Philadelphia's Old Cemeteries

Notice the 13-star flag, indicating this is the grave of a Revolutionary War veteran. Not something I see much of in LA!

I love old cemeteries and spent a little bit of time exploring the ones in Philly. Just seeing all of these people who came before and thinking about what their lives were like and how they affected the world around them can be engrossing. These pictures are from 3 different cemeteries. The first two (pictured above) are in Society Hill - Old Pine St. Presbyterian cemetery and St. Peter's Episcopal Church cemetery. The 3rd one (pictured below) is out past the boathouses on Kelly Dr. overlooking the river - Laurel Hill Cemetery.

An ancestor of mine, maybe?

How funny is this sign? Good to see Laurel Hill Cemetery doesn't take itself too seriously!

Rubix Cube Salad

What a fabulous salad presentation! This makes me want to get some square molds and host a dinner party. Luxirare did a great post with this and a bunch more creative salads.

Dinner at Supper (the Restaurant)

Supper was only a few blocks from my apartment this summer, but it took me about 5 weeks to get around to eating there. In retrospect I should have been going just for the cheese puffs and a glass of wine long before that. My parents and I got (in order): cheddar and sage cheese puffs; a salad special with cauliflower, potato, and swiss chard; grilled flatbread with cauliflower, creme fresh, and fennel; peas and onion side; pork tamale entree; sea bass with saffron dumplings; and bread pudding. The pork tamales, pea side, and cheese puffs were the strong points. All fantastic! The sea bass was also a well-done dish. But the flatbread was the weak link. There wasn't really any flatbread, just loads and loads of fennel. Overall, I would go back and try more, especially because the atmosphere is chic (hardwood, lovely wine display) but interesting (see the metal light fixture below).

Florence and the Machine at the Festival Pier

One of the best moments in Philly this summer was seeing Florence and the Machine at the Festival Pier. The location is not in the best neighborhood (down the street from Philly's new casino), but the actual venue was surprisingly not terrible. It was small with decent acoustics for an outdoor venue, and it was right on the water with a great view of the bridge. I went with my friend Katie, and we ended up getting a great spot - the second row! We miss-read our tickets and thought the opening band came on at 7, but that was actually when the doors opened. So we were really early, but the upside of that was getting to be less than 20 feet from Florence. And Florence Welch is one artist who is totally worth seeing live and getting their early for. Her performance of her songs was very different than the recorded versions and, without a doubt, better. The CD doesn't do her voice justice. It has a range and intensity I didn't understand until that night. Plus her hippie-style dancing is just fun to watch. It was definitely one of the best concerts I've been to.

Tria: My Favorite Restaurant in Philly

I knew I had limited time in Philly this summer and lots of delicious restaurants to try out, so I tried to repeat as little as possible, especially in the beginning of the summer. There was one exception to my general rule, though - Tria in Washington Square West. I believe Rittenhouse was their first location, but I like Wash West better. It just seems to have a more relaxed vibe (i.e. less people).

I know there are many Philly restaurants with more inventive, more exotic, and arguably better food. But Tria is just my kind of place. Extensive but reasonably priced wine (and beer) selection. Hard wood interior. Small but filling plates. Great ingredients (duck, figs, lavender honey) for the price. Very knowledgeable staff. And overall excellent preparation every time.

American Art at the Philadelphia Art Museum

I love museums, but I have a limited tolerance for them. After an hour or two, my attention really fades, which means there are some museums that I have been to many times without even coming close to seeing everything there. I am most guilty of this when it comes to the Philadelphia Art Museum, so I took the opportunity on the first Sunday of June (you can pay what you want every 1st Sunday) to see a wing that I had never entered before - American Art. A special exhibit of paintings by Alfred Jacob Miller called Romancing the West was on display. I liked the romantic portrayal and his use of multiple mediums. (It's still on display until Sept. 18th if you're interested!) Some of my favorites from the permanent collection were the pottery, the silver work, the bird tree made by the Pennsylvania Dutch, the presidential plates (owned by Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison), and this one picture frame around a painting of an opera singer with the notes of her most well known song carved into it.

Parents in Los Angeles

Excuse the silence for a few days. My parents just arrived in LA, and I'm trying to show them a good time! I'll be back after the weekend.

PS: How awesome is this stylized print of LA?! It's by Albie Designs.