A Big Chuck Tradition Enters Its 18th Year!
This year marks the 18th year of my Brothers Trip.
Let me explain.
As many of my long time listeners know, each year my two brothers and I get together for a long weekend in a different city in the U.S. Just to get caught up. Brother Bob lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Brother Jim lives in Houston. I have 5 sisters. They do not attend the Brothers Trip!
Each year we pick a city and try and see and do it all. We look forward to seeing each other on these trips and the cities and our experiences have been amazing. In fact, after telling so many people about these trips, others have told us that they themselves organize brothers (and sisters) trips with faraway siblings to re-connect. That is a good thing.
We do a pub crawl, try and take a bite out of the culture available in each city and always tag into some sports action and some live music. Because we split the hotel room for the 3-day weekend three ways, we can always afford to get the nicest room in the city at the best location.
Some cities have been hit or miss. Some great. Some not so great. Our first city was Kansas City some 18 years ago. It was beautiful ("City of Fountains") and we had some of the best barbecue the U.S. has to offer. Milwaukee was a BIG favorite. Urban, ethnic, small mid-West city with plenty to offer. Loved it and it is always in our Top 3 lists. Charlotte...thumbs down. I don't know why exactly. The city was dead, nothing inspired us and we found ourselves actually going back to the pubs and restaurants we had already visited once that weekend ( a big Brothers Trip no-no). Louisville was also one we think we will never return too.
Pittsburgh was fantastic, Cleveland was great and we spent a good deal of time at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Washington earned a second visit one year because there was so much to do and see there. Baltimore was fun, especially when we started to get away from the touristy Harbor area. Raleigh was blah (see Charlotte). Chicago and New York City were both fantastic and we will go back to each, I am sure.
So what was our favorite city of the 18? NASHVILLE (2006)! We went right from the plane to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Music Row where we met and had a beer with country singer Aaron Tippin! How is that for a Nashville "howdy!" The three of us are all counting the day when we go back to Nashville.
So what about Brothers Trip 2014? We are making our second trip to Philadelphia this Friday. We came here a decade ago in 1994. We will get in a bunch of live music, have at least one Philly cheesesteak, do a pub crawl along South Street and catch the 76ers in action Saturday night. I can't wait.
Maybe you have a long lost sibling somewhere, or two or three. Why don't you reconnect with them like Jim, Bob and I do. It is one of the most highly anticipated weekends of the year for us.
And oh...the stories!!!
And by the way, here is my light reading on the plane from Albany to Philadelphia this Friday morning:
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