New guy from Philadelphia
 

Hello all, I am a big fan of old military firearms and have always wanted to own a luger ever since I was a kid watching war movies. I've decided once get the money I want to get a nice shooter luger and figured this was the place to learn a thing or two about the gun. Looks like you all have a wealth of knowledge here so Im sure I'll learn something.

-Rob

Welcome to the forum, Rob! I spent 12 weeks rehabbing at the Philly Naval Hospital back in '71; I loved the city! Subways, electric trams, buses, roller derby...All great stuff!!! :D

And being a 'garrison town', there was none of the anti-military sentiment so prevalent on the West coast back then... ;)

I've gone back several times since then, on business and pleasure...Always good to return to Broad Street...Even if the old hospital is a parking lot now... :(

Thanks for the kind words,I love Philadelphia myself.

It is a real shame they tore down the Naval Hospital for a frigin Eagles Practice center and parking lot. It was one of the finest art deco buildings I have ever seen.

Don't forget the Cheese Steaks!

OK eric, don't get me going...

My gal and I drove the 4 hours from Ithaca to Philly just to make our own comparison of the sandwiches from the two classic cheese steak places, Pat's and Gino's--located on diagonally opposite corners of the same intersection.

The upshot was that each was a trade-off in characteristics, and they were effectively equal, overall. However, we decided that we could do better ourselves, at home, to make cheese steaks with MUCH better bread than the wonder bread style hoagie buns from Philly, steak that was trimmed out better as to be tender, melted actual cheese v. Sysco's finest goop, and onions that were caramelized v. merely translucent and slimy! ...and we did. Saves a lot of driving, as well.

Used to visit my great aunt in Orland, 2 houses from the train station--which took a couple of nights getting used to the noise before one could sleep through it. I was always fascinated by the details displayed by the bronze eagle on the ground floor atrium of John Wanamaker's department store (probably another parking lot, by now). The Reading market was great, too. I can still smell the cheese. Oysters on the half shell...Blue Mountain coffee (now more than $45/lb!)...

D.

Rob, will be at the Allentown show this weekend (11 and 12th) and will be there with some lugers and all my books :)

its a good show, must meet the right people tho :)


ed

Welcome to the forum Rob.

Hands Down
 

I preferred Geno's!

A true Philly Cheese Steak should be served on an Amoroso's hoagie roll... anything less isn't Philly... I don't care what Geno's and Pat's use. If you want a real one... stop by any "no chain affiliation" family Italian pizzeria...

I recommend Ralph & Ricky's on Oregon Ave....

P.S.

I was Born and raised in South Philadelphia... and I worked with Ralph & Ricky back in the mid 1960's in Uncle Tony's Pizza at 28th & Snyder Ave., while I was attending LaSalle College (Now LaSalle University)...

... which has long been out of business since he made Ralph and Ricky mad ... they quit and opened their own place that served better pizza, and better sandwiches... and put Uncle Tony out of business...

See, your mistake was going to Pats and Geno's, both places are overprices tourist traps that sell you for $9.00 a steak you could get from a street vendor for $4.50. I recommend Tony Luke's or John's Roast Pork at Weccacoe and Snyder, or just about any pizza place/restaurant for that matter. Heck, next time skip the Cheese Steaks and get an Italian Roast Pork sandwich, its the best Philly food nobody knows about.

And you will be happy to know Wannamaker's building is still there and so is the eagle and organ. It is a Macy's now primarily.


I wish I could make it but I am pretty sure they have me working all weekend. I work for Lowe's and we are opening a the store in a week and its crazy right now. Memorial Day is our Christmas and its like the build up to D-Day in there with getting ready to open with almost all new staff.

And Gentlemen, let's not forget my favorite reason to visit Philadelphia, The Soft Pretzels!!

Who could forget!