Harrisburg, PA 56°F
It was the last soccer game of a long season, lengthened by the unpredictable fall weather. Mercifully the November sun shone bright and warmed the still-grassy field to a comfortable 50 degrees. In the last three minutes, our team tied the game for an exciting end, and we left the soccer fields around lunchtime, looking for a bite to eat and a little shopping.
The game was in Susquehanna Township, so on the way back home we decided to stop at the Historic Harrisburg Association for their book fair. It is right across the street from the Broad Street Market where we planned to eat lunch. I have been to the Broad Street Market many times, but I had never been in the Historic Harrisburg Building. It is located in a former bank, and the old trappings still remain. The old vaults, counters, gates, clocks and counters are there, but the place was filled with people and books. Alot of books. At very reasonable prices. An attendant said that most had been donated. My daughter, mother-in-law and I entered the packed aisles to peruse books while listening to one of my favorite bluegrass bands Tuckahoe Ridge play their special style of music. They were wedged between the stacks of and the bank vault. 
I secretly wished I could go in the vault and view the antique safety deposit boxes, where customers of long ago must have stored their most secret valuables, jewelry and cash,
.
.......but it was blocked off. I marveled over the old fixtures and they reminded me of banks which still remained when I was a child, which were purposely and shamelessly grandiose, with three story high ceilings and floors and counters that were covered with marble. The building was erected long before drive-through windows and ATM's. There were old dusty booths resembling confessionals which were used for privately examining the concealed contents of the safety deposit boxes, an old water fountain from the 50's and a clock high up on the wall next to windows which reminded me of a train station. I swung open a brass gate and slipped behind the old counter, and felt like I was exploring the forbidden. Back there against the wall, I found the cook book section.
After a slow start, I found the following cook books:
Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvers, published in 
1986. I couldn't resist buying this book when I saw a younger,thinner fresh looking Martha Stewart in a bright yellow dress with long perfectly coiffed 80's hair. I am not a huge Martha Stewart Fan, but the 80's cheesiness and colorful photography (I always love good pictures in my cookbooks) roped me in. The recipes look some what over the top 80's but should be an entertaining read.
Pillsbury Dough Magic Cookbook from 2003. Again, great pictures, simple recipes, not the most gourmet of books but the cheap price and colorful pictures roped me in! Thought I should just give it a try! There might be some good "semi-homemade" recipes in there! Plus I love pastry, even the pre-prepared kind.
The Molly Goldberg Jewish Cookbook. Originally published 1955 and reissued in 1995. My daughter spied this one and it looks like a good find. An honest to goodness Jewish cookbook. We always love Jewish home-cooked recipes. Hoping to find some good chopped liver and kreplach recipies.
Eating my Words, by Mimi Sheraton. 1969. One of America's best known restaurant critics speaks on her favorite subject, food. I love autobiographies, andpersonal account non-fiction books so I thought this one would be interesting.
All this, an Edgar Allen Poe book, two books for my dad, and some sheet music books for only $14.50!!!!
Well, I never got to check out the safety deposit boxes, but it appears like I found my own treasures at the bank!
The book fair continues on through Sunday, November 13th.
To find out more about the Historic Harrisburg Association, click here:
http:// http://historicharrisburg.com/
-OR- Email & Password
