SEEN IN PHILLY

 

It's always a pleasure returning back down to Philadelphia and Bucks County whenever I can. Being back in Harrisburg is nice, but I already have a time limit of a couple of years before I return back to the southeast. While I grew up here, and have family and friends alike here, Harrisburg is...nice... but seriously lacks enough to keep me occupied in the way of culture, not to mention the wonderful vibrant, and energetic feel of Philadelphia. Not to mention one is not surrounded by  conservative reds. I feel the area here is a seesaw of blue and red...just barely teetering blue by a thread. When I was down at my pied de terre and Philly alike, I could train and walk to everything for the most part. I miss that. This weekend didn't disappoint as the city was alive with spring all over. Furthermore, the boys..awwwwww the boys. I had met up with several friends from the city, the Lumbersexual came in from Doylestown, in all his ginger hotness ...and a great drag show of support and cheering on for Philly's own Sapphira Cristal were the highlights of this trip. Here are some snaps from the wonderful weekend. The flavored mojitos at Mixto and brunch were worth the trip alone.

The beautiful Fairmont Park

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Taking a picture of Lumbersexual taking a picture.

One of the six parks in the city

I appreciate the OCD and order in the case by color.

Rodin Museum

The clan!

I can never get enough of the City Hall and its architecture and grounds. No matter what side your on, inside or outside, it is just spectacular.

 My favorite building in all of Philadelphia.

SEEN IN PHILLY

Every year I love being around Philly in the early part of the season to get in the mood. Philly always has the old time city feel come Christmas.. Seems every where one looks, there is something  or some pretty view to see. Here are some snaps from through out the season....

My favorite of course City Hall!!!! In and around City Hall is one place to hit if your limited in time. City Hall becomes quite a thing to see, between it's Christmas Village of local artisans shops and eats, the Wintergreen Gardens, the ice skating rinks, and the highlight, the spectacular light show.

Shiny objects!!! Mouth blown ornaments at one of the booths.

Can you say yum?

Even the Grinch can be seen at City Hall!

But the light show is really something to see. I have no idea how they do it, but it is downright so cool and so precise how it outlines the architecture so perfect. My favorite part is the effect of the building icing over. This will be the coolest thing you see today.....

Other sites I enjoyed...

I always enjoy the Main Hall in the museum and the statue of Artemis. I snapped these when I saw the fashion show there.

The Rodin Museum

It disturbs me John Wanamaker's is no longer with us, but at least Macy's continues their tradition of the organ concert and the huge tree and light show every year. The tree is just so perfect and changes color. The Dicken Village can still be seen in the Egyptian Hall.

Love me a group of street musicians.

Various statues at a fountain at the art museum.

Rittenhouse Square

The beautiful and calmness of Boathouse Row.

But how about that light show at City Hall. magical right?

RODIN & COCK-A-TAILS

It was finally one of those weekends where the weather was semi warm, but sunny. The impending forecast of rain and possible snow showers never transpired. After a half work week, it was time for me to brush off some of these cob webs and return out of hibernation. It seems to be starting late this year. A MM#1 FAN  and I decided to go visit the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. I had been before but it's been several years. My first time was here. To the museum that is!!!!

A sculptor like Rodin made the original mold in his studio, and then creates or licenses a certain number of copies, or “casts”, that can be made with it. The Philadelphia museum opened in 1929, and many of the sculptures were cast around that date.But Auguste Rodin died in 1917. So most of the works we saw were actually made by others, using the molds Rodin created.

It’s strange, thinking that the actual art in front of you was not created by the man whose name is on it. It’s also strange knowing it’s not the only copy.“The Thinker”, for instance, comes in several sizes. The largest of these has 28 copies scattered around the world. And there are more of the smaller version.When you go to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, you are seeing the one and only copy of DaVinci’s masterpiece. It’s a singular experience, by nature. The coolest piece we saw of course was The Gates of Hell.

For nearly four decades prior to his death, Rodin worked on this highly detailed sculpture inspired by Dante's Inferno. Originally commissioned for a planned museum in Paris, The Gates inspired some of Rodin's most notable creations, including The Thinker. The massive bronze cast, located at the entrance to the Rodin Museum, is one of two commissioned by Philadelphia theater entrepreneur Jules Mastbaum.

This mold of Rodin’s hand was taken just a few days before he died by one of his students. The student added the miniature sculpture that Rodin’s hand is holding as a tribute.

If you get to Philadelphia it's still a worth while see, and very relaxing. Still, seeing so many of Rodin’s casts in one place is an amazing thing – it’s the second largest collection of his work, outside of Paris.

Afterwards, like a surprise,  your Mistress was parched and it was off to have some cock-a-tails and nibbles. Philadelphia is a great drinking city.  Take it from me!!!!Of course, any city is a great drinking city when I am there,  but I love it when a place makes it easy for me. We stopped in down on South Street at The Cambridge, a  cozy neighborhood tavern on South Street West with a full bar, a varied menu,  and a courtyard out back.

. The drinks I had there were all spot on, and like other pubs and lounges,  I love that our bar community and bar tends have enthusiasm for local spirits. I started with a gin and tonic , several, then switched to  a cocktail made with absinthe and appear juice, shaken with ice.

It was a great day to get out and enjoy the air and some art. I have always enjoyed being in museums. I could probably live in one. Provided I was well hung, of course.