A Weekend With A Mission!

Good evening Friends of the Bloggy!

I hope you've all had a weekend that thrilled you. Ours mainly revolved around a particular mission - Christmas shopping! We spent the greatest majority of Saturday and today hitting the streets, in search of Christmas gifts. Saturday we kept mostly to Old City, and today we divided our time between the Walnut/Chestnut shopping district and Queens Village. We both found some great stuff. I can't wait to give it away! With the exception of one tiny thing, I am completely finished. Now all I have to worry about is wrapping them up. I love that part, though. Have you finished your shopping yet? Did you find any good deals? We did! Good luck with whatever you have left.

Besides completing our shopping tasks, we also set aside some time for the arts. Friday night we went to see Frost/Nixon at my favorite theater in the city, the Ritz 5. It was a fantastic movie. It's about the revealing, 1977 interviews between Richard Nixon and David Frost. It's the first major interview Nixon gave after the Watergate scandal. I believe it's very deserving of the Golden Globe nods it received. I won't get into a huge review, because I just don't feel like it, but the acting was phenomenal. The interactions between the Frost and Nixon characters are completely captivating. I think it's a totally worth-while film. If I had to recommend it to two people, I'd pick Gary and Jude's husband, Lou. If they haven't seen it yet, they'll love it!

On Saturday night we went to see a comedy show, in which I will refrain from mentioning or commenting on.

So, there you have it. I'm approaching my absolute final week of the semester. Over the course of this next week, I will have three finals and a voice recital before I can officially stick a fork in it. Believe me, I have a fork in my hand and I'm ready to stick it anywhere! I've attached part two of my 2007 Holiday Series. Every year, on the 23rd of December, we spend the evening with my Dad and Dawn. We always have such a fun, crazy, cut loose kind of evening. I love them all so much and can't wait to see them this year. I hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Happy Holidays!

Josh

Dad & Dawn's Trip to Philly

Hello.Hey, Bloggy Friends!

I hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was jam-packed and fabulous. My Dad and Dawn came to Philadelphia on Friday and stayed with us until Monday. We had such a great time. This was their first time in Philadelphia, and they were really impressed with what it had to offer.

We started the weekend off right, when they arrived Friday, by going to see our current show at The Philadelphia Theatre Company, The Happiness Lecture. They both loved it so much. My Dad said he hasn't laughed that much in a long time. I was so happy they enjoyed it. Afterwards we walked West on Lombard to an awesomely authentic Italian restaurant called Bistro La Baia. I can honestly say this was the best Italian meal I have had in the U.S., ever! It was a small, quaint place and they treated us like we were a guest in their home. It was fantastic. Let's go there when you come and visit, Bloggy Friends.

On Saturday we kicked off the afternoon with brunch at Le Bus on Main Street in Manayunk. Later we went to the Philadelphia Art Museum to check out the Modern/Contemporary Art section, and the Europen Art from 1100 to 1850. I am so impressed with this museum, you guys. It is definitely a world class, state of the art venue. I attached a few pics of some of my favorite pieces in my photo gallery HERE. I am so happy to have it so near. Let's go there when you come visit, too.

Saturday night, after tooling around the Historical District, we ate at what is now one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, Farmicia. Farmicia is a fabulous restaurant in Old City that serves local, organic foods. It was so delicious. We had such a great time that we sat there for two hours at least, eating, chatting and sipping wine. Bloggy Friends, can we go there.... Oh, you know the rest..

We designated Sunday as a shopping day. Dawn wanted to check out Ikea, because there isn't one near her in Kentucky. We spent hours there, and each of us ended up with a cartload of goodies to take home with us. Shopping at Ikea is always an exhausting experience - but well worth the time spent. That evening we took Dad and Dawn to get a Philly Cheese Steak (they had to have one). We found out about a great place just around the corner from where we live, and they loved it. After dinner we walked along Kelly Drive, and looked at the city all lit up before returning home to bed.

I enjoyed myself so much. It was so good to have my dad here over Father's Day weekend. I believe this is the first Father's Day we have spent together in like 8 years at least. I'm not big on made up holidays, but it was still a nice thought. My Dad is so great, and Dawn is a ton of fun. I hope they decide to come back and visit us again soon! I love you both so much.

Enjoy my slideshow below. You can also click HERE for my Flickr album. You will find more pictures there, and they're in color! I'll also put a video together of our trip soon.

Have a great day. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic day. Welcome home Mimi!!

Love, Joshie