Sunday, May 30, 2010

A Fair May Day for a Day at May Fair

I've been scheming to take the kids to Collingswood at some point, and yesterday offered the ideal circumstances: good weather, nothing to do, and May Fair. We four rode the subway to 8th Street and then boarded PATCO to cross the river into New Jersey. The kids dug riding PATCO for the first time, especially since the section where you're on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge feels like a roller coaster, replete with the queasiness of tottering above the Delaware River.

Once we arrived at Collingswood station, the crowds told us where to go next. May Fair is a linear delight of stands featuring items of interest to all ages and types. The kids quickly scored free balloons, Jada dipped into her two-dollar "paycheck" for working her school's kid-run newsletter to buy herself and Aaron grab bags of goodies, and Amy admired the many crafts and jewelry selections.

We made it all the way to the antique cars before doubling back and lunching at the Pop Shop, a Collingswood institution. The jukebox blared in the corner, pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches of hefty proportions were being passed all over the place, and the joint was so loud with the buzzing of music and talking that even our two loud mouths couldn't seem to get a word in edgewise.

After lunch, we headed back to the PATCO station, boarded the train back to the Philly side, and got off at 15th/16th to catch the 21 bus across town and back to one block within our house. For after a day like that, even if the bus is slower than the subway, I don't think I could've coaxed more than a block of walking out of any of the other members of my party.



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