Continental Kitchen Drama

During a recent round of Philadelphia urban wandering I found myself on the corner of 2nd and Market. I raised my digital camera above my head and stretched to take this picture of the guts of the Continental's kitchen. I couldn't see in without lifting the camera because the window was too high. My new camera has that cool little digital screen- I looked at that and it sort of felt like a periscope. It's a pretty good shot. It's a pretty good restaurant, a little pricedy and affected, but considered very nice. I've had Martinis there, had the wasabi mashed potatoes there, taken illicit pictures of the kitchen there.

Honestly, I didn't think anything of taking the picture. I really do like to look into professional kitchens- it's the same reason I like to watch cokking shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef. Beauty in funtion- maybe? But do I really have to explain myself. Well, right after I took this photo, I did.

As soon as I snap the pic (no flash) two guys in suits get out of a freshly parked towncar on Market Street. One, obviously younger with curly blonde hair, walks right up to me and asks me what I'm doing? Now, I have taken many photos in my capacity as a reporter and been aggressively challenged on a lot them. I instantly transformed into that mode, not to be defensive rather because I knew I was doing nothing wrong (taking photos from a public space into a private may be considered shady but it is legal, besides, my motive was pure).

So I answered honestly: taking pictures, what are you doing? Curly hair ignored me and asked why I was taking pictures and I answered, because it's fun. He asked again why I was taking pictures of HIS restuarant. I thought that was strange because he wasn't Stephen Starr (the real owner who is sort of a celebrity restauranteur in Philly with a chain of good but affected joints) so maybe he was the general manager or something. The second suit came over, obviously the lawyer, and I relaxed a little because there was no way they would attempt to grab my camera. I could just tell they wouldn't cross that line.

So me, curly and lawyer started discussing why I taking a picture of their kitchen. I kept telling them I took the picture because it I thought it looked cool. I also took pics of their sign because I think it looks cool. They kept telling me it was a really odd thing to do. They wouldn't drop it so I decided to try and take another shot of the kitchen. This time it flashed, which upset me because I didn't want to bother the guys on the line. And I said to curly and lawyer that now I was so curious why they didn't want me to see inside their kitchen.

I walked away feeling both proud and like a big jerk. But here are the pics including a Continental's cool sign.