Olivia Dunne-Hannah White Content Collaboration, 'Sugar Ray' Clay Travis,
After 1,000+ miles in a car over the last three days, I'M BACK from Philadelphia
Let's dive right into what I'm calling Mrs. Screencaps' Super Bowl – the Philadelphia Flower Show.
1. Was it worth the drive?
Hell yeah, it was 100% worth the drive. The Philadelphia Flower Show dates back to 1829. This isn't some rinky-dink operation. This IS THE SUPER BOWL of flower shows. Saturday morning, I woke up on the 7th floor of the Home2Suites right across from the Philadelphia Convention Center and the Reading Terminal Market to the sound of hordes of middle aged-women migrating to the Holy Land. There was a buzz in the air like people were attending a World Series.
I told my text group Mrs. Screencaps was focused Saturday morning in the hotel room like Ray Lewis in a locker room about to kill someone on the football field. The intensity was real.
2. What was so great about the show?
In the WWE, they talk about the crowd pop when a wrestler's theme song plays and the crowd loses it. That's the type of pop that happens as visitors walk through those convention doors and there it is, the showstopper, the main attraction, the main event.
At this year's show, it's this massive reflection pool featuring floral sculptures, tulips everywhere, trees in full bloom, flowers hanging from the ceiling, beach bar music playing.
Let's cut to the chase, it's damn impressive. Photos don't do it justice. If you're within 100 miles of Philly this week, go see it.
3. Were you beaten over the head by the Save the Bees crowd?
No.
Yes, there were Save the Bees lunatics mixed into the crowd, but this was like attending a huge party. The energy inside the convention hall was high. People were high on pollen. I joked to Mrs. Screencaps that researchers should study the happiness level of flower show visitors because everyone seemed to be in an incredible mood.
I don't know how many people were on mushrooms, but I'll just say that there was a definite vibe that will make me come back to future shows. I've never seen so many thousands of people happy to pay $50 to look at flowers. I'm talking being at total peace while walking around on concrete looking at massive flower displays.
If you're big into eating psychadelic mushrooms to get the senses cranking, you'll probably want this event on your to-do list. Mrs. Screencaps and I DID NOT eat mushrooms before the event and we still had a blast.
4. How did it smell?
I can report there was zero pot stench in the convention center like out on the streets of Philly. I can't describe how all those flowers in one building smelled. Just go experience it for yourself.
5. Do they sell booze?
Yes. I didn't know Hendrick's Gin is big within the flower world, but it was everywhere. I also didn't know gin was big with the flower crowd. A cucumber lemonade (made with Hendrick's) is $15. There was another specialty drink made with blue tea that was $15. Yes, there was beer and soft pretzels.
6. Was mowing taboo at the flower show?
Not completely. They allowed a guy who collects landscaping tools to put out a lawn mower display where he showed off vintage mowers he's collected. No, there weren't protests around the display.
I'll say this: There were plenty of TNML potentials walking around. This flower show isn't a bunch of blue-haired lesbians screaming at heterosexual men. I promise. I never felt like a blue-hair lesbian was about to confront me.
7. Can you leave and re-enter?
Yes, but we didn't learn that until we were leaving for the night. If you want to do three hours of the show and grab lunch at the Reading Terminal, it's allowed.
8. Where'd you eat?
Based on the recommendation of an emailer, I had DiNic's at the market. I went with the roast beef and provolone with the sweet peppers. It was amazing. We also had a breakfast at Molly Malloy's where they serve biscuits that are damn good as well. I don't know if they're the best biscuits ever, but they were really good. I'm sure someone will email me to say they're trash.
9. Do photos do the show justice?
Not at all. I'm sitting here looking through the photos for this post, and besides showing you the colors and the landscaping objects used by the designers, it's pretty much worthless to try and capture the details you'll see at the show and how intricate the designs are. Plus, with these new photo sizes I'm required to use on OutKick, I can't show you vertical photos that show real substance.
10. How was Philly?
Not great. We were going to park and walk up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to end the trip Sunday morning, but we changed our mind after pulling into the parking lot in front of the fountain out front to find tourists with their car window smashed out and standing there waiting on cops to arrive.
There was glass everywhere. It was content straight outta San Francisco.
Screw it, let's go.
Besides that, we didn't venture too far down Market Street from our hotel. We've done big cities for years and feel like we know a bad vibe when we feel one. Philly had a very dark, dangerous vibe going on Saturday night, especially around Macy's on Market. The Marriott across the street had a big concrete boulder blocking its entrance. Down the street a block past Hard Rock – which was empty – is a clothing store named Primark. There were at least a dozen cops protecting the front entrance.
11. Would you do the flower show again?
100%. It's a great time. It's clean. The people aren't dirtbags. There aren't many kids running around. And it leaves you happy entering spring. That's a win.
Speaking of travel, the Ts are back in Idaho after spending winter in Europe and look what their first meal was
• Mike T. writes:
After 8 weeks in Europe, first stop, In-N-Out, double, double Animal style.
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That's it this morning. We'll get back on a normal routine on Tuesday.
Let's get after it!
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com