Something of a new "tradition" in my family has transpired over the last few years. Since my daughter's birthday is so soon after Christmas, one of my sisters buys tickets for "Disney on Ice" as her birthday gift which plays around the holidays in Philadelphia. She, my other sister, and sometimes my mom, take the little one to the show either before or after meeting up with the rest of the crew (me, dad, brothers-in-law, etc.). This year, they picked her up early and took her to brunch at the Oregon Diner before the matinee.

Since we are all hooking up in or near Center City, we make it our day to take the annual pilgrimage to Lord & Taylor (formerly Wanamaker's) to see the famous Light Show. Then, we re-assemble at my middle sister's 200-plus year-old "trinity" home (a traditional rowhouse style with living space on three levels) on the edge of South Philly before making our way to a big, boisterous, family dinner at Marra's on Passyunk Avenue.

(NB: If you click the links to the Oregon Diner or Marra's reviews, you'll get a chuckle courtesy of one of my middle sister's best buddies, Lauren, a fellow restaurant reviewer.)

I need to locate some other VERY amusing South Philly photos we shot that night (thanks to digtal cameras and a little chianti) but here are some pics of the sisters and me convening at Marra's, right before the escarole soup arrived.