Philly Photo Day (October 26, 2012)

Philly Photo Day (October 26, 2012)
http://www.philaphotoarts.org/events/philly-photo-day/

From their website: "Philly Photo Day 2012 is this Friday, October 26th.  On that day, everyone in teh city is invited to take a photograph of whatever you like.  We'll print and hang every single picture for a unique exhibition capturing a day in the life of Philadelphia.  The exhibit opens on December 6th at PPAC."

Since the event fell on a Friday and as I was already going to be in Center City most likely with a camera I decided to snap a few photos in between my meeting, Happy Houring, and dinner.  I think I'm safe posting a few of my photos that include my friends as its just their profiles/backs and I think their couply hand holding makes a few of the photos I took. 

I need to decide which photo will be my entry so if you have feelings one way or another feel free to post a comment!  I'll probably decide in the next day or so as the deadline for submission of a photo is Oct. 30th.

If anyone has a photo of philly/in philly/related to philly that was taken on Oct. 26th, feel free to submit your photo at: http://www.philaphotoarts.org/phillyphotoday/desktop/index.php

The Corner (Philadelphia, PA)

The Corner (Philadelphia, PA)
102 South 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA.
215.735.7500
contactus@thephillycorner.com
http://thephillycorner.com/

As is slowly becoming a Thursday tradition, after a few post work beverages, dinner was in order.
My compatriots did not feel like Mexican and El Rey was quickly shot down, although it is somewhat of a staple.  As we wandered down 13th street and looked around, we tried to go to Barbuzzo but the wait time we were given was a tad bit absurd.  It was 8pm.  We could have a table at 10:30.  Thanks but no thanks.

As we pondered food genre options and restaurants to get a table at, we passed by The Corner.  This was one of those restaurants that I had always seen walking around but had never stopped in to have a meal at.  We were hungry and it was an American cusine restaurant, not Mexican.  Sold!

I started at the menu and realized there was a $35 dollar, 3 course dinner special.  Seeing how the NY Strip ran 26 dollars and the 3 course meal included a starter, main and dessert, my alcohol addled yet cost-effective brain started screaming that I should make sure that there were no limitations on the 3 course dinner special.  There were no limits everything is allowed for their special.

In the end I got the tuna tartare, NY strip steak, and a pumpkin creamcheese swirl dessert.  It was quite the deal.

Before leaving we saw that there were main dishes that varied based on the day of the week.  Those can also be included with the 3 course dinner special. I know because I inquired with our waitress who was a bit amused at our need for clarification.

Overall the food was decent.  I really enjoyed the muffin that started the meal.  The candle holder was made from the gears of a bicycle.  My KGB was a tad overpriced at $10 but I'm ok with a restaurant having overpriced drinks and underpriced/appropriately priced food.  The mac and cheese wasn't bad but we all agreed that a little salt was needed either with a saltier cheese or the addition of bacon.  Tuna tartare was well done.  The burger was very juicy and delicious.  The lasgna wasn't anything special but it was definitley not bad.  I enjoyed the egg on my steak and the shallots in a vinegarette reduction hit the spot.  I would have prefered my medium-rare steak to be a little rarer but that's just being nitpicky.  The pumpkin creamcheese dessert was quite delicious and was quickly eaten.

I have a feeling I shall return to The Corner, most likely to try their leg of lamb at some point.

iPhone 5

So this might shock those of you who know me well but I've received my iPhone 5 in the mail October 18th.  Considering I ordered in September, that took a while.  By then the new excitingness of it had worn off but also I was going away that upcoming weekend and didn't want to ruin my new toy.  I didn't have a case or that protective film to put on the screen.  In otherwords, I refrained from playing with my new toy even though some of you know me as iAngus as I tend to like Apple products.

Review and unboxing to come whenever I get a case and a film cover. At this rate it might be not happen for a while but here's the UPS Box that it came in still unopened.  It was taken with my iPhone4.

Thanks to my host.

This weekend was filled with a lot of food and adventure and celebrating with friends.

Persuant to my blog rule of not showing/revealing anyone's face, I do have to thank my host for putting up with me for a weekend, feeding me, and galavanting around with me while getting ready for and participating in the New York MS Bike Race. 

Before I left NYC to go back to Philly we had a final dinner with the left over ingredients from the weekend.  Cheers!

Lastly, I added a photo of the homemade bookshelves because a) its a good photo and b) they're pretty awesome.

 

Brooklyn Curry Experiment

Brooklyn Curry Experiment
at Public Assembly (70 North 6th Street, between Kent + Wythe)

http://thefoodexperiments.com/

Even though we didn't compete, I attended the Brooklyn Curry Experiment in support of the amateur chefs that had entered dishes. For $15 dollars you get to sample a lot of experimental dishes and a draft brooklyn brewery beer. Not too shabby.

Overall it was a good experience but what's a blog without some critiques/grumbling. Personally, I've been blessed wiht mostly an iron stomach. Some of my friends, after a long and late birthday weekend of drinking were less happy to be sampling various amateur attempts at curry dishes. Curry is also one of those ingredients which can be overused. For the most part all the dishes were good. Unfortuantely some of the subtlties in a dish might have been missed if you had previously just sampled something with a bit of kick. I don't really envy the judges as it was quite hard to reset your pallete each time.

Perhaps in the future, I can help out my friends in another food experiment competition.