On November 13, 2010, J and I had another reception in NJ to celebrate our marriage with family and friends that could not make it to CA. It was a whirlwind long weekend, leaving for PA on Veterans Day and staying in Philly on Thursday and Friday nights. The Club Quarters hotel near Rittenhouse Square was our home base when we arrived late Thursday. We had just enough time to check-in and grab a drink at a few watering holes in the neighborhood, settling at the Good Dog Bar. The hotel was noisy with the students from across the river making their way home after closing time. The sound echoed up the side of the building. I didn't sleep very well that night.
The next day we grabbed a pastry and coffee and walked to the City Hall area to explore the city. We visited "Love Park" and the art on the plaza across from City Hall (the art is based on childhood game pieces, like the wheelbarrow from Monopoly or the pieces from Sorry!). Pretty cool. From there we admired the architecture of City Hall and William Penn atop of it. We walked to the Reading Terminal and browsed the Amish faire. Had we not just eaten a pastry from Au Bon Pain, we would have partaked in the breakfast. Alas, we continued to Market Street, heading "downtown to the Gallery Mall" (passing underneath a walkway but not actually going in, but I had "Parents Just Don't Understand" in my head the whole time). We then walked to Independence Mall Park and got tickets for a big red open air bus tour and a tour of Independence Hall. The bus tour began within minutes and we were on our way, map in hand. Saw the sights we just went to, and then continued to Logan Circle and beyond, where on the way back from the Please Touch Museum our big red bus broke down in Fairmount Park. It was a nice, but chilly day. Unfortunately, we had a timed tour to get to and hadn't eaten lunch yet. Once we were rescued and we got back to the Mall, we grabbed another fast bite and got in line to see the rooms where the history took place. We walked around the Olde City some more (had a cheesesteak) and tried some bars in the area before heading back to Rittenhouse Square and walking around the actual square. I really like Philly.
The next day we got up and headed with our wedding gear to South Jersey for the ceremony and reception. My mother and her friends did an amazing job of reusing the cranes we had at our CA wedding and reception as well as having a nice spread of food--including Italian hoagies that I requested. No pizza though. The ceremony was brief but nice I think. I didn't want it to be just gathering at the church to eat. My bridesmaid Jeannie gave the toast, we cut the sheet cake from Century Bakery, smashed a little in each other's face, and did an abbreviated first dance to Foo Fighters' "Everlong". It ended at 3 pm and the day was clear, cool, and sunny.
Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel next door to where we stayed in Vineland with family and local friends. I got to hang out even more with my friend Marianne who flew in from MN to be a part of my NJ ceremony. She was the maid of honor that day which was great. :-)
Afterwards we went back to Philly with my cousin Denise. We visited the Eastern State Pen and had dinner at the City Tavern in Olde City. We went for a walk along the river and then went to a bar where we had to wait for Denise to come back to Philly because she had left an important item by mistake in our hotel room at Independence Park. All turned out well, but it was a long day and night. Monday we caught our flight home.
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