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The Most Charming College Town In Pennsylvania Is Home To Delicious Dining, Shopping, And More
127 Plays4 months ago
Welcome back, everyone, to Season 4, Episode 17 of Not Your Average Bucket List by OnlyInYourState. We’re going to be tackling today an article titled: The Most Charming College Town In Pennsylvania Is Home To Delicious Dining, Shopping, And More. And the town in focus is West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer to call West Chester “…one of the world’s most perfect small towns,” and we’re here today to tell you why we agree or disagree with that statement.
In the podcast episode, we’ll discuss the history of West Chester, from the original inhabitants the Lenape Native Americans, to the important role the town played during the Civil Way as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Plus, we discuss some of the coolest things to do in West Chester, Pennsylvania today. Hint: one involves an antique ice tool museum. You heard that right…
Things we’ll cover in this episode:
- What is the history behind West Chester, Pennsylvania?
- Why do people think West Chester, PA is one of the most perfect small towns?
- What are some fun things to do in West Chester?
- Is there really an American Helicopter Museum?!
Get In Touch!
If you have personal experiences with any of the attractions mentioned above, call or text 805-298-1420! We’d love to hear your thoughts on these places and maybe even share your clip on the show! You can also reach out to us via email at [email protected].
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:01
mromanoiys
Hey, everyone. Welcome back to season four, episode 17 of Not Your Average Bucket List by Only In Your State.
Florida's State of Emergency Discussion
00:00:09
mromanoiys
As per usual, I am joined by my co-host, Sarah. Hi, Sarah.
00:00:13
Sara
Hi Marissa, how are you?
00:00:15
mromanoiys
I'm doing very well. No complaints over here in rainy Florida. How about you?
00:00:20
Sara
yeah I'm alright, I did see that like, yeah, Florida's in like some states of emergency because of all of the all of the rain, so.
00:00:26
mromanoiys
Yes. I know. Yeah. Get out your your paddle boards and your kayaks.
00:00:29
Sara
Good luck with that, I guess.
00:00:32
mromanoiys
Yeah. My road was so flooded yesterday and it's funny because, you know, kids will go out there with their boogie boards and stuff and just like cruise the street.
00:00:39
Sara
Oh, seriously?
00:00:40
mromanoiys
Yeah. Yeah.
00:00:42
Sara
When you say kids, do you mean you did?
00:00:43
mromanoiys
Yep.
00:00:44
Sara
That was you.
00:00:45
mromanoiys
I wish.
00:00:46
Sara
Strangers that weren't me.
00:00:47
mromanoiys
I wish.
00:00:48
Sara
We're all...
00:00:49
mromanoiys
I know.
00:00:49
Sara
busy boarding.
00:00:50
mromanoiys
I rallied all the neighborhood kids.
00:00:50
Sara
Crazy.
00:00:53
mromanoiys
Oh, no, I wish. Yeah.
Season Theme and State Focus: Pennsylvania
00:00:56
mromanoiys
ah But yeah, so for anybody that's joining us for the first time, welcome. ah We have a ton of seasons that you can enjoy in a bunch of episodes. ah But we are, for this season in particular, we are taking articles from only in your state and kind of unfolding them, if you will, providing a bit more context and information. And ah we're just going around the country to various states. And today we're gonna be talking about Pennsylvania,
00:01:26
mromanoiys
And the title of this article is, The Most Charming College Town in Pennsylvania is Home to Delicious Dining, Shopping, and More. How do you feel about this, Sarah?
00:01:36
Sara
Yep.
00:01:38
mromanoiys
What are your first thoughts on Westchester, Pennsylvania?
00:01:42
Sara
Well, my first thought is like, wow, why do i ah why does that sound familiar? And it's because the band CKY was founded in ah Westchester, Pennsylvania, um which I realized as I was going through. So I think that's my first reaction, um which takes me back to high school.
Exploring Westchester, Pennsylvania
00:02:00
mromanoiys
Hmm.
00:02:00
Sara
But yeah, it looks um incredibly charming. And some of the stats about just how many eateries and bars are in this little town is wild.
00:02:09
mromanoiys
Right. Agreed.
00:02:10
Sara
like
00:02:11
mromanoiys
Yes.
00:02:11
Sara
yeah How about you?
00:02:12
mromanoiys
For a small town. Yeah. No, i same.
00:02:14
Sara
Yeah.
00:02:14
mromanoiys
I was, I, so I've never heard about Westchester, Pennsylvania before because I've always heard about Westchester, New York, which one word Westchester, which is like, they have an accent or is that, am I thinking of Boston?
00:02:24
Sara
Oh.
00:02:26
mromanoiys
And they're like Westchester.
00:02:28
Sara
I think there's a Westchester in every state.
00:02:29
mromanoiys
Anyway. ah Isn't really?
00:02:32
Sara
There's a Westchester in Ohio, but it's just like, yeah.
00:02:36
mromanoiys
Interesting.
00:02:36
Sara
Hold on.
00:02:37
mromanoiys
Okay. Yeah, I was kind of expecting it to be Westchester, one word, but the Pennsylvania town is Westchester.
00:02:38
Sara
Yeah.
00:02:44
mromanoiys
Two words.
00:02:45
Sara
Yes. Yep.
00:02:46
mromanoiys
Um, and, and honestly, I've never heard about it before, which, uh, you know, shame on me because this place, it's like quintessential small town.
00:02:49
Sara
Shame on you, yeah.
00:02:56
mromanoiys
This would have fit right into our small town getaways, uh, season that we did.
00:03:01
Sara
Yep.
00:03:02
mromanoiys
And so much history too. Like, uh, that was my favorite part. I think about researching this town is the history behind it, which, you know, it just kind of, it's like one of those things that just blows my mind every time we have an episode like this and. you know we get to dive into a place I've never heard about. And then it's like, oh, holy moly, this place was established back in 1799.
00:03:25
Sara
Yeah.
00:03:25
mromanoiys
And here I am knowing you know that I never knew it it existed.
Westchester's Historical Significance
00:03:30
Sara
Yeah. And really close to Philadelphia has a lot of, like you said, historical influences um is basically just like a hub, like between, like if you're going to be traveling on the East coast back in the day, or even today, I feel like a lot of people just pass through this town, which is kind of like, I think how it got a lot of its start.
00:03:49
mromanoiys
Yeah, yeah, definitely. it Yeah, so you said ah proximity to Philly, which is a couple, like 25, 30-ish miles, give or take.
00:03:58
Sara
Mm hmm.
00:03:59
mromanoiys
And um yeah, if we want to like launch into some of the history that about Westchester before we dig into what it's like today,
00:04:08
Sara
Yeah, teach us.
00:04:08
mromanoiys
um Yeah, so what I found really fascinating, but beyond the fact that let's just start with the Philadelphia Inquirer called Westchester one of the world's most perfect small towns, right?
00:04:22
Sara
whoa big words that's yeah incredible in the world yeah
00:04:23
mromanoiys
Like in the world, across the globe. So I thought that was really cool just first because I was just kind of tinkering around on their um Westchester's website And I like to get that kind of first glimpse. And this was before I was really looking at photos. And then lo and behold, the photos, I'd say match up to that um Philadelphia Inquirer designation.
00:04:44
Sara
yeah
00:04:50
Sara
Yeah. And shame on me, I didn't even look at houses yet. So while we're talking, I'm going to bring up my Zillow. Yeah,
00:04:58
mromanoiys
That's an important part is whether or not we're going to move here after this episode.
00:05:01
Sara
huh yeah I got to start planning now.
00:05:03
mromanoiys
Yes, um um so just to early settlement and founding of Westchester.
Unique Attractions in Westchester
00:05:09
mromanoiys
So this dates back to, it was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. And then eventually European settlers arrived in the late 17th century. There were Welsh Quakers that were some of the first people to establish farms and settlements in the area. And what I thought was really cool is that this town was initially called Turk's Head.
00:05:32
Sara
Mmhmm.
00:05:33
mromanoiys
which was named after a popular tavern that is now like at the center of the borough. And then you know fast forward, exactly what you were saying is that a lot of people would pass through this town um you know because it was everything was getting developed in that area and it became this hub that was eventually incorporated in 1799 and the name was changed to Westchester.
00:06:00
Sara
I mean I get it, Turk's head doesn't have as good of a ring.
00:06:03
mromanoiys
Oh, yeah. I read that at first. I was like, what?
00:06:07
Sara
What do you mean?
00:06:07
mromanoiys
What is this? Why? Yeah. But ah yeah, so now it's Westchester. And um what I thought was really cool, just continuing the growth, because what you were saying about it being like people passing through a transportation hub, the arrival of the railroad, no surprise in 1832, eventually connected Westchester the borough to Philadelphia. And then all of a sudden, you know, it kind of boosted commerce and travel. And ah that's what allowed it to become this like commercial administrative hub is people could, you know, agricultural products, manufactured items, all that jazz started coming through the town.
00:06:43
Sara
Yeah.
00:06:48
mromanoiys
And then what I thought was really interesting is during this time, Westchester was known for like clock parts. And that was like its biggest...
00:06:57
Sara
Hot ticket item. Okay.
00:07:00
mromanoiys
Come to Turk's Head for your clock parts.
00:07:00
Sara
okay
00:07:04
mromanoiys
um
00:07:04
Sara
I mean, it is better than the, uh, what I see, the, uh, big, I forget the name, but the, the cream separating company that was located.
00:07:14
Sara
Yeah. Hold on.
00:07:15
mromanoiys
In Westchester?
00:07:17
Sara
I think so. Westchester. All right.
00:07:19
mromanoiys
Interesting.
00:07:20
Sara
Continue.
00:07:20
mromanoiys
This place is full of surprises.
00:07:20
Sara
I'll follow up early.
00:07:25
mromanoiys
um And then, so that was just like some of the history. I also wanted to touch on some of the Civil War era history because Westchester had a really important role during the Civil War. um And just, you know, not to go too deep into that this, because this could probably be a whole episode, but a lot of the residents within Westchester supported the Union's cause and the borough became an important stop on on the Underground Railroad, which I thought was really neat and kind of blew my mind again.
00:07:50
Sara
Yeah.
00:07:55
mromanoiys
And ah the area became a safe haven for ah enslaved people that escaped and they were seeking freedom in the north.
00:07:58
Sara
Yeah.
00:08:03
mromanoiys
And it was, you know, a lot of people, ah notable abolitionists like Frederick Douglass visited Westchester, which I thought was really cool. um And yeah, so just the history surrounding this place is really fascinating from all sides.
00:08:12
Sara
yeah
00:08:18
Sara
Yes. And just to follow up, it was the Sharples separator works. And they were responsible for tubular cream separators that were like basically centrifugal for separators that I guess if you want your heavy creams and your milks and butter melts, I don't know, but just, just so you know, in addition to Frederick Douglas, just as not as important, but just a history fact.
00:08:27
mromanoiys
Wow. Interesting. a
00:08:40
Sara
Um, yeah.
00:08:42
mromanoiys
Cool.
00:08:43
Sara
And I also think it was the home of the ah Commodore company, right?
00:08:43
mromanoiys
Okay.
00:08:45
Sara
The Commodore computers.
00:08:48
mromanoiys
I didn't know that.
00:08:50
Sara
I think so.
00:08:51
mromanoiys
What? Look at you coming in with these facts. Love it.
00:08:54
Sara
Mm-hmm. I know. Just very, it's just how I roll, just sprinkling them in randomly, questioning myself and not really having contacts. Just like, oh, I hear about the cream separator company. Yeah.
00:09:05
mromanoiys
No, it's great. It's like the ultimate, uh, bar trivia game that, uh, just popping in.
00:09:10
Sara
Yeah.
00:09:11
mromanoiys
But I mean, okay. So we got some cream separation. We got some, um, computers.
00:09:17
Sara
Computers. ye Yep.
00:09:18
mromanoiys
We got a ton of history.
00:09:19
Sara
Yep. CKY.
00:09:20
mromanoiys
What else did you?
00:09:21
Sara
Great. big
00:09:22
mromanoiys
Yeah, exactly. Um, yeah. top Like what a mishmash of stuff for Westchester.
00:09:29
Sara
Yeah.
00:09:29
mromanoiys
happening. ah Very cool. And what else did you find about Westchester? It doesn't have to be history related, but that kind of was fascinating for you.
Westchester's Food and Drink Scene
00:09:39
Sara
Uh, so I love the stat that basically, um, what is the, what's the number, uh,
00:09:50
Sara
approximately two dozen bars in a three block radius estimated, I saw in the area an estimated like 60 plus restaurants, which seemed wild.
00:10:00
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:10:00
Sara
And I started to like scrolling through like, okay, I can't, I can't all be on that downtown area, which is adorable, but they're still maybe not all 65, but there were a lot. So it feels like if, if, and we might do in this episode of a ah day in Westchester, I feel like options are endless, absolutely.
00:10:16
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:10:17
Sara
bonkers. So if you're going to be going through this strategically placed, adorable small town, maybe the best in the world, according to someone in Philadelphia. um I think it yeah, there is a ah lot to do. And it's very historic, you can learn a lot. And um yeah, that was those were the stats that really drew me in because I'm, you know, hedonistic and love eating and drinking. So, you know, it's, it's really what jumped out.
00:10:41
mromanoiys
Yeah, but so I think that also ah kind of ties into the fact this is a huge college town.
00:10:49
Sara
Yes. Yep.
00:10:50
mromanoiys
which Westchester University um is there. And it's a public school, I think it's said something, 16, 17,000 students maybe, give or take.
00:11:01
Sara
Yep.
00:11:04
mromanoiys
But um yeah, so it's ah it was a very popular school that people go to. And then you know it would only be smart for businesses to have a ton of bars, ton of restaurants where you know kids can go off campus and and explore.
00:11:15
Sara
yep
00:11:19
mromanoiys
Um, the downtown area, which also listed on the national register of historic places, no surprise there.
00:11:26
Sara
Mm-hmm.
00:11:28
mromanoiys
Um, but yeah, also I noticed too, that there are a lot of older buildings still around a lot of like 18th, 19th century buildings that have been maintained and preserved, which, you know, we, we love here at not your average bucket list, give us a good old building, uh, you know,
00:11:28
Sara
Yep.
00:11:36
Sara
Yeah.
00:11:46
Sara
Absolutely. Give us some charm. Give us some some creeks and some factoids, but also give us some ghosts.
00:11:49
mromanoiys
Yeah, yeah.
00:11:53
Sara
I saw they have a downtown walking tour, of course. You know, um if you want to explore some of the darker side of history,
00:11:58
mromanoiys
Love that.
Cultural and Novelty Attractions
00:12:02
Sara
so.
00:12:02
mromanoiys
Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, yes, a place that was established in 1799, you know, and that's just by European settlers, you know, there's got to be some, some sort of something going on.
00:12:12
Sara
Some stuff happened.
00:12:13
mromanoiys
Some, yeah, we know.
00:12:14
Sara
Some some some spookies, ah you know, I'm sure you'll come across it.
00:12:16
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:12:18
Sara
ah So I know that um I was drawn to the restaurants and bars and that kind of scene. What but stood out to you as a reason to visit, aside from the like the historic buildings as well?
00:12:30
mromanoiys
Um, you know, I was looking into a lot of the like kind of weird things to do and places to visit. And so
00:12:37
Sara
Ooh, yeah. What'd you find?
00:12:40
mromanoiys
there's an antique ice tool museum. um Yeah, not sure if you came across that.
00:12:47
Sara
No I did not.
00:12:47
mromanoiys
but So it's basically this museum that's kind of, ah it's just like all about the history and tools of ice ice harvesting. And because it was like a really big ah prominent trade before modern refrigeration,
00:12:58
Sara
Wow.
00:13:04
mromanoiys
And so this is like one of those random museums that has a very impressive collection of antique ice tools, memorabilia, equipment, there are ice saws, there are tongs, plows, you name it, they have it. And it's...
00:13:23
Sara
I was hoping he'd go through the entire list and he got scoops and sleds. Just so miss wait.
00:13:30
mromanoiys
I could have, I could have.
00:13:33
Sara
um Do they also have like a little side offshoot room for ice picks and the ice pick lobotomy just as like a little fun little tour?
00:13:39
mromanoiys
i you know I'm not sure, it probably costs extra.
00:13:43
Sara
Yeah, you have to pick behind a curtain.
00:13:43
mromanoiys
but But I just thought that was so cool.
00:13:45
Sara
Yeah. yeah Wow.
00:13:49
mromanoiys
like What a neat place to take a you know an educational tour of ice harvesting and ah see what it was like to just not put your cup in a refrigerator and get some cubes out.
00:14:01
Sara
yeah
00:14:02
mromanoiys
But you know he had to be sawing.
00:14:03
Sara
i mean To be fair, guys, you heard it here first. The intro of Frozen was real. There were people harvesting ice and putting them on sleds. It wasn't just a Disney creation. Can you imagine, like, taking someone on a very first date to the ice to harvest images? I don't know if that's an extremely Yeah. green flag, or if it's just like, I don't know I what to do with this information that you chose mean. for me. um
00:14:31
mromanoiys
Yeah, i would that's a green green flag. Green flag for a first date.
00:14:35
Sara
yeah
00:14:36
mromanoiys
Heck yeah!
00:14:37
Sara
you wouldn't forget it and all the in the tongs in the saws like yeah that is to be honest yeah a plus um okay of
00:14:39
mromanoiys
No.
00:14:42
mromanoiys
Like, how cool do you want to practice sawing ice with this historical ice saw? How romantic. Yeah, neat. So yeah, what about you? Were there like places to visit or other attractions you saw?
00:14:59
Sara
I did see that um we wrote about it in our, only in your state article about this place, what but the ah Baldwin's Book Barn.
00:15:06
mromanoiys
Hmm.
00:15:07
Sara
You give me books, you give me a barn. I love it. like That's that's ah so lovely, and it's in a historic building, and you just get to wander through.
00:15:10
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:15:15
Sara
it gave me vibes of like, not quite as big, but like the um German village book loft in Columbus to where it's just lots of random books to so to like, just like browse through. That's definitely my jam. um There's also um an American helicopter museum and educational center, which I don't think it's it's like the ice, ice harvesting museum.
00:15:27
mromanoiys
Yeah. Hmm.
00:15:37
Sara
I probably wouldn't have think when i thought to like go to this place, but you know what, if I'm walking by,
00:15:42
mromanoiys
Right!
00:15:43
Sara
Like, especially if I can like sit in a seat and like pretend.
00:15:44
mromanoiys
That's cut!
00:15:47
Sara
That sells it for me.
00:15:47
mromanoiys
Yeah! I honestly, I feel like it's such a hodgepodge of fun stuff to do here that like, where else can you find a an ice tool museum, a five story barn with original stone walls and over 300,000 books, and then an American helicopter museum.
00:15:55
Sara
Yeah.
00:16:07
Sara
Yep.
00:16:10
Sara
Yeah.
00:16:10
mromanoiys
Like, I feel like that would be we're already creating our perfect day with just these like, you know, fun stops.
00:16:16
Sara
It's the, it's the crossroads of America. Forget
Planning a Day in Westchester
00:16:19
Sara
Indianapolis. It is Westchester, Pennsylvania. Uh, it is, I would love to know, I need to look up after this.
00:16:23
mromanoiys
Yes.
00:16:27
Sara
I want to get a book loft versus book bar in battle to see what is the most, like what has the most books rooms.
00:16:30
mromanoiys
hey
00:16:35
Sara
I mean, it's, it wins the historic aspect, but.
00:16:37
mromanoiys
Interesting. saying Okay.
00:16:39
Sara
Mm-hmm.
00:16:39
mromanoiys
I've never heard of this other one you you speak of in Columbus. It's big.
00:16:45
Sara
It is. Yeah. It just has like 32 rooms inside of just like, and it's like a maze. I love it. Um, you'll never like, you'll wander in and either you buy something, you buy many somethings or you never leave because you can't find your way out.
00:16:53
mromanoiys
Oh,
00:17:00
Sara
It's fantastic.
00:17:00
mromanoiys
or you're stuck there.
00:17:01
Sara
I love it.
00:17:03
mromanoiys
You turned into a ghost.
00:17:03
Sara
You're stuck there forever. You become a ghost. you Yep.
00:17:06
mromanoiys
but Okay, cool. I mean, it doesn't sound terrible, but ah okay. Yeah, so um yeah, you mentioned perfect day. I don't know if you created something, a perfect day in, Or like if you had any specific restaurants or bars that you found that you're like, yes, definitely shout this out.
00:17:25
Sara
I did create a perfect day and ah yeah.
00:17:27
mromanoiys
Yes. Awesome.
00:17:29
Sara
um
00:17:30
mromanoiys
Love to hear it.
00:17:31
Sara
Okay. So I wanted to start off with going to the Stroud Preserve, which is a nearby nature preserve. Lots of rolling prairie fields. Like you feel like you're transported to some sort of like Jane Austen movie and you're just going to like walk around and you're, you know, little ah reserved books and gloves and, I don't know, be harassed and oppressed. by But, you know, it's very charming but that it is ah us the Stroud Preserve. So I would go there first and then come back to town, walk around the historic downtown area and grab breakfast at La Tartine, which is just like a little, um a little like, it's like a coffee shop, cafe.
00:18:11
Sara
I was a little bit mixed between is this French or is this Mediterranean, but you get you get all the good stuff you want. you know um If I can get a crepe or some sort of like crusty bread, give it to me, that I'm happy.
00:18:17
mromanoiys
Cool.
00:18:21
Sara
um And then while I, after breakfast, I would want to go downtown and check up some of the shops, but also Carlino's Market, the Westtown Amish Market, which basically, if you look at pictures of it, it's just cases and cases of pastries and donuts and goodies, which, how could you go wrong?
00:18:23
mromanoiys
Yes.
00:18:38
mromanoiys
yes
00:18:39
Sara
couldn't And then I'd want to time my visit around one of the ah gay street open air markets, which is just you know they open up the street with two vendors and an artist and things like that which always love from, I could just do that every day.
00:18:46
mromanoiys
Mmm.
00:18:54
Sara
and then Uh, I was kind of torn between, you know, like the dinner options. There was, um, a lot, I mean, like we said, there's a lot of bars, but there are a couple of taverns. Like, I think the four dog tavern looked like a great spot with like an outdoor patio to get a drink and some food. There was a place called Opa Taverna, which is like a, um, a Mediterranean spot and one other Mediterranean spot that had amazing, uh, amazing food. And also. I want to say slow hand was like a divey bar that looked like it had amazing food.
00:19:26
Sara
So I don't know.
00:19:26
mromanoiys
Hmm.
00:19:27
Sara
It's one of those things to where I feel like I would just turn around in a circle, throw a rock and go to that tavern.
00:19:32
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:19:32
Sara
um And oh, I forgot the book barn.
00:19:35
mromanoiys
Hmm.
00:19:35
Sara
I'd be going to the book barn at some point. Yeah.
00:19:37
mromanoiys
Yes, for sure.
00:19:39
Sara
How about you?
00:19:39
mromanoiys
i think
00:19:40
Sara
I'm i'm assuming the ice tool museum.
00:19:43
mromanoiys
Yeah, so I kind of picked all these places just as my perfect day because um I did see, yes, also that preserve, the Stroud Preserve, I thought was really cool. um And yeah, I did build my day around the helicopter museum, which, ah yeah, you have to kind of, um you know, I've never really, you know, been maybe in a helicopter in my life.
00:20:01
Sara
Of course, as you would.
00:20:09
Sara
Okay, let's say a real helicopter.
00:20:10
mromanoiys
I'm not sure.
00:20:11
Sara
Would you get in and take like a tour?
00:20:14
mromanoiys
I would, yeah. Yeah, I would.
00:20:17
Sara
I don't know.
00:20:17
mromanoiys
Why, you wouldn't? What?
00:20:20
Sara
There are no walls. It's like empty. You can fall out.
00:20:24
mromanoiys
You do like subterranean ghost tours and you're not gonna go to a helicopter?
00:20:31
Sara
No, no, I don't have to fall through the air to my death on a ghost tour.
00:20:32
mromanoiys
Surprised.
00:20:37
Sara
I mean, I appreciate people who want to go in a helicopter and you can have all the fun in the world.
00:20:38
mromanoiys
Okay. Yeah. Okay.
00:20:44
Sara
Unless I was being a vet. Anyway, neither here nor there.
00:20:45
mromanoiys
Okay.
00:20:47
Sara
So go to the museum.
00:20:48
mromanoiys
Yeah, i do the music I would do all the museums, honestly, the Ice Tool Museum, I thought looked really neat. Because like, also, they have demonstrations and stuff where people are like, you know, carving ice, which, when do you get to do that? Not in Florida, I'll tell you that the answer is never.
00:21:06
Sara
That is true.
00:21:06
mromanoiys
um
00:21:07
Sara
That perspective is is vital.
00:21:09
mromanoiys
yeah ah and
Small-Town Charm Vs. Urban Life
00:21:11
mromanoiys
then Yeah. I would just go to probably a couple of the historic bars and the historic restaurants. um you know All that fun stuff that I feel like I sometimes miss being near a ah big city.
00:21:25
Sara
Yeah.
00:21:26
mromanoiys
um I love that small town feel. I love being able to go to a bar, sit at sit with the bartender and the locals and just
00:21:34
Sara
yeah
00:21:35
mromanoiys
talk to them and see you know ask them, hey, what do you like about this place? Why do you live here if you live here?
00:21:41
Sara
Yep.
00:21:43
mromanoiys
What's so special about it? Give us like the insight on what makes this area so special to where people are calling it one of the most perfect small towns in the world. you know
00:21:54
Sara
I mean, how do you, yeah, how do you top that?
00:21:57
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:21:57
Sara
it's a Yeah, that's funny. I feel like it does have so it is a rural small town, but it still has enough going on to where you wouldn't feel like maybe where I live right now or it's like, oh, there is, I guess, definitely a dive bar down the street. But a lot of bikers go there. And I don't think I'd go there. Not nothing against bikers, but like, ah person by themselves walking into a group that's very obviously knows each other and it might not be necessarily my vibe.
00:22:23
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:22:25
Sara
um I feel like that is a asking for an uncomfortable situation.
00:22:25
mromanoiys
Right.
00:22:29
Sara
um But no, this place is like, it's a college town.
00:22:30
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:22:33
Sara
It is it has the history of the Underground Railroad has, you know, definitely a lot of things to do. So anyway, that was my big rambly way to say yes, Marissa, I agree with you.
00:22:40
mromanoiys
Yeah.
Community Interaction and Local Traditions
00:22:45
mromanoiys
Yeah, and so um we posted on Only in Pennsylvania. For anybody that's unfamiliar, go to Only in Pennsylvania, which is one of our pages for Only in Your State that we post a lot of really cool stuff.
00:22:58
Sara
Mmhmm.
00:23:01
mromanoiys
Our articles, photos, it's a great place for community. And, ah you know, we ask people for personal stories about Westchester. and And ah besides just, you know, Carol saying, good school. um There was one that ah Alex said, super Sundays were the best. And I don't know what that means. I would love to.
00:23:26
Sara
How do you spell super? Is it with, is it like soup to eat or is it like soup?
00:23:30
mromanoiys
No, just regular super.
00:23:30
Sara
Like, okay. Well, I'm a little disappointed, but that's all right.
00:23:33
mromanoiys
Yeah, super Sundays were the best.
00:23:34
Sara
um
00:23:35
mromanoiys
Penn's table had the best SOS. What is that? This is all Westchester slang.
00:23:41
Sara
Super Sunday in downtown West. I don't know. Let's, let's do some like in real life research.
00:23:50
mromanoiys
Yeah, I'm going to respond to Alex and be like, please. Cause they said, I have so many memories. I'll be like, what is Super Sundays?
00:23:57
Sara
Ah, Super Sunday is a um recurring festival, it looks like in, uh, in Westchester.
00:23:58
mromanoiys
What is SOS?
00:24:06
mromanoiys
Cool. Interesting.
00:24:11
Sara
So yeah, welcome to the summer with Super Sunday, June 3rd. This is a few years back, but yeah, it looks like it's just like a family festival.
00:24:20
mromanoiys
Okay.
00:24:21
Sara
Very cool.
00:24:21
mromanoiys
Cool. Love that. Um, okay. So is this a Midwest thing? S-O-S yeah for at a restaurant?
00:24:30
Sara
SOS, okay, let let's check. Westchester SOS restaurant.
00:24:33
mromanoiys
I know. So I was looking at Penn's table is what she's talking about, which was around since 1976. And I'm looking around. It looks delicious.
00:24:44
Sara
I don't know. Listeners, tell us, comment, write in, what is that?
00:24:49
mromanoiys
Yeah.
00:24:51
Sara
Okay, SOS food acronym.
00:24:51
mromanoiys
Best SOS.
00:24:54
Sara
Maybe it's something I'm just not cool enough to know.
00:24:54
mromanoiys
Love this.
00:24:58
Sara
Salt oil sugar.
00:24:58
mromanoiys
And then...
00:25:01
Sara
No, can't be.
00:25:02
mromanoiys
I mean unless Penn's Table has the best possible...
00:25:05
Sara
ah just
00:25:09
Sara
Oh, ah oh, I know what this is. um It's S on a shingle or creamed like salted dried beef in cream. um
00:25:22
mromanoiys
Okay.
00:25:24
Sara
Do you know what I'm talking about?
00:25:25
mromanoiys
Yes, yes, yes.
00:25:25
Sara
Like where you cream the beef basically and you put it on a piece of toast?
00:25:26
mromanoiys
So it's an acronym for... Gotcha. Love this.
00:25:29
Sara
Yeah, which honestly, oh God, um I'm having such a nostalgic day at peanut butter and jelly for lunch.
00:25:30
mromanoiys
Wow.
00:25:35
Sara
Maybe I'm going to have this for dinner. It sounds great. Like it's so salty and so much sodium, but it has like this, like a nostalgia, like I'm going to have to do it.
00:25:44
mromanoiys
Interesting. Okay. So it is kind of a Midwest thing-ish in that area?
00:25:49
Sara
So you have you heard of it?
00:25:50
mromanoiys
No. Uh-uh.
00:25:53
Sara
ah Yeah, yeah. Okay.
00:25:56
mromanoiys
Maybe we call it something different? I don't know. I'm going to have to dig a little deeper.
00:26:00
Sara
Here, I'll send you i after the podcast, I can share with you what this actually is.
00:26:04
mromanoiys
OK. OK.
00:26:06
Sara
ah
00:26:07
mromanoiys
I understand the acronym, but I think just that the context of what it's like beef on bread.
00:26:13
Sara
It is, I mean, it's like, ah it has its history in like wartime rations. So it's just basically like, I think specifically soldiers, like you get this while serving and it's like the most simplest recipes.
00:26:19
mromanoiys
Gotcha. OK. OK.
Westchester: The Perfect Small Town?
00:26:26
Sara
It's basically flour, butter, this meat, and you put it on toast. um
00:26:30
mromanoiys
Interesting. Is it like a corn beef? I mean, we don't have to, I'm so intrigued by this, but okay.
00:26:32
Sara
Yeah, well, i I just sent it to you. So if you want to get get more info, it looks, it doesn't look at particularly appetizing, but it's great.
00:26:39
mromanoiys
Cool. Okay.
00:26:43
mromanoiys
Interesting.
00:26:43
Sara
Kind of reminds me of like um biscuits and gravy kind of situation.
00:26:48
mromanoiys
Okay. Oh, okay. I see what you're talking about. Interesting. East coast, buy it at the meat counter. Okay. Dried beef. Cool. Wow.
00:27:01
Sara
It is salty as all get out, but like in a delicious way, yeah.
00:27:02
mromanoiys
Okay.
00:27:06
mromanoiys
Interesting.
00:27:07
Sara
It is, I don't think it's a mersa safe food in it by any means.
00:27:08
mromanoiys
Okay. Yeah, probably not.
00:27:12
Sara
About 20 different animal products going into it, but.
00:27:15
mromanoiys
And we don't know which animals. But ah cool, okay, very cool. So yes, got that squared away. um Was there anything else about Westchester? I feel like we touched on everything within this 30 minute episode. ah Right, yes.
00:27:30
Sara
Everything and nothing all at once. um I would love to, especially from people who are in the area or who have been like to say like, what is the actual thing that stands out? Is it these like strange little unique museums?
00:27:44
mromanoiys
Hmm.
00:27:44
Sara
Is it the food? Is it the college? Is it the the vibe, the atmosphere? I don't know. Like I, there's so much stuff.
00:27:49
mromanoiys
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:51
Sara
How do you categorize it? I'm very interested ah to know.
00:27:53
mromanoiys
True. I will say, so I'm trying to plan a trip up to Philadelphia, hopefully this year. I haven't been in forever. And ah yeah, so that's on the agenda. If I do go,
Anticipating a Visit to Westchester
00:28:09
mromanoiys
I'm going to go to Westchester.
00:28:09
Sara
Well, guess what's 25 miles outside of town?
00:28:12
mromanoiys
I know, yeah. No, I would love to go to Westchester and see why this is dubbed the world's most perfect small town. Maybe I can, you know, wander around, talk to some locals, do some in-depth reporting with the microphone.
00:28:24
Sara
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Go to the ice museum, museum get some hard-hitting information.
00:28:27
mromanoiys
And yes, done. 100%. Yeah.
00:28:32
Sara
Cutting edge, if you will.
00:28:34
mromanoiys
Oh, I see what you did there.
00:28:35
Sara
ah
00:28:38
Sara
Yes. Look, I might ramble, but every once in a while I'll get a cool factoid and maybe I'll make a pun. That's it. That's my value prop. So.
00:28:48
mromanoiys
I'd say that's pretty valuable, honestly.
00:28:50
Sara
Yeah.