Guns, Guns, Everywhere a Gun!

During a recent weekend in Philadelphia, thirty-two people were shot (with guns). It's not nearly as bad as it sounds because only six of them were killed. The good news is that if countries such as Mexico, Cuba, or even Canada choose to attack us, they won't stand a chance. I have to believe this is precisely what our founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the infamous "Right to Bear Arms" amendment.

Even though most of the guns in our City are in the "illegal category", and even though in a typical Philadelphia home, there are probably more guns than television sets, we don't have to be too concerned about the aforementioned invasions.

For a somewhat obvious reason, a significant number of shootings take place in bars and even restaurants. It's probably that lethal combination of guns and alcohol that continues to cause the problems. It really calls for a very simple solution - if you plan to drink, be sure to check your gun when you enter the establishment. Better yet, don't drink and shoot your gun at the same time.

On occasion, accidents do happen and certainly the gun itself is not to blame. A gentleman accidentally shot himself while dining at a local Ruby Tuesday restaurant. The gun was legal and he even had a permit to carry his gun. Again, it was no fault of his own when he placed his hand in his pocket to secure some cash (to pay the bill) and somehow squeezed the trigger. He had to be rushed to a nearby hospital, but it was an accident and certainly it could have been a lot worse. He could have shot his waitress.

All of this is to suggest that it's possible that we have a problem with guns. However, let us not forget our right to bear arms, and more importantly, it's not really the gun that kills and wounds so many people. I would suggest that the real problem is that we actually have too many television sets.

Why do they cry at Weddings?

You must remember the wedding scenes in the "Godfather" - I can assue you that the Family spared no expense for the wedding of The Don's daughter. Weddings come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is for sure, weddings are an important part of our culture, and no matter what happens, people keep getting married.

It doesn't take a genius to get married, and it certainly doesn't take a genius to have children. If you are blessed with a daughter, you will also be blessed in paying for her wedding. I never understood this so-called rule, and I would also suggest that a wedding is not the most important moment in most people's lives. Having said that, weddings unto themselves have become a gigantic business, and as long as you have the means to finance your daughter's wedding, it's really quite simple.

You merely gather forty or perhaps fifty thousand dollars, and select you favorite
hotel, country club, caterer, or whatever. It's not all that difficult.

Our project is of a very different slant on your proposed wedding. It just happens to be 2011, and trust me when I tell you, not everyone has an extra forty or fifty-thousand dollars lying around. Most of the people are just happy that they figured out a way to get their daughter through school, and the happy thoughts of a wedding has just turned into your worst nightmare.

We have developed an extremely important program for enjoying the experience of a memorable wedding that the father (and mother) of the bride can live to talk about it.

I'm guessing that the members of the Corleone family had the finances to make that very memorable celebration happen (almost without a glitch). We are here catering to a very different audience, and our concept of "Affordable Weddings" can help you through the night (so to speak).

It's all about chefs and great food, and it's all about a bar presentation that will save literally thousands of dollars. It's about the ambiance that is critical to a wedding, and it's about everything you can think of including the music, the glassware, the parking, the photography, and everything that that's involved in a memorable wedding.

We have a litany of professionals who can help you, and we have done it. It doesn't take a genius (or tons of money) to have a wonderful wedding. It's easier than you think!

I Want To Be Like Mike!

I knew going in that Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa is something very special, and I knew the outstanding reputation of Napa Valley's Sequoia Grove. My "job" this particular evening was to have dinner (at Bern's Steakhouse) with the President and Head Winemaker at Sequoia Grove, Mike Trujillo. The challenge was to sample the great wines of Sequoia Grove and the great steaks of the much revered Bern's Steakhouse, and if it gets any better than this, please let me know.

Beyond all that, Bern's has one of the best wine lists in the world - some 6,800 selections, and some half a million bottles. What's amazing is that they offer many old and rare bottles at extremely reasonable prices. At a time when most American restaurants think nothing of a 300% markup, the prices on Bern's famous list could almost convince you that it is the 1950s all over again. The steaks, dry-aged for up to eight weeks, are trimmed and cut once you order, and broiled over lump hardwood charcoal and they are indeed something special. My advice to anyone interested in tasting a truly superb wine from Napa Valley, Sequoia Grove and Berns go very well together.

So many of us dream about opening our own restaurant - it sounds like the perfect life, and it's so easy to do. It's actually so easy that most people quickly discover that their best dream has turned into their worst nightmare. A secondary dream has to be living in Napa Valley, and of course, becoming a player in the wonderful world of wine. The wine thing is a bit more complicated, but actually, every bit as dangerous as opening a restaurant. Mike Trujillo had zero dreams about wine and/or restaurants (so he says). He was studying engineering in college and by total accident, he was working for the former owner of Sequoia Grove and ended up applying his knowledge of chemistry and mechanics to the wine industry. He also acquired a winemaking certificate from the University of California, Davis, and obviously, he was thinking more about wine and probably less about a career in engineering.

Groupoff

I understand that it might be difficult to believe, but the economy is eventually going to get better, and when it does, the Groupons of the world are going to take a devastating hit. The bottom line is as follows ... A business can't give-away a ridiculous 50 to 90% and still be viable. Restaurants represent the real essence of the Groupon craze and at 50% off (which really amounts to 75% off after they pay Groupon), the numbers simply don't work. You just can't continue to give-away money and expect to keep the doors open.

The owner of Groupon recently walked away from some Six Billion dollars from none-other than Google, and this man is out of his mind. It's going to crash, and it's only a matter of time.

When you add Groupon and an unending list of copycats (and throw in the ever-present Restaurant Weeks), the entire business has evolved into one gigantic discount. Something has to give, and either the discounting ends (as we now know it), or we are going to be witnessing thousands upon thousands of restaurant closings.

This Spot is Not to be Confused For the Union League...

The spot in question is 913 Filbert Street in beautiful downtown Philadelphia. It's the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and I was there on business. Actually, it was the final day to pay my $26 ticket and I wanted to do it in person. If you pay by credit card over the web, they charge you an extra $2.50. It was an amazing experience (and it only cost me $26.00).

When I arrived there were approximately seventy people in line to pay their tickets. I asked the guy in charge how long it would take to pay my ticket and for whatever reason, he was not all that receptive. His answer was a tad unfriendly..."Hey pal, how the hell would I know that. Get in line or just get out".

You do go through the metal detector which is probably a good thing, and the crowd is
a bit tense. This is not a party and I don't think the Phillie Fanatic could help these people. These folks are basically pissed off, and one guy was almost out of control. He did a ten-minute stand-up on the evils of the Parking Authority. I was the only one laughing and I must mention this... I was the only one wearing a tie. This is not the crowd from the Radnor Hunt Club, and for whatever reason, I didn't feel all that welcome.

I believe everyone should share this experience at least once in your life. It's another world, and almost a reminder of the State Stores of the 1970's before the beautification process. You can stand in line and not even have a ticket. You will see the Parking Authority for what it is... A license to steal. By the way, the Flower Show just opened and my guess is that this particular crowd will pay the extra two-fifty.

I Fought the Law and the Law Won...

I just received a parking ticket in Manayunk. I ran into a Starbucks to grab a cup of coffee and within a period of approximately 40 seconds, an agent was writing a ticket. I simply didn't see the guy and the rest is history. I now owe the City of Philadelphia twenty-six dollars. The agent told me I could go get my coffee and not worry about an additional ticket. I won't tell you the answer I gave him.

If you have a car in Philadelphia, you get tickets, so it is what it is. I returned to Starbucks and the kid who served me the coffee said something that was very interesting. He lives in Manayunk and he knows something about the Parking Authority. "They drove the retailers away, and they drove the restaurants away, and I'm guessing you won't be back anytime soon". The kid was right, because that was precisely what I was thinking.

There is nothing more profitable for the City of Philadelphia than placing $26 tickets on automobiles. You find people who can write (it's not even necessary that they know how to read). When the flag pops up, they write a ticket. It's a license to steal. The City literally mints money, and more importantly, drives unknowing visitors away. I would suggest that the actions of the Parking Authority (and parking in general) is the number one reason that so many people who live in the suburbs avoid dining in Philadelphia (and Manayunk is in Philadelphia).

I recently spent a considerable amount of time in Downtown Tampa, and while the Parking Authority there hasn't reached the level where they have their own television show, they have basically ruined the downtown restaurant community. I lived it and I watched it (and I even ended up in traffic court). The restaurant owners are livid about it and it is literally putting them out of business. The agents drive around in small white cars and when you pull up to a parking space, they will sit there and wait for you to put the quarters in the meter. It's a "Welcome to Tampa, and we are here to make your visit as painful as possible."

Philadelphia is worse - I once visited a restaurant and parked on what appeared to be a legal space on Samson Street. Upon returning, there were actually two tickets on my car. One just wasn't enough. You can enjoy a great restaurant experience in Philadelphia, but if there is a ticket on your car, the "great experience" instantaneously turns into a mini-nightmare.

The most profitable area continues to be on Walnut Street where cars are towed away on a daily basis. The signs are confusing (especially to a visitor) and if you stay a few minutes after 3:30 (in the afternoon) they will take away your birthday (along with your car).

Manayunk was once a thriving restaurant community and something happened to make it unthriving (if there is such a word). I honestly believe that kid at Starbucks knows more than the City of Philadelphia wants us to think about. "Welcome to Philadelphia!"