Boyds Historical Storefront, 1818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia
As Amy put it, a person can do everything right in life; have a nice job, be a good person, act justly and rationally, but still not be satisfied if they’re not fulfilling the social and fun side of things. This is where I come in; we coined a term for me yesterday, Chief Joy Officer (CJO). I’ll look to highlight everyday occurrences of joy. It’s out there; sometimes you just have to keep your eyes and your heart open. At ThisLifeonEarth, we believe joy can be experienced from any of the 5 senses and I’ll use my entries to highlight these senses within joy. I’ll write mostly about food (new restaurants, old spots rediscovered) and music (new artists, new releases, live shows) as both of these things are close to my heart.
Taste:
In times like these, I think it’s important to see friends more than ever. One way to make it a “recession-proof” (thank you Philadelphia magazine for that wonderful term) get-together is to consider going out to lunch instead of dinner. One of my go-to places for lunch is the intimate Raw (to view menu here, scroll down to bottom) sushi cafe inside Boyds (the upscale department store) between 18th and 19th on Chestnut. For $14 you get miso soup, hot tea and a large bento box with your choice of sushi or chicken teriyaki. Included in the adorable bento boxes are bacon-wrapped steamed shrimp, pork dumplings and salad with ginger-peanut dressing. How do you say “yum” in Japanese?
See:
I feel joy around what’s beautiful…
While at the café, take a look at the historic architecture that surrounds you. They don’t build like this anymore. The plaster molding and grand staircases can take your breath away. After doing a little research I found that the building is an example of the Renaissance Revival style with a distinctly French flavor. It began as the Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home.
From www.boydsphila.com, “While Boyds has grown and evolved, our core ideals have remained unchanged. There are no demographic breakdowns and no shareholders to answer to. Our customers are not points on a graph. We have one store. The same one that has been owned and operated by the same family for 70 years. And when you know customers by their names and individual tastes, demographics just seem silly.” Sadly, there aren’t many stores like this anymore, where family-owned operations, high levels of customer service and historic surroundings await.
Touch:
Cashmere. Now, I’m a young working woman in the city that doesn’t make a lot of money. Normally, I can’t shop at Boyds unless they are having a big sale. Well, indeed they are! The winter clearance is on. After you finish up your sushi and tea, take a walk around and feel this amazing wool. Maybe you’ll even find a quality piece of clothing at a decent price to add to your wardrobe or if you’re like me you’ll simply enjoy walking around this spectacular space.
Speaking of eating in beautiful historic settings, one place I plan on checking out in two weeks is Union Trust, a new steak joint in a beautifully rehabbed bank at 717 Chestnut. Check back for my review.
Up next: In Taste, I’ll review Osteria , Chef Marc Vetri’s newer Italian spot on North Broad and in Hear, tell you about two young singers who are talented beyond their years.
