Philadelphia is My Home

29
Jul

Quartermania For The New Car Challenged

Author: Momish, Category: Atlantic City, Jersey, Nightlife, The Shore

I had one girl’s night out during this vacation and my husband had his very own boy’s night out.  No kids, just single sex adults catching up and having a care free time.

For our night out, us ladies decided to head out to the Tropicana.  The Quarter has a great atmosphere for strolling around, window shopping and grabbing a great bite to eat - not to mention an over priced fancy drink or two or three or…

We headed out around 10 PM, totally jazzed to finally be out and on our own.  I swear, we weren’t in the car but all of three minutes when all of a sudden we hear “Whoop. Whoop. Whoop.”

Sure enough, I was getting pulled over.  Two cop cars sandwich us and shine glaring lights into the car.  I quickly checked with my friends and they assured me the light we just went through was indeed green.  We all had our seat belts on.  I was baffled.

The cop strolls up to the window, does the usual “license and registration” spiel, then starts waving his hand in front of my car.  All smug like, he asks me, “Do you see this, ma’am?” 

“WHAT? WHAT? Did I hit something? OH MY GOD!”

He looks at me like I have a third head and says, “Calm down ma’am, I am trying to tell you that your lights aren’t on.”

Freaking new car. 

Apparently, the dashboard is fully lit even when my headlights aren’t on.  Totally threw me off ’cause I never had a car where the dashboard was fully lit without my lights on.  Luckily, I just got a finger shaking and off we were again.

The Quarter at the Tropicana has many nice restaurants and bars to enjoy a night out.  However, when the clock strikes midnight, anyone over forty should run for cover.  Especially now, with the new nightclub Providence.  I am sure it is a fun place if you are hip and trendy, but once we saw the go-go dancers in the windows, we quickly realized we were a little off base.  Luckily, the Trop also has Tango’s, an old foggie bar with decent wine.

Naturally, being three women out on their own, we were chat up by drunk guys straggling in between the casino and The Quarter.  The young male attention we got definitely went straight to our heads.  Because on the way home, when a red sports car filled with good looking guys pulled up along side of us and started beeping, we were fully prepared to inform these poor lads that we have seven kids between us and they should just give it up.

I rolled down my window, but before I could break the sad news to them, one of the kids screamed, “YOUR LIGHTS!!! TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!”  Then they sped away laughing.

Freaking new car.

20
Jul

Vacation, Gotta Get Away

Author: Momish, Category: Randomness, Something to Do, The Shore

So it figures that the week we go live I am scheduled to go on vacation.  Just as I am getting into the swing of things, meeting new people, receiving (unpaid/non-bribery) feedback, getting my groove on…. Wham! Stop everything! I have to go down the shore and relax in the sun while doing absolutely nothing for the next seven days.

 Woe is me!

Other than the timing factor, we have no worries, trust me.  That is because I have figured out how to schedule publishing posts.  I practiced on today’s post. I actually wrote this last night and voila, it didn’t show up until this morning.

I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking that even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.  But I really do think I am getting the hang of this WordPress stuff.  I honestly think things will go smoothly next week.  You wait and see.

The Jersey shore is calling to me, people.  I have but no choice to go.

So, I have the sworn promise that the powers that be here at IsMyHome are going to moderate all comments.  As for me, I promise to respond as often as I can between my hours of sea, sun and surf.  And, if I find any great happening or bargains,  I will be sure to pass it along.

Just to prove my good faith, I will remind you that next Friday (the 28th) is the famous Night in Venice annual parade of boats in Ocean City.  I wanted to pass this one along early so you can make the necessary plans.  Just in case you aren’t already down there on your week long vacation like some of us.

So please don’t take my comment silence as a sign of not caring! Although, truth be told, I really won’t be caring about anything other than the next time I have to turn over or sand getting into my Mai Tai.  But hey, like they say… silence is golden.  Right?

Hello? Did you hear me?  I said silence is golden, right?

<cricket cricket>

Pfft.

14
Jun

Sonsie in A.C.

Author: Momish, Category: Atlantic City, Dining Out, Jersey, The Shore

Here’s a little tidbit about me - I was not born in Philly.

<gasp>

No, I was actually born in Atlantic City. My mom’s side of the family is from there. So, naturally, I am one of those people that take off for the shore every weekend I can get away. Considering AC is practically Little-Philly-On-The-Beach and summer is finally here, I thought it would be good to tell you about a great place we ate at last weekend.

I don’t know if you have had a chance to check out the new pier at Caesar’s, but there are tons of great shops and restaurants there. We wondered around for a bit before we decided to eat at Sonsie.

I had never heard of this place before, but apparently the original restaurant is in Boston and has quite a reputation. It ended up being an excellent choice and I will definitely be heading back there again. Here’s why:

First off, the service was exceptional. Everyone was courteous and attentive beyond our needs. And that was despite our jeans and constant queries of “how much is that” or “what does that cost”. They didn’t even scoff when we sulked and pouted like small children because we wanted a booth with a view. (Plus I refused to eat my dinner staring at a blown up picture of some woman’s nostril. If you go there, you will see what a mean. They call it “art work”).

Anyway, dining out is all about the food, right? Well, that and the wine. In both instances, Sonsie shined. The food was great! It was flavorful and different, yet not too fancy to the point where it makes your head spin. I hate walking into a restaurant and agonizing over the menu because all the dishes include some ridiculous combination of flavors that have no business being put together. Why ruin a perfectly good fillet of fish by baking it in a mango and coconut chutney sauce, then drizzling it with olive juice and laying it over a bed of chili basted polenta?

Sonsie’s menu was diverse and unique enough that it was hard to chose a dish, and none of the entrees were the typical foods I would have been able to make in my own home. The wine list was just as impressive. Yet, surprisingly, the prices weren’t jacked up beyond the usual gouging. My husband, the wine snob, left there perfectly content, which speaks volumes (no pun intended).

Finally, let me just say that no one at our table was able to finish their meals. The dishes weren’t piled high diner style, but were hearty enough. If I hadn’t eaten three rolls, a half a pound of calimari and a salad, my main entree would have been just the right amount. Next time we are going to check out their wine and cheese happy hour. It sounds great.  If you’ve tried it, let me know!

Other Info:

• Contemporary American Cuisine 
• Entrees range under $30
• Dress is casual elegant (you can get away with jeans, but probably not sneakers)
• Website: Sonsie 
• Website:  The Pier at Caesar’s