Roxanne - Philly

The Vibe: A very enjoyable, happy, fun, and playful dinner.

Standouts: Perfect tuna crudo served under a literal picture frame, and a golden Käsekrainer with a homemade donut and a cream “hi”!

Note: Portion sizes were a bit heavy for a tasting menu, filling me up too fast.

Verdict: I’ll return, but probably in a year or so

Alice - Philly

The Vibe: Competent tasting menu with excellent execution, though a bit too trendy for my taste (great if trendy is your thing!).

Standouts: The dry aged burger was excellent!

Verdict: Probably won’t return, unless something changes.  

Kanpachi crudo, sungold tomato, serrano chile - decent, especially the chilies!

Latkes, creamy kale, sunchoke, trout roe - very dry! tasted like they were frozen from a box

Goal roasted octopus, green chile, preserved lemon - too trendy, especially the lemon sauce

Dry aged burger, cheddar, challah, bbq vidalia, white sauce

Rare!! Yum!!

Grilled baby broccoli, sherry, hazelnut, pecorino - Way too much! Did not finish it!! 

Scampi - Philly

The Vibe: Pure authenticity—no trends or gimmicks, just heartfelt food.

Standouts: Incredible pasta that masters the simple elements of flour, water, and air. Passion shines through every plate.

Verdict: I’d definitely return!

Emilia Romagna

Gnocco Fritto w/ Foie & Figs

Cappelletti di Zucca: Pumpkin, Amaretti, Gorgonzola

Tortelli con la coda w/ Black Truffle

Gramigna:  Ragu di Manzo

Lasagna Bolognese: Sfoglia Verte, Besciamela, Ragu

Tiramisu

Apple Cider Zeppoli

Royal Izakaya - Philly

The Vibe: No longer walk-in only (they take reservations now!). Great for adventurous eaters.

Standouts: The fish heads were AMAZING—reminiscent of northern Spain. Even the conventional Spinach Gomaae was incredible.

Verdict: I’ll definitely be returning!

Wagyu Zabuton Steak: shiro dashi glaze, black sesame yakiniku, shichimi togarashi

Fish Heads 

Kamo Rosu: Hudson Valley duck breast, karashi, watercress, tare

Spinach Gomaae: baby spinach, black sesame sauce

Collect Experiences!! Not Things!! ;-) - Scientifically Proven

 Doing makes you happier than owning – even before buying

"A great meal can be more than just food—it can create lasting memories.

Researchers in hospitality and consumer psychology, including scholars at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, have found that experiential dining—particularly fine dining—is strongly linked to higher perceived life satisfaction and happiness.

Why? Because experiences build stronger emotional memories than material purchases. When people invest in meaningful moments, such as celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or simply enjoying a special night out, the meal becomes part of their personal story. Psychologists note that these moments foster greater long-term happiness and forge stronger social connections.

Fine dining also engages all the senses. The carefully crafted dishes, thoughtful presentation, ambient environment, and attentive service turn dinner into a distinct event. Ultimately, researchers emphasize that this combination of atmosphere, anticipation, and shared social connection is what elevates a simple meal into a memorable experience." @facesottawa

Jacob Collier in a nutshell:

• The Genius: Highly praised for his absurd musical intelligence, deep harmonic theory, and ability to master almost any instrument he touches. 

• The Boundary Pusher: Redefining modern harmony, microtonal experiments, and interactive live performances like no one else. 

• The Diagnosis: Self-diagnosed with "creative infinity syndrome" (a playful term he coined himself, not a medical condition—though it fits). 

• The Critique: Critics argue his hyper-complex arrangements lean too hard into technical showmanship and musical overkill, sacrificing emotional connection for academic flexing.

Brilliant innovation or over-engineered music? I believe he's brilliant! 

Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences Closing

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia is permanently closing its physical museum doors on September 30, 2026, after more than two centuries of public operation.
History & Legacy

•   Founded in 1812: Established by leading naturalists, it stands as the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. 

•   Public Opening: Began sharing its extensive natural history collections with the public in 1828.

•   Drexel Affiliation: Formally affiliated with Drexel University in 2011 to secure long-term financial stability.

Caught it just in time: the Academy of Natural Sciences is going the way of the  dinosaur and closing its doors on Sept 30 after nearly 200 years of operation. Apparently, running a physical museum isn't "financially sustainable" anymore, so they’re packing up the skeletons and sticking strictly to research and "public engagement" (whatever that means once the doors are locked).

A natural history museum going extinct right before its 200th birthday. RIP to the oldest science museum in the Americas!

 🦕📉👋

 

20th Anniversary!  On September 22, 2006,  we arrived in Washington DC concluding our cross-country cycling trip from Seattle to DC with “Bike for Peace”! So many great memories! Such a great experience! 

Final Stats:

Miles Ridden: 3,476

Average Miles per day of Cycling: 81*

Days of Cycling: 43 

Hours of Pedaling: 282

Average Speed: 12.63

Money Saved on Gas: $825.67

Beginning Weight: 198

Ending: Weight: 185

Number of Convenience Stores or Gas Marts Frequented: 107

Would I do it again: Yes, most definitely

Would I do it a second time: Probably not (but I eventually did in 2017)

Top Ten Questions Asked

1. Where ya headed? Washington DC
2. When will you get there? September 22th
3. Where'd you come from? Seattle, WA
4. How long will it take you? 7 weeks
5. When did you start? August 1st
6. How many miles do you cycle a day? An average of 81
7. What’s your cause (or disease)? A: Peace (hence: bike4peace.org)
8. What do you do that you can take off so much time from work? I’m unemployed
9. Where are you from? New Jersey
10. Where do you sleep? Host Families, Churches, Camp Grounds

*There’s absolutely no way I could cycle an average of 81 miles per day over 43 days today! 

My Loup

Nope....

 

50/50 Martini, red vermouth, twist of lemon - Okay, but not great!

Pickled Shrimp, Aioli & Saltines: This tasted great, but why not remove the saltine wrappers?

Green Garlic 'Escar-roll": the green garlic and escargot tasted great, but on like a roll with lots of oil. Too much! Would have been a lot better with pasta instead of the greasy roll. 

Dry-Aged Duck, Concord Grapes, Eggplant and Red Verjus: Tasted more like authumn than summer! However, the mint leaves were interesting. 

Corima, NY

 Eating my way through the 50 Best Restaurants in North America!  Corima was ranked 36th in 2026!