About the Author - LOVE THE PALMER

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Los Angeles • Philadelphia • New York, CA • PA • NY, United States
This blog is written by Palmer Enfield. Palmer is a producer-director and the founder of RedMaiden (www.redmaiden.tv), a branded content, boutique creative company. As a director, her forte is slice of life storytelling and visual imagery. Like RedMaiden, she is a warrior in her own right--a two time cancer survivor (Hodgkins Lymphoma & Breast Cancer) her strength has been forged in life or death battles. Palmer’s personal experience adds a unique weight and substance that is reflected in her work where her willingness to expose and share her own story helps people give voice to their own personal human drama. Out of this comes Palmer’s natural sense of dialogue and performance and her ability to capture spontaneity through great casting choices and direction. Palmer’s directing style is emotional, visual storytelling, dialogue and kids with a touch of subtle, dry humor. Her growing body of work naturally attracts pharmaceutical and healthcare related projects as well as many others. Palmer believes strongly that mentoring and sharing information is essential to the growth of a creative economy. This blog was born out of that belief. Contact Palmer at palmer@redmaiden.tv

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Cheap Rides Outta Town

Need to expand your networking beyond Philly? Thinking NYC or DC? Now you can go press the flesh with creatives at the Adholes cocktail hour in NYC or to the WIF job fair in DC?

Let's look at the options:

Yes, you can drive your car. Gas is cheaper than it was but it'll take you at least 2+ hours just to get yourself to the tunnel where you'll sit for another 30 minutes just to land in midtown. You'll pay tolls up and back on the NJ Turnpike and another $6 bucks to get through the Lincoln Tunnel into NYC (fortunately it's free to leave-lol) and then there's parking which you'll be lucky if that only sets you back $30 bucks (and you could easily spend much more). Oh, and gas which is currently averaging around $1.75/gal. When all is said and done it's a pricey trip.

You could take Amtrak. Amtrak's a good ride but will cost you an arm and a leg starting at around $45 bucks at the cheapest for a one way ride. More if you take the high speed Acela. And you'll pay $17 bucks to park your car in the garage. It is however, the fastest way to get there and probably the most comfortable. However, no WiFi and if you train back to Philly after 10pm - no cafe car (a sobering experience, let's say).

www.amtrak.com

Then  there is the local train option - for around $20 bucks each way you can take Septa to Trenton, change trains to the NJ Transit and get to NYC that way. You'll ride with the hoi polloi on seats that have seen better days and you guessed it, no cafe car-ever! And if you take it during commuter hours, be prepared to stand the entire way.

And now the good news - you've got some other options these days: The Bolt Bus and the Chinatown Bus. 

My personal favorite is the Bolt which leaves from both down town Philly and from the Cherry Hill Mall. The mall departure point is especially good for us southern NJ suburbanites and unlike China Town, there is loads of free parking. The Bolt bus is brand new, comfortable, has free WiFi so you can work or surf or Facebook while you ride and you can order tickets and guarantee your seat online. Seats are guaranteed as long as you show up 15 minutes prior to departure. Fail to do that and your seat could be sold to another passenger.

www.boltbus.com

The China Town bus has been an option for a while. You may have heard a few hipsters and PA's mention it. I've never taken it yet myself and understand that while it's the cheapest option it can also be reminiscent of Toad's wild ride (that's a reference from the children's book "Wind in the Willows" for those of you who didn't get it.). The drivers drive fast and there have been accidents. Would you expect anything else? After all, "it's Chinatown." 

www.chinatown-bus.com

In any case, all options will get you outta Dodge and given that Philly is only a market made even more stale in this rancid economy, why stay a second longer where you aren't wanted or needed? Strike out and bring back some work. You'll be a hero and your inert friends and colleagues will love you for your adventurous spirit. 

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