My parents did not drive, so when I learned to drive we did a lot of day trips. We went to various places that made the weekend interesting.
When I married Laurie I continued this tradition. While many places are toy soldier related such flea markets and shows, there places we go to that have nothing to do with toy soldiers. A case in point, we went to the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia last Saturday. Built in 1892, the Reading Terminal Market houses a number of food establishments. We had gone their years ago and try to get back when we can. We decided to go last Saturday as we had nothing planned. The drive down was not as bad as traffic was not heavy and we got there in record time. There is a parking garage across the street from the market we parked there and went to the market.
The first place we went to was Dinic’s, which is noted for their roast beef and roast pork sandwiches. They were voted number one in the country for their sandwiches. There is always a line for Dinic’s. We got in line and got luck as a chair opened up , which Laurie took and I could stand next to her. We had the roast pork sandwiches, which filled us up.
Next we went to a place Belier’s Doughnuts and Salads. A friend told Laurie how great these doughnuts were. The doughnuts are made right on premises. They were made right at the stand and there was a wait for them. I checked Yelp and found the people gave Belier’s 4 and 5 stars. They warned the wait can be up to 30 to 40 minutes. The day we were there the wait was less and they had a wide variety. We picked a dozen and it was on $9.95. They also had a salad area where we were able to get Tampico pudding and some cherry cheesecake. Belier’s has another section for bake goods and you can buy just a small piece to try it.
We then went to Nanee’s Kitchen to get some Indian food to take home. Laurie likes that I will eat other cuisines other than meat and potatoes. We have bought from them before and got a nice meal to heat up later.
One other thing we did was I was looking for a great Italian hoagie to take home. I found it a place called Salumeria. I got a nice 12 inch hoagie loaded with meat and cheese. It was very good, my only complaint is I would have like the roll a little softer.
After we did our purchases we headed out. I always have slight problem getting out of the town, but I figured how to do it in the future. We will go back again in a few months and try some other places. If you are in Philadelphia it is a good place to eat.
Lived outside Phila all my life, but only walked through the Reading Terminal once. If you want to get adventuresome and try a different pork sandwich, try Tony Luke’s (I believe they are on Oregon Ave, make a right off of Broad if you are heading towards City Hall from Pattison Ave and the stadium complex). Go to the stand that looks like a Pat’s Steak’s or Geno’s stand, not the sit-down restaurant. If you like broccholi rabe and sharp provolone, they’ve got it (and the broccoholi rabe is not all stalk, like you get at some places). I’ve been to several great hoagie shops with friends who work for a bank in south Phila, but cannot recall the names or locations. Wish I could, ’cause they were outstanding. The secret to a great hoagie (and cheese steak to a lesser degree) is the roll. Some like the rolls hard, some on the soft side. I’m a soft side guy myself. We used to have a great Italian bakery in Chester, just down the road from where I live, called Buono Brothers. Made dynamite rolls, supplied all the sandwich shops in our area. Sadly, a competing bakery bought them out and closed the Buono facility. Nobody ever really filled the gap. We’ve got some great hoagie (sandwich) shops here in Delaware County. If you ever plan a trip that brings you close by, let me know and I’ll tell you where they are.
George
It is always the way you live close by and never go near a place. We have a Tony Luke’s up here, but it is downtown and I have not had a chance to try it. When get our sandwiches at Dinic’s, we always order them with broccoli rabe and provolone cheese. I know there are many great places to eat in Philadelphia, we just do not get the time to get into Philadelphia. I am a fan of soft roll. If we get into your area I will try to contact you for some suggestions.
The other style of hoagie I like is what I call the Woolworth’s hoagie. It is very simple hoagie with meat, cheese, onions and lettuce. It was what I grew up on and it is a memory of going to get them to bring home to share with my mother. I have only had one like it once about 15 years ago. I have to check some farm markets and see if they come close.
Be careful of Tony Luke’s outside of Phila. There is some franchising going on and I don’t know if the franchisees are maintaining the same level of quality. Years ago, Pat’s Steaks (the classic place for steaks in south Phila) got involved in franchising. Some one in the family who owned a fractional interest in the business started to sell off franchising arrangements. The result was a string of horrible restaurants (keep in mind that while Pat’s probably has the rights to inventing the cheese steak, but beyond tourist interest, it is not all that great), the family finally managed to close the franchises to protect the original south Phila shop. So, I recommend trying Tony Luke’s in south Phila first.
Woolworth’s hoagie sounds interesting, but you really need to try a Godfather at RoLynn’s in Brookhaven. Made with all prosciutto (pronounced “proshoot” in south Phila) and all the classic sandwich fixin’s (no mayo, that’s only for Merigans). Phil & Jim’s in Parkside has a more traditional hoagie and my wife grew up eating sandwiches from Casa Pulla’s in Wilmington. All great sandwich shops. I’ll stop now, this has nothing to do with soldiers.
George
Thanks for the tip on the hoagies, if I get near them I will try them. I will try the Tony Luke’s one of these days and see what I think. I agree once an place is franchised its quality goes down.
It is fun to talk about something other than toy soldiers from time to time. I will do an new article tomorrow.
My closest connection to the Reading Terminal was landing on the Reading RR spot in innumerable games of Monopoly growing up. But it sounds like to nice place to have lunch —- sort of like South St. Seaport in NYC, Inner Harbor in Baltimore, and Adams Market in Boston. Or the Hyatt-Regency Buffet Breakfast Bar in Schaumburg, Illinois, site of OTSN. Is it too early to start talking about OTSN? Between Indy and Chicago is when I take my own “break from toy soldiers” —- other than Joe Saine’s auction/show in August.
And incidently, my May/June issue of Playset Magazine arrived today, with the highly interesting story and photos of Pecos.
Don
There are many great eating places around the country and I have enjoyed several of them.
We just got you cured of Indy Fever and now you are coming down with OTSN fever oh no. LOL
The fever really won’t start until we get to the third week of August, and then have just 30 days before the show.
But everyone should know that hotel reservations should be made as early as possible. I tried twice in the past 3 weeks to make reservations at the “show rate”, and was told each time that the reserved block of rooms for OTSN were “filled up”. When I tried the third time, the reservations were made with no problem. Each time I was speaking to a live operator in the Hyatt Regency’s centralized reservation service. I don’t understand what the story would be for that, but I do know that hotels, like airlines, overbook. I therefore have gotten into the habit of showing up bright and early Friday morning to ensure my reservations for the weekend are honored. I don’t want to show up and find out that, despite having a confirmation number, the show hotel is all filled up, and be shunted over to the neighboring Hyatt across the parking lot. You won’t have this problem if you purchase a table or selling permit from the show operators, because then they assign you a room number well before the show weekend, which is guaranteed to you.
I know, Paul, that you’re no more inclined to travel all the way out to Chicago from your location on the east coast, than I am to travel out to New Jersey or the California show from my location in Michigan. But since you’ve been to so many OTSNs in the past, it would be interesting to get your take on how the show has changed/not changed over the last 15 years.
One trend I have clearly noticed is that when I first started to go to OTSN in the 1980s, so much Timmee and Lido stuff was all over the place but was regarded as cheap junk that hardly anyone wanted. Today, it has become scarce enough to command respectable, at times expensive, prices. The other clearly discernable trend is that Marx prices for individual figures reached dizzying levels in the 1980s, but have now moderated considerably. And the other noticeable trend is that heavy room trading took place on 3rd, 4th, and 5th floor, but is now only found on the 4th and 5th floor.
All in all, though, OTSN remains truly a great, unique experience.
Don
The problem for me to go to OTSN is the cost. Air fares are just crazy along with renting a car. We looked at driving, which I can do, but there again the cost made it not worthwhile.
I would like to do the show again to see the changes. You have pointed out one the reduction of room trading floors.
As to the Marx figures the price is dropping on most of the figures as the people have them in quantity. People are looking for other figures. They are starting to look at the Timmee and Lido. Demand increase price. I was buying most them years ago for resale.
Philly has the Hoagie, Chicago has the Italian beef. Unfortunately the places in Chicago with the best Italian beefs are generally small places in out of the way locations. Lots of places carry them, but few have really good ones, Portillo’s which is a franchise type place and if you’ve been to OTSN, you’ve probably been to one, has a fair Italian Beef, at least it’s edible. There are two Portillo’s a short drive from the OTSN location , one west which is always packed and one east which is smaller and less crowded. So, if you’ve never had one and you are at OTSN, be sure to try one, I think you’ll like it.
When I get to OTSN this year, the only break from toy soldiers I’ll be taking is hightailing it with Bill Skinner over to Portillo’s around dinner time, which is where we went last year, for the first time, at Bill’s suggestion. He regards it as having the best hamburgers in the world. After that, “break” will be over, and it will be back to the toy soldier rooms for the evening.
Don
When we go to OTSN, we take many breaks. Some are just to relax others, we go find places to eat. We also check the Woodfield Mall out. We make it an interesting vacation with the soldiers a bonus.
Ed B
We will have to try it if we ever get back to Chicago.
Italian Beefs are one of those regional foods I believe. Portillo’s is pretty good, but not the best I’ve had, most places in the burbs don’t have the Chicago style down quite right. I’m spoiled because in the neighborhood where I grew up they had one of the best Italian beefs places around, in fact there were like 3 places within two miles of me that had good Italian beefs. Dang, I’m making my mouth water.
ok you guys got me all hungry here!!now I have to go and look x one…
You are spot on with Dinic’s. Broccoli rabe and sharp provolone on the pork is essential.
I’ll be in Philly next week for the Wizard World Comic Con, right across the street from the terminal. Dinic’s is one of the best percs in doing the show.Beck’s Cajun place in the Reading Terminal market is very good, too.
Out the door and one block to the right brings you to Philly’s Viet Nam/Chinatown… make a left on 11th, and there are plenty of choices. Viet Nam is a favorite, as is Sakura Mandarin, on the corner of Race St.
Sean
Good to hear from you, I will have to look into Beck’s Cajun. I have to watch as Laurie is allergic to fish and sea food. Have a good show.
Yeah everybody should come to OTSN, we have can have a forum party. Believe it or not I get together with the metal guys most every night while there after the rooms close up for beers and stories.
Stad is in some classic Tom Terry OTSN photos in early issues of PFPC! Hope to DRIVE up to OTSN from Florida this year, with a lot of stops on the way up and back for family and friends. In fact, I talked three of my Northwestern University, Class of 1972 buddies into a mini reunion at the Orrington in Evanston Friday and Saturday nights …. so I’ll hope to do the show Thursday evening and all day Friday!