Peter Bubel+ by | May 13, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Restaurants, Travel
Philadelphia is a foodie town. Yes, it’s known primarily for soft pretzels, cheese steaks, and scrapple; however, dig beneath those layers of comfort food and you’ll find numerous locations for a foodie to indulge their taste buds. Here are a few places where they are more than welcome.
Reading Terminal Market — The first stop needs to be at this downtown mecca for foodies. Dozens of merchants offer not only items to pick up and eat on the LOVE square but also counter service. Consider the Dutch Eating Place, known for the delicacies of the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialities, and the Down Home Diner for classic comfort food. And a foodie can’t leave the market without several scoops from Bassets Ice Cream which features mixtures from the area’s premier frozen dessert company.
Ting Wong — A few blocks west of Reading Terminal Market is Philadelphia’s Chinatown. A foodie should feel right at home in many of the shops and cafes of this neighborhood; nevertheless, they should consider their main stop at Ting Wong. Not many Chinese restaurants serve traditional breakfasts, but Ting Wong does with Chiang Fun filled with various meats or fried dough. They also vary some standard recipes. For instance, perhaps you’d be interested in fried rice with diced chicken and anchovy.
Fork — A quick walk or SEPTA ride to Old Town brings one to this restaurant that takes traditional recipes and spins them on a, well, fork. Take lasagna as an example. Fork makes their own pasta and fills the middle with cherry grove farm cheese, sweet potatoes, and pickled apples. Or perhaps you want to partake in smoked shrimp carpaccio with watermelon radish and kumquat.
Amada — This Old Town staple is a foodie’s paradise with tapas and a variety of unique plates. For the starters, diners can savor lamb tartar or Datiles Con Almendras — bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and almonds. Diners may also be interested in Sopa De Chirivia which is a parsnip & pear soup with pork belly and quince. Main dishes include Fideos Con Mariscos — calamari linguine & vermicelli with clams, scallops, and Sweet Onion Cream.
Philadelphia is simply not for those who only like mustard on their pretzels or their steak sandwiches ‘wit’ or ‘witout.’ With many of its restaurants and chefs reaching national prestige, the City of Brotherly Love is ready for a new foodie revolution.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 1, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Property, Property Management, Real Estate
Rental properties can either be money making machines or money pits. Like so many other things in life, however, by spending a little bit of money on your rental property, you can not only charge a higher rent, but you will attract better renters. When it comes to choosing the right renters, there are no 100% guarantees. Even the most well-off renters can trash a place and skip out on paying rent. There are ways, however, to at least hedge your bets and having a clean, attractive property that is attractive to solid renters is your best bet. Here are 5 quick tips for beautifying your property to attract the best renters.
- Paint an accent wall or two in a dark, neutral color
One of the things many renters hate about rental properties is bare white walls. While white walls fit in with any renter’s decorating scheme, an accent wall immediately makes your property look more high end. While some people may not care for the accent wall, the potential renters that will love it far outweigh the ones who might not.
- Do a simple renovation in the kitchen
Renters love knowing that their living space was recently upgraded and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to do it. If you really want to create a splash, you can have cabinetry painted in a more modern color, but there are also simpler things you can do as well. Installing a tile backsplash or upgrading the hardware on cabinets will all go a long way to improve the look of the kitchen.
- Laminate floors
While carpeting may be significantly cheaper up front, carpet gets dirty fast and has to be replaced more often, particularly if renters have pets. Laminate floors are durable, long lasting and significantly more resistant to pet stains, odors and cat dander. Not to mention they give a high-end, modern look to your rental.
- Clean grout
Giving grout a thorough cleaning will freshen up the look of any tile and make it look brand new.
- Do a simple bathroom renovation
Much like with the kitchen, there are a number of simple bathroom renovations you can do to significantly enhance the look of the bathroom. Consider changing out bathroom hardware for something slightly more durable and modern, paint the vanity and change the hardware or even spend a few hundred dollars to update the bathtub.
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 27, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Travel
The Ross Sea, a bay located in the Southern Ocean of Antarctica, has always been home to a wide array of marine life, and is now home to the world’s largest marine protected area (MPR). A unanimous decision to protect the Ross Sea was reached by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a commission that includes 24 countries and the UN.
The agreement came about because this area is one of the few regions left on our planet that has a completely unaltered marine ecosystem. The waters are teeming with every member of the food chain, from krill to large predatory fish, and the land is full of penguins, birds, and seals. There are over 40 species of animals that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth, and large populations of several species of penguins.
Since the Ross Sea harbors Antarctica, fishing has been hard to reach by commercial fishermen, but recently Antarctic Toothfish have been caught and sold in markets as Chilean Sea Bass. There was worry that there would soon be efforts by commercial fishermen to fish in this region, and the international community took a stand in protecting this area. With so little human activity, wildlife has been able to thrive and maintain its biological diversity.
In 2011, the US and New Zealand proposed the idea, and after 5 years of negotiation the UN and 24 supporting nations approved the reserve. Under the agreement, 575,000 square miles will be protected, 72% being a ‘no-take’ zone, which makes commercial fishing illegal, while the remaining area will be open to fishing for scientific research purposes only. The original proposal covered 875,000 square miles of land, but the fact that such a large area was passed unanimously shows that the protection of marine life is becoming more important to the entire world.
The creation of this Protected Marine Area is a remarkable achievement for both the diplomatic and scientific communities. The area is filled to the brim with different species of penguins, whales, seals, fish, and tons of krill and plankton, making it an excellent place to further our understanding of Antarctic marine life.
Traveling to see the Ross Sea would be an adventure of a lifetime, and one that I hope so someday embark upon!
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 25, 2017 | Blog, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
With the 2017 NFL Draft commencing this Thursday, April 27th, perhaps no team and fanbase is more excited than that of Philadelphia. For the first time in 56 years, the draft has returned to the City of Brotherly Love, giving Eagles fans more than just a draft pick to cheer for. The Birds will undoubtedly be well represented throughout this year’s festivities, leading many to assume that the famous booing of other teams and players will be heard throughout, and depending on who Philadelphia drafts in the first round, may be earlier than expected.
This year’s draft class is full of incredibly talented players from the top college football programs around the country. Depending on a team’s roster needs, they will more than likely have a plethora of talent to choose from. On the defensive side of the ball, you have defensive ends Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas leading their respective class, both of whom had very impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine. Then there are cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, both hailing from Ohio State University, who performed excellently throughout their seasons together, and forming Ohio State’s truly formidable secondary.
On the offensive side of the ball, much of this year’s attention has been drawn towards quarterback Deshaun Watson after he led Clemson University to just their second National Championship win in 35 years. Watson has performed phenomenally in his time with the Tigers, and has turned many NFL scouts’ heads in the process. Wide receivers Corey Davis from Western Michigan and Mike Williams, also from Clemson, have earned the number 1 and 2 spots respectively in their position, gaining the attention of many teams who will need an improved pass offense in the upcoming season.
With just a few of this year’s prospects mentioned, it’s difficult to say who the Eagles will take in the first round. Additions to the wide receiver position is a must, and has been for a few years. Since signing Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery to the team, many would argue that the problem is solved. While they can certainly make an impact and help out quarterback Carson Wentz on the offensive side of the ball, they are not necessarily long term solutions. Smith, 28, and Jeffery, 27, are still relatively young, but Philadelphia should look to gain a receiver that is able to grow alongside Wentz, who is now entering his sophomore year. With that said, should they still be available when the Eagles are on the board with their number 14 overall pick, the team’s best bet may be to take either Corey Davis or Mike Williams.
Both of these receivers have size to their advantage, are great route runners, they are fast, and they have the reliable hands that Philadelphia has missed for the past few years. It may seem like drafting another receiver would be redundant with the recent signings of Smith and Jeffery, but this would be considered a long term solution; something that the front office should seriously consider.
On the other hand, the Eagles’ secondary has been mediocre for a number of seasons, seeing some improvement this past season. Drafting a cornerback would be the team’s next best option. Both Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley have everything Philadelphia is looking for at the cornerback position. They’re tall, fast, and have the ability to stay with receivers throughout their routes. Taking a cornerback would be a safe choice for the Eagles. It’s a position that clearly needs improvement on the roster, though some has been made in recent years. Rookie corner Jalen Mills taken out of LSU in the 7th round of the 2016 draft has proven to be much more than what the team was expecting. His tenacity towards the ball is unteachable, and he has impressed veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins with his efforts. Adding another potentially ferocious cornerback could make Philadelphia’s secondary a truly intimidating squad.
Regardless of what position the Eagles organization chooses to take with the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft, it will more than likely be a smart decision. Coaches and fans alike have stressed the importance of taking a receiver, cornerback, or even running back (which would ideally be Dalvin Cook from Florida State) in the first round, though nothing is certain. What is certain however, is the extreme volume at which Eagles fans will reach when that unknown player’s name is called, whether it is good or bad.
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 20, 2017 | Blog, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Sports
Now that all 32 teams in the National Football League have been given their schedules for the season, talk amongst analysts and fans has begun regarding who has the hardest or easiest schedules, and who is poised for the most success. The Philadelphia Eagles for example, have been given a fairly difficult schedule yet again, following a season where they went 7-9 behind rookie quarterback Carson Wentz.
Facing another tough season ahead, the progress Wentz made in just his first year is enough to us as Eagles fans a sense of hope heading into 2017. Though the team struggled throughout this past season, there’s no denying that Wentz, along with a few other notable rookies, proved themselves in their respective positions.
One of the more obvious issues that plagued the Eagles was the inabilities of the wide receivers. While Jordan Matthews showed promise in his rookie season, the young receiver only recorded three touchdown receptions in 2016. Nelson Agholor, on the other hand, has been at the helm of the most recent Philadelphia torch and pitchfork mob, as he has consistently dropped more passes than any other receiver on the team, and has yet to really prove his worth within the wide receiver corps since being drafted in 2015. However, general manager Howie Roseman was able to find possible solutions for these issues by signing both Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery; two fairly big names in the league, giving Wentz some serious weapons for his sophomore year.
In addition to a few other signings, the Eagles look to be improving in terms of roster worth, giving them more confidence as they prepare to go up against a daunting 2017 schedule. With that said, here are a few predictions for Philadelphia’s success.
The Birds open their season on the road at Washington to face a decently improved Redskins team considering their lack of success within the past decade. Quarterback Kirk Cousins, while showing great promise for the future of the Redskins’ organization, recently voiced his displeasure with how the team was being managed. So, if he is not under center in Week 1, and a fairly inexperienced quarterback is, this should be an easy win for Philadelphia. Their play against NFC East rivals is what truly hurt them last year, so if the Eagles can get off to a fast start, defeating both the Redskins and New York Giants in weeks 1-3, they will be slightly diminishing the effects that this difficult season may have on them.
What may excite the few west coast Eagles fans that exist is the fact that they will be traveling to Los Angeles twice this year to play the newly relocated Rams and Chargers. Both of these teams struggled last season to say the least. The Rams finished their season 4-12 under head coach Jeff Fisher, who remarkably led the team to five straight losing seasons, never reaching above .500. Now that Fisher has been relieved as the Rams’ head coach, it would be impressive to see the team bounce back so quickly. This game, as well as the Chargers game, should be able to be won by the Eagles. If Wentz and his new weapons at wide receiver are as explosive as we hope they are, the two LA teams’ secondaries stand a very little chance in slowing them down.
The more difficult games look to be those against the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers. Looking at those teams, the Seahawks may appear to be the only intimidating one. However, the Raiders success under quarterback Derek Carr, along with impressive rookies Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, have made them a team strong enough to make a decent playoff push.
The Broncos have had one of the best defenses in the league for a number of seasons now, and this season doesn’t seem to be any different. Luckily for the Eagles, Peyton Manning has since retired, so Denver’s offense is not what it once was. The key to winning this game will be protecting Wentz behind the line. Von Miller and company can wreak serious havoc on quarterbacks, and allowing Wentz to succumb to that would be simply irresponsible.
Though the Panthers had a less than dismal season this past year, the season prior to that had them as Super Bowl favorites, and they’ve since lost very few players. Carolina’s roster is still full of talent, including 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton. It’s hard to put a finger on why they had such little success last year, which is why it’s difficult to say if they will be better or worse in the upcoming season. Philadelphia will face them on the road, and will need to prepare for what could be a repeat of their 2015 NFC Championship season.
One of the biggest concerns for the Eagles, as is with any team, will be winning their division. The Cowboys had a truly historical season last year behind rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, but many predict them seeing more problems in 2017. The Giants recently signed veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall, making their already impressive pass offense that much more dangerous. Philadelphia will need to drastically improve their secondary if they wish to say in contention for the title of NFC East champions, but it is not impossible. As almost every Eagles fan says, this could be our year.
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 16, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Travel
The first time you try anything you’re liable to make mistakes, and traveling is no exception to this rule. While you’re certainly going to make mistakes the first time you decide to venture out and travel, there are some big ones that you should be aware of to help you build and enjoy the best vacation possible. Here are a few of the biggest mistakes first time travelers make and why you should avoid making them yourself.
- Don’t forget travel insurance.
- Nobody likes to think about the worst case scenario, but the expression “better safe than sorry” exists for a reason. Accidents happen; they can happen when you’re out traveling the world, and they can happen when you’re sitting at home in your room. That’s why it’s best to be prepared for whatever might happen by making sure you’re covered with insurance.
- Don’t rely on travel agents and agencies for everything.
- There’s a lot that goes into planning a trip, so hiring a travel agent might sounds like the easiest way to make sure everything is planned and you’re prepared for your journey. However, oftentimes the places that travel agencies select for you are touristy areas that don’t provide much insight into the actual culture of the places you visit. Don’t be afraid to go off the grid and explore
- Don’t overpack.
- This is especially important if you’re traveling on a plane where there are limits to how much you’re allowed to bring with you. When you’re seeing new sights and visiting new places, you want to have your attention focused on what you’re doing and seeing, not what you’re wearing and carrying around with you. Only bring enough clothes to wear until you can wash them and wear them again. The more stuff you bring with you, the more stuff you have to keep track of.
- Don’t forget a copy of your passport.
- Although losing your passport in a foreign country isn’t life ruining, it will certainly feel that way at the time and will be a major roadblock in your trip. It’s difficult to get a passport in a different country, but it’s a lot easier if you have a copy of yours on hand.
- Don’t wait to exchange your money.
- Nothing in life is free, so there’s no reason to expect that getting to your destination in a foreign country will be any different. Before you even leave the airport, use the ATMs there for a better exchange rate and make sure you have enough cash on hand to use a cab or a bus to get you to your next stop. You’ll be thankful you did.
Did you miss it? Be sure to check out my post on First Time Traveling Tips!
