I took some time off this weekend to be a supportive Alumni. Michigan State was playing Ohio State at home but I took the train down to Philly to go to the see the Penn vs Cornell game.

I don’t get down to Philly the number of times that I would like to and I take the train when I need my cheese steak fix. New York City is known for so many cuisines but no one I can find can make a cheesesteak like Carmine’s in the Reading Market. You just can’t seem to get a good Cheesesteak in New Jersey or New York City unless someone is from Philly. So, I made my pilgrimage to Philly for a football game and a sandwich.

This blog covers my many trips to Philadelphia for the Cornell-Penn game and the foils of each game. It has been back and forth over the years but in 2025, we finally really clobbered them and proved ourselves with a resurging team. The many great experiences and places to visit and especially the places to eat. I love my cheesesteaks!

In 2015:

In 2015, I lucked out too. The day of the game it was a beautiful warm afternoon and the last time I went to Philly for the Penn vs Cornell game it was cloudy and cold being the end of November. This year we are having a surprisingly warm Fall. In 2015, the game was a complete bust as Penn walked all over us.  In 2021, both teams were pathetic but we were able to squeak by with a win of 15-12. Both games were not that good.

Cornell versus Penn in 2015

In both years, what really annoyed the Cornell Alumni was that they closed off the other half of the stadium for “construction purposes”, a fancy way of saying that they did not want to clean up the whole stadium after the game was over with so we had to sit with the Penn Alumni who we outnumbered like we did the Yale Alumni in their own stadium a few months earlier. It did not make much of a difference as our team has had a terrible season coupled with the only win over Columbia and that was with a field goal. Both years we were freezing under the awning of the stadium while the other side of the stadium was nice and sunny.

Penn was no better. Most of our Alumni went to the far reaches of the stadium as the blood-bath started and by the second half, we started to turn things around but it was too little too late. We caught up somewhat in the second half but still lost the game 34-21. So much for another Cornell season.

The Penn side of the stadium is always smaller than ours. This is Homecoming for Penn in 2025

Before the game made up for it. It was nice to walk around Philly in the nice weather. We had an Alumni tailgate a few blocks from the stadium and we have a really good band. Like Michigan State (one of my four Alma Maters), even when the season is at its worst, Cornell Alumni are really supportive, so it was nice to listen to the music before the game. They started to march down to the stadium while I was touring around the Penn campus.

Downtown Philadelphia from the Arts District

Before the game, I got to walk around the Penn Campus which is really nice for a city campus. You would never know you were in a section of downtown Philly. The stadium itself is really nice. One of the more traditional stadiums in the Ivy League which is sadly never filled with Penn students and alumni.

For a team that just shared the Ivy League title they are constantly being outnumbered by supportive Cornell Alumni who out cheer them every season. You should have seen the game two years ago, a nail biter that went down to the last play in which we upset them by one point.

Although not the game of the century, for us at Cornell it was the big game. We filled a big portion of our side of the stadium while the home team seemed to drift in when they wanted to that afternoon. Their Alumni seem to have gotten a little more supportive in the last two years.

The best part of the afternoon was not the game itself or the cheering fans, it was the food vendor located outside Franklin Field in on non-descript truck. These Greek gentleman (as they proudly told me when I asked if they were Italian) made one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten for only $4.00, compared to the highway robbery of $9.00 in the stadium.

Franklin Field at University of Pennsylvania

https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/maps/locations/franklin-field

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d23743963-r817885859-Franklin_Field-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

The Chicken Philly Cheese steak and their homemade Meatball subs on a fresh chewy hoagie roll when heaven on earth. Maybe it was the quality of the meat, the freshness of the bread or just the way it all came together with their friendly personalities but that experience really made the game. The truck is located outside the stadium and I don’t know if it is there all the time but if you are in Philly, flock to this truck which is one block from the Penn Museum. The meatballs are so full of flavor and the sauce so rich the sandwich itself is a reason to go to Philly.

Even though we got our butts kicked that afternoon by thirteen points and it ended our season on a low note, it was still fun to walk around and experience Philly on a brisk Fall Day. Very different from New York but unique in its own way.

At least on the way back on the Acela, my best friend, Kris and I exchanged phone calls on the Michigan State-Ohio State game. That nail-biter ended as I exited the train in Penn Station, New York City. That game we won 17-14 on a last-minute field goal.

In 2021:

This was the first time I had been down for the Penn versus Cornell game since 2017 and that time it was freezing cold. I missed the 2019 game because I had to work on Saturday mornings and it was impossible to make the train or even drive down before the game was over. Since class was on Friday night this year, I made sure that all the housework was done before I left, all my class work for the students was done and all the bills were paid before I left. I had a clean conscious and could relax.  Even though I was only gone barely twenty-six hours, I got such a good night’s sleep, I felt like I was gone for a week.

I took the Northeast Regional down to Philly which I have to say is a nice ride. I arrived in the City in about an hour and a half and the best part was that the hotel I was staying at downtown was fifteen minutes away walking. It was in the high 50’s when I arrived and ended up being around 63 degrees by the afternoon. It was clear and sunny for the whole day which was a pleasure. Drexel University which is located right next to Penn was having their Parent’s Weekend so both colleges were buzzing with students and parents.

Just north of the Penn campus, the Cornell Alumni had set up their tailgate and when I dropped my luggage off at the Sheraton Downtown at 201 North 17th Street, I double backed to the train station and walked behind it to College Park where both colleges are located.

Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia at 201 North 17th Street

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/phlws-sheraton-philadelphia-downtown/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d102710-r817883360-Sheraton_Philadelphia_Downtown-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

Just as I got onto campus, the band and the cheerleaders showed up and we had a mini pep-rally in the tailgate area. This was really nice because neither had been at the Yale game a few months earlier. It was nice to have some spirit and cheer and I will tell you that the band was in the mood to play for us as well. They played our fight songs and school song and all sorts of traditional ‘pep’ music to get everyone going before the game.

The game itself was a real dud. Both teams looked worse for the wear and neither of us scored until the end of the first quarter when we scored a touchdown. We scored two touchdowns before and they were both called back so it was very frustrating. The whole game was frustrating coupled by sitting in the one section of the stadium that was so cold. The rest of the stadium was lit by the sun and we were in the same section as the Penn Alumni and it was all shade. By the second half, I stood on the other side of the stadium near the bar area they set up and finally got some sun and heat. They were much better.

In the end, we won 15-12 and I have to say that it was not much a match up. The one thing I do like about Franklin Field is the concession stands. They are loaded with all the foods that are bad for you and so good at the same time. I had a cheesesteak, a slice of pizza and a Coke and it did not break the bank and on top of that, everything was delicious. The people at the concession stand know how to make a cheesesteak with provolone.

Now this is lunch at the stadium

After we won, I had about an hour after the game so I ventured over to the Penn Museum that is located across the street.

The entrance to the Penn Museum at 3269 South Street

https://www.penn.museum/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d138271-r818066600-Penn_Museum-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/1716

In the three times that I have visited the museum, I never get to spend the time at this wonderful little gem that I want because there are so many great museums in Philly and it is hard to get over here except during football season.

The “What We Wear” exhibition at the Penn Museum

The museum has extensive Greek, Egyptian and Pre-Columbian Galleries to explore and on a nice day, the gardens and fountains are relaxing to sit by. I got to tour the “What We Wear” exhibition before the museum closed. The day of the game as the museum closed down for the afternoon, I got to watch our team leave the stadium. The parents were all riled up after the win.

Since it was getting late, I decided to tour parts of the Penn and Drexel campuses before it got too dark outside. I loved looking into the quads and older buildings that make up the character of these two campuses. Both campuses were still busy with groups of families but everything else was closing around them. I decided to walk over to the Reading Market for a snack before relaxing at the hotel.

The Reading Market Terminal at 501 North 12th Street

Reading Terminal Market

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d104158-Reviews-Reading_Terminal_Market-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

By the time I got there after 6:00pm, the market had already closed for the day. I was bummed but would come back for breakfast the next morning. I walked around Chinatown in search of a small take-out place.

I came across Asia Bakery at 115 North Street in Chinatown. It was a relief to find this place as I was not hungry and it had the most amazing baked products. The Roast Pork Buns here are delicious and the Cream filled Buns are excellent (See review on TripAdvisor). They didn’t even make it back to the hotel as I ate them on the way back to the Sheraton.

I would come back again in 2025 and buy some buns to take back to the room. Their prices are still fair in 2025.

Asia Bakery at 115 North Street

The inside of the bakery

https://www.restaurantji.com/pa/philadelphia/asia-bakery-inc-/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d4729985-r818210964-Asia_Bakery-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

https://littleshoponmainstreet.wordpress.com/

The Roast Pork and Cream Buns are delicious here

Yum!

When I returned in 2025, I stopped in for a Pineapple Custard bun as a snack. The quality and freshness of their baked products is excellent.

Yum!

When I got back to the Sheraton, I hit the pillow that evening and I did not wake up until the 8:30am the next morning. I had one of the best night’s sleeps in ages. The beds at the Marriott are the best, so soft yet firm. You will get the best night’s sleep on these beds.

The next day I was refreshed and ready for a long day of touring. My goal was to explore Old Town Philadelphia again and I wanted to start with breakfast at the Reading Market at Pearl’s Oyster Market located right inside the Terminal.

Pearl’s Oyster Market at 51 North 12th Street

https://pearlsrtm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pearlsoysterbarphiladelphia/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d8560082-r817884222-Pearl_s_Oyster_Bar-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

Breakfast at Pearl’s Oyster Bar was the best. I had the most amazing Breakfast platter with French Toast, Scrambled eggs, turkey bacon from a butcher in the Market and a side of Hash Browns and everything was delicious. The portion size was not gargantuan but was enough to cover me until lunch. The French toast was nice pieces of hallah bread dipped in a flavorful cinnamon mixture and cooked until a golden brown.

The breakfast here is delicious

It was some breakfast

I went back the Sunday morning I was leaving in 2025, and the food and service were consistent as usual. I have never had a bad meal here. I wanted something different than just pancakes and eggs. I had a hard time choosing between the Chicken and Waffles and the Crabcake Benedict, but the Benedict won overall.

I ordered the Crab cakes Benedict with hash browns

Everything was delicious and so well made

After breakfast, it was off to explore Old Town Philadelphia. I had been to Philly over the summer and there were places I wanted to revisit and places on the bucket list. My first stop was the Elfreth’s Alley Association Museum at 126 Elfreth’s Alley. This unique little house shows how early merchants ran their businesses and lived.

Elfreth’s Alley Association Museum at 126 Elfreth’s Alley

http://www.elfrethsalley.org/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d8538566-Reviews-Elfreth_s_Alley_Museum-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/5813

This interesting little museum lets you experience what it was like to live like a merchant in the late 1700’s. The shop was in the front of the home facing the windows and you would do business with the customers in the front of the house while the family had the kitchen in the back and lived upstairs in the small bedroom.

The front of the museum where the dress makers worked

I could not believe that a family of six once lived here. In the back, there is a small garden to sit outside and relax.

The bedroom area

My next museum on the tour of the neighborhood was the Betsey Ross House at 239 Arch Street. This is one of the last of its kind on the block and barely lasted the chopping block of the 1960’s urban renewal of the area.

The Betsey Ross House at 239 Arch Street

Betsy Ross House

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d144052-Reviews-Betsy_Ross_House-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/5820

What fascinated me about the tour is that Betsy Ross had been married twice and did not even own this house. She rented rooms from the owner and ran her own upholster business from the front of the store and lived in a room in the back with her husband. There were also other people living in the house at the time and it is not that big of a house. She was approached by the Patriots about creating the flag which she had never done before.

It was interesting that she was an independent businesswoman when many women did not have employment. Also, when I reached the last room of the house, the actor playing her was so convincing as Betsy Ross, I felt like I was talking to the real person.

After the tour of the Betsy Ross House, the next museum in the neighborhood I visited was the Fireman’s Hall Museum at 149 North Second Street. This museum is the perfect place for out-of-town firefighters and their families to see how the Philadelphia Fire Department was founded and operates.

Firemen’s Hall Museum at 149 North Second Street

https://www.facebook.com/firemanshall

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d146195-Reviews-Fireman_s_Hall-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/5808

I found the museum fascinating in that you have the entire history of the modern fire department from the bucket brigade to the current engines and Trucks that operate today. You can see where Benjamin Franklin organized the first departments to the days when they were run by the insurance companies.

The best part is that the museum is run by the Philadelphia Fire Department and you get to meet several of the firemen when you visit who can answer all sorts of questions about their department.

The last museum on my bucket list to visit on this trip was the Museum of the American Revolution at 101 South 3rd Street.

The Museum of the American Revolution at 101 South 3rd Street

https://www.amrevmuseum.org/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d12163505-Reviews-Museum_of_the_American_Revolution-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/6222

I found this museum not only interesting but very educational. It described the entire Revolutionary War from the acts that England put on the Colonists from the Stamp Act to the Tea Taxes and not even consulting with the Colonial Administration on these decisions.

What I found fascinating about this museum is that they had George Washington’s tent that he used in battle, original weapons from the war and more interestingly is that they had pieces of the King George Statue that was pulled down by New Yorkers in Bowling Green Park. I had thought it had been destroyed and melted down. I even found out that the head had been smuggled back to England.

I was tired of all the museums that I had visited in both the July and October trips and it was time to sample the food of Philadelphia’s Old Town. There was a lot to choose from. My first stop was Big Ass Slices at 224 Market Street.

I love the logo for Big Ass Slices at 224 Market Street

https://www.bigassslicesmenu.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d12876952-r793544323-Big_Ass_Slices-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

The name does not do the pizza justice. The slices are oversized being the size of two slices and have a delicious pizza sauce that makes the body of the pizza ($5.30 for a Big Ass Slice). What was nice was that I was able to eat it indoors without enduring the cool afternoon.

The pizza here is amazing

Another stop I made on my summer trip was The Franklin Ice Cream Bar for ice cream. The other ice cream shops were either closed at the time of the night or had long lines. The Franklin Ice Cream Bar at 112 Market Street and its sister store,

The menu

The Franklin Fountain at 116 Market Street were both busy that day. The ice cream is homemade and amazing but expensive ($8.50 for a medium cup). I had the Caramelized Banana and the Sea Salt Caramel and I highly recommend them.

 The Franklin Fountain at 116 Market Street

Home

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d629008-r793536923-The_Franklin_Fountain-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

The inside has an old fashioned feel to it

The Franklin Ice Cream Bar at 112 Market Street

Franklin Ice Cream Bar

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60795-d14040327-Reviews-Franklin_Ice_Cream_Bar-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

The Salted Caramel and Caramelized Banana ice creams

Yum!

The next on the list was Shane’s Confectionary at 110 Market Street. This over 100-year-old candy store was very interesting as it was like taking a step back in time when merchants made a statement not about their product but the way it was presented and sold.

Shane Confectionary at 110 Market Street

Ethically Made Chocolate

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d3296425-r817885106-Shane_Confectionery-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

You walk into the store and you are greeted by gas lamps and wooden cases that showcase the chocolates. I have to admit the prices are pretty high but these are homemade candies made inhouse. I bought one of their well-known Lighthouse chocolates and a Chocolate covered Truffle, another specialty they were known for that totaled $7.50 for two pieces of chocolate. Totally worth it! Both tasted so good.

The inside of Shane Confectionary

I walked down some of the side streets and passed many of the boutiques that make up. One store that stood out was Claudia Mills Rugs at 133 North 3rd Street. This interesting store was a standout in that they creating the rugs right inside with the looms working as you walk in.

Claudia Mills Carpet at 133 North 3rd Street

https://www.claudiamills.com/

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/littleshoponmainstreet.wordpress.com/1134

The finished products lined the walls in all their colorful glory. It is the perfect store for decorators and people looking to add some zing to their home decor.

The inside of Claudia’s Rugs

With all this walking in Old Town Philadelphia, I started to get hungry again and decided instead of heading back to the Reading Market, I wanted to try a new place for a cheesesteak. I went to Campo’s Philly Cheesesteak at 214 Market Street.

Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks at 214 Market Street

https://www.facebook.com/Camposphillycheesesteaks/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60795-d433733-r817884721-Campo_s_Philly_Cheesesteaks-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905

I now know why this restaurant has been open since 1947. The cheesesteaks are excellent. I ordered a Cheesesteak w/o (without onions) and Wiz (Cheese Wiz), the only way I will eat a cheesesteak. The hoagie roll was so soft and chewy and the Cheese Wiz pulled the thin steaks together and the taste was amazing. It was nice to eat inside with other people again.

The meal was delicious

The Cheesesteaks are amazing

Yum!

I walked down to the Delaware River and looked at the Camden Waterfront. God has that changed but at least they are trying with the city. There are now parks, hotels and the aquarium and they look like they are building new housing.  Rutgers expanded their campus in Camden so that has helped.

I passed the Independence Seaport Museum (for the next trip, it was closing for the day) and walked along the path and watched the cars and boats pass by. It must have been something for those early colonists who saw only woods and a lot of promise when they walked along the same path. I saw Philly coming back to life and that was a good thing. It had been shut down too long before I returned in July and then in November.

I walked back to the now closing Reading Market Terminal and walked through the hallways again watching tourists ordering the last of their meals and taking gifts home with them. It was such a relaxing overnight stay and it was good to revisit the museums and shops I had visited over the summer to get a new perspective on them. I was able to update a lot on MywalkinManhattan.com and LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com so it was a good working trip.

That and we beat Penn! That made the trip all worth it!  I will be back to Philly soon.

Go Spartans and Go Big Red! Go Green Go White! Go Red!

There were no highlights on the Cornell versus Penn game in 2015. We lost 34-21.

Cornell versus Penn 2021: 15-12 (Won)

We Won!

Michigan State versus Ohio State 2015: 17-14 (won)

We won!

Michigan State versus Purdue 2021: 29-40 (lost)

We lost! Badly!

In 2025:

I returned for the Cornell-Penn Game after a four year absence. Two years ago when I was in Grad school, I had two major papers to write for classes at NYU plus the fact that a Nor’easter had come up the coast and down poured all over the game, it would not have been a very pleasant experience.

After a very long week of work and finishing our quizzes and preparing for the upcoming Team Projects and Thanksgiving break, I left for Philly right after classes were over. After a very quick trip from Penn Station in New York, I walked from Penn Station in Philadelphia to my Airbnb on the edge of Chinatown.

What the building lacked in esthetics, made up in price and location. It was one block from Chinatown and just inside the Central Business district.

Arriving in Philadelphia for the game

Penn Station in Philadelphia at night

So I walked through the empty downtown area, admiring the architecture. I could not believe that it was only 6:00pm when I arrived but it felt like 9:30pm! It was so dark out. The downtown was so quiet and elegant at night. It being so empty you could admire its beauty first hand.

Downtown Philadelphia on Market Street at night

Things were already being set up for Christmas. The Uptown Christmas Beer Garden was already set up by City Hall.

I got to the Airbnb and settled in and then walked all of Chinatown in search of the perfect Soup Dumplings. I found the At Lucious Dumplings at 939 Race Street. I think I chose it because it look modern and new from the outside and did not have the old fashioned look from Chinatown standbys. The food and the service were wonderful.

Lucious Dumplings at 939 Race Street

https://www.instagram.com/lusciousdumplings_phl/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222481161103827/posts/8315724328446106

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60795-d28034164-Reviews-Luscious_Dumplings-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=69573

The inside of Lucious Dumplings

Since it was getting late and zI did want a huge meal sitting in me before I went to bed, I ordered a small bowl on Hot & Sour Soup to start and an order of Pork Soup Dumplings and an order of Fried Pork Dumplings. Everything was freshly made and delicious.

The Hot & Sour Soup was well spiced and full of fresh ingredients

The Soup Dumplings were so juicy when you bit into them. You could tell they were hand made.

The Panfried Pork Dumplings

The meal and the service were wonderful. The prices were very fair and the music they played was a combination of modern jazz and 70’s hits. The whole experience made for a perfect dinner.

My perfect dinner

After dinner was over, I walked around Chinatown, which seemed rather quiet for Friday evening. It really was a warm and beautiful evening out and I thought it would be busier.

Walking around Philadelphia’s Chinatown at night

I was exhausted from work that morning and then traveling on top of the sheer running around from that week and decided to head back to the Airbnb and just relax. It was going to be a long day the next day. I stayed a tiny Airbnb on Wood Street in the up and coming section of Old Town/Northern Liberties section of the downtown just off Chinatown.

The rains passed be the next day and it was a beautiful, warm Fall morning. I could not believe it. It was 60 degrees outside when I went for breakfast. The neighborhood showed it true light, and I could see there was a lot going on both in the night and day here.

I got to see the hipster neighborhood in the light

The neighborhood is just north of Chinatown, giving me excellent access to my favorite sections of the city, Chinatown and City Center.

The Old Town/Northern Liberties neighborhood during the day

I knew exactly where I wanted to go for breakfast, the Dutch Eating place in the Reading Market Terminal. The Airbnb was just three blocks away which made it convenient to everything I wanted to do in my two-day visit to Philly.

It was a beautiful morning in Philly

I love the Reading Market with all its sights and smells. Their food pretzels whole place was waking up when I got there but there was line for the Dutch Eating Place.

The Dutch Eating Place at Reading Terminal

I was able to get a stool pretty quickly and sit down to breakfast. People were coming and going so fast that the counter turned over rapidly. I wanted something different this time and I had a Bacon, Egg and Cheese on Rye Toast with a grilled Raison Sticky Bun. Along with freshly squeezed orange juice, it made the best breakfast on this busy morning.

My breakfast, the Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich with a grilled Raison Sticky bun

The breakfast sandwich was excellent

The Grilled Raison Sweet roll

Yum!

Then I needed to walk it all off, so I walked all around the Reading Market Terminal. I love just walking around the Market and looking at all the stalls and the selection of foods available. There is some selection of all sorts of cuisines and many places of dessert. I love all the smells and sounds of the cooking and the fun of watching people push in their faces and loving their meals. There is such a joy to good food.

Walking through the Reading Terminal Market

I enjoy just looking at this and that and making mental notes for the next trip to Philly. There was so much to see and experience from stall to stall. Unfortunately, a lot of stalls are closed on Sunday, so it is a bummer. Still there is a lot to see and do here.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

The Southern cooking

The selection of sandwiches

The salads

The selection of all sorts of fresh produce

Loads of delicious salads

Racks of delicious ribs

I was tempted so many times even though I was still full from breakfast. Then as soon as I walked all the hallways, it was off to Miller’s Twist for a pretzel before I left for the game. I figured I needed to fill up until halftime.

Miller’s Twist at the Reading Market

https://www.millerstwist.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60795-d4317975-Reviews-Miller_s_Twist-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=69573

How do you choose?

Miller’s soft pretzels are the best!

Now I had all the carbs and food in me for the walk down to the Penn campus on the other side of downtown. The Fall had come to Philly, and the foliage was just beautiful on the Penn Campus.

Walking around the Penn Campus

The Penn Campus really was beautiful on this early Fall day. All the foliage had not fallen and there were all sorts of golden hues to it. I had to change clothes and just put on my polo as it went up to 67 degrees that afternoon. A far cry from the 40 degrees days I have experienced in that stadium in earlier years.

Outside the Franklin Stadium

The stadium that morning after the rain storm

It ended up being a clear sunny day and the perfect Fall weather for a football game.

The statue of Benjamin Franklin outside the stadium

Franklin Stadium the morning of the game

I am used to the apathy of the Penn students and Alumni even though it was Homecoming Weekend. The stadium was 2/3rds empty for the whole game. It did fill up for the second and beginning of the third quarters but once we starting to clobber them, the stadium emptied out.

Franklin Stadium right before the start of the game

Cornell’s football team during the morning warmup

The band soon joined from the other side of the stadium

Our band entering the stadium

The game started at 1:00 pm sharp and we could not have asked for a better afternoon. The tickets were more than usual as it was the Penn Homecoming. You would have never known it by the crowds.

Our band doing their Opening number facing the Penn side of the field at the start of the game

The Cornell Band Opening number

The game was really good this year (finally) as Penn was ranked higher than us with a better record, so I was not expecting much. We did much better than I thought we would do.

Our band coming off the field after a great performance

Then heading to the stands

What a great day for a game

Then our team made their entrance to the field and the game began

The video of the Team entering the field to start the game

The first half went back and forth and we looked far better than we did at the Yale game back in September, which was such a pathetic game. We looked like we had some kind of turnaround at the Bucknell game and for the last three games, there was a turn around. Something had changed.

Even the cheerleaders had some pep to them

The girls (and one guy) did a great job leading the cheers but it is easy to do when you are winning.

Even the crowd was larger on our side of the stadium and it was homecoming for Penn. I thought that was pretty bad for the home team.

The cheerleaders performing on the sidelines

We lead 13-10 at half time and I had to go to the Penn side of the stadium to search for a cheesesteak. One side of the concession stand was packed but the cheesesteak side was empty. I breezed past the Penn Alumni who looked annoyed that I got through while they waited in the other line.

My lunch that afternoon at Franklin Stadium. They were not selling cheesesteaks on the Cornell side of the stadium

Yum! It was a good as it looked!

The Penn side of the stands looked pathetic by the second half. I had to charge my phone and we ended up scoring twice quickly. That is when Penn fell apart. They had a slight resurgence with a 75 yard return for touchdown but then that was it for the rest of the game.

Our last play, TOUCHDOWN!!

Our last field goal of the game

This is how bad Penn Stadium is on game day. Their Alumni and students don’t come to the games even when they are having winning season!

We won the game evening our record 4-4 and we looked like we could win the rest of the season! Hopefully!

Our mini pep rally after the game was over with the Alumni, football players, cheerleaders and the band. A far cry from the Yale game and from the Penn Games of the past.

My last glimpse of Penn Stadium

The band was playing outside and having a good time while the cheerleader ms loads the bus snd the players prepared for the bus ride back to Ithaca.

Everyone in good spirits after the win!

The beautiful fall day in Philadelphia

After the game, I walked down Walnut Street to Rittenhouse Square. The park like the rest of the neighborhood was packed with people on this warm Fall evening. It was 65 degrees and locals and tourists alike were outside enjoying this almost Summer evening. It got dark by 5:15pm and the lights came on to show the magic of Philly.

Walking past the old Lit Brothers store on Market Street that night

I was hungry again and stopped by the Reading Market before it closed and got one of the last Whoopee pies at Beiler’s Bakery before it closed for the evening.

Now a Whoopee pie is a snack

I had a nice dinner at a small hole in the wall restaurant in Chinatown before I headed back to the Airbnb at Bahn Mi Cali at 900 Arch Street. I had passed it the night before and decided to check it out for a quick dinner. I was still stuffed from lunch but still in the mood for a sandwich.

The front of Banh Mi Cali at 900 Arch Street

https://banh-mi-cali.foodjoyy.com/#google_vignette

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60795-d15089936-Reviews-Banh_Mi_Cali-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html?m=69573

The Roast Pork Banh Mi was only $9.00 and was a sizable sandwich. The roast pork had lots of flavor to it and I ate it inside the restaurant.

What the restaurant lacked in esthetics it made up in taste

The delicious Roast Pork Bahn Mi

Yum!

Then I headed back to the hip warehouse neighborhood where I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow at 7:30pm. It was pitch black that night. The hipness kicked in.

The artwork on one of the warehouse buildings. Such hippiness!

This was one of the best trips I made to Philly in a long time. I was able to just relax and take it all in. Winning the game was just the icing on the cake. Until the next year!

The game in 2025: