My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I don't know whether I've ever mentioned this on my blog before, but I think I have.
The state of Pennsylvania has the most fakakta (Yiddish for: silly or ridiculous) regulations on alcohol, which they have been slowly changing over the past year and a half by permitting it to be sold in grocery stores (but only wine and beer). However, it used to be that by law, you could only purchase alcohol in wine and spirit stores that closed promptly at 7 PM.
Which is beyond bizarre to me having lived in Florida for 20 years, where you can literally purchase alcohol anywhere and at anytime--a grocery store, a convenient store, a gas station, or even a drug store like Walgreens.
So when I moved back here in 2001, I couldn't grasp the fact that alcohol in PA wasn't more conveniently available because this state, and specifically the city of Philadelphia, is very heavy into drinking. And when I say heavy, I mean H.E.A.V.Y. In fact, that's one of Philadelphia's sacred vocational occupations - alcohol consumption. That's why alcoholics migrate here, because their addiction is not only accepted, but strongly encouraged. The happiest you will ever see this city is on Friday late afternoon when Happy Hour begins, which by the way, continues until late Sunday evening. Here in Philly they don't just have Happy Hour, they have something that's called: Happy All-Throughout-The-Weekend-And-Seven-Days-A-Week Hour.
The state of Pennsylvania has the most fakakta (Yiddish for: silly or ridiculous) regulations on alcohol, which they have been slowly changing over the past year and a half by permitting it to be sold in grocery stores (but only wine and beer). However, it used to be that by law, you could only purchase alcohol in wine and spirit stores that closed promptly at 7 PM.
Which is beyond bizarre to me having lived in Florida for 20 years, where you can literally purchase alcohol anywhere and at anytime--a grocery store, a convenient store, a gas station, or even a drug store like Walgreens.
So when I moved back here in 2001, I couldn't grasp the fact that alcohol in PA wasn't more conveniently available because this state, and specifically the city of Philadelphia, is very heavy into drinking. And when I say heavy, I mean H.E.A.V.Y. In fact, that's one of Philadelphia's sacred vocational occupations - alcohol consumption. That's why alcoholics migrate here, because their addiction is not only accepted, but strongly encouraged. The happiest you will ever see this city is on Friday late afternoon when Happy Hour begins, which by the way, continues until late Sunday evening. Here in Philly they don't just have Happy Hour, they have something that's called: Happy All-Throughout-The-Weekend-And-Seven-Days-A-Week Hour.
And don't get me started on what it's like in Philly during the week leading up to St. Patrick's Day because the streets are filled with inebriated people all wearing green t-shirts that say, "Kiss my Shamrock Ass, I'm Irish," while falling over on the streets; barfing up beer and whisky. And that is no exaggeration. One year it got so bad that the paramedics had to be called to pick up people who were lying passed out on the sidewalks, and take them to a hospital. Yes, I actually witnessed that only a block from my apartment.
No lie, this city has more Irish pubs and sports bars than it does grocery stores, department stores, or anything else. Let's put it this way, you could find a drink in Philadelphia faster than you could find the Liberty Bell.
This city needs a new tagline: "The City of Brotherly Alcohol Consumption."
If you enjoy drinking to the point in which your blood level reaches 0.40% +, you should consider moving to Philadelphia, you'll love it. Because people here seem to drink for one reason, and only one reason...to get totally polluted. And that goes for both men AND women.
Mind you, I do drink. As you all know, I love wine. But the extent of my drinking is one glass of red wine in the evening. I have never been drunk or hungover. I enjoy wine for its taste; its pairing with food; and I also enjoy how it mellows me. But after one glass, I'm finito.
Now because of the coronavirus, with the exception of food stores and stores such as Target, all businesses here are closed. I used to shop for my wine at a wine and spirit store not far from my apartment, but now I have to purchase it elsewhere. Which trust me, has not been easy.
I discovered that Whole Foods has a small wine selection, as well as Mom's Organic Market. But because everyone here is buying booze by the truckloads right now, those two stores have been either very low on wine, or completely out.
Also, those two stores don't carry the brands of wine I normally purchase. Additionally, they charge much more for a bottle of wine than I'm used to paying. Yes, I'm very frugal. I don't like to spend any more than $10.00 per bottle, yet I've had to fork out more money because the supply of wine right now is very scarce.
But there's an upside to this.
You see, between having to try different brands and spending more money for wine, I honestly have to say that I'm discovering some really interesting wines that I would have never tried.
Here are four reds that I recently purchased...
No lie, this city has more Irish pubs and sports bars than it does grocery stores, department stores, or anything else. Let's put it this way, you could find a drink in Philadelphia faster than you could find the Liberty Bell.
This city needs a new tagline: "The City of Brotherly Alcohol Consumption."
If you enjoy drinking to the point in which your blood level reaches 0.40% +, you should consider moving to Philadelphia, you'll love it. Because people here seem to drink for one reason, and only one reason...to get totally polluted. And that goes for both men AND women.
Mind you, I do drink. As you all know, I love wine. But the extent of my drinking is one glass of red wine in the evening. I have never been drunk or hungover. I enjoy wine for its taste; its pairing with food; and I also enjoy how it mellows me. But after one glass, I'm finito.
Now because of the coronavirus, with the exception of food stores and stores such as Target, all businesses here are closed. I used to shop for my wine at a wine and spirit store not far from my apartment, but now I have to purchase it elsewhere. Which trust me, has not been easy.
I discovered that Whole Foods has a small wine selection, as well as Mom's Organic Market. But because everyone here is buying booze by the truckloads right now, those two stores have been either very low on wine, or completely out.
Also, those two stores don't carry the brands of wine I normally purchase. Additionally, they charge much more for a bottle of wine than I'm used to paying. Yes, I'm very frugal. I don't like to spend any more than $10.00 per bottle, yet I've had to fork out more money because the supply of wine right now is very scarce.
But there's an upside to this.
You see, between having to try different brands and spending more money for wine, I honestly have to say that I'm discovering some really interesting wines that I would have never tried.
Here are four reds that I recently purchased...
The only one I've tried so far is the malbec from Ruta 22. I purchased it because even though I love red wine, I have never tried a malbec so I thought it would be the perfect time. And I'm REALLY enjoying it!
The bottle you see on the far left (Lobetia) is a wine I got from Mom's Organic Market. I liked the description on the label and I've always wanted to try an organic wine, just to see if it tastes any different from non-organic wine. And I also thought the butterfly label was very cool.
*note: I'm a sucker for wine labels.
*note: I'm a sucker for wine labels.
Oh...and do you remember me saying in several of my previous posts about wine, that I would NEVER purchase a bottle with a screw cap?
Well, look at this...
.....yes...it's a screw cap, can you believe that!?!?
That just goes to prove that one should never say never, because one NEVER knows.
You see, this was a perfect example of what I mentioned in my previous post about adjusting and being adaptable to change. It reminded me that instead of resisting things that I automatically assume are roadblocks, just go with the flow and try a different road
Yup...I am sooooo happy that I was able to discover things that I would have never discovered otherwise...
You see, this was a perfect example of what I mentioned in my previous post about adjusting and being adaptable to change. It reminded me that instead of resisting things that I automatically assume are roadblocks, just go with the flow and try a different road
Yup...I am sooooo happy that I was able to discover things that I would have never discovered otherwise...
Cheers, y'all!
And stay well...💗
And stay well...💗
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