Carp. Where do those odd characters come from? I think you can read it anyway.

***Can we turn the clock back and sing 'Happy Birthday' to Lpink?

First off, I'd like to promise to those in the Philly/Pennsylvania/NJ area that I did not get to meet, I promise, promise, promise, next time. My family can only handle so much of 'the best friends I never met' per trip. Besides I can spend more time with each person when the groups are smaller! I have fallen in love with Philadelphia and I can't wait to come back - next time without family so I can travel far and wide to visit forum friends. Its really tough on them, they were so patient sitting with strangers.

Sorry about the secrecy - I don't like to telegraph that I'm out of my home on a public forum. A big thank you to Pam and Alexa for pulling this together, and a big thank you to those who traveled far to visit with us. I decided that my family was going to spend most of our spring break in Philadelphia, touristing around and maybe looking at a few colleges for the kids. You guys have an amazing town that really extends beyond the Independence Park area. We had to cut our visit short because DS#2 had to get back for drumline competition.

It was great to meet Susie, Pam and Alexa, and of course, FOAS. I had met lpink several times before, and girl, you are looking good!

Because we were a big group, the Field House bar, close to the trains and RTM, was picked to accomodate the group. It was perfect because we could all sit and talk.

Here is another shot of the group......left to right is lpink, FOAS, Alexa, and (standing) Susie, Pam, and moi.

I thought I took shots of all the meals...looks like I got three of them. Pam and I split a pizza and a salad. Does anyone else have the rest of the plates?

Who had this sandwich?

Gifts were exchanged - I brought as much 'California' as I could without resorting to Trader Joe's and Penzeys, both of which have a presence in Philadelphia. Not easy! I forgot to take a picture but I packed a Sunset and Los Angeles Magazine, and I had saved weeks of the food section from the LA Times, one for everyone. I included chili con limon, a dry rub mostly meant for summer fruit but also can be used on grilled stuff. I think I included a tea towel from Sur La Table, cocktail napkins from Anne Taintor, Mexican hot chocolate, California flavored almonds and fresh kumquats, and since we have a Croatian presence in Los Angeles, a meat seasoning mix called 'cevapcici' (just for lpink), rounded out by chocolates from my part of town.

Susie shared NJ honey, Pam brought bottles of olive oil, and Alexa brought pickled asparagus that didn't make it home (it ended up being part of a late dinner snack with munchies from Garces).

FOAS took the gift exchange award. He thought the mystery guest was going to be LindaC, so he brought a 'Funeral Gift box' of a paper coffin. Inside he packed the Joseph Joseph garlic press discovered by Claire de Luna, (WOW!), some 'Scotch bonnet' habanero candy made by FOAS himself, Glenlivet (needs no explanation) and I love those toothbrushes to um er 'hide' the evidence. Did I leave anything out?

We talked and talked for hours. Thanks lpink for the college tips! After lunch, my DH and DS#1 went to the art museum (I tried my best to get them to watch 'Rocky' first, no luck) and DS#2, who is allergic to museums, stayed with us. He treated the group to some card tricks he has picked up. I love when he does that, justifies all the driving I've done for him for lessons, LOL.

Tuesday night we met up with Pam again after DS#2 toured Drexel, and we went to White Dog Cafe, a restaurant that is heavy on the localvore AND sustainable farming. Double woot. I had the

Of course after a meal like that we had to finish up with

Toured hard, ate a lot (four stops for philly steaks), and I am exhausted. It was worth it!

Oh my.....had I known I might have made the trip!
What fun you all had!!
Linda C

Looks like a great time and a great group.... Pam, you always look so classy!

What food and gifts, I 'm so jealous :o)

While I knew Jessie was on a trip, I still wouldn't have guessed it was EJ in PA.

Fantastic get together; I'm glad you all had such a great time.

I was totally surprised by the quality of the food at the Fieldhouse Bar. I was expecting something ordinary and typical but my thin crust pizza with ricotta and artichokes and pesto was awesome! Everyone else's meal looked good too. I forgot my camera. I forgot a lot of things. My life has been a bit hectic lately due to being sick for so long, so I just kind of dropped everything and got on the train. It was indeed a nice day, one of our first and far between spring-like ones. So great to be with CF friends again and to meet FOAS and Jesse's better half! And I totally enjoyed the card tricks. And FOAS' gift was so much fun, as were all the others. I've been living like a queen off of those gifts, and it was fun perusing the CA magazines on the train ride home.
Glad you enjoyed the White Dog Cafe. I was there once in my life and I have to say it was one of the nicest restaurants I have ever been in.
Will be nice to hear some of your other Philly adventures some time Jessica, maybe in conversations. And of course, don't be a stranger!!

Wow, that looks like a great time. I'm trying to convince Elery to go to Philadelphia, see Independence Hall, etc. And of course, the RTM. There are just so many places I want to go.

Glenlivet and a garlic grater, yup, that would definitely be LindaC, LOL.

I'm glad you all go to get together, but I'm envious.

Annie

It was awesome meeting Jessica and I had a great time seeing everyone else. Loved the goodies from everyone - DH got a kick out of the food seciton from the LA Times and is
loving the magazines as well as all the tasty goodies. I actually had to make biscuits for breakfast on Monday so he could try the blueberry honey Susie brought!

Oh and that was my Turkey Club sandwich - it was quite tasty!

What a fantastic get together and I am soooo looking forward to the next person who wants Mystery Guest status in Philly!!!!!

Alexa

Wow, what a fun group!! Thanks for sharing! I've never been to Philly....maybe some day!

Linda

Bobby you are my new BFF!! Elegant - wow. Glad you can't see me now in my gardening clothes with the muddy knees and moth eaten sweater.

Here's FOAS and Alex polishing off my pizza. They couldn't believe I was going to leave a slice on the plate.

We really did have a good time. I hope more of you will come to Philadelphia to see the sights and to have a meet up with the Philly crowd. We would love it!

What a great time! Jessy, you have got to be the queen of logged miles to visit CF friends. I'm jealous :)
Ann

Awwww, wish I'd known too - actually had some time off! Oh well, maybe next time. Looks like you all had a great time.

Sue

OOps, I meant to say classy, not elegant. I am neither one. I should have mentioned how great the gifts were. FOAS really did a great job. He brought home made Scotch Bonnet candy. Jessy's son popped a piece in his mouth and I thought steam would come out of his ears. The garlic chopper will be well used as will the Wisps. The Glenlivet is already history.

I am saving up the Susie's Blueberry Honey and Alex's asparagus (my favorite veg) for a special occasion.

Here's a picture of my remaining goodies. There was a box of chocolates from Jessy, but they are gone as is the Glenlivet. The Sunset magazine was upstairs and I couldn't find it. Isn't the towel Jessy gave us pretty? The colors are perfect for my kitchen.

Oh darn, Sue. Well, we will definitely be doing it again and you will be on the list for sure. It was just kind of crazy this time.

Wow! looks like an amazing time. I love Philadelphia, and it looks like even more fun with all of those CFers.

What a great get together!!! Looks like you had a blast, wish I'd a known!

Wow, it looks like a great time was had by all. Thanks for sharing.

Sally

It's great you were all able to get together and it sounds like you had a great time.

I'm jealous.....

Nancy

Howdie all...It was really a very lovely time!

I also have pics but Its easier for me to post them to FB.

It really was a beautiful day for a Phoodie Phest...sunny and spring like...not at all like the damp dreery spring we've been having so I feel that Jessy and Family brought a little part of California to the east coast!!

Jessy did bring her husbter and offspring, all of whom are a delight...so charming!!

I ordered the cubano...it was an overstuffed shredded pork sandwich with melted swiss on a soft roll, the side was pasta salad...so yummy!
How many time have I been to Reading Terminal and didn't even know such a place existed!!

I actually got there first, well I do only live 15 minutes away LOL...although it feels a thousand miles away LOL!
No seriously I had to drop my son off at his job so I was already in the city.
It was so nice to be able to greet everyone as they arrived.

Its such a pleasure to meet someone you share a switchplate with LOL!!
I had never met FOAS either so it was so nice to talk to such an interesting guy!!

The gift bag EJ put together was super!! We are enjoying all of it!! FOAS put together a super theamed gift as well...too clever!!

I will no doubt enjoy the asaragus and flavored oil over the next few days!

Its just a shame our visit was so short but alas I had to go pick Drew up from work...but I felt confident Jessy was going to be fine getting around in Philly when she whipped out several bags of tokens and a bus route map!!
However next time EJ blows into town my plan is to wisk her away to AC for the day!!

Thanks to our super classy Pam for inviting me and to my boss for giving me the day off to do it!!

Cheers!
Susie

susie, some of us don't "do" Facebook and aren't interested in it at all, so if you only post your pictures there, I'll never see them!

Nice backsplash Pam!

Annie

Nice to see all of you. Poor FOAS looks outnumbered.

How fun for all of you! I'm so glad to see FOAS took my mention of the Ultimate garlic press so seriously! Now you all have to report back on how much you like it! I'm Lovin' the pictures of all of you, but Pam...you don't look dedtired! (I daresay you look quite lovely and fresh.)

Susie, I'd love to see your pictures too, and like Annie am afraid I won't if Facebook is the only alternative. I got majorly spammed when I signed up once, which I'll never do again. (Since I don't know anyone who is ''looking'' for me, I don't see the need.) Yes, I know this qualifies me as a total geezer, but I would prefer instead to say I don't like SPAM!

Sorry guys but facebook works for me. I linked it to my android
So taking and posting pics is easy peasy.
I will upload them to my webshots account so you can
All see them.
Cheers
Susie

John, don't worry about FOAS, Jessy had her two sons and hubby with her, (not pictured). Wish I could have talked BF into coming, I think he would have enjoyed the Reading Terminal Market, AND the sportsbar, AND the whole gathering. But he is not the most social person and I think it was not only the gender but all these unkown people that was a little too much for him. But I plan on having a CF gathering late this spring at my house and I will force him to come dressed as a pool boy for that one! (Just kidding!!)

L, are you kidding about the gathering or about dressing your BF as the pool boy? (grin)

Susie, I don't have any problem with you doing Facebook or whatever. I post to this forum and that's all. No other forums (except Harvest), no blogs because I never remember, no Facebook or other social networking. Just here and email which already takes an hour or more of my day, and I just don't have any more time than that to devote to it.

I just thought I'd point out that not everyone "does" Facebook or oother social media, for whatever reason, and may not be interested in getting involved with it and so we won't ever see those pictures if you devote it exclusively there.

CdL, I also got a ton of Spam but what was really annoying was the "friend" requests from everyone I didn't know. It turns out that people who know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows you will send friend requests. Sigh. Elery told me I could find people I went to school with or grew up with, but anyone I liked, I'm still in touch with so I don't need to find them. Ashley said I could "have a farm" and I pointed out that I already "have a farm". (grin) What I don't have is enough time.

Annie

I understand completely Annie! I might add that last year, along with the Facebook SPAM, came a Very Nasty Spyware Virus that I spent far too much time trying to get rid of.

Seriously, I have better things to do with my time.

If anyone has a Facebook account and hasn't had to deal with this, call yourselves fortunate. It's easy for a reason that doesn't always benefit the users. Please don't be surprised though if it happens to you!

What a wonderful time you all had. I love Philadelphia too and miss my annual biz trips there.

Somehow, I just know that FOAS held his own very well.

Thanks for sharing all the pictures and the tales of your time together.

Lee

I met Jessy and her family a few years ago when they came to visit in Washington. Had a wonderful time with them, although it passed far too quickly.

Looks and sounds like a great time was had by all. Great looking group that's for sure! Very cool gift too. Thanks for sharing and the pics everyone!

Still LOL @ FOAS and his creative package....and only you could find a sign like that EJ!

David

Wow, it sounds like a Phun time in PHILLY! I knew something cool was happening but no one was tellin'. Glad to hear all about it and see the food and surcies!
Everyone looks great!

Ellen, I am still kicking myself for missing the opportunity to meet you a couple years ago. Come back again! I hope I cna get-together with the LA group on my next trip to CA to see my son and brother.

Anyone who has the chance to meet the EJ family, as well as anyone else who was at this get-together, should do it. The EJs are so much fun and the whole bunch of PCFers are great.

Claire -- I do think about changing my screen name, but since you already "know" me, I guess I'll stick with it. I chose it many years ago when I was working late and feeling very dead tired.

Sounds like a good time was had by all! I'm sorry I wasn't able to get down there to meet you, Jessy and FOAS. Please keep me on the mailing list for any future GTGs.

Goldgirl, Ruthanna and Cloudy - noted for next time!

kframe, I still remember that meal, it was one of the best ever.

Good time, great people! I'm glad it happened to work out that I was not far away and could join for lunch. I hope there's a "next time" soon and that it'll be equally convenient for me. Something tells me the local CF chapter will be quite active with gatherings if Jessy's son ends up going to school in PA!

Well, would you look at that smile on her face.

The Devil pays a visit to the city of Brotherly Love, on a Sunday, and it never made the headlines. How ironic.

Nice looking group.

Sol