ChiefScott just brought me back from meeting his Mom and Dad in Philly. He also took me on a whirlwind tour of Center City. There, in the old Wanamaker’s building, we saw the Lord and Taylor’s Holiday Light Show and at Strawbridge’s we went through the “A Christmas Carol” interactive display!
God, what great stores!!!
Do other cities have ongoing traditions that you used to do as a child and now you are taking your children to do?
Girlbysea (AKA: ChiefScott’s GBS)
Dear Heavenly Father!!!
She lurks no more!!!
We have Christmas in the Park downtown. The whole town center is turned into a winter wonderland and there are hundreds of small trees that different organizations and schools decorate. It is really cool. Merriment to be had by all.
I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature!
Huh?!
San Francisco used to have lovely traditions, but many have been lost in the “improvements” made by new business. One remains - even tho’ the store is now Neiman- Marcus, the rotunda is the one I remember from childhood and they still put up a wonderful tree that rises all the way to the top. My mom and I meet to shop each year and always have tea in the rotunda restaurant. It’s nice that something remains…
The things that come to those that wait may be the things
left by those who got there first.
Cheif, leave her alone…<smile>…I am lurking no longer either…I “grew up” in Manhattan…definitely ice skating at rockefeller center…the best!
Ah, Girlbysea, had you only seen Wanamaker’s before it was taken over by Lord & Taylor’s (which is actually owned by the May Company now). Do they still have the organ music in the atrium by the eagle? It was amusingly billed as “the world’s biggest organ!”
Does Strawbridge’s still have the statue of the giant drooling pig? I left Philly in '75 and have kinda lost touch . . .
Eve… I was so fascinated with everything that I felt like a kid in the candy shop. Being that I had never been to a big city, I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful everything was to me. I don’t remember the organ music, or the giant pig… but, if it was there, I know that I liked it. Chiefscott had trouble getting me off the EL… I’d still be on it…gosh, what fun… I think I like this big city thing… but my sea gulls…where are they??
Girlbysea (AKA: ChiefScott’s GBS)
What sea are you by, Girl?
As a former Philly girl (well, OK, west of Philly), I am delighted that your first big-city experience was in my hometown, and that you enjoyed it! Philly is one of those few U.S. cities that still has entire blocks you can walk down that haven’t changed since the 18th century.
Sigh . . . I’d move back, but I’m stuck in NY for career reasons . . .
P.S. All this time, I thought the Chief was dating George Bernard Shaw!
Eve… I’m by the beautiful Virginia Beach…I enjoyed your city very much. George Bernard Shaw… nope… Just this girl by the sea…
Girlbysea (AKA: ChiefScott’s GBS)
The brass boar is still in Strawbridges on 8th Street. Unfortunately, Strawbridges was purchased a few years ago (by Federated, I believe). Some of the stores have been shut down, like the one at King of Prussia Mall.
When I was a tot we used to go to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where they would have dozens of huge Christmas trees set up, each decorated with handmade ornaments from a different country.
Now I’m in San Diego and the thing here is lights. People decorate their boats with lights and have a “parade” through the harbor. There are also several places (usually in the Portuguese communities, for some reason) where people go really insane with decorations on their houses. Some of them are almost completely covered in lights and have life-sized animated figures in the windows.
Philadelphia? Philadelphia is Boston without the New England charm.
We hide our charm from you rah-rah Yalie types. We neither seek nor need your approval.
—Eve [siccing the dogs on 'im]
I thought Philly was Boston without the insane traffic.
Uke Ike is wrong on so many accounts.
Philly is Boston without the crappy food, knock-off documents, and Paul Revere.
I’ll take cheesesteaks, the Declaration of Independence and Ben Franklin any time.
BTW, the brass pig is now at the Reading Terminal Farmer’s Market (on 11th between the Convention Center and the Hard Rock Cafe) atop a plexiglass money box hawking pennies and dimes for the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania.
As an aside…
I took GBS all over the freakin’ place! Independence Hall (All right, all ready you history buffs – the Pennsylvania State House!), the Liberty Bell, Lords and Taylors (Wanamaker’s), Penney’s (Gimbel’s), The Bourse, the Gallery (at Market East), City Hall, 57 stories above the city in the Bell Tower…
And what is the first thing she tells her daughter about upon our arrival back in Va. Beach??
“Guess what, honey? I rode the subway!!!” with glee I’ve never encountered before.
(Shut up, glee.
[grousing] All right, all right. Philadelphia rules. I ain’t getting into no shouting matches with the likes of Eve and ChiefScott. (Whoops…almost typed “I know when I’m licked.” What would they have done to me with THAT?)
Uh…the Reading Terminal Market is nice. I bought some pots there once.
Uke