Matchbook Traveler by Jeffrey Williams
It is time for a short trip between Christmas and New Year's Day. Even though we live just outside Philadelphia, an overnight stay there should be fun. On the way to our hotel, we found a parking space near Reading Terminal and stopped to see the model railroad display set up for the holidays. Nice to see if you are in the area. On to our hotel, then to lunch at Rouge. The small plates make an excellent late lunch and we were rewarded with a nice lipstick matchbox. In the evening, we stopped at Alma de Cuba for mojitos and bar food plus a 30-strike matchbook. We followed this with dinner at Roy's, which no longer has matches with its name.
The next morning, I asked for matches at our hotel. The gentleman at the front desk said they do have them but could find none and suggested I try later when the office was "in." I did and two matchbooks from the Latham Hotel were delivered to our room. The matchbooks are so old, the phone number has two letters. Though the matchbooks were old, the hotel is nicely updated. Sometimes, one has to be persistent to find the matchbooks. Breakfast at Parc was not so fortunate. No matchboxes were available. We were dismissed with a "sorry." Even though Stephen Starr (the owner) was sitting across from us, we didn't want to hassle him about matchboxes. After checking out of our hotel, we stopped at the Magic Gardens on South Street. An artist has used mosaics to make a fascinating work of art in a row home and the vacant lot next door. At $4 for admission, it is also a good value.
Time to leave Philadelphia and head to Lancaster. On the way, we stopped at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern. A top hotel nicely decorated for the holidays. After a good lunch and a lipstick matchbox, we were on our way again. In Lancaster for dinner, we can report the Horse Inn no longer has matches with its name. The next day, we spent a couple of hours at the National Christmas Center in Paradise. We had passed this place many times and assumed it was just another tourist trap. Not so. Owner Jim Morrison has a wonderful museum here for those who remember Christmas in the old days as well as for those who just want to enjoy the season. We were lucky enough to be the last ones seated for lunch at The Pressroom in downtown Lancaster. Great food and a 30-strike matchbook.
Now to Reading. We checked in to our favorite place to stay, The Inn at Reading, technically in Wyomissing. The evening's main entertainment was Koziar's Christmas Village in Bernville. This is a farm that over the years became a huge light display and draws big crowds. A fun couple of hours, even in the cold. For dinner, we went into Reading to the Speckled Hen, which is in an authentically restored 18th century log home. For dessert, we went next door to Judy's on Cherry. Though a different restaurant, it has the same ownership. Our waitress had to search for a matchbox, but did find one.
On our way home on New Year's Eve, we stopped for lunch at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken. Good food and two slightly different matchboxes. A good end to an enjoyable trip.
