Dining on Tour

After two weeks back in Philly I flew to Asheville for a week of rehearsal with my next job. Ashville is filled with street musicians, living statues, artisans, and free spirits. It's a small oasis locked in Appalachia. One of the first things to greet you in the small city is the City Bakery Café. I had the avo melt and sat outside and took in the Asheville residents. Second course was a smoothie at Double D's. The double decker bus has seating on the second level or outside. I sat outside since I rarely see the sun.

The first time I had a cheesesteak was in my Uncle Anthony's backyard when I was seventeen. Later that year I went to Tony Luke's for my first Philly cheesesteak, but it wasn't until this summer I got to compare Pat's and Gino's in South Philly. I can finally cross "compare famous cheesesteaks" off my bucket list! My dad and I have the same favorite. People kept asking me if I'm getting it "wit'" like of course I am is that even a question.

When I was a senior my apartment was a fifteen minute walk from Old City Philadelphia, yet for some reason I didn't go to Franklin Fountain until I went back to Philly on tour. I tried their spiced pumpkin ice cream, and it was very good, but I could only have so much because it was so sweet. Instead I got a scoop of their pistachio ice cream!

One day after a show in North Carolina I ended up at Joe's Sports Bar & Grill and honestly I was so hungry I didn't even think of taking any pictures and I'm positive I downed my burger in less than two minutes, but I will never forget when the waitress offered me apple butter with my burger. I never would have thought of something so sweet on a burger but here we are. Do this.

My first night in the suburbs of D.C. I went to Backyard Grill. Their backyard roasted chicken salad combines dates and pears with corn. I usually don't think of mixing hardy vegetables with fruits in a salad, but I'm learning new ways.

Lisa and I had a show in Winston-Salem (that's the land of corduroys), and we stopped downtown for lunch. One of the first places we saw other than Jimmy John's and Tropical Smoothie Café, which are both amazing, was Jeffrey Adams. They have outdoor seating and a bar! I ordered the Tomato Stack salad mainly because it had pistachio basil pesto. This doesn't come with a dressing, but I ordered sun dried tomato vinaigrette on the side and I recommend.

I need this.

Delco

If we have a weekend between shows and we're in the south we stay in the cast house in Asheville. This past weekend in Asheville I finally went to Green Sage Café. They serve a pumpkin smoothie with real pumpkin. I drink pumpkin spice so often I forgot what actual pumpkin tastes like. As soon as I drank it the leaves started changing.

Luke's in Abingdon, Virginia has a great selection of everything. Also, I cut myself on a metal sculpture outside because I wasn't looking where I was going and it was funny/embarrassing and I went to get a tetanus shot after.

JJ's has the cheesiest beer cheese soup. get it and share maybe.

Sabrina's in Philly is so popular it has multiple locations and they're still packed every time. Make the reservation because their breakfast cant be beat. I'll order anything with avocado for some reason and this was really good, and honestly I don't remember what it's called because their brunch menu changes seasonally and I am so behind with this blog/everything else in my life. Like right now they have a burger called "The Cows Are Not What They Seem" burger on their Twin Peaks menu.

Happily Ever After serves macaroons, bubble teas, and cold butterbeer!

Walnut Street Café is secret and doesn't have a website as far as I know but just walk down Walnut Street in Philly until you get to Washington Square then stop and look at the ground level and you will find it.

These nuts were filled with something and they were delicious. Sorry.

The Log Cabin Inn is kind of secret and down a bunch of roads off of Route 70 in Maryland, and if you find it take in the warmth of the pretend logs, turkey paintings, and 80s soft rock. The back of the menu has a list of rules including "no whining." They say you'll get kicked out. Good.

We performed in New Jersey and stayed in Seaside Heights for a night. The town was dead because of the off season, but before I walked the damp salty wood of the boardwalk I had a NEW New Wave Veggie Wrap and Italian wedding soup at  Ryan's Boulevard Deli & Grille. My look that afternoon was quasi-grunge suburban middle class prep with a brown/blue striped half zip knit from American Eagle c.2005, stained straight leg GAP khakis, boots by Bull Boxer bought on clearance with a major discount from DSW, and a vintage North Face backpack from my senior year of high school. After ordering the cashier/my server/the cook sometimes/possible owner said, "I like your whole look. You look nice."

Back in Delco, Jenna16, Alston, and I went to LinVilla orchards to experience fall. We also experienced these log truffles (mine pistachio) that I will have at my wedding, caramel apples, and pumpkin ice cream.

Also, while at home, I made banana pancakes! For four years I thought I was allergic to bananas but I don't know what happened because I had a few smoothies with banana in them recently because yolo and my butt didn't explode so now I'm going to eat them all the time. I learned about this recipe because the Kangaroo uploaded a picture of them on Instagram and I thought I must try. It's just a banana and two eggs for ten pancakes. I blended the banana in a magic bullet. This yielded chunky pancakes, and when I tried this recipe later I mashed the banana with a fork and the pancakes were lumpy and not very round, so I recommend blending the banana and egg in any electric mixer thing because I'm not crazy about chunks. Also, add some baking powder and cinnamon for fun. Add anything! I put in chocolate chips and chopped up pumpkin spice kisses (please) at one point and it was great! The pancakes taste more like french toast, but they're not very bananay and it's a way to eat fruit without thinking about eating fruit. 

I went to Taverna Agora in Raleigh to pick up my food and take it back to my hotel room so I could eat and sleep immediately after. They gave me so much olive oil with my French bread and that is ok. I forgot how much I love stuffed peppers? I took a picture of the food but then it looked terrible so just imagine stuffed peppers, a quarter of a backed potato, and a small seeded baguette.

I returned to Asheville after my last show, unloaded sets/costumes/props, and then went back downtown for dinner at LAB. I didn't have any of their beer but I heard it's great. Look at this giant pita chip on my salad.

Paper Twine

One time in college in I wanted to wrap a present in twine but I didn't have any so I thought, "guess I'll have to use something else," so I turned to the paper grocery bags next to the trashcan and thought "raffia." So I experimented with ripping and twisting until I got something that looked like the love child of raffia and twine. It's not the sturdiest thing, but it had a unique look that could be used for crafting or organic gift wrapping.

Rip

Unfold (and rip again if you want thinner twine)

Twist. Layer in the handles an inch and continue twisting.

There's No Place Like Barter

I spent my summer in Abingdon, Virginia working at the Barter Theatre as a summer player. I discovered that having no time in your day gives you a lot of time to do things except on the internet, which is why I was behind on everything until I moved. I had two-three shows each day along with rehearsals, gym time, and private improv coaching, but I was able to go out into town and even out of state to do things. Abingdon is a cute town with an abundance of small shops and 19th century history. The best way to sum up my non-theatre related experience in the south is through pictures!

Small businesses from the tri-state area congregate in Abingdon for Plumb Alley Day.

Pop Ellis offered an Oz Sunday in honor of Barter's production and the 75th anniversary.

Here are some shots from the Oz opening party!

Natalie and I. Swingin.

The gazebo at The Martha Washington: the fanciest/most historical place in town.

Look at this creek.

Some stores are closed Sundays for church. Others are closed monday because the theatre is closed.

Virginia is for lovers.

My friend Michael biked across the country to support cancer research. Abingdon was on his 4K4Cancer route! Hi, Michael. 

Baby Cakes sold ruby red slipper cupcakes. Their flavor options change day by day! 

Bartering for tickets is a tradition here!

Look at these Virginia Creepers.

One of the first friends while hiking the Appalachian Trail 

Virginia Creepers

The only kind of food I cooked all summer

We spent 4th of July at the Lands' house on the lake!

I ate a Clif Bar on this cliff. 

My first southern broil!

I had to 

Zacchaeus, Barrett, and I went to Greenville, South Carolina to see Sam's dress rehearsal and we got gelato and bagels.

Go here everything is great and they're open late!

Some shots from the Virginia Highlands Festival!

Home.

Check out Sullivan's Doll Furniture. They make triple decker bunkbeds for American Girl Doll sleepovers.

I thought olive oil was just olive oil but then I learned.

This was my room this summer. It was the first time I was living somewhere I couldn't have all of my decorations and things, but I managed. 

In the whirlwind of the summer rep I also experienced new things like pimento cheese, which seems to be a huge thing in the south, cheer wine, the magic of southern fireflies, weekly toasts of Jameson, and running to the fear. This was the best summer of my life, and I love and miss my new family at Barter every day. I'll be back soon!