Yesterday was kind of epic.
Recently we spotted an H-Mart from the car while crossing back into town from Elkins Park, north of Philadelphia. I was vaguely aware it's a Korean supermarket. Our neighborhood has cheap, abundantly stocked pan-asian supermarkets, but this looked a little more upscale.
And on the way back into town, we passed through a Korean neighborhood that blends into an African-American neighborhood that blends into... and so on. But from a car, you miss a lot.
So yesterday, with the rest of my household out on their own errands, I decided to hop on my bike and pedal north... forever.
Around 0.3 forevers into this journey, I passed Fly School Circus Arts, currently located on 5th street near Cecil B. Moore. They teach you the flying trapeze. I tried it once. S'fun.
At the 0.6 forevers mark, I stumbled onto El Bloque de Oro, aka the "golden block." Actually several blocks of thriving Latino businesses and a community center.
But around 0.7 forevers, I found myself in what felt like an endless series of abandoned factories. So I changed course, rolled through the green space of Hunting Park, and worked my way north along Old York Road, which parallels Broad Street.
Old York was my ticket the rest of the way to forever: the H-Mart at Old York and Cheltenham Avenue.
I had expected a supermarket, and there is one, more of an upper middle class affair than I'm used to down in South Philly. But there is also an indoor pedestrian mall that feels more like a street market. And a vendor of Korean kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Which... are a vivid reminder that we are not the only high-tech culture on this planet that innovates in the vital arenas of consumption and elimination. But anyway.
The main score for me: red bean donuts. I hadn't experienced red bean paste desserts before, although I know they are a staple in certain cultures. These were served in a very health-label-conscious "parisian bakery" that clearly is no stranger to picky eaters, so I felt more confident than usual in ordering outside my comfort zone.
On my return home, I presented the family with freeze-dried asian pears, Korean corn chips and plum candy for dessert. The "crispy asian pears" were the clear winner; with no ingredients whatsoever other than asian pears, they scratch that "unhealthy crunchy snack" itch. I was impressed. The other two were just okay. But I get points for adventuring, yes?
I'm a big believer in leaving your backyard and exploring neighborhoods you wouldn't normally see.
I'm cognizant that in some places and times there can be risks associated with this. A tiny fraction, of course, of the risk and discomfort folks who don't happen to be white males might experience in far more places. But there are risks associated with never leaving the house, too. It also doesn't hurt that I tend to explore in broad daylight. Which is not to say that any particular places I've mentioned are less safe.
OK then
10/28 '14
