Food and Drinks, Fun, and Special Events – Just Get in the Car

Medieval Times

Just Get in the Car — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:39:46 +0000

We love to hear from our readers and friends about their fun family excursions. Prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, our friends Paul and Gerrie were telling us about their experiences at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, NJ. They agreed to do a quick write up for us to inspire all of you to try something a little different with your family. And hey, the plague is already upon us, so it’s fitting.

Here is what they had to say about their adventure.

Let’s admit it, with the level of chaos in the world today we all could use a knight in shining armor. And that’s just part of the fun that awaits you at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, NJ. Knights, kings, queens, horses, falcons, cheering, jeering, magnificent costumes, and intense competition set the stage while you are served dinner that you eat with your hands! When you first check into the castle you receive a crown that corresponds to the knight that you will be cheering for in the dual. It’s fun to walk around the castle and nod to your “people” while carrying your stein of beer or chalice of cocktail. To pass the time you can check out the gift shop, have a professional photo taken, or snap some selfies- but we recommend adding on the Museum of Torture. Here you will learn about medieval torture devices and the (in some cases slight) crimes that resulted in severe punishments. This is not suitable for young and/or sensitive audiences.

When show time nears, you are summoned to enter the stadium and immediately notice the competition arena – and the smiles and awe on your children’s faces. The setting really does a great job to get you in the spirit of the times and excited for the show. While the costumed wait staff bring your meal (and more libations if you so chose) the show begins in spectacular grandeur. We all agreed that the jousting events were our favorite.

The knights high on horseback charge one another carrying huge jousts trying to knock one another off of their steeds. Crowds cheer! Our knight was not the victor, but it didn’t matter. The show was magnificent, and the meal was far better than we had imagined.

The menu is set, and everyone receives the same thing: tomato soup, roasted half chicken, corn on the cob, potatoes, and bread. Not having choices really simplified the process for us. They do have a vegetarian option if desired, but even our pickiest eater loved the novelty of eating chicken with his hands and dug right in.

While Medieval Times is a bit of a drive [from the Philadelphia/South Jersey area], there are many other things to do outside of the ‘castle’. The facility is located just minutes from the Meadowlands Sports Complex and the new American Dream complex, so it’s easy to make a day or weekend trip out of it.

Huzzah!

“Epic Battles of Steel and Steed” –www.medievaltimes.com/

-Our guest writers, Gerrie and Paul

Show Your Spirit for Local Distilleries this Memorial Day

Just Get in the Car — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:20:52 +0000

So what are your Memorial Day plans like this year? No need to answer, I already know: sitting in the back yard with your immediate family, grilling some burgers, having a few drinks, and complaining about the goddamned coronavirus. Just like us.

You are probably trying to figure out how to make it a little better. Maybe you have stopped by the local beer distributor or supermarket and gotten a case of your favorite beer. But you may be tired of beer and looking to make something a little more adventurous. So why not try something with a bit of the hard stuff in it?

Believe it or not, there are a bunch of distilleries in the Philadelphia area. Like other local businesses, they can use your help right now. Have you tried looking on the PLCB website for anything? You will probably just find their top sellers, which won’t include any PA distilleries. Well, good news. We have put together a list of some local distilleries that make some awesome stuff. Curbside pickup is available from the PLCB – why not give your local store a call and plan a Memorial Day with some delicious mixed drinks made from local distilleries? Or better yet, stop by or order direct from the distillery. Help them out, try something new, and make everyone’s Memorial Day weekend better!

POP’S MCCANN WHISKEY

Pop’s McCann is one of my new favorite whiskeys. It’s a triple distilled Irish whiskey, finished in American oak barrels, before it is bottled in Michigan. It’s got a smooth taste, and goes great in lemon flavored drinks. But I prefer it straight, over some cold whiskey stones. It may not be made in the Philly area, but it is created, owned and promoted by a Philly guy.

Pop’s can be found at most liquor stores in the Philadelphia area. If your local store doesn’t carry it, reach out to them on Facebook, and they will make sure you get directed to one that does. You can also find a bunch of cocktail recipes there.

For Memorial Day, there may not be a better whiskey to drink. Pop’s McCann is built on a love of heritage and family history, making it the perfect drink to raise up a toast to honor your ancestors, forefathers, and all those veterans who gave us the ultimate sacrifice. If you want to raise a toast in a more formal way, check them out on Facebook: the owner will stop by your place and raise a toast to you and whoever you want to remember.

DAD’S HAT

Over the past few years, I have been getting more and more into whiskey. Most people fluctuate between bourbon, Irish whiskey, and scotch. But have you tried rye whiskey? Its spicier than bourbon, and was the go-to whiskey for Pennsylvania, before Prohibition virtually destroyed it. In 2011, Dad’s Hat emerged out of Bristol as the first PA distiller of rye whiskey in over 30 years.

Today, they make five delicious variations of rye whiskey. My favorite is the Straight Rye, which has been aged for four years and made from Pennsylvania grain. Check it out – or choose one you will enjoy! You can probably find some of their stuff at your local store – or order direct from the Dad’s Hat website.

FIVE SAINTS

Five Saints can be found in the historic Humane Fire House in Norristown. We had plans to visit the distillery for a tour right when COVID hit. We have been delayed, but we still have plans to get there once this is over. In the meantime, you can stop by their bottle shop or your local liquor store to try some of their stuff.

They have award winning small batch vodka that I have not tried, and a white whiskey that I am sipping while I write this. But my favorite thing from them is the Tuscan Style Gin. I am normally not a gin fan, but the herbal flavoring of this is fantastic. Facebook and their site offers a few cocktail recipes that I need to try. I also think it would be fantastic with some Bloody Mary mix or V-8 juice. Their website will direct you to liquor stores that carry their product, or you can try calling up for some curbside pickup.

KIKI VODKA

Kristin is sipping a lemon drop cocktail made with Kiki Vodka right now. The corn is distilled six times to make it one of the smoothest vodkas you can try. If you are looking to get some right now – good luck. They have been struggling to keep up with demand for their vodka, especially while they focus on making hand sanitizer. But you can try getting what you can from their distillery in Hatfield, or their vodka bar in Pottstown.

BRANDYWINE BRANCH DISTILLERY

Just before COVID shut the world down, I made an emergency stop to one of our local liquor stores and bought a bottle of their Resurgent Young American bourbon. It is distilled in Kentucky, but gets bottled in Elverson, which is just outside Morgantown. It has a nice peppery / vanilla flavor and is worth getting a bottle or two. But if you are like me, you probably want to try one of their other whiskeys or gins, too. When COVID is over, take a visit to their distillery, and check out some food from their bistro as well! In the meantime, visit their website and order a few bottles – free delivery for Philly area residents!

NEW LIBERTY DISTILLERY

A few years ago, I took a tour of New Liberty with some friends of mine. The distillery is in a pretty cool building – an old stable in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia. Within their walls, they are distilling some great whiskey. Besides bringing back the Kinsey and Maryland Club brands, they also have some of their own whiskey brands – Pennsylvania Dutch Malt, Bloody Butcher Bourbon, and Millstone Rye. I have enjoyed a few of the Kinsey, Maryland Club and Pennsylvania Dutch Malt whiskeys – and can’t wait to try the Bloody Butcher.

PHILADELPHIA DISTILLING

Philadelphia Distilling was the first distillery to open in the state since the end of Prohibition. They opened in an old factory in Northern Liberties in 2005 and have a pretty nice tasting room and gift shop (I may have stopped in after my tour at New Liberty, which is nearby). Blue Coat gin is their signature spirit. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should. You can order online, or get it delivered through their website.

Despite our love for whiskey and other spirits, there are far too many distilleries in the area for us to have tried everything. Here are some other local distilleries to order from and try out. Let us know what you think…we are going to try and check all of these guys out, too!

Stateside Vodka: https://statesidevodka.com/

Despite the name, they also just released a black label bourbon. You can find them in PA liquor stores, but the distillery also for Delivery & Pick-up at their Philadelphia distillery.

Pollyodd Liquors: https://www.pollyodd.com/?page_id=28

Pollyodd is a South Philly distiller of Italian style lemoncellos. They currently offer 10 different flavors to choose from. Their website includes a list of PA state stores that sell their product, but not all their flavors can be found in the stores. You can call the shop in South Philly directly for an appointment: 215-271-1161 and try something you want.

Pezone Row Home Grown Cello: https://www.pezonecello.com/

11 different cello flavors, some of them seasonal. Usually available at Reading Terminal Market. Their website has a list of state stores that carry their product. Or call them direct at: 215-416-1432

Red Brick Craft Distillery: https://www.redbrickcraftdistillery.com/

Philadelphia distiller of whiskey and rum. Curbside pickup and delivery available through their website.

Palmer Distilling: http://www.palmerdistilling.com/

Liberty Gin and Manayunk Moonshine. List of stores carrying their product is available on their website.

Hewn Spirits: http://hewnspirits.com/

Bucks County distillery for rum and whiskey. Curbside pickup and delivery available.

Bluebird Distilling: https://bluebirddistilling.com/

Make rum, gin and whiskey. Distillery in Phoenixville is open for daily bottle sales, or call your local liquor store.

Pennsylvania Distilling: http://www.penndistilling.com/

Gin, rum, vodka, rye whiskey and bourbon made in Malvern. Online ordering is available; or stop in your tasting room to get a bottle.

Boardroom Spirits: https://www.boardroomspirits.com/

Free hand sanitizer (bring your own container). You can purchase online at their website for pickup from their facility in Lansdale or home delivery. They offer ready made cocktails, as well as a variety of whiskies, rums, and other spirits.

Manatawny Still Works: https://www.manatawnystillworks.com/

Pottstown Distillery. All orders for gin, whiskey, rum and vodka are online only from their website, with curbside pickup at their distillery.

Faber Distilling: https://www.fabereasydrinking.com/

Distillery near Quakertown that makes rum, gin and white whiskey. Right now, they are focusing on hand sanitzer. Support that, buy some liquor when this pandemic is over.

1675 Spirits: https://www.1675spirits.com/

Small batch distillery of vodka and whiskey in Bucks County. Order direct online, or pickup from their distillery in Bensalem.

So enjoy your Memorial Day this weekend. Cookout with your family, enjoy the summer, and support some local businesses that have been hit hard by COVID by purchasing some locally owned and produced spirits.

Let us know what drinks and cocktails you like, and we can compare notes when we finish trying everything, too!

- Shawn

Don’t fear,The Fleadh is here (almost)

Just Get in the Car — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:55:49 +0000

If you are like me, you are probably pissed that this coronavirus has been screwing everything up. Kids are home from school, professional sports are being cancelled, and your 401(k) is making it look like you will have to work into your 90s. On top of that, your St. Paddy’s Day plans are probably over. Parades, concerts, parties and pub crawls are being cancelled everywhere. So you will probably be drinking that Guinness by yourself at home. This blows.

You are probably still looking for your Irish fix. Luckily, there is a great Irish event coming up on May 9^th, where you can get all the Irish music, dancing, gifts, and craic you need: The Philadelphia Fleadh! A few days ago, CJ Mills, the organizer of the Fleadh, was nice enough to tell us a bit about himself and the event. But I thought I would tell you why you should join us there this year.

First of all, it is easy to get to. If you are like me, you probably know more about China than Northeast Philly. But for the past few years, they have been hosting the event at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory right off the PA Turnpike. If it rains, and we have been there when it rains, they can move the entire event inside. That will prevent the rain from watering down your Guinness!

The Fleadh is also family friendly. If your kids aren’t into the music or vendors, they have a kids section as well, with plenty of bounce houses, face painting, and other crafty activities. Our kids always spend most of the day there – but don’t worry, you can still hear the music from there.

If you are worried about the cost – don’t be! This is probably the most affordable all day event I have ever been to. Parking is free, and kids 12 and under are free as well. You will probably want to try some of the food from the food truck and vendors. But if you are on a budget, or if your kid will only eat peanut butter sandwiches, you can bring in your own food and drinks (just not the alcohol kind).

No Irish event would be complete without some frosty beverages. They will sell some Guinness and other beers. Is Irish whiskey more your thing? Raise a glass of Pop’s McCann whiskey while you are there as well.

The best part of the event is the music. This year, they have 13 Irish bands playing on two different stages, and playing all day. You will hear plenty of the classic Irish tunes, Pogues and Dropkick Murphys covers, and even some awesome original stuff. CJ, the event’s founder, will be playing with Seamus & CJ. Most of the bands are local ones, such as The John Byrnes Band, Bogside Rogues, and the Paul Moore Band. But all of the bands are fantastic. Check out the whole list here.

It sucks that the coronavirus is costing us a St. Patrick’s Day this year. But don’t let it kill your Irish spirit. Join our family on May 9^th. By then, we should all be able to toast to good health, listen to some great music, and find some great craic. Slainte!

-Shawn

Getting to know Brian Niles

Just Get in the Car — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:31:30 +0000

I love a good coffee shop. And I’ve loved them for quite some time, even before I really enjoyed good coffee. There is just something about a place in your community where you can go for a peaceful change of scenery, a quiet conversation with a friend, or a place to read a book, or work on whatever you are working on. It helps when the coffee and pastries are delicious too. We’ve posted about Brian Niles before – when we found that he had opened a coffee roasting warehouse in our own community. At that time I was excited, but also a little bummed that House Cup Coffee Roasters did not include an actual coffee shop. Well, lo and behold Brian and his partners stepped in to take over another one of our favorite places, Oakmont Roots Cafe. Now House Cup Cafe, the stage is set for a wonderful community gathering space centered around [one of] America’s treasured beverages – coffee. We thought it would be cool to learn a little bit more about Brian and this new endeavor. Read on to see what he shared with us!

Tell us about yourself. How did you become a coffee aficionado? That’s a tough question to answer – I think of myself as a husband, father, brother, friend, neighbor, colleague, geek, even a schmuck (at times). But factually, I live here in Havertown and share the world with my amazing wife Adrienne, my 20 year old daughter Sarah, our 2-½ year old son Xavier and Lord Spencer, our welsh corgi. My professional career has mostly been in the education space working in higher education but also as an entrepreneur owning another company I founded in 1998 that provided administrative technology solutions for colleges and universities. But as we exceeded 100 employees and I approached 50 I set the goal to do something very different on a daily basis, commit to spending more time in my community than on planes and enjoy what little time we have to learn from others and share what I’ve picked up along the way. So a few years ago with that goal in mind I left my full-time role at my company, travelled up to Vermont to become certified in coffee roasting and setup House Cup Coffee Roasters here in Havertown. Just as Xavier was born. I don’t consider myself an aficionado, always learning and trying new things that have to do with coffee, but sharing my passion for coffee with others. But one thing I try to do is make it more accessible to others – avoiding fancy trends or terms that keep many of us from appreciating something as simple as a great cup of coffee.

House Cup Coffee Roasters is an excellent community builder. What are some of your favorite ways to connect with the community? We’re fortunate that our customers give us the ability to help those that need us, even in such a small way as coffee. We support the local Food Bank with coffee to give to families who need a little help – even customers can help by purchasing a “Suspended Coffee” bag at ½ price that we give to the food bank monthly. We help various fund-raising activities with coffee and baskets to raffle and raise money for good causes that help our community and those within it. And on a daily basis, just get to know people we meet at the new cafe or in the roasthouse. We have a new statement piece in our cafe that tells it more clearly than I can:

“You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips. Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs, but people more than anything else. You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living breathing screaming invitation to believe better things.” – Jamie Tworkowski

How long have you lived/worked in Havertown, PA? What do you think is unique about our town? We moved here in 2013. After moving around a bit from Haddonfield NJ, Philadelphia and Phoenixville, the amazing neighbors on Willowbrook Road here in Havertown made it easy for us to settle into this community. I think the most amazing thing about Havertown is that everyone seems to be one degree of separation from everyone else. And there is a sense of support for each other. There are the obvious support events, programs, activities and signs (green lights just being one), but this support seems to be ingrained in the community. And that I find amazing.

If you had a day off to spend around town, where would you go and what would you do? I would first start on our street – what struck me when I first moved here is how everyone looks after each other’s kids – especially on a nice day when they are playing in the street, making up basketball games or running from one house to the next. We’re a front porch neighborhood, and I love that aspect. Then I would probably find myself at one of our amazing restaurants sitting at the corner of the bar most likely chatting it up with the bartender or the beautiful person sitting next to me (my wife). I’ve also found a new appreciation for the trails at the CREC for some exercise and enjoyment of what many people have done to make that such a nice area.

You just made a huge announcement – tell us about the next steps for House Cup Coffee Roasters … Well, that’s probably our cafe on Darby Road. Oakmont Roots had been a wholesale customer of ours but when it was time for the previous owner to move on, he approached me to take it off his hands. It was a very successful business and we’re proud to be continuing to build on that success. Our vision is to create a place for people to come and enjoy – families, friends, colleagues, neighbors, strangers. We also want to help protect our environment as much as we can, so we have a BYO House Cup option – bring in your own cup, tumbler, etc. and fill it up at the service counter yourself for just $1. No need to order or wait in line. It’s an honor system and it seems to be working. We also will be putting our used coffee grounds out back of the cafe each night for any of our local gardeners to come take to support excellent growing. And finally we strive to source our foods locally. Many of our pastries are made right here in Havertown by trained, incredibly talented individuals. We want to support their passions and share it with all of you. We are not at a loss for additional things we plan to do, but one at a time. We’re locally owned, locally roasted and locally sourced.

How do you take your coffee? Black. That’s not to say it’s bad to put cream or anything else in it, I just like it black. The best coffee is the one you like however you like it. I do encourage people to try our coffees without sugar to appreciate the variations in the origin flavors. Those flavors come out of the ground, nothing added, which amazes me how that can happen.

What are you waiting for? Head over to chat with Brian and the other coffee connoisseurs at House Cup Cafe, today! (Don’t forget your cup if you want to grab and go, but I recommend staying to chat!)

-Kristin

Getting to know CJ Mills, Philly Fleadh Guy

Just Get in the Car — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:21:49 +0000

Since 2013 we have been enjoying The Philadelphia Fleadh with family and friends. We think it is a great event, celebrating all things Irish, music, and fun in the sun (usually). We promote this event every year for a reason – it’s a great day spent listening to awesome music and hanging out with great people. We thought it would be cool to get to know the man behind the annual event, CJ Mills. Read on to learn more about him and how the Fleadh came to be.

Our Irish roots come from County Donegal. Where are your relations from in Ireland, and how did your Irish background help bring about the Fleadh?

My great great grandfather was a fiddle player from Dublin. I have been playing in Irish bands for about 15 years playing in Roundtower, Common Ground, Killen Thyme, and Jamison Celtic Rock. Recently I have been playing with Seamus McGroary who is from County Donegal, and Kevin OShea – who is from County Delco:)

The Fleadh stemmed from the idea to bring all of the amazing talented Irish and Celtic Rock bands in the Philadelphia area together for one great festival. Philly has become one of the greatest music cities in the country, with a very high percentage of Irish Americans, so what better place than to hold a festival celebrating Irish heritage and Irish music.

We have been attending the Fleadh since the first one in back in 2013. Can you tell our readers a little bit about the event and what they are missing out on if they have not attended one yet?

The Philly Fleadh is an all day, family friendly event that has a little bit of something for everyone. The day starts with The Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance’s Feis at the Fleadh where there over 100 dancers competing from 8am – 12pm. The bands start at 11 am and music is non stop back and forth on the two main stages until 8pm. There are also trad sessions, where all musicians are welcome to bring their instruments, Irish Dance performances, where different dance schools highlight their dancers, and other fun cultural activities like the English Language Learners table, Irish Bingo for the kids, and more. The free kids zone has bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, jumbo jenga and more to keep the little ones occupied. There are also food vendors, irish merchants, and spirits with beer trucks readily accessible at all times and even some whiskey tastings.

Who are some of the performers you have lined up for this year’s Fleadh?

This year we have a great lineup with many returning acts, and some new ones as well featuring the best in Philly. The Philadelphia Irish Music scene is something special, where we are all friends, and all work to support each other. Each band has it’s own following, and can be found playing in the tri-state area at local bars, pubs, AOHs and festivals. The unique concept of this festival, is it gives us all a time to be together at one location. This year’s bands will feature
The John Byrne Band, The Shanty’s, The Bogside Rogues, The Paul Moore Band, Birmingham Six, No Irish Need Apply, Oakwyn, The Natterjacks, Clancy’s Pistol, Killen Clark, Ray Coleman, Mike & Callie and Seamus & CJ. These are by far some of the best entertainers in the area who are also all great people!

You also have some other events throughout the year. What else should our readers look out for in 2020?

The other event that Philly Fleadh productions produces is Celtic Christmas in Bensalem, which is a Christmas show held the first Saturday in December of every year at Bensalem High School’s 1500 seat Performing Arts Center. This show includes a 12 piece band comprised of many different members of different bands that play the Fleadh who all come together for one spectacular performance, as well as dancers from The Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance and The Bucks County Dance Center. Info can be found at CelticChristmasinBensalem.com. Stay tuned to that website, as there will be an announcement for a second show in 2020.

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. Where do you go to find the best craic in Philly to celebrate?

The Best Craic in Philly is a tough one. There are so many amazing Irish Pubs in the city that all have amazing music. A few of my favorites include Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub, who not only has great music in March, but does Irish Saturdays from 3-7 all year long. The Ashburner is a great place and also does Irish music every Sunday afternoon year round. Curran’s Irish Inn is always a great choice in Bensalem or Tacony, The Green Parrot also does the Newtown Irish Festival the week leading up to St. Patrick’s day, and Con Murphys in Center City has great music Thurs. to Sunday, and they just opened a bar in Fort Lauderdale as well where Seamus McGroary and I will be traveling to play Mon, Tues and Wed of St. Patrick’s Week.

What is your favorite Irish whiskey?

My favorite Irish whiskey is absolutely Pop McCanns. Founder Jason Fogg is a local guy from Philly who has been working his butt off to get it on shelves all over the area, and it is an amazing product. One day we will all be saying that we know that guy! Pops is also one of the Fleadh sponsors, and it will be featured at the Fleadh, both for sale, and for some free whiskey tastings.

What are some of the bands and songs we should be listening to in order to prepare for St. Paddy’s Day and the Fleadh?

Bands to listen to…..look at the above list. Supporting local live music is one of the most important things anyone can do. All of the bands playing the Philly Fleadh are excellent and are playing all over Philly in the month of March. Check them out on social media and go support local live music!

-Kristin and Shawn

Family Fun in the Brandywine: Valentine’s Weekend 2020

Just Get in the Car — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:42:19 +0000

Ah I can still remember it, one of our most romantic Valentine’s Day dinners to date (no). Shawn and I were sitting at our dining room table in our first home. Our small child was in the bathroom that was about two feet from the table. I’m not going to go much further than that except to say the words “can you smell that” were definitely uttered. Good times. I think that is when we realized that ‘Valentine’s Day’ was for the young, unmarried, childless people. I mean we still acknowledge it, but we’ve moved on from making it all about us as a couple (though when we DO make that happen, it’s lovely, don’t get me wrong). We’ve just accepted our current reality for the next 10-15 years.

Anyway, I’m getting away from my point- which is that there is still fun to be had, even with kids in tow.

And I want to be clear that this is not a post about kid centered activities, but rather, things to do that everyone can tolerate, and some may enjoy, at varying degrees and at different points throughout the day.

Although we are ‘thisclose’ to the city of brotherly love, we usually tend to avoid the traffic, congestion, and parking costs of the city and head in another direction for our entertainment. Lately, we have really been appreciating the Brandywine Valley and surrounding area.

In an attempt to come up with our own plan, I decided to share some of the things I’m thinking about for our day out this weekend in the Brandywine Valley.

If I had my way this would be our day:

Chadds Café + Store for a yummy scone and coffee. If it is a sunny and mild day, the outdoor seating is very inviting and kid friendly. The patio is great even if the weather is not cooperating.

Longwood Gardens for a walk around the conservatory. The children’s garden inside of the conservatory has recently been refurbished and it looks beautiful. Our kids always have a great time in that space. If the weather is cooperative, the kids can run around outside, check out the tree houses, and blow off some steam. The food at Longwood is very good, though not cheap. So if you are on a budget, I’d fill up at Chadds Café first. (Food is always forefront on my mind, and I find regularly feeding the children keeps them more agreeable and manageable as well).

On the way home I’d hit Chadds Ford Winery. Again, this is NOT FOR THE CHILDREN. It is OK to plan things that are not centered on the children, though there is also a big lawn here for them to do some more running around. This weekend in particular there are special wine and chocolate pairings, or the regular wine tastings are also available.

After some time at the winery, I’d stop at Newlin Grist Mill. If you make it there between 10a and 3p this Saturday, February 15, 2020, you can watch a demonstration on beer brewing. There is a mill (though not operating at the moment in preparation for repairs), walking trails, historical homes, and a visitor center. Plenty for the kids to see and do.

Finally, we may consider taking the kiddos to see a movie. They have been asking to see Dolittle, and we may oblige. It’s Valentine’s weekend after all. Someone should get treated to a night out.

-Kristin

The Fry Bread House

Just Get in the Car — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 15:59:15 +0000

Traveling is a wonderful way to expand your worldview, your horizons, and your palate. Way back in 2015, before our travel blogging adventures, Shawn and I visited Phoenix, AZ. We loved it. We saw a lot of cool places, and ate some delicious food.

We like to try to find places to eat when we are traveling that are not chains, are interesting, and that have something to add to our experience of the locale. We hit the nail on the head with The Fry Bread House. Personally, I had never heard of fry bread before.

A little google search, though, and we were convinced that we had to give it a shot.

Here is the basic definition of Fry Bread, taken from Wikipedia

“Frybread is a flat dough bread, fried or deep-fried in oil, shortening, or lard. Made with simple ingredients, frybread can be eaten alone or with various toppings such as honey, jam, powdered sugar, venison, or beef. Frybread can also be made into tacos, like Navajo tacos”

You can read about the fascinating history of this native American food over at Smithsonian.com . Be mindful though that the history associated with this particular food illuminates the struggle of a people forced to relocate from their homes, and the health implications of lack luster ingredients.

It’s been my experience that some of the most delicious and interesting foods have been borne from necessity and limited ingredients. I’m thinking of all the ‘depression era’ and ‘waste not want not’ food my Italian grandma used to make.

I will be honest – when we pulled up to the Fry Bread House, I thought – this place is not for us. From the outside, it was unclear what was inside. But, in true ‘Just Get in the Car’ fashion, we decided to go for it anyway. Inside the restaurant, we were met with friendly staff and a warm environment. It was evident that this was a place for the locals, and that’s just what we were looking for.

Having never eaten fry bread before, we were going in blind. However, we both enjoyed our choices, and got a cultural lesson to boot. We selected a few items off of the menu, and hoped for the best. What we got exceeded our expectations, and here four years later, has stuck in our minds enough to write about it and encourage others to give it a try.

We opted for a few of the fry bread tacos, pictured here:

We also had a lesson in tamales – which neither of us had eaten before. Sadly, we were very naive and had no clue what to do with them. I believe we had to ask how to eat them!

If you are in the Phoenix, Arizona area, you should definitely stop into The Fry Bread House for a delicious meal, with a side of culture and history! Tell them Just Get in the Car sent you!

-Kristin

Exploring Louisville with The Kentucky Bourbon Boys

Just Get in the Car — Fri, 24 May 2019 17:54:06 +0000

Ah, bourbon. Besides jazz and anything from the Kardashians, it may be America’s greatest artistic output. And bourbon making is truly an art form. There are some simple rules to follow: it has to be made in the US, be at least 51% corn, aged in a new, charred oak barrel, and be between 80 and 160 proof. Distillers can add other grains, such as rye, wheat and malted barley, but nothing else to create flavor. So no sugar, honey, fruit etc. Within these limitations, distillers are able to create some amazingly varied spirits, and some of the best whiskey in the world. Though bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, a true aficionado knows that the best bourbon is made in Kentucky.

My college friends and I are all turning 40 this year. We somehow convinced the wives to stay home with the kids and let us “celebrate” out of town. However, I think that they were either just happy to see us go, or were planning on holding this over our heads for the next 40 years. Despite still having the maturity of 16 year olds, we are no longer satisfied with shots of Goldschläger and 30 packs of Red Dog. Our palates are slightly more sophisticated now, and we are all people that appreciate art. Since one of us had recently been to New Orleans, and LA was too far for a KUWTK tour, we decided that bourbon was the way to go. So we made a trip to the heart of Bourbon Country: Louisville, Kentucky.

It was my job to set up the distillery tours and tastings for the trip. With over 36 distilleries on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail alone, this looked to be quite a task. Some are in dry counties, so you can tour, but not sample. For each, we would need to figure out the tour times and prices, and coordinate driving multiple cars back and forth, which didn’t seem like such a great idea when we were planning on sampling bourbon all day. So I began looking into tour groups to help me figure this out. After looking through several different companies, I found one that seemed just right for our crew: The Kentucky Bourbon Boys.

The Kentucky Bourbon Boys do private and customizable tours for your group, big or small. The price was right: two distillery tours, a tasting at a third, lunch, snacks and transportation all day for about $150 a person. Between that and the dozens of positive reviews, I figured these were my “boys”. After some careful consideration (OK, drinking), I chose a couple distilleries around Louisville and got ready for our trip. The only other thing I needed to do after that was let them know what I wanted for lunch. They sent out a confirmation about our itinerary, and also offered some other suggestions for things to check out during our stay.

The day of our tour came and Roger, our driver / guide for the day, came to pick us up where we were staying. We didn’t have to travel to some central meeting point and get on a bus with a bunch of strangers. The tour was just the six of us and our host. He brought a bag of snacks, some water, Gatorade, as well as a sense of humor and a lot patience, which probably came in handy for dealing with our six dumbasses all day. By coincidence (honest!) four of us went on the tour in red polos and khaki shorts. We looked like a crew of greeters from Target on our lunch break. After we loaded onto the bus, we went to our first stop: Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

Stitzel-Weller is one of the more impressive distilleries I have seen. The grounds have some large buildings that were used to store hundreds of thousands of gallons of whiskey. While the original distillers went out of business, the grounds (as well as the aging whiskey casks in those tall buildings) were sold to Diageo and turned over to another Kentucky bourbon maker: Bulleit. We joined a larger group for this tour, where a bachelorette party assumed our red shirts meant we were the tour guides. One of the women assured us the girls would have followed us “anywhere”…but only after we told them the truth! Damnit!

The tour here was probably the most impressive: our guide walked us through the distilling process in their experimental lab, showed us how some of the barrels were stored for aging, then brought us into a nice big room for the most important part: sampling. We got to try four different whiskeys they make, explained the different processes used for them, and gave us some scoring sheets to help us identify the flavors. I just focused on drinking the whiskey in front of me – the paper and pencil made me feel like I was taking some kind of whiskey SAT.

With our bellies warmed with whiskey and bourbon (yes, there is a difference – all bourbons are whiskies, but not all whiskies are bourbons), it was time for lunch. We made our way back to downtown Louisville for lunch at Against the Grain Brewery. Lunch was preordered, so it was ready for us when we got there. Though it was not included in the cost, we all decided to get a sample of their beer while visiting – also well worth it. If you find yourself in Louisville, make sure you stop by for some of their beer as well as their brisket with a side of their Brussel sprouts. They were delicious.

Next stop was a tasting at a distillery that was new to me – Kentucky Peerless Distilling, also in downtown Louisville. They are a craft distillery that only uses sweet mash – fresh yeast, as opposed to reusing previously fermented yeast from other batches. Our host there was very friendly and knowledgeable – she told us all about their history and processes, while also giving some insight into each of the whiskies we were trying. We also found some nice red shirts for the other two guys in our group to purchase in the gift shop. Sadly, they decided they were too cool for Team Target.

Finally, we made our way east of the city to the one I was most looking forward to: Kentucky Artisan Distillery, makers of Jefferson bourbon. Though the facility was smaller than Bulleit’s, they also gave a pretty impressive tour – they even had some sour mash in open vats so that we can have a taste. And don’t worry – they scooped it out. I didn’t stick my nasty-ass hands in your beloved bourbon. They also told us about one of the most interesting whiskey aging processes I have heard of – they stick a bunch of barrels on a ship that travels around the world for eight months a year, aging and mixing the whiskey as it goes from the Artic to the Equator along the ocean. Jefferson’s Ocean had an interesting flavor as a result. It was not my favorite of their offerings, but I was impressed with the creativity in aging and flavoring it. You should set up a visit and try it for yourself.

With our tours for the day over, Roger was still cool enough to drive us around a bit more. We stopped at the Louisville Slugger Museum store so we could pick up some mini-bats (OK, weapons) for the kids. After that, he brought us back home to drop off some of our things, so we could head out for the night unencumbered. He then brought us to a cool bar he recommended: Holy Grale, a former Unitarian Church converted into an awesome bar with some great food. Sacrilicious!

~ Shawn

Good Craic at The Philadelphia Fleadh

Just Get in the Car — Wed, 01 May 2019 17:40:53 +0000

What is better than outdoor events in the springtime? This time of year is great for cookouts, ballgames, and just sitting in the backyard. One of our crew’s favorite events each spring is the Philadelphia Fleadh. The Fleadh is an all day festival of Irish music, food, and craic (that’s Irish for a good time!). We have been going to this event since it started in 2013, and have brought more of our friends and family each year we go.

Just Get in the Car will be generously hosted at this year’s Fleadh, however, our opinions are 100% our own!

This year’s event is at the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philly on May 11^th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Afraid the rain will ruin the day? Don’t be! They always have a rain plan, with plenty of tents, and indoor options in case the weather gets really bad. A few years ago, we attended a Fleadh in the pouring rain, and had a blast. They setup an intimate acoustic session inside, and used the tents to cover up the beer tent lines – a major priority for any Irish event!

The biggest and best part of the event is the Irish music. The Fleadh brings together some of the best traditional Irish and Celtic Rock bands from the area. The John Byrne Band, Bogside Rogues, and the Paul Moore Band are some of our favorites from years past. In addition to them, you can enjoy the music of the Birmingham Six, Gaelic Mishap, No Irish Need Apply, The Kilted Rogues, Shenanigans, Oakwyn, Killen, Clark and Kane, Ray Coleman and Gathering. You may not be seeing the Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, the Pogues or Dubliners, but a lot of these bands are influenced by them, so you probably still hear some familiar tunes and also discover something new.

There are three stages of bands, so no matter where you are on the grounds, you can hear one of the acts. Are you a musician yourself? Bring your instruments, and sit in on one of the Trad sessions, and jam out with some new friends and lovers of Irish music.

The Fleadh is also a family friendly event. Got kids? Bring them along! They will probably love the bounce houses and face painting as much as our guys do. They spent hours bouncing around, playing, meeting new friends, watching the Irish dance competition, and even listening to the music. And best of all – kids 12 and under get in free!

Like all these events, there will be plenty of food and beer vendors. So you can find yourself some Irish fare like Shepard’s Pie or Fish and Chips, or some more American fare like burgers and chicken fingers. Beer vendors will also be there – and unlike most music venues, this one does not gouge you with beer pricing.

If you are looking for gifts or swag, there are also plenty of vendors. Thanks to the kids, we have bubble guns, stuffed green dogs, and light up wands all over the place. But there are also vendors selling plenty of other Irish stuff you may like – jewelry, shirts, family histories, maps, etc.

One of the best parts of the Fleadh is the price. For a full day event, tickets are $20 online right now, and only $25 at the gate. For that price, you get a full day out with some great music, family activities, food, beer, and craic.

So pack a lawn chair, some bottles of water, and bring the family up for what we think is the best Irish event in Philadelphia. The Just Get in the Car crew will be there representing County Delco in our County Clare kilt (even though a DNA test recently told us we are from Donegal). So what are you waiting for? Get online, buy some tickets and meet us there!

-Shawn

A Taste of Britain, Tradition and Tea

Just Get in the Car — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 21:25:18 +0000

While I can surely appreciate history, I am not good with memorizing dates and facts. I never cared for history class, and I can’t say I retained much, or any of the information presented in those classes throughout high school and college. However, I do enjoy a good historical fiction novel or period film or television series. I must say that all of my knowledge of anything having to do with the British Monarchy or the Jacobite’s in Scotland has been derived completely from books and television. Honestly, I don’t know why they don’t (or didn’t) use more of this type of media to engage students in the stories of history.

Shawn might say that I have a small obsession with all things British Monarchy. He is mostly wrong; it’s really the intrigue of all those crazy relationships that interest me! However, I think it is the link to tradition and history that intrigues me about a proper afternoon tea.

To support this theory, I did some googling and realized that the full afternoon tea is a fairly young tradition in Britain, only begun in the 1800’s. But that’s old enough for me to believe that it is a time honored cultural experience.

Yea, that.

It could also be the fancy tea cups and plates, and the properness of it all that I find so appealing. The tendency to think you should be dressed up and wearing gloves, and using a, well, British accent or something.

When Shawn and I were in London, about twelve years ago or so, we had a traditional afternoon tea in a local tea shop. It was before my appreciation for British history, so I’d love to go back and experience it again now. (Despite Shawn’s detailed itinerary, we cannot remember the name, so we must have gone off course that day -gasp!)

No worries – I have found some closer to home options!!

Very near to us, in a completely unexpected neighborhood on a fairly busy road in Upper Darby, Pa, there is a beautiful and authentic tea shop, The Painted Tea Cup. It moved from a small store front across from its current location to a three story home, complete with unique gifts and rooms to explore. When I first visited, in its first home, I fell in love. Now, in a proper space for the experience, it is even better. Sadly, I don’t go nearly as much as I would like to. And to be honest I always forget that they have a full selection of interesting gifts. Come to think of it, I am in the market for a gift for someone right now. I’ll have to make a visit there soon!

Recently, Shawn’s aunt invited my daughter and me to join her and some other family members at another tea shop. This is a shop that I have heard about, but never visited. It is not far from us, but with The Painted Tea Cup so close, I wouldn’t have necessarily driven further away for a similar experience. Now that I had a specific reason to go, I was excited to check it out and now that I have been, I will be sure to return.

A Taste of Britain, located in Wayne, Pa, is not just a place to experience a full afternoon tea. There is a small gift shop, a counter to buy some of the baked goods and spreads so you can take them home to enjoy (which I recommend you do, unlike me, otherwise you will regret it as I have done) and they have a full menu of teas, food, and tea service options. I still love The Painted Tea Cup, but now I know that there are two relatively close options for this unique experience.

During our visit, Shawn’s aunt and I both had the full tea service, which comes with a pot of tea, and an assortment of sweet and savory scones, pastries, finger sandwiches, and spreads – like lemon curd and clotted cream.

The scones were amazing. And if you know me, you know I love scones.

One of Shawn’s cousins, who lived in England when we visited there, was with us and said that the tea service was ‘legit’. She was only a young kid when she left England to return to the United States, but I don’t doubt her. It seemed pretty legit to me.

There is something about coming to the table with food, drink, family and friends that is comforting to me. Perhaps it is my Italian heritage where sharing food with others is a particular cultural phenomenon, but I tend to think it is something many cultures value. Perhaps if more people sat down to tea together, the world would be more peaceful. (Ignore Shawn’s historical commentary on how this is a sham and would never work, and in fact has not worked as of yet).

Regardless, one thing is for sure, YOU should get yourself to one of these tea houses and enjoy the wonderful experience of a Full Afternoon Tea.