July 31, 2018 - Elisa's First Night in Scranton, Lackawanna County Courthouse & Bar Pazzo Restaurant

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs 
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA

Lackawanna County Courthouse & Bar Pazzo Restaurant

Greetings once again from Scranton, Pennsylvania!

 We had quite a fun day yesterday here in the Electric City!  The Lackawanna Coal Mine and Anthracite Museum were the focus of our day's activities.

You know, I must be getting old and losing my mind, because just as we were getting off the highway at the Scranton exit, I realized I had been to Scranton about 20 years ago for a business meeting.  I had completely forgotten.

Well, I guess it didn't really stick in my mind since it was an in and out meeting and I never got to see anything here, nor did I get to enjoy the wonderful food here.  

That's right folks, the food here is yummy.

For example, me and the girls went out to dinner last night at Bar Pazzo and I wouldn't say it was good - I would say it was GREAT!! (see below for more on Bar Pazzo and our incredible meal).

Lackawanna County Courthouse Grounds features numerous markers for famous individuals (C) travelincousins.com

Walking to dinner, we passed the Lackawanna County Court House at the intersection of Spruce Street and Lee Court.

There are numerous markers on the grounds including (but not limited to): 
* Piazza dell' Arte
* Lackawanna County
* First Electric Cars
* Pearl Harbor Memorial
* Medal of Honor
* Vietnam War Memorial
* John Mitchell 

Sculpture of Tadeusz Kościuszko, Polish-Lithuanian military engineer, statesman, and military leader who became a national hero in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States. (c) travelincousins.com

(c) travelincousins.com

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Back view of the famous "Electric City" Sign (c) travelincousins.com

Back to our meal --
Bar Pazzo is all we thought it would be from their website and the reviews we read, and more!

The menu is wonderful, with options for all tastes and dietary needs.  But, what I was most struck by was the creativity of preparation and presentation!

A must visit when in Scranton!!

Bar Pazzo on Washington Street, a few blocks from the Lackawanna County Court House (C) travelincousins.com

Inside Bar Pazzo (c) travelincousins.com

Yummy Artesian Bread Board with hummus, truffle butter and olive oil (c) travelincousins.com

Fried Strips of Zucchini with mandarin oranges, pistachios and citrus ricotta (c) travelincousins.com

Vegan Pizza - Hummus (instead of sauce) with arugula and market vegetables - sooo good (c) travelincousins.com

Margherita Pizza (c) travelincousins.com

We were unable to finish and brought much back with us! (c) travelincousins.com

Today me and my trio are headed to the Iron Furnaces and plan to do a great deal of walking around the city of Scranton!

You can be sure I'll be taking lots and lots of pictures!

Well, we are off! More later!
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop 
Covering the West Coast & the World
​CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

Good times and cooking together

Hello & Greetings once again from good ol' Virginia!

The kids and I come out here on a visiting trip about once a year and it's become so regular for us to be here and not feel as though we're on vacation that I've realized that I haven't ever shared even some of the basic facts about Virginia with you. Well here ya go...  

Here are some quick facts about Virginia:

• Nicknames -    Old Dominion
• Capital -   Richmond

• Largest city -   Virginia Beach
• Population -   8.4M 

• Statehood -    June 25, 1788 (10th state)   

• Mean elevation -  950 ft 
• Highest point  -  Mount Rogers 5,729 ft

• Coastline  -   112 miles​

FUN FACTS -

Why Virginia was nicknamed "Mother of Presidents and the Mother of Statesmen"?
Virginia has produced more U.S. presidents than any other state in the United States.   Eight United States Presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. Seven Presidents are buried in Virginia: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Taft and Kennedy.

Virginia is also known as "the birthplace of a nation". The American Revolution ended with the surrender of British General Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia

Credit Virginia Facts and find more facts about Virginia HERE

Since we are having "typical" days here in Virginia, it's not really about doing the touristy thing. But more about spending time with family & friends.

The plans for yesterday were to take the kiddos to Jump - Trampoline Park and to fulfill Dave C's family  meal plan.

The day was also pretty exciting for Cosette, as she was about to finally meet up with her friend Abby, a sweet girl that she met online last year and who  quickly became her best friend! 

Off we went to Jump at the Lynnhaven Mall to meet Abby and her mom. Lynn, Kali and Aiden also came along for some fun bouncing times.

Slippin on the Slip Resistant socks (c)travelincousins.com

The kids got ready, slipped on their slip resistant socks (that are required) and off to the trampolines they went. 

Shortly thereafter Abby and her mom notified us that they had arrived and the time had come for the girls to meet in person!

Cosette and Abby meeting for the first time (c)travelincousins.com

Sweating bunch after jumping (c)travelincousins.com

After a good hour of jumping around and playing dodgeball we had wrapped things up at Jump.
​Lynn had to head home a bit early so that she could start on the cooking.

They had fun (c)travelincousins.com

The rest of our gang was a bit peckish and decided to head into the food court for a small bite and to spend one more time with Abby and Kristi.

Snack time (c)travelincousins.com

We all had a lovely afternoon and the time had just flew by and it was time to get the kids back to their Aunt Lynn's house to help with dinner.

Dave wanted Filipino food and Filipino food is what he got!

As you know, we don't ever eat or make this type of food back at home, but the kids and Dave got right in there to help out and learn how to make a few of these dishes.

Rolling Lumpia (c)travelincousins.com

Stuffing the Lumpia (c)travelincousins.com

Working together around the table (c)travelincousins.com

Cosette separating the wrappers (c)travelincousins.com

Cooking together is the best (c)travelincousins.com

Dominic and Cosette helping out (c)travelincousins.com

They made Lumpia, Tofu Adobo and Pancit - all vegan!!

Vegan Lumpia & Pancit (c)travelincousins.com

Vegan Tofu Adobo (c)travelincousins.com

After dinner the kids all hung out and played while the grown ups hung out around the table and chatted.

​Eventually it was time for us all to head out. TJ had a bus ticket to take him back to New York and we had to head back to Chesapeake.

Today we are kinda just hanging out, probably gonna catch a matinee and then go bowling with family and friends (Abby and Kristi) later on.

Elisa and the gals seem to be having a great time in Scranton. Be sure to check out Elisa's column and read all about it.

I'm outta here,
-Travelin' Tanya