What a Halladay!

Take me out to the ballgame. Jenn got me Phillies tickets for my birthday, and I was really happy to have the opportunity to catch a game at Citizen Bank Park. I had attended a lot of games at Veterans Stadium, but I was always in the 700 Level. So the chance to spend a day with my sweetie, to check out the new park, and to see Halladay pitch against the Braves had me excited.

And since we were celebrating my birthday, Jenn agreed to go downtown for lunch at Monk’s Café (http://www.monkscafe.com/), one of the best Belgian beer bars in the country. I was happy to find Russian River Blind Pig, a well balanced IPA on draft. Russian River (http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/) is an outstanding brewery in CA, and I’ve had trouble finding their beers up here in NY. Instead of mussels, I had their saison-seasoned trout which was delicious. Jenn got the pork sandwich, and took the waitress’ recommendation for a Belgian White (I love it when she drinks good beer). I followed it up with a Sierra Nevada Philadelphia ExPorter Baltic Porter, brewed in CA by 12 Philadelphia brewers. I even was able to get a bottle of Russian River Damnation to go. I had brought a cooler, and we had gotten some ice, so the beers will survive the 95+ degree heat.

We had some time to kill, so we stopped by Tria (http://www.triacafe.com/); a wine, cheese and beer bar. Tria had two Russian River beers on draft, Consecration and Registration. The Registration Ale was a onetime brewing, an American IPA, and was sent to the PA market in response to some overzealous state authorities prohibiting beer due to a question on how the registration of the beer was done with the state (Mahar’s knows about that). The Consecration ale was an oak-aged Belgian Sour that was phenomenal. I have a bottle at home aging that Dad got me for my birthday (Thanks Dad). Jenn had more of a sweet tooth, and treated herself to a Nutella Panini (Yum)!

Off to the game, and strangely enough off to dinner. We decided to go to Harry the K’s on a recommendation from a friend (thanks Pastor Jeff), and were able to sit out in left field and watch warm-ups. What a great ballpark! I got the Schmitter, a cheesesteak hoagie made with salami with a Victory Pils. Our seats were great, right behind 3rd base, and we were able to watch a pitching gem from Halladay (I was nervous when Chipper Jones hit an early solo shot, I hate that guy) who pitched a 3-1 complete game for the victory. Greg Dobbs hit a 2 run shot to give Halladay all the runs that he’d need. It was hot, and we were able to sit back and relax with a Mango water ice. Go for the pint size when you get the chance.

We had a great night (Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids), and decided that we may have a new family tradition. I’ll get Red Sox tickets for Jenn’s birthday, and she can get Phillies tickets for mine. - 5532

"There is only one game at the heart of America and that is baseball, and only one beverage to be found sloshing at the depths of our national soul, and that is beer." – Peter Richmond