Paris in Philadelphia

Today is the final extravaganza of the Philadelphia Arts Festival Street Fair.

Fortunately the Missus and I will have the chance to experience it first-hand. So while it may only be of historical value, it will be a fun chance to describe the bits I see of the whole shebang.

A South Jersey View

Down at the local grocery store, there is usually a nice stack of free magazines. Many are devoted to real estate (rentals and purchases), a few on alternative health, and every now and then one devoted to nightlife.

Tonight I had the chance to peruse The Society Page.

It is a big colorful tabloid, and dishes for the eyes an appealingly pulchritudinous parade of beauties.

The only flaw from my point of view is that it lacks pictures from more Philly spots. And while I have managed to have fun on a number of occasions on the far side of the Ben Franklin Bridge, these days I mostly stay in Philadelphia.

Some thoughts

In every sort of entertainment venue, there is a telos. In a successful place, the telos will match both patrons' and sponsors' expectations.

Sometimes, a conflict of expectations will lead one to reject a restaurant.

For example, I like McDonald's hamburgers and fries. I think they are delicious for what they are, quickly prepared, and the facilities are generally quite satisfactory.

Unfortunately, here in Center City Philadelphia, at any time other than the pressing rush of lunch-hour crowds, the vague unease of menace lurks in the atmosphere. Philadelphia is not, to the looks of it, well supplied with facilities to appropriately contain petty criminals, the aged, madmen, and truants. So lured by usable toilets and climate control, they all come to gibber meaninglessly and/or profanely. Further, some will creep upon normal customers and bay for salves to quiet their pitiful addictions.

So, I usually do take out.