Jake was never into stuffed animals. Then came Hamie.
He got this certified “asthma-friendly” bear from the Worry-Free Dinner last month at Dos Caminos.
Here’s a photo of him savoring the celery & prickly pear granita.
Jake seems to be late in the game for a lovey, I thought. Then it occurred to me. He was going through a huge adjustment in school when we brought the bear home. There was a kid in his class that teased him about his food allergies. I did everything I could to address the incident with the teacher, school nurse and the parent of the kid the very next day. You know me, I will not tolerate this kind of behavior.
For Jake, his buddy bear is a friend, and a source of strength and comfort because it came from Sloane, the Allergic Girl. She is my son’s hero.
— Thank you Sloane for accommodating us at Dos Caminos. We are so grateful for your efforts to host dinners for food-allergic families. We enjoy them so much and we will be back for more!
Once again, a big thank you to our family, friends and A’s co-workers for their generous donation to FAAN.
And to the Team Jake walkers, join us again next year in Long Branch.
The complete set of official photos can be viewed HERE.
Exhilarating is probably the best word to describe our trip to Philadelphia last weekend. There was excitement and cheer everywhere being that it was Halloween, the Phillies were playing against the Yankees, and a Pearl Jam concert was happening that night to name a few.
We, on the other hand, went there to catch the last day of the Modern & Contemporary Art exhibition from the Lehman Brothers Collection before they go up for auction the next day.
Lehman Brothers was an investment bank forced into bankruptcy during the recent financial crisis. All the paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture that once hung in their many buildings were up for auction. I noticed that for the most part, all works were in perfect condition.
We took Jake trick or treating around Rittenhouse Square after viewing the exhibit. Jake aka Anakin Skywalker had a field day getting treats and “fighting” the bad guys with his red light saber at the park.
It was unseasonably warm, overcast but no rain. Our friends told us the weather back home was awful that day so no kids came to their doors. They had so much candy left and just brought them to school.
Anyway, we followed a bunch of families to rows and rows of brownstones that turned out to be a gem of a neighborhood.
We stayed at an apartment building strategically located in the city, with A’s aunts. They were kind enough to watch our pooped trick-0r-treater while A took me to a romantic dinner at Parc Brasserie. Then we met up with friends and hit some bars at Old City area before calling it a night.
The next day we had brunch at Sabrina’s. The place was packed but it was worth the wait. I haven’t had good french toast in awhile. It’s a decent place frequented by locals. We passed the museums and fountains at Logan Circle. Note to self: I will see the work of Rodin next time we’re here.
A was then off to Freeman for the day while I took Jake and the aunts to the National Constitution Center to see the designer gowns and jewels of the late Princess Diana. Nine galleries showcase her life and legacy. Her wedding gown was breathtaking! Too bad no photography was allowed. My mom would love to see those.
There was so much more historical things to see and do. Jake played this boardgame where you will be asked anything about American history. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, ( he’s pikon) but he got the right answer and won a prize. He didn’t guess, he knew.
We also watched an interactive show about the constitution called Freedom Rising which I thought was pretty impressive. The rest of the time, Jake and I were just hanging out in the modern lobby while the aunts continued browsing the exhibits. Then after what seems like a lifetime, I got the call from A who was still at the auction.
He relayed the great news that he got one of the Frank Stella’s. It was the piece that Jake liked. He really wanted it. :D
(Frank Stella is an American artist. He will be awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama on Nov. 10)
The aunts decided we should stroll a little bit to see the city sights and I obliged. Here are more photos:
It was getting dark when we got back to the building, and we packed our stuff while A finished the deal over at Freeman.
That night we headed back home in great spirits, with a new piece of art in tow. Needless to say, we love our new acquisition from the Lehman Brothers collection.
It is not only a Frank Stella, but one with a unique history. More details of the auction here.
I know I will not forget this weekend that turned out so perfectly for us.
