Memorial Day = Holiday for the AMPs?
Over the past couple of weeks, it seems like the only thing that I have been reading on the Board is about bad experiences at Orange (surprises the hell out of me) and good experiences at a little place on Clarion Street. I worked all weekend and decided that I needed to venture out and look for Clarion Street.
I was born and raised in Philadelphia, but I honestly could not tell you where Clarion Street is located/situated. Thank Goodness that someone was nice enough to buy me one recently, so I typed in the address and off I went. One would have to imagine my surprise when I realized that it was across the street from where I went to High School. There was a nun that used to be there, who bragged to us that she was single-handledy responsible for closing the AMPs on Vine Street. At that age, I was too dumb to know what an AMP was nor could I probably care. Now that I am older and wiser, I can be pissed off that she decided to do what she did. Sorry about my digression.
Okay, so I drive past and there are all kinds of marked vehicles around, which I attribute to the fact that they are doing 24/7 demolition at 120 North Broad Street. I thought that it would be way too risky for me to venture over, especially because I would have stood out in my outfit, although I was very casually dressed with a white dress shirt and blue jeans. I drove around looking for a parking spot, but I didn't have any luck. Besides the bright light outside, it looked very dark inside, so I figured that they had to be closed.
Someone had mentioned to me privately about 1010, which is something that I investigated recently. It happens to be Joseph Poon's Vegetarian Restaurant. I am vegetarian, so I don't mind going in for dinner, but I wasn't too sure about this location. I ventured over and still am not totally convinced that there is something there that I want to see. There is a place on the other side a little ways up closer to 11th that seemed promising, but I am not sure.
I decided to take a venture North and see if I could visit the Pearly White Gates on 10th, because that may be the only way that I am going to get there. The Gates were closed, which very may be the case when it is time for me to go for real for real. After that I decided to try a place that I am obsessed with, but am ball-less in going inside. The little place on North 9th Street. The street is totally empty besides a small SUV with Jersey plates, which had the motor running. I thought about parking and going in, but I thought that it would have looked way too obvious where I was at and did not want to come back to my vehicle being:
a) Stolen
b) Ransacked
I passed and decided that I would try somewhere else. I drove down to 11th and Sansom and figured that I would go there. Can I tell you how much of a nightmare that place is? The entrance is at the very back of a huge empty parking lot, so it would not take Captain Obvious to know where I am going, if I happen to park my car on the street and walk through the lot. There is a lot of foot and vehicular traffic, so I decide to go look for a bank to get money, because there is no way that I am whipping out plastic.
As I drive around aimlessly looking for a branch, so that I don't have to pay any ATM fees, I realized that I spend way too much time, effort, and energy planning my covert operations. I figured out that if I were to spend a fraction of the time, effort, and energy that I do working on this on something more productive, I would be either very dangerous or quite brilliant that the government would love to have me on their team.
I finally found a WaWa, because all of the banks that I went were seemingly locked and shut down. I get some money and go back around to 11th and Sansom. I park my car and wait until the foot traffic cleared up. I noticed a car come up and park. I started to exit my vehicle, but some schmoe is staying in the car with the motor running. If you don't know by now, I am totally freaked out by any of that stuff, because I have way too much to lose, if I ever get busted. I waited about 10 minutes, but this prick just would not leave. I decided that I needed to venture to another location.
I drove past Quince Street, but alas, there was people eating outside of Moriarity's, so that was going to be a no-go. A little further up is a place at 11th and Walnut, but the same thing, there were people eating outside of the Irish Pub. It would have looked too obvious for me to try to walk into a building that houses a florist that late at night. I think that I will need to check these places out during the workday, so it isn't as obvious.
Last Post for the Evening
I have calculated that there are twenty-two AMPs that are advertising. I have visited 7 of them, so far, with the hopes of eventually taking a visit to each of them. I will be more than happy to share my list privately with other Senior Members. BTW, I am sure that there are others that go UTR, but I don't know of any, so please don't ask.
Just to share an observation: if you want to have a good experience at an AMP, do not, do not, do not (did I make this clear enough for you?) visit an AMP on Friday or Saturday night. It is all about Supply and Demand. The supply is limited and the demand is high, so they can fluctuate the price, but they can mess with the quality, which means that you are going to be rushed in and out.
AMP on Philmont in the NE
Went back to the AMP on Philmont behind the Wawa. I wanted to try it once more because of the ease involved getting there. I think they're stil off their game there, unless you like extremely average, at best, late 40s women. That's twice in row that I've been underwhelmed there, so I'll avoid the "three strikes" fate. They need to hire a better recruiter; perhaps if their business tapers off, they'll get the message. This was a Saturday afternoon, and all they have is one girl now.
Tried to get a copy of the Northeast Times for any new spots, but the latest edition apparently was "sold out, " even though they're free. It looks like the NE Times on line will be starting soon to post classifieds, so this may make the search easier.
In town for a couple days
I'm coming up from DC for a couple days (check the boards, I post occasionally there and as TripleE with no space), and since I originally found AMP's in Philly years ago, I'm happy to repeat. It's like visiting an old friend. With benefits.
From RTFF'ing, it looks like CH2 was the spot of choice, but isn't so hot as of late, and other than that, Race St. is where it's at. I'll be hitting one of those establishments if I have time and don't hear otherwise.
That said, anyone got a fave to recommend? I'd be happy to hear some suggestions, in here or PM. I'll def. report any action if I get out for it.
Also, I'm actually staying in the King of Prussia area, so if there's something I'm missing (Philly suburbs forums were a bit harder to follow), I'd appreciate that too.