Eats: Earwan Thai Cuisine, Philadelphia

I'm Keeping it short and sweet. Highly rated as one of the best Thai joints in the city, I stopped in while visiting Philly one Saturday afternoon. 

I mean, who doesn't love Crab Ragoons???

My usual fave...Drunken Noodles with shrimp. 

It was all very reasonable too...under $30 with tip! Great service too. 

I'm definitely gonna go back. 

Earwan Thai Cuisine

123 S. 23rd St (at Sansom)

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Eats: Pat's King of Steaks - South Philadelphia, PA

Well, everybody knows that Philadelphia is known for their cheesesteaks, and that two of the most popular places to get one are located at an intersection called 9th and Passyunk in the city's South Philadelphia neighborhood. I really wanted to try Geno's, but the line there was very, very long. This is around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Pat's is a Philly institution having been in the area since the 1930's. The Oliveri brothers are generally credited with the creation of the steak sandwich, and the restaurant is still family owned. 

Like most dense neighborhoods in Philly, parking can be a challenge. If you can't snag a spot in front of Pat's, you can circle for a spot on one of the side streets. Most spots are unmetered.

There's two seating areas around the shack. When you go to order, you can go to one of two windows. The main window is for ordering your cheesesteaks, and the other is for ordering fries and drinks. Locals do order a certain way:

• "Wit" means with onions, "Wit-out" means no onions.
• They offer several different kinds of cheeses. Cheese Whiz is their most popular. They also offer Mozzarella, American, and Provolone. If you don't want cheese, just say Plain. 
• They are cash only.

I ordered a Provolone Wit...and about $9 and two minutes later, here it is!

Nice soft roll, tender meat...yummy grilled onions and cheese. I'm in heaven for a few minutes until it is gone.

Pat's is a very touristy thing to do in Philly, but you might as well do it once, ya know? After eating at Pat's, I'd recommend taking a stroll up South 9th Street, home of one of the largest outdoor markets in the country.

Pat's King of Steaks
1237 East Passyunk Ave (at 9th and Wharton Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Website | Yelp Page

Car Rental Review: 2014 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition

National's 2014 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T Wolfsburg Edition:

• Rented from: Philadelphia 30th Street Station
• Car Class: Full Size (FCAR)
• Miles Out: 10,903
• Miles In: 11,089
• Fuel Economy: 24 city, 34 highway with 1.8 liter turbocharged 4-cyl engine and 6 speed Tiptronic automatic
• MSRP as rented: $23,995

Pros:

• Perky turbocharged 4 cylinder engine with little turbo lag
• Roomy interior
• Spacious trunk
• Wolfsburg Edition offers a few more standard features than the base level S models National usually rent out.
• Firm, comfortable ride with good fuel economy

Cons:

• Sirius trial was up.
• Not as loaded as other FCAR's I've rented, such as the Ford Fusion Titanium
• Proprietary MDI cable in this particular vehicle was for the last generation iPhone/iPod (VW should just go USB like everyone else.)
• Not a fan of the imitation leather.

On another day trip to Philadelphia July 4th weekend, I was offered a Passat as an upgrade. Having never rented one, I took it thinking it would be the base level S model that I talked the agent out of giving me at my local station a few weeks before. I was surprised to see that this one was a Wolfsburg Edition, which is a slight step up from the S (there was a S model in the stall next to this one...some poor sap ended up with it...guess it was just luck!). 

The Wolfsburg Edition adds fancy fender badges, special rubber floor mats, heated V-Tex leatherette seats, a 8 way power driver's seat with power lumbar, and a six speaker stereo with MDI hookup and Sirius satellite radio (unfortunately, the trial subscription was up, though). 

One of the nice things about the Wolfsburg is that it comes with the 1.8 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder - check for the TSI badge on the right side of the trunk lid. 170 horses and awesome fuel economy to boot - I averaged nearly 30 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. The engine was peppy and turbo lag was minimal. I've yet to drive a Passat or any VW with the normal 2.5 liter 5-cylinder, but from what I've read so far, it leaves much to be desired.

The Passat had the typical features for cars in this price range, but alas, having been spoiled by fully loaded FCAR rentals such as the Ford Fusion Titanium, this vehicle leaves me wanting more. I was particularly annoyed that the MDI cable that came with this car was for the last generation iPhone - that also makes me wonder why Volkswagen won't get with the program and offer a USB port like everybody else. There is Bluetooth Audio, but the track information does not show on the stereo, nor can you can control the tracks like you can in some other cars. 

Despite it's shortcomings, it was a pleasant enough rental. If I had to choose between this and say, a base Nissan Altima, I'd choose this. My favorite FCAR these days is a Ford Fusion Titanium...something that gives you one of the best values for your rental dollar!

Car Rental Review: 2014 Chrysler 300C AWD

2014 Chrysler 300C AWD

National's 2014 Chrysler 300C All-Wheel-Drive

• Rented From: Philadelphia 30th Street Station
• Car Class: Premium Special (PXAR)
• Miles Out: 20,359
• Miles In: 20,496
• Fuel Economy: 15 city, 23 highway with 5.7L Hemi V8 engine and 5 speed auto
• MSRP as rented: $40,195

Pros:

• Almost fully equipped...leather, heated and ventilated seats, heated and ventilated cup holders, heated mirrors and steering wheel, 10-way power driver seat with lumbar, Keyless ignition, the works.
• V8 engine is powerful, not too bad on gas.
• Garmin-based factory navigation is standard and sweet - also shows the next turn in the trip computer on the dash!
• Plush leather seats are comfortable.
• Roomy trunk.
• Working SiriusXM with Traffic! (Chrysler usually gives a 1 year trial subscription.)

Cons:

• While V8 was not too bad on gas, it's still thirsty with a 19 gallon tank.
• AWD makes vehicle a bit heavier. Can easily squeal rear tires in full RWD mode.
• No sunroof in this particular vehicle.
• Mileage was on the high side for the year only being half-over...it had Ohio plates so chances are it was one-wayed to the PHL area at some point.

"That thing got a Hemi?"

Why, yes it does!

Taking advantage of a Free Day I had, I figured I'd try to score one of these on a recent day trip to Philadelphia. National allows you to use a Free Day on a reservation up to a Premium (due to the way the Emerald Club works, the system downgrades the reservation to a Full Size, and then applies the Free Day coupon to that price.). When the girl at the counter offered a 300C, I immediately jumped at the chance....it's definitely a lot better than the last Premium rental I received there - which was a base trim Nissan Maxima.

The V8 was very, very peppy. The engine is still paired with an older 5-speed automatic (the 3.6L V6 version comes with a new 8-speed), but it doesn't impair performance too much.

This is one of the most technologically advanced cars out there. It has almost everything...and most of it is controlled from the 8.4 inch Uconnect screen on the dash. You can control things like the dual zone automatic climate control, radio, rear sunshade, the heated steering wheel, and lots of other stuff. It can actually get a bit overwhelming.

While I probably wouldn't pay to upgrade to this, I definitely wouldn't mind a free upgrade!

Car Rental Review: 2014 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD

National Car Rental's 2014 Chevy Traverse 2LT AWD

• Rented from: Philadelphia 30th Street Station - free upgrade as I'm an Emerald Club member
• Car Class: Premium Crossover (PGAR)
• Miles Out: 2408
• Miles In: 2583
• Fuel Economy: 16 city/23 highway with 3.6L V6 engine and 6 speed automatic 
• MSRP as Rented: $38,865 

Pros: 

• A little better looking than the last generation.
• SiriusXM satellite radio was still working...as seen up above. Also, this generation has the MyLink system which is just kick ass!
• Loaded with goodies such as backup sensors, rear-view camera, remote start, and tri-zone automatic climate control.
• Not too awful on gas.
• Easy to maneuver and drive. 

Cons:

• They stuck the USB port inside the cubby on the dashboard...took me a while to find it (I actually had to look in the owner's manual to figure out where they put it.)
• Wood-like plastic trim is awfully tacky looking.
• Soft touch buttons were finicky and sometimes didn't want to work right.
• No dual-pane moonroof like in the LTZ's.
• No leather, which is just as well. It was almost 100 degrees the day I rented it.

While a pleasure to drive, there are better PGAR's to rent. You might be able to snag one of the Traverse's platform mates, the GMC Acadia SLT or Buick Enclave...those are even better equipped.

Daytripping: Bucks County - Philadelphia, PA, June 22 - 23, 2013

One of the awesome things about living in the New York Metro area is that there are plenty of neat places to go that are a train, bus, or drive away. 

Philadelphia is a place I like to go to at least twice a year. I usually take the BoltBus, which offers express service from New York. The fares are pretty decent (around $10-$15 each way depending on how far in advance you book) and the experience itself is miles above regular Greyhound bus service. The buses are fairly new and feature WiFi, electrical outlets and decent legroom.  

While you can easy get to Philly and come back the same day, I've preferred to stay overnight in order to get a better taste of what the town has to offer. Center City (what they call the "downtown" or Central Business District) has a wide selection of hotels for every budget...from the super cheap Days Inn to the Über expensive Four Seasons. You can usually get a decent room in the area for $120 a night, but if certain events are going on in town, that price could go up significantly.

Metro North from Stamford to New York

Nothing really special here. My bus was to depart Penn Station at 10:15am, so I hopped an express train Stamford at 8:24am and had plenty of time. There's a deli on 7th and West 36th Street where I usually grab a Sausage Egg and Cheese and a coffee. I also stopped by Tim Horton's inside Penn Station to grab an Iced Capp to drink during the ride. 

BoltBus from New York to Philadelphia

One great thing about BoltBus is that they use a 'group' system to keep boarding drama to a minimum. If you book your ticket early enough, or a member of their rewards program, you almost always get to board in the "A" group. Book late and you'll be stuck in "B" or "C". Of course, after "C" is when they start selling the remaining seats to those on standby and walk-ups. The tip here is to book early...or join the rewards program (You get a free ride after riding 8 times, so why not?).

The ride itself is only two hours and fairly boring, since it's on the New Jersey Turnpike for the majority of the run. It only gets interesting once you cross the Delaware River into PA and get on I-95 for the last few minutes of the trip. You see the city pop in front of you as well as cool bits like the SEPTA Market-Frankford line running in the median.

30th Street Station & National Car Rental

I'll tell ya, 30th Street Station is truly a multimodal facility. You can catch everything here, from SEPTA Regional Rail, Amtrak, BoltBus and MegaBus, and SEPTA city buses. You can even rent cars here...Hertz, National/Alamo, Avis and Budget have counters. 

I'm a member of the National Emerald Club. Being a member has it's benefits...one of them being expedited service when I arrive at the counter. Today, the agent, Gwen, already had my contract printed and a key ready for me. I was also upgraded to a Premium car! 

There's construction going on around the station, so the setup for picking up cars had changed since the last time I'd rented from here. The adjacent building is called Cira Centre, a building that sits on land Amtrak owns (the building itself is owned by a realty trust, and Amtrak leases office space). From 30th Street Station, you cross a sky-bridge to the new building and then take an escalator down to the parking area. 

The outside parking area was designated for rental vehicles and is huge! I asked one of the greeters for National where I could find my car and he led me to a very nice 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE. Wow! In a sexy silver color, the car was pretty nicely equipped.  Some of the cool features included Keyless Access with Push Button start, Display Audio with iPod integration, Handsfree Bluetooth calling, and full leather upholstery.

I paid the Intermediate rate (around $43.99 a day) and put around 150 miles on it driving throughout Bucks County and the Philadelphia region.

New Hope, PA

Located along the Delaware River, New Hope is a cute little town in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It's barely 2 square miles in area, thousands flock to this busy borough during the summer months.

The main drag in New Hope has something for everyone. There's lots of cute shops, restaurants, and other sights. Bikers also flock to the region and can be seen at many of the establishments.

New Hope and Ivyland Railroad

Since I love trains, this was a must-do during my New Hope visit. It runs as a historical shortline railroad, but in it's heyday, the line itself ran much farther south than its current terminus and connected to other railroads that ran into Philadelphia. The Reading Company owned what was then known as the New Hope Branch until they were forced to sell the line due to financial troubles. 

The New Hope station was recently restored and featured a ticket office, modern restrooms, a gift shop and a high-level platform area. Rolling stock on this line include several diesel-electric locomotives as well as a steam locomotive. 

The railroad offers hourly excursions most days of the year, with a reduced schedule during the winter months. The ride itself is around 9 miles round trip - the first part of the ride is from New Hope to Lahaska, after that the locomotive does a reverse move for the trip back to New Hope. The railroad also offers other types of excursions such as the "Grapevine Express" (basically a wine and cheese tasting), the Evening Star Dinner and Murder Mystery Theatre Dinner excursions. They also do excursions for kids as well as rent the consist for private charter (in fact, they had a wedding going on in the train next to us!).

The coaches themselves were mostly former Reading coaches repainted in the NHRR livery. You were able to choose to sit in the regular coach ($18.95), an open air coach ($24.90) or the First Class area ($25.90). First Class enabled patrons to secure a table and were entitled to private bartender service. Those sections of the consist were also air conditioned! 

I chose the Open Air seating option and picked up a ticket for the 3:00pm excursion. There was a refreshment stand on the platform where you could grab a soda while waiting. Trains started to board 10 minutes before departure. I chose a seat towards the back of the consist and was immediately greeted by one of the volunteers. She asked if I wanted a frosty beverage and I certainly obliged especially since they had Bud Light on board!

The ride was definitely enjoyable and it's definitely fun for all age groups. 

Shopping and King of Prussia

Of course, you can't really go to a new place without getting some shopping done. King of Prussia is one of my favorite malls to visit while in the Philadelphia area. 

While KoP has over 400 stores among the two sections of it's complex (some stores even have multiple spaces, for example, Bath and Body Works has two!), my two favorites are Express and J.Crew. As you can see, I treated myself to a few things...lol.

Other bits around Philly - in pictures: