Hey Turkeys! If you are like us, you probably miss going places. Even though a house full of kids and a head full of grey hairs (mine, not Kristin’s) has ended our weekday bar nights, we still enjoyed getting out every now and again for a few midweek drinks. One thing I always enjoyed was a game of Quizzo.
Not familiar with Quizzo? It’s a trivia game hosted by your local bar, made up of several rounds of questions to see who the smartest person there is (or more likely, who knows the most about the Kardashians). With almost three months of COVID quarantine, our opportunities for this type of fun were over. Or so we thought. Luckily, my friend Tim hosts online quizzo with Trivia Turkey.
Tim was hosting regular Quizzo games at local bars in the good ol’ days, before COVID. Since the bars are closed, and everyone is quarantined alone, he decided to turn his talents to the internet. With a Zoom connection and an app called Kahoot!, you can challenge all of your friends and family to an online trivia game. Tim will read out the questions, and all you need to do is choose the right answer on the Kahoot app and see who gets the most questions right.
We tested this out the other night to see how it went, and we all had a lot of fun. We ended up getting second place, because someone cheated. Not because we are sore losers or anything.
The prices are reasonable as well. Its $10 per team, with a $100 max for a group party. Are you trying to set up a happy hour or team building exercise for your business? For $200, Tim will make it happen!
Besides helping to make life more interesting during COVID with a fun Trivia game, he also wants to make sure your life of adulting has as few issues as possible with multiple insurance options through Liberty Mutual. Want a new quote on home, auto or life insurance? He will help you out. And if you sign up with him, he will make a $40 donation to HelpHopeLive, a charitable organization helping people out with medical expenses after suffering severe injuries or organ transplants. What a guy!
So, what are you waiting for? Stop drinking by yourself at home wishing you could go out. Get a few friends, set up things with Tim, and have a fun night of quizzo. Still unsure? Why not join us for the 1st Annual Just Get in the Car Quizzo Invitational on June 18th and see for yourself how much fun it is! Check our Facebook page for the details!
In the meantime, Tim’s contact information is below. Check him out for all your quizzo or insurance needs. You won’t regret it!
For TriviaTurkey:
$10 a player. $100 max for a group party.
$200 for a company happy hour or team building
*For charities: Tim will donate $40 to HelpHopeLive.org for every player that he quotes and makes a client.
-Shawn
Recently, I had the opportunity to review Bound in Flame, a wonderful fiction piece written by Katherine Kayne. Read about that here! The story let me escape to Hawaii for a bit, and I thought Katherine would be a great person for our next Getting to know you post. Below, see what she has to say about the Hawaiian culture, history, and beauty she loves so much.
Bound in Flame is a Hawaiian adventure, romance, and story of a strong female character. What was your inspiration for this story? Have you ever seen a parade in Hawaii? They are the best! There is a tradition of women dressing to ride like the historic royalty. It is stunningly beautiful; the practice is called pa’u. The women use it as a way to celebrate their history. And what a history it is! The first time I saw the riders I began to research how women lived in the early 1900s. What I learned about these fierce women became the inspiration for Bound in Flame. Hawaiian ladies were expert horsewomen, businesswomen and astute politicians. Because the United States had unlawfully seized the Hawaiian Kingdom they chose to fight for what they believed in. And the right to vote too. I am writing a whole series based on these women called the Hawaiian Ladies’ Riding Society.
We visited Hawaii on our honeymoon – Maui and Kauai. We spent more time on Maui, but really loved the lushness of Kauai. Tell us about your favorite parts of Hawaii. We are in love with the Big Island. It is so big you can put Maui and Kauai and all the other islands (and then some) within its borders. Almost every climate zone in the world is represented. You want tropical rainforest? Check. High mountain desert? Check. And perhaps the most beautiful beach in all the islands? Check that box too with Hapuna Beach. We never tire of it because there is always something to do or see. One of my favorite things are the farmers’ markets. They are all over the island with three in upcountry Waimea alone. The produce is beyond amazing. Particularly the fresh papaya and the local boletus mushrooms called ali’i. You will want to cook even if you are on vacation.
I noticed on your Facebook page a post about Orchids. Are you a plant lover? What are your tips for indoor Orchid care, any secrets? I love orchids because they are so easy. Yes, there are secrets to indoor orchid care. Well actually one. Ice cubes. Orchids like cool wet toes. So every week, instead of watering, put a couple of ice cubes at the base of the plant. Easy, huh?
If our readers are looking to plan a trip to Hawaii, what are your best pointers? What islands should they visit? Any particular places that you encourage people to seek out and explore? First of all recognize that Hawaii will be slow to re-open after the virus. The healthcare system is not designed to handle all the needs of Hawaii residents and lots of sick tourists too. The Governor has been very deliberate about his plans. Once Hawaii does re-open I suggest looking at renting a condominium. There are lots of choices and it gives you a more local experience. What to see? I have a HUGE list. It is always tempting to head to the beach and stay there. That said you will miss so much of the real Hawaii if you do. Whatever island you are on I would go see at least a couple of historic sites. Two of my favorites are Queen Emma’s Summer Palace on Oahu and Hulihe’e Place on Hawaii Island. These sites are both run by volunteers from the Daughters of Hawaii’i. They give an authentic picture of royal life.
Thank you, Katherine! We loved learning more about your passion for Hawaiian culture, and islands in general! We will be on the lookout for the next adventure of the Hawaiian Ladies’ Riding Society! (And also, thank you for the tip on caring for Orchids!)
-Kristin
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 9th, 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 9th. By then, we should all be able to toast to good health, listen to some great music, and find some great craic. Slainte!
-Shawn
On Friday night, a buddy of mine came over and we talked Bourbon. We discussed our favorite brands and some of the flavor profiles of what we were drinking, and I got to thinking about how much my drinking pallet has changed over the years. In my teenage years, it was whatever we could steal from dad and drink in the cemetery, while my college years could be referred to as my “Red Dog” years. I may not have matured much, but my drinking has. Like many others, I enjoy craft beer. But bourbon is now my go-to drink.
While our kids were trashing my house, and our wives chatted over a bottle of wine, we got to talking about one of our favorite cities in America: the Bourbon City, Louisville.
If you have not been to Louisville, or “Loo-a-vul”, as the locals say, then you are really missing out. If you enjoy sporting events, restaurants, or nature, there is plenty to do and see in and around the city. But the biggest reason to visit Louisville is bourbon. Even if you don’t enjoy the drink, you will probably enjoy the history, the process, and the friendliness of everyone involved.
Though there are not any top-tier professional sports teams in Louisville, the city is still a great place to visit for any sports fan. Its most famous for the Kentucky Derby, perhaps the most famous horse race in the world. Even when the race isn’t happening, Churchill Downs is still a great place to visit any time of the year to learn about horse racing (and enjoy a mint julep!). If you are not into racing, there is minor league soccer and baseball. Boxing fans can enjoy the Muhammed Ali Center, college basketball fans get the Louisville Cardinals, and everyone should check out the Louisville Slugger Museum.
Nature lovers are also in luck. Our crew loved checking out the fossils at the Falls of the Ohio State Park across the river in Indiana (although we did not see any waterfalls). And not too far away is Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system in the world.
Foodies would also love this place, as its probably one of the most underrated restaurant and bar scenes in America. Besides tons of great restaurants, it also has a cool bar scene with plenty of microbrews and speakeasies to visit. So check out their food offerings, and make sure you try a Hot Brown.
But the real reason you should visit Louisville is the bourbon. In Kentucky, bourbon is not just a drink, its an art. And the artists there are more than happy to share their magic with you. Downtown Louisville has several bourbon bars and tasting rooms where you can sample the local craft. But the best way to experience Kentucky bourbon is to visit the distilleries and learn about things from the distillers themselves.
But how do you choose where to go? There are over 50 distilleries all over Kentucky! And is it really a smart idea to drive around and limit how much delicious bourbon you get to try at these places? After all, most of it might not even be available where you live. Luckily, there are plenty of groups that will take care of that work for you. But in our opinion, the best is the Kentucky Bourbon Boys. Want to visit Louisville or other distilleries around Kentucky? Just tell them where you want to go, and they will book your tours, drive you there, and even make sure you eat. And they do it all with the Southern Hospitality you would expect from Kentucky!
But what the hell do we know? You would rather hear about this from an expert, right? Well good news! Tomorrow, we are going to have a post from our friend Tim at the Kentucky Bourbon Boys. And he will tell you all about how and why you should enjoy bourbon, and why you should visit Louisville and let them show you around. Stay tuned!
-Shawn
When I received an email regarding writing a review for Bound in Flame , written by author Katherine Kayne, my immediate reaction was – I’m not a book reviewer! However, the Hawaiian setting, the heroine at the center of the story, and the intriguing history led me to accept the challenge.
Just Get in the Car is a travel blog – and Hawaii has always been a place of interest for us. We spent our honeymoon enjoying Maui and Kauai, and hope to return one day. Reading Bound in Flame – as all well written fiction does – encouraged me to learn more about the historical backdrop of the novel. I hadn’t ever given much thought to the history of Hawaii, but having read the compelling story of Letty, the heroine, I was encouraged to do some research.
The book centers on Leticia Lili’uokalani Lang, a young woman who defied the expectations of how proper women should behave with her strong will, and independent spirit. The story begins with Letty’s return home to Hawaii after spending some time in a boarding school, which was intended to tame her spirit. As you might guess, this was a fruitless endeavor, as strong spirits aren’t easily tamed. We learn right away that Letty is an animal lover and protector. She causes quite a spectacle when she jumps into the ocean to save a horse.
Of course, this brave (crazy?) act hints at the series of events that will unfold in the subsequent pages. While author Katherine Kayne does take some liberties, her appreciation for the history and culture of the Hawaiian people is evident. The book takes place shortly after the Hawaiian monarchy was dissolved, with the would-be Queen playing a strong supporting role in Letty’s story.
And with all historical fiction that has caught my interest, there is a compelling love story.
I was unsure whether this book would ultimately turn out to be “just” a romantic novel, but it proved to be much more than that. Touching on the strong connection between the Hawaiian people and their land, Letty’s force is something she must face and learn to manage in order to live her life to its fullest.
The novel is easy to read, interesting, left me intrigued to learn more about the early 20th century Hawaiian experience, and satisfied my desire for a good love story.
I highly recommend that you grab yourself a copy and escape to the islands for a bit.
-Kristin
“Are those kids still asleep?” I hear my dad and mom talking outside of the bedroom that I’m sharing with my brother. I’m on the bottom bunk of one bunk bed, and he is on the bottom bunk of the other. Of course, we are in my most favorite place of all time, or at least what was my most favorite place of all time in that moment. My aunt and uncle’s beach house in Ocean Pines, Maryland.
A few seconds later I see an image that is now forever ingrained in my brain, and brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.
The door flies open, and my tall, tan, healthy, early riser, marine…loud dad yells into our room, “We’re burning daylight!” He is, obviously, wearing a Donald Duck, sleeveless beach shirt (for lack of a better term), that he got on our one and only non-beach family vacation to Disney World. I have a Winnie the Pooh one, and it now belongs to my daughter.
That’s my little bro in the picture.
“If you want to go with us to the beach, you need to get your behinds (he probably used a different word) downstairs, eat breakfast and get in the car. I’m outta here in twenty minutes. You snooze, you lose.” And off he goes to finish a cup of coffee on the patio overlooking the water (now, my most favorite thing to do). Or pack up the car, or put his fishing rods on the front of the car, or otherwise prepare to leave for the beach.
At the time I could not understand why we had to go to the beach at the butt crack of dawn. As an adult, of course, I realize that since we had to drive there from my beloved beach house – there was less traffic, easier parking, less crowded beaches, and beautiful early morning beach-ness. But as a teenager it was baffling. We usually stayed through a packed lunch on the beach, came home, showered up, and went to dinner. It was perfect. Especially for me, who actually preferred to be with my family than hanging out on the boardwalk or whatever normal teenagers do at the beach – just maybe with a later start time.
So I’m partly writing this post because I am still actively grieving, and because I can’t tell you how much those years and summers at the beach meant to me, especially in hindsight, and because I want you all to know that your kids will appreciate whatever memories you make with them. They will rely on things you didn’t know were traditions. They will cherish your ‘regularly scheduled programming’ of phrases and nagging and predictable responses, and those summer vacations, or winter vacations, or day trips, or whatever things you do.
One day they will relay to someone how special those weeks at the shore were, how they can now appreciate your need to be the first one on the beach, or reminisce about your desire to NOT ‘burn daylight’ (waste time). They will tell people that the sight of your shirt hanging on a beach chair, or your alarming awake-ness at ridiculously early hours are now the most endearing memories.
Plan the trip. Take the trip. Do all the things, and your kids will thank you for it. Be you. They will remember what made you who you were, and them who they are. The memories will be what they cherish during the most difficult of times.
-Kristin
For this post, Just Get in the Car was given three publications from National Geographic Kids to write about. Opinions are 100% our own. Enjoy!
As you know, we live in the age of Aquarius … oh, sorry. That was from an interesting conversation that I was a part of several years ago, but that’s a different blog post altogether.
We do however, live in an age of screens. You can’t deny it, or fight it really, but I have a theory about life that I think is rather enlightened. Instead of trying to eliminate the less then desirable, or less than healthy habits, foods, people… add the good. The good food, the good people, the good habits. It’s not fool proof, but it makes sense to me – leave less room for the things, the food, and the people that drain you of your life force by adding in as much positivity and goodness as possible.
This is the reason that I was so excited to be asked by Media Masters Publicity to review the newest edition of three National Geographic Kids publications, the 2020 Almanac, Weird But True USA, and Brain Games. Not only was it cool to have the chance to review these well-known publications, but I was thrilled to have my children check them out as well. I want them to get excited about real life books and tangible things that aren’t only accessible through a screen.
I love a great visual presentation, and National Geographic Kids does not disappoint. Not only were my children super excited to receive these books in the mail, but the images and colors of the publications are absolutely eye catching. When kids see them (and adults too), they think, woah, that looks awesome, let me see what is inside.
I was going to write a whole post about my adult thoughts on these books, but I thought you’d all be more interested in what our seven year old has to say about them, specifically the Weird But True book. He read it all in one day!
Before we get to his review, though, here is a quick recap of what to expect in each book.
Weird but true: 300 fun and interesting facts about the fifty states. The facts are presented along with cool pictures and graphics, and are great to remember for those times when you need a conversation starter!
Almanac 2020: Eleven color coded sections of incredible educational information. Presented in a way that is super kid friendly, easy to read, and easy to understand. Adults can use this Almanac as a reference for those hard to answer questions kids tend to throw at unsuspecting parents! Sections include: Your World 2020, Amazing Animals, Science and Technology, Going Green, Culture Connection, Space and Earth, Fun and Games, Awesome Exploration, Wonders of Nature, History Happens, and Geography Rocks
Brain Games Mighty Book of Mind Benders: A book full of activities and information to help your kiddos expand their brain power. Chapters include: Brainiacs Wanted, The Senses, Words and Language, Spatial Smarts, Problem Solving, Memory, and Brain mysteries
Our nine year old is loving the Almanac, and also the Brain Games book. I’m hoping to bring all three books on our upcoming trip to Toronto, for fun and family education!
A few notes about the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020:
The website is awesome! Don’t forget to check it out for more cool stuff. There is so much for the kids to look at and learn.
National Geographic Kids is inspiring kids to think about how they can change the world. Children are challenged to come up with an idea, change, invention, or discovery that they hope for in the future. They can submit their vision for a chance to be the Almanac 2020 Visionary. Let us know what they are thinking about, so we can all be encouraged to do better.
National Geographic is also hosting a Summer on the Go 2020 Grand Prize Giveaway in celebration of the 10th edition of the Almanac. Follow this link or click on the image below to enter for your chance to win!
All in all I am so excited to have all three of these books for our kids. They can go back to them time and time again, talk about the facts they are learning, and expand their minds and how they think about the world. I highly recommend that you check out all that National Geographic Kids has to offer!
-Kristin
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.
-Kristin
But ultimately, I looked in the mirror, told myself to stop having foolish dreams, and get a real job. So that is what I did.
Then at my 40th birthday, where you can see below I was enjoying myself already, my brother told me he had organized a historical drinking tour of Philadelphia through Grim Philly tours. It combines two things I love – drinking and history!
This niche tour company focuses on the true crime and Prohibition era in Philly. And it is run by history professors and high school teachers… just like I once dreamed of becoming! When I heard that, I was excited. This wasn’t going to be a History Channel alien hack show. This was going to be the real deal.
As an added bonus, they even agreed to customize the tour to my interests! This was a hard choice for me. Do I ask to tour Socialist Party gathering places during the Gilded Age? Or maybe drinking establishments opened during the Spanish Flu outbreak? I realized requests like that would make me out to be a douche and a dick, so I asked for something else: tell us about how people drank in Philly back in the day.
On the day of the tour, we were set to meet Ted, our tour guide, upstairs at Rotten Ralph’s, located at 2nd and Chestnut in Old City.
We imbibed a bit downstairs before we moved upstairs to begin our tour. You should definitely ask for Ted when you organize your own tour. He is a high school history professor in Jersey, really knew his stuff, and makes sure that he keeps everyone engaged and interested. Just be prepared for some blue language as well! We knew that ahead of time and we were ok with it, as you might have guessed.
After we got settled with another round of drinks, Ted began regaling us with some of the drinking history of Philadelphia. We discussed the more well-known drinking spots, like City Tavern and Tum Tavern (birthplace of the Marine Corp). But he also told us stories about some of the more infamous places along Front Street that were frequented by Philly ne’er-do-wells during the early days of the city. Not the drunken idiot Eagles fans you find nowadays: pirates, murderers and all kinds of other creeps.
During this, we learned a lot about things left out of your history books. For instance, you may have already known that there is a lot of doubt that Betsy Ross really created the first American flag. But what you may not have known is that she was considered a major babe and married at least two pirates / privateers!
After about 30 minutes of the stories, we took a break for the most important part of the tour: the drinks. Our tour guide began pouring everyone a glass of wassail, an English Christmastime drink made from apples. It was a pretty tasty drink – warm, cidery and delicious. Almost more like a warm cider than an alcoholic drink.
After our drink break, we listened to a few more stories about the seedier sites that used to exist along Front Street and the Delaware River. Then, back to more drinks: shots!
It was about this time when we moved along to the next stop on our tour: Infusion Lounge, also on 2nd Street. This was a former speakeasy, which made the perfect segue to our discussions on Philadelphia during Prohibition. Philly did not have a very good reputation in those days: there was a high level of corruption among the city police officers, and those reformers that did come in were chased out for trying to do too many revolutionary things: like enforce the law. We also learned about some of the gangsters that were running the show: a Jewish businessman who kept in the shadows, a Polish guy who pretended to be Irish, and (my favorite) a hunchbacked midget who moonlighted as the mascot of the Philadelphia Athletics.
While we were at Infusion, some of our group enjoyed the cigars that were available for purchase there. We also heard an interesting ghost story complete with photographic evidence as shown by Ted.
After a few drinks at Infusion, we went over to Christ Church, just off 2nd and Market Street. We may have had a few drinks passed around as we were hearing stories about the history of the church, but I won’t confirm that. What I can tell you is that this church has an interesting story. Besides being the final resting place of one of the Founding Fathers, it was also the place where some unlucky saps met their final demise (luckily there is a cemetery right next to it). The first story involved someone unlucky enough to have fallen into one of the crypts, and then having locked themselves in there. Story is, some people heard screams for help, but had no idea where they were coming from. Only years later when some of the groundskeepers were going down into the crypt did they find the remains of someone not where they were supposed to be!
The second story involved the bell tower. When the bell tower was added to the church, it became the largest building in colonial Philadelphia. Anxious to show off their fancy new bell, the bell ringer went up to the top of the tower and began pulling the rope…but forgot to let go. And then he went tumbling out of the opening to his death. At least he landed in the cemetery, so they wouldn’t have to move him very far.
We got the impression the Church itself does not like to advertise these stories, so don’t ask about them if you ever go there.
After those uplifting stories, we went to our final stop – JJ Bootleggers, also on 2nd Street. Our group had a section reserved for us, as well as a round of drinks waiting. Ted then regaled us with a few more stories of Philadelphia, and we also had the chance to chat with him one on one and ask for more detail on some of his stories. We hung around for awhile here, getting some dinner and a few extra drinks before we left. I definitely recommend trying out their cheese steak. The atmosphere in this bar was very cool, and if you go their hallmark drink is the moonshine, which seemed appropriate for the theme.
Besides the storytelling and tours, Grim Philly also provided us with several drinks at each of our stops. And if that is not enough for you, additional food and drinks can be ordered at each of the bars you visit. Since it was my birthday, I was able to guilt people into getting me something everywhere. And I bought myself a few as well.
The Grim Philly tours are not good for kids, but you probably already figured that out on your own. There is drinking, foul language, and (depending on the tour you choose) lots of talk about sex, murder and other vices. But it is a great time for the adults! You get to learn a little about the wonderful city of Philadelphia, maybe find some new watering holes, and get a chance to hang out with your friends and family.
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to their website, find yourself a tour (or reach out and organize your own). The tour guides are great, the subject matter is interesting, and there are drinks to be had!
-Shawn
]]>Ah, summer. I just love the season that brings warmth, sunshine, and longer hours of daylight. It makes me happy. It always has been, and always will be, the season that I endure all other seasons to get to.
I’ve forced myself to think of things that make the other seasons bearable, but aside from the festiveness that surrounds the holidays, I struggle to come up with anything…
Especially winter. Blech. Whose idea was that anyway?
We are currently in what I like to not so affectionately refer to as ‘post-holiday winter hell’- and I’m writing this post to buoy my spirits.
For basically my entire childhood, I would spend every summer at my most favorite place in the entire world. My aunt and uncle’s beach house in Ocean Pines, MD. It’s just outside of Ocean City, MD (OCMD) – which is inherently different then the Jersey Shore, which is where everyone else around here grew up going.
I must admit that I have come to love Sea Isle City in New Jersey, because we are creating new family memories there with Shawn’s family, but OCMD will always be my number one.
The house in Ocean Pines is about a 2-3 hour drive, and it’s usually less congested when driving from Philly on those busy summer weekends- because everyone going ‘down the shore’ is going east while you are going south (or something like that). And, it is, was, and always will be a little slice of perfection in my world.
So many of the memories I have with my parents, my younger brother, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, and my cousins revolve around ‘the beach house’. There was a point in time when we would all stay in this house together, and I am still not quite sure how that happened, because having more than one family in there now seems daunting.
It’s a ‘real beach house’, as I say.
What does that mean to me? It means it is not a side by side condo style, cookie cutter, ‘new construction’, all season home. It is a round, kind of make shift, original home, on stilts that really shouldn’t be occupied in the colder months. It is an ‘upside down’ house. The first floor is only the kitchen, and the living room and bedrooms are upstairs – which you get too via a spiral staircase. Plus, this view:
I could probably write pages and pages of stories, recommendations, and reviews of what to do and where to go during a stay to the area. And I am sure Shawn could write some compelling content on what breweries and minor league baseball stadiums are drivable from the general OCMD area.
Following are just a few of our favorite things to do when visiting ‘the’ beach house.
Generally speaking, we tend to stay outside of OCMD proper when on our beach vacations, since Ocean Pines itself is a self-contained community on the mainland.
Ocean Pines provides shopping, dining, playgrounds, walking trails, and a unique forest-y, pine-y (hence the name) atmosphere for your beach vacation.
We have yet to really utilize all of the amenities it has to offer, because we spend most of our time at the beach or eating somewhere outside of the development. I remember as a kid spending quite a bit of time at the pool facilities in Ocean Pines. Apparently some of the children during those fond memories were unruly on the beach, and the pool was easier. I’m quite certain I was not the problem child though, right mom?
Through all of the phases of my family using the beach house, we have always preferred Assateague Island to the crowded beach along the boardwalk in the middle of Ocean City. At Assateague, you can visit either the state park or national park – each with its own set of rules and amenities, and experiences. Located in West Ocean City, it is worth the drive if you prefer a more relaxed beach experience.
There are wild ponies who move freely around the island. For many, this is a reason to visit, but for others it can be startling to see a pony swagger up the coast while you are sunbathing. With attention to the signs and warnings, and use of common sense, it can be a unique beach experience.
While you can buy some concessions, I would recommend packing a lunch. Try Smoker’s BBQ Pit. Or, grab some on your way off of the island. I think it is pretty yummy, and definitely hits the spot after a long day at the beach.
I could list several restaurants to try when you are in the area, but my favorite – based solely on nostalgia, atmosphere, and a stellar view – and the country music that is usually playing – is Hooper’s Crab House. Here you can choose from plenty of options, mostly seafood. Back in the good old days I would come here with my family and we would get blue claw crabs – which is more of an experience then a meal. If you ask Shawn it’s definitely something you have to grow up doing in order to understand. He doesn’t get it, and it’s not quite the same when you are the only one doing it.
I’ve adapted to enjoy Hopper’s more for its ambiance.
In fact, we have branched out, literally and figuratively to Sneaky Pete’s … the bar/grill gazebo on the water outside of Hooper’s.
After Hooper’s, we like to cross route 50 and get a treat from Dumser’s Dairyland.
Our children have come to love the beach house vacation experience as much as I do, and ask every year when we will return. It warms my heart to pass on those special family memories, and create new ones with my own kids.
Since we almost exclusively stay at ‘the beach house’, I can’t comment too much on places to stay. However, I have always been intrigued by these two places, and intend to check them out someday:
The Francis Scott Key Family Resort
Frontier Town Campground
The Francis Scott Key Family Resort just looks cool and family friendly. It is not fancy, but has great pools inside and out, and it is not far from Ocean City proper.
Frontier Town is a unique family resort, including a western themed amusement park, miniature golf, a water park, and a campground. While we have enjoyed the water and theme park (see Shawn enjoying himself below?), we have never camped there. Shawn and the kids enjoy camping, and if we camped here I am almost guaranteed we will also get to a pool and beach – and everyone will win. It’s on our list of things to do.
Have you been to OCMD? What have you done? Where have you stayed?