Cheesesteaks and my PA Trip (image intensive)

[Winnow]

I'm told there's two rival cheesesteak places across the street from each other in Philly that are famous or something.

I know I'll be drinking a lot of Yuengling beer while I'm in PA.

Wait till you see the two of them... Both places could have a line almost 24/7 and they're so different. Geno's invests a lot of money into it's building and overall image... Check out all the photos and stuff on the tables. They are serious about 3 things: cheesesteaks, speaking english, and honoring fallen police officers.

I've had both Pat's and Geno's on the same day at least twice, and Geno's several more times. Geno's just tastes better, and is more consistent (meat/cheese/onions) throughout the sub.

All you need to say is "Whiz with"

I just got back from my trip to Pennsylvania.

I few observations: (and some Gino's picks)

1. Philly has the whitest white people in the world. I mean, I'm white but would tan if I went outside more. People from Philly are pure (almost alien) white no matter what they do. It's freaky.

2. Besides a small pocket near Gino's and Pat's steak joints I saw 99% African Americans on the road out of Philly heading toward Easton. That's not an exaggeration.

3. Much of Philadelphia is like a third world country. The tiny streets with cars parked everywhere reminded me of Sardinia Italy.

4. I drank a bunch of Yuengling beer while in PA as expected!

I took some pics that I reduced in size (original 3264x2448, reduced to 1000x750)

Gino's Steaks: (that guy is not pissing on the pole although it looks that way)



Here's my Gino's Cheesesteak. I ordered "Whiz with" My brother made the mistake of asking for "freedom fries" at the first counter but the lady just pointed down to the next counter where you also get the drinks. We sat at the table closest to where you order.



This is Gino. He's a nice guy from what I could tell. That yellow sign by the ordering windows says, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a Marine"



The other Cheese Steak place, Pat's, as seen from Gino's. Notice the beautiful South Philly area:



The other picture I wanted to squeeze in this first group (I took over 300 pictures) is Bachmann Tavern. I mentioned it elsewhere. It's the place that George Washington and Ben Franklin stayed at in Easton. Not too exciting to look at but it's historic for the little town of Easton!



Before fling back to AZ today, this morning I saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Ben's grave, Betsy Ross's crib, Philly Mint, bunch of old stuff. We drove by the "famous" stairs that Rocky runs up but they were under construction or were being prepared for July 4th celebrations so they weren't picture worthy at the time.

This picture doesn't really get across how fucking ridiculously skinny and packed full of parked cars that every street in Philidelphia looked like but it's an idea. In AZ we have nice straight one square mile street blocks. Back East, it's a jumbled mess.



You might never parallel park in your life in the Phoenix Metro area but it's a way of life in these ancient cities back East.

[Xatrei]

Sounds like a fun trip, but I think your ideas of how a city should be are completely warped by that abomination of a city you call home

[Midnyte_Ragebringer]

Cool Winnow. But, you should have told me and Fash so we could've come down and joined you for a lager and a sammich!

[Kluden]

Yeah, wrong weekend! I'll be in philly this weekend!

One thing Philly has to offer all is, if you eat out at their street corner restaurants, you are guaranteed to get a huge ass in no time. Works well for the folks into the badonkadonk.

[valryte]

I was just in Phili last week. I go up there like once a month for work. Jim's wasn't too bad. But personally, I think the cheese steaks that a local place here in Miami makes actually taste better

One thing Philly has to offer all is, if you eat out at their street corner restaurants, you are guaranteed to get a huge ass in no time.

I just had a breakfast sandwich last week for the first time from one of these carts. Man, I wasn't expecting what he gave me for 2.50. Thing was fkn huge. But it was great.

[Psyloche]

I haven't been to Philly in a long time, I was in High School going for a Track Meet at University of Penn. I think in that 3 day trip I ate about 4 or 5 Cheesesteaks, talk about a gurgling stomach on the starting line... but man I loved them. I didn't know about any of the "famous" places to go for a cheesesteak, in fact, I just went to random dudes on the street with their carts. I know my coach took us to one place which was supposed to be decent, but the name escapes me, it didn't really stick out. The ones that really tasted good to me were the ones off the street. 10 years later, no longer doing 6 miles worth of sprint workouts a day plus lifting, I don't think I'd even dream of eating that kind of shit again.

My recommendation, if you're in Philly, don't forget to try some of the street vendor cheesesteaks, the ones I had were quite good and not nearly expensive. All of them are awful for your health anyway.

[Chidoro]

Sounds like a fun trip, but I think your ideas of how a city should be are completely warped by that abomination of a city you call home

No kidding. Fucking Phoenix, please. And if you think Philly is bad, try Boston some time. Even if you know it fairly well, you can get tossed around for a loop with the one way streets heading to nowhere.

Nothing like a good ole' philly bashing (lots of profanity) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S4nSzE4N-o

[Truant]

I forgot how funny that was, hadn't seen it in a while.

That crowd was a bunch of dicks too, I remember listening to O&A when it happened.

These two are the full thing though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmLfz_cq ... re=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8iyrCAu ... re=related

Chidoro's clip cuts out the beginning, info on the left explains what happened too, for those that didn't or don't know.

[Winnow]

Nothing like a good ole' philly bashing (lots of profanity) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S4nSzE4N-o

That's some funny stuff!

There's not much interesting to take pictures of in Philly. Here's an example of the whiteness I was talking about:



I couldn't frame the pic up. It's not like I could ask someone to let me take a picture because of their mutant skin.



The Liberty Bell and people looking at the Liberty Bell. Independence Hall is in the background.





It's me! Don't get many pictures of yourself when you're the picture taker!



I was sad to see Ben Franklin's grave in disrepair and basically just stuck in a corner. There's even a weed growing out of it. Franklin is #1 on my list of great Americans and this is how he's treated.



Some lame plaque stuck between a fence is all Ben gets. Fucking Philly!



This is typical Pennsylvania landscape. Keep in mind, you can't normally see this landscape, even on a hill, as there are trees everywhere. I took this picture from the top of Bowman's Hill Tower which overlooks where George Washington crossed the Delaware river to go kick some British ass.



Yep, that's the Delaware and near the bridge you see is where George crossed. Well, I lowered the resolution so you can't really see the bridge. It's to the right of the strip mining at the very last part of the river that's in view.



Bethlehem, home of the now closed Bethlehem Steel plant.



Lots of closed down old mills etc throughout the state. Get your tetanus shots kiddies!



This is where my grandmother worked for most of her early life. The Silk Mill in Easton. She made it to 7th grade before she had to (forced) go work in the silk mill. yay! looks like fun. It's been closed for ~50 years. No child labor laws in the 1920's and 1930's!

That's about it. I did take some nice pictures on the Appalachian Trail, some artsy fartsy stuff, and some comic pics but I'll put those in other forums.

I did exciting things like buy a retired Wolverine Pez dispenser at the Easton Pez Museum. Checked out the Crayola Crown store as well. I took a picture of the big Dixie Cup but it's not a Dixie cup anymore so that's not worthy of viewing. The family reunion stuff was great and made the trip worth it.

I did see Craig Ferguson at the Easton Theater. (he's a comedian). Show was OK but I was impressed with how cool the old style theater looked.

Book your tickets early if you want to vacation in Pennsylvania!

[Aardor]

You missed Sueven and I at Geno's by a week =( (or at least that was the time we went that was closest to your trip).

There's not much interesting to take pictures of in Philly.

I am not sure that I have disagreed with you about something more than I disagree with you about that statement.

First of all, lets start with Art. Philadelphia has more public art than any other American City (source: Aitken, Joanne (September 2 - 8 2004). Forget Paris. City paper.) In addition to this, Philadelphia has more murals than any other U.S. city. More than 2700 murals. None of this costs a dime to see. I guess you deem none of them picture worthy.

Next, we have the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The front steps of this building may look familiar to some, due to the movie "Rocky." The current rotating exhibit is Frida Kahlo's work. The museum also features permanent exhibits of sculpture, costume, textiles, prints, photographs, design, and paintings. Admission on Sundays is pay what you want.

After that, you have the Academy of Natural Sciences, featuring a 2-story dinosaur exhibit and a butterfly walk through area. There is the Franklin Institute, featuring the Titantic Art Museum, a giant sized human heart, and currently Egyptians Treasures found in King Tut's tomb, which have no traveled out of Egypt for decades. There is also the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, which has a large collection of Egyptian and Greco-Roman artifacts.

There is the Walnut Street Theatre, Americas oldest threatre, which happens to be celebrating it's 200th anniversary this year.


Lets move on to historic sites. You were at the Independence National Historic Park, but you apparently were too dimwitted and only managed to see the Liberty Bell. You missed Independence Hall, Constitution Hall (there were a few important documents signed here). It features more than 20 historic buildings open to the public.

There is the Eastern State Penitentiary, which you have probably seen during the movie 12 Monkeys. It is one of America's most famouse prisons. You also have the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site, the former home of one of Americans most famous authors. There is also Fairmount Water Works, featuring local watersheds.


Ok, not into museums or historical sites? How about some nice scenery in parks. There is Fairmount Park, the largest urban park int he Unisted States. Clark Park, an outdoor music and arts festival area. LOVE park, know for it's Robert Indiana "LOVE" sculpture. The park also features free wireless internet, so that would probably make you happy. There is Rittenhouse Square, one of William Penn's "five squares" of public open space in the city. It is surrounded by classy Rittenhoues hotels and residences. Then there is Washington Square, Franklin Square, Logan Circle, and City Hall, the other four "squares" created by William Penn. They are symmetrically located at the corners of an imaginary square surrounding the very center of Center city Philadelphia, which is occupied by City Hall. City Hall square is a large compass in the ground, with four archways leading into it.

Oh, don't forget the William Penn statue, the Philadelphia Zoo, the many cultural marketplaces, the vast architecture, and South Street itself.



There is a great deal more to see in Philadelphia that is photogenic, but I am sick of copying wikipedia. So, in conclusion, do not ever come back to my state, you fucking useless piece of trash. Also, there is a ton of cool shit in Philadelphia which I was unaware of, and my desire to move there from Allentown has grown a great deal while typing this post to flame you.

edit: italicized the source per Sueven's request.

Oh, and welcome back Winnow, I missed flaming you for being a buffoon.

[Aslanna]

PA, and their shitty tollway, suck! But I got my $13.50 back so I win.

[Winnow]

Lets move on to historic sites. You were at the Independence National Historic Park, but you apparently were too dimwitted and only managed to see the Liberty Bell. You missed Independence Hall, Constitution Hall (there were a few important documents signed here). It features more than 20 historic buildings open to the public.

Re-examine my pictures. See that building behind the Liberty Bell? That's Independence Hall you dope. And yes, I went around to the other side and experienced, "Independence Historic National Park". If you meant that I should have gone inside, how many times do I need to do that? I did it as a kid only back then the Liberty Bell was also in the old buildings and not stuck in some Avant-garde building, looking completely out of place.

As for the other historic sites in the area, I logged at least 4-5 miles on my feet walking around this area yesterday morning. I saw them.

If you're into old run down buildings, car jams, parked cars, cars everywhere, smokers hanging out on the skinny sidewalks, and a layer of filth on everything visible, Philly is the town for you.

The one American legend worth building a monument for has a cheap grave plot in the corner of some little lot. (that would be Benjamin Franklin)

Unless the Philadelphia Zoo tops the San Diego Zoo, I probably didn't miss much. I'll give you the indoor art museums. I can't comment as I haven't seen them to compare them to the Louvre in Paris or the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze (I don't even know what that means but I've been there!) in Florence Italy where the Statue of David is located. Philly is like a very low budget version of Prague. It has the same dirty look but has nowhere near the art (both outdoor and indoor) to offer.

Phoenix has straight streets with parking. That's enough right there to beat out Philadelphia.

In closing, you can have that stinking city. The only reason I'd consider returning is if you people give Ben his due and spend half your city's budget on a memorial for him. That's probably only enough to buy a bottle of WeedWhacker to kill the growth coming out of his grave.

With due respect to VV Pennsylvania residents on this board, and to my own, deep history in the state on both sides of my family, I've seen most of the major cities in 48 states in the U.S and have seen the major cities in Europe and Australia, New Zealand, etc, and Philadelphia sits at the bottom of them all. This isn't even my usual East Coast bashing, Philly sucks!

[laneela]

I was just in Phili last week. I go up there like once a month for work. Jim's wasn't too bad. But personally, I think the cheese steaks that a local place here in Miami makes actually taste better

One thing Philly has to offer all is, if you eat out at their street corner restaurants, you are guaranteed to get a huge ass in no time.

I just had a breakfast sandwich last week for the first time from one of these carts. Man, I wasn't expecting what he gave me for 2.50. Thing was fkn huge. But it was great.

Which place? I'm curious to see which sub shop is your favorite.

[Kluden]

I'm not sure where I'll be trying out this weekend, but I'm thinking we'll hit Dalessandro's up. Problem is, I've heard they sold the place a few months ago and now the food sucks. I guess I'll find out. I prefer the places you can sit down and have a beer with the cheesesteak! Chubby's is right across the street, so we may go there if we don't like the look of the food coming out of Dale's kitchen. I'd take pictures and post them...but let's be honest...these places aren't the nicest looking! and these ones are in NW Philly, so they definitely are devoid of neon lights and all that jazz.

[valryte]

Which place? I'm curious to see which sub shop is your favorite.

My favorite place to get a cheese steak sandwich is Substantials. There's several scattered around S.Fla, though several have broken away from the franchise/partnership and changed their names a bit, but the food is usually the same. I get mine with grilled peppers and onions, salt/pepper and double provolone cheese. The ones I've been to are on Bird Rd and like 99 ave, Sunset and 100 ave, there's also one in Weston, which was the last one I went to consistently when I was working up there. Now I go the one on Sunset, which incidentally is in the same mall with my favorite wing place, Sports Grill http://www.sportsgrillsunset.com/. If you ever go, order the Special Grilled wings, they are the best.

[laneela]

Which place? I'm curious to see which sub shop is your favorite.

My favorite place to get a cheese steak sandwich is Substantials. There's several scattered around S.Fla, though several have broken away from the franchise/partnership and changed their names a bit, but the food is usually the same. I get mine with grilled peppers and onions, salt/pepper and double provolone cheese. The ones I've been to are on Bird Rd and like 99 st, Sunset and 100 st, there's also one in Weston, which was the last one I went to consistently when I was working up there. Now I go the one on Sunset, which incidentally is in the same mall with my favorite wing place, Sports Grill http://www.sportsgrillsunset.com/. If you ever go, order the Special Grilled wings, they are the best.

Substantials is good, as is Sgt. Pepper's or Miami's Best. Hungry Bear is by far the best sub shop in Miami however. If you haven't been, I strongly suggest you try it. It's behind the Shell across from MDCC Kendall on Killian. Never tried Sports Grill. Might have to try it. When you say 99 st, you mean "ave", right? =P

[valryte]

ave lol..fixed

As for Hungry Bear, I'm not sure if that is still around. Been a long time since I've been there. I have to drive by the area tonight so I'll check if its still there. Just so you know there are 2 Sports Grill. The one on Sunset and the one in the Hammocks. Go to the one on Sunset. For some reason the one in the Hammocks just doesn't taste the same, which sucks because I live closer to it.

[Sueven]

Just another sign that Winnow and I share the same taste in absolutely nothing. Pity.

[Winnow]

Just another sign that Winnow and I share the same taste in absolutely nothing. Pity.

There are probably some things but tastes in cities isn't one of them for sure. If you ever get over to Europe, check out Lugano, Switzerland. As non desert cities go, it ranks up there as a favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tekqxraPHks

Lived there for a year. Found the video on you tube. give it some time and you'll see the streets, etc. It's also and old city, but you don't see cars jammed everywhere. The video isn't great but there are a bunch of areas with zero cars. All old roads are walkways for people only. The poor people are kept locked up in caves.

I didn't know what they were saying but the women were hot there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCRpCoKxfsE

Peeps spoke German/Italian mostly.

[Sueven]

Just to respond to the white people point:

Phoenix is 71% white, 5% black.

Philly is 45% white, 43% black.

Even when you limit the white column to non-hispanic whites, Phoenix is whiter.

Editors note: Holy fuck, there's a major American city that's FIVE PERCENT black? That's like North Dakota.

[Xyun]

Just to respond to the white people point:

Phoenix is 71% white, 5% black.

Philly is 45% white, 43% black.

Even when you limit the white column to non-hispanic whites, Phoenix is whiter.

Editors note: Holy fuck, there's a major American city that's FIVE PERCENT black? That's like North Dakota.

I'm pretty sure he meant white as in skin tone (No tan), rather than population. In Florida, the skin tone of the white people is usually darker than those further north and I would assume the same is true of Phoenix. But that is just how I read it, could be wrong.

[Sueven]

No, I think you're right.

But holy shit, 5%?

[Winnow]

I was referring to skin tone, not race. But yes, the Phoenix metro area is a pretty "white" area. Some of the NBA players actually complained about it. I think Joe Johnson mentioned it before leaving.

I walked around the whole morning in Philly and thought I was going to fry but barely got any sun. There must be something in the air that prevents tans in Pennsylvania even when it's sunny.

Arizona has by far the nation's greatest expanse of Indian lands: the state's 22 reservations have a combined area of 19.1 million acres (7.7 million hectares)—26% of the total state area. In 2000, Arizona had the nation's 3rd-highest Indian population, 255,879, or 5% of the state total population.

Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asians made up 1.8% of the population.

Asians have it worse!

[Noysyrump]

Unless the Philadelphia Zoo tops the San Diego Zoo, I probably didn't miss much. I'll give you the indoor art museums. I can't comment as I haven't seen them to compare them to the Louvre in Paris or the Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze (I don't even know what that means but I've been there!) in Florence Italy where the Statue of David is located. Philly is like a very low budget version of Prague. It has the same dirty look but has nowhere near the art (both outdoor and indoor) to offer.

Nothin beats SD baby. I almost feel bad for growing up here, I dont know how good I got it!~




Ubiquitous Spanish architecture. If it aint the old style, it's the new vouge' "modern" spanish style... that does however bug. There were no spaniards here when we conquered it!~





Wtf is that shit in the sky? Cludes.. cloads... clups.... fuk who knows... sun always shine here baby!~





In some Spielburg movie... a dinasour ate people here... The green topped towers have outdoor glass elevetors. So hot for scarin chix.

[Winnow]

Nothin beats SD baby. I almost feel bad for growing up here, I dont know how good I got it!~

SD is the best of the large California cities, followed up by SF. I mock California due to the overpopulaion but compared to the rats nest of Philly, It's not nearly as congested.

I really can't stand the East (of Rockies). It's not an old vs new thing as some of the old ëÜrØ cities appeal to me. It's not the people either. I don't dislike people from back east, just their sports teams. It's the bugs, the tolls, the curvy-no-sign-streets, the weather, the lack of convenience stores, and no fucking beer sales in supermarkets in PA...which leads to some of the backward-assed laws in some of the eastern states...and the fucking humidity! Water wasn't dripping off my glass back east, it was like a steady stream.

You spend way too much time fighting the weather and bugs. Every day is a good day to go out in the west! (except Seattle but that's still a cool city...and the weather is sometimes harsh in Colorado but at least it's scenic)

To each their own. The great thing about the Unites States is the complete package when it comes to environments to live in. Anywhere from tropical to bone chilling Canadianesque weather is available.

Happy 4th of July!