Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Hello all.
We're vaguely thinking about planning a trip to Philadelphia, maybe this July, but it's very up in the air yet. The thing is, if we fly all that way we'd probably want to go somewhere else while we're there, not just one city. Can anyone make any suggestions of other places we could visit, hopefully by train or maybe short flights, where there's excellent vegan food and things to see?

Sorry for the very vague question, but it's a part of the world I know very little about and I need advice from the experts!

You're in luck because you can take an inexpensive bus ride from Philadelphia to both New York City (east coast vegan heaven) and Washington, DC. All 3 cities are musts for vegan eating, and are all within a few hours of each other. Alternatively, you can travel by train. Boston would also be a nice city to visit, but its about 6 hours away from Philly, and im not sure how great the food is, as i've never been.

If I had a good amount of time and money, I would fly into Philly and stay for a few days, travel to Nyc for at least 2-3 days, DC for a day or 2. Then fly to Chicago (about a 2.5 hour flight and relatively inexpensive through Southwest airlines). You'll definitely be eating well.

Ooh I didn't realise that. How long is the bus to NY?

The Bolt Bus is scheduled for a 2-hour trip, but 90% of the time I've taken it, it has been about 1 hour 40 min. You can also get an Amtrak train for anywhere from $48 - $100 something, for a train taking 1 hour 30 min down to 1 hour 10 min, but the bus you can get for $1 - $13!

There is also a cheap train to NYC (NJ Transit) for $15 or 20, but it takes 2.5-3 hours...I would def. go Bolt Bus though! Just throwing another option out there.

OH yeah omg have you seen NJ transit lately (or in the past year, I think)? The new double decker trains are sooo nice. Shocked my whole belief system.

Agreed with the Bolt Bus and also Mega Bus (they are essentially the same thing, right?), it's definitely the more efficient means of transportation. I believe both bus companies travel from Boston to Washington, DC which makes things pretty convenient in terms of getting to all the major cities on the East Coast.

Yeah, pretty much the same, but Bolt seems to have better customer service and just does a better job.

Yeah Bolt Bus comes 2 hours late less frequently than Megabus

Over the holiday season I did the SEPTA/NJT thing - not for the first time - and the prices had gone up. For 2 people, round-trip: $96. Not that I'm complaining; it's still cheaper than Amtrak and more reliable, comfortable, and convenient than the buses.

Also, Washington DC is an Amtrak ride ($44 each way for the cheap train) or a bus ride (3h) from Philly.

P.s. Summertime on the I-95 buses between DC, Philly, and NYC can be a bit more stressful - more passengers and more I-95 traffic. And if it's July Fourth weekend, avoid them at all costs.

When I went to NYC, I took Amtrak from DC to NYC, it was so nice and it stopped in Philly on the way so it is definitely doable and doesn't take too long.

Anyone know what the restaurant is near Philly that has a vegan seafood menu?
It has stuff like vegan shrimp and vegan scallops.. It's been a long time and I just can't put my finger on it.

Not any of the chinatown places?? Only place besides them I know of is Govindas sit-down but I doubt that is what you meant.

My friend says she thinks we went to Singapore in Chinatown.
Here's their site:
http://www.singaporevegetarian.com/main_menu.html

Yup I had fake seafood at Singapore a few years back! I liked it. :)

I'm down with Singapore, though I've never had their seafood items.
Dunno if you're a cooking-type, but you can also pick some up from the frozen section of Asian Supermarket. The seafood stuff is way in the corner.

Oh, I cook! My local asian market doesn't have the seafood, I've looked. There's that big asian grocery near Lansdale, so I shall look there the next time I'm out that way.

They do have those amazing mock ham logs, though. When buying them, make sure you read the ingredients because some of them have dairy.

Efcliz let us know when you plan the trip!! I see hugeee meetupparty happening.

Oh I will, but we're still up in the air. We usually try not to fly long haul more than once a year, and we just got back from Sri Lanka. But, it is my 40th. We'll definitely be doing the trip at some point, it's just when.