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Jim and Amanda were very busy the short time they were here. They managed to visit the Barnes and agreed it would have been nice if Mr. Barnes had given Mr. Renoir the gift of some colored paints other than red, which at times seem to dominate his paintings. At the very least Barnes could have suggested to Renoir to buy some of his own new paints with the money Barnes paid for his paintings.

Oh, but we still love Renoir who show’s us who we are even today.

Along the Parkway Amanda and Jim visited the Rodin Museum seeing the Gates of Hell, but neither of them seemed to recall seeing ‘The Kiss’.

Either the couple were so enthralled with each other, the piece was out on loan, or they were feigning a virtue not to be believed. In any case, you cannot miss ‘The Kiss’.

The Rodin and ‘The Kiss’ is a great place for a second date if you have not broken the ice on the first. No one is as sensual as Rodin.

Which brings us back to Amanda. I mean brings us back to Jim and Amanda. After the Rodin their next stop was the Rocky statue. Everyone loves the Rocky statue.

After a drink and a nosh at Parc we strolled over to the Black Sheep Pub at 247 S. 17th street.
We were to meet up with Jim T. A twirl about the place and we don’t see Jim.

Outside, Barb rings him up, and sure enough, there is Jim walking towards us as he puts the phone to his ear.

The five of us head down the street to Restaurant Branzino. It is a fine night for walking, the weather though in early November is mild and does not yet give a hint of winter. We feel 20 as we walk and joke and talk.

As a native Philadelphian, I am inhaling all of this and getting high from the present, past, and possibilities. I love this city. It is a great place to be young.

Branzino is one of our favorite restaurants. They make great food, give good service at a good price in a pleasant atmosphere. You bring the rest of what makes a good evening.

We brought the best of friends and many bottles of good wine. So naturally we had a great time. Mike and Dee, Jim and Amanda, Barbara and Joe, along with Joe G., Joe F., Jim T. (the latter three members of the Irish mob).

Brian was a fantastic waitperson. If I were Sinatra I would have tipped him more. Ask for him, he was really good to us. Of course, Brian, with family from Cork, was the best waiter on this night at our Italian restaurant.

I know, you want to know what we had besides fun. A shellfish soup which had the dazzling essence of the sea on a summers night. It sounds mundane but if you like pea soup they offered one this night that was earthy, smoky, and like mama made.

We enjoyed, and I mean everyone was enthralled with their choices- branzino, veal dishes, chicken dishes. Each dish was treasured and sparingly shared with a neighbor.

Deserts of Tiramisu, Ricotta Cheese Cake, Gelato.

The only thing we could have asked for were bigger belly’s and minds to hold all the goodness.

Eight of us had a full meal including tip and tax for $45 each.

A long time from now Amanda, from Manchester England, will remember a birthday celebration in Philadelphia where she was cherished, made to feel welcome and have forever a memory to treasure.

The picture above was taken by 20 year old Todd. It is of a group of people too old to be having such a good time on a Friday night in Philadelphia.