Jack’s Firehouse, Philadelphia, PA

Located in the Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, and set in a 19th century firehouse, Jack’s Firehouse is definitely worth a visit!  Jack’s Firehouse is located directly across from Eastern State Penitentiary on Fairmount Avenue.

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Margarita

Even though we sat at the dog-friendly outdoor seating area, Brian and I each took a moment to explore the inside of this unique establishment. Most of the original mahogany interior, wooden plank flooring, and yes, even the brass fire pole are still intact!  There is also a racing shell suspended over top the bar.

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What great history this place has! The fire company that originally occupied Jack’s was Truck A, now referred to as Ladder Company 1 and located on Parish Street in Philadelphia. Truck A was the first paid Philadelphia Fire Department in 1871.

We enjoyed a glass of wine and ordered the Calamari with Hot Pepper Chips, Carrots, and Hot Lava – and it was absolutely amazing! We enjoyed being able to take in the historic, yet sometimes eerie views of Eastern State Penitentiary.

Cello visited here on April 27, 2014.

Margarita visited here on August 19, 2019.

Adair Vineyards: New Paltz, NY

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The wineries along the Shawangunk Wine Trail just keep getting cooler!

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Adair Vineyards, located in New Paltz, New York,  is housed in a 200+ year old barn, once occupied by cows and horses.

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The winery has a stream running by with the Shawangunk Mountains in the background.

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The winery also supports several animal related charities including:

  • Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary:  a no-kill animal rescue, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, This organization’s mission is to improve the lives of companion animals everywhere by any means possible, including rescue, adoption, advocacy, collaboration, intervention and education.
  • The Sato Project: dedicated to rescuing abandoned & abused dogs from Puerto Rico. They have rescued and rehabilitated over 1,200 dogs, and are working towards systemic change through education and partnerships on the Island.

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The tasting room and gift shop are located in the loft of the barn and the wine making area is below – and dogs are allowed inside!

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We decided to do a wine tasting here, as this winery had many interesting wines to choose from! unnamed (96)

The loft of the barn – the tasting room – was really neat!

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This winery was truly a unique experience!