Another New York Times nod

I know, I should really be reading the philly.com, but the New York Times has such lovely pictures. Either way, they've been giving Philly the regular nod, first about the beer (see previous post) and now about the city in general. There's a great article detailing a 36 hour vacation in Philly. I feel exhausted just reading it, but must say that I endorse this article for two reasons. First, all the places listed here are worthwhile and fun. Secondly, I don't go to any of these places too often so I don't have to worry about lots of tourists getting in my way, ordering wrong and tipping lousily (is that a word?).

Stay tuned for a follow up 36 hours of how to hit Philly on the way cheep. Have any suggestions of where to go and how to not act like an asshole? Send 'em my way!

Nature, Please.

I've been getting really down about the city lately. Don't get me wrong, the energy here is great right now. The Phillies are in the World Series and people are spontaneously cheering in the streets. However, I can't shake this intense need for trees. I expect part of it is this amazing fall weather. I just want to bundle up and listen to wind rustle through trees, not a sickly looking stick struggling to grow through concrete.

If any of these feelings sound familiar I'd invite you to visit the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen annual craft fair. Anna and I went two years ago and it was lovely. Don't go expecting uber hip art star stuff (though you may well find some of that too). This is old school. There's loads of ceramics, woodworking, jewelry as well as music, food and a truck with people that make their own soda-pop. When I went before I got the greatest pair of hand made slippers EVER.

So check it out. The fair runs today and tomorrow and is held at Montgomery County Community College. Click here for directions. I'll post some photos from our outing later. In the meantime I will post some pics from my trip to Vermont exactly one year ago today.

Philadelph-eli on Vacation!

Saddly, I didn't actually get to go anywhere, but my drawings did. I'm not sure how many of you have ever heard of the lovely town of Saugatuck. It sits on the western coast of Lake Michigan on Kalamazoo Lake. During the winter it's a sleepy little art town. Everyone knows everyone else and they eat at places like the Calico Kitchen where there really are frilly waitress uniforms and checked tableclothes and it's not meant to be ironic. During the summer, however, it blows up. People come up from Chicago and park their boats in the harbor. It also hosts a "Family Week for queer folks and their family making it sort of the Provincetown of the Mid-West.

My parents belong to an art collective their where they sell their jewelry and woodturned bowls. In an effort to maybe make a little money off this art degree I turned my sights to some Saugatuck landmarks and sent the drawings to the collective. If you're in the area check them out!