Our Trip to Philadephia

Yes, we make a trip down to Philadelphia every Wednesday, but this time we decided to have some fun.  No lessons, and we actually went on a Thursday.  In honesty, we all needed to get out.  We just aren't used to sitting for any length of time, and I wanted to understand all the hype about "the city of brotherly love".

I love Philadelphia.  I love it for so many reasons.  It's busy and has lots to offer, but it feels different from New York City.  I feels manageable.

So, the kids and I piled into the car at 8 a.m.  I could hardly believe that I actually got them out the door and dressed at that time of day over Christmas break.  Everybody either slept, or watched movies in the car, so yet again I was left to do the driving myself, but it went much quicker without rush hour traffic, or the rain which seems to accompany us on all of our trips to Philly.

In non-traditional Aris fashion, I didn't plan the trip at all.  I had only one goal, and the rest of the chips could fall where they may.  I just wanted to see the movie "Being Elmo".

Elmo has been a part of our life for years, and when I was at Interlochen this summer, Kevin Clash, the puppeteer for Elmo, was at the Traverse City Film Festival when the movie was playing.  I have waited since then to see the movie, it opened in Philly (finally!), and I was determined to see it.

Before that, though, we headed to the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross house, and Independence Hall.  I love any tour given by a park ranger, and the Independence Hall ranger didn't disappoint.  Too, I love that my kids love those tours.  We learned a lot, and it made me appreciate the courage of the founding fathers.

In front of Christ Church Cemetery where Benjamin Franklin is buried.
His tombstone is directly behind Glo.

In front of Independence Hall.

Before the movie, we headed to our favorite Philly restaurant, Campo's, which serves the real-deal cheesesteak sandwiches.  The crazy thing was that there are only 6 small tables in the front of the restaurant, and the line was almost out the door.  When I saw someone make even the smallest movement to leave (because you better believe I was scoping out those tables, and watching everyone like a hawk), I had the kids swoop in and get the table.  It was ridiculous, seeing us tall and big Kennedys, circling a table no bigger than a foot in diameter, but gosh darn it, we were going to SIT DOWN!!!

Then, we headed across the street to get some frozen yogurt.  If it hadn't been 50 degrees outside, this would not have been an option, but it was the most beautiful, sunny day in Philly.  I ask you, why can't it be like that on our weekly sojourns???

Mark, channeling a famous
scene from a Christmas
movie.  Anybody know what
it is?

Finally, we got to the movie.  The theatre was small, but newly renovated and had nicer seating than any theatre in State College.

It was a fascinating movie, but the best part was when Kevin Clash described how he first got Elmo.  Elmo was initially brought to life by a different puppeteer who used a dark, caveman-like voice on Elmo.  The puppeteer got so frustrated with Elmo (and how he couldn't develop a character for him) that he threw him in Kevin Clash's lap and told him to "see what you can do with that".  Kevin took him home for a weekend and started thinking about all the kids he had entertained through the years.  He tried to think of what kids want from each other, from adults, and from puppets.  He knew it was love.  He wanted Elmo to be about love.  And the rest is history.

Elmo and Ricky Gervais

Finally, on the way out of the city, we had to take the Krispy Kreme detour.  It was indeed a sweet, sweet day.