Springtime in Philadelphia

I went to my first professional conference (go librarians!) in Philadelphia (my first time in Philly) last week and had a wonderful time. I was a little anxious about being out of my element at a conference for a profession that I don't fully call my own yet, but all in all, I had a great time. It helped that my hotel room was spacious with a beautiful view, that mouth-watering food could be found around every corner, and that spring was blooming in the city.

This was the view of Broad Street from my hotel room:

 [Lucky me got a corner room!]

When I wasn't mingling with librarians, I spent a lot of time at the Reading Terminal Market, which was (much to my delight) right across the street from the convention center. I wish something like Reading existed in San Diego! There were so many delicious treats--flowers, candies, cheese steaks, pretzels (oh the pretzels--I've never had such a good pretzel!), cupcakes, vegetables, meat, jams and jellies, coffee--loved it all. Did I mention the pretzels?

The Market is indoors and has rows (or "avenues") of vendors, like this one:

I was particularly lured in by the sweets: 

 [CANDY AND CHOCOLATES! Where do I even start??]

 

These sticky buns at Beiler's Bakery were also incredible--sticky and sweet and made right in front of us.

And the flowers were beautiful! While I was there, the east coast was having a heat wave while San Diego was rainy and frigid. Craziness.

 

 

And finally, I cheated. I didn't actually eat a cheese steak, but instead had this roast pork sandwich from DiNic's, complete with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. YUM.

To work off a fraction of the food I just showed you, I ran from my hotel all the way up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a la Rocky Balboa.

 

[Watch out half marathon! I'm comin' for you!]

I did a good amount of career soul searching while I was there, but was happy to have had breaks to eat, smell the flowers, and pump my fists up the steps of the museum.

Philadelphia, what a wonderful city.