Mid-morning of the final Saturday of July 2026 found me seated upon my living room sofa, my bony ass as comfortable as can be. As I absent-mindedly stroked the many dozens of wrinkles populating my face, I had a feeling that the plans my wife Sandy and I had made for later in the day would work out most enjoyably. They damn well did, in fact, and then some, quietly stunning me. I had no intentions of writing about any of the proceedings, though, till Sandy and I arrived home late that night. As we pulled into the driveway of our suburban abode, Sandy pointed out the nearly full moon low in the sky. That excellent sight was a fitting coda to the lovely hours we’d just spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In fact, it was more than that. It was a celestial message subtly suggesting I gather my thoughts and express them in an essay.
On the Saturday in question, after parking our car at a suburban train station a few miles from our home, Sandy and I boarded a train that deposited us in a downtown Philadelphia station at about 3:00 PM. Our destination was The Fabric Workshop And Museum, a short walk away. FWM is a hell of a fine place. It is an exhibition space for contemporary artworks and also a hands-on educational institution for established and non-established artists. FWM’s exhibitions always have been off the beaten path for many locals and tourists, but attendance at the shows has been increasing. Where once we’d have had FWM’s galleries pretty much all to ourselves, the other day we encountered, I’d estimate, 30 to 40 folks. I was very glad to see that.
What was on view? First up was an exhibit of quilts by Jesse Krimes. Man, his works swept me away right away. Constructed from donated clothes of current and former incarcerated individuals, the quilts raise and answer questions about the lives of prisoners. They are thoughtful objects, and they got to me. I hadn’t anticipated anything like that happening when I entered FWM’s doors. You never know when art will tug at your emotions.
Onward we went, exploring the exhibit of tapestries created by an assortment of artists. The tapestries occupied the galleries on two of FWM’s floors. I dug them all, even the ones with metaphorical intents (I’m a dumb shit when it comes to deciphering metaphors). Every one of the works looked great, and that’s what mattered to me.
Fully satisfied by the artworks at FWM, we exited the building and strolled around town for 45 minutes. At that point it was time to eat. So, we made our way to Bellini, an Italian restaurant we’d never been to before, and where we’d booked a reservation. Everything we consumed there that evening was delicious. I can’t say enough about my entree, a chicken dish with mushrooms, asparagus and a superb tomato/garlic/wine sauce. I didn’t snap photos of the foods. But, because I was so damned surprised to see that Bellini’s ceiling is muralled, I aimed my phone’s camera at it and pressed the button. Italianesque and tantalizing, the mural is a winner.
Bellini resides on 16th Street in central Philadelphia. As does Monk’s Café. Monk’s is one of my favorite destinations, because it carries an insanely large number of Belgian beers, most of which you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the USA. Kind of a beer geek, I am intrigued and pleased by the high quality of many Belgian brews.
Well, Sandy thought there was no chance we’d get into Monk’s, it being a Saturday night. But we lucked out. Although all the tables were filled, two adjacent seats at the bar were unoccupied. We grabbed them. On the recommendation of the guy directly to my right, I ordered a Belgian beer I’d never had before: Westmalle Dubbel, a dark brown and refreshingly dry creation. If there were a heaven, I’d want it to look like Monk’s and to possess Monk’s beer inventory. This place is the greatest.
I was pretty much floating on air as Sandy and I walked back to the station where our suburbs-bound train would arrive shortly. Our time in Philadelphia had seemed quite magical. It had been one of those special days, the kind that doesn’t come along all too often. I won’t forget it anytime soon.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I love days like that, where everything works out, even surprising things one doesn’t expect. Magic like that is special ’cause if it happened all the time, we wouldn’t even notice, obviously, lol 🙂
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PS: I just commented about days that are “magic” but was signed in on my husband Fabio’s email, in case you were wondering who that was. That was an accident! 🙂
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Hi. You’re right. If those kinds of days were the norm, we’d take them for granted.
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How lovely! I’m glad you had such a nice full day. And full belly. 🙂 Lucked out with those open bar stools!
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The beer gods were looking out for me and my wife!
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Love it. 😛
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I love this post. What a perfect day. “The Wonderful, Fantastic, Nothing Bad, All Good Day.”
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Hello there. Thanks a lot for stopping by. Here’s to perfect and near-perfect days!
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That does sound like a fabulous day! Love the combination of art, food, beverage and strolling around. Also taking the train in. That’s the way I used to enjoy Chicago when I lived about 60 miles away in Wisconsin. Great times.
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Hi, Lori. Yeah, taking the train into Philly makes things much easier. Don’t have to deal with traffic or pay for parking.
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Exactly! So much more fun!
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I hope you get your wish about heaven and Monk’s Cafe. 🙂
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If I were the mayor of Philadelphia, I’d give a medal to Monk’s owner for providing a superb public service.
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A simple day. A surprising museum with a different approach to art, a good meal, and a great beer. (Never had that one in Belgium. I’ll make a note, or come to Philly)
Cheers
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You would like Monk’s Cafe. They carry beers from all over the world, but Belgian beers are their specialty. Monk’s has beers from dozens and dozens of Belgian breweries.
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Excellent taste. I like Belgian beers a lot. And it’s not easy to find them in Mexico… I’ll have to go to Philly.
Be good Neil.
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What a fantastic day you and Sandy had! The museum was stunning, and so interesting. That large floor tapestry was phenomenal, as were the other exhibits. I can imagine the mixed emotions as you viewed these works made by prisoners. A most enjoyable post. Thanks.
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Hi. If I’m in the area, I might go back to FWM to look at those exhibits again.
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I feel a kinship with this share.
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Thanks, AOC.
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What a lovely way to spend a day in Philadelphia. The combination of art, good food, an unexpected beer discovery, and simply enjoying the city together sounds like one of those days that stays with you long after you get home.
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The day had a special quality to me. It was awe-inspiring, but in a quiet way.
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I have a recipe for the perfect day, but each of us would have different elements in our perfect day and this one was obviously just right for you. In some ways it’s good they don’t come along too often, as we can then really enjoy them when they do.
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Right, it’s better not to have way too much of a good thing.
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That sounds like the perfect day!
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It’s still in my mind.
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Sounds wonderful! Leaves me feeling that I should visit Philly to retrace your steps!
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There’s a lot to do in Philly. It’s a real good city.
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