Trip to Philadelphia, Pt. 1

My annual trip home to Philadelphia began with (drum roll please)...dinner. Instead of fighting rush hour traffic, we took a detour to Society Hill and ate at Bistro Romano, a little gem of an Italian Restaurant that I discovered a few years back.

This painting of a sea nymph by William de Leftwich Dodge of New York hangs over the restaurant's staircase; it is a favorite of mine and I admire it each time I visit. It once graced the luxury liner City of Detroit III – a side wheel passenger steamer that was built in 1912 and operated by the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company. The ship was dismantled in 1957, but fortunately the painting survived.



The dining area down below is extremely warm and cozy.



Mom, her hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal.



I'd show you a picture of the White Truffle Gnocchi I had (which melted in my mouth), but the photo just didn't do it justice. My photo of the Sicilian Cannoli fared a bit better. Boy was it delicious!



One of the things I miss the most about living on the west coast is fall. The colors of the leaves as they turn is just magnificent. I was too late to catch my favorite season this visit, but as I was doing my morning run, this tree with its radiant red foliage screamed out to me. I returned that afternoon with my camera.



It truly looked as if there was a spotlight on it.



I was also able to enjoy the beauty of sunset as it lit the barren trees from behind.





Later in the evening, the moon was gorgeous as it illuminated the surrounding clouds.



Another tasty dinner was experienced at Yangming in Bryn Mawr. I had heard my mom talk about this upscale Chinese restaurant for years and finally got to experience it for myself.



The dining room was well spaced and tastefully decorated.



The General Tso's Spicy Chicken was fresh, flavorful, and had just the right amount of spice to it.



The green tea ice cream was a refreshing way to end the evening.



By this point, I really needed to go for a run! Time to get the elastic pants out. Tune in tomorrow for a trip to Brandywine.
See more Daveland Philadelphia photos on my Philadelphia web pages.

Rock 'n Savannah, Pt. 7

Today marks the end of my Savannah posts (until my next visit there, of course). What better way to start off a morning than a beautiful plate of fluffy lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes? Breakfasts at the Hamilton-Turner Inn are always delicious and sure taste great after a morning run through the historic district.

The next few photos are from the City Market/Ellis Square area.



This vintage postcard shows you The Old Market House, which once stood on Ellis Square. Replaced by a parking lot, it is now gone to the ages.



Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed a few years ago and replaced the hideous parking garage with an underground structure, restoring it to the lovely park-like area that you see here.



This statue of lyricist/songwriter Johnny Mercer (also the cofounder of Capitol Records) is a nice salute to Savannah's native son.



Back on Bay Street, for the last dinner of this visit, Vic's on the River was the restaurant of choice.



Typically, Vic's rates at least one meal per visit, thanks to its understatedly elegant interior, delicious food, and attentive service..



Traditional Fried Green Tomatoes are given zest with a tangy tomato chutney.



The Swordfish melted in my mouth.



The view from Vic's balcony is pretty spectacular, too. The river sure looks purty at night.



The next morning, I awoke at the crack of dawn (5am) so that I could get some shots of River Street as the sun was coming up and before it got too crowded with tourists and delivery trucks.



What I didn't count on was the sudden drop in temperatures.



Of course I got my photos, but narrowly avoided freezing my fingers off! The things photographers do to capture what they see; it's a perilous job! Here, the Westin is beautifully lit by the rising sun in the distance.



River Street is typically an area that I avoid because it seems too touristy and commercial. In the early morning light though, I have a deep appreciation for it.



Next, it was time to pack up my bags and catch a plane to Philadelphia. I was able to snap an aerial view of the windy city, Chicago:



a detailed view of the Pier:



Today I bid adieu to Savannah, but if you'll return tomorrow, I promise to take you with me to Philly!

See more Daveland Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.

Disneyland aerial, 1969

Examining an aerial shot can provide tons of fun. Being able to zoom in close to certain areas and seeing how they've changed over the years is right up my alley. This March 15, 1969 view of Disneyland and Anaheim is ideal for this kind of activity! Where shall we start?

Let's go for dessert first by zooming right into the park area. No DCA, no Space Mountain, no Big Thunder Mountain, and no Splash Mountain. Good Lord—what DID they have back then? Well, there's Cascade Peak, Nature's Wonderland, The Indian Village, and the beloved Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant in Fantasyland.



Zooming in to the New Orleans Square area, the Haunted Mansion is just months away from first opening. Amazing how big the show building is; you just don't see that when you're inside the berm.



Here you can see the Disneyland Hotel Tower and original buildings surrounding it; no Paradise Pier and no Grand Californian. At the base of the photo, Katella Avenue is visible with a 2-year old Anaheim Convention Center at right, and the property that is now the Anabella Hotel is at left.



Last zoom for today shows Harbor Boulevard, with the Howard Johnson Anaheim property top right. This place is just screaming to be developed!



See any "lost" buildings from your past in this shot?

See more vintage Disneyland aerial photos on my aerial web page.

Rock 'n Savannah, Pt. 6

Once checked out of The Mansion on Forsyth Park, it was time to transfer over to my favorite hotel in Savannah, The Hamilton Turner Inn on Lafayette Square. This square happens to be one of my favorites in Savannah, as it is (for the most part) so quiet and peaceful. Unencumbered by retail, it is mainly residential.

The fountain at the heart of it is a beauty, too, as you can see in these sunset shots.





St. John's Cathedral impressively towers over the square with its French Gothic architecture:



Finally, the destination: The Hamilton Turner Inn, which tour guides often mistakenly claim was the inspiration for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.



Despite a change of ownership since my last visit, the Inn is still the warm and friendly place that I remember.



This time I stayed in Room 101, named after Casimir Pulaski, a general in the Continental Army who saved the life of George Washington.



The room is cozy and has a private outside entrance, which makes it very convenient.



Can you believe it's already time for another meal? That's right...time for dinner. Deciding to try something new, we ventured over to the Bohemian Hotel on the river.



First up, drinks on the rooftop bar.



A great view...



and devilishly delicious drinks.



Dinner was downstairs at street level.



The "rocks" in the name of the restaurant could be seen abundantly in the decor.





Since The Bohemian is a Kessler property like The Mansion on Forsyth, a somewhat funky collection of art was on display. The waitress asked me what I saw, and I told her an owl. How about you?



The next day, on the way to lunch, we got to see the Veteran's Day parade as it went through Lafayette Square.



It really was heartwarming to see this display of patriotism.



Every trip, Mrs. Wilkes' Restaurant is on the bucket list. The family-style buffet of home-cooked southern dishes is worth the hour wait.



Topped off with a cherry cobbler, this meal really negates any need for dinner.



That is, unless you're on vacation and completed a 13.1 mile race. Thus, dinner a few hours later at Garibaldi's.



This Italian restaurant is another dining staple of Savannah; delicious food and impeccable service in an elegant atmosphere.



I gave up all attempts to eat healthy and ordered the Chicken Parmesan. No disappointments on my choice.



Even though I enjoyed Garibaldi's, I saved my dessert for Leopold's. Doug enjoyed his sundae as much as I enjoyed my usual scoops of Tutti Frutti and Peppermint Stick.



Are you full yet?

See more Daveland Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.