The Rat is Back!

Posted by Sean on May 26th, 2006 | no responses

Union Rat

The union rat was out in front of the Hotel Pennsylvania this morning. This appears to be the ‘Extra Large’ version. A few people I worked with booked rooms there… they called the place a ‘Rat Hole’.

Images from Italy

Posted by Sean on May 4th, 2006 | 6 responses

Villa Citerna

It’s been about a year and a half since my trip to Italy. I had a 1/12th share in a villa in Fiano Tuscany. If you can get a big enough group together, this is a great way to spend a vacation. The villa was amazing, as was the Tuscan country side. We divided up into smaller groups durning the day for sightseeing (or spending some time by the pool). We took turns with cooking duties durning the week, and had many amazing meals prepared with food from the local farm co-op. It’s a slow day, so here is a little gallery from the trip.

All photos were taken with a Nikon D100 , 18-35, 28-105 or 50mm.

Florence Arches

Wine Cask

Market in Florence

Tuscan Sunset

Wine Bottles

Train in Vain

Posted by Sean on Dec 20th, 2005 | 4 responses

For the past 2 years I’ve been taking the family to the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg PA. I went there when I was a kid, and it has been fun going back as an adult. My son really loves Thomas the Tank, and anything else related to trains. The Railroad has a running steam train that makes a 45 minute round trip down a 5 mile straight track. They have beautifully restored the engine and cars. The craftsmanship inside the coaches and dining cars is beautiful so book a ride. We usually eat lunch in the dining car during the train ride. The Railroad also has special ‘Thomas the Tank’ events on certain dates. I have not gone to these, but I imagine they are extremely busy, so you should book any train rides in advance.
After spending some time at the railroad, check out the Choo Choo Barn up the road. They have an amazing model railway that recreates many scenes from the local area. The attention to detail is amazing, everytime I go back, I see something I missed the last time. Across the street from the railway is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. They have indoor and outdoor displays of many different historical engines and railcars from the Pennsylvania Railroad. They have steam engines, streamliners and trolly cars from the glory days of the rail era.

The railway is located in Lancaster County (Amish Country). The picture above gives you an idea of the mix of ‘tourist trap’, beautiful landscapes and rustic appeal. There are a ton of things to do in town (outlet stores, greasy spoons, arts and crafts etc), so the non-train lovers won’t get too bored. The Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park is another place to stop by if you have kids.

McSorley’s – Be good or be gone

Posted by Sean on Nov 24th, 2005 | no responses

Mcsorley’s Dark ale and mustard

McSorley’s Old Ale House is one of my favorite places to go for a night out when the weather gets cold. While many chain restaurants try to create a history by hanging someone else’s stuff on the walls, McSorley’s has got the real deal. The bar has been around since 1854, operating even during prohibition. The floors are covered in sawdust, and the rest of the place is covered in regular dust (most of which is probably older than you or I). The atmosphere is friendly and casual. The bar staff are gruff but friendly, and they will be happy to answer any questions you ask. When the bar gets crowded, you may have to share your table with strangers. I’ve met some great people there… so don’t be afraid! The menu is pretty limited, but a perfect compliment to the place. The burgers are good, and if you want a light snack, the cheese platter consisting of sliced cheddar, saltines (still in the wrapper) and onions is a good bet. You could spend a few days looking over the photos of famous people (and some infamous ones like Boss Tweed) who have patronized the bar in the past. The items I love to look at are the personal knick-knacks that people have left over the years… fire helmets, police badges, pipes etc etc. Each one has a story that is lost to time. Also, anyone paying a visit to McSorely’s must check out the urinals in the men’s room. Ladies, don’t be shy. Tell any gentlemen in there that you want to see the urinals, and they will be quite understanding. Another piece of history that is not to be missed is the legendary gas chandelier…

McSorley’s Chandelier

The chandelier is covered in dust dating back to WWI. If you look at the photo above, you will see a number of wishbones straddling the lamp. WWI Doughboys shipping out to war left the wisbones hanging for luck. Those who returned, retrieved their wishbones, but many remain still waiting for some unfortunate soldier to claim them. A word of warning… Don’t touch the lamp. It is a memorial, and the people at McSorley’s expect it to be treated as such.

Be Good or Be Gone

In the photo at the top of this post, you will see a number of glasses of dark beer. You only have two choices, light beer (amber colored, not lo-cal) or dark. They come 2 glasses at a time ($4 per round). At one time the brewed their own beer, but I think someone makes it for them these days.

Pot Belly Stove

My favorite seat in the place is next to the old pot belly stove. In the winter time it is lit and stoaked with coal, and on a cold night it warms the soul nicely.