My father would have been 76 today, except that he died two years and one day ago. Being from Philadelphia, silly as it is, I would have celebrated his 76th as an extra-special birthday. Mourning and grief are reasonable. Mourning and grief are irrational. I make decisions to feel and behave a certain way, but…
Tag: Philly
The Cheesesteak Diaries, Chapter 2: Elmwood Taco & Subs, Buffalo, NY
It’s been a while since I felt compelled to try getting a good cheesesteak in the Buffalo area, but after jonesing hard for a tasty sandwich this week, it was time to make another attempt. A coworker today suggested I try the sandwiches at Elmwood Taco & Subs, just a few minutes from my apartment,…
The Cheesesteak Diaries, Chapter 1: Primanti Bros., Pittsburgh, PA
Philly, yo! Those of you who know me are probably aware that I grew up in Philadelphia and spent a few years working in a cheeseteak and hoagie shop (“The Original Steak and Hoagie II”, now closed). I take my cheesesteaks and hoagies seriously. Possibly too seriously. As a field organizer I have the opportunity…
“Sliding Board” v. “Slide”: Some Notes on the Mid-Atlantic Dialect
When I moved from Philadelphia to Buffalo a handful of years ago, I thought I was pretty prepared for the major dialect differences. Pronunciation-wise, I had steeled myself for the Western New York pronunciation of words like car and crab shack, and I knew I wouldn’t be understood if I asked for a glass of…