Philadelphia is My Home

22
Aug

Drive In Movies!

Author: Momish, Category: Free Events, Kids, Nightlife, Philly Finds, Something to Do

When my old car started giving me trouble, I quickly signed up for PhillyCarShare, just in case.  I figured if it finally did break down, I could just do the PhillyCarShare until all things were fixed.

Then I bought the new car.  (Relax! I am not going to go on and on about the new car.)  The point is, since I bought the new car, I never did get a chance to use PhillyCarShare in the end.

Still, I am glad we still belong to it, otherwise I wouldn’t know about the drive in movies they are sponsoring.  Once a week, all over South Philly, they will be hosting a drive in movie.  You don’t need a car, just maybe a cozy blanket or lawn chair.  And you don’t need money either!

Oh, and I called just to double check and they assured me it is free to the public, not just CarShare members.   

Tonight’s movies is Rocky being shown at Capitolo Park (where ever that is).  However, I won’t be going to this one because it’s freezing outside, for one thing.  Second, we have tickets to see Wicked tonight.  So, I may try to catch next week’s, An Inconvenient Truth, because I think I am one of maybe a dozen people who hasn’t seen it yet.

Click Here For Full Movie Schedule

All shows begin at dusk.

21
Aug

Mix & Match Already

Author: Momish, Category: Just Ranting, Shopping

Speaking of rap music…

I was in Mandy’s yesterday shopping (I love their stockings) and I had to walk out.  The music playing was not just annoying, but offensive.

Now I know I am an old foggy, but I also spent many years working in retail.  I even worked in one of those hip, super trendy stores back in my day.  And as much as I would have loved to listen to Echo & The Bunnymen and the Bad Brains all day, we had to please all of our clientele.  That meant mixing and matching our music as well as the clothes we sold.  Trust me, I heard my fair share of rap as well as Neil Diamond over the years.

So I walked around, dealing with the music for that one song and waited to see if it would change. But when the next song was almost exactly the same, complete with lyrics that degraded women and talked about guns, I put down the one item I was going to purchase and made my way to the door.  Rap is one thing, inappropriate music being shoved down my throat is another.

When the bag check girl asked, “Couldn’t find anything?”  I was honest and told her, “Never tried. I can’t take this music.”  She gave me a look of understanding, as if either she too couldn’t take it or she was use to hearing the complaint.

It scares me to think that my step daughters shop at this place.

20
Aug

Relatively Unsure

Author: Momish, Category: Local News, People

I read this article about  at Philly.com today and I have to say I have mixed feelings.  By the tone of the article, I suppose that is exactly how I should feel.  It seems to be exactly how S-Five feels.

S-Five is a Philly native.  A self proclaimed gangsta rapper who’s lyrics often depict life on Philly streets.  Real life. Guns, drugs, gangs.  He also happens to be the grandson of Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

The article describes him as, “not just any hip-hop artist. He’s a street rapper who straddles the divide between cops and crooks, both a member of the city’s first family of law enforcement and an artist representing Philly’s blood-ravaged streets.”

It is a good article. It offers a look at this 27 year old male and his struggle in life to make it, while battling the lure of the streets (our streets) and nurturing a passion for rap.  Sometimes those two just don’t mix.  Can you really make a name for yourself as a rap artist if you aren’t in a gang, didn’t do time, don’t do drugs, don’t hate cops or proudly own several guns?

I had mixed emotions about this article and this man.  Part of me wanted to feel good about him for trying to do better, find a balance.  But then again…

Here is someone that has great role models (not just his grandfather, but father and uncle also work in law enforcement, according to the article).  Here is someone with intelligence and a brain.  Here is someone with a strong support system and moral upbringing.  But then again…

Here is someone who went to jail, did drugs and sings about violence and hatred.  If the lure of the streets and rap music got to him, what chance do others less fortunate have?

Like I said, mixed emotions.  I hope S-Five finds his way and really does use his music to get him out of the streets.  But then again, I hope he raps about that part of his life too. 

18
Aug

Penn’s Landing It Is Then

Author: Momish, Category: Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids, Something to Do

When making your plans this weekend, don’t forget about Penn’s Landing.  The annual PECO Multicultural Series is still going on and today’s featured culture is India!

Now you just know there is going to be great food and beautiful sights to see.  And with the weather being a tad cooler, you can actually enjoy being outside all day.

Tomorrow is the Caribbean festival.  I can’t promise you’ll see any authentic pirates (this is the busy season for them you know), but certainly more good food, not to mention amazing music.  I just love all those steel drums!

Both events go on all day from 12-8 at the great plaza and they are free! Free! Free! That is not to say that you won’t spend any money with all that cool shopping, sari to say.  (I couldn’t resist)   

17
Aug

A Ruby In The Ruff

Author: Momish, Category: Dining Out, Philly Food

Before the kid, my husband and I would constantly go to BYOB’s in the neighborhood for good food and a wonderful night out.  But those lovely, quaint BYOB’s aren’t exactly the kid friendliest places around, some of them don’t even have high chairs.  Enter the Ruby Buffet on Delaware Ave (I refuse to call it by any other name).

We try to go there at least one Friday a month.  It is very affordable and there is something available to keep everyone in our motley crew happy.  And like I said, it is kid friendly in every way imaginable.

Buffets are great for toddlers mostly due to the fact that you can immediately start shoving food at them and continue to do so the entire time.  Nothing entertains a two year old better than food. 

When my daughter is not thoroughly enthralled by the myriad of noodles dishes, veggies in every kind of sauce, deep fried goodies, fruit perfectly cut up for small fingers and desserts she dreams about nightly,  it still doesn’t matter.  With what seems like a high chair at every other table, my daughter’s meltdowns blend right in with the general noise level of the place. 

Mind you, this is no Chuck E. Cheese.  The Ruby Buffet has a warm and friendly atmosphere where you won’t walk away with a blaring headache.  Well, unless you are at our table and have helped us consume three bottles of wine.

Ah, the wine.  That is the best part about going to buffet because it is a BYOB.  So while the kids are at one end of the table doing all kinds of disgusting things to the jell-o, us adults are blissfully ignorant to their antics, lost in our own conversations as we crack open bottle after bottle of our own wine.  

Oh yeah, and they serve food there too.  I was going to get around to that eventually, trust me. 

I don’t really eat or like sushi, but our friends are crazy about it. They say the sushi is way above average for buffet style, especially for the price.  And I believe them because they devour it as if it were actually food. 

All the dishes are constantly being attended to keep them fresh and hot.  The staff is super friendly with unlimited amounts of patience (they actually smile and play with my daughter as they repeatedly clean up the mounts of debris that ends up around her high chair). 

So if you are looking for a great place to relax, unwind, drink your favorite wine and dine with variety, I highly recommend the Ruby Buffet.  However, if you cannot tolerate a dozen kids under the age of four, then consider yourself warned. 

Ditto for drunk adults.

Ruby Buffet, 1100 South Columbus Ave. (this is official stuff, so I have to put that other name).  215-468-8889

Here is the South Philly Review’s review, in case you don’t trust me.

16
Aug

Sid & Nancy Work It Out

Author: Momish, Category: Philly Finds, Something to Do, Sports

I don’t know about you, but even now at my ripe old age I still find the time to mash in my living room to the Sex Pistols or the Bad Brains.  I just can’t shake my youthful punk rock days, despite being “all grown up”.

Good music is just good music.

It gets you up and going, makes you want to jump around like an idiot.  That is why I think the Punk Rock Boot Camp makes perfect sense to me.  Working out to punk rock music is just the kind of inspiration I would need to push myself.  Then afterwards I would get to say something really cheesy like, “that was a real hardcore workout!”

Workout drills are weekdays @ 6:30 though.  UGH! I could never ever in a million years manage that.  So it’s a good thing they also have weekend drop in classes for just 5 bucks that start at 10:00 in the morning. Now that I can consider.  Consider, mind you.

Frankly, I am totally tempted to go just for the music.  I bet I’d get to hear a lot of the old stuff I never got around to replacing on CD’s.  It would be a nice walk run down memory lane!

Check out their website for more details, schedules and fees.

{Thanks again to Daily Candy for the great tip!)

15
Aug

You Gotta Play To Win

Author: Momish, Category: General, Philly Finds, Resources

No, that post title is not another jab at the Eagles!  Thanks to Sparky for pulling me up from my down-on-the-birds-slump.  He’s right you know.  The game the other night is not a true indication of what is to come, especially considering McNabb wasn’t even on the field.

 But I digress…

The post title is in reference to the PA Lottery of course, that is there tag line after all.  And you thought it was bird bashing time again.  Ye of little faith.

So why would I be writing a post about the PA Lottery?  Because I am about to play it. I don’t usually play the lottery.  No, I prefer to throw away my hard earned money in Atlantic City.  Still, sometimes I join the Powerball pools at work because in the off chance they actually hit, I don’t want to be the only idiot still kissing the boss’ butt the next day.

Other than joining the office pool, I usually don’t play.  But, in the past four days I have heard about two people buying those scratch off games and winning.  And we are not talking about winning a free ticket either.  I mean winning mega bucks.  So, the way I figure it is that things often happen in threes, right?  I could be the third, right?  I mean I have just as chance as anyone else, right?  And you gotta play to win, right?

I’ve decided to play the $250,000 Monopoly scratch off.  Mostly because the two people I recently heard about hit on a $10 ticket, but also because that is the game that seemed to have the most winning tickets still circulating out there.

What? No, I am not psychic.  They actually post this information.

You didn’t know that?  It’s all listed right there on the PA Lottery’s website.  On the ”Remaining Winners” page.  Now, before you go running off to buy the scratch offs with loads of prizes left on them, I only ask one favor of you.  If you win, don’t tell me.  I need to believe I still have a shot at being that third person.  Don’t blow it for me!

UPDATE: I won 50 bucks! So it ain’t ten grand, but I can’t complain.

14
Aug

Raven Mad Here

Author: Momish, Category: Sports

So much for green, color me blue.

What a mess. Hopefully, the pathetically sad game the Eagles played last night will fulfill its intentions.  It was, after all, just a practice game.  As in find your (many) mistakes, weaknesses, etc. and work them out before the real stuff starts happening.

I am not happy, people.

13
Aug

Just in Time

Author: Momish, Category: Kids, Resources

 I read in the Sunday Inquirer yesterday about the Girls Rock Philly Camp, which held their showcase event this past Saturday.

 OK!  Stop rolling your eyes. So what if I am way behind the times and this post talks about the past, but nobody ever claimed I was psychic for Pete’s sake.  Besides, my daughter is only two years old, so how was I suppose to know of an all girl rock camp when they only accept ages 10-18?

Let’s just say that I am telling you about this wonderful camp (in case you didn’t read the paper yourself yesterday) IN ADVANCE.  Instead of waiting for next summer, I will post about it now so you can sign up your daughter or niece or granddaughter today for next summer.

 It’s only a week long (at Girard College), so you don’t have to worry that your little one will run off and become a groupie or the next Madonna.  It’s a wonderful chance for young girls to bond and dabble in good old fashion rock and roll.  And who knows, it may be just the kind of inspiration that leads to your kid becoming the next American Idol. 

In fact, I think it is such a great idea, I am going to sign my daughter up now.  I know she is only two, but that is just how ahead of the times and on top of things I am! 

10
Aug

Old Friends And New Artists

Author: Momish, Category: General, Local Charity, People, Philly Finds, Resources

I just want it to be known that I have no artistic talent whatsoever. 

None. Nada. Nil. Zip. Zero. 

That being said, I also want it to be known that I fully support the arts, especially the local arts.  I just spent two hundred bucks on Wicked tickets for crying out loud!! And before I had a kid,  I went to countless First Fridays (and no, it wasn’t just for the free wine and cheese either so don’t even go there).  I love art, despite the fact that half the time I don’t always get it.  I also love that fact that Philadelphia has a thriving art culture.  If you don’t believe me, just check out InLiquid. 

I just discovered the site myself by chance.  Well, maybe not by chance really.  You see, I was at the bank the other day, impatiently waiting in line and hating my life at that moment.  When all of a sudden, I hear my name being called out.  I turn around and there stood a very good old friend of mine whom I haven’t seen in a dog’s age.  Naturally, I was thrilled to death because she was just the type of long lost friend you hope to run into again. 

So what has she been up to these past ten years?  Oh, nothing much.  The usual, like starting a non-profit on-line resource network for local artists called InLiquid.  Stuff like that. 

<Gulp. Inferiority complex anyone? I can barely manage getting my car registered once a year.>

Anyway, I immediately added her website to my blogroll, but that just wasn’t good enough.  I felt the need to get the word out.  InLiquid is a vital network for local artists.  If you are an artist in the area, you gotta check it out.  The techie geek in you will totally lurve the web design too.