Philadelphia Serves Up Green Beer and Flowers in February and March

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This weekend, as you await Oscar’s choices, you might be thinking about catching one of the  favorites: Lincoln.  And what better way to get in the true spirit of the times than to go to a Philly’s Ale House that opened its doors the year that Lincoln was elected president! (Talk about making a connection!) That Ale House would be McGillin’s Olde Ale House on Drury Street in Center City.  The timing is simply perfect.

The beer taps have been flowing since 1860 – making it the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia.  The tavern was originally named The Bell in Hand inside a small row house. The laborers who frequented the tiny tavern on the tiny street simply called it McGillin’s after the Irish immigrant owner, “Pa” William McGillin.  McGillin’s stayed in the family until 1958 when it was sold by his daughter to two brothers:  Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak (no typo here, the brothers actually spelled their name differently.)  The same great beers and service are brought to you by the same family!  Behind the bar, check out the homage to the original name of the tavern.

McGillin’s is never a stranger to the list of “Best Irish Pubs in America” and also listed as one of the “Coolest bars in the U.S.” by Gourmet.  It’s ready for its countdown to Saint Patrick’s Day.  The countdown begins on Friday, February 22 through March 17.  This weekend features live Irish music with Patsy Whelan, green beer, Irish stout and Irish food.   No worries: green beer will continue to be on tap through the weeks until the big green day.  You’ll have plenty of opportunities to imbibe a delicious green liquid.

  • Saturday, March 9 : Pub Crawl – green beer and cheer
  • Sunday, March 10 : St. Patrick’s Day Parade – McGillin’s is a half block from the parade route.  Enjoy a cozy fire, an Irish coffee, a hot cocoa with butterscotch liquor, or a hot toddie.  (Did I mention the green beer will be flowing?)  Side note: MARCH 10 IS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME; SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR.
  • Saturday, March 16: What?  Another pub crawl!  Oh, yes!  No cover at McGillin’s!
  • Sunday, March 17:  Philadelphia’s greenest, oldest, and best celebration! Green beer, Irish Stout, Irish Potato Martinis, Chocolate Leprechaun Cocktails & Irish food. Opening 10 a.m. – one hour early. Cover.

But did you think that the only thing that McGillin’s celebrated was St. Patrick’s Day with green beer?  Well, my friend, think again about one of the premier events in Philadelphia:  The Philadelphia Flower Show!

  • February 25 – March 10, serving Flower Show Drinks Earl Grey Martini, Pimm’s Cup, Pimm’s Royal (Pimm’s & Sparkling wine).  The Flower Show is held only a few short blocks from McGillin’s and will be happy to see you stop by for a meal before or after the show.

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the world’s longest-running and largest indoor Flower Show. This year, it will be held from March 2 – March 10 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  This year’s theme is “Brilliant!”  The Flower Show will take visitors through the UK, including the streets of London, the Mad Hatter’s tea party, cozy country cottage gardens, and manicured and refined gardens of the cricket clubs.

Within the next few weeks, catch a movie that won an Oscar, do a pub crawl, see the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, and take a whiff of Spring at the Flower Show.  Wishing you lots of pots of gold at the end of your rainbow, and sending Philly Love, XOXO.

Great St. Patrick’s Day Options in Seattle!

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In some cities (hello, Chicago!), St. Pat’s Day means green rivers and festivities that begin at dawn. For others, like Seattle, the celebration is a little more low-key. Never fear, though, because we do celebrate!

On Friday and Saturday, March 16th and 17th, check out the Irish Festival at Seattle Center! Free admission; booths selling Irish and Celtic products; tons of Irish music, dancing, children’s activities, and cultural displays – and don’t forget the food! There will be some yummy Irish fare to sample and fall in love with. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Festival site: http://www.irishclub.org/center.htm

What’s a holiday without a parade? This year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade happens on Saturday, March 17th, from 12:30pm – 2pm. Winding around downtown, and ending at Seattle Center in conjunction with the Irish Festival! More information here: http://www.irishclub.org/parade.htm

For the genuine athletes or the I-run-for-free-beer friends in your group, the St. Pat’s Dash covers 4 miles and benefits the Detlef Shrempf Foundation in support of local children’s charities. It’s billed as a family event, offering a competition for young and old. Possibly the best way to describe this fun-filled event comes straight from its own website: “If you haven’t been to the St. Patrick’s Day Dash before you’ll see a diverse group of participants. Don’t be surprised if you’re passed by a human pot of gold, a 6ft 3in leprechaun, a 4-pack of Guinness cans or a grown man in a tutu. With all of the costumes, it’s like a spring version of Halloween.”

The Dash happens on Sunday, March 17th, around the Seattle Center, touching the Lower Queen Anne/Uptown and South Lake Union neighborhoods.

So after you’ve gotten some culture at the Festival or broken a little sweat at the Dash, you’ll surely be seeking a real “authentic” Irish pub experience, right? Seattle’s got you covered! Some great pubs to try:

  • Fado: Quite possibly the city’s most popular Irish (and otherwise!) pub, Fado (“Fa-doe”) is located in Belltown at 801 First Avenue in Seattle. Guinness for everyone!
  • Kell’s: Nestled into Post Alley above the Market at 1916 Post Alley in Seattle, Kell’s is a favorite go-to, especially on nice Spring and Summer days, thanks to the outdoor patio and convenient location.
  • Owl N’Thistle: Ownl N’Thistle originally opened in 1930, and boasts great live music and a fun, lively atmosphere. 808 Post in Seattle.
  • Irish Emigrant: Further north than the city? This old-fashioned favorite can be found in the University District at 5260 University Way NE in Seattle. Great pints, fun pub atmosphere – but be prepared for the college kids!

It’s almost time to throw on your best green threads and head out for your own St. Pat’s Day fun! Good luck!

Chicago’s Children’s Museum & Stray Boots Tour

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Double your pleasure
Double your fun

I’ve written several blogs about all there is to do and see at Navy Pier. So many exhibits and events come and go there. But there are at least two very special and unique experiences that are permanent……The Stray Boots Navy Pier Tour and the Chicago Children’s Museum.

I don’t know who had more fun…..me or the kids I took to the Chicago Children’s Museum at the front of Navy Pier. I’m just a kid at heart and you may be too. If so, grab your kids, nieces, nephews, and their friends and join in. The museum’s focus is to connect playing and learning in ways that are so much fun. Over 15 interactive exhibits and a variety of daily programs make this an exciting, adventurous place for the whole family.

The newest exhibit, UNBOXED: Adventures in Cardboard, is a creative play land of cardboard boxes. Unleash the children in here and you may realize that a cardboard box is the best and most affordable toy you can get them. Good to keep in mind for next Christmas! Enjoy your kids’ sense of design, engineering, and building know-how as they construct boats, houses, swords, robots. Watch them go through the cardboard maze, tunnel through tiny houses, or sit at the feet of a 9 foot tall Box Giant.

At the Dinosaur Expedition, recreate the experience of archaeologist Paul Sereno who discovered a new type of dinosaur in the Sahara desert. Climb into the excavation pit and dig for skulls, teeth, and bones, using brushes and work tools much like Sereno’s team.

It’s so much fun to get soaked at WaterWays. Kids get busy pumping water through pulleys, squirting it, racing boats, and watching the water current that they never realize how much they are learning about the power of water. Although the kids put on little raincoats, they still get wet. But not to worry. When they are all done, just use the hand dryers to dry off clothes and hair. The experience is worth any dampness you may take away.

At Skyline, kids will feel like they are on a construction crew with their own hardhat and tools. Watch them tinker with nuts and bolts as they design buildings and bridges. Older kids and families will have a similar experience in the Tinkering Lab where they can use real hammers, power drills, saws, and screwdrivers in a workshop atmosphere to create some pretty cool projects. The Pegboard Challenge is a fascinating experience using gears, balls, and chutes to create cause and effect reactions.

In the Art Studio, art educators and guest artists help kids with painting, sculpting, and a variety of creative expression. No matter how old you are, it’s easy to get your creative juices flowing when you stick a paint brush in your hand.

All these activities I mentioned are just the highlights of a museum packed with so much opportunity. It’s a spectacular day of learning and play. There is something for every age no matter how old or young your kids are.

Once you’re done at the museum, take the Stray Boots tour. What a blast to hunt for clues along the entire length of the pier. You will discover shops, food, rides, a stained glass museum, Shakespearean theater, boat cruises, and entertainment. Fantastic scenery awaits you at the end of the pier. You can either look out on the horizon across Lake Michigan as the water sparkles or you can turn around and cast your eyes on the breathtaking Chicago skyline. Have an incredible family day in this huge indoor playground. Take the Stray Boots Navy Pier tour in the morning, stop for lunch, and then let the family get silly and playful at the museum. You’ll all sleep well that night.

Traveling Deeply in Chicago,
Ellie

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” Jawaharlal Nehru

Grab a Tasty Bite: Seattle Wine and Food Experience!

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Possibly the best way to spend five hours on a Sunday in February (or, any day any month for that matter), the Seattle Wine and Food Experience is coming to Seattle Center on February 24th! From 12pm – 5pm, Experience-goers will be treated to the best in wine, beer, spirits, and culinary treats the Northwest has to offer. This is a tasting event, meaning most food items will be amuse buche-sized and beverages will be small samplings – and come 5pm, when the event closes, you’ll be close to tons of great Lower Queen Anne restaurants and bars to continue the party!

Featured culinary treats come from top area chefs representing area hotspots as well as long-standing favorites, including Andaluca’s Chef Sarah Lorenzen, The Barking Frog’s Chef Bobby Moore, Local 360’s Chef Robin Leventhal, and Trellis’s Chef Brian Scheehser. Featured wines include varietals from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and some International picks too! Beer and cider lovers will have 12 great breweries to sample from, and even coffee fans will have something new to try from Seattle-born Fonte Coffee Bar.

Something setting this food and wine event apart from many others is the extensive selection of exhibitors. Ranging from chocolates and cheeses to gourmet pickles, the vendors and farmers manning the exhibitor tables are not to be missed! Local, homegrown goodies abound.

Tickets run $55 per person, 21+ only (see “wine, beer, spirits”, above), but that $55 is not going into anyone’s pockets as profit! Instead, the Experience has partnered with two local charitable organizations, The Giving Grapes Foundation and Big Table. There will be some items available for direct purchase from Experience vendors, however no alcohol will be sold on premises. Bring cash if you’re planning to purchase, as some vendors may not be accepting credit cards!

For more information about the Seattle Wine and Food Experience, including online ticket purchase, visit their website: http://seattlewineandfoodexperience.com/