A Nice Day

Yeah, Another Blogger

Twelve days ago, after paying our bill at Barbuzzo, a restaurant in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, my wife and I exited the establishment and then walked a few blocks to Jefferson Station. There, we caught a train that returned us to our suburban town. Halfway between Barbuzzo and the station I said to Sandy, “This was a nice day.” I wasn’t the least bit surprised when she said she had been thinking the same thing.

Yup, our worries and woes were in hiding during the five and a half hours we spent in Philadelphia that Thursday, first at The Philadelphia Flower Show and then at Barbuzzo. I don’t know, maybe I’d been sprinkled with a heavy dose of magic dust before leaving home in the early afternoon, because I was cool, calm and collected in Philly, as relaxed as when I’m drifting off to sleep. Even the substantial crowd at the flower show didn’t bother me in the least. “Hell,” I said to myself, “everyone here has just as much right as I do to get up close and personal with the exhibits.” What? I, whose nerves often are easily jangled, actually felt that way? I did. I sure would love to be in such an at-ease frame of mind far more than I normally am. Will the transformation occur before my time expires on Planet Earth? Well, “miracles” are known to happen. But I’m not holding my breath.

I’ve been living in or near Philadelphia since the mid-1970s, but for decades never paid any attention to The Philadelphia Flower Show, a famed annual event. In 2016, though, almost on a whim, Sandy and I decided to go. I liked the experience, and now have attended five times. This year’s production, which ran for nine days, was as sweet as summer fruit, despite being held in a non-descript hall large enough to accommodate a number of jumbo jets.

Each year’s flower show has a theme, 2024’s being United By Flowers. I’m all for unity and, like just about everyone, am pro-flowers. So, I couldn’t go wrong. Excellent flowers were almost everywhere in the exhibits area. Ditto for other forms of flora. Sandy and I spent two and a half hours admiring the many installations, doubling back at times to re-examine the five or six that had particularly wowed us. We spent an additional 30 minutes wandering around the vendors section, where more products than you could shake a stick at — and not just horticultural items — were for sale.

Besides the beauty and creativity on display, was there anything else about the show I liked? Affirmative. I admired the diversity of people in attendance. They ranged in age from those that hadn’t yet reached their first birthday to old f*ckers such as me. A wide range of races and cultures were on the scene. And numerous folks with mobility issues didn’t let the enormity of the hall keep them away. Wheelchairs, motorized scooters and canes abounded.

Around 5:00 PM, Sandy and I heard dinner’s call. So, we bade farewell to the flower show and made our way to 13th Street. Philadelphia’s restaurant scene is amazingly strong, and a four-block-long section of 13th Street is one of the prime destinations for restaurant goers. We couldn’t get into Darling Jack’s Tavern, our first choice. But 50 feet away was Barbuzzo, an Italian eatery we’d passed many times but had never frequented. In we went. The place was mobbed, dimly lit and looked cozy. Could they accommodate us? Sure, but only at the chef’s counter, where two stools apparently had been waiting to greet our rear ends.

Happy with our perches, we watched meals being cooked five feet away from us, in pans sitting atop the burners of a stove as solid as an army tank. The burners’ flames, and those from the nearby wood-fueled pizza oven, kept us good and warm. I kept glancing at the oven, whose fury fascinated me. Its portrait was the only photo I took in the restaurant.

We kept things simple at Barbuzzo, whose menu ranges wide, opting for a salad, a Margherita pizza, beer and wine. Everything was delicious. And, before we knew it, it was time to head home.

At 8:06 PM, we arrived at Jefferson Station, giving us very little time to catch the 8:10 train. If we missed it, we would have had to wait an hour for the next one. F*ck that! But we didn’t miss it. Moving quickly through the waiting area and down the stairs, we reached the train platform just as the 8:10 was pulling in. Nice.

158 thoughts on “A Nice Day”

  1. Annabel March 24, 2024 / 8:45 pm

    This is such a rich and colourful post, especially for a flower lover like myself! 🌷

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. SAHIL KHAN March 25, 2024 / 6:53 am

    this post is very rich and colorful loved it!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Pam Lazos March 25, 2024 / 12:24 pm

    Sounds like a lovely day, Neil. I missed the flower show this year. In the past, I was part of the team that created an exhibit for EPA but the guy who spear-headed that effort retired so EPA hasn’t done an exhibit in a few years. It was always so fun to have a small, but participatory role. 

    https://youtu.be/yfcTgnpo3vI?si=ecs4zRjG6K4RooVe

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  6. Linda Pearce Griffin March 26, 2024 / 4:30 pm

    Since I’m nursing an ailing back at the moment, the idea of walking around anywhere does not sound pleasant. However, I was happy to travel vicariously with you on this lovely day trip. Thanks for taking me along.

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  8. I. J. Khanewala March 26, 2024 / 8:31 pm

    A flower show followed by a chef’s performance! There could be better things to do in six hours, but I can’t think of one right now

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  9. AA1C March 27, 2024 / 10:54 am

    Nice post.I subscribed. Have a happy day🍀☘️⭐️💝

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  10. tanjabrittonwriter March 27, 2024 / 11:11 pm

    It sounds like a very special day, indeed. I haven’t attended many flower shows but have never failed to be wowed by all the work and attention to detail that go into the floral exhibits. Such beautiful, yet ephemeral, works of art.

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  12. ParentingIsFunny March 28, 2024 / 6:47 pm

    A flower show sounds amazing. Those crowds, not so much. I’m glad you had a semi-miraculous good day. I imagine anticipating the crowd made it easier to bear. What a nice day indeed!

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  13. Velva March 30, 2024 / 8:17 pm

    The universe conspired to make sure you enjoyed the flower show and dinner afterwards. Glad it was such an enjoyable day. Cheers to many more!

    Velva

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  15. Anonymous March 31, 2024 / 5:08 am

    A perfect share for the spirit for the season. Very uplifting. 

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  17. juliefj1 March 31, 2024 / 8:50 pm

    It looks like an amazing flower show and a really nice day. I admire your relaxed attitude. And I’m glad you didn’t miss the train!

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  18. Priti April 1, 2024 / 5:52 am

    That means your Philadelphia tour was beautiful and foods were delicious! Well shared with beautiful photos ☺️ and description

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  21. andrewcferguson April 3, 2024 / 6:47 am

    Sounds like a great day – and I know exactly what you mean about finding those rare moments of peace when the inner soul just accepts things. I hope the Philly Tourist Board pays well, because you’re selling it as a destination!

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  22. J P April 4, 2024 / 8:31 am

    Few things are as nice as a nice day like the one you have described. The restaurant experience sounds particularly nice.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger April 4, 2024 / 12:08 pm

      Morning. Yes, sitting where we did at the restaurant elevated the overall experience a lot. It gave us a different view of things.

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  25. estricsek April 20, 2024 / 10:18 pm

    Nice story about a nice day Neil. We used to live in Birdsboro and our son lived in Philadelphia. We regret never making it to the Flower Show. 

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