Photos on the Go

So, a few months back I bought an iPhone. It may have been the best or worst decision of my life. I now have a pretty raging addiction to Angry Birds that will never quite be satiated, and am always looking to play more Words With Friends. I've also taken to using the phone's camera to take the occasional photo. Many of which are of my cat, it turns out. Below are the majority of successful photos I have taken with my little iPhone pal. Zul likes it when I make him into the bed.
I saw this walking down 22nd street some time in the spring. It seemed mysterious at the time, but I think someone told me it's a band?
I think this was a slurpee in Bucks County back when L. and Fat T. came up to play.
This is a bird I saw that same Bucks County weekend.
This I noticed on my way to maybe the dentist on or very near the day that many thought would be RAPTUROUS. I conjectured that the ladder was to help the chosen ones get to heaven even more quickly.
The ominous skies on my drive down to Maryland for the Preakness and Mom's memorial.
The view out the bedroom in which I stayed during that same Maryland weekend. Beautiful way to wake up.
The copious amounts of Heineken for the memorial; Heineken and my mother will forever be tied together, though she ended up changing her beer palate in the last few years if I recall correctly.
Yuengling, book and crab in the Outer Banks.
I think this is a Bucks County sunset.
These are my feet during a Bucks County rain storm.
Zul saying hello to me as I came home from work.
A beautiful early summer day in Philly.
New York City Costcos have ESCALATORS! For the carts as well as people!
I took this some time late last month. Pretty funny, I thought.
A fooled-around-with photo of the road I drove in the Adirondacks.
Zul roaring.
My window.
Some of the foodstuffs I purchased for the hurricane.
Sometimes my face looks like this, but not always.
Hurricane Irene's wind on the deck.
Hurricane Irene's early rain.
A different day altogether. We've been having some pretty beautiful skies.

Brutus, Louie, Sushi, Laundry and Me

Last Saturday I went over to C. and R.'s to keep Brutus company while they were away for the day. This gave me the opportunity to play with my iPhone's Instagram App, do laundry, catch up on episodes of the very-good television show Louie and decide that I was entitled to sushi for lunch. It was a very busy afternoon, believe you me. Brutus was wiped.
I ordered from Kansai and walked over to pick it up. I went with their two roll lunch special - Alaskan Rolls and now I can't remember what else. But I ordered the soup that came with the special, and then a real super fancy roll - the Tod Roll - that had seaweed salad and spicy tuna and shrimp tempura and a million other things I like.
Louie C.K. is a funny guy and an interesting writer/director/producer/editor. That man is busy all of the time. Terry Gross interviewed him as of late and he's an interesting person in that context too. If you haven't already converted, try watching Louie. Some episodes are available free on Hulu.
Brutus and I had a good time together. I left full and with a lot of clean laundry, and Brutus got a walk, a photo shoot and someone to appreciate his bone. That sounded dirty, but I'm not cutting it because it's accurate (dog loves his bone and likes to show it off between sleep sessions). So pretty much a winning experience for all involved.

Dinner c/o Johnny Brenda's

After we consumed just a little more beer at Frankford Hall (half liters compared to my earlier liter), we departed with the goal of eating dinner at Johnny Brenda's, conveniently located just around the corner. It was still early, so the place wasn't crowded and we got to sit at a big booth by the window. C. ordered the gazpacho while I ordered the halloumi. The presentation for the gazpacho was quite nice, but C. wasn't overwhelmed with its greatness. I also took a try of the gazpacho and would agree that it was pretty lacking. It didn't have that really fresh tomato taste that makes gazpacho so lovely, and its consistency was watery - not creamy or textured with bits of actual tomato.
The halloumi fared better, as far as my opinion of it. Though I need to just accept that I don't really care for figs.
I went with a cheeseburger for the main event of my meal. It was just that kind of day. And it was satisfying. Wouldn't really hold a candle to Village Whiskey, but not shabby either.
We were also very attracted to the fried okra option, so we ordered a side of fried okra. Perhaps in the end this was more food than we could rightfully consume, but still good.
C. ordered shrimp and grits? Or was it polenta? It looked pretty though I can't remember what C. ended up thinking about it.
Burger innards.

Happy Hour c/o Frankford Hall

Later on, after the museum and some attempts at tidying at home, I met up with C.P. and we walked up to Girard to take the trolley over to Frankford Hall so we could take advantage of the establishment's happy hour. This happy hour includes $10 liters, $5 half liters, $8 for a half liter and a sausage, and maybe one other deal that I can't recall at this moment in time. I went for the straight up liter. I didn't vary the beer from my last visit because, well, I like Kolsch so why mess with a good thing?
As we sipped our beers, admired babies from afar and generally enjoyed the good atmosphere and warm weather, we played rip-off Jenga.
In the end I was the one who made it collapse, but we both commented that the blocks weren't as smooth or as uniform in size as a proper Jenga set. I guess I get why the place wouldn't spring for the real thing when drunk idiots will knock the things over one way or the other, but as a relatively sober player I must say that there was a difference. It's like people who say that whole wheat pasta tastes the same as regular pasta, or that skim milk is just as good as whole in one's coffee: they are lying to themselves and trying to convince you that you are the crazy one. You are not the crazy one. Nor am I.
It really is a nice outdoor space. I'm curious to see what the vibe will be like as fall weather takes over the world. I'll also be interested to see how the indoor space feels once the outdoor area closes for the season - because it'll have to close at some point, you would think.

Museum Afternoon

September marks the beginning of a new season at my workplace, so I took last Friday off before I couldn't do such a thing anymore. I cleaned a bit in the morning, and then I walked to the museum. It was a really warm and lovely day. Kids in the fountains and all that. Not this fountain though.
Thanks to the membership my father gave me for Christmas, I was able to get my little tab quickly and go on my way. I took some photos of somethings I liked the look of or otherwise found compelling.
This is stained glass I think.
I love the motion in this one.
It looks better if you click on it and see it at a larger size.

The main hallway.
So much intricacy. I wonder if anyone has counted how many images of Christ on a cross the museum has. Or someone else on the cross. How many images of crucifixions by cross are there in the Philadelphia Museum? So many I bet.
I think this was a French room.

This is what lightning looks like up close.
I liked the light quality in this painting but no shot I took could properly capture it.
So I played around with it instead.

Cocktail, Gazpacho and Korean Fried Chicken c/o Meritage

On Thursday I was catching up with one of the many blogs I follow using Google Reader, when I read a post about how Meritage was once again serving its famed Korean Fried Chicken. I had read about the dish at some earlier point, but never quite got down to try the restaurant out...so I asked LW if she might like to go with me. After checking her appointment calendar, LW was in. We walked, which was nice. And once we arrived we sat outside. I took a look at their cocktail menu and decided that a Daddy O was in order.
I also ordered their yellow heirloom tomato gazpacho served with olive tapenade and a drizzle of pesto. This was pretty darn good, though I didn't really think the olive element added much to the whole thing. The menu didn't have Korean Fried Chicken on the menu and our server didn't mention it when she was telling us about a few changes on the menu. I asked the server about it and she said that she would check. It was at this point that LW noted that the article I had sent her about the KFC had been written in April. #googlereaderfail. Well, even though I was totally wrong to expect the dish to be available, our server came back and said that it could be done. Phew. Though then I felt like the dick who doesn't order from the menu. Oh well.
This was a really decent plate for $18, and I enjoyed trying this version of fried chicken. It was ooey goey, had a little spice, a little sweetness to it too. A wing, a drumstick and maybe a thigh were all part of the deal. I think in the larger picture I prefer 'dry' fried chicken, but I was glad to finally try this preparation style.
Also, the slaw that came with it was so great. Shredded cabbage and I don't know what else, but not any overly sweet or mayo to it. I want to make it and impress people with my mad skills.
After dinner we went across the street for a beer at Pub and Kitchen. I don't know what it is about that place that just hits me wrong. I should like everything about it. I mean, admittedly this was only my second visit but it didn't really change my thoughts all that much. Even though all we were doing was sitting at the bar and having a beer. Shrug.

Sushi c/o Sakura and the Neighbors

On Tuesday. This Tuesday is the Tuesday I'm talking about ... just two days ago. I went to my next door neighbor's to return the measuring tape I had borrowed a day or two before. I talked a little with he-J. and she-J. (different from the other Js) for a while and briefly held their baby, S. At some point they suggested I come on over for dinner. I had a little cleaning to do because S. - my roommate up til yesterday - was getting checked out the next day and I wanted to make sure that cat hair wasn't swirling around and that the kitchen was presentable. In any case, we agreed that I would return in a little bit once I accomplished those tasks. And that's just what I did. Dinner came c/o Sakura and included tuna, salmon, avocado and shrimp tempura rolls. And eel too I think.
It was a nice spread. While we snacked and chatted we drank cans of Coors Light and tasted the Rockies.
I also made friends with S. She and I have met a few times before, but I think this time she was a little more interested in what I had to offer, silliness and smiles mainly.

I ended up staying much later than I meant to, but in a good way. We've been friendly neighbors for a years now, but I don't think we have properly hung out since the 2010 Super Bowl. Thanks to all for the meal and the company!