Going Blonde

This is not a post about a new hair color. Rather, I'm going blonde with my coffee selection. Blonde, Starbucks Blonde.

In the summer Starbucks announced they were introducing a new, light roast coffee. When I heard (read?) this announcement I went to the Starbucks on the ground level of the building in which I work. "I'd like to try your new blonde, please." I was told I'd have to wait for the winter. The promotion had started months before the actual availability.

Blonde became available January 10th so I checked it out. I always drink decaf but - apparently in my excitement - I forgot to ask for decaf so I got the real thing. I had a lot of hopes pinned on this blonde. Would I like it? Could I rely on Starbucks in a pinch when I wanted coffee I could tolerate?

I am not a Starbucks fan. Starbucks fans don't understand how this is possible but Starbucks brews a cup of joe that is just way to strong for me. On occasion, I bite the bullet and have one because sometimes it's the only quick cup around in certain locations. With all of this in mind I sipped the blonde - after I added my cream.

Loved the blonde. I was so happy! I can finally go to Starbucks with one of its devotees, sit there and actually enjoy a cup myself. I can even have work meetings there now!

Unbeknownst to me at the time, blonde comes in three roast styles – Starbucks^® Veranda Blend™, Starbucks^® Willow Blend™ and Starbucks^® Decaf Willow Blend™.  Darn! Which one did I have? Veranda or Willow? I have no idea. I'll have to ask the barista which one they served the first week.

Dunkin' Donuts is where I get my coffee if I don't drink the brew that's free at work. If you like Dunkin's mellow flavor you will like blonde. Unfortunately, the "official" free tasting period of blonde ended on January 14th but I bet you could sample some if you asked nicely. Heck, I even got a free mini-bag when I bought my cup. Maybe you too could make that happen.

Go ahead. Go blonde. You might even have more coffee-fun.

Happy New Year Mummers' Style

I have been away from this blog for so long because for the past several months I had another blog. Yes, I cheated.  I know I could have had another blog attached to this profile but I didn't want to blend my worlds.  But it's a new year and now I'm back here.

Last night I had dinner at a colleague-turned-friend's house.  It was a nice dinner party for 6.  We turned the TV on just minutes before midnight and watched the ball fall.  I was home and tucked in bed by 12:40-ish. 

Today I lounged around, read the newspaper, watched a movie on TV, did a run/walk/run around the high school track and ate the traditional pork dinner for good luck in the year to come.  I read something in the paper about a Philadelphia tradition called the Mummers' Parade.  If you're not familiar with this parade, it is a 101-year-old tradition of music, "the Mummers' strut," men wearing feathers and sequins (no, this is most definitely not a gay parade), comics, and lots of drinking by spectators.  It goes on from early morning to dusk. (Check out the link for more information.)

The information about the parade that was interesting to me is related to race.  Philadelphia is a minority-majority city.  More than 50% of its inhabitants are African-American.  I don't have an official statistic but I think it's very safe to say that 99% (if not 100%) of Mummers are Caucasian.  (All African-American groups - or "clubs" in Mummers'-speak - had their last strut down Broad Street in 1929.)  The reason this is of interest to me is because I know there is racial tension in this city and there are surely some Caucasian observers of and participants in this parade who would  be appalled to know what I learned today.  I find this somehow satisfying.

So what did I learn?  According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, in 1903 parade organizers adopted "O Dem Golden Slippers" as the parade's theme song.  What many of today's Mummers probably don't know is that his song was written in 1879 by "The Prince of Negro Songwriters" James A. Bland.  And that regionally famous Mummers' strut?  It was derived from the "southern plantation slave's 'Cakewalk' brought to the US by Africans in the 18th century."

While the Mummers' Parade is not representative of the city's population in both its participants and observers, it certainly has a history shaped by the majority of the city's residents.  I like the irony of that.  I also think some people may be less than pleased by that information and I like that too.  I don't want them to think that African-Americans are not part of this century-old Philadelphia tradition.

Happy New Year!

Still Around

My life has been non-stop lately, which is mostly good but partly frustrating.  I have plenty of blog-worthy eats and activities.  Coming soon!

Auntie Em

I was just in Madison, Wisconsin again for work and heading there again next week.  (Basically, I am home for the weekend.)  Because of storms in the East last night, my flight got in extremely late.  I walked in my door at 3:07am.  After being up almost 21 hours and hanging out in airports for endless hours, I am still exhausted and planning to nap very soon.  I can't, however, get the vision of the sky I saw Wednesday night out of my head.

The storms in the East last night were in the Midwest yesterday.  There were tornado warnings and the hotel was considering moving all its guests to a conference room.  Several of my colleagues and I were at an Indian restaurant a 5-minute walk away from the hotel when all of this was happening.  The hotel shuttle service would not come get us because of the tornado threat.  We paid a guy - a complete stranger with a big Chevy Suburban (filled with lot of "stuff") stopping for takeout - $20 to run 5 of us back to the hotel.  (Because of all the "stuff" he had to make two trips.)  The rain was intense and the main road looked like a river. I am very grateful to this man who told us his name was "Jake the Snake."

When I got back to the hotel I learned a tornado touched now near where I was staying.  Back in my room, I opened my curtains and put on the Weather Channel, which was beeping every 5 minutes because of the tornado threat.  (That is a very disconcerting noise.)  I kept an eye outside to watch for the funnel cloud and had a plan in mind in case I saw one.  During my "watch," I saw the strangest sky I have ever seen. 

It was dark out.  Well, actually, it was supposed to be dark out.  Instead, the sky was the most incredible color of orange I have ever seen.  I don't mean "Ah, isn't that beautiful?" sunset orange.  I mean angry forest fire orange.  I really did wonder if there was a forest fire but knew there were nothing but farms and strips malls around us.  The orange was so bright it made it look like daytime.  I was so stunned I didn't even think of taking a picture of it with my cell phone.  I wish I had.  Instead, this picture is from the Web.  It really doesn't do it justice but provides some idea.  (Note:  This is just a random picture of an orange, tornado sky.  It is not what I saw that night.)

The next day my colleagues were talking about the eerie night sky.  Apparently I wasn't the only one watching  to see if I was going to be in harm's way.  One colleague said he saw green in the sky.  I didn't see that.

Now that I'm home and not threatened by a tornado, I googled "orange sky during tornado."  I didn't persist enough to learn why this happens but I saw dozens of accounts of people seeing this type of sky in areas threatened by severe thunderstorms or tornadic activity.  Like my colleague, many people reported a green-ish hue in the sky.

As I head upstairs to nap, I know I will see that sky in my head as I drift off.  I am also thankful for this life experience that ended well.  I now know what an unusual sky can mean.  I can use this information to protect myself if needed as I travel to the Midwest 3 more times in the next several weeks.

Eden

What visions does "Eden" conjure up for you?  The Eden to which I'm referring can be found in Rehoboth, Delaware.  If you think of "Eden" as a beautiful place serving as a respite from the hustle and bustle, that would relate to this Eden.

Eden is a restaurant that touts "bold American food." It offers great variety in the menu, which includes scallops, tuna, salmon, filet mignon, chicken breast, and wood fired flatbreads, to name a few.  The entree that won my attention was the grilled antelope.  I would say that is certainly bold; wouldn't you?

I have never seen antelope on the menu before. The waiter responded to my question about whether the meat was "gamey" with a resounding "no."  He explained that fear just before death creates that "gamey" taste in animals but that these animals were quickly killed.  He went on to say how but, frankly, it was TMI (too much information).  I think that was the waiter's only miscue.

The antelope come from the Broken Arrow Ranch  in Texas Hill Country.  The ranch sells "truly wild" (roaming, pen-free) animals including - in addition to the antelope - wild boar, venison, and quail.  (An online store is available.)  A quick Google search for the ranch had me thinking it was owned by music legend Neil Young.  Turns out Young owns a ranch with the same name in California.  (Besides, if you know his music, you know he didn't have a lot of respect for "southern men" anyway so I guess I should have been immediately doubtful that he owned a ranch in Texas.)

But back to the antelope...it was delicious.  Not a hint of an unpleasant wild taste, tender, and very much like filet mignon.  It was served with toasted barley/mushroom confit salad, braised local greens, and a cherry chutney.  I strongly recommend it.

There were six of us for dinner and each person was pleased with the food.  We were also pleased with the charming atmosphere.  We had the big round table in the corner at the front window.  The booths have curtain sheers that can be drawn.  Of course, we pulled ours together - well - just because we could.  It helped create a "fog" between ourselves and the rest of the restaurant on this Memorial Day weekend Saturday.  With the muted colors and candlelight, we lingered in this comfort for quite some time.  Although, when the check came, there was some discomfort.

The dining partner who recommended the restaurant told us her two favorite wines were specials that evening and not normally available.  They were not on the menu - mind you - but the waiter confirmed she had read correctly (online, I believe).  We got a bottle of Silver Oaks red (Cabernet, I think) and Cakebread Cellars white (Chardonnay, as I recall).  (Memorial Day weekend feels like a lifetime ago, unfortunately.)  Each wine was very good and I would certainly enjoy drinking them again.  We learned that the white was $70 and the red was $100.  Oops!  Forgot to ask about the price! 

I suppose we should have known that the wine could be pricey as the entrees at Eden average in the high $20's/low $30's.  (My antelope was $29.)  But we were apparently seduced by the atmosphere, interesting menu, and excellent server.  Also, we wanted some wine with our artisinal cheese board appetizer and meals.  The bottom line - with no desserts and tip (not automatically included, surprisingly) - turned out to be $150 per couple.

Eden cost Adam and Eve so don't be surprised if it costs you, too.  If you are willing to pay a little extra for excellent food and service with a special ambiance, you won't go wrong with Eden on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Walk Against Hate

On May 15, 2011 the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) held the first annual Walk Against Hate in Philadelphia on Martin Luther King Drive (formerly West River Drive).  This walk was an "initiative in which people from various backgrounds (were) united to stand together to embrace diversity."  It was my opportunity to lend support to an important cause and enjoy the day with a few friends.

The ADL web site adds this event was an "opportunity for both youth and adults to make strides against bigotry and hatred in their communities."  The walk benefited ADL’s programs including No Place For Hate®, which is a program available to schools and communities to educate people to counteract hatred and bigotry.

The day was warm and a storm was threatening.  That didn't keep people away from participating in this inaugural event.  While the crowd was certainly not as thick as for other established walks, such as the AIDS Walk, it was what I would guess was a pleasing number for the first walk of its kind.  (I couldn't find the number of people who attended. I must confess I made a lame attempt to find this information.) 

I imagine that most walks start with small numbers and increase each year.  If you would like to see a bigger crowd for this event next year, come out to walk against hate next May.  Check out the ADL web site in the future for more information.  In the meantime, let these pictures take you to the recent 2011 event.  If you choose to walk next year, you will see some of Philly's famous sights.

Boathouse Row

Art Museum and Waterworks

I love this picture. Do you see the faces? (Half-open eyes and frowns)

On the way back to the car...

How Sweet it Was

It is possible to plan the “perfect” day. Every now and then, however, we luck out and the perfect day happens by chance. This kind of day seems even sweeter than a planned “perfect” day – probably because it is so unexpected and effortless. I had this kind of day on Mother’s Day, May 8th.

Before you get ahead of the story, it is important to note I’m not a mother. So wipe out that vision of a pleased mom surrounded by her brood of well-behaved children.  I certainly have a mother and spent time with her the day before Mother’s Day but this year's Mother’s Day was more about sun and being on the water.  It was a beautiful day to try out several kayaks as I contemplated this big purchase.

EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) held an event at Lum’s Pond State Park in Bear, Delaware for people to evaluate different kayaks. There was a good turn-out as folks test paddled about 25 different boats. But even before I got in a boat, my interest about the state park was piqued. This park, only about an hour (or less, depending on traffic) from Philadelphia, offers boat rentals, camping, and swimming. I’m thinking I’ll camp there in the Fall when I can paddle during the day and sit by a campfire at night. (I should add…I will paddle in my own kayak as a purchase – including a rack for transporting – was made.)

After spending a few hours learning about paddles and trying different boats, my partner, friend and I were ravenous. We didn’t want fast food but weren’t sure where to go. We relied on the GPS. It told us there was a restaurant just minutes away with “Waterside” (or something like that) in the name. Excited about the prospect of eating on the water, we decided to try it.

The GPS led us to a marina in Bear, Delaware. The restaurant name provided by the GPS was no longer accurate by we were taken to Aqua Sol.  Now remember, this was Mother’s Day, and we were dressed in kayaking clothing. I wondered if this was going to be a factor as I walked up to the attractive building with outdoor seating, including big umbrellas, overlooking the water.

I asked the hostess – very loudly since the jazz band was right near the hostess stand – if the way we were dressed was a problem. She said it wasn’t and, even though I felt a bit awkward as I looked at the nicely dressed diners dressed for the holiday, I decided this restful, sunny location was too good to give up. We were seated and decided to have a drink as we waited about 1 hour for the Mother’s Day brunch to end. (We didn’t want a repeat of the breakfast we had that morning at our local diner.)

Waiting to dine at Aqua Sol wasn't a problem.  The restaurant is a smile-maker.  It is such a pleasure to look down on the boats – some of which were huge yachts – in the marina. We could also see what we later learned was the old Summit Bridge spanning the C and D canal.

As for the food, we were able to choose between "Miami inspired" (Latino influenced) light fare as well as more serious dishes.  Since it was 4pm-ish, we had the lighter fare. Two of us had the slow-roast pork tacos and the other had the ancho rubbed short ribs. And no need to worry about prices here. I anticipated having to pay a premium for the view, and the jazz band, but that proved to be an unwarranted concern.

I left my credit card at the restaurant and had to return a few days later to get it. While this sounds like a drag, and they would have sent it to me, I actually enjoyed returning to the restaurant. As I drove into the marina , there were many more workers than there were on Sunday. The workers were readying the big boats – washing and waxing and inspecting. I paused near the dining area of the restaurant (no one was there at 3pm on a week day) and absorbed the view again.

The day was similar to the day I dined there. The sun was warm and I snuck out of work early to head south on I-95 to get my card. I felt like I was on vacation, just as I had on Mother’s Day. I was transported back to that “perfect day,” even as I headed back on the road to pick up the kayak at EMS. 

Weeks later, I'm am still happy to think about that day.  And I'm also thinking the kayak will provide me with many more perfect days.

 **********************************

Lums Pond Boat Rental Rates - 2010 (2011 rates not yet on the web site)
1/2 Hour Rentals
Pedal Boat  $6

1 Hour Rentals

• Rowboat $7
• Canoe $8
• Pedal Boat $10
• Kayak - Single $9, Tandem $11
• Sailboat $14

 Day Rentals

• Rowboat $35
• Canoe $40 
• Pedal Boat $50
• Kayak -Single $45, Tandem $55
• Sailboat $70