Sun-Starved

The Philadelphia (love) story: a cellphone photo essay

Ryan and I got married in Seattle, on Earth Day 2009.  We were fortunate to have a beautiful, small ceremony, and later to get together with friends to toast to our new adventure together.  The only downside was that our families couldn't be with us. 

That's the reason my family-in-law decided to put together a Pensylvannia wedding banquet for us.  We go to Philadelphia every year for Thanksgiving, which worked out perfectly to gather family and friends.  It was lovely!  We had Italian food (a traditional and favorite for Ryan's family), loving hugs and all sorts of conversations on the sunny, crisp Fall afternoon we had our second wedding day. 

Curtains were open, the warm light shined on wine glasses, keeping company to all the affection we got on that Friday. 

(On a side note, I am pretty sure will have a third wedding party in Caracas, where many are waiting to hug us and wish us much happiness. Aren't we lucky, lucky, lucky?)

My camera stayed home and the only camera on site presented a few malfunctions.  That's why the only photo we have is a cellphone one.  I blessed the day our portable phones got cameras on them. I'm a fan and I'm not.  I confess I edited these photos to look "handsome".  Aesthetics aside, I'm grateful for these.  I didn't document just our wedding day celebration, I also snapped some photos while roaming the streets of Philadelphia.

So here they are.  My Philly cellphone photos. Some were taken to remember, some to tweet our whereabouts.  Either way, I see them and say ¡gracias!

Our wedding cake was from Cramer's Bakery.  Located in Yardley, PA, Cramer's has been open since 1946.  My family-in-law has also gotten cakes from here for my father-in-law Jeff's 50th birthday party (custom made with a Philly's logo), and other important events like Grandparents' weddings and birthdays.  The piece that you see there...humm, I pretty much polished it down myself. It was...creamy...delicious...perfect.

For the second time, my darling husband came with me to buy my bridal outfit.  Like the first time, we stayed away from the white dress shop, and he even helped me picking up this burgundy little number (or numbers?) to "walk down the isle." 

An all-American tradition I honored for the first time: the corsage.  Simple, beautiful and elegant.

Us. Perhaps this is the only photo we've got that day.  Handsome husband, right? 

Cosmo, my family's 13-year old dog.  He's a cool "cat".  I thought this was a "picture perfect" quiet moment. 

Oh!  Adventures in Philadelphia. We pick a different Philly Cheesesteak vendor each year.  2009 was Jim's Steak's year. This fine establishment has been serving the famous sandwiches and hoagies for 70 years.  We went to the location they claim is at "the hippiest street in town", South Street (which is a fantastic area to go for food and a stroll).

You might find this very interesting, but I grew up on Cheez Whiz (Yes! In Caracas!). Combine with a warm, just-out-of-the-oven arepa, and you will see heaven.  When I saw this "restaurant-sized" can I almost, almost stole it from the counter. 

The "assembly line" view from the "hunger line".

Capuccino time at La Colombe Torrefacction on Rittenhouse Square.  If you go on a Sunday, this place will be still crowded.  They serve their coffees in beautiful Italian coffee china. It seems all the cups and saucers are different.  After you're done enjoying their "culinary coffee" as they like to call it, stroll around the Square.  We watched a large group of people dancing tango. On another Philly sunny Fall afternoon. Couldn't be better.

If I were your photography professor, I'd challenge you to go around Philadelphia, find these signs, and submerge yourself in developing a series of photos of these.  Both Ryan and I are passionate about history.  Philadelphia oozes it.  And these signs help you remember about it. 

Dinner next time we visit. That's what he said. I pray he was serious about it. 

¡Muchas gracias, Philly!  This one was at Reading Terminal Market. Our quest for fresh and local doesn't stop in Seattle. And this place is amazing.

I am telling you just in case and for when you visit the Reading Terminal Market.  We heard this is something you don't want to miss. *Cries*

"Hi Rachel at Pike Place Market, I'm here at the Reading Terminal Market. Cheers!"

I found the name of these little guys to be funny (hello frogs and toads).  Also, I found out these are called "The Best Choice" when it comes to sustainability, as Croakers fisheries have a minimal impact of ecosystems and the environment. 

Sylvester Stallone commissioned this 10-foot tall statue of Rocky to artist A. Thomas Schomberg.  Rocky wasn't liked at first at the Museum (is he art or just a prop?) so he was moved to the Wachovia Spectrum in the South end of the city.  It kept visiting the Museum, and brought for the filming of several iconic movies such as Philadelphia. Rocky found his way back home in 2006, and lives here. 

Seattle dogs: cream cheese, this is how we do it here!

Hot dog, Seattle style: make sure it has a good amount of cream cheese.

Of course, I almost died and went to heaven when I found about this very Seattle way to consume a perro caliente. The first time I tried one was after a Wolf Parade show at Neumos--the Crystal Ball Reading Room--one of the city's most regarded indie music venues.  

(Side note: Wolf Parade is a Sub Pop! band.  For those who don't know, this is a famous Seattle-based indie music record label, which is also the producer for Coco Rosie, Beach House, Album Leaf, The Postal Service, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes, Go! Team, among others).

Back to the dogs.  Hot dogs stands are ubiquitous in Seattle as they are all over the US, and in cities like my hometown, Caracas.  Down there, we call them asquerositos (little filthy things) and they are pretty different from the ones you buy in the US.  Let's say they are "slim" in comparison.  

The time to eat hot dogs in Seattle seems to be mostly at night.  As nightclubs begin to get their rivers of bare legs and popped collars in line in Belltown, or lines of legs "painted" with jeans--those pesky skinny ones--stand in and outside bars and music venues in Capitol Hill, the hot dogs vendors pop here and there. These carts have several meaty options such as Kielbasa and Bratwurst, some also offer veggie wieners.  And all of them, always, offer the heavenly, creamy cheese that taste oh-so-good when paired up with sausages.

When walking by any of these hot dog vendors, an interesting mix of customers will be grazing the sidewalk with their presence and chewing: preppy guy with pretty girl; hot girl in ladder-high heels; the papito suave on that girl's arm; University of Washington Husky fans; one of two nearly-extint mohawks barers asking for a second round of kiebalsas. 

Hot dog stands can also be found in some of the city's Farmers Markets.  Dante's Inferno Dogs is a regular cast member of the Ballard Sunday Market. They also attend block parties.  I took the next three photos during one of these--also in Ballard--back in May.

Stick 'em up!  The "Cream Cheese" pistol! (Dear Santa...)

I swear there is cream cheese underneath all that goodness!

At least I have some to show (on Ryan's face).  Here, with our dear friend Maribeth when she came to visit last May, enjoy some Dante's Inferno Dogs

Some prefer to be steady, and open their stores.  Po Dog did so a few months ago, a refreshing addition to the war of the cupcake/ice cream locale proliferation.  They use brioche buns.  That makes any other attempt to review the place unnecesary because this type of bread makes the world a better place (and their dogs phenomenal).  Great ingredients are used here, and that, gets a lot of smiles and happy tastebuds. 

Why, hello, Po Dog's Po 'Nam: Sliced carrots, daikon and Vietnamese herb culantro topped with homemade lemongrass vinaigrette, sesame seeds and cilantro (current special dog as of September 20th, 2010. Please, can it be part of the regular menu? ¿Por favor?)

My dear BFF (Best Food Friend) Hoolie showing us how to eat a dog with lots of glamor!

Which is your favorite hot dog, Seattle?