This holiday weekend Ben and I exercised the staycation with lots of fun activities around the Philadelphia area. Amongst the BBQ's, World Cup games, fireworks and friends the highlight of our weekend was teaching Berlin how to swim!
Today we are recuperating with the day off. Ben is getting ready to teach summer school tomorrow and me back to the kids. Happy 4th!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Carolina Reunion
The horse drawn carriage holding 2 Baby Boomers, 4 Generations Xers, 2 Millenials, and 3 Generation Zers (aka the Brandenburg family) made its way through Broad Street--one of the oldest streets in Charleston--this past weekend. Generational differences were lost on us and our horse “Earl” as we braved the 110 degree heat index. Our carriage guide kept our minds preoccupied as she dissed on the elite residents of the area south of Broad Street, or SOBs. Nonetheless as a resident just north of Broad she herself was a SNOB, which according to her was better than all the SLOBs living left of Broad. Neighborhood rivalry aside the Charleston streets were exquisite in architecture and lined with grand live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and the ubiquitous Cabbage Palmetto.
Our hosts for the weekend were the marvelous Elise Brandenburg, a princess at age three, and the mighty Sir Ethan Muhr the Gallant, who made sure we received some beach time on the Isle of Palm. Back in Charlotte the royal toddlers even recruited the peasantry—Bruce, John, Paul, Steve, and Ben—to build some lawn Castles for the big birthday bash. All in all, it was was a royal family weekend.
Thank you for hosting and celebrating your 3rd birthday with all of us Elise!
Ellie summing up the weekend :)
All the Brandenburgs together after 5 years!
The guys making the castle for Elise's 3rd birthday party.
The birthday girl blowing out her candles.
On our carriage tour of historic Charleston, S.C.
Family time on the beach to round out a great weekend!
Our hosts for the weekend were the marvelous Elise Brandenburg, a princess at age three, and the mighty Sir Ethan Muhr the Gallant, who made sure we received some beach time on the Isle of Palm. Back in Charlotte the royal toddlers even recruited the peasantry—Bruce, John, Paul, Steve, and Ben—to build some lawn Castles for the big birthday bash. All in all, it was was a royal family weekend.
Thank you for hosting and celebrating your 3rd birthday with all of us Elise!
Ellie summing up the weekend :)
All the Brandenburgs together after 5 years!
The guys making the castle for Elise's 3rd birthday party.
The birthday girl blowing out her candles.
On our carriage tour of historic Charleston, S.C.
Family time on the beach to round out a great weekend!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Greater Philadelphia Hipster Tour
When Kim and Rick (Toni and Kim are friends from their toddler days) visited us over memorial day weekend we aimed to perfect our Frommer's chops. Curious? This is what it takes.
1. Walk in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin topped off with some Spanish Tapas at Amada, courtesy of this year's Iron Chef winner Jose Garces.
2. Happy Hour in the Northern Liberties Dog Park courtesy of a Weimaraner named Berlin.
3. Stroll on the High Line Elevated Park in the Meat Packing District (in that little suburb of Phila called Manhattan).
4. Be a saint and go to church, be a sinner and go to Atlantic City.
5. Accept cliches, and run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art Rocky steps.
The usual Liberty Bell photo with all visitors :)
On the Tkts Tkts steps in Times Square, NYC.
Our High School friend, Anne, in the Meatpacking District, NYC.
Overlooking the Atlantic City scene.
How the guys spent most of their free time.
On the Rocky Steps looking out at the Philadelphia Skyline.
1. Walk in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin topped off with some Spanish Tapas at Amada, courtesy of this year's Iron Chef winner Jose Garces.
2. Happy Hour in the Northern Liberties Dog Park courtesy of a Weimaraner named Berlin.
3. Stroll on the High Line Elevated Park in the Meat Packing District (in that little suburb of Phila called Manhattan).
4. Be a saint and go to church, be a sinner and go to Atlantic City.
5. Accept cliches, and run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art Rocky steps.
The usual Liberty Bell photo with all visitors :)
On the Tkts Tkts steps in Times Square, NYC.
Our High School friend, Anne, in the Meatpacking District, NYC.
Overlooking the Atlantic City scene.
How the guys spent most of their free time.
On the Rocky Steps looking out at the Philadelphia Skyline.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
10,000 People on our Street
Each summer our building, in Fishtown, is ground zero for the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival. The highlight is a popular event called the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby (http://www.kinetickensington.com/2010-winners) where new neighborhood arrivals, longstanding residents and businesses build crazy-pants art bikes and drive them through an urban obstacle course, ending up in a mudpit on Trenton Avenue. Plenty of artists and friends nearby made this the highlight of our spring (notwithstanding the fact that "the Pirates" bike team stole Ben's needle-nose pliers after a breakdown on our street, but that's what he gets for lending some tools to a Pirate outfit ).
Our building teamed together to host the unofficial afterparty complete with a reggae band, lawn games and lots of food(hat tip Keith and Tracy). Good times indeed.
Amongst the crowds.
The 10,000.
One of the 29 Kinetic Sculptures.
Watching the mudpit finale from our window.
The afterparty in our courtyard.
Our building teamed together to host the unofficial afterparty complete with a reggae band, lawn games and lots of food(hat tip Keith and Tracy). Good times indeed.
Amongst the crowds.
The 10,000.
One of the 29 Kinetic Sculptures.
Watching the mudpit finale from our window.
The afterparty in our courtyard.
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Weekend in New York City
Last weekend Ben and I were able to head up to the big apple with some of our close friends, the Helmbergers. It was our first time getting a hotel and just enjoying the city without running around and seeing all of the tourist sites. Here are our pics from the weekend.
Walking through High Line Park, Meatpacking District.
Brunch on the roof at the the Pig 'n' Whistle, Midtown.
Yankees vs. Twins...and we won!
Yankees Stadium, the Bronx.
Headed home.
Walking through High Line Park, Meatpacking District.
Brunch on the roof at the the Pig 'n' Whistle, Midtown.
Yankees vs. Twins...and we won!
Yankees Stadium, the Bronx.
Headed home.
Friday, May 14, 2010
72 Hours in Hometown, Minnesota
1. Visit Grandparents. Check.
2. Go to a Twins game in their new stadium. Check.
3. Get snowed out of a Twins game. Check.
4. Family game night. Check.
5. Breakfast with old friends. Check.
6. Lunch with the family. Check
7. Go to a wedding. Check.
8. Catch the 9th inning of the rescheduled game. Check.
9. Sunday Church. Check.
10. Mother's Day. Double Check.
Visiting Toni's Grandparents in Rochester, MN.
Breakfast with good friends; Baumgartens, Stores, Crists and Tepes.
Brandenburg Girls.
Becky and Toni at the wedding (college roommates).
The whole family at the new Twins stadium...
...Bruce and Marnee came too:)
Our beautiful mothers Marnee and Colleen on Mother's Day.
2. Go to a Twins game in their new stadium. Check.
3. Get snowed out of a Twins game. Check.
4. Family game night. Check.
5. Breakfast with old friends. Check.
6. Lunch with the family. Check
7. Go to a wedding. Check.
8. Catch the 9th inning of the rescheduled game. Check.
9. Sunday Church. Check.
10. Mother's Day. Double Check.
Visiting Toni's Grandparents in Rochester, MN.
Breakfast with good friends; Baumgartens, Stores, Crists and Tepes.
Brandenburg Girls.
Becky and Toni at the wedding (college roommates).
The whole family at the new Twins stadium...
...Bruce and Marnee came too:)
Our beautiful mothers Marnee and Colleen on Mother's Day.
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