Comic-Con and Reading Terminal Market: Philadelphia Weekend Guide

This past Saturday we took a family trip to Philadelphia for the Wizard World Comic Convention (Comic Con). One acquaintance congratulated me on being a “great mom” for bringing my kids to the event.

As flattering as that was, the outing was really my husband G’s idea — a bona fide fan boy. G has collected action figures and read comics for as long as I can remember. He knows the lore, appreciates the artwork and the storytelling, and even writes some of his own material. We’ve attended several Comic Cons in New York over the years, but this was our first time at the Philly show.

There wasn’t much about Comic Con that directly ties to the Paleo lifestyle — except that many attendees might feel healthier if they followed a more primal approach. Still, I couldn’t resist sharing photos of the creative costuming. Some people went all out; the craftsmanship and imagination were genuinely impressive. Sure, a few attendees were a little goofy, but even those added to the entertainment. I bought a Wonder Woman T-shirt and, if pressed, I’d admit to getting Wonder Woman knee-socks (with capes).

Comic Con is often more about adult fans than children — just look at some of the costumes we saw.

Nathaniel joined in with Batman, but my youngest, who usually seems so sweet, might secretly be a villain — he pulled a laser gun on Batman! Keep an eye on that one.

There was plenty to see and buy at Comic Con. I’ll spare you my grainy celebrity photos—Norman Reedus (Daryl from The Walking Dead), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Dean Cain, William Shatner and Patrick Stewart were all there among others.

We did not buy these. Not even close… I swear.

Although I briefly considered this one.

Reading Terminal Market

For lunch we crossed the street from the Philadelphia Convention Center to Reading Terminal Market. Opened in 1892 beneath the Reading Railroad train shed, the market was once hailed as the “greatest food market in the world.” Today it houses around 80 independently owned small businesses offering a wide variety of local and imported fresh foods, groceries and prepared meals representing many cuisines.

We chose to eat at Dinic’s.

Dinic’s is famous for its beefand its pork

They know how to carve it up.

You can choose grilled peppers or greens (spinach or broccoli rabe). We asked for ours without the bun and added a side of broccoli rabe. If you remember, we’re big fans of that leafy green.

We also noticed several vendors of interest, including one with an extensive selection of jerky.

In the 1980s many Amish merchants joined the market, and several remain today. One stall featured a wide range of canned goods and pickled vegetables.

You’ll also find excellent fresh fish, cheeses, and farm produce.

We discovered a very impressive Italian salumeria and loved the variety it offered.

We couldn’t resist trying world-famous ice cream from Bassetts. The boys convinced me to have a generous two-scoop serving of Dark Chocolate and Rum Raisin — rich and creamy, just as promised.

After lunch we returned to Comic Con to browse action figures and comics and to take more photos. My persistent quest to photograph handsome Supermen paid off: G snapped a picture of me with a few men of steel.

Thanks for reading and indulging our comic fan enthusiasm. If you find yourself in Philadelphia, give Reading Terminal Market a try — it offers plenty of solid options for those following a paleo or primal approach to eating.