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”

  5. Lynette d'Arty-Cross's avatar Lynette d'Arty-Cross March 19, 2024 / 3:13 am

    It’s amazing that we can live in a place for years and fail to visit whatever is its claim to fame. Took me 10 years to actually go to the Calgary Stampede, even though I lived nearby.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 8:26 am

      I’m not into gardening, which is why I ignored the flower show for all those years. I’m glad I finally started going to the show.

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  6. Paddy Tobin's avatar Paddy Tobin March 19, 2024 / 3:50 am

    We reach a stage in life when “nice” is perfectly wonderful. We no longer need to do somersaults down the street, whoop from the rooftops or gJallop through traffic with a group of wild friends. A nice day out is a great pleasure. Jittering nerves and general agitation are, photography, seeking out wildflowers etc are my go-to relaxations. A visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show would be a fabulous experience and a pizza and beer afterwards would top off the day perfectly. Of course, the good company you enjoyed would make it all perfect!

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  8. joylennick's avatar joylennick March 19, 2024 / 4:05 am

    Hi Neil, That sounded like one good day to me; an abundance of flowers, ending in a pleasant meal. A feast for the eyes and taste buds…Here’s to your next outing. Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 8:33 am

      I’m a big fan of Philadelphia. There are loads of excellent things to see and do there. Thanks for stopping by, Joy. Enjoy the day.

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  10. swabby429's avatar swabby429 March 19, 2024 / 5:38 am

    I’m glad the two of you enjoyed a lovely day. I believe that beauty, particularly beautiful plants, enhance our lives in subtle ways. People all over the globe love flowers and beautiful plants.

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  12. JOYCE HAMILTON's avatar JOYCE HAMILTON March 19, 2024 / 7:22 am

    Great day! Loved the photos!

    Liked by 1 person

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      • JOYCE HAMILTON's avatar JOYCE HAMILTON March 19, 2024 / 9:24 am

        Went to Uof P hospital on Saturday. After walked to 19th and Samson to good Chinese restaurant and along the way saw hundreds of people celebrating St Patrick ‘s day outside of bars and restaurants. Philadelphia was a happening place!

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  14. Laurie Graves's avatar Laurie Graves March 19, 2024 / 7:51 am

    As we would say in Maine, a finest kind of day. A flower show in March is such a wonderful thing, bringing beauty and fragrance to an otherwise dreary month. I really liked your observation about the diversity of the folks attending the show. And how fun to sit and watch that oven as you ate.

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  19. eden baylee's avatar eden baylee March 19, 2024 / 10:45 am

    No big, loud party, no getting dressed to the nines …. sounds like you found pleasure in the beauty of flowers, dinner, timely transportation, and your lovely wife’s company. And … you got to write about it!

    Quite the perfect day, I’d say.

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  20. Denise Denton Thiery's avatar Denise Denton Thiery March 19, 2024 / 12:09 pm

    Stunning Photos. I do love spring flowers, and also your prose. Your descriptions of Philadelphia make me want to make a first-time visit.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 4:39 pm

      Hey there, Denise. I bet you’d like Philadelphia. It has a deep history, excellent parks, a very strong cultural/arts scene . . . I could go on and on.

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  21. Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter's avatar Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter March 19, 2024 / 12:30 pm

    That sounds like a very good day. I find that as I get older things that I would once have dismissed as tame have a lot more appeal – such as flower shows! There’s also something very appealing about the way you ate your dinner, perched at the bar. We did that recently in a busy tapas restaurant and it was so entertaining. Finally, the icing on the cake was timing your train to perfection.

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  22. Rosaliene Bacchus's avatar Rosaliene Bacchus March 19, 2024 / 2:18 pm

    Just a nice day, Neil? I’m sure your editor, Edgar Reewright, would be disappointed in your choice of adjective. But, then again, a flower show is just my kinda place for feeling on top of the world 😀 Judging from the photos you’ve shared, the stunning floral exhibits did not disappoint. I’m not surprised that you and your wife felt good at the end of the day. Mother Nature can have that effect on us 🙂

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 4:47 pm

      Speaking of flowers: A few days ago I saw some flowering trees in bloom. Last year I also saw the same in mid-March. This never used to happen around here till at least three or four weeks later than that.

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      • Rosaliene Bacchus's avatar Rosaliene Bacchus March 19, 2024 / 7:04 pm

        So glad that you’ve noticed that, Neil. Global warming is affecting the seasons and, consequently, our plant life. It’s already affecting our major food crops worldwide.

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  23. JT Twissel's avatar JT Twissel March 19, 2024 / 2:18 pm

    I love to go to flower shows – unfortunately the nearest one is about an hour away. Sounds like a lovely day!

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  24. Ally Bean's avatar Ally Bean March 19, 2024 / 4:47 pm

    Flower shows plus a delicious meal. No wonder you remember it fondly.

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  26. Retirement Reflections's avatar Retirement Reflections March 19, 2024 / 6:41 pm

    Hi, Neil – That does sound like a perfect day out. A Margheritta Pizza and Salad would have been my choice as well! D

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  28. equinoxio21's avatar equinoxio21 March 19, 2024 / 8:14 pm

    Nice indeed…

    (Margherita? One of my 2-3 favourites…) Mouth watering…

    🙏🏻

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  29. Ann Coleman's avatar Ann Coleman March 19, 2024 / 8:47 pm

    What a great day! I’ve never been to a flower show either, but it sounds just wonderful. And I love being able to eat at the bar and watch the action in the kitchen of a good restaurant. Lucky you!

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  30. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 19, 2024 / 9:10 pm

    Sounds like you had a lovely time at the Philly Flower Show!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 10:17 pm

      Hello there. Is this Jan? — the comments were posted without anyone’s name attached to them.

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  31. shoreacres's avatar shoreacres March 19, 2024 / 9:54 pm

    The nice, the ordinary, elegance, and quality always appeal to me. In one day, you combined ordinary people, an elegant show, and a high quality meal — I would have called it a nice day, too! I really enjoy seeing your city through your eyes. I wouldn’t want to live in a city again, but if I were to visit one, Philly would top my list.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 19, 2024 / 10:39 pm

      Hi Linda. There’s a bunch of fine cities in the USA. And, in my opinion, Philadelphia is one of them. There’s a lot to like in Philly. I live pretty close to the city, and visit the city three or more times each month.

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  32. LTodd's avatar LTodd March 19, 2024 / 10:53 pm

    Sounds like One Fine Day. Love those when they come about.

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  33. selizabryangmailcom's avatar selizabryangmailcom March 20, 2024 / 12:49 am

    The flowers looked magnificent, and then on top of that, a delicious meal, and then on top of that, making the train. Perfect timing. It WAS a nice day. 🙂

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  37. viewfromoverthehill's avatar viewfromoverthehill March 20, 2024 / 1:59 pm

    I was unable to ‘like’ this post again, but maybe because actually I loved it! I so enjoy flowers, gardens and Italian food. So glad you two do also. Enjoy each day. All the best always, Muriel

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  38. Paula B's avatar Paula B March 20, 2024 / 4:39 pm

    Sitting at the chef’s counter may not have seemed ideal at first, but I think that sometimes it can be a fun twist. What an unexpectedly delightful ending to your day!

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 20, 2024 / 6:27 pm

      Hi Paula. Eating at the chef’s counter at Barbuzzo turned out to be a good experience. I hadn’t eaten at a chef’s counter in ages, so I liked the “novelty” of it. By the way, do you think the SF Giants will do well this year?

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      • Paula B's avatar Paula B March 20, 2024 / 6:43 pm

        Unfortunately, I don’t think they will — partly because we’re in the same division as the Dodgers, who’ve bought one of the most incredible lineups in baseball history. We’ve gotten some decent pitching and improved our defense, but we have very little offense. So I don’t have high hopes. But I’m hoping I’ll have to eat my words!

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  39. alhenry's avatar alhenry March 20, 2024 / 9:29 pm

    Neil, I recognized every emotion/reaction you expressed in this beautiful post. The joy of a day spent in the company of the one you love, the relief for a few hours from the dark times we are facing, the celebration of a city’s people from all walks of life and backgrounds coming together to enjoy something wonderful (the flower show looks stunning!). And your dinner, “overlooking” the open ovens of the restaurant mirrored one of our local favorite places to dine. I’m happy you and Sandy had this wonderful day, and I wish you many more. These are hard times, indeed, but thankfully there are beautiful moments and good people to give us the strength to keep going.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 21, 2024 / 12:00 am

      Thank you very much for adding your thoughts. It’s funny how certain days unexpectedly take on a special quality. We’re fortunate when it happens. Take care, and have an excellent rest of the week.

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  40. George's avatar George March 21, 2024 / 2:03 am

    Glad you both had a wonderful day. Everyone needs a heavy dose of magic dust once in awhile.

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  41. Crystal's avatar Crystal Byers March 21, 2024 / 7:14 pm

    So colorful! The flowers. Your language. 😂 Your date with Sandy. These things inspire me.

    Liked by 1 person

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  42. Michele Anderson's avatar Michele Anderson March 21, 2024 / 7:21 pm

    So nice to take a day and get away from life’s stresses and be on a fun day trip like you guys were. Looking at the beauty and calmness of flowers just is so relaxing.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 21, 2024 / 10:11 pm

      “Looking at the beauty and calmness of flowers just is so relaxing.” — you’re 100% correct. Flowers are something else.

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  43. talebender's avatar talebender March 22, 2024 / 11:22 am

    By coincidence, we visited a flower show recently—a much, much smaller one—at the Edison/Ford Museum in Fort Myers, and enjoyed it very much. Prizes were awarded for the displays judged best by patrons, and we had a chance to talk afterwards with a couple of the winners—who were overjoyed.

    My wife loves flowers and gardening much more than I, but I appreciated your piece, and the pictures you took.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 22, 2024 / 2:11 pm

      When it comes to flora, I’m not a planter or cultivator. But I definitely am an appreciator.

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  44. Michael Graeme's avatar Michael Graeme March 22, 2024 / 6:16 pm

    Wonderful, Neil. These colours were a sight for sore eyes, and it sounds like the day was every bit as special as you were hoping. Odd how people seem to fall out over just about everything else, but all agree on the beauty of flowers.

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  45. ortensia's avatar ortensia March 23, 2024 / 5:28 am

    That doesn’t sound at all as a nice day but more like “the perfect day out”🥰

    Liked by 1 person

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  46. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 23, 2024 / 1:26 pm

    Breathtaking! You know the best events and sceneries, Neil. A Bloom of cheers to you and Sandy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 23, 2024 / 2:34 pm

      Thanks very much. I appreciate it. By the way, who is this? Your comments are posted as being from Anonymous.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 23, 2024 / 7:42 pm

      Hi Geoff. When do you think “Have a nice day” came into being? My guess is the 1970s.

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      • Geoff Stamper's avatar Geoff Stamper March 27, 2024 / 1:13 am

        I did not realize that “Have a nice day” is not universally considered pleasant. It certainly became popular in the 1970’s.

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  48. rkrontheroad's avatar rkrontheroad March 23, 2024 / 4:49 pm

    The flower show looks like a WOW! Those tulips! I do miss being in a big city where there are so many great restaurant options. Need to make it down to Denver more often.

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  49. annieasksyou's avatar annieasksyou March 23, 2024 / 5:15 pm

    A very Zen-like post, Neil. Beautiful photos of the flower show. You and Sandy certainly make the most of being close to Philly. Cheers!

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 23, 2024 / 8:35 pm

      Hey there, Annie. I almost always get a charge when I’m in Philadelphia. In many ways it’s a fine city. Take care. Have a good upcoming week.

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  50. Unknown's avatar Anonymous March 24, 2024 / 3:29 pm

    That does sound like a nice day! Flower shows are so much fun–and the dinner sounds great. Cheers!

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger March 24, 2024 / 6:18 pm

      Howdy, Cecilia. I’m looking forward to going back to Barbuzzo. It’s my kind of restaurant.

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