Five days in Philly

From Grug Street Philadelphia on the PA Liquor Laws:

Quote:

Pennsylvania Liquor Laws Explained

* 4/23/07 at 10:26 AM
* Comment

Wine RackPennsylvania has bizarre liquor laws. We accept it, we understand it (somewhat). However, they are perplexing to outsiders. Why are all the liquor stores state run? Why are there so many BYOBs? Why can't you buy beer in grocery stores?

Some of the best answers we've come across can be found at Chowhound, where they are currently discussing Pennsylvania liquor laws. A large part of it has to do with Pennsylvania's liquor license system: the state has a limited number of liquor licenses based on population. Philadelphia has more restaurants than the licenses it's allocated. New restaurants are forced to buy their liquor licenses on the open market from restaurants that are closing"and the price averages $250,000, according to Chowhound user JugglerDave (there are even brokers, such as the Pennsylvania Liquor License Exchange). As a result, many Philly restaurants opt for BYOB.

Meanwhile, restaurants are allowed to give customers complementary glasses of wine or champagne with dinner, as long as they don't charge for it"as can be seen at many South Philadelphia establishments.

As for the whole only-buying-beer-at-bars-and-distributors-thing... We're not going to go into too much detail. Far too complicated and legalistic, thanks to PA's Quaker heritage. But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently discovered a convenience store in Altoona that is allowed to sell beer through a loophole in the liquor laws. Apparently restaurants (and bars) are allowed to sell beer but delis and convenience stores are not. This one particular store built a seperate seating area, meeting the requirement that any establishment selling beer be able to seat at least 30. And now you know.

Read more: Pennsylvania Liquor Laws Explained -- Grub Street Philadelphia -- Restaurant News, Openings, Chefs http://philadelphia.grubstreet.com/2007/04/pennsylvania_liquor_laws_expla.html#ixzz0XAAicSwb

0 Replies

@farmerman,

Well. I had no idea of this sort of Quaker activity, farmer! (I did say I was no expert on the subject.) Goodness!

I've always associated Quakers with pacifism. And the notion of the Friends gatherings really appeals to me. A group of people sitting together, quietly meditating. (I'm reading a novel right now which features a Quaker funeral. Sounds like the sanest funeral possible. Wouldn't mind one of those myself! Wink

)

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@cicerone imposter,

Which is effemm?

1 Reply

@spendius,

The handsome one.

1 Reply

@msolga,

I know just what you're up to.

Jeez you're predictable, Spendy! Wink

1 Reply

@msolga,

I thought that the lady standing by the bus was sufficient evidence to support our considering bringing in Islamic dress codes.

1 Reply

@spendius,

I think I missed that lady, Spendy.
I'll have another look in a minute. She can't have been too bad if I didn't notice before, though ....

1 Reply

@msolga,

Nah, the only shocking thing I found was the photograph of the chips & the hot dogs (I think?) smothered in mustard, or cheese (?) ...
Not to worry.

2 Replies

@msolga,

Philly used to be "The fattest city in the US". because of some of the fatty **** we eat. We have since been overtaken and passed by several other rust belt towns like Pittsburgh or Baltimore.

However, eating a cheesesteak with fried onions, hot peppers and a ketchup sauce while sucking on a brew will allow you to die happy.

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@msolga,

That's a Philly cheesesteak sanwich; cheese melted on beef with fries. I had mine with a beer. Unfortunately, our's at Rotten Ralph's was not the prize we were expecting. However, all the other goodies we had in Philly were excellent to above average.

2 Replies

@cicerone imposter,

I never heard anything good about Rotten Ralph's . Its a center city take on a SOuth ST specialty. There are some good cheese steaks in the areas outside of South STreet but, you have to get on the info line. I like Capriottis, its a chain of really good sammich shops. Also, a Philly cheese steak is made with "Cheeze Whiz" or melted Cheddar.
NEVER eat fries with a cheese steak. Only chips.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Quote:

That's a Philly cheesesteak sanwich; cheese melted on beef with fries.

I guess you'd need to fast all day before indulging in one of these?
Rotten Ralph's. Love it! Very Happy

1 Reply

@msolga,

Yeah, Rotten Ralphs is located only a couple of blocks away from the Omni Hotel on Chestnut Street.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Here's some trivia; Sunnyvale and Philadelphia have identical weather tomorrow for the lows and highs.

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

I'll go ya one trivia better, c.i. -- The highest temp. ever recorded in Alaska is exactly the same as the highest temp. ever recorded in Hawaii. 100 Fahrenheit degrees. How's 'at?

1 Reply

@Merry Andrew,

velly intelesting!

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C.I., thanks for the link. Well! You sure did get around in Philly. Reminds me of Boston, too. We lived in North Attleboro, Mass. for 8 years. Saw the movie "Hair" in Boston on one of our visits to that city. I've only been to Pittsburg, but my husband graduated from Penn State.

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@farmerman,

Hi farmerman, I´m a ´lil bit active on Facebook, so you can contact me there. If you plan to visit the San Francisco area, be sure to contact me. I´m always good for a meal, and I can also play tour director. Tak

1 Reply

@cicerone imposter,

Because of certain requirements, I am not on Facebook . I hope youll visit here every so often. I will be up at Novato in the late Summer so Ill look you up.

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@farmerman,

I am not on Facebook either fm but I wasn't aware it was due to any "requirements".

Pray tell in case I ever go gaga and think I might go on Facebook.

1 Reply

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