May 12, 2010
The Morris Arboretum
The weather is perfect and it’s sunny outside, so a trip to the beautiful Morris Arboretum is a must.
It’s a fantastic place to visit, whether you’re taking your family out or going on a romantic date, there’s something for everyone. The landscapes are absolutely gorgeous and the amount of time put into maintaining the gardens is truly hard to believe. Such attention to detail!
A stream rushes under a bridge at the Morris Arboretum
I heavily recommend making a full day out of it if you plan on seeing everything at the Arboretum. With a few hours to look around at a casual pace, I still only managed to see half of what the Arboretum had to offer.
I took one of the main paths around and stopped by some of the larger attractions; the Rose Gardens, the Out on a Limb exhibit and the Swan pond to name a few.
The view from Out on a Limb @ the Arboretum
On the way out, I spoke to some of the staff. It’s only $75 for a yearly pass to the Arboretum, and that includes 2 free passes so you can take some friends! I’ll certainly go back so I can see the rest of the gardens. Maybe I’ll see you there.
Morris Arboretum
100 Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 247-5777
www.morrisarboretum.org
April 29, 2010
Estelle Parsons in August: Osage County, Photo by Joan Marcus
Last night, I had the good fortune of catching a performance of Tracy Letts’ play August: Osage County at the Forrest Theater.
Going in, I didn’t know much about the show, save for what I had read on the Kimmel Center’s website. I knew it won a number of awards during its run on Broadway, and that it was a three hour long dark comedy. That alone was more than enough to get me interested.
I really can’t put enough emphasis on the word “dysfunctional” when it comes to the Weston family and how they were portrayed. There were a number of times when my mouth was just wide open in shock at some of the things that were being said on stage. Estelle Parsons portrayal of Violet was the icing on an already deliciously dark cake.
Executed flawlessly, the show was simply brilliant; the actors worked amazingly well together and there was an equal balance of hilarity and heartbreak. Three hours might seem long, but you won’t even notice. You’ll leave wanting more.
If you get the chance, go and see August: Osage County. The show wraps up at the Forrest Theatre this Sunday.
August: Osage County
Now through May 2nd, 2010
Forrest Theatre
1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 923-1515
www.forrest-theatre.com
April 21, 2010
Seating Inside Euphoria Smoothies & Coffee
While walking around Liberties Walk I found myself craving something sweet. I didn’t have much time to spare and the weather’s been absolutely gorgeous lately, so I decided to run over to Euphoria to check out their extensive smoothie menu. Considering that I’d never been there before, I was expecting it to look like any other ordinary cafe. I was quite surprised when I saw how much effort was put in to the overall decor. The atmosphere is comfortable and there is plenty of seating.
After looking at the menu and briefly speaking with the two people at the counter as to which smoothies were their favorites, I decided to get the Tropical Oasis smoothie; a mixture of mango, pineapple, orange, banana and fat-free yogurt. While it was undergoing its transformation from individual ingredients to drinkable bliss, I’m pretty sure that I double-guessed my choice a million times. Each and every one of the flavors on the board made me want to order them — and if that wasn’t enough, there’s an even a create-your-own smoothie option.
A few minutes later, my smoothie was done and I was on my way. The texture was perfect. It was really creamy and the taste of all the fruits together left me craving another sip even before I finished my first. Before I knew it, my drink was gone.
If you find yourself anywhere near Liberties Walk, I highly recommend that you stop by and get a smoothie. You most certainly won’t regret it.
Euphoria Smoothies & Coffee
1001 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-9209
www.nleuphoria.com
