No Kids Allowed

So in the next month I will be going to not one but two different weddings. The weddings are going to be very different and I am sure to have a good time at both. But last night I was standing and talking with one of the brides and it brought me back to my wedding and all of the hard work and planning that goes into that day. The bride I spoke with last night has politely asked their guests to keep infants out of the ceremony and is getting quite the backlash from her family regarding this. Her opinion is that she does not want a child screaming through the ceremony and then having it immortalized on tape. I remember that this was something that we had originally considered for our wedding and reception. In the end we did in fact get a sitter so that our guests with children would be able to enjoy our wedding with us as adults. Since issues like this have been in the news recently, see here. the question that I have is why is it so offensive to want to enjoy my eating experience without your kids ruining it? Why is it so bad that I want to be able to take an airplane flight without listening to a baby cry for six hours, honestly? Now, being that many of the people in my family have children I understand that they are part of your life, I love your kids, seriously I do. But why do people find it so upsetting when one business says that you cannot bring your kids? They way I see it is that if the business can sustain itself without child patrons, the only people who are affected are the kids themselves. You do not have to go to those establishments, but maybe I want to. I am not offended when you bring your kids to the museum that I am at, I realize that its just as important to their education and they have a right to see these things. I guess my rant really is why are so many people outraged by the idea that establishments could exist without the support of children.

Leave replies, I would love to try to understand that parental side of it.

The City of Brotherly Love

I was recently asked how do photo trips get planned? What consideration goes into what lenses to bring, where to go, what time of day? My answer was of course spend as much time as you can planning, go early, and as far as lenses bring as much as you can. The trip that Corey and I took on November 29^th was anything but one of those trips but still turned out brilliantly. Sitting in my house one night Corey and I both realized that we had the upcoming Monday off. At the same time we were watching Man vs. Food on the Food Network and he was in Philadelphia. At the same time both Corey and I found that this would be the perfect opportunity for a photo trip to the City of Brotherly love. We departed rather early our eyes set on the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall. The trip to Philadelphia was uneventful but the day was filled with so many prospects and of course Cheese steaks.

We found parking fairly easily and started into the Liberty Bell museum. The place is nothing but Top Notch and was very informative. The entire complex in the center of downtown Philadelphia was phenomenal.  The light was fairly harsh and getting a picture without twenty other tourists in it was not easy, but I was able to snatch a few courtesy of a zoom and getting in front of little kids to take a picture.  I really liked the way they did the Liberty Bell, lots of natural light from all different angles really gives the bell a very different look from different sides.  Maybe its because I am a guy but I really enjoyed the “blue” side which was a result of the skylight behind us.

The outside of the building where the Liberty Bell is

Shortly after we headed over for our guided tour of Independence Hall. If you are Philadelphia you really should consider the tour it’s a free tour but you do need to get tickets. It was breath taking knowing that some of my family were in Philadelphia, when the Constitution was being signed. They were consequently hanged for assisting the British, but neat nonetheless. Its a really neat piece of my families history.  Apparently there was an Act passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1783 that stated the Doans were "robbers, felons, burglars, and traitors". Its an interesting story that ends up with Abraham and Levi being hanged. I would recommend looking into the story. 

Finally we decided to walk (which was in retrospect a bad idea as I did not wear a coat) to get Cheese-Steaks. Only 14 blocks and about half the city away we arrived at our destination.  If you have ever been to Geno’s or Pat’s for a Cheese-Steak you I am sure have your opinion about which is better. This is exactly what Corey and I were here to find out. The two competing restaurants are located literally across the street from each other and work in direct competition. We started with Geno’s where we ordered a “Provi-Wit” and then ordered the same at Pat’s. Needless to say we both felt that Pat’s was the better of the two.

We walked back to the car and began the two and a half hour drive home, having enjoyed another photo trip. The sunset over Philadelphia was breath taking and Corey and I discussed how crazy it was that we drove from Baltimore to Philadelphia for some cheese steaks. Just goes to show how fun photography days happen.