One Fine Philly

Reflections on 40 - Am I Really Green?

2010-05-02T12:19:00.004-04:00

For the May blogging blitz, I have decided to write about life at 40. Mid-life crisis monologues, perhaps.

On Norris Avenue in Kensington, I have seen plaques pop up encouraging people to abandon their cars and walk, bike or use public transportation instead. WALK, BIKE, RIDE, the messages implore. Flat on the sidewalk. They are preaching to the converted, I think, as only a pedestrian could see them. I'm disappointed that there is no website posted because I want to write and say, "I'm one of you. Please put me on your mailing list and invite me to your parties. I'm single and looking, by the way."

I have not owned a car since 1992 and have used my feet, bikes, buses and subways ever since. I don't miss using a car, in fact, I let my driver's license lapse.

Okay, I guess I should be glad that I am not polluting the air. But I feel like an accidental activist in this area. I simply don't like cars.

But truly this isn't a political choice, it's a personal one. I don't feel like I have surrendered a luxury, I feel like I escaped a commodity I have no use for. I don't think I'm noble, I feel eccentric.

May Day -- Blogging The Month

2010-05-02T00:40:00.003-04:00

Today, I

saw my ex-in-laws for the first time since I left my ex, at my son's birthday party, and everyone was very kind.
reunited with an old friend, after some angry or imprudent words many months ago had caused a rift.
showed my solidly suburban parents my new South Philly home, without anyone having a panic attack.
celebrated my glorious son's 6th birthday, with a bunch of his friends, a bunch of friends of mine and his father's, and a cake I baked for him.

It's been a good day. Also a very full one, so I think it's okay (I give myself a pass) that I didn't get my first May Blogging Challenge blog entry in until after midnight. Tomorrow: I'll try for photos, I promise!

Money Pit Sweet Money Pit

2010-04-22T15:52:00.003-04:00

I have been a proud new (to me) homeowner for a full week now. I plan to move in officially in mid-May, so that gives me about 3 weeks to get it move-in-able. Here are the associated costs:

$1000 for drywall (professionally installed), to get my son's room in good shape
$2500 for plumbing, because the main sewer line needs to be replaced
$1200 or so for a new fridge and range, assuming I can get a good deal
$??? for electrical work
$300 to fix a badly installed window
$1200 to sealcoat the stucco in the back
$500 to seal the roof
$??? for bars on the basement windows
$500 or so for paint

I'm sure there are a few other expenses I haven't considered, but these are the ones I know about. So if you happen to know of any contractors who do pro bono work for poor non-profit employees, let me know!

Stay tuned for renovation reports. For now, I'm just going to sort through my stuff to see if I can sell anything.

Shameless Plug -- Exile's SHINING CITY

2010-04-16T13:28:00.005-04:00

In case you haven't heard, Theatre Exile's production of Conor McPherson's Shining City is FABULOUS. I could go on about all the glowing things reviewers have been saying, or about all the emails I've been getting from patrons who loved the show. I could tell you how the cast, director, and designers came together to create a seamless, eloquent, and heart-wrenchingly honest evening of theatre. I could, because I've done all these things through other venues -- I work for Exile, so it's my job.

Rather than repeat myself, I'll just urge you to come see the show before it closes on the 25th. You won't be disappointed. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 215-218-4022.

Weekend Happenings

2010-04-15T22:03:00.007-04:00

In the spirit of spring and a renewal of posting, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be attending the Free Library Festival this weekend, April 17 and 18. (You should go too--tell your friends!)

Although the festival launched in 2007, and I'm usually a proponent of this sort of thing, I have yet to attend. According to the library's website, the event is "an annual 2-day celebration of books, music, people, and ideas." Hosted by Philadelphia's Central Library on the Parkway, the festival is a free public event that draws 25,000-35,000 booklovers from across the mid-Atlantic region. "Highlights include appearances by celebrity authors, engaging children’s programs, live music and other performances, plus a Street Fair & Literary Marketplace featuring numerous literary exhibitors—including publishers, booksellers, independent authors, and cultural organizations."

I'm not yet sure which events I'll be able to hit, but here are a few of my favorites:

And that's just a taste of what's going on Saturday. Many more on Sunday (including an event with Sapphire, the author of Push, the novel for which the movie Precious was based).

Other noteworthy going ons this weekend: I'm getting my first tattoo!

Winter is over, spring is here ...

2010-04-12T17:36:00.004-04:00

It would seem that with Winter, came Commitments -- of the sort that prevent one from sitting in front of a computer and reflecting. Pop Culture Casualty had a baby, for heaven's sake! And the rest of us ... well, one thing or another. I know for myself, though, I've found myself wanting to return to OFP and muse, and ask questions, and make random assertions about the things going on in my life. So, welcome back, dear readers! Are any of you left?

This has been a VERY busy season for me. After spending the past decade either completely immersed in academia, or mostly immersed in child-rearing and attempting to be immersed in academia, my new work life (marketing and devo for a theatre company) is a sea change. As is, of course, living on my own, having been in my previous relationship for 13 years. I feel like I'm becoming an adult, finally, at 37.

To speed this process, I appear to be buying a house. All on my own, on my I-made-more-my-first-year-out-of-college salary. It's not the house of my dreams, and it's not in a sweet neighborhood, and I won't even have the money to do a budget makeover, at least for a while. (Avocado range and late 80s-era fridge, anyone?) However, it's six blocks away from my office, 2 1/2 blocks away from the Broad Street line, and a world away from me having to depend on anyone but myself.

Closing date is Thursday, April 15th, if all goes well. I have to be out of my apartment by June 1st, giving me a month and a half to do some work on the place before I move in. If I'm lucky, and my friends are generous (which they are), I should at least have everything fixed that needs to be. And after we move in, I'm thinking of sharing the place with a new friend:

If this cutie isn't still at the shelter, I'll see about one of her fellow orphans. I may be a grown-up, but I like sloppy dog kisses just as much as my six-year-old.

Life Without Computer

2009-11-07T12:13:00.003-05:00

The details are not important, but the punchline is. I have no computer. And life without computer is dramatic, but familiar. Retro. I have a radio and some art supplies to pass the time. And I pay close attention to paper- I read everything that crosses my path. At every coffee shop, I load up on colorful flyers and marvel at their artistry. Thick paper, glossy designs, and clever photographs. I take them home to absorb their information and then cut up for artist materials.

Life without computer is fine. I pay $1.65 at my local cafe for a cup of caffeine & then I get 20 minutes of computer time. The library is more generous. For free I get 20 minutes, but I get automatic re-ups if there is no line. Yesterday, I spent an hour on the computer. But frankly, it wasn't necessary or productive.

So here with an extra 5 minutes to spare, I thought I'd blog. Ironic that I am posting something online, I don't have time to edit or reflect on. But life without computer is just fine.

(No photo with this post. I don't have permission to download pics.)

Fall Fun

2009-10-17T10:03:00.008-04:00

There were so many fun fall things scheduled for this weekend--friends going to a corn maze and apple picking, free Mural Arts tours, Clark Park Flea Market, zine fair at Little Berlin--I was going to have to pick and choose. However, the weather had something different in mind for this fall Saturday.

Definitely too cold and rainy for outdoor fall funning, the dreary cold is fine for BYOTY (Bring Your Own Table...Yo?), I'm not sure what that last Y stands for...Yourself? The Little Berlin gallery space in Kennsington (119 W. Montgomery St.) is hosting a one-day zine fair this afternoon. Tables have been sold out for weeks, so it's sure to be a nice representative of artists. The event is 12 noon - 6 pm today. Admission is free and home-brewed beer is a $5 donation. I'm going to try to get there early to have my pick of favorites. Check it out with me!

The rest will have to wait until next weekend. As an end to their 25th anniversary year, Mural Arts was planning a public celebration (Muralissimo!) at the Piazza in Northern Liberties today. However, due to the weather it has been rescheduled for next Saturday, October 24. I've been wanting to do one of the Mural Arts tours, and for those that know me, I'm a sucker for things that are free.

Fall is my most favorite time of year, and I feel as if I've missed it entirely. The weather acting like winter isn't helping. Maybe next week the sun will be out, and I'll have a chance to get lost in a corn maze, pick some pumpkins and see some murals. For now I'm going to have to settle for indoor activities and maybe a hot apple cider.

Breaking News: Arrests Today at Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia

2009-09-29T12:43:00.008-04:00

Today at 6 am about 50 protesters assembled at the intersection of Frankford Avenue and Columbus Boulevard, which is the site of the approved Sugar House Casino. The protest was organized by Casino Free Philadelphia, which is a coalition of Philadelphia citizens opposed to the building of casinos in Philadelphia.

Protestors argued that the construction of this casino, which is located in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, will create more economic and social losses for Philly citizens/taxpayers than benefits. They cite a study conducted by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority. For a brief summary of that report, click here. At the action, this morning 15 people blocked the construction site gate by linking arms. Nearby, there was a rally of about 40 people.

Fourteen people were arrested at 6:45 am this morning, including 3 clergy. As of 1 pm today, they are still being held. Casino Free Philadelphia has reported there is no word about their status.

For more information on this breaking story, here are some of the stories that have been released from Casino Free Philadelphia and the media:

Casino Free Philadelphia photographs of protest.

Fox news video of the arrests.

There are many more stories out there. Feel free to post links in the comments section of this blog post.

The Real Estate Blog

2009-09-18T23:30:00.003-04:00

It seems all of us (or at least most of us) here at One Fine Philly have recently relocated or will soon. I'm jumping into the fray -- my lease isn't up until end of December, but there are a lot more properties on the market now than there will be over the Xmas-New Year's holiday. And who really wants to move New Year's Day? I plan to cultivate quite a hangover, and I wouldn't want relocation plans interfering.

Anyway, I was looking in the South of Federal, East of Broad area. Italian Market, Bella Vista, call it what you will -- it's where I work (!Employment = Yay!) and it's convenient to public transportation. But the neighborhood is apparently a little to up-and-came, and I need more up-and-coming, financially speaking. With a job in arts, it simply isn't wise to have rent exceed 3 weeks' pay. Although I do like pasta ... and cereal. My beer tastes are a bit more refined, though, so I can't exactly spend ALL my money on rent.

A dear friend lives in Point Breeze, and I've admired her house the whole time I've known her. Gorgeously rehabbed, on a fairly quiet side street, with a deluxe kitchen, back yard, finished basement, central air, and laundry room ... it's a dream! Point Breeze has a bad rap as a drug drop zone -- apparently, the mafia would drop the drugs right on Point Breeze Ave. and the dealers would head up and down that street, delivering to the north and south. Fun! But when I've visited at night, I've met with friendly older generations sitting on their front steps, watching as children play and talking quietly. I've been introduced to at least six new neighbors in two visits. And more importantly, I've been able to imagine Luke playing in the nearby park, riding his bike down the side streets, and playing with kids his age.

So when a house that was EXACTLY like my friend's, rehabbed by the same owner, became available, I jumped! Unfortunately, I should have jumped a couple of weeks earlier -- someone had put a deposit down right before me, but because of a mix-up I thought for a day and a half that I had the place. Talk about letdown! I consoled myself with the distance from the Broad Street line and the necessity of cabs late at night. Still, it felt like a blow -- I had started thinking about where my furniture would go, what colors to paint the walls ... the works.

Just tonight I found another house in the neighborhood. Different owner this time, but SAME BLOCK as my friend, on her sweet side street. Not quite as nice a rehab, but still very nice ... and somewhat cheaper rent, which is all good! I refuse to get my hopes up as high as they were, but I still find myself thinking ...

could this be home?

Maybe this is all too intimate to be interesting, dear readers. But I do know this: we all feel the pull of a place that's more than just where we keep our stuff. A place we can curl up and feel comfort. A place to bring friends, a place to bring family. A place that wraps us in its arms at the end of a rough day, where we can say, "it's good to be home."

I'm hoping that by the New Year, I'll be home.

Breaking Library News

2009-09-17T22:43:00.004-04:00

Plan C averted. Read about it here.
Exhale.

Philadelphia libraries are safe.
At least for now...

Non-Fringe Philly events (9/17-9/19)

2009-09-17T12:58:00.011-04:00

Briefly interrupting talk of Philadelphia's budget crisis for a handful of nearly free events the rest of this week:

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Artist's Reception. 4:30 - 7:30PM. 1622 Chestnut Street, Art Institute of Philadelphia. "Photographer Daniel Traub left his native Philadelphia for Beijing in 1999 and until 2008 photographed the city and its people through an extraordinary decade of change. These stunning large-format images, under the title Beijing, will displayed for the first time in the United States" (details)

Friday, September 18th, 2009

7th annual Bike Part Art Show. 7:00 - 10:00PM. Studio 34 in West Philly. "fun and functional work inspired by and made from bikes...live music, food, drink, a raffle (win a Fuji track bike!)" $5 suggested donation. (details)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Clark Park Music and Arts Festival. 12:00PM - Sundown. Near 43rd & Chester in West Philly. (details)

Credit: Creative Commons photo by pwbaker

Live Taping at Indpendence Hall

2009-09-16T09:24:00.004-04:00

Taking a break from the dire seriousness of our state's budget crisis, I'd like to share a celebrity sighting. Well, it's a celebrity sighting if you consider Dr. Phil a celebrity.

According to sources in the area, Dr. Phil's show is taping across the street from Independence Hall as I type. He is currently interviewing Govenor Rendell and they're talking about Michael Vick. Perhaps we should combine our concern for our libraries and community programs with our awe of celebrity and march down there right now for a rally!

Photo credit: Clem Murray /Staff Photographer for philly.com

Fury Between the Tears

2009-09-13T16:35:00.005-04:00

As a follow-up to this announcement, Carrel Dweller's outrage in the previous post, and Planet Caroline's comment with a deeper explanation for the causes of Philadelphia's budget probelms and need for Mayor Nutter's Plan C, I wanted to share some "next steps."

This is so crazy, it leaves me almost speechless. Almost. Follow this link and take action. We can't afford to be speechless on this one!

It's not Farhenheit 451, but it has the same effect. No access to information. No access to books.

If anyone hears about a march, protest or other ways to show how vital it is to keep our Free Library free and open to the public, please post about it here.

Major Metro area without a library?????

2009-09-11T23:31:00.002-04:00

I don't exactly know what to say about this, except that it took Facebook for me to be aware of this. I guess I should read more newspapers, in all my spare time.

I've been aware of the threatened cuts to arts funding. I've written my representatives, I've posted messages to friends. But this goes way beyond anything I could have imagined: the home of Ben Franklin without a public library.

No after school programs. No support for the public schools when kids need library access. No senior programs. No free public computer/internet access. No free BOOKS.

What do you think might happen in a city without library services? I guarantee, it will not be good.

So call your representatives. Write to them. Post on your blogs and facebook and twitter. I shudder to think what might happen if the Free Library of Philadelphia closes its doors.

http://www.freelibrary.org/

Thank you, and good night.

Philly events (special non-Fringe edition)

2009-09-10T14:38:00.008-04:00

Institute of Contemporary Arts' Fall Opening Reception

Thursday, September 10, 2009

6:00 - 8:00PM

"Join us for the opening of three new exhibitions:

Dance with Camera
Tim Rollins and K.O.S: A History
Video Art: Replay, Part 1 Asking Not Telling

Free and open to the public"

West Philadelphia Orchestra at Tritone

Thursday, September 10, 2009

9:30PM

"As much a community as a band, WPO's live- show always feels like a celebratory event, even in a concert setting. With their pounding drums and shimmering brass sounds, they inspire audiences to hold hands, dance, and sing along. "

Fashion Night Out at KoP Mall

Friday, September 11, 2009

6:00 - 11:00PM

"Join us for this worldwide celebration of style when the mall will stay open until 11PM, and where you'll get a peek at hot fall fashions worn by roving models, taste delicious treats from our fabulous restaurants and live it up at shop till you drop festivities... on-site spa demos you can do at home and a Tokyo Eyelash Bar, where you can try false eyelashes (from the plain Jane version to...)"

Secret Cinema at ESP

Friday, September 11, 2009

8:00PM, 7:00PM doors open

"Pardon Us, the prison-themed (naturally!) first feature-length film to star beloved comedy duo Laurel & Hardy."

White Dog Cafe Block Party

Friday, September 11, 2009

6:00PM - 12:00AM

"Dance of the Ripe Tomatoes. A celebration of Sustainable and Humane Farming
benefiting the Philadelphia Fair Food Project"
"Admission for live music after 9pm is FREE!"

Credit: Creative Commons photo by richard winchell

Norris Square - a neighborhood to love

2009-09-10T09:20:00.005-04:00

Hey folks...I reported earlier that I was moving to Fishtown. And I have found a gigantic apartment that I love. It is the first floor of a building, which means I have plenty of space - my own basement, a large private backyard and a living room that is so huge, that I can divide it into two spaces.

I'm so geeked, but people have informed me that my place near 2nd and Berks is definitely not Fishtown. And they are right - thanks to my friend who did some googling, he has discovered that I live in West Kensington. More specifically, I live in the heart of Norris Square.

Norris Square is bounded by Berks at the South, Allegheny on the North, 5th Street to the West and Front Street to the East. Norris Square Park is in the middle of the neighborhood.

The Berks el stop is right there and I've seen quite a few buses in the area so transit shouldn't be a problem. I even timed the walk from work, if I'm ever so inclined to skip the el, and it took me a doable 65 minutes.

But I won't lie to you. There is blight in the neighborhood, few services, and likely I'll be grocery shopping at Reading Terminal Market near where I work rather in my community. And the abandoned factories and warehouses demonstrate that this once vibrant area has suffered many economic losses.

But I used to be a community organizer and I know that if I want to beautify my neighborhood, I have the power to do that if I work with people. I plan to join the neighborhood association, visit the many local improvement iniatives (such as the youth center & the low-income housing programs), and I hear there is a women's organization dedicated to the neighborhood. Also, I will frequent the small businesses in my neighborhood - the pizza shop, the lounge, and the beauty shop across the street.

The move is in October and I am already feeling at home.

I did it!

2009-08-31T22:54:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow is September 1. That means today is the final day of the August blogger challenge, and I met the challenge. I blogged something (quality of varying degrees) every single day this month.

I'm actually quite proud of this accomplishment--I've never tried anything like it before. I had a rough spot there in the middle of the month where I had some writers block and it got so damn hot, the last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of the computer. Still, I pushed through and the pressure of having readers made me feel motivated to at least post something. (I can be a perfectionist at times.)

As a new contributer to the blog, I think this was a really good exercise for me. It made me write every day and feel as if it was okay to make posts that weren't necessarily revised and "publishable." It made me a little more carefree and willing to just commit to an idea and run with it.

I'd definitely do it again, but I can also pretty much guarantee I won't be posting tomorrow. And although I think the idea is intriguing, I don't think I'll be doing NaNoWriMo anytime soon.

Hugo's Birthday

2009-08-30T22:33:00.007-04:00

Today is the one-year anniversary of the day we brought our dog Hugo home from the shelter. In his honor we had a few people over today to celebrate what we deemed as "Hugo's 5th birthday." Okay, maybe it was more of a housewarming party and we just used Hugo as an excuse, but there was definitely canine treats and a dog-shapped cake involved.

For someone who never had dogs or cats growing up and at one point would have been described as a "non-pet person," my first year as a Doggie Mom has been one of learning. Everyone had always told me about the awesome bond between a dog and its owner, but I don't think I ever quite understood how much I would grow to love that damn dog.

Tim and I had been talking about getting a dog for years. He's wanted one since I met him, and I really warmed to the idea and was excited about it too. It was over three years ago that we got our first dog book and started to decipher the recommendations for which breeds would be the best fit for us. When we were looking for a new apartment last summer, we knew we wanted an apartment that allowed pets. We found one and started searching Petfinder.com even before we had moved in. Fast-forward several weeks and we were on the real hunt for a dog. We read Cesar Millan's book and put his series The Dog Whisperer on our NetFlix. We were a little frustrated in the beginning because we found out a Petfinder dog that caught our eye had already been adopted once we arrived at the shelter (even after we called and they said he was still there). Then, we applied for a dog that was being fostered, and for reasons we will never know, we weren't chosen to be the new mom and dad. I can only assume urban-bias--perhaps they didn't think the dog should be in a city apartment with no yard. Hell, they let anyone have children. We just wanted to save a life, adopt a dog and live happily after.

Well, the last Wednesday in August Tim and I were in Rittenhouse Square Park for their "Concert in the Park" series and the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) was there with several volunteers and several pooches. We went over to say hello and immediately fell in love with one of the dogs. They told us he was a St. Bernard / collie mix (I think the collie part was just a guess)--he has the coloring and face of a St. Bernard without the size. After a nice long walk with the dog, a discussion with one of the volunteers, and a walk with another dog for good measure, we adopted him right there. They said he was about four years old, maybe a little older and a family surrender. Apparently, his old family gave him up because they couldn't afford to feed him. He was skinny and had hair loss on his lower back and tail due to malnutrition. They told us the hair would grow back, all we had to do was feed him. The shelter called him King, but said it hadn't been his name for long and we should feel free to change it. We did, and he's been our Hugo ever since.

I could go into detail about the kennel cough he had when we first adopted him and how it developed into pneumonia, his separation anxiety issues and Houdini-eque escape, our car trip to Florida and back last Christmas, but those are stories that will have to wait. It's been a long day. I have doggie treats and human food to put away. And, a dog to walk.

Happy Birthday, Hugo!

SEPTA survival tips

2009-08-30T16:05:00.006-04:00

The Southbound 47 bus gets uncomfortably packed because of the throngs of people waiting for it around 8th & Market. If you really need to take the Southbound 47 bus, consider walking North a couple blocks to catch the bus at Arch St. or even Race St (before the melee).
If at all possible, avoid taking the El during school-just-let-out time (2 to 3pm). Take the above-ground bus instead. My friend Mike grew up in N.E. Philly imparted this sage piece of advice on me. Fights are more likely to start in the mid-afternoon on the El because of the combination of freedom (out of school) and independence and hormones.
If you do board a crowded bus like the Southbound 47, try to sit or stand as close as possible to the rear door exit so that you can just pull the 'Stop requested' string and make your quick getaway. If you are stuck in no-man's land (between the two exits, you will have to fight you way out).
Do not take the Southbound 47 bus around 9:30PM - 11pm on a Friday or Saturday night unless you'd like to interact willingly or not with teams of rowdy teenagers.
Say hi to the bus driver. Some drivers will actually reciprocate and genuinely smile.
Never run for the bus unless you can make eye contact and wave down the driver. You're not going to catch the bus anyway.
If you do find yourself sitting around the rear door exit when it's crowded, be prepared to do the SEPTA two-step dance (to maneuver to let people get out the exit).
If you ever need a dose of hard reality, take the late night bus that substitutes for the Market-Franford El when it is not running. It's a sobering experience.
Shouldn't be said but just like the Soup Nazi - be ready with your tokens or pass before you board the bus.
If you buy a monthly SEPTA pass, write down the six-digit number. In case of loss or theft, you can call SEPTA and they will cancel the lost/stolen pass with the six-digit number (e.g. not swipable). Remember, depending on the zone, the SEPTA pass is worth around or over a hundred dollars - don't leave it unattended (despite what they say) - you wouldn't leave a hundred dollar bill out in the open would you?
If you are thinking of taking SEPTA to an unknown/unfamiliar place, use Google Maps Street View to get a sense of what the area is like. This also applies for biking around unfamiliar areas of the city. Goggle Maps Street View is revolutionary for planning urban trips.
As someone who relies on SEPTA nearly every work day, I appreciate SEPTA for the service they provide. Yes, sometimes buses (I'm talking about you, 33 from Art Museum) run on an obscure/late schedule or trains run late. But, SEPTA, is one of the *better* metropolitan public transportation systems.

Philly Arts Get Some Press

2009-08-29T20:31:00.006-04:00

Check out this "Art to Make You Laugh (and Cry)" article in The New York Times yesterday. It's about Philly's art scene, but mentions other aspects of the city as well. It's an interesting read.

Today is day 29 of the 31-day August blogger challenge. Only two more days of daily posts.

Photo: Fluxspace in Philadelphia taken by Steve Legato for The New York Times

Flower Boxes? Check.

2009-08-28T21:42:00.010-04:00

For those who have been following along at home, you'll remember that I've been wanting to get flowers for the window boxes at my new rental. Well, this week I found a bunch of discounted plants at Lowes. They were half-dead, but they were marked down to only one and two dollars. I swept up several figuring the low investment would curtail my disappointment if they all died in a matter of weeks.

I had no idea what I was doing, so I just started scooping in soil and placing plants and moving them around to spread out the varying heights and colors. Some of them still look pretty wilty, but I think today's rain helped. When viewed as a group, they look pretty snazy. Plus, while putting them together I got to overhear a very colorful argument between my neighbor across the street and her grown daughter. I'm planting roots, indeed.

Consumerism!

2009-08-27T22:22:00.005-04:00

Rarely is it that I see a commercial on television that literally makes my jaw drop. Tonight I saw a commercial for this:

It's paint that's supposed to eliminate household odors. After squeaking a high-pitched "What?" I sat starring at the tv with my mouth open. The paint also comes with a limited lifetime warranty. "Limited" and "lifetime" seem like a contradiction, but even so it's kind of nice to know there are still things that can surprise me. Do you think it actually works?

Confident and Poochy-Fine

2009-08-27T10:50:00.004-04:00

Thanks Caroline and Tallgirl. This actually started as a comment but I thought I'd post it...

Even women (and young girls!) who are in great shape lament and fuss when it comes bathing suit and bedroom time. It's heartbreaking to think that my 14 year old soccer playing, snowboarding, life guarding niece considers herself "fat" when she is actually healthy. Fashion magazines should take responsibility for what they are doing to the minds of beautiful women everywhere!

I LOVED the poochy belly photo from the start -- along with the confidence and joy in the model's face. It's stunning to imagine what a rise similar images might do to our collective sense of beauty and self-worth. One glance --one small glance --at that photo and I began to feel better about my own pooch and ample thighs. I agree with the model, who's name is Lizzi Miller, that it's not about fat or thin but about what is healthy and comfortable for each of us. TV, magazines and the media in general would do well to regularly celebrate the many sizes, shapes (and colors, don't get me started on that one) of the women they are attempting to represent. Glamour magazine Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive has said her publication has will make a commitment to change, lets hold them to it!

More Body Image and Swimsuits

2009-08-26T23:01:00.004-04:00

In response to Planet Caroline's post last week about body image and swimsuits, I was thinking about my own swim suit issues.

Three summers ago a couple of my now husband's female friends from high school came up from NYC to spend the weekend with us in Providence. We went to the beach and to Waterfire, and they spent their evenings looking at old yearbooks and reminiscing about the past. A few weeks later one of the friends posted photos from her trip on Flickr and linked to them from her blog. This normally would not have been a problem. However, some of the photos were of me. At the beach. In my bikini.

They were very unflattering photos, and they triggered what felt like an involuntary, biologic reaction. Knowing that her blog readers, many of whom I knew personally, were viewing them literally brought me to tears. Tim assured me they were fine, and said that if they really bothered me that much I should just ask her to take them down. I felt too embarrassed to have her remove the photos. I'm a confident woman. I should be comfortable in my own skin. My husband loves all my soft spots, why can't I?

Time went by, and I eventually forgot about the photos. Then just a few weeks ago, this friend posted the same group of beach photos on Facebook. She tagged me in the pictures, so I was notified immediately after they went up. I was at work when I saw them, and I had that same gut-wrenching reaction. This time though, I just couldn't take it. I un-tagged myself and asked her to remove one photo in particular. I just couldn't be crying over my poochy tummy at work. She responded promptly, was sweetly understanding and didn't make me feel bitchy or pathetic.

When I read Planet Caroline's post it reminded me of this story. Then, Monday morning on the Today show, Matt Lauer interviewed a "plus-size" model and an editor at Glamour magazine concerning a paticular photo that has been getting a lot of positive attention.

You can read the Glamour article here and see a young woman apparently confident revealing her body. Little belly roll and all.

Photo: Model Lizzi Miller photographed by Glamour magazine. Photo credit: Glamour.com

Friendship & Time

2009-08-25T23:33:00.005-04:00

I love unplanned visits with old friends. While I assume it wasn't unplanned for him, last Friday my friend Chris told me he was going to be in Philly this week for a conference. Chris is a friend from my college days in Southern Indiana, and he now lives with his wife in Austin, Texas.

Tonight I had the pleasure of bringing him along to the First Person Arts Story Slam (where Pop Culture Casualty served as the guest judge). I was thrilled to show him a window into my Philadelphia life.

Chris and I met during a semester in England, but since we went to the same school back in the States, we were easily able to remain friends upon our return. The following summer we shared a house with several other roommates. The White House, so called because it was the only non-white house on the block, was the first time I had lived on my own away from university housing. That summer, on my 21st birthday, Chris took the day off from work and cooked me a Vietnamese feast.

After graduation, I moved to Portland, Oregon and Chris went to Colorado to be an Americorps VISTA volunteer. We wrote each other real letters. Like Griffin & Sabine. Chris moved back home to Texas and then to NYC to attend Columbia for grad school. When I moved to Boston for my graduate program, Chris had already been living there for several months. Once again, we were in the same city.

Since then, I've moved to Providence and now Philly; Chris went back to NYC and has now made Austin his home. We don't see each other very often. I was a photographer at his wedding three years ago. He was the videographer at mine. I saw him in Austin when I was down there for a conference in February. He is in Philadelphia for a conference now. I love how there are characters in the story of our lives that continuously make entrances and exits. They have an impact on the way the story unfolds, sometimes subtle, but poetic.

I love that I can sit down for a cup of coffee with someone that I have only seen three times in as many years and we can talk about love and education and art and family, and although time has clearly passed, it feels as if we were never apart.

Catty Crafts

2009-08-25T09:01:00.008-04:00

For the first time all summer, this past weekend I skipped dancing. Instead I went to brunch, BBQ and a craft fair at the Rotunda, which was raising money for abused and neglected animals in Philly. Sponsored by Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia, 30 vendors assembled to display their handmade wares and support a good cause. I visited two of my friends of catFlowers, who design amazing pieces to wear. In addition, they have the cutest pillows. Check out the catFlowers etsy site and see for yourself.

Really?

2009-08-24T23:24:00.007-04:00

After writing this post last night, I went to Google images to find an appropriate picture to accompany it. I typed in "garbage cans" and "South Philly." Just for fun I typed in "dog poop." While I was amused by the "I heart U" written in dog poo and the multiple photos of dogs in squat position, THIS PHOTO of a dog poop catcher absolutely blew my mind.

Of course, I had to click on the image, read the accompanying "The Strangest Pet Gadgets" article and post about it the following day.

I thought sure the photo would link to a story on the Onion. But no. Although it seems the perfect Saturday Night Live sketch, apparently this product is real.
I'll let you sleep on that.
Sweet dreams.

Some Observations on South Philly Living

2009-08-23T19:53:00.005-04:00

We moved to South Philly about 3 1/2 weeks ago, and although we're not completely unpacked and definitely not settled, things are beginning to feel a little more like home.

Here are a few observations about my new neighborhood:

Cons:

Dog poop. It's everywhere. The sidewalks show a blatent disregard for cleaning up after one's pooch.
Garbage cans. This may directly correlate to point number one, but there are very few city garbage cans on the street corners. As a responsible pet owner I find this very annoying when trying to dispose of certain products. This may also explain why many South Philly streets are sprinkled with trash.
Beer. I can't seem to find a close-by take-out beer place near my new place. In West Philly I had at least three corner stores within walking distance that sold six packs of beer. Here not so much. Or at least I haven't found them yet.
Street cleaning parking signs. The streets in my neighborhood are lined with signs saying parking is not allowed on a certain day of the week because of street cleaning. One block is Tuesdays between March and January. Another is Wednesdays. I have to carefully read the signs on each block to make sure I don't mistakenly overstay on the cleaning day. This would not be nearly as annoying if cleaning actually happened on those days. I have never seen street cleaning and suspect it is just a way for the city to make money on parking tickets.
Lack of green. My new neighborhood desperately lacks in trees, grass and public spaces to enjoy both of these things. The side of TD Bank has a little bit of grass and a couple of trees. There is some grass in front of the South Philadelphia High School. I'm making due, but I do not find these particularly suitable alternatives to my options in West Philly.

Pros:

Faster commute to work. I'm loving the Broad Street subway line. I'm not riding it late at night, but as a commute to and from work, it's been reliable, air conditioned and speedy.
Living space. My husband and I adore our new apartment and all the additional space it provides. Our new neighborhood definitely provides more bang for your buck.
Bakeries. Although we have yet to take advantage of them, there seems to be a bakery on every other corner.
The South Philly Review. Owned by the same company that publishes the Philadelphia Weekly, the SPR arrives on my doorstep free every Thursday. Reading about things happening in my neighborhood helps me feel as if I'm part of a community.
Our neighbors. We have had the pleasure of meeting several of our neighbors and so far everyone has been very hospitable and welcoming to a couple of outsiders. Yesterday morning our next door neighbor even offered me some Rosemary from her garden.

I'm still feeling out the area, but I think it's interesting to record my first-month observations. We shall see how they compare to my observations a few months down the road.

Day #22 and holding strong

2009-08-22T22:02:00.004-04:00

Today is #22 of the August Blogger Challenge, and I haven't missed a day yet. I have however, been drinking since 2pm today--a joint birthday party for me and a friend whose birthday is tomorrow. When people are out for drinks or dinner in a large group why can't they seem to figure out how much they owe? Even when gratuity is automatically added and everyone swears they tipped or overtipped appropriately, we still come out way under and someone gets screwed. I guess it's just the nature of the beast. Still, why is 20% so hard to figure out?

Well, the week of birthday activities is now officially over. I'm tired and I have to be up at 5am to walk a 5K for the Livestrong Challenge. Hope we don't get soaked. If so, maybe the scene will provide for some entertaining wet t-shirt-like-photos and my post #23 will be a little less lame.

You know it's hot when...

2009-08-21T16:06:00.005-04:00

You know it's hot when...

You are allowed to leave work at 4 o'clock, but stay just a little longer because your office is air conditioned and your home is not.
Your Friday night plans include dinner and a movie not because you can't wait to see the latest blockbuster, but because you know you will at least be cool for a couple of hours.
You check out which movies have the longest running times and consider your second or even third choice in order to escape the heat for as long as possible.

Please feel free to add your own.

I will be attending District 9 tonight, or for an additional 40 minutes of cool time, may opt for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Confession: I Want to Hide in the Summer

2009-08-21T14:36:00.005-04:00

I'm interested in hitting a pool/dance party in Atlantic City tonight, but my body image issues are giving me pause. I struggle with the idea of dancing with women in bikinis while I flop a bit in my slightly matronly one piece. I tried to find a lovely photo of a woman who was at least a size 14 in a bathing to suit to add to this little blog post. But I couldn't find any. Search "plus size" in Google yielded women who looked waifish to me. No wonder, I have body dysmorphia - not enough pictures of regular women out there.

Thursday Night at Home

2009-08-20T20:50:00.005-04:00

It's so hot in my apartment that I can barely make complete sentences. Making it somewhat sufferable is the following combination:

window a.c. unit in my bedroom
+
Whole Foods flourless chocolate cake
+

...leftovers from the birthday that keeps on giving.

Party like it's Junior High!

2009-08-20T09:37:00.003-04:00

Here's a hot tip for fun this Sunday, August 23. DIY divas extraordinaire, Make Philly are hosting a BBQ and homemade rocket launch at 12 noon at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park. Event runs till 3 pm.

Bring your own everything - food, beverages and tricked out water rocket made from a plastic water bottle, water, and air that you install through a bicycle pump. Instructions to make a water rocket are right here. They say it takes 30 minutes....umm...yeah right. For the mechanically inept (like me) it might take longer.

Decorate your rocket and, viola, you have awesomeness.

This brings back Junior High memories of Andy Hermann (now in Lala land reveling in career covering music beat at Metromix) and me building and shooting off a rocket we dubbed affectionately, FUBAR.

Geek chic. Family friendly. Fairmount Park. BBQ.

Go.

Do they not know we're in a recession?

2009-08-19T22:16:00.004-04:00

Today I had a consumer reality check. Several months ago I bought a poster that is an original, numbered print. I didn't spend an arm and a leg, but I feel confident that it will appreciate greatly over time. I've been meaning to get it framed, but wasn't sure where to take it and just too lazy to take it in.

As a South Philly resident, I now receive weekly sales circulars stuffed in a white plastic bag on my doorstep each Thursday. In them I noticed that A.C. Moore had a coupon for 50% off custom framing. Since I am about to start actually putting things on the walls of my new apartment, I thought now would be a good time to get the print framed.

I arrive at A.C. Moore with the artist husband in tow for aesthetic feedback prepared to drop some money. It turns out, I also needed him there for moral support. My jaw must have dropped when I heard that my total came to $404. And that was after the 50% discount! The sales associate down-graded my glass to one that while still archival, was not glare resistant. That brought my discounted total down to $283. That was a little more reasonable, or at least seemed so after the sticker shock of the first quote. So with tax, the total was over $300 for glass, matte and custom frame. It was a very large piece, and I do hope to have it for a lifetime. Let's also hope I can ward off floods, fires and any other natural or man-made disasters. Oh my!

South Philadelphia Tap Room

2009-08-18T23:11:00.005-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure of trying out a neighborhood bar that I had been hearing a lot about. The South Philadelphia Tap Room is about a 15 minute walk from our new apartment, and to quote the Husband, "I think this is my new favorite bar." They had a wide variety of beer on draft, and it was delicious and inexpensive. I started with the Porterhouse Raspberry Reserve. The server kindly pointed out that it wasn't a sweet beer. I reassured her that that would be fine. The pink tinted beer had berry undertones, but it was not sweet, only light and refreshing.

Tim's first beer and my "dessert" beer was the Founders Maple Mountain Brown. To me it tasted chocolatey with a hint of coffee. I could definitely taste the maple, but it wasn't a thick dark beer like a stout. Served over ice, I would have thought it to be an espresso martini.

The food was what put us over the top. While the menu didn't dramatically depart from your typical bar grub, the housemade preparation made it anything but typical. I had a grilled three-cheese sandwich with tomato soup. The toasted bread was thick and buttery, and the cheese oozed over the edges. The soup was flavorful with chunks of yellow and red tomatoes (although I couldn't be certain as it was VERY dark at our table.) My meal came with a choice of pasta salad, green salad or fries. I had the green salad and it was more than just plain greens and a vinagrette--it came tossed with cucumbers, onions, olives and tomatoes.

Tim ordered the cheeseburger, and he was especially impressed with the handcut fries. The pickles were thickly sliced and obviously made in-house as well. For desert we shared the pot brownie. Sans marajuana, the brownie was served warm and topped with chocolate chips, walnuts, vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup.

It was a Monday night, so it's hard to say how crowded it might be on other nights, but we had no problem finding a quiet table in the corner. Our server was kind and attentive without being overbearing.

If I can ever get off work in a timely manner, I'd love to try out their Happy Hour. Monday through Friday from 4 - 6pm, local drafts and appetizers are half price. The South Philadelphia Tap Room did a fantastic job of welcoming us to the neighborhood. We will definitely be back.

Photo credit: Southphiladelphiataproom.com

Philly Event Medley - Week of August 16th

2009-08-18T10:10:00.005-04:00

Wizard of Oz Double-Take
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Liberty Lands Park
8:15PM
FREE

Part of their Lawn chair-drive in series. First showing is for kids. Second showing is for curious adults who would like to see it sync'd with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Creative Associations Happy Hour
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thirteen in Center City
5:00 - 7:00PM
RSVP *required* here

"A unique opportunity to learn how you can get involved in the Philadelphia Region’s creative associations, as well as network with other creative professionals".

Varied and numerous Philly chapters of design associations are participating: Philly's AIGA, AIA, IDSA, PANMA, PhillyCHI, UPA, IES

"In a Dream" Premiere
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Showings on HBO2: Schedule

Isaiah Zagar. Magic Gardens. I wanted to see this at the Philadelphia Film Festival but it was consistently sold out.

Kristin Kozlowski Art Opening
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Rum Bar
5:00 - 8:00PM
FREE

I'd love to buy one of her paintings for my new (rented) digs.

White Lies, Black Sheep Screening
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Sedgwick Theater in Germantown
7:00PM
$5

"A series of events force him to recognize his friends both exotify him and are in denial of his blackness. Black, but not “really” black. What’s a young black rocker to do?"

Fashion Fixe
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Painted Bride in Old City
7:00 - 11:00PM
$25 (tickets)

Red Carpet fashion event hosted by America's Next Top Model contestant, Bianca Golden. Along with the fashion show, bonus recession-friendly side shows of live body painting, voice performances, and a fantastic art expo. Dress code: Fashionable.

Credit: Creative Commons photo by dbking

Today's My Birthday

2009-08-17T19:10:00.007-04:00

Each year on my birthday, I seem to spend a lot of time reminiscing. What was I doing this time last year? Two years ago? Ten?

Ten years ago I was turning 22. I had just graduated from college and was about to move from Southern Indiana to Portland, Oregon with one of my college friends. I was young and naive and unsure about where I wanted to go with my life and exactly who I wanted to be.

If you had told me back in 1999 as I rode my bike to work in the rain every day to wait tables, that ten years later I would be married, have graduated with an MFA in creative writing and be living in Philadelphia, I would have been surprised. I think I would have been happy to hear I was happy, but I would have wondered how I got from there to here.

Looking forward, I wonder if I will be equally surprised where the next ten years take me. You can have a plan, but it's usually the seredipidity that keeps things exciting. Not that my life has been all leaps of faith and chance. I got to where I am today because that 22-year-old-me made certain choices. She decided to volunteer in an after school program and learned she wanted to teach. She enrolled in a creative writing course at a private studio and decided to focus on memoir writing instead of photography or journalism. She decided to apply to graduate schools only on the East Coast to get a change of scenery. She decided to go out with the cute boy from the party and let someone new in. Each decision I've made has lead me here. It wasn't all chance, but I feel proud to be in this place and hope that I keep making the decisions that keep the 32-year-old-me pleasantly surprised when the 42-year-old-me looks back.

Speed Dating is a Good Way to Waste an Evening

2009-08-17T15:28:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine has been hitting the speed dating circuit for awhile now and summed it up as this, "there's always the creepy guy and the hot, but unfortunately drunk girl ." I haven't tried speed dating as of yet because it usually costs $30 and online dating is free and I don't have to leave the apartment to do it.

However, I do have an interest in off-the-beaten-track speed dating events. A few months ago, I attend a "speed friending" event at Mugshots in Fairmount sponsored by Meetin.org, Philadelphia chapter. Meet in (not to be mixed up with meetup.org) specializes in social events to make friends. On the other hand, Meetup is organized around special interest areas, rather than random people going an event. But they both have the same social purpose, I suppose. Anyway, "speed friending" was enjoyable and we got to ask each other off the wall questions, which led to lively conversation. Didn't exchange numbers with anybody, but it was worthwhile all the same.

My favorite dating blog Shmitten Kitten is hosting 4 "Mix Tape" speed dating events in Philadelphia on four Thursdays in September and October organized around the theme of 90's music. Venues are across the city including the Khyber (Sept. 10), Dos Segundos (Sept. 24), the Cantina (Oct 8), and Royal Tavern (Oct 22). Each night hosts a specific genre of music and participants are invited to suggest songs. Those of us at One Fine Philly have been talking about going. Personally, I've registered for the indie music event at the Cantina and emo/pop punk at Dos Segundos. Here is the link to register for Shmitten Kitten Mix Tape speed dating.

The nice part about these Shmitten Kitten events are if the company is not interesting, you can zone out and focus on the music instead. See you there.

Heat Wave

2009-08-16T21:22:00.006-04:00

I'm ready for this 90-degree weather to be over. I realize it's the middle of August and these temperatures are normal for this time of year, but that's not going to stop me from complaining. I went tubing here today and got some relief, but man oh man if my apartment isn't 88 degrees at 9:30 pm. I'm feeling pretty miserable sitting here with my mini fan blowing on my half-naked body, but the window a.c. unit is now cooling down the bedroom, so hopefully I'll still be able to get a decent night's sleep.

I'm going to think happy thoughts of cooler days. I'm sure I'll be complaining about the cold weather when we get to it, but for now playing in the snow sounds pretty nice. My doggie likes it, too.

SETPA Perks

2009-08-15T19:10:00.012-04:00

SEPTA is not my most favorite part of living in Philadelphia. I'm glad I live in a city that has public transportation, and where having a car is a luxury vs. a necessity; however, after having lived in Boston, a city that has a comprehensive web of train lines, SEPTA is often a disappointment. Their slogan, "We're getting there," sounds more like an apology than an affirmation. Still, I've been getting a monthly SEPTA transpass for the last couple of years. I take the Broad St. subway line to work every day, and before I moved, I took the trolley from West Philly.

Recently at the Snyder stop, I've been noticing a billboard advertising SEPTA pass perks. I finally decided to check out the website and see what kind of "perks" I could be getting with my SEPTA pass.

Most of the deals are for places I would never patron, and some perks offer such a small discount, it's hardly worth mentioning.

However, I did find a few bargains worth remembering such as $2 off admission at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, free dessert at the Manayunk Brewery, buy one audio tour and get one free at the Betsy Ross House and free admission at The Institute for Contemporary Art.

Some of the discounts have an expiration date, so it's probably a good idea to check-in on the perks site every once in a while to see if something new has popped up. It's only saving a few dollars, but it's a nice gesture. Maybe someday SEPTA will finally get there.

Camden River Sharks

2009-08-14T22:27:00.011-04:00

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of a free night of baseball at a Camden River Sharks game. I had never been to a game there and wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The stadium seemed new and clean, and parking in the lot was only $3. We were handed a free program at the door and had great seats.

The FAQ inside the program revealed that the River Sharks are not a minor league farm team, but rather a professional team in the Atlantic League. The Atlantic League consists of teams with fun names such as the York Revolution and the Lancaster Barnstormers. The program said the level of Atlantic League play would likely fall between AA and AAA of the traditional minor league teams. However, their league is professional baseball and many of their players end up in Major League Baseball.

Although our tickets were free, all advanced tickets are very reasonably priced--between $9 and $13 ($2 or $3 more for game day tickets). The seats are amazing! You can't go to a Phillies game and sit directly behind home plate for $11. And, for a mere $100 you can even buy yourself or a loved one the honor of throwing out the first pitch.

When we arrived, I immediately wished I had remembered to bring my camera. Only two weeks out of the summer digital photography class I was taking, and already I'm beginning to forget my camera. I was kicking myself about it until the sun went down--a beautiful summer sunset highlighted with the Philadelphia city skyline and Ben Franklin Bridge, the baseball field in the foreground. If I would have had my camera, a photo from my seat would have looked something like this:

Photo credit: gophila.com

Beer, a funnel cake and baseball. Not a bad way to spend a warm summer night.

Philly's Secret Getaways

2009-08-14T17:16:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't written in a while because I have been taking secret getaways in Philadelphia and haven't bothered to tell you about it. These are events so secret that are only talked about face-to-face, email/IM, or phone call. Thousands, maybe gazillions of these events occur in Philadelphia and elsewhere, but you'll only hear of them after the fact. The don't have an official name, but I will dub them...

Hanging Out at Someone's Place

Yes, in the past couple of weeks, I have had people invite me over for dinner or a small BBQ. These events are peculiar from the sweaty dance fests I have raved about in One Fine Philly. They cost no money at all and basically you do nothing, but hang out and perhaps nosh. In less than two weeks, I had three meals that I didn't have to cook or buy. I dined on simple dishes of stir fry and cous cous, pasta and corn, and grilled veggie burger and corn. And I did no work and I didn't have to wait in line at one of those places that you call restaurants.

And all we did was sit and talk. For hours.

I'm sold on this Hanging Out at Someone's Place thing. In fact, I have purchased a largish digital tv so I can do this curious activity at my own apartment. Maybe I'll see some of you there sometime.

Post-Blogging

2009-08-13T22:45:00.004-04:00

I'd do better if I could manage to post things BEFORE they happened, but ...

I happened into Anthropologie tonight, and there was a fantastic benefit going on, for the charity Gilda's Club. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Anthro played host to everything from a raffle to a fashion show, with delicious hors d'oeuvres from Catering by Miles. On top of that, a portion of all sales and all raffle proceeds went to Gilda's Club, a non-profit organization helping cancer patients and their families. Though I hadn't known about the event ahead of time and I was in a bit of a hurry, I did manage to pick up this fun beaded necklace. Lily likes it, as you can see.

The lighting in my apartment is awful. I hate recessed halogen lights. So bright! Donations of floor lamps in interesting shapes are now being taken. I found this French Fifties design at modernism.com for only $950. It would look stunning in here.

I love the Internet!

2009-08-13T22:32:00.003-04:00

I just got back from dinner at Bindi--a double-date with my husband, my brother-in-law and his fiance. It was an early birthday celebration for me and a belated one for the bro-in-law. I had an awesome meal, a grilled arctic char with a lobster-corn curry, and probably drank a little too much.

However, it's day 13 of our August Blogger Challenge, and I'm still going strong. I have to post something! Did I mention I'm a bit of a perfectionist?

Here it is:

Full article here: Squirrel is Surprise Star of Holiday Photo
Not exactly newsworthy, but I love it anyway.

LIVESTRONG Challenge

2009-08-12T22:37:00.009-04:00

One of my best Philadelphia friends was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. It was a long, painful struggle for her just to get a proper diagnosis. The last several months she has been doing chemo treatments and has been reacting so well to them that she was recently declared in remission. Amy's fight is not over, but we are filled with hope.

When Amy was first diagnosed with cancer, the doctors couldn't determine what kind of cancer it was and wanted to figure it out before developing a treatment plan. Rightfully so, I wished they would just hurry up and figure it out already. As her friend, I felt helpless. I can't even imagine the feelings of helplessness Amy must have been experiencing. When she finally was diagnosed with lung cancer and started the chemo, her pain went away. She moved back into her apartment and went back to work. With a treatment plan in place, she could feel proactive and better aligned to really fight it.

Amy has been so strong through this all, and now I feel as if I can actually do a tiny part to help. The LIVESTRONG Challenge is coming to the Philadelphia area August 23. Their slogan is "Pick a Fight with Cancer." According to their website, "The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's signature fundraising event inspired by the hope, courage and determination that exist in all of us. We take to the streets on bikes and on our feet, uniting individuals to stand together to fight cancer."

I invite you to read the message from my friend Amy below and consider sponsoring me for the 5K walk. I'm walking on a team with Amy and trying to raise my $250 contribution the Obama way--just a few dollars from lots of people.

Amy's message:
In March of 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer at the age of 32. The cancer had spread from my lung to my bones and lymph nodes. Thanks to many prayers from friends, family, and people who have never even met me, along with the great treatment I received from my doctors, my cancer is in remission.

According to current statistics, lung cancer makes up 15% of all cancer diagnoses and 29% of all cancer deaths. It is the second most diagnosed cancer in men and women (after prostate and breast, respectively), but it is the number one cause of death from cancer each year in both men and women. So why is the amount of funding for lung cancer only 5% of that given for breast cancer research?

The number of cases of advanced stage lung cancer in young women who are non-smokers is on the rise for reasons not yet known. Please help us change these statistics by supporting our team in the Lance Armstrong Cancer Challenge! You can help by joining a team, making a donation, or by simply sending prayers for a cure.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation unites people to fight cancer, believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything.

Through the dollars and awareness that we raise, we can inspire and empower individuals, and we can make life better for the millions of people across the globe fighting cancer today.

Please support me as I make a difference in the cancer fight through my participation in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Thank you!

With great love,
Amy

Anyone can visit my personal web page and help me in the efforts to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation, my friend Amy and the many others like her.

Julia Child's Birthday Party

2009-08-11T23:16:00.008-04:00

Little Berlin is an artist-run collective and gallery space located on the edge of Kensington/ Fishtown. Founded in 2007, they became a collective organization in March 2009. (Full disclosure: my husband is a member of the collective.) Their main focus is curatorial projects and exhibitions, and they also host music events, performances and badminton tournaments.

This Saturday, August 15, they are hosting an event to celebrate what would have been Julia Child's 97th birthday. It's also a fundraiser to help sustain the space and the collective. Food & music are a $5 cover. An additional $10 gets you unlimited beer.

If you haven't been to one of Little Berlin's art openings, this will be a fun opportunity for you to check out the space. The current show is Bone Tails, and the work is pretty impressive. Little Berlin is located at 119 W. Montgomery Street. It's a short walk from the Berks Stop.

For more information on Julia Child's life, here's a recent Vanity Fair article written around the newly released movie Julie & Julia. (She was 6' 2" tall wearing size 12 flats--now that's a tall girl.)

Breaking News!

2009-08-11T22:04:00.004-04:00

Realized there is nothing like One Fine Philly, so I'm vacating the suburbs and returning to urban life in Philadelphia. If you haven't already guessed, I will be moving to Fishtown. Now, I have to find a place that won't break the bank. If you have any ideas of good apartments, please let me know.

Hot Dog!

2009-08-11T21:54:00.004-04:00

Dog friendly haunts in Philly:

The Sidecar at 22nd and Christian welcomes dogs outside. I just spent several hours with a friend and her dog at one of the sidewalk tables, drinking beer and admiring the other pups scattered around us -- the waiter got Hugo (a super-sweet Boxer) a bottle of water and checked back on him as well as us as the night progressed.
Good Karma Cafe on 22nd and Pine welcomes dogs -- if you're grabbing a cup inside, Pooch is welcomed in; if you're sitting outside, your canine friend is part of the family.
Tavern 17 at 17th and Locust has a "Yappy Hour" where you can drink people cocktails and Rex can drink his own concoction of broth and so forth. Delicious!
Parc is home to the wealthy and the well-fed canine -- you can't walk past without excusing yourself to shi-tzus and bichons who got there before you.

And for bars that sound like they should be dog friendly but aren't:
5. Good Dog may feature many pics on the walls, but Fido has to stay outside. :(

Philly Event Medley - Week of August 9th

2009-08-10T20:59:00.007-04:00

JimmyStyle Art Opening

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

JimmyStyle on Passyunk

6:00 - 8:00PM

Opening reception. Fox29 Reporter John Atwater presents his retrospective of Costa Rica y más photos.

Annual Entrepreneurs Forum Networking Reception

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

5:30 - 8:00PM

The Piazza at Schmidts

RSVP mandatory

Spruce+Pine Bike Lane Meeting

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

6:30 - 8:30PM

Gershman Y on Broad

Expect some neighbor and pro-bicycle team verbal jousting.

Is Dairy the Devil?

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

7PM

Essene Market & Cafe

"Does Milk really 'do a body good'?" Maybe we are all Lactose intolerant

"Marley and Me" Movie

Thursday, August 13, 2009

8PM (dusk)

Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd.

Bocce Ball Tournament

Saturday, August 15, 2009

11:00AM

Buckley Field, Drexel University

$10 registration fee

Wear Drexel colors and confidently sidle in. Teams of Two. Winner takes all.

Great Beer Expo

Saturday, August 15, 2009

11:30 or 5PM

Philadelphia Naval Yard

$45 online, $60 at the door

50+ International Brewers/100+ Beers.

Can you drink even?

Photo: Creative Commons photo by Eric Perrone

5 ways to beat the heat

2009-08-10T16:54:00.004-04:00

How to Beat the Heat:

Find a friend who belongs to the Lombard Street Pool, or any other pool in the city. Invite yourself along.
Swedish Fish-flavored water ice at Rita's. Not actually my favorite, but an interesting idea. I'm partial to mango-and-vanilla "gelati," which really bears no relation to gelato.
The Herron "Sprayground" Park at 2nd and Reed. Bring a child or several, for added street cred.
My personal favorite tactic: bathtub full of ice water and a pitcher of mojitos.
Clothes too hot? Bike naked! (Too bad you have to wait until Sept. 6.)

Celebrity Sighting

2009-08-10T10:53:00.006-04:00

After Planet Caroline's post about a Paul Rudd sighting in Philadelphia, I thought I'd add to the hip and relevancy factor of One Fine Philly by adding another celebrity sighting. I just got a text message from my husband saying he saw Joan Rivers down by Independence Hall.

Now, don't everyone head down there all at once.

Blah

2009-08-09T16:55:00.003-04:00

I have nothing interesting to say, except that it's hot and humid and I seem to have a head cold. Apparently my schedule--working six days a week between my two jobs (Wednesday I work both, for a nice 12-hour day) and then spending my "day off" with my 5-year-old doesn't exactly agree with my sissified slacker constitution. Especially when said 5-year-old wakes up 5 or 6 times a night for the three nights a week I have him. Wish me luck, fair readers, in staying out of hospital until I get used to the routine.

This is so Wrong

2009-08-09T11:21:00.003-04:00

Paul Rudd was spotted in Philadelphia on Wednesday and I am only hearing about it this morning. That is so, so wrong. But Philly celeb photographer, Hughe Dillon got a nice shot of him, so I feel slightly better. I think us contributors at One Fine Philly should not be faulted (too much) for not posting celebrity sightings more often. We have lives akin to celebrities.

U.S. Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods

2009-08-08T23:36:00.005-04:00

I grew up in the Midwest. My hometown has just over 2,000 people, more churches than bars, and no stop lights--only a flashing red light at what everyone refers to as "the four-way stop." My hometown doesn't really have bad neighborhoods as far as violent crime is concerned, only neighborhoods with more or less money.

This afternoon, my dad sent me an email forward. He likes the email forward. The subject heading was "25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods." My dad writes in abbreviations--his own baby boomer version of a texting language. He sent me a link to the article with his abbreviated commentary mentioning that 4 of the top 25 most dangerous neighborhoods are in Chicago (where my sister lives)--the most of any city. No city had 3 neighborhoods listed but Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Memphis and Orlando all had 2. "Only 1 Philadelphia neighborhood made the list," he wrote with a :)

My dad also observed that no East LA, Torrance, Oakland or other California cities were listed. No Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, Vegas, New Orleans, Alabama or Mississippi in the top 25. He ended the email by saying, "Hope you find this interesting."

I guess I did. The report was based on FBI data from 17,000 local law enforcement agencies. They broke it down by neighborhood vs. cities because as we Philadelphia residents know, even cities with high crime rates can have safe neighborhoods. I've pasted the Philadelphia information below, but here's the full article.

25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods

AOL

16. (Worst) Philadelphia, Pa.

Neighborhood: Broad St./Dauphin St.
Found Within ZIP Code(s): 19132, 19133
Predicted Annual Violent Crimes: 199
Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 117.13
My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here (in one year): 1 in 9

' More on This Neighborhood

Welcome To My Face!

2009-08-08T17:45:00.004-04:00

Come check out the first show of the Rittenhouse Square Concert Series, Wednesday night August 12, 7-9. This year the venue is playing host to some hard-rockin' folk! (Who can forget last year's Black Landlord?) Starting us off are Welcome To My Face and the Peace Creeps. WTMF is the brain/love-child of Jose Pistola's owner Casey Parker, and I've been told -- nay, ordered -- to come to the show. Shall I bring a spare pair of panties to throw? Or does bringing a spare pair defeat the purpose?

P.S. The Cafe Press shirt above comes in maternity sizes. How awesome is that?

It's hot! It's sexy! It's ... marriage!

2009-08-07T20:01:00.005-04:00

I know my fellow One Fine Philly bloggers are all in different relationship stages--recently divorced, currently looking, ready to give up, at least two are currently planning weddings and their years of wedded togetherness. My husband recently posted this "in defense of marriage" Salon.com article on his Facebook, and I thought it was worth sharing.

It's hot! It's sexy! It's ... marriage!
by: Aaron Traister

Happy Friday night!

Photo credit: salon.com website

Mad for Mad Men

2009-08-07T00:07:00.004-04:00

So, everyone I know is buzzing about Season 3 starting up. And with the Banana Republic/AMC Casting Call contest going on, things are getting downright frenzied! My friend Kristy is in the running, and she looks FABULOUS. Vote for her! Daily! Truly, she's a terrific person, a talented actress, and downright gorgeous. Here's her pic:
Click the photo or right here to go and give her five stars! Remember, vote daily!

Bag or Behemoth?

2009-08-06T23:57:00.001-04:00

My friend Mike has been writing some great men's fashion commentary, and he suggested we try writing coordinating pieces sometime. Today he suggests that men over the age of detention and whippits should ditch the backpack and go for a messenger bag. (I'm curious, Mike -- the verdict on the man-purse?) In keeping with the theme of bags, here's what I've been pondering.

Why oh why, ladies, are we all shlepping around bags sized to carry your average Oxford English Dictionary? (Not the abridged one.) Where I currently work part-time, we sell bags your average three-year-old would fit into comfortably. I've checked. I see women carrying not one but two large totes--generally unmatched, generally one in nice leather and one found at a grocery store, and they don't seem to be carrying around recent purchases in them. Whatever happened to proportion? A nice clutch? A small satchel?

I'm just as much to blame as anyone. I have a deep-seated affection for my leather hobos, my new woven soft leather tote, and anything I can fit four hardbacks and a laptop into. Still. I call for a return to common sense. Any bag that cries out to be filled with 50 lbs of stuff--especially when said stuff is all mixed together in a huge sack with no dividers--is a chiropractor's dream.

So I have a new resolution: One bag, unless I'm shopping or carrying my son's backpack for him. Lipstick, wallet, phone, mints, collapsible hair brush. This is more than enough for out-and-about. If I'm heading to work, a slightly larger bag with my work papers neatly stashed in a folder will fit nicely into this:

Otherwise, I'm thinking more like this:But if I absolutely must carry something larger, for say, a weekend in NY or a presentation with lots of handouts, let it be something fabulous. Like this:
All the pockets are functional and separate compartments! It sooooo appeals to the obsessive-compulsive in me.

And as for backpacks -- Mike's right, ladies. Save them for the kids.

Window Box Ideas

2009-08-06T23:36:00.011-04:00

Our new place has window boxes in the front windows. I'm determined to fill them with flowers, and help spruce-up the outward appearance of our home. I know nothing about gardening, flowers or window boxes, but ours are the metal trough kind and I've recently learned that they need to be lined with coconut fiber. I still need to research how best to make this happen, but I'm starting to collect images for inspiration. The first two are photos I took on a walk in the Fairmount District. The others I found online. I'm especially drawn to the ones that have vines hanging down. Perhaps these will help someone else find inspiration as well.

Photo credits: 1. & 2. Me | 3. flowerframers.com | 4. This Old House magazine website 5. Jean Cotner, Flickr jeanctnr | 6. hooksandlattice.com

Cool Vintage Etsy Find

2009-08-06T23:27:00.001-04:00

I've been checking out vintage clothing lately -- I think it's because I'm invited to an awesome Mad Men party next weekend, to which I need to wear show-appropriate cocktail attire -- and this terrific Philly-based Etsy shop is number one on my list right now. Sweet Tooth Vintage has a great selection from the '40s to the '80s and a keen eye for fashion-forward retro. Here are a few of my favorites (photos credited to Veronika Placek, and aren't the poses adorable?):

I'm seriously considering the pink one for the Mad Men party.

Veronika also has a great blog: http://sweettoothvintage.blogspot.com. She's a pleasure to read!

I had the chance to converse with Veronika, and she had this to say about her passion for vintage: "while i sell clothing from the 40's - 80's, i really love clothing from the late 50's and early 60's. i really appreciate the kitsch aspect to vintage - everything from absurd glittery jumpsuits to sad clowns to overly ornate party dresses. i think most of this stemmed from movies i'd watch from my mom when i was younger, and the flea markets i frequented with my dad every weekend. i love the feminine shapes that clothing had - i'm a dress girl myself, and i find that vintage dresses fit me the best. talk about a perfect fit!"

The City that Loves You Back?

2009-08-06T10:55:00.006-04:00

Oh Planet Caroline, as a fellow female deity of the Philly dating scene, I hear you. Rather than knowing where to go on dates, however, I would like to know: where can a decent date be found?

I won't say that I can't remember the last time I went on a great date, because it wasn't so long ago....but the date was in Brooklyn with a New Yorker. Yep, I've had to travel to make it happen.

This is not to say that Philadelphia isn't awesome -- it is. I dearly love this city and I feel completely at home in nearly every corner, except the corner where you go to find / have a date, wherever that is. I am comfortable moving about the city alone, and will happily have a seat at a bar solo to enjoy a cold, cold beer while looking over the paper, or (nerd that I am) writing in my journal. I'm friendly, warm, funny (and yes, in an effort at being confident without being snooty, I am a pretty girl) and will not shoot a guy down if he strikes up conversation. I like people, all kinds, and even if the sparks of attraction aren't there I am always down to meet someone new. And yet, many of my dates have ranged from blah to disastrous.

I'll share story:

A local chef, cute and zany, happened upon me at Fergie's, where I was actually hosting a poetry reading. He knew one of my friends, and asked her to help him make a connection. A week later we went out, and after the initial awkwardness we warmed up and had a nice time. We shared a few margaritas (I agree with Shmittenkitten about "grabbin' a coffee"--no thanks) and some light nibbles, great conversation, laughter and then it was time for me to go. The mood was right and it was a really good first date --so as he opened the door to my cab I turned and laid a conservative but definite I-had-great-time-thank-you kiss on him. When I pulled away he pulled me back in for a bit more and he whispered I like kissing you, which was sweet and sexy. I hopped in the cab and waved goodnight. This was about midnight. Not bad, eh?

Half an hour later I got a text. It was from him saying, "I want to kiss your face." Uh, ok. A little weird but I'm open minded and I tried to see the poetry in it and thought nothing more. I didn't respond, figuring we could talk the next day. Ten minutes later I got another text. Again from him, this time saying something that I can even write here... but lets see... it used the word "suck" and referred to another one of my body parts.

Some time between the lovely conversation and laughter, the nice kiss and the closing of the cab door, that boy plum lost his mind. Why, Philadelphia? I know there are some decent guys out there, this diverse and exciting city has to be full of them. Show me a great guy to go out with, and I'll find a fun and unique spot for that first date...

Super Amazing Inspiration Boards from Peacock Feathers

2009-08-05T23:44:00.001-04:00

So my amazing maid-of-honor, Ms. Peacock Feathers, made these super cool inspiration boards for me to share with my wedding party and friends to help them visualize the overall look of the wedding. Tomorrow we go shopping for wedding dresses!

Overall Wedding Inspiration Board

Bridesmaid Board

I am the Goddess of Philly Dating

2009-08-05T22:18:00.006-04:00

Having gotten home from a date worthy of the biting satire of Shmitten Kitten, I have dating on the brain. (For those unfamiliar with the Philly dating blog Shmitten Kitten go there now. It will save thousands in therapy bills.) I am reluctant to blog about dating because potential mates cyberstalk me by reading my vanity blog Planet Caroline. According to Phillygrrl (another fantastic local blog), there are legions of men dying to date bloggers. I am skeptical of that assertion. But Phillygrrl is way hotter than me.

Anyway I digress.

For One Fine Philly, I want to talk dating from a Philly-centric point of view. After 10 months of dating a number of fine people, I have come to one conclusion. Dating is not a great way to explore the current, exciting, and ridiculously fun aspects of the city. Before you reject my assertion, let me say this. Philly is great for couples, for people who know each and are willing to take chances on sketchy Yelp reviewed restaurants, to view the scatalogical disguised as art, and to engage in athletic activities that make you look like a lumbering water buffalo.

Take my friend Katchi Tori (name made up so she won't find out I'm talking about her). Her boyfriend is game for just about anything such as yoga (the guy is ruggedly handsome and beefy), taking surfing lessons in Margate or sorting clothing in a cramped storage room for Philly AIDS Thrift.

I've seen couples enjoying some of crazy fun events I've attended. It's impossible to not encounter a couple living their lives in a way more interesting than the most intrepid single. Willowy, unwashed couples panhandle on Center City sidewalks- all dropping in the city from some alien place like Kansas or Delaware. Couples use their "nation of two" bravado and conquer our city. I salute them.

But that's not me. Typically I go on first and second dates with people I'm not quite sure about. Therefore, we play it safe and go for familiar options with plenty of exits and open windows. Like La Columbe, Tria, Vango- places in the most boring section of town- Rittenhouse. There have been the occasional dancing date, but as I recall they weren't so much fun because I feared getting sweaty and looking foolish when my shirt rides up my back exposing a pallid, moist muffin top. Appealing.

Now that I write this, I realize I am obviously doing this dating wrong. So, I welcome any advice to have my dating life mirror the adventures that I have when I'm on my own.

Perfecting the Pole

2009-08-05T21:32:00.005-04:00

I was walking my pooch down a new street tonight, exploring my new neighborhood when I saw a dance studio that caught my attention. Pole by Patrica, located on Juniper Street between Snyder and McKean, is a pole dancing studio, a workout I've been wanting to try since my friend spoke so highly of her S Factor classes in NYC a couple of years ago. Said friend has since installed a pole in her bedroom.

When I got home and looked up Pole by Patricia's website, I was both surprised and disappointed to see that their first-timers class and beginners classes both start at 5pm. Really? Don't any of their students work 9 - 5 jobs? I work in Center City and have a short commute, but I work until 5pm and could never make a 5 - 6pm class. The very earliest I could be there would be 5:30pm and that would be pushing it. I can't imagine I am their first potential client to face this challenge. I wonder if their class times ever change or if they are on a rotating schedule? It just seems such a shame to dismiss a whole group of working women who may be interested in classes, and I just emailed Patricia and told her as much. Maybe it's the heat that's making me fiesty.

A quick Google search also presented 3 Philly pole dancing locations for Philly Premier Pole Dance. While not a short walk from my apartment, they seem to have some classes at more convenient times and are less expensive. I also found Poise Dance Studio, also in South Philly.

I'm curious, has anyone taken a pole dancing class? I think it would be fun to get some girls together for a private lesson. Pole by Patricia offers private lessons for 4-6 girls for $200 or a 2-hour party (90-minute lesson included) for up to 12 girls for $300. Sounds good to me.

Image credit: The Pole by Patricia website.

No Fail Here

2009-08-04T23:26:00.013-04:00

It's late and since it's only day 4 of the August blogger challenge, I don't want to be labeled a failure by missing a day so soon.

Speaking of fail, if you're ever looking to waste some time in front of the computer, check out failblog.org. It can help lighten a hard day at work, but view with caution or you may just completely lose track of the time.

Baggo

2009-08-04T22:02:00.004-04:00

Is it BAAAAAG-oh or buh-GOOO? Who knows. Either way, make your way to the Keep Tuesday nights, and you will find a committed set of athletes, focused solely on their love of the game and their dedication to a dream: tossing a beanbag onto a board, or if you're lucky: into a hole.

To call the Bag a beanbag is technically incorrect: apparently, the Bag is stuffed not with beans but with corn. Hence the alternative name for the sport, which is Cornhole. You see why I call it Baggo.

At any rate, on any given Tuesday for the past year and a half or so to the best of my knowledge, a determined cluster of men and women have joined together in celebration of Summer, of Beer, and of Baggo. Here are a few photographic representations:

Dance Lifestyle

2009-08-04T17:06:00.004-04:00

Sorry folks. I am completely between stories right... still geeking about Saturday's pool party in Medford, NJ where Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, and No Age played to a frenzied crowd of hipsters in swimsuits and bare feet. Put up a lengthy post about it on my personal blog Planet Caroline. So I have that party from the past and I have some interesting stuff to write about in the near future. Not much to report right now.

But to tie you over, I will invite for the Snack's party with Dave P. and Adam Sparkles happening tonight at Woody's. No cover. Here's the Facebook invite. Dave says he's going to be playing Ibiza anthems. For those do not know electronic music, you may be unfamiliar with Ibiza, Spain- the club mecca of the world. There you can hear the best, biggest, most exciting house, techno, and trance music around the clock.

I shouldn't be going out on a "school night" but Dave P's music is irresistible to me. A couple of weeks ago, I had an all nighter to hear him spin (along with co-headliners Free Energy & Lemonade) in NYC. If you come out look for me, I am dressed horribly today... shirt with something resembling zebra stripes and black Docker style pants. I don't know what possessed me to wear this, but it's done.

Jen Childs Rocks My World

2009-08-03T21:59:00.003-04:00

So, I had mentioned the Barrymore nominations. I attended the epic-long ceremony to announce the nominated performers, designers, and directors; and I have to say, a lot of people are scratching their heads. This is not meant to detract from the work that did get recognized ... but wow. If you're curious, go over to the Theatre Alliance site and check them out.

But after that, I had the inexpressible pleasure of watching Jen Childs workshop a performance piece at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre for a select group of friends and fellow artists. Jen is a co-founder of 1812 Productions, and a marvelously funny performer; but that is not what makes her (in my humble opinion) perhaps the best female actor in the city. Rather, what I treasure about her is that she has a directness, an honesty and openness and total willingness to go to scary emotionally vulnerable places on stage -- and she takes the audience with her every step of the way.

The piece tonight took us through Jen's complicated relationship with dance. I don't want to give too much away, as the piece isn't finished and hasn't been publicly presented ... but by the end of the performance I had laughed and cried, both with abandon, and I felt like a bigger-souled person for it.

Watch for Jen Childs. Seriously, people, your life here in Philly is not complete unless you've seen her perform. And when this piece opens, buy tickets and take all your closest friends.

(And if Jen reads this and will send me a picture to post, I'll put it up -- otherwise, I can't think of anything that would do justice to her awesomeness.)

A Day that Will Become Legend

2009-08-03T21:49:00.004-04:00

Sorry folks, I'm going to let Phrequency.com speak for me. They have gorgeous pictures and a great description of the Saturday R5 Productions pool party with Deerhunter, Dan Deacon and No Age. Broadzilla DJs filled in between sets and at the end. Click here to relive the mania.

Maybe 500 gathered at a resort/air strip in Medford NJ. The place was equipped with volleyball court, airplane shaped pool, BBQ, and three killer bands on three stages. The bands played round robin style, which meant one played one song and then everybody ran to the next stage for the next song with the next band. Lots of crowd surfing, moshing, and dancing in the pool.

I got my glasses knocked off and got flattened on ground while I tried to mosh. It was fun, but I pretty much stayed out of the fray after that. The swimming was great, especially with the hot 90 degree weather.

Be sure to check out the pictures of guy in the pink Speedo. I think his nickname is Beans, but don't quote me on that. He was extremely funny and affable. He was running around helping Deerhunter sell gear, dancing in the middle of the throng and generally being good natured about the gawking.

Best Continuing Education

2009-08-03T21:02:00.014-04:00

Philadelphia magazine's Best of Philly 2009 issue just came out, and I am proud to announce that the University of the Arts Continuing Education program was voted Best Adult Classes.

My pride for this recognition is two-fold. One, my day job is coordinating marketing and development efforts for the UArts Division of Continuing Studies. And two, because I teach for their Continuing Education program. Sorry for the shameless self promotion, but fall courses are now online and you can find and register for my Writing This American Life courses here. I'm really hoping the hybrid course gets enough enrollment to run. It's called a hybrid because the course is part online, part meet-in-class, and it's the first time UArts CE has offered anything like it.

Facebook Doppelgänger

2009-08-03T11:05:00.007-04:00

Today, one of my former managers who I rarely if ever see walked into my office area as soon as I came in, and asked me point blank 'Are you engaged?'

Naturally, this was news to me, I expected a project-related question.

He said that he saw a Facebook update from me. That I had gotten engaged over the weekend!! Special Facebook updates apparently get highlighted.

I'm not on Facebook...yet.

But he said that he added me as a friend a couple months ago. There was no profile picture but the name and the company matched. Apparently, there is another person who shares my name and works for the same company. And once my former manager vetted and added "me", 6 of my co-workers added "me" (which is weird because he has 27 friends)

My former manager did say that he did think some of my Facebook updates were kind of strange. I mean, he knows, I am a bit weird but some of the Facebook updates that my Facebook doppelgänger made were kind of outside who he thought I was (he didn't say what they specifically were). Finally, after this engagement surprise, we looked at the profile and we figured it out.

I was thinking of emailing my name-sharing counterpart congratulations...

But when I saw you were engaged, I was like, What??? How come I had to find out from Facebook! -Co-worker who is friend of "me"

Wedding Inspiration

2009-08-02T23:06:00.003-04:00

I thought wedding planning would be fun - but it is no fun facing the harsh realities of a budget, greedy vendors and sold out hotels. When you are planning a wedding in a two month window, you are bound to face obstacles. A few things pick me up when I am feeling overwhelmed.

1. My sweet angel Gabriel. He planned the rehearsal dinner, negotiated our reception deal, called every hotel in Old City to book the best deal for our guests, and registered us at Macy's and Anthropologie. He has been hands-on in every detail and he rubs my back every night to calm my nerves. I'm a lucky lady.

2. Peacock Feathers! My maid-of-honor, and best friend, she sends me caring emails, gives me her valuable opinion on everything from colors to flatware, researches ceremony sites and reception halls, assures me daily that getting married is fun and even deals with the people at Party Rentals on my behalf. She is everything a girl could want in a maid-of-honor and I only hope I can be as good to her when I get a chance to be her maid-of-honor next June!

3. Photos. If I need a little inspiration, I search through the archives at Style me Pretty and Snippet & Ink. You may find me sitting on the floor at Barnes and Noble, curled around the latest bridal magazine. And below are some of the photos that have inspired me the most. Clearly I'm in the early planning stages of color and theme.

Kids and Pets

2009-08-02T22:14:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting a friend's house, with my 5-year-old fabulous boy in tow. He had a blast playing with her boxer puppy and taking Polaroid photos around the house. So as we were walking home with said friend and said friend's dog, we heard a loud (LOUD!) cat's meowing coming from nearby. We looked around and found a sweet black and white kitty stuck up a tree -- it was just after the 4th, and there were fireworks going off nearby, which probably scared her up there in the first place.

Without thinking twice, I jumped onto a nearby chain link fence and climbed it. Then, I swung over to the tree and climbed that, and got the kitty in my hands. I passed her down to my friend (my son was holding my purse for me), and leaped clear from the fence -- it was that kind of chain link that has sharp edges at the top (in case I was trying to break into the house rather than just steal a kitty from a tree).

So I land on the pavement, cutting up my hands on the gravel and broken glass, and my fabulous boy says to me: "Mommy, you're like a kitty superhero!!!!"

Yes, folks. That was me. A Kitty Superhero.

So after that, upon discovering that she was skinny and didn't have a collar and wasn't spayed, I proceeded to take her home to my small apartment and my two other cats. I got her shots and had her spayed. I kept her separated from my cats, because they couldn't get along. I snuggled her, let her sleep with me, and generally loved her up for three weeks while waiting to find her a good home. And my son named her Snowdrop -- he's developing a sense of irony, apparently.

And finally I found a home for her! I asked a co-worker if she wanted a cat, and she said yes. We did the exchange yesterday, and my two little spoiled fluffballs seem all the happier for it.

But my son, after saying goodbye very sweetly and giving her a final pet, went over to the couch, sat down, and buried his head in a pillow. I went over and put my hand on his back, and he started to cry these awful, heartfelt miserable sobs that made me flashback to when I had to give up my childhood puppy of six months because my mother just couldn't deal with a dog in the house.

At any rate, FB came around and realized that kitty would have a much better home than she would have without our intervention. And I realized that I can't possibly rescue every stray cat I come across--but that when I'm faced with dire need, I will do what I can to help out.

If you would like to do what you can, you can help out by a) spaying or neutering your pets, and/or b) donating to your nearest no-kill animal shelter or pet rescue. Just google it, folks, and five gazillion hits will come up, complete with reviews.

If you feel like being social and fancy about it, there's the annual Fur Ball to benefit the Morris Animal Refuge in Philly. While I wish the organization was a no-kill shelter, they do good work in rescuing and finding good homes for abused, neglected, or abandoned animals. And you get to dress up!

Happy National Friendship Day

2009-08-02T15:39:00.003-04:00

Whew, that's a relief. Now I am freed of Facebook.

Free Shakespeare

2009-08-02T13:38:00.005-04:00

Since moving to Philadelphia in 2006, I've looked forward each summer to Shakespeare in Clark Park, free Shakespeare in an outdoor setting. Unfortunately, the weather has put a damper on this year's outdoor ambience--one of my favorite parts of the experience is being able to sit outside and picnic before and during the play. Tonight is the final performance of the season, and after having just checked their website, I see it's already been moved indoors due to the storms we had this morning and are likely to receive later tonight.

Still, whether performed inside or out, it's free local Shakespeare. I'll just have to save my bottle of wine and blanket until the free Rittenhouse Square "Concerts in the Park" series begins in a couple of weeks.

Party of the Summer

2009-08-01T23:39:00.003-04:00

Today, Philadelphia hosted a dream line up of musicians-- Baltimore artist Dan Deacon, LA pop punk duo No Age, and indie darlings Deer Hunter. Each act on it's own was worth seeing, but in a unique format the bands played played round robin. They were situated on three stages and one band would play a song and then the next act would play. The crowd which was at least 300 strong was jockeying for position. Moving around helped me get close to No Age whose speedy, aggressive 2 minute songs thrilled me. Although I got knocked down by a beefy mosher.

Not only were the performances stellar, but the venue was fantastic. It was the Flying Airport resort, an airfield with an airplane shaped swimming pool, volleyball court, and plenty of grass to spread towels and soak up the bright summer sun.

The hundreds of participants were a sight to behold with their pool toys, hipster haircuts and gleeful dancing. It was an amazing day.

Engaged!

2009-08-01T23:28:00.003-04:00

Hello! I know it's been awhile. I must admit, I've been a bit distracted. You see, after three years together, my former boyfriend got down on one knee and made me his fiance.

Here are his top ten moments of engagement day:

He invited me to Manhattan for the day and told me on the way up that we would be staying overnight.
Took me to Anthropologie to buy me this dress for Sunday brunch.
Acquiesced when I begged to stop off at the Kidrobot store on Prince street.
Pointed to a display case with a pair of custom Munny's surrounding a small vinyl TV set that said, "Will you marry me?"
Got down on one knee at the Kidrobot store and presented me with the diamond his father used to propose to his mother.
Made me cry tears of joy as tourists snapped photos and the Kidrobot staff wrapped up the Munny's he had designed by an artist out of Vegas especially for the event.
Took me to my favorite little arepa bar in the East Village.
Surprised me by secretly inviting my Aunt and Uncle to join us and toast to our engagement.
Took me to see my sister at her place of work for a late night dessert in Times Square.
Ended the evening telling me that I had opened up his world, that I was his sparkle and that he loved me so much that he never wanted to let me go.

Our wedding will be a celebration of the city where we met, fell in love, and will live as newlyweds. We will be married September 26th in Old City, Philadelphia. Let the planning frenzy begin!!

See a photo essay of our engagement events here.

Starting Anew

2009-08-01T22:59:00.012-04:00

It's been an exhausting and stressful few days, but I am officially moved and am writing from my new office in my new South Philly row home. Just in time for the 30-day blogger challenge, I have internet access and am ready to go. I may be surrounded by unpacked boxes and not be able to find the proper kitchen utensils when I need them, but by noon the day after the move, we were already cruising on the internet superhighway. I have my priorities.

Since the day of the move, I've been reminded how completely awful moving is. I've moved seven times in the last seven years. I stayed in a couple of apartments more than a year, but I also moved in less than a year a couple of times as well. I am so done moving. Granted, I said the same thing last year, but I believe it this time. Last year's move was to a smaller place--but it was cheaper and it allowed pets, two things we desperately wanted. We thought we could be happy there for at least a couple of years. However, the apartment proved to be just too small. My husband is an artist, and he didn't realize how important having a space to work--even just a table in a corner--was until he no longer had one. It just wasn't possible for him to have a designated work space in our old apartment. Now, we have a three-bedroom row home. I have my own office--a space to write and work on the crafty projects that have been brewing in my head. My husband has a studio. The two of us and our dog could each have a floor to ourselves for the evening if we so desired. Glorious, glorious space.

The last two nights we went back to West Philly to finish cleaning our old apartment. I knew I would feel sad being back in that space, but I wouldn't have predicted the rush of pure emotion that overcame me that first night. As a looked around the empty rooms, I saw the blue paint that we picked out together and spent sweaty nights applying to the living room walls just a year ago. I saw the only home our dog knows with us, our first apartment as a married couple.

"We only lived here a year," Tim said when he saw my eyes swell with tears.
"I know," I said in a gasping-for-air-staccato as I began to cry, "but this place just has so many memories."

We had to go over there again last night to mop and clean out the refridgerator.
"Are you going to be okay?" Tim asked me in the car on the way over.
"I don't know," I said. "I thought I was going to be okay last night, and that clearly wasn't the case."

Last night I was okay until right before we left when we had the car loaded with final miscellaneous items from the basement, the refridgerator shelves sparkling and the floors mopped as clean as they were going to get. Tim and I stood in the doorway of our bedroom. The yellow walls I painted last summer still looked sunshine happy. Tim whispered goodbye to the apartment, and a lone tear began to trickle down my cheek. He put his arm around me, and I buried my face in his chest; physically exhausted from our week and sad to leave, I gave the place one last cry.

"As long as we're together, we'll be home," Tim said.
I knew he was right. We were about to start a new chapter. Together.

Barrymore nominations coming soon!

2009-08-01T11:11:00.003-04:00

It's an exciting time in the Philadelphia theatre community: on Monday at 4 p.m. the Barrymore award nominations will be announced. (No, not that Barrymore.) NYC has the Tonys, DC has the Helen Hayes awards, and we here in Philly have the Barrymores.

I am particularly excited because this will be my first event in my official capacity representing Theatre Exile. I'll get to schmooze and meet people and get phone numbers and so forth, and when people ask me what I do, I will no longer say, "Well, I've been in grad school forever, and right now I'm selling shoes." Yay!!!!!

If you're curious who gets nominated, check here. For more info about my company and the fabulous season line-up we've got going, check here. And for what I'm thinking of wearing for the awards ceremony ... maybe this?,

Vendors Wanted for Crafty Balboa, this Sunday

2009-07-28T14:24:00.015-04:00

CRAFTY BALBOA is coming this Sunday, August 2^nd by the fountain at the intersection of Tasker and Passyunk Ave.

Vendors for the craft fair (with a modest $20 vendor fee) are being sought.. Artisans of all kinds welcomed- jewelers, printmakers, clothing designers, potters, glass artists, etc. If you are interested in becoming a vendor please email them at craftybalboa at gmail dot com

One vendor, known as catFlowers will be featuring her jewelry and hair accessories. She is a local Philly artist, who has the most awesome Tumblr blog.

The South Philly craft market is held in conjunction East Passyunk Business Improvement District's 4th Annual DooWop Car Show and Street Festival.

Both events run from 12pm to 5pm.

Nothing is better than the marriage of craft and retro cool doo wop if you ask me.

The DooWop is held on East Passyunk Avenue, between Dickinson and McKean Streets. There will be a classic car show and it will feature live music, an all-day DJ on the 1900 block and an appearance from WOGL. (Did you guys know WOGL now plays 80's music as part of its oldies format? Egad.)

Vendors for the DooWop are welcome, all car or vendor inquiries should e-mail pciambrello at comcast dot net or call 267-307-8662

Obvious note: Passyunk Avenue will be closed to traffic from McKean St. to Dickinson St.

Ten Tips on Finding Cool Things to Do

2009-07-28T10:18:00.003-04:00

It's Monday morning and you roll in to work and people are chattering. About their weekends. And you realize, that you missed an interesting opening, party, performance, whatever. Or you log onto Facebook and scan the dozens of photos of people laughing, hugging, and mugging for the camera. And you think, I wish I was there. So then, how do you keep abreast of the interesting happenings in Philly? I have a few ideas that I use to keep you immersed in what's going on.

1) Says yes, often. The best way to get invited to things is to show up for things. And the best way to learn about cool stuff is word of mouth. If somebody tells you about something, just go. At the very least you get to build a relationship with the inviter, but more often you get to meet awesome new people and try things. Once you show up once, people will LOVE to invite you back. Really simple advice that works.

2) Ask people about their plans. Bloggers do this routinely. PhillyWeekly and the Citypaper are constantly asking for event listings. I'd never be able to write for One Fine Philly if I didn't hound people about their plans.

3) Crash the party. This tip works, but it gives me agita. I get nauseous when I show up something where I don't really know anybody. Three things happen when I do this: 1) I meet people or see someone I know, 2) I meet nobody, but have a good time being one of the crowd, or 3) I flop majorly and leave early with no harm done.

4) When nobody will go with you, go anyway. Let's face it. Everybody is busy. And many people are broke. If you have the courage to follow this tip, you will never, ever have a boring night in front of the computer or tv again. I have a whole slew of tricks for having fun and not looking out of place being alone at an event. But I'll save that for another blog post. Seriously, I do this. Often.

5) Network for a social life. I network for my social life mostly online (plus my coworker/friend knows the awesomest stuff in town). On Twitter and Facebook, I follow/friend about 200 people who are event planners, DJs, scenesters, artists, musicians, geeks, or generally people who have a good time. Probably in a given week, I get at least 50 invitations of interesting stuff to go to. I only wish I could go to everything. For example, there are several outdoor film showings in Philly this summer. And I haven't been able to make one yet. Bummer.

6) Follow the "experts" in your interest area. I'm not the person in the know. Definitely not, but I follow people who are. On my Facebook, I routinely check the invites of several people whose taste is similar to mine. These are people who have 1,000 friends and seem to go to the coolest parties. You can RSVP to an invite that you didn't receive personally- just click the link of their RSVP.

7) Don't neglect traditional event listings. What I love about the Citypaper and Philly Weekly is they highlight events off the beaten track. They have a knack for knowing what events are worth attending. I'm partial to Citypaper's DJ Nights, but that's because (as you all know by now) I am fanatical about dancing.

8) Share and promote other people's events. When you hear about something, spread the word. In kind, they will do it for you. Underneath event attendance is relationship building.

9) If you can't make an event, follow up on it anyway. I have to miss several events each week, but I'll read the reviews, look at the pics on phrequency.com, and ask people to tell me stories.

10) Ask One Fine Philly contributors to give you ideas. We share info to each other privately because not everything is worth publishing. Or we don't have time to post it up because we're too busy going to stuff. Post a comment asking about stuff-- we all get notifications via email and will get back to you quickly if we can.

Jump on Wuffaoke Bandwagon (or Winnebago)

2009-07-26T16:39:00.002-04:00

Don't ask me to explain, but a group of people have been traveling across the country in a mobile home and are promoting karaoke.

They are in Philadelphia today at the Piazza at Schmidt's from 5 - 9, National Mechanics 9 - whenever.

Tomorrow they will be at The Sailor Jerry Store (13th and Sansom) from 5 -7 pm.

One of the wuffaoke people is from Philly. So this gotta be great.

I'm going to the Piazza and maybe to National Mechanics to see it. I know it sounds strange and it is, but having read the tweets from on the participants it sounds like a good time. Bring a camera because there's a pug involved too.

For more info see Facebook invite.

I Hope You Dance

2009-07-26T07:29:00.003-04:00

If you have not yet seen the JK Wedding Entrance Dance...

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder, You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger, May you never take one single breath for granted, God forbid love ever leave you empty handed, I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance, And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance....I hope you dance." -'I Hope You Dance', Lee Ann Womack

Crimes Against Shoe-manity; or a How To List

2009-07-24T19:39:00.006-04:00

Philadelphia is no stranger to fashion. With Joan Shepp, Knit-Wit, and now Barney's Co-op lining Walnut Street, and Boyd's just around the corner, caché designers are readily available, and all the other shops follow along with everything from cheap punk to pricey prep. Heels, in particular, cross the fashion spectrum, and everyone from society mavens to tattooed moms sport dizzyingly high stilettos and platforms on occasion.

Too bad not everyone can walk in them. There is nothing more unattractive than a well-dressed woman who carries herself like a linebacker or a disaffected pre-teen; and somehow the higher the heel, the more obvious the offense. As I walked along Walnut Street this afternoon, I was a few paces behind a well-toned, beautifully coiffed, impeccably dressed woman in a pair of gorgeous YSL stiletto pumps. As she swaggered along, no doubt thinking she was all that, I figured that my 5-year-old could have easily run between her legs, such was the distance between her knees. Her toes pointed out at a diagonal, and overall she looked more like a muppet than a minx.

It has been remarked frequently that I can walk in heels. And I mean walk. And so I feel it my duty to share with you, lovely readers, some tips that can help you strut more like Heidi than like Kobe, regardless of the height of your heels.

Align your spine. Knees, hips, shoulders, head, all should be on the same vertical plane. Unless you want to look like you're wearing a bustle, don't stick your butt out; leaning forward gives you that learning-how-to-roller-skate off-balance look. As you walk, keep your head over your hips and your hips over your feet. Shoulders back, abs in, etc.
To the best of your ability, place your feet one in front of the other, as if you were walking on a straight line drawn in front of you. You don't have to be extreme about it; the point is to have your legs brush each other just a bit as you walk, rather than having a visible gap between your knees. A natural stride may well have you placing your feet straight forward from your hips, and since your hips are spaced out your feet would be too. However, walking in heels is not natural. Remember that, and think "tightrope."
Point your toes forward, not out. Leave the turned-out hips in ballet class and keep those feet parallel.
Imagine you're walking on your tiptoes. You'll lose your balance if you think you can put your weight down on your heels. Your weight will rest on your heels simply because of the height; don't do the standard heel-toe walk or you'll constantly be catching them on the pavement and tripping.
Slow and steady doesn't mean you have to take baby steps. For more advanced walkers, lift your knees a bit more than seems normal to allow you to take a longer stride without leading too much with your heel. But don't do the runway pony walk, this isn't ANTM.

If my little tips help to rid the streets of Philadelphia of the scourge that is bad walking, I'll have served my purpose. And maybe it'll give some of you who've resigned yourselves to ballet flats the urge to try for an extra inch or two!

And for the boys: my friend and colleague Mike at Modus Wardrobing offers his glossary of mens' shoes. Check it out!

Split post: I got a job!!! and why Philly rocks in a recession

2009-07-23T22:37:00.008-04:00

Well, friends, I haven't been blogging a whole lot lately, because I've been overwhelmed with nerves about The Perfect Job For Me, for which I interviewed and about which I was kept on tenterhooks for a week. Well, guess what: I got it!!!!

I am the new External Relations Director for Theatre Exile, my favorite theater company here in Philly, and I cannot wait to get started. In fact, I start tomorrow. The company is small but growing by leaps and bounds, and I want nothing more than to be with them five years from now when, mark my words, they OWN the Philadelphia theater scene!

This is huge for me, because it is quite literally the very first time I have had a job I really really really wanted, was excited about, could see myself doing for a career. Amazing.

Of course, the pay is what can be expected from a small non-profit arts organization, particularly now. So I'll be keeping that shoe store job, and trying to move to a cheaper apartment in South Philly.

And now for the economic musings portion of the post: Maybe I'm wrong, but Philadelphia seems to be weathering the storm. I know a bunch of still-unemployed people, but I also have seen several friends put their skills and talents to work for them in different industries from where they started. Construction continues apace, new shops open as others close, and bars and restaurants are still packed pretty regularly. Let's face it: as major cities go, Philadelphia is cheap. My 2-bedroom bi-level just off Fitler Square is under $1000 a month. A cab ride from one end of town to the other is about $10, maybe $15 tops. You can eat really well for $15, and catch some great entertainment for free to $50. On nice days the parks are packed with people enjoying live music, watching jugglers or acrobats, or reading a book. And how many of us don't own cars? No gas, no parking, no insurance ... no problem.

I'm telling you, during the recession as in times of plenty, Philadelphia is the place to be. So stay tuned here for our suggestions of cheap/free things to do, and please feel free to send us some of your own! And, oh yeah, wish me luck on my first day of my new career!

Dance Summer

2009-07-23T13:08:00.019-04:00

I've been doing so much dancing lately, that I haven't had time to blog about dancing. As we hit the halfway point of the summer, I am feeling the itch to diversify my dancing options a bit. And this weekend is fantastic for hearing music and moving across the floor. This is only a small sampling of the options. There are other parties that look interesting in Atlantic City and NYC, but I am going to stay close to home this weekend.

FRIDAY

Prive Lounge on corner 3rd and Market in Old City. (246 Market)

View Facebook invite here.

Official launch party for dance.philly. Fridays featuring an all-star DJ lineup of:
LuVitt
Joof Citty and
Moo B
with DJ Germ spinning in the back lounge

In addition to DJs there will be a live broadcast on internet radio station Philly-EDM.com. There will be filming of a dance.philly. promotional music video during the party, so either dress nice or hide from the cameras. (I will be hiding).

This event is a pretty big deal ever since Lounge 125 changed it's format away from house music. Prive now offers a new option to house heads in the city.

$5 Cover; Guest List gets NO COVER

Email JadenK99@gmail.com for guest list OR send a message to facebook group "dance.philly."

Kung Fu Necktie at 1248 N. Front Street in Fishtown.

No Cover, ever
10-2

View Facebook invite here.

DJ's Billy W & Ryan T spinning a mix of disco that sounds quite tasty, including European-based disco aka Italo disco.

For those of you who have not experienced Italo (which is disco music developed after the 1970's in Europe), it's a treat. Although Italo may be an acquired taste. Here's a sampling for you.

And here is a delightfully garish, glittering web site devoted to Italo disco.

SATURDAY

X-mas in July 2009

Location: The Northeast Pole, 9227 Walker Street (NE Philly)

Second annual mid-summer outdoor celebration/bbq/show!

Tickets $12 - 15

View Facebook invite

This event I heard from a friend of mine in the Philly band British Lit. He wants all of you to know about it and come. This strikes me as the most interesting of the dance/music options for the weekend. And if you don't live in Northeast Philly, this may see like a haul, but really public transportation isn't that bad.

The tip for this party I got from the 51:51 blog. The 51:51 aka FiftyOne:FiftyOne site is an amazing dance party planner for me. Check it out- it has a nice layout and covers a broad range of dance music in Philadelphia.

Well, I'm going to stop now since my fingers are tired and after this weekend, I think all of me is going to be tired. But happy.

Hey, you guys!

2009-07-23T10:46:00.007-04:00

I was never a crazy fanatic of The Goonies movie. In fact, besides half-watching it at a slumber party in elementary school, I don't think I saw it all the way through until I was in college. Then, I moved to Portland, Oregon where people referred to Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach as "the Goonies rock." I had to rewatch the movie to see it (the movie supposedly takes place in Astoria, a good 40 minute drive north of Cannon Beach), and I realized it was indeed a really good flick.

Anyway, I was excited to see they are playing the movie for free on the Schuylkill Banks tonight at 8:15 pm. I love outdoor movies. Especially when they're free. If it doesn't rain, you may see me there.

Liar

2009-07-18T11:13:00.021-04:00

When my sister or I would change our minds as kids or simply be wrong about something, we would always be quick to jump with the "Liar!" accusation. This displeased our mother greatly and she would often say, "She's not a liar. She's just mistaken."

So, yesterday when I promised that my next post would not be about West Philly, I was not lying. I was just mistaken.

Although I haven't yet been to The Gold Standard, I spied the empty space and "For Rent" sign at 4800 Baltimore Ave for months imagining my own coffee shop and writing center within the walls. Now, the people from the now closed Abbraccio Restaurant have opened a cafe/restaurant in the space and their Grand Opening is the weekend.

Notes from their newsletter:
Saturday at Noon, Adimu Kuumba, African percussion ** this is the best time for KIDS! Adimu really enjoys having kids help him play on his different drums and flutes, and we'll have free cookies and ice cream for kids of all ages.***

Saturday at 5pm, West Philadelphia Orchestra

Sunday at Noon, Loren Gildar, guitar-vocal

Sunday at 5pm, Chris Aschman, jazz trumpet

What Gives? Is it a Casual Café? or Fine Restaurant? YES!

Café:

Monday-Tuesday 7am-7pm | Wednesday-Friday 7am-9pm | Saturday-Sunday 8am-9pm

Restaurant, Dinner:

Wednesday-Sunday 5-9pm

Brunch:

Saturday-Sunday 10am-2pm

Did you Know?

The Café (Counter-Service) in the Front Room:

Every day our full-service kitchen prepares:

15 Different Sandwiches, 5 Different Egg/Tofu Dishes,10 Different Salads, A Daily Quiche, 2 Different Soups

Great Desserts, Cupcakes, Brownies, more! Ice Cream! Gelato!

The Restaurant (Waiter Service BYOB) seating in the back Red Room.

We prepare seasonally changing Dinner + Brunch menus; you can order anything on the Café menu also!

The Red Room is available for Private Parties Mon-Tues nights and weekdays.

I'm curious to check it out. Has anyone been there yet?

Baked Love

2009-07-17T22:00:00.002-04:00

Corporate fundraisers, wedding favors, opening nights, housewarmings, graduation parties? Think cookie!!!

I'm going to let the photos of Zoë Lukas's amazing cookies from Whipped Bakeshop, based here in our lovely city, speak for themselves ...

(via Whipped Bakeshop's flickr photostream, which you should definitely check out.)

A Michael Nutter cookie? Wow. Love him, hate him, you have to appreciate the artistry.

And, oh yeah, she also does cakes.

From the website:
"Zoë went on to earn a degree in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and her paintings have appeared in numerous shows. Zoë's love of art and baking combined when she moved to Philadelphia in 2003 and worked for three of the top bakeries in the city, all the while continuing to create her own treats for friends and family. In 2007, she decided to take the plunge and start Whipped Bakeshop. Zoë vows never to work in a cubicle again!"

Here's to cubicle-less-ness, Zoë.

Without the Rose-Colored Glasses

2009-07-17T19:38:00.009-04:00

This week has motivated me to write about the things I will NOT miss about living in West Philly. Since my last post revealed how much I actually like West Philly, I'd be hard pressed to come up with a top ten. I will do a top five instead.

1. The trolleys. It's a love-hate relationship really. I love that I can catch the trolley right outside my doorstep. I like being able to get to work via public transportation and rarely use my car. Still, SEPTA sucks! I was late to work by 25 minutes on Thursday due to "a problem in the tunnel." When the trolleys finally did show up, they were backed up three within a span of one block. Earlier in the week I had to wait at City Hall for over 20 minutes just to get home during rush hour. Usually, the trolleys come every couple of minutes during that time. I hate the trolleys because they are so unpredictable and SEPTA does a poor job of communicating problems. While I'll still be taking SEPTA when we move, I will no longer be a daily trolley rider.

2. The mail. Now, this is probably not a regular West Philly thing, but it still caused me to yearn for my new South Philly abode this week. See, we have not gotten any mail since last Saturday. And of course, this is the week I've been expecting an important check in the mail. My husband says a trip to the Post Office feels like going to a third world country. There is always a line to the door with only one or two poor souls working. I filed a complaint Thursday after three days of no mail. When we followed-up today, we were told that the key to our buidling had worn out and the carrier couldn't get in. We gave them the information for our building management company, and the key situation will hopefully be resolved by tomorrow. I wonder how long this would have gone on before the Post Office did something about it. I think they were just waiting for someone to complain first.

3. The ice cream truck. I don't have anything against the ice cream truck itself. I still scream for ice cream. It's just the music and the all-the-time playing. There are downsides to living near a park.

4. Students. Now, I'm not your typical student hater. I work in academia. I enjoy being around students most days. However, in West Philly it seems Penn students bring with them high prices. Before we moved to our current West Philly apartment, we were priced out of our old one. The landlord raised our rent by $100 because he knew the students (and their parents) would be willing to pay it. In fact, the students who ended up with our old place offered even more than our landlord was asking.

5. I was walking my dog, thinking about my hateful post and all the things I dislike about West Philly. Trolley. Trolley. Mail. These things kept running through my head. Then, I got back to my apartment door and number five miraculously came to me: My upstairs neighbor who is learning to play the clarinet.

Next time, I promise my post will have nothing to do with West Philly.

Recession-friendly entertainment: PlayPenn 2009

2009-07-17T09:13:00.003-04:00

I've never been to a play reading before. I've considered it. A bunch of actors and actresses sitting in chairs reading a play through increasingly broken in paper scripts. Last week, my friend Mike re-piqued my interest in play readings by talking about how fascinating going to play reading(s) in the East Village/NYC were.

And I remembered the power of the human voice - there is no substitute for telling stories with emotion (click on the link for my favorite Public Radio program). In fact, to show my geek pride, AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be proved when a computer can convincingly read a play with emotion. E'nuff said - if you want to see a play in progress, go see a PlayPenn play next week (but RSVP to ensure a spot) - AI is a long ways off...

PlayPenn 2009 Conference schedule

Monday, July 20th
7:00 pm THE MORINI STRAD by Willy Holtzman

Tuesday July 21st
7:00 pm New Play Reading - TWO JEWS WALK INTO A WAR...by Seth Rozin

Thursday, July 23rd
8:00 pm - GHOST-WRITER by Michael Hollinger

Friday, July 24th
6:00 pm - Symposium: “Are We Talking To Anyone But Ourselves?”
Moderated by Michael Joyce with Alexandra Grant and Dan Rothenberg
8:00 pm - BLOOD AND GIFTS by J.T. Rogers

Saturday, July 25th
2:00 pm - Staged Reading of original works by PlayPenn's Writer/Interns
under the guidance and direction of Bruce Graham
4:00 pm - 410[GONE] by Francis Ya-Chu Cowhig
7:00 pm - APPETITE by Arden J. Kass

Sunday, July 26th
2:00 pm - THE SPECIFICITY OF PARADISE by John Orlock
5:00 pm - WE THREE by Mary Hamilton

All events are free and will take place at the Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. Because of limited seating, reservations are recommended.

If you wish to attend PlayPenn Conference events, please call 215.568.1434.
Credit: Creative Commons photo by paulandrews

Urban Renewal

2009-07-15T14:57:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was a rough day. After a long day of selling shoes, walking around in fabulous but decreasingly comfy heels, I headed out to meet some friends and watch the all-star game. (At The Keep, in NoLibs -- a great little bar with a patio in back!) On the way, I found out that my son has been getting into still more trouble at school; that getting divorced amicably is a challenge no matter how you slice it; and that my martial arts training hasn't completely left me. As I walked down Chestnut Street, a guy walking towards me kept moving in my way. I'd move, he'd move. He was obviously doing it on purpose. So when I was right up close to him, he leaned in with his shoulder as if to knock me down or make me flinch, and I did a rising block with my forearm and shoved him outta my way. Kept walking. Didn't look back.

So on my way home, I was still in a growling mood. In my head, stressing about a job interview, thinking about parenting, and so forth. As I entered Rittenhouse Square on the corner of 18th and Walnut, I noticed some skateboarders sitting on the wall by the entrance. One of them called out to me: Hey! Check this out! I looked, expecting something unsavory ... and what I got was this.

With a goofy grin, the one guy lifted up his skinny-jean-clad leg, and put his ankle behind his head. The other guy, with an equally goofy grin, just nodded, as if to say, "That's right. That's what I'm talking about."

I, who had up until this point had a Don't Mess With Me glare on my face, burst out laughing. It felt so good ... and suddenly I noticed the stars were out. There were lovers kissing on a bench. Someone had plugged Christmas lights in and decorated one of the stone urns in the center of the square. Others had brought plastic chairs with them and were sitting in a group, eating and playing soft guitar music.

I love Philadelphia. And what I realized last night was that the city loves me back.

Me and Meeko

2009-07-14T18:06:00.000-04:00

Cardboard Tube Fighting Tournament

2009-07-13T21:56:00.003-04:00

A story best told in photos and video...

Guy on Girl:

Wallflower in Battle:

Jersey Pizza Guy Gets Clobbered:

Battle to The Death:

Winner of the Naked Division, our own Sweet Caroline:

Winner Supreme:

The taxi home:

Overall Result:

Fun had by all.

Get to New Jersey Slowly

2009-07-13T16:30:00.004-04:00

Just heard that tomorrow (Tuesday) morning there will be a 5 mile fun across the Ben Franklin Bridge. The run is sponsored by Fusion Cross Training as part of the 10 week boot camp, which is being followed by NBC10. This 10 week exercise extravaganza is a fitness contest So this isn't simply a private group exercise training-- there might be some glamor with your blood, sweat and tears.

One contestant, HughE Dillon is a popular photographer and blogger in Philly. You can follow his story on his blog- Philly Chit Chat.

Therefore, this is a media event with a helicopter overhead. Don't know anything else because nothing on their website. But @FusionPhilly on Twitter is tweeting about it.

The details are spare: Meet at 7 am in front of Independence Hall.

This is one event I guarantee you won't be seeing me at. But if you go, let me know how it went.

Grease and Cougars

2009-07-13T10:03:00.008-04:00

Science on Tap: Fossils
Monday, July 13, 2009
6:00 PM
National Mechanics
22 S. Third Street, Philly, PA 19106
FREE (21+ or 25+ chaperone for kids)

"Science on Tap is a monthly gathering that features a brief, informal presentation by a scientist or other expert followed by lively conversation.

“Cold Hard Science: Fossil Discoveries in the Canadian Arctic and the Origin of Limbed Animals.

Daeschler, Associate Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Academy of Natural Sciences has done pioneering research collecting and describing Late Devonian fossil vertebrates in Pennsylvania and the Arctic. Presented by the Academy of Natural Sciences."

Grease Outdoor Movie & Sing-a-long
Monday, July 13, 2009
9:00 PM
Jamaican Jerk Hut
1436 South St., Philly, PA 19146
$5 at the door

"Go grease lightning you're burning up the quarter mile
(Grease lightning go grease lightning)"

Speed Dating: Older Women/Younger Men
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
7:00 - 9:00PM
Dolce Restaurant
239 Chestnut St., Philly, PA 19106
$40

"So....you're interested in meeting an older woman OR you're a hot cougar wanting to meet a younger guy....THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU!!

One of our most exciting and entertaining events, our Older Women/Younger Men event on July 15, 2009 at Dolce Restaurant and Lounge is one you won't want to miss! Younger Men (at least age 24) will meet Philadelphia’s finest cougars (not over 50, please). Come out and enjoy a free drink on us while you meet other singles who are professional, mature, and interested in meeting like-minded singles."

"What makes a design seem intuitive?"
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
6:30PM
Bossone Center Auditorium
Drexel University
31st & Market Streets Philly, PA 19104
RSVP required (email

If you are in the visual design field and you are *not* in the field of designing user interfaces for software, I guarantee you will learn a lot by listening to Jared Spool, one of the premier UX (User Experience) experts and teachers out there.

Jennifer Weiner Lecture
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
7:30PM
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine St., Philly, PA 19103
FREE (but get there early for good seats)

I paid $35 to go see Jennifer Weiner at Society Hill Synagogue. She is absolutely hilarious in person. She is a masterful, engaging storyteller (and writer). She was worth $35 for the entertainment value alone.

Sample: "When my mom came out (gay) in her late 50s, she really came out. She changed her answering machine and voicemail messages to: 'Hey, it's me. I'm out and I'm proud! Leave a message! Bye!'"

World Music Dance Party: Latin
Thursday, July 16, 2009
7:30 - 9:30PM
Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St., Philly, PA 19102
$20 (or try PhillyFunGuide $14 discount)

It's a bit expensive but if you're tired of the concerts with good bands where there is no room to dance and/or dancing is discouraged by methodical seating arrangements, check out Kimmel Center's World Music Dance Parties.

Pictures from last week's African dance party

Bikes/Trikes Family Fun Day
Saturday, July 18, 2009
1:00 - 4:00PM
Aviator Park, 1900 Block of Race St.
FREE

"Face painting, prizes, music, more
Create kinetic art sculptures with instructors from Neighborhood Bike Works
Dress up your bike and show it off in the
Bicycle Beauty Paegant & Parade (2pm)
Take park in bicycle safety demos with the Bicycle Ambassadors"

Art Loud Cafe
Saturday, July 18, 2009
7:00 - 11:00PM
Take the Lead Dance Studio
4701 Pine St., Philly, PA 19143
$5

"Poetry, music, film, dance". One of the best places to socialize and learn how to dance because it's not a club, it's a community corner magnet.

Philly Geek Party
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tir Na Nog
1600 Arch St., Philly, PA 19103
FREE

"Geeks + Music + DJs + Food + Booze = Good Times on a weekend night!

No cover and giveaways from sponsors TBA!

'We’re creating a party just for you! A (hopefully) monthly social meetup that will include music, networking, and socializing all in one place. And it will be on a weekend night. This is not your typical stuffy networking event. This is a bar night that caters to you. We understand you like to socialize, we understand you like to network, but we also know you like to let loose and party. This night is for you.'"

Credit: Creative Commons photo by laurenmurphy

2009-07-11T11:28:00.007-04:00

Hello. I'm Beth and this is my first One Fine Philly post. I'll be writing under the moniker Tallgirl and when/if you meet me, you'll see it's pretty fitting.

My husband and I just celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary last weekend, and at the end of July we'll celebrate our third year here in Philly. We've spent those three years living in West Philadelphia, but we're about to change all that. South Philly here we come! While I've loved living in West Philly (at least most of the time), we're getting priced out of the area where we live. In order to get more bang for our buck--which in our world translates to a space larger than one bedroom--we decided to make the move and change neighborhoods. So, for $100 and the cost of heat more a month (our current place has heat included), we're moving from a small one-bedroom to a three-bedroom South Philly rowhouse. Movin' on up...

Still, every time I walk the dog or hear the tree leaves rustle outside my window, I think of all I will miss out here in West Philly. Here's my top ten:

1. Clark Park - We've had the good fortune to live within a block of Clark Park in both of the West Philly apartments we've rented. The flea markets, concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, the kids battling with foam swords in the uber-intensive games of capture the flag, the snow sledding, the farmer's market--it will all be missed.

2. Clark Park Farmer's Market - It deserves it's own point. I will miss it that much.

3. Chester Avenue Dog Park - Our membership isn't up until October, so we'll still make the trek at least until then. But, we'll miss having access just two blocks away. I'll also miss Millie and Mable and Mona, Lou, Silo and Toaster. These are the dogs. I'll miss some of the owners too, but I don't know most of their names.

4. Green Line Cafe - Mmmm...coffee shop writing.

5. Vietnam Cafe - A fairly new addition to the neighborhood, I'm going to miss having their house special vermicilli just two blocks away.

6. Pattaya Restaurant - Take out from Pattaya makes me happy. Is there Thai in South Philly?

7. Dock Street Brewery - I love my Fig Jam pizza.

8. Parking - Be able to always find a spot in front, or next to, my apartment without driving around.

9. Trees/grass/greenery - Where we're going, there are no trees.

10. Ben and Adrienne - My brother-in-law and his fiance live just a 10 minute walk away. They could walk over and pick up our pooch when we were away for the afternoon. They could swing by for a movie or a beer. They can still visit us in South Philly, but it was nice having them so close.

I'm sure there will be many things I'll come to love about South Philly, and I look forward to discovering them. Still, I'm open to any suggestions. I should be packing this afternoon--my shelves of books are calling my name. Instead I think I'm going to head over the Flea Market at Clark Park. While it's still just a block away.

Photo: Philadelphia Orchestra at Clark Park with aforementioned Ben and Adrienne in the foreground.

Pretty Picture Walls

2009-07-11T11:00:00.002-04:00

Trailer Trash Living

2009-07-10T16:35:00.001-04:00