Networking in Philly: Conference Highlights & Local Flavor

Last week, I was in Philadelphia, PA for a conference. The event was fantastic—packed with meetings and sessions. I didn’t plan as well as I should have; going up a day earlier or staying an extra day would’ve given me time to explore Philly. Still, it was a fun trip, and I made some great connections.

I managed to try some Philly food, although it was mostly through the hotel hosting the conference. The Philly cheese-steak and pretzels were surprisingly good! Some locals at the conference recommended I walk down the block for fresh pretzels, but I never made it. I filled up on the ones provided, and they hit the spot. Overall, the conference food was excellent. Having breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day Monday was a treat. Each meal doubled as a networking opportunity, and we were joined by another conference group focused on banking and finance, which added an interesting dynamic.

The conference kicked off Sunday afternoon when I arrived and ran non-stop through Tuesday at noon. Sunday evening’s social event was a highlight—it was held on the 33rd floor of the hotel, offering a great view of the city.

After returning home to Topeka, I was back at work on Wednesday. Before I left, I had read that B&B Theaters would be showing live Royals games in their theaters Monday through Wednesday that week, free of charge. Watching the Royals on the big screen was a fun experience, especially with all the concessions open—I definitely indulged. The Royals won, and it was a blast cheering them on with others in the theater.

While I was away in Philly, Carrie took Oliver out to dinner at Salute. She sent me a picture of him enjoying the patio life. Carrie said Oliver loved watching people come and go, greeting everyone like the social pup he is. Silly guy!

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week!

Royals Lose, AirPods Lost, But At Least There’s Pasta... and Beer!

Another week, another weekend where I’m struggling to decide what to write about. Oh well—looks like it’ll be another rambling post.

This week kicks off with a work trip to Philadelphia for a conference. It’s a short one—I’ll be back Tuesday evening. Since my flight leaves painfully early Sunday morning, I decided to stay at a hotel nearby on Saturday night. Smart move, thanks to Carrie’s suggestion.

Before checking in, I treated myself to spaghetti and meatballs at Old Chicago in Kansas City. Pretty good! I miss the Old Chicago that left Topeka years ago. It’s probably never coming back, but a guy can dream.

I left Carrie and Oliver this afternoon and listened to the Royals game on the drive. We won yesterday to get back to .500, but today’s loss dropped us just below again. Fingers crossed for a win tomorrow to take the series against the Blue Jays. The trade deadline brought a few moves—hopefully, they’ll help us rack up some wins.

After settling into the hotel and finishing dinner, I realized I forgot my AirPods. Yep, left them charging on the table at home. Carrie and I have a tradition: we’re not truly on a trip until we remember what we forgot. I use my AirPods constantly, especially on flights for podcasts and music. So yes, I’m mildly annoyed. But hey, I’ve got spaghetti and a beer, so life isn’t too bad.

I’m planning to crash early tonight—shooting for an 8 p.m. bedtime to catch that 6 a.m. flight. Again, shoutout to Carrie for the hotel idea. Definitely better than waking up at 3 a.m.

This will be my first time in Philadelphia. My parents went years ago and had a rough experience—something about their car getting towed and a payment dispute with the city. I don’t remember the full story, but I’m hoping my visit goes a bit smoother.

That’s all for tonight. Wishing you a great rest of your weekend and a fantastic week ahead!