Philadelphia meet -anyone interested

[Katzateer]

Would anyone be interested in a meet in Philly -maybe at the market downtown - sometime in July?

That is an easy train ride for me.

[Crow]

IDK if Ill b back to work by then. Im outside Philly.

[diz_girl]

Maybe. Early July is bad, but late July is better. I'd rather avoid the market on the weekend in the summertime. Center City is tourist central then.

I'm only an hour away from Center City. I'd do the drive and possibly have a baby/almost toddler in-tow, if it's for lunch or an early dinner.

[Kairi_7378]

I would be interested in a meet.

[Katzateer]

My dates are pretty open. I work every third weekend so I would just have to ask about the schedule ( the weekends have been switched around with people on vacations etc).

I am an easy 45 minute train ride from Philly so maybe in July we can figure out a day that would work. Late July or early August is fine with me!

I would prefer an early lunch like 11 maybe we can avoid a little of the crowd. Or we could have lunch at the art museum. You do have to pay admission but there is a really nice place to eat -Granite Hill. It's about $20 for lunch. Not sure if anyone else is interested in the museum?

[Sylvia]

Count me in.

Re the Art Museum, unless they've changed their policy, paying admission isn't required if you're only going to the restaurant or to the museum shop. Admission is required if you plan to visit any of the galleries.

A couple of suggestions if you want to consider counter service ILO table service. There are a couple of upscale food courts in center city - the Comcast Center at 17th and JFK and the Shops at Liberty Place at 16th and Market. Both have a good variety of food; Comcast food court is closed on Sunday; Liberty Place is open every day. Also, the video wall (the Comcast Experience) at the Comcast Center is amazing and free.

[Katzateer]

The Comcast center sounds fine to me - never been but looks like an easy walk from the train station. What type of food and $$ ? What it the wall display? I went to Macy's over the holidays and saw the Wannamaker Hoilday show but haven't heard about the Comcast one.

I am open to any ideas where to meet as long as it isn't too far from the 30 th street station.

[Kairi_7378]

The Comcast Center is a lot closer to 30th Street Station than the Reading Terminal Market is. The food court is a little on the high-end side... I would say that lunch would cost between $8 and $12 per person. They have D'Bruno Brothers, Termini Brothers (one of the RTM bakeries), a nice salad bar, and some seafood offerings. (The counter service sushi is some of the best I've had.)

Another option near the Art Museum is Asia on the Parkway. It's decent Chinese/ Thai food and during the weekends it's pretty easy to get a table for a large group. I think all of the entrees are under $15.

One thing about the RTM that might be an issue is seating. They have been doing some major renovations in there, which has decreased the number of seats.

[Katzateer]

The Comcast Center sounds great to me. If everyone else thinks that is a good choice, maybe mid-July we can pick a day and time. I can do either weekends or weekdays but lunch works better for me.

[Sylvia]

Laura has already provided some info about food offerings. Other places include La Scala, for some good Italian food and pizza and a deli (forget the name at the moment). As food courts go, this is one of the better ones in Philly and prices are reasonable. There is also ample seating.

You won't have to walk from 30th station, that is, unless you really want to do that. Your AMTRAK ticket allows you to ride one of the SEPTA regional trains (accessible from inside the train station) to the other 2 SEPTA stations in center city. The Comcast Center is near Suburban Station and the Reading Terminal Market is near Market East Station.

[Katzateer]

I got my work schedule - I can meet for lunch at the Comcast Center on July 17, 18, 21, 24, or 25.

Any of these days good for everyone else? Only one day is a Saturday, the rest are weekdays.

I would prefer to meet at 11 or whenever the food court or restaurant opens.

Sound like any of these days would work?

[Kairi_7378]

I can't make the 17th, 18th, or the 24th. I like the idea of an early lunchtime meet.

[Sylvia]

Looks like the best day for me will be Saturday, 21 July. It's getting more hectic than usual in work, so I may not be able to take time off.

An early lunch sounds good to me.

[Katzateer]

Sounds like the 21st around 11am at the Comcast Center will work? We can meet there and decide where to eat - is it a food court ? Is there a lobby to meet in?

[Crow]

someone would have to remind me. i havent been in center city for a while, ive been down by Ind Hall mtg a friend that works there, but not up in center city for a while. so i cant comment on the food that way

[Sylvia]

If you google "the market at Comcast center" one of the results will be the food court page listing links to each food counter's menu.

The food court is on the lower level. A good place to meet will be in the lobby near the stairs.

[Hammer]

Sorry I'm late to the party. I am currently working on a project so that I am based at the Comcast Center this summer (I usually work at another Comcast R&D office in NJ). I'd be willing to come there on a day off to meet Intercottees. You can reach Suburban Station from the Market; no need to go outside. My co-workers do it all the time, though I have to walk outside as I take a NJ regional train and it does not stop at Suburban Station.

[Katzateer]

Sorry I'm late to the party. I am currently working on a project so that I am based at the Comcast Center this summer (I usually work at another Comcast R&D office in NJ). I'd be willing to come there on a day off to meet Intercottees. You can reach Suburban Station from the Market; no need to go outside. My co-workers do it all the time, though I have to walk outside as I take a NJ regional train and it does not stop at Suburban Station.

Sound good!

[Katzateer]

Anyone planning to be at Comcast lobby on the 21st at 11 am??? Let me know. If I don't get a post, I won't be there!!!

If this day doesn't work, maybe in at the fall

[Kairi_7378]

Sorry for the lack of a response for the past few days. Due to my work schedule I would prefer to not do the 21st but will come if that is the date that works for everyone else. (I'll be at a conference that week.) How does that date look for the rest of the Philly-area people?