Andy wrote:
> Stan & Andy's Excellent Sunday Brunch
>
> Stan and I met up again for brunch at the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant
> in Philadelphia this past Sunday, at his invite!
>
> It was typical American cuisine, but it was the best brunch I've ever
> attended in service, quality, decor and cuisine. We both gave constant nods
> to the beautiful women in abundance in every direction. How could we not?!!
>
> It's a working brewery and beautiful decor and almost countless rooms to
> consume the public with their brews and food, indoors and out. Sunday
> brunch afforded us free jazz entertainment!
>
> The brunch spread, to make my life easier, is, indescribably complete!


I have been there but never had the food. I met a old friend there maybe
two years ago and we had a couple beers.

>
> After brunch, we walked around the brewery and found a small boat pier
> right below the brewery, so if you had the ways and means you could moor
> there for beers and grub. We made note of that but I think we are still
> both committed to the cement slab, FOR NOW!!!
>
> Manayunk is a quaint, expensive, cramped, hilly town just outside Philly
> that is replete with food and fashion and boutique, while reserving a quiet
> charm unlike anywhere I've ever seen in or around Philadelphia.
>
> It also claims "The Wall," a stretch of the annual pro bicycling
> championship races, that climbs a super steep grade for a couple hundred
> feet that would probably challenge an average walker to just arrive at the
> top after a leisurly length of time!
>
> There's a Canal trail that skirts the river and a short canal, open to
> walkers, joggers and cyclists that Stan and I walked. I quickly grew a 6th
> sense of "am I in the way of cyclists behind me," as Stan and I tended to
> hog the path. We were (finger) "HUSHED" as we walked behind a film crew on
> the trail that was filming something. I was tempted to yell "CUT!!!" but
> refrained.
>
> Stan captured lots of pictures of the small bridges along the trail that
> spanned land--island-river at various points. I got a couple but he was
> more diligent and had a better camera!
>
> The funny part of the canal trail is that it actually stretches for miles
> from Valley Forge into Philadelphia but for the short Manayunk stretch, the
> return walk back to the brewery was a sign (at a street crossing):
>
> The Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant
> Canal Trail
>
> Leading the public (or ME at least) to believe that the trail ended there!


The trail does end a little north of the brewery. That is a nice trail
system and a nice ride. The trail system is called the "Schuylkill River
Trail". The section there is the canal tow path which is incorporated
into the trail. To go further south you ride on Main St and then pick up
Kelly Drive just below Wissahickon Creek. Then you ride on Kelly Drive
past the boat houses and the art museum. We have ridden that trail a
number of times starting out in Norristown and then into center city and
then back up through Valley Forge and then the Perkiomen trail to
Graterford and back to Norristown.

>
> Stan again shared his expert "local knowledge" of the area and history and
> we chatted up about friends and family and such while STUFFING OUR BELLIES
> and stuff!
>
> Stan, if I haven't said so, is my favorite Philly BUM!!!
>
> Funny, we didn't have a Sunday Brunch Beer!!!
>
> Best,
>
> Andy