Visit to Philly for District Comics Book Signing

Curls Studio traveled up to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, September 22, 2012 for the "District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC" book signing at Locust Moon Comics & Movies. Since the event was at 5PM, we decided to make the most of the day and attended the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Fall Garden Festival when we got into town a little after noon. I also planned a full day of pierogie hunting.

At the festival, Carla Hall and Daphne Oz form ABC's The Chew were there giving a cooking demonstration. I have seen this show at the gym when I work out during my lunch break, so it was fun to see them in-person. There were tons of plants and other festivities and I came home adopting a Oreocereus trollii... you will be seeing more of him in the future.

For a late lunch, we went to Syrenka Luncheonette, a polish cafeteria-style eatery, on Richmond Street. We ordered mushroom soup, pierogies, and potato pancakes. The food was delicious, but if you go be prepared to dine in an outlet of the past. There were photos of Robin Williams up on the wall when he visited in 1998, but overall the place felt like going in a time machine back a few generations.

Afterwards we went to Krakus Market across the street and checked out the polish food and drink options. They even had polish gossip magazines and newspapers at the checkout. It seemed like carrots were a major influence in the drink flavors. We purchased a pack of frozen sauerkraut and mushroom pierogies to go, which we haven't tasted yet and are saving for a special occasion.

We couldn't get enough pierogies so from there so we headed to Pierogie Kitchen to get some dessert pierogies. We had been there before, so knew what to expect. The flavors there are more contemporary and experimental. Since we came in late in the day, the only dessert flavor left was sweet potato, so we tried that and quickly headed to the book signing.

Locust Moon is a great comic book store and has a high sense of design and appreciation for original art. There is even a gorgeous fish tank and fun things to look at everywhere and also a gallery space. The weather was a bit crazy that day, as earlier the temperature went from very hot to normal to extreme rain and wind into the night. Matt Dembicki provided free District Comics zipper pulls for anyone who wanted them. Food and drinks were also provided during the signing.

The creators who attended were Matt Dembicki, Rafer Roberts, Michael Cowgill, Kevin Rechin, Jason Rodriguez, Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo, and Charles Fetherolf.

Thanks to Brady Russell and Amber Love and her friends for dropping by!

You can hear more about our trip to Philly in episode 193 of The Carolyn & Joe Show: http://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/polski-and-pierogies/

Or view a ton of photos in the Curls Studio Facebook photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151166050197381.471116.50763422380&type=3

We'll be back in Philly on Sunday, December 16, 2012 for a comics event at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street). Mark your calendar and look for more details to come.