Hurried out around 11:20. I thought that would be more than enough time to catch the 11:46 to Atlantic City, especially since the Uber driver took less than a minute to arrive. I forgot today is Friday, and everyone would be going to the Shore. Traffic was terrible on the White Horse Pike. It was 11:45 when he let me out at Lindenwauld...and just as I dashed for the train platform, a very disgruntled older woman told me the train had been canceled.
Well, that changed things. Now I didn't have to rush quite so much. I'd originally planned on going to Atlantic City this week and going into Philly next week. Since I was at Lindenwauld and the PATCO was also there, I'd just reverse the plan and do Philly today. Besides, it was too nice of a day to go right home. It was sunny, breezy, and blue, lower 80's without the slightest hint of humidity. It would have been a crime not to do something special in such glorious weather!
I originally wanted to check out some record stores in the northern Philly suburbs, but I came to the conclusion the trip would have been too long for the time I had. Got off at the new, very clean Franklin Square station. I've been gazing into the tiled hole that is the Franklin Square station since I moved here and wondered what it was like. Well, it's...cool, really. Maybe they should install tiles on all the underground train stations. It gives Franklin Square a retro vibe that's really neat. The entrance is glassed-in and huge, a far cry from the red wrought-iron entrances or 8th Street being buried under the Fashion District Mall.
Since the entrance was less than a block from the station, I decided to check out Franklin Square itself. It was awesome. The sparkling, merrily leaping fountain and gorgeous old carousel more than made up for not getting to Atlantic City. Everything was surrounded by enormous Technicolor Chinese lantern-statues in brilliant sky blue, vibrant grass green, and sun yellow. The Square's website says you need a ticket to get in at night, but apparently during the day, you can just walk right in. I felt like I'd climbed into the Kingdom of the Clouds in C.J and the Beanstalk. Passed by a mini-golf course, a stage, and a full playground.
The carousel is really cool. In addition to the usual horses trimmed with flowers, there's two racehorses named for famous race horses from Philly and all sorts of animals. I saw a little boy near me riding a dragon, and inspecting the carousel later revealed a cat holding a fish in its mouth, a seal, a zebra, a lion, and a bald eagle. I could only get on a horse, but the ride was still really fun. There were even pictures of Philly's skyline painted on the tent.
Considered eating lunch there, but ultimately decided to move on. Followed Race Street into the heart of Old City, past the offices and studios for the Philly PBS station WHYY and the African American Museum. Stopped and had lunch at the Race Street Cafe. They're actually more of a local bar, with brick walls and windows opening to the sidewalk and street. I had a delicious, if spicy, fried tilapia wrap with ketchup, Chipolte mayo, and guacamole, along with long, slender, salty fries. Crunchy, spicy and very yummy.
Turned the corner to 2nd Street, heading to the Book Trader...but I couldn't resist a window with giant paper-mache Muppets. The creatively named A Four Foot Prune was an antique store specializing in toy collectibles and housewares, and yes, that includes Muppet collectibles. I didn't have the money or room for more toys, but I did find two records.
Merry Christmas From Sesame Street (Includes "Keep Christmas With You")
Judy Garland - Collector's Items (1936 - 1945)
My next stop was just a few blocks down 2nd Avenue on Quarry Street. The Book Trader is one of two used book store in downtown Philly that I absolutely adore. Like Mostly Books on Bainbridge Street, it looks deceptively small from the outside...but the inside is nothing but rows and more narrow rows of books on every topic imaginable. CDs, DVDs, and videos are displayed up front, but records have their own room upstairs. Despite them being incredibly busy, I actually did much better here than I did in mid-March. Found nine records:
Joan Morris and William Bolcom - Vaudeville: Songs of the Great Ladies of the Musical Stage (I believe the Stockton College Media Center had this for some reason in the late 90's-early 2000's. Used to listen to it all the time there.)
British cast albums for Pickwick and The Prince and the Pauper
Soundtrack for The Night They Raided Minksy's
Off-Broadway revival cast for Leave It to Jane
Original Broadway cast for High Button Shoes (I have this, but the copy I found at Goodwill two years ago is in dreadful shape, heavily scratched and with a disintegrating cover.)
Dennis King - Selections from Rudolf Friml's The Three Musketeers (There's songs from The Vagabond King and Rose Marie here, too, but...while those two do turn up from time to time, I have never, ever seen a recording of anything from Friml's Three Musketeers anywhere.)
One CD:
Bette Midler - It's the Girls
And four books:
Mercedes Lackey - Phoenix and Ashes (In hardcover!) I've looked for this one for ages, but the only place I ever saw it was the Haddon Township Library and Amazon.
Nekesa Afria - Harlem Sunset
Angela M. Sanders - Seven Year Witch and Bait and Witch
After I left the Book Trader, I headed down 2nd Street and turned down an alley. I saw a sign for a coffee shop. Found it just a few doors down. They were whitewashed and more modern, but their oat milk matcha latte wasn't bad. Actually, I was really there to use the bathroom (the Race Street Cafe didn't have a public one). Explored the outside of the Christ Church too. Their bell dates back to 1704, before even the Liberty Bell.
I'd been checking Google Maps all day to keep on track. I did get turned around here...but unlike when I got lost in March, I ended up in an attractive neighborhood of lovely old brick homes, more square parks, and newer apartment buildings shaded by sun-dappled trees. By the time I finally got back to Race Street, I was tired and carrying heavy records. Besides, I couldn't have gone back to Franklin Square, even if I wanted to. There were now security guards at the door, and I didn't have tickets for the Lantern Festival. I headed for the station instead and took a surprisingly empty train back to Collingswood.
I was so tired when I got in, I decided I wasn't up to walking home and called Uber. Unfortunately, I didn't read the app right about where to pick up my ride. I thought they'd see me on the corner across from the station. They picked up in front of it, and I totally missed the first driver. Thankfully, the second came in four minutes, and I got the idea this time. Ran over to catch him and got home in less than five.
Got my schedule when I came in. It's...pretty much the same as this week, with earlier hours on Sunday. The only surprise is I didn't get more hours next Saturday. In fact, I work later again, which means I'll be able to go to the Collingswood Farm Market again.
Worked on Hilary and the Beasts next. The day after Christmas, Doug Thompson arrives with gifts. His present to Hilary? Tickets to The Rivals. Not only is Pavla laying claim to the mansion, but she's about to blow town. She got a role in New York and is leaving the show. It's now or never if Hilary wants to confront her about Jeff vanishing. C.J will be backstage with her. Betty and Doug will be in the audience; Maple will stay home to take care of Mackie. Mackie's worried about his daughter, but Hilary assures him she can take care of herself.
Listened to The Night They Raided Minsky's while I worked. This goofy comedy about the invention of the striptease is a semi-musical with songs by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Although Rudy Vallee has fun with "Take 10 Terrific Girls," the real highlight is Norman Wisdom and Jason Robards attempting to be "Perfect Gentlemen."
Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Comedienne Louise Sorrel joined in for a truncated week (one episode is missing). They had more trouble dealing with contestants who just couldn't match and Bill Daily's strange answers.
Finished the night after a shower with Vaudeville: Songs of the Great Ladies of the Musical Stage. Morris performs songs from some of the earliest female vaudeville headliners. The oldest was "In the Baggage Coach Ahead," one of the earliest hits by a black composer. The most recent was "Smiles," a signature song of Elsie Janis, the Sweetheart of the RAF, during World War I. Others included "I Don't Care," "Shine On Harvest Moon," "The Yama Yama Man," and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now."
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