsted and 34th pl(bottom)

We waited at the bus stop at the corner of Halsted and 35th st for the bus that would take us west to the Bridgeport Art center.  As we stood there freezing in the awful winter breeze, I recalled having seen the Bridgeport Restaurant Red sign in a bank commercial.  It seemed like a godsend when the bus finally arrived.

Once we got to Racine we got off and walked toward the Bridgeport Art Center, a industrial looking building that you would ever assume was an Art Center if it wasn’t for the metal horse out front. 

We walked into the front door and were a bit lost because it seemed like we were walking into an empty building on the first floor.  We eventually found the elevator that had some more descriptive signage. We went to all the floors that were open to the public, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floor. 

The third floor was a whole floor gallery that is periodically filled with gallery pieces by different artists.  The fourth floor had a art studio that had art from lots of disabled artists.  Pretty interesting especially seeing art that was made out of aluminum sheets, something I’d never thought of being art material(then again I don’t art very often).  The fifth floor was my favorite floor by far.

The top floor(at least that’s the highest the elevator went) had to areas, one section appeared to be a bunch of fashion design offices.  There was even an area in the center where fabrics were being sewn together to make different clothing pieces.  The other section on that floor was the cool one.

When we went to the other side of the fifth floor, my attention was immediatly caught by these crystal and rock art pieces that 

Art pieces by Jay Strommen in Bridgeport Art Center(From Jay Strommen Facebook Page)

The art pieces were combination of natural looking rocks that had an industrial look to it.  The way the rock looks as if it’s been impacted and mutated, creates these amazing patterns that are filled completly with this beautiful blue-green glass that is cracked yet not broken.

As we looked at the pieces a guy came around the corner and was surprised to see us.  He welcomed us and gave us a quick tour of the area, which he told us was called the Chicago Ceramic Center.  

The facility has plenty of ammenities for making ceramic art, from various kilns to studios to rent and even free intro classes for beginner clay artists.  I was amazed at how free the center was (in both monetary and freedom values) with building up people to maker clay art.  The guy was named David and as we toured the facilities he also talked about the artists who’s vision came to life as the Bridgeport Art Center.

David’s mentor is named Jay Strommen, an internationally known clay and ceramic artists.  In the early 2000s Jay was among the first artists to grab a place in the Art Center.  Jay envisioned having what he called a “Flower House Mansion” as well as a ceramic art school.  He has since slowly begun his ceramic school by having clay and ceramic classes along with art galleries featuring the art of those that create the pieces.  Jay hopes to eventually have a dormitory-style hostel for students, with artists instructors from areas such as Syria or Somali, hands that have ten generations worth of knowledge and skill.

This man’s vision is what really made me like the center.  Not only is he creative and open to people learning his craft, he also is open to all sorts of people from all walks of life.

Morphed rock and hard acrylic by Jay Strommen

After this Art Center we walked outside and realized that we were quite famished.  We decided to walk back to Nana’s and boy was it a walk.  We first walked north instead of south to 35th street which was right at the corner, mind you the wind began to pickup a bit, so our appendages were really feeling the temperature. 

We then waited for a good 15 minutes for the bus to finally show up on 31st street, gaaahhh.  It finally showed up and we took it to Halsted st. where we walked south to 33rd st, the location of Nana’s. 

All I can say about the place is that it is not worth it.  It’s a bunch of organic, super healthy versions of hispanic-like food that is way to expensive for us.  The food tasted mediocre at best.  Not worth going back there. 

After eating we walked back to campus, marking the end of our trip.  So after going on this trip, I decided I would go pay my godfather a visit, an Irish man that knows the streets of Chicago like the back of his hands.

My godfather has lived his whole life on the south side of Chicago.  Grew up for a short time in Evergreen Park and eventually moved into Bridgeport where he has lived for the last 4 decades.  Considering how long he has lived in the area, I decided that was a great way to check out if what the books say is accurate or not.

Right off the back, I asked him how he has seen the demographic of the neighborhood change.  He said that it’s been mixed for a while, and in more recent years the majority has clearly been Chinese.  What really surprised me was that when I asked him what he thought about Bridgeport been the Irish political center. Bridgeport has never been a majority Irish, according to him, contrary to popular belief.  Thanks to the fact that 4 Irish mayors have come from Bridgeport, it has been assumed that the neighborhood is crawling with Irish around every corner.

It’s true, says my godfather, that there is large amount of Irish in the political world of Chicago, and a lot of them are from Bridgeport, but the neighborhood never had all that big of an Irish population. 

I also mentioned to him that the book mentioned that Mayor Daley Sr. had very little corruption when he was in charge.  My godfather scoffed at that, saying that the reason old man Daley was able to get so much done was because of shady dealings and meetings on a boat out on the lake, far from prying eyes and close ears.  

It was very interesting comparing the history that was in the backs with the real life experience from someone that has been in the thick of it.

Not necessarily my favorite trip, but definitely an interesting walk and cool history lesson.

[fadingfartconnoisseur]

A Different 24 Hours in Philadelphia, My Former Least Favorite City

If you had a chance to revisit your least favorite city, would you go? Recently I got an interesting opportunity in my inbox. Booking.com invited me to visit my least favorite city for 24 hours and give it a second chance, staying in really nice accommodation and doing lots of nice activities.

I was intrigued, and I immediately knew the city to visit: Philadelphia.

I’ve been to Philadelphia somewhere around eight times. And while I don’t hate the city, I’ve never really liked it. It’s always felt small and dirty to me, short on attractions and limited in focus. As a native Bostonian, Philadelphia feels like it has all of Boston’s worst qualities but none of the best.

But I knew it had to be better. My sister loves it, to start, and so do many of my travel blogger friends. Additionally, almost all of my Philly visits were pre-blog; the lone visit post-blog was mainly hanging out in the suburbs with my friends Kelly Anne and Dave and only briefly venturing into the city. I’ve changed a lot as a person since then, and my travel style has changed significantly as well.

Plus, Philly is only 90 minutes away from New York by train. That is so close! How nice would it be if I had a city I loved that close by?

Switching to Holiday Mode

Booking.com has been researching how people can make their trips better by de-stressing in advance and planning for a relaxing trip. It’s all about taking care of your mind and body, getting yourself to a good place so you can see your destination at your best self.

For me, I didn’t want to end up with a self-fulfilling prophecy. I would genuinely go into Philadelphia with an open mind this time. I would take care of myself, I wouldn’t push too many activities, I would spend time outside and do lots of walking.

This would be different from my past trips. No cheesesteaks. No South Street. No Liberty Bell. No running up the steps of the art museum like Rocky. I would spend my 24 hours enjoying the city the way I wanted to.

By 5:30 PM, I was checked into my accommodation and I started the clock.

5:30 PM: Get settled in at ROOST Midtown

While a lot of people will head out right away, I think it’s important to take a moment and relax for a bit. Heading straight out after arriving is more likely to stress me out; I prefer to take a few moments of quiet solitude.

And what a place to enjoy that solitude.

ROOST Midtown is a condo-style hotel in Center City. It felt more like a private residence than a hotel and it was so big I could have done several cartwheels across the space.

This mid-century desk was the perfect spot to answer emails and get some last-minute work done.

Unusually, the bedroom didn’t have windows, but it did have an open loft to the living room which let in some natural light.

The bathroom was modern and stocked with adorable amenities.

This had all the pluses of an Airbnb — an apartment-like setup, self-catering facilities, laundry, and an awesome clubhouse on the roof — with none of the minuses, like having to coordinate being around at the same time so you can check in. I got the amenities I wanted with the privacy, discretion, and anonymity of a hotel’s front desk.

After a quick recharge, I headed out to explore.

6:30 PM: The Beautiful Streets Around Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square was a short walk away from my accommodation. This green space is one of the prettiest parks in Center City. But even better were the houses in the surrounding streets.

It amazed me how much the architecture varied in this neighborhood, yet how cohesive it was! There were moments when I felt like I was in Amsterdam, or Savannah, or even Harlem!

I’ve loved driving around and looking at fancy houses since I was a kid. Now that I’m grown, I still love walking around city neighborhoods and checking out the fabulous homes.

7:30 PM: Glass of Champagne

The secret to solo female travel confidence? Drink champagne. It immediately makes you the most interesting person in the room. I’m still shocked by how much that post resonated. Years later, girls still send me pictures of themselves drinking bubbly, saying, “Now I drink champagne just like you!”

Twenty Manning, with its elegant bar and dark wood tables, was a lovely restaurant for a pre-dinner drink.

8:30 PM: Tasting Menu at Talula’s Garden

I got a lot of recommendations for high-end Philly restaurants, mostly for high-end Israeli restaurant Zahav, followed by the French-influenced Laurel, but both were booked solid. Instead, I searched OpenTable and found Talula’s Garden, a restaurant specializing in local, seasonal cuisine.

I love eating local whenever possible, and seeking out local chefs’ takes on their region. (Even though New York local and Philly local is pretty much the same. Many of our local farms are in Pennsylvania!)

So how was it? OH MY GOD. This is one of the best meals I’ve had in recent memory. Seriously. And ten courses for $100 might sound crazy, but it was great value for food this good.

If you eat a la carte, my favorite dishes were the fried green tomato with smoked jalapeño, the seared scallop with smoky bacon and riddled cornbread, the grass-fed beef pappardelle bolognese, the “Jewel of Summer” soft cheese with peaches, and the blueberry apricot tarte tatin. I didn’t do the wine pairings but got a glass of white and a glass of red that the waitress recommended, as well as the included sparkling wine, and all three were spectacular.

As I left, my waitress told me, “I wish more women were like you — taking themselves out for a tasting menu, just because!”

“Oh, I’m actually a travel writer on assignment,” I said apologetically. “But I agree — women should! It’s something special to do for yourself!”

Talula’s Garden was easily the best thing I did in Philadelphia, and I recommend them highly.

11:00 PM: Cocktail at Hop Sing Laundromat

The entrance to this speakeasy is intimidating. Set in the middle of Chinatown behind a nondescript door, I got in line behind the one girl standing there and we waited for the door to open.

Finally, a Steve Harvey-looking dude poked his head out and demanded to know why we were there. “I’m here for my friend’s birthday party!” she yelped and was immediately let in.

“What about you?” he said with a glare.

“I — I just heard this was a good place!” I squeaked. “I just, you know, I’m alone but I thought it would be nice to check out, maybe have a cocktail…”

He sighed and let me in.

The girl and I were ordered to sit down and listen to the rules. Absolutely no photography. No bar photos, no selfies, no social media videos, no Instagram, and if you violated that, you would be kicked out immediately.

Got it.

The girl headed back to her group; I went to the bar, where there were only two chairs and I was the sole patron. Kind of weird for a Thursday night. I had a tasty gin and cucumber cocktail and briefly chatted with the bartender, but empty bars are a bit depressing when you’re solo, and I left after finishing the drink.

12:00 AM: Bedtime!

8:30 AM: Breakfast at Federal Donuts

I met up with my friend Dave for breakfast at Federal Donuts. (Do check out their website if you’re on a desktop — it’s hilarious!) This place is famous for tender, sweet donuts, and the fact that they serve them alongside fried chicken. If chicken and waffles makes so much sense, why not chicken and donuts?

To my dismay, chicken was not served until 11:00 AM, but the donut was no consolation prize. My peach cobbler donut was astoundingly fresh. I could have eaten another one right there.

9:15 AM: Coffee at Elixr Coffee Roasters

Coffee is always a priority for me, and I personally held off from getting coffee at Federal Donuts so I could enjoy an artisanal shop nearby. I decided to check out Elixr Coffee Roasters — a cool industrial space that catered to a wide variety of people. My flat white? Delicious!

10:15 AM: Mütter Museum

The strangest and most macabre attraction in Philadelphia is the Mütter Museum: a collection of medical abnormalities. You’ll find things like preserved diseased body parts and skeletons of all kinds, most of them deformed somehow. I love quirky and unusual museums, so this sounded like it could be fun.

I’ll be honest: I did not like this place. It was too disgusting for me. I had to actively suppress the urge to vomit the whole time.

But hey, don’t let that stop you. You might like it.

11:00 AM: Lavender Latte at Peddler Coffee

In my research I discovered that Peddler Coffee was a good midpoint between the Mutter Museum and the Barnes Foundation — and that they made a lavender latte with their own homemade lavender syrup. I’m still dreaming of the lavender spiced mocha I had in Savannah last year, so that was a must!

It was absolutely worth the stop. Definitely my favorite coffee of the trip.

12:00 PM: Barnes Foundation

This is an incredible collection of art. The Barnes Foundation is a stunning collection of art with a crazy history behind it. Dr. Albert Barnes amassed an incredible collection of art over the course of his lifetime and meant for it to be kept together in his home following his death; things did not go to plan. It’s the subject of the Netflix documentary The Art of the Steal.

There are tons of Matisses here, a handful of Picassos, a Van Gogh, some Renoirs, and hundreds of paintings by other artists, stacked up on top of each other in little rooms. I loved how it was structured — it felt far more intimate than most art museums.

Tip: get the app before you go! The Barnes Foundation has an audio guide that you can use on your phone.

1:45 PM: Reading Terminal Market

I’m surprised I missed Reading Terminal Market on all my Philly visits so far. This food market features dozens of food stalls hawking everything from Cajun eats to bakeries owned by the Amish.

(Tip: Please don’t photograph the Amish. Being photographed is against their beliefs. Though the women working here may be used to being photographed without their consent, that doesn’t mean that you should take advantage of that.)

The dish that came with the highest recommendation was DiNic’s roast pork sandwich, topped with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. It’s been on lots of lists of “best sandwiches in America.” The verdict? Pretty good, but not life-changing by any stretch.

My friends warned me that the market would be super busy around lunch time, and they were right. It was a bit much for me.

3:00 PM: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Artist Isaiah Zagar has dedicated himself to beautifying Philadelphia’s neighborhoods with his art since the 1960s. In the mid-90s, he began working on a lot on South Street, and in 2008, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens were open to the public.

Today they are a beautiful place to wander, a place that hosts artistic events — and Instagram gold. My biggest surprise was that it wasn’t full of Instagrammers trying to get the perfect shot in every direction!

4:00 PM: Capogiro Gelato

I met up with Dave again for a gelato break! Capogiro‘s gelato isn’t like what I’ve had in Italy, but it was delicious nonetheless — incredibly creamy and smooth. Black Fig and Peaches and Cream were solid flavors.

4:45 PM: Browsing at Joseph Fox Bookshop

I’m always down to check out an independent bookstore. Joseph Fox Shop has an interesting array of books, including many from small presses I’ve never seen before. For a tiny place, they have strong sections on feminism, African-American studies, and cultural American studies.

I picked up a few essay collections by Roxane Gay and Zadie Smith.

5:30 PM: And that’s 24 hours!

That was my itinerary and it worked for me — but I should point out that this is a rushed itinerary for most people. I tend to sightsee very quickly when traveling solo and even for me this was a bit quicker than I would have liked to go.

Other than that, I was happy with how I spent my time.

Bonus Itinerary: Fishtown

Some of my favorite Philly experiences happened in the final evening after the 24 hours was up, so I’ll include them here:

That night I headed to Fishtown, which people are calling Philadelphia’s new hipster neighborhood. Truth be told, there were parts that looked exactly like Bushwick, Brooklyn.

I got dinner at the highly recommended Wm. Mulherin’s Sons (probably the worst restaurant name I’ve ever heard) and thoroughly enjoyed my double margherita pizza (regular mozzarella AND burrata!) and glass of lambrusco. The pizza was pillowy — an utter delight.

Next, I walked a few blocks down to ROOT to enjoy sparkling rosé with my lovely reader Maria and her friends Whitney and Naomi. Shortly after, my friend Jeff came to join us. ROOT is a fun wine bar with a great atmosphere in the heart of Fishtown.

The next morning, I headed to La Colombe for a gorgeous flat white before grabbing a Lyft and heading back to the train station. I’ve seen La Colombes in Boston and New York but I had no idea they were originally from Philly!

So how did I feel about Philadelphia this time around?

I enjoyed Philadelphia more this time around than I ever have before. Why? Because I visited on my own terms.

I’m no longer the 18-year-old who went to Philly with her glee club friends. I’m not going to visit a new city, have a group dinner at Cosí, take group photos in condom shops, and leave with new piercings. I like to think I’ve matured a bit since then.

Would I go back? Absolutely. I would come back for the food scene, the coffee, the wine, the cocktails, to stroll and enjoy the architecture, and to hang out in Fishtown. And especially to spend time with my friends.

I wouldn’t come back for the sights, though. While I loved the Barnes Foundation and enjoyed the Magical Gardens, I wasn’t overall impressed with Philadelphia’s sights. In fact, I found myself to be irritated by the crowds that swarmed the sights, much more so in other cities. Why is that? I’m not sure.

Philadelphia is so much better when you get off the beaten tourist path. If you haven’t been enjoying the city, perhaps that’s the problem. Go explore the cool neighborhoods and jump into the food scene. I think you’ll be surprised at what you find.

Essential Info: I stayed at ROOST Midtown, a condo-like apartment hotel in Center City. I loved the location, the spaciousness, and the clubhouse upstairs. This is a great option for accommodation in Philadelphia and I recommend it to others. Note that the sign on the building is discreet — they can’t put up a big sign because it’s a historic building. Google Maps sends you to the right spot. Rates from $162.

Talula’s Garden offers a ten-course tasting menu for $100 plus $50 for wine pairings; they’ll include a glass of sparkling wine and an espresso if you don’t do the pairings. They also offer à la carte menus.

Admission to the Mütter Museum is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, $13 for youths and students, and free for children under 5.

Admission to the Barnes Foundation is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $10 on weekends and free otherwise for college students, $10 for youths, and free for children under 5.

Admission to Philadelphia’s Magical Gardens is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $5 for children under 5.

I found it cheap and easy to get around Philadelphia using Lyft. Most rides cost around $6 before tip; to Fishtown and back was closer to $12.

This campaign is brought to you by Booking.com, who covered my stay in Philadelphia and monetarily compensated me. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Have you been to Philadelphia? What did you think?

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2g0a9OV

[rodrigohyde]

5 ways to become a master bargain hunter

In 1989, a man at a Pennsylvania flea market bought a painting—ugly art, pretty frame—for $4. Once home, he removed the picture...and discovered under it one of the 24 original copies of the Declaration of Independence.

It later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $2.4 million—proving yet again that one man’s trash really is another’s treasure.

[RELATED1]

Happily, we now have myriad ways—both online and off—to sort through all the world’s best “junk” and find jewels. In short, there are plenty of smart, simple money moves that can score you major bucks. Determined to score goodies on the cheap, I went exploring the world of extreme bargain hunting.

This is my map to hidden treasure.

[RELATED2]

1. Score on one-cent auction sites

“I won a TV for $5!” the ads say. Must be a scam, right? Not so fast.

Here’s how it works: Each bid starts at a penny and bids go up only a cent at a time, so if that TV sells for $5 (it does happen), it means the bid has been raised 500 times. Win, and you pay the $5 plus the 500 bids, for a total of $10—still a hell of a deal. And the site gets all the pennies from the losing bidders.

It feels like gambling, and it’s fun—I know, because I tried it on the site dealdash.com, which has auctions happening 24/7 (heads up: It’s less competition very late and very early), and it gets addictive fast. I bid on an oil painting (retail: $2,645; I bid $1.50), a flashlight ($60; I bid 21 cents), and towels ($150, I bid 52 cents), as well as toolboxes, a watch—I even bid on king-size sheets despite the fact that I don’t own a king-size bed. For only $2.01, why the hell not?

Finally, I bid a penny on a Dunkin’ Donuts $10 gift card—and won! Next round of jelly doughnuts is on me.

[RELATED3]

2. Mine for gold at your local thrift

First move: Pick the right place.

The Salvation Army and Goodwill are best because the donations are mountainous, and often the workers sorting and pricing them have a not-so-great grasp of what they’re worth. At a fancier thrift or antique-type store, deals can be rare.

Next: Reconnaissance. Chat up a worker and ask when donations usually come in. At my local thrift, I was told most people donate on weekends, so by week’s end, inventory has dwindled. Find the sweet spot.

Have patience. “Many thrifts are disorganized, so it takes great care to find things,” says Justin Cupler of thepennyhoarder.com, which is chock-full of money-saving ideas. “Move items, look in corners, dig through boxes.”

[PQ]

And watch for new merch. One Saturday, I hit a thrift and combed through menswear, finding only Cosby sweaters, ugly shorts, white jeans (I can’t pull off white jeans)—just a whole lot of nothing. Then I spotted them: employees stocking shelves out of bins—the unspoiled goodies! I nabbed a perfect-fitting J.Lindeberg windbreaker ($10), a new sports coat ($15), and a 7 for All Mankind sweater ($12) that sells for $150.

Two more tricks: See a shopper with an item you want? Play it cool. Just tag along behind as he shops, then if he puts the item down—grab it! And never set something down thinking you’ll “come back for it.” Trust us, it won’t be there.

[RELATED4]

3. Find gems at yard, garage, and estate sales

Eternal vigilance isn’t just the price of freedom. It’s also the key to successful garage-and yard-saling.

I began by looking on yardsales.net for not-too-far-away sales (the better the neighborhood, the better the stuff) and watched for signs for nearby yard sales—even tiny sidewalk sales—I’d normally overlook.

Saturday morning, I hit my first spot and began sifting through junk. I even rummaged through kiddie stuff—and, voilà, a Macbook external keyboard.

Once you score, don’t be afraid to negotiate: “Yard sales are all about making deals,” Cupler says. “Scoop up some items you want and ask for a package deal. Don’t offend the seller by shooting too low, but asking for 25-50% off isn’t crazy.” (The keyboard was only $10, so I didn’t have the heart to try.)

Like the buzz? Try an estate sale—a sort of “garage sale on steroids” (especially if Gramps just died and the family is clearing out the house), says Pam Carlson of Ready Set Sale!

Find one on estatesales.net, she says, then pick your strategy. “For the best loot, be there early the first day to see the full inventory.” Want the deepest discounts? “Go the last hour of the last day—sellers don’t want to be stuck with the stff, so prices drop drastically.”

[RELATED5]

4. Dumpster dive for prizes

You don’t need to actually pick through swill or wallow in a dumpster to win the garbage game. Instead, hunt on “bulk-trash days” (most cities have them), when people toss out big stuff—furniture, TVs—and roam with an open eye.

The Jedi master of bulk-trash day (OK, any trash day), Men Fitness’ own Nina Combs, has found the following loot: a new Keurig coffee maker still in the box, a wood coffee table whose top rises to turn it into a desk, two antique lamps with silk shades, and a brass-and-iron bed she then sold on Craigslist for $1,000.

More amazing, a guy she knows found on the curb a Regency table that, refinished, sold at Christie’s for $20,000. That really happened. With these images dancing in my head, I went looking myself—and within an hour had found a pristine black dresser that fits my bedroom perfectly. Cost: $0. I was hooked.

Final pro tips from Combs: Yes, you do need to be wary of bedbugs, so research online to become an expert at spotting them. (Wood furniture with no cloth is safest.) And never hunt in a pile with mattresses or furniture wrapped tightly in plastic—a dead bedbug giveaway.

But the bedbug plague has an upside, too: If you spot a find you can’t cart right home, take paper and write “BEDBUGS” on it in big letters, then stick it on. Unlike with that item you’ll “come back for” at the thrift store, no one will touch it.

[RELATED6]

5. Flip your stuff into cash

What about your own junk? I realized I had a whole collection gathering dust: DVDs and Blu-rays. I’m too lazy to sell piecemeal on eBay, so I found decluttr.com. You scan barcodes (DVDs, books, tablets, etc.) with your phone, then get an instant price quote. I shipped a box to them for free—and got a check for $117!

My final haul

A $10 gift card, windbreaker, sports coat, sweater, keyboard, dresser, $117—and zero copies of the Declaration of Independence. But don’t think I’ve given up on that...

[RELATED7]

Career

from Men's Fitness http://www.mensfitness.com/life/5-ways-become-master-bargain-hunter