Posted by: John E. | October 27, 2011

Pitruco Pizza: Food Truck Producing Restaurant-Quality Wood-Fired Pizzas

The Philadelphia food truck/cart scene has definitely taken leaps and bounds forward.  While it still has a ways to go to come close to the variety and quality of the New York, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon vendors, there’s been much progress.  Just a few short years ago, we were, more or less, limited to long-standing, stationary trucks parked in University City and Temple and relatively average carts in Center City.  There were no Twittering trucks announcing their location and presence to their followers.  Food trucks were notably absent from Center City.

Thankfully, things have gone up and up.  New food trucks and carts have popped up, including roving ones.  The variety and quality have vastly improved, with cupcake trucks, a taco truck from an Iron Chef, as well as other ethnic specialty foods.  Events such as the Night Market and Vendy Awards have also helped spotlight the scene.

And now, the next step in the evolution is the pizza food truck in Center City.  And not just any pizza, but wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza.  Pitruco Pizza recently made its debut, with a current rotation of two days at Love Park in Center City and two days in University City.  Read More…

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Posted by: John E. | October 25, 2011

Hydration During a Marathon: Different Schools of Thought

Here’s the problem about advice regarding proper hydration during a marathon: there’s no one correct and accepted method. 

Instead, there are multiple schools of thought on how to properly stay hydrated without being overhydrated.  In a recent New York Times piece, there’s a focus on avoiding drinking too much water, which could lead to the condition called hyponatremia.  Ingesting more fluid than you lose through sweating or urination could dilute your blood’s sodium levels, which could lead to serious, even fatal conditions.  Instead, the article cites recent guidelines from the International Marathon Medical Directors Association to recommend drinking only when you’re thirsty.

This advice probably goes against everything marathoners of all levels have heard.  Indeed, a HealthDay article from this weekend offers differing thoughts from a registered dietitian.  The recommendation was to stay properly hydrated and consume 16 to 20 ounces of water about 2 hours before the race, drink another 7 to 10 ounces of water 10 to 20 minutes before exercise, and take in about 6 to 8 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise.  For activity of longer than an hour, there also should be consumption of a sports drink with 4 to 8 percent carbohydrates. 

In the end, it matters what works for you.  For me personally, I’ve tried drinking only when thirsty as well as drinking on a regular schedule and gotten dehydrated through both methods.  If anyone has a fail-safe method, I’m all ears.

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Posted by: John E. | October 9, 2011

Pennsylvania Beer Sale Laws Confound and Confuse

Today, a Sunday, I was looking to buy a six pack of beer before watching football.  Of course, here in Pennsylvania, it’s not as simple as just going to the neighborhood supermarket.

As is well known, most regular grocery stores, such as SuperFresh, Acme and Genuardi’s, in Pennsylvania are not permitted to sell beer or other alcohol.  The majority of beer is, of course, sold in cases through beer distributors.  Many of these beer distributors now are permitted to sell beer on Sundays, but only after 12 p.m.   Beer can also be purchased in smaller quantities and with more expensive prices at convenience stores and delis.   On Sundays, these stores, like restaurants, are permitted by the state to sell beer only after 11 a.m.

Needless to say, the state’s alcohol laws are unnecessarily confusing.  It’s tough to keep track of the restrictions.  Take a trip sometime though other states to see how much simpler  it is to purchase beer.

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Posted by: John E. | September 11, 2011

Compression Calf Sleeves Offer Support, Style

From time to time on longer races or training runs, I develop some cramping, soreness and general fatigue in my calf muscles.  While some of these aches are to be expected when you run 15 or more miles, you can still hope to minimize their effects.  Hence, the latest addition to my attire for long runs and races: the compression calf sleeves.

Compression calf sleeves serve several purposes.  Their end goals are to allow you to run longer and recover quicker.  Generally, the compression sleeves support your calf muscles.  They improve blood flow to the muscles, allowing increased oxygen to the lower leg and alleviating lactic acide accumulation.  Compression sleeves  also stabilize and minimize muscle vibration.  Less muscle exhaustion and reduced risk of cramping result.  Even after a run, wearing the sleeves can speed up muscle recovery.  Read More…

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Posted by: John E. | August 28, 2011

White House Sub Shop Highlights Any Atlantic City Trip

A visit to Atlantic City from Center City Philadelphia is only about 65 miles and a little over an hour, so it’s not really accurate to describe it as a road trip.  You can go there on the way to or from a weekend at the shore, as a spur-of-the-moment decision during a night out, or for a planned gambling excursion.  Regardless of the circumstances, I strongly recommend that you make time for a submarine sandwich at White House Sub Shop on Arctic Avenue.

Open since 1946, White House is well known to both old timer residents as well as newer generations of Atlantic City visitors.  The corner shop itself is not large and is an exercise in inefficiency.  There are about 10 booths, and those looking to sit down must stay outside the inner door until a waitress takes them to a table.  Those looking for take out can proceed inside to  the back, where they then stand around like stockbrokers waiting to place buy-sell orders.  For those looking to sit down at the counter, it’s a gray area whether you can go in and sit down without a waitress taking you there or not.  Somehow, this system has worked for about fifty years.

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Posted by: John E. | August 21, 2011

Wissahickon Trails Offer Dramatic Contrast to City Landscape

In the middle of Center City Philadelphia, there is the prototypical urban jungle.  Office buildings, high rise apartments, new condominiums and brownstone houses all spread across the city as far as the eye can see.

Within the city, however, is Farimount Park , a 9,200 acre system that is the largest urban park in the world, spread out across nearly in every neighborhood.  Though the primary area considered to be Fairmount Park is located to the west and northwest part, there are approximately 60 distinct areas, including in Northeast, North and South Philadelphia.

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Posted by: John E. | August 15, 2011

What to Expect (and How to Order) at Christo’s Falafel

With the recent demise (though a positive one for the proprietors) of Far From Home Cafe, I’m looking for a new favorite food truck/cart in Center City to fill the void.  First up among the contenders: Christo’s Falafel cart.

To describe Christo’s as just a food cart or  falafel vendor does no justice to the entire experience.  Located on the northeast corner of 20th and Market, Christo’s is sometimes there and sometimes not there during weekday lunch.  Its proprietor, Gus, doesn’t exactly post on Twitter (if he knew what it was) what his appearance schedule is.  The first thing you’ll notice about the cart is the massive line that forms when it does show.  Actually, let me take that back.  The first observation you’ll have is the irresistable aroma from the charcoal grill billowing towards Market Street.  I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but because the 20th and Market Street corridor is extremely windy, even on hot summer days, the cart’s placement on the corner is perfect for catching the downwind breeze towards Market Street pedestrians.  If it was, the guy is a genius.  On each of my visits, there would be passers-by who would ask the folks in line about the cart and what was being served.

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Posted by: John E. | August 7, 2011

Some Beers Are Best Served Less Than Cold

Currently, my favorite beers to drink are India pale ales and stouts.  Both types bring tend tohave more taste and flavor that other beers.  In particular, many stouts have that rich, creamy chocolate flavor and are just more satisfying than plain lagers or pilsners.  Certain stouts I’ve enjoyed at bars include Lancaster Milk Stout, Founders KBS and Left Hand Milk Stout.

So it’s been some surprise that when I’ve had some stouts, including many of the same ones I’ve previously enjoyed, at home, I have not always enjoyed them as much.  At first, I thought that I was just not properly remembering the amount of enjoyment I had while drinking the beers at bars.  Then, I figured it out: the temperature.

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Posted by: John E. | July 26, 2011

Selling Beer in Grocery Stores

Last week, I was on holiday in rural West Virginia.  On a grocery shopping trip, at a relatively small chain store named Shop ‘n Save, I stopped to check out the beer selection.  Readily available at this small grocery store in the middle of nowhere were terrific beers such as Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale and Saranac. 

In most states, the sight of good craft beer in a grocery store would be welcome but not exactly earth shattering.  For Pennsylvania residents, however, the mere thought of good beer being available in grocery stores would be cause for a major celebration.  Pennsylvania has one of the most restrictive and limiting set of laws when it comes to availability of alcohol.  While there are some avenues that allow grocery stores to sell beer if there is a cafe or restaurant at site, most grocery stores do not sell beer.  The vast majority of Pennsylvania beers are sold in beer distributors or from delis and bars. 

Now is the time for Pennsylvania to emerge from the dark ages and permit the widespread sale of beers in stores.  Consumers would benefit from increased choices and selection, and grocer stores would benefit from the sales.  The only ones who wouldn’t be in favor of it would be beer distributors who have had a monopoly for far too long.

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Posted by: John E. | July 16, 2011

Track Access in Heart of South Philly


The city has many great running spots.  For flat trails, there’s Kelly Drive/West River Drive, Columbus Boulevard and through Center City.  For hills, there’s some routes off Kelly Drive and in Manayunk.  The one thing that I did not find readily available, however, has been a track for sprints and speed training.  Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus has a historic track, but access to it is very limited (you can’t use it when the cross country or track teams are practicing) and almost non-existent when school is not in session.

Perusing Google Maps, I pondered whether there were any visible tracks that could be used by the public.  Down in South Philadelphia, I noted there appeared to be a track in the area of 10th Street and Bigler Street, which is south of Oregon.  It was not clear whether the field was associated with a particular nearby high school.

So, one morning, I decided to investigate and take a trip down to 10th and Bigler.  I was pleasantly surprised to find both the gate to the parking lot as well as the gate to the track open.  The track, which I learned was called the Bok Field Track, is run by the South Philadelphia Communities Civic Association.  It  is open for public use on weekdays from about 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  On both of my recent visits, I found folks walking or jogging around the track. 

The track is definitely a hidden gem and asset for those looking for speed training in the city.

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