Eastern State! Part Deux

Photos from our second adventure to Philly, even though I haven't properly posted photos — I know you like that triple letter score — from the March trip. I explored the massively awesome Eastern State Penitentiary Flea Market (wooden gavels, moveable type, and metal roller skates, oh my!), discussed possible re:collective shows, ate three dinners (a. Rosemary Lemonade with Wild Turkey Honey Bourbon at Hickory Lane, where have you been all my life? b. Mediocre sushi “japas” at Yakitori Boy and music reminiscent of Skinemax. c. Meh dinner at Fare, though I had fun watching a drunk prepster bro make eyes at his ho-bag heel-wearing date.), and entertained myself for two hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic in Delaware by blasting everything from Tears to Fears to Black Keys. Thanks, Philadephia! Youdabest! (not really.)

Always enjoy thumbing through old photos and postcards in flea markets. This gent is dapper and I likes it.

O HAI.

The flea market has jokes. 

Apple Frangipane at OCF Coffee House. My fingers keep trying to type OCD. 

Eastern State was considerably warmer and less creepy this time around. It was so cold last time that I wasn't sure if it was because it was winter in an abandoned prison with stone walls, or if restless criminal spirits were trying to suck up my life force.
You know, either one. 

“Glorified Spaghetti” makes me laugh so hard.
Reminds me of an episode of Family Matters where they discovered Eddie's friend Waldo was a culinary prodigy. 

and then Justin found an antique meat grinder on the grounds of one of the most haunted places in America and brings it into my car. Nah, son. Shut it down.

Side note, I listened to “Fools Gold” off Fitz & The Tantrum's new album while I wrote this post.
It took sixteen plays.

Goodnight, all.

Vedge. That sounds dirty.

Vedge Restaurant
1221 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

We went to Vedge less than half an hour after I arrived in Philly. Justin couldn't find a parking spot. Horrendous parking and traffic were themes of that weekend. The hostess complimented my striped dress and red tights. We ordered off The Dirt List - grilled Brussels sprouts and mustardy fingerling potatoes. I tried the Elder Sage cocktail. The sage leaf was wilted. I judged. The menu said both funky and fancy, and I liked the typewriter font. 

I refrained from ordering dishes that were mushroomcentric. Justin does not like cauliflower, eggplant, coconut, beets, and mushrooms - sure, you won't find those at all in a vegan restaurant. To be fair, he will try them, but nine times out of ten he will not like it. I take that back. He did like a mushroom focaccia pizza situation from Dean & Deluca in Soho, but come on, we had been walking all morning and anything sautéed with garlic in butter is bound to be delicious, picky vegetarian or no picky vegetarian. 

Dessert, a white chocolate panna cotta with a blood orange agrodolce, was the highlight of the meal, aside from those Brussels sprouts. I had such high hopes for the pomegranate jelly doughnut, but it was made of chickpea flour and had the texture of a cake doughnut. I do not like cake doughnuts. 

It's just occurred to me that I do not remember much of the entrée portion of the meal. 

I now want panna cotta at 1:55 in the morning. 

I'm going to bed now. 

sans panna cotta.

:(

sneak peek at Philly

Philly photos soon. Shoot, I have photos from as far back as Valentine's Day that I haven't posted, personally OR on the work blog. There is so much going on at the restaurants. March madness indeed.