udalum

For the 990s, you can go on guidestar.org. You have to register, but it is painless. You can get more financial data if you are a premium member.

I've stayed at the Sofitel, but never eaten there. The Sofitel is probably one of the nicest hotels I have visited. My family and I booked a suite, which had a lot of space. I liked the location, too. Our rooms was very quiet, and high up in the hotel. I have not eaten at any of the Philly hotels. My favorite places are in Reading Terminal Market. Definitely try a roast pork sandwich with greens and provolone at DiNics. Take the time to see the Dutch folk making baked goods and pretzels. A lot of people like to watch candy being made at Mueller's, too. I really enjoy a good gyro from Olympic in the RTM, too. Have fun, and continue to ask questions here. Everyone is nice and helpful!

They have excellent Greek food. The volunteers who work there are very friendly, too.

The lawsuit with Rick's cousin is settled: http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_234112139.html Now, if only the RTM mess gets straightened out...

I visited RTM today. I though the TJ BankNorth display was not in character for something that should be at RTM. It is one step closer to what I have seen at the Manayunk Arts Festival and the Italian Market Festival. At the Italian Market Festival, I was hounded at least 15 times to sign up to win a new car. I believe it was some sort of vacation club company. At Manaynk, people from Advil approached me about 10 times to take a sample of their product. These events are less enjoyable because there are pushy people promoting products that don't relate to the event. The TJ BankNorth vendors were not pushy, though. If it will decrease the rent and bring in new improvements to RTM, I suggest that the companies brought in relate to food or something else that could potentially be sold at the market. Those companies could also sponsor the Dutch Festival, if the Dutch vendors are in agreement.

Thank you to those who welcomed me. I like that we can all write about our differing opinions, and I don't get offended when people disagree with me. I do have to respond to something. I had written that I overheard a confused woman the day of the Dutch Festival asking someone where it was being held. I think there was some discussion on this board about her shopping experience as possibly being "ruined". I looked up the definition of ruined, and thought about my comment. Sure enough, I really think that her shopping experience was potentially ruined that day. Let's all try to put ourselves in her shoes, and think about how we all may have a ruined shopping experience. If I were to walk to the Italian Market Festival, and find that it was cancelled, I would consider that a ruined shopping experience. Yes, the Italian Market is there, but that alone is not worth the trip for me, unless there is a festival there. In fact, if the Italian Market Festival was there, and there were no whole pigs, I would consider that a ruined shopping experience. There are several reasons why she may have not received the word that it was cancelled. Perhaps she does not read the newspaper or listen to the news. I do know some people like that. She could have heard it from someone awhile ago, and put it in her datebook. Also, maybe a hotel worker had an old schedule that was not changed appropriately, and she was a tourist in town. I know I have gone to a handful of things in the city where it was listed incorrectly on some online website. When I get there, it is not there, or a part of it was missing (like the sugarless cake today at the Constitution Center-- someone must have axed that at the last second). As far as this RTM fiasco, I would really like to hear more of the management and Board of Director's facts on why they are not renewing Rick's lease. I know there are always two sides to a story. Most of the time, I can see both sides, even on big controversial issues. I would certainly appreciate if the management or Board of Directors can tell us something else that we have not heard about Rick's. I'm just not convinced they have a valid point for not renewing his lease, and it seems like most of the general public feels the same way. I think it would be in their best interest to tell us more, if there IS anything. If they don't, they obviously will look like the "bad guys" to some of us.

I'm new to EGullet, but I've been reading it for a year, now. This thread is particularly meaningful for me, so I now find it time to chime in. 1. The shopping experience is partially ruined for me. I go to RTM on a weekly basis. Not only do I buy parsley, lunch, peaches, and whatever else I need, I take the time to talk to the vendors to see how they are doing. In the market, I know who has a new niece, who has a brother who just died, and where people's children attend college. When Rick's lease was not renewed, much of the chat turned towards that issue not only with Rick, but with everyone else. People are worried about their future in the market. Such an increase in the monthly lease is hard on certain vendors. I would equate my shopping experience to the relationship I have with my friends. I'm there for them when they have something going on bad in their lives, and listen to them with great interest. But, I would rather everything be going right for them, and hear about all the happy things in their lives. 2. While walking by the Dutch Eating Place the other day, a woman looked very confused. I overheard her asking someone where the festival was. She could not find it. I believe her shopping experience was ruined that day. 3. With a non-profit, there has to be a good, confident relationship between the staff, the management and the board. They all have to solve problems and "be on the same wavelength" to promote buy-in to any ideas. I've worked for a non-profit where there was little respect for what the manager told the employees they needed to do. It was not a very nice job, and there was a great degree of turnover. Looking back on it, I don't know how much came from the Board of Directors or from the manager. If there isn't mutual respect, some of the current vendors may leave, and seek to open up a storefront elsewhere. We may lose the small "Mom and Pop" vendors that run their own stall. They could be replaced by vendors that have other shops in the city (Tony Luke's). 4. I've got mixed feelings about Sundays, and longer hours during the week. Many of the vendors work the stalls themselves, and I am sure they want at least one day off. Its hard to find good, reliable help, and one does not want to be left with a huge mess to start the day on Monday. But, the consumer may demand longer hours and Sundays. I'm just afraid that longer hours will displace the hard-worker, man-it-yourself vendors, and bring in someone else who has other stores in the city (Tony Luke's). I appreciate the human element that is being brought into this thread as people post. These vendors do offer products such as tomatoes, lettuce, fish and pork, but they are people, too.