Rittenhouse
2101 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 267-551-2511
https://orders.carlosbakery.com/carlos-philadelphia/menu
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| Gingerbread Man Cookie |
Monday, December 30, 2019
Carlo's Bake Shop / Bakery 2019-12-29
Carlo's Bake Shop / Bakery 2019-12-29
Rittenhouse
2101 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 267-551-2511
https://orders.carlosbakery.com/carlos-philadelphia/menu
Rittenhouse
2101 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 267-551-2511
https://orders.carlosbakery.com/carlos-philadelphia/menu
Mr. Wish Bubble Tea 2019-12-29
Mr. Wish Bubble Tea 2019-12-29
Rittenhouse
2100 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-999-2130
https://www.mrwishusa.com/
If you're in the mood for Chinese/Taiwanese beverages, check out Mr. Wish for their spread of offerings. They allow you to customize the sugar levels and ice levels. Do note that the boba (tapioca or pearls) have sugar in them. I went with low (30% sugar) this time.
Rittenhouse
2100 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-999-2130
https://www.mrwishusa.com/
If you're in the mood for Chinese/Taiwanese beverages, check out Mr. Wish for their spread of offerings. They allow you to customize the sugar levels and ice levels. Do note that the boba (tapioca or pearls) have sugar in them. I went with low (30% sugar) this time.
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| Pearl Milk Tea - Taiwanese Bubble Tea with Boba and Milk Tea |
Mix Pizza 2019-12-29
Mix Pizza 2019-12-29
Mix Bar and Grill
Rittenhouse
2101 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-268-3355
https://mixbarandgrillphilly.com/
Mix offers Bloody Marys for $4 as a special. Grabbed a plain large pizza and mozzarella sticks on this visit.
Mix Bar and Grill
Rittenhouse
2101 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-268-3355
https://mixbarandgrillphilly.com/
Mix offers Bloody Marys for $4 as a special. Grabbed a plain large pizza and mozzarella sticks on this visit.
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| Bloody Mary |
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| Mozzarella Sticks |
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| Plain Cheese Pizza |
Parc Lunch 2019-12-28
Parc Lunch 2019-12-28
Rittenhouse
227 S 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-545-2262
https://parc-restaurant.com/
Steven Starr's Parc in Rittenhouse is based on French bistros with food, wine in the heart of Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square. It pays tribute to French cafe culture with a large bar inside. The restaurant also offers sidewalk seating.
Rittenhouse
227 S 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-545-2262
https://parc-restaurant.com/
Steven Starr's Parc in Rittenhouse is based on French bistros with food, wine in the heart of Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square. It pays tribute to French cafe culture with a large bar inside. The restaurant also offers sidewalk seating.
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| Sidecar Cocktail |
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| Bread Basket |
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| Escargots - hazelnut butter |
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| Extra Bread for the Escargots |
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| Tuna Carpaccio - leek vinaigrette |
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| Steak Frites - seared hangar steak, maitre d'butter |
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| Trout Amandine - haricots verts, lemon brown butter |
Pennsylvania Ballet's Nutcracker at the Academy of Music 2019-12-28
Philadelphia City Hall 2019-12-28
Friday, December 27, 2019
Peak Design Travel Tripod Unboxing 2019-12-27
Peak Design Travel Tripod Unboxing 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/travel-tripod
I joined the Kickstarter for Peak Design's Travel Tripod in early 2019, forgot about it, and then received my travel tripod before the close of 2019. It's designed by Peak Design and manufactured in Hong Kong. Now that it's been made, shipped, and cleared customs and in my hands, my unboxing photos are below. Review and feedback pending after I find opportunities to try it out.
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/travel-tripod
I joined the Kickstarter for Peak Design's Travel Tripod in early 2019, forgot about it, and then received my travel tripod before the close of 2019. It's designed by Peak Design and manufactured in Hong Kong. Now that it's been made, shipped, and cleared customs and in my hands, my unboxing photos are below. Review and feedback pending after I find opportunities to try it out.
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| Package from Hong Kong |
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| Opening the Box |
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| Peak Travel Tripod Packaging |
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| Opening the Top of the Container |
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| The Travel Tripod comes in a nice travel case |
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| Opening the Travel Case |
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| Aluminum Peak Design Travel Tripod and Case |
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| Opening the Tripod with 2 segments extended |
Peak Design Slide Lite Strap 2019-12-27
Peak Design Slide Lite Strap 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/slide-lite
It took me a while to find a camera strap that I enjoyed using with my gear. I've tried a few other straps and have finally found one that suits my needs. Enter the Peak Design Slide Lite Strap. This strap has been updated and enhanced by Peak Design, I am currently using an older design of the strap but it suits my needs perfectly.
Peak utilizes its custom Anchor Link system that enables the user to quickly connect the strap to their camera. Once you get used to the system, you can detach and reattach the strap to different anchors and devices. As I have an older version of the strap, my anchor mount on the bottom of the camera is significantly larger. It does work with peak design's capture mount though.
Even though the slide lite is billed for mirrorless and light DSLR cameras, I prefer it over the slide as the thickness of the strap is much slimmer. Dual quick-adjusters allow easy reconfiguration of length. For anyone who fiddles with their strap length and shifts between using it as a neck strap, sling, or shoulder strap, peak design's straps are very versatile.
As I generally like to use it as a shoulder strap, the anchor mount on the bottom of my camera enables this functionality best. The strap comes with a hex screw for the times where I need to remove the anchor mount to use with a tripod. With the anchor link system, I can easily reconfigure the strap to be used as a neck strap.
Pricing is a bit high but after using peak design gear for a while, the convenience of being able to switch straps amongst gear and configure it to suit my needs on the fly, it's worth it.
Product: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/slide-lite
It took me a while to find a camera strap that I enjoyed using with my gear. I've tried a few other straps and have finally found one that suits my needs. Enter the Peak Design Slide Lite Strap. This strap has been updated and enhanced by Peak Design, I am currently using an older design of the strap but it suits my needs perfectly.
Peak utilizes its custom Anchor Link system that enables the user to quickly connect the strap to their camera. Once you get used to the system, you can detach and reattach the strap to different anchors and devices. As I have an older version of the strap, my anchor mount on the bottom of the camera is significantly larger. It does work with peak design's capture mount though.
Even though the slide lite is billed for mirrorless and light DSLR cameras, I prefer it over the slide as the thickness of the strap is much slimmer. Dual quick-adjusters allow easy reconfiguration of length. For anyone who fiddles with their strap length and shifts between using it as a neck strap, sling, or shoulder strap, peak design's straps are very versatile.
As I generally like to use it as a shoulder strap, the anchor mount on the bottom of my camera enables this functionality best. The strap comes with a hex screw for the times where I need to remove the anchor mount to use with a tripod. With the anchor link system, I can easily reconfigure the strap to be used as a neck strap.
Pricing is a bit high but after using peak design gear for a while, the convenience of being able to switch straps amongst gear and configure it to suit my needs on the fly, it's worth it.
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| Peak Design Slide Lite Strap |
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| Peak Design Slide Lite Strap |
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| Peak Design Slide Lite Strap |
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| Peak Design Slide Lite Strap |
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G 2019-12-27
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G 2019-12-27
Product: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-35mm-f%252f1.8g.html
I've been shooting with my phone and a compact camera of late and have made a conscious effort to shoot on my Nikon DSLR a bit more. Along those lines, I'm going to make a more concerted effort to use a prime lens and force myself to move around a bit more instead of just zooming.
I shoot on Nikon's DX (APS-C) line of cameras so I'll be looking to use the 35mm f1.8G lens for this "homework" assignment. It's a highly embraced DX lens in the community and is quite economical (sub 200 dollars). It is a G lens and is made of hard plastic. As I mostly shoot casually when out with friends the f/1.8 aperture is perfect for low light photography in evenings and allows me to avoid using as much flash.
The lens itself is quite small, very light, and has a lens hood, soft lens cover, and uses 52mm thread filters. For those newer to the DX line of Nikon cameras, this is the first prime lens to get for most shooters. You'll read online that 50mm is the preferred lens but that is for full-frame (FX) shooters. On Nikon's DX line with the crop factor, the 35mm lens is the DX lens that fits the bill best as it approximates the zoom of a 52mm FX lens on your DX camera. Lastly, 50mm on FX is revered because it most closely approximates the viewing angle of the human eye.
If you shoot Nikon DX DSLR cameras, this lens is one of the quintessential lenses for your kit.
If you shoot on Nikon FX DSLR there is a separate 35mm FX lens. DX lenses are wasted on FX cameras.
Product: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-35mm-f%252f1.8g.html
I've been shooting with my phone and a compact camera of late and have made a conscious effort to shoot on my Nikon DSLR a bit more. Along those lines, I'm going to make a more concerted effort to use a prime lens and force myself to move around a bit more instead of just zooming.
I shoot on Nikon's DX (APS-C) line of cameras so I'll be looking to use the 35mm f1.8G lens for this "homework" assignment. It's a highly embraced DX lens in the community and is quite economical (sub 200 dollars). It is a G lens and is made of hard plastic. As I mostly shoot casually when out with friends the f/1.8 aperture is perfect for low light photography in evenings and allows me to avoid using as much flash.
The lens itself is quite small, very light, and has a lens hood, soft lens cover, and uses 52mm thread filters. For those newer to the DX line of Nikon cameras, this is the first prime lens to get for most shooters. You'll read online that 50mm is the preferred lens but that is for full-frame (FX) shooters. On Nikon's DX line with the crop factor, the 35mm lens is the DX lens that fits the bill best as it approximates the zoom of a 52mm FX lens on your DX camera. Lastly, 50mm on FX is revered because it most closely approximates the viewing angle of the human eye.
If you shoot Nikon DX DSLR cameras, this lens is one of the quintessential lenses for your kit.
If you shoot on Nikon FX DSLR there is a separate 35mm FX lens. DX lenses are wasted on FX cameras.
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| Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G |
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| Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G |
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| Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G |
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| Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G |
Black Cat Tavern on 12th 2019-12-26
Black Cat Tavern on 12th 2019-12-26
South Philly
2654 S 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: 267-519-3574
http://www.blackcattavernphilly.com/
Black Cat Tavern offers a large selection of craft beers on tap, bottles, cans, mixed cocktail and a food menu featuring house-made pierogis, kielbasy, and other bar fares. Owners Marlise & Tom are art school Philadelphians who host community art galleries, exhibits, and events in their neighborhood watering hole.
The focus of my first visit was on the pierogis and kielbasy. Various pierogis were eaten alongside kielbasy and Kopyta (polish gnocchi). Definitely worth checking out for the pierogis, kielbasy, polish food, and beer in South Philadelphia.
South Philly
2654 S 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: 267-519-3574
http://www.blackcattavernphilly.com/
Black Cat Tavern offers a large selection of craft beers on tap, bottles, cans, mixed cocktail and a food menu featuring house-made pierogis, kielbasy, and other bar fares. Owners Marlise & Tom are art school Philadelphians who host community art galleries, exhibits, and events in their neighborhood watering hole.
The focus of my first visit was on the pierogis and kielbasy. Various pierogis were eaten alongside kielbasy and Kopyta (polish gnocchi). Definitely worth checking out for the pierogis, kielbasy, polish food, and beer in South Philadelphia.
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| Coffee Stout |
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| Polish Sampler - smoked keilbasy, two potato & cheese pierogis, two sauerkraut & mushroom pierogis, served with caramelized onions, house beer mustard, and sour cream |
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| Kopytka (Polish Gnocchi0 - caramelized onion cream gravy, scallions, and kielbasy |
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| Seasonal Pierogi: Sweet Potato Pierogis with Pork |
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| House-Made Potato & Cheese Pierogis: mashed potato & cheese with caramelized onions, scallions, and sour cream |
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| House-Made Sauerkraut & Mushroom Pierogis: slow-cooked sauerkraut, mushroom, caramelized onions, scallions, and sour cream |
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| Complimentary Brownies |
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