The Spirit of Penn's Garden - August 24, 2016 by The Spirit

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WEEK AUGUST 24, 2016 VOL. 1 NO. 28

KNOW YOUR HISTORY Today, we know Brewerytown Square as a residential and commercial community. But what used to stand there before the development occurred? 4

OP-ED On the unfunctionality of Philly’s open government machine. 5

ANIMAL FARM TO TABLE The Renegade Company is putting a new spin on a classic tale. 8

ACCU-REGGIE 7-day weather forecast for the region. 3

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Events and happenings in our neighborhoods. 7

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

he Olympics may be over, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating our favorite athletic competitions. When cheering on a team or sport, we often find ourselves watching from the stands, couches or restaurant tables wearing our respective teams’ attire with pride. For Ebun Olaloye, that isn’t enough. He wanted more, and instead of finding it, he created it: Live. Breathe. Futbol (LBF). Olaloye, who’s originally from Lagos, Nigeria, moved over to the States at the age of 10. While growing up in New Jersey he would hand paint T-shirts with different graphics of things he liked. This would be what initiated his dream of owning a clothing line, a dream that continued to grow in college at Temple University. There, he began making shirts with his favorite soccer players printed on the front. On his 21st birthday he came up with an idea to create 21 shirts and sell them to whoever wanted them. Olaloye posted on Twitter, where he frequently talked about soccer, that he was going to sell these 21 shirts and they sold rather quickly, surprising the soon-to-be college graduate. These were the beginning steps toward the LBF lifestyle. “That was kind of how the brand started,” Olaloye said. “It still wasn’t a business, really. It was just me making shirts that I liked. It was like, ‘Well, I’m going to graduate in a year; what am I going to do with my life? What is going to be special about my story? I am going to start this brand Live. Breathe. Futbol.’”

While attending Temple, Olaloye met many friends through soccer as they spent many nights playing pickup games at 15th and Norris Street on Geasey Field. This was their stress relief; they would play for hours, building relationships with fellow fans of soccer. It was at Geasey Field that he met his future business partner, Dom Cucinotta. “We had done stuff together before,” Olaloye said. “He was a film major at Temple and one of his first projects was a soccer video. I knew he was passionate about the game. We played together. I trusted his eye for certain visuals and I knew that I wanted LBF to be a visual brand. I felt like he was the right person to bring on as a business partner. We kind of have been doing it together since.” The next step for them was to begin expanding their product selection; no longer was LBF going to be just soccer T-shirts. They started making hats, sweaters and scarves that were tailored to those seriously devoted to the game. The LBF brand continued to grow on an international level and now has customers and followers as far away as Scandinavia, Seattle, Vancouver, France and beyond. Through social media, Olaloye and his team are able to share their love for soccer with the world, from players to fans alike. He runs his brand in a holacratic way: He wants people to be passionate about the company and wants them to come into the office (if they so wish). With this mentalContinued on Page 2.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

Photos courtesy Ebun Olaloye

ity the work pressure is based on when you come up with a new idea organically as opposed to forcing it. “Figuring out where the business needs to grow, what needs to happen, how do we keep things going, that’s always the hardest part,” Olaloye said. “You never want to stay exactly where you are. You always want to grow.” LBF just released their third collection, Maestro. This part of the brand is a twist on your average jacket and pants one would wear to play a game. What LBF brings to the table in this collection, different from other name brands, is constructed to fit what a soccer player would want to wear while playing. Their team went through a process of trial and error in order to figure out exactly what was going to work for their followers. “We are willing to take risks and try things out because we can do that,” Olaloye said. “We don’t have big people saying, ‘No, you can’t do that, do it this way.’ So far it’s worked.” Olaloye and friends still get together for pickup games around different parks in the city as well as traveling to different places to curate vlogs on LBF’s YouTube channel. He is also involved in different adult leagues with friends and continues to stay up to date on the latest Arsenal game or soccer in general. You can check out and purchase Live.Breathe.Futbol products at livebreathefutbol.com •

(Left and Right): Ebun Olaloye models Live. Breathe.Futbol clothing.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016 FORECAST FOR PENN’S GARDEN

accu reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE

his past week brought more heat and humidity before nicer weather finally prevailed. This month has delivered day after day of sweaty and sometimes unbearable 90+ degree weather. However, Monday and Tuesday were absolutely perfect weather days at 80 and sunny. What will the rest of the forecast period bring? Will it be more monster heat or more “normal” summer weather? We will hit 90 again this week, but it won’t be as consistently hot as last week. It will be in the 80s most of the time with generally lower humidity levels. Honestly, the weather this week will be kinda boring: no front with strong thunderstorms, no extreme heat and no early ar-

rival of fall weather. It’s time for some typical summer weather in Philly — weather that is perfect for doing anything outside. We continue along with our dry summer, as the only significant chance of rain comes on Tuesday. Oh, and keep an eye on the tropics this week: A hurricane may form in the Atlantic and try to move towards the Southeast US or up the Gulf of Mexico! Wednesday will feature plenty of warm sunshine coupled with temperatures in the upper 80s. Thursday stays warm and a bump up in humidity, but we keep temperatures just south of 90. The heat and humidity surge back on Friday as we get

back to the lower 90s. No, not again! Saturday is warm with plenty of sunshine! Overall, a perfect weekend is coming your way! The heat gets cut short this time. Sunday is much like Saturday with sunshine and warm temperatures. The humidity won’t be oppressive either! Monday is hot with increasing humidity as warmth from the South tries to surge North. We get back to the 90s on Tuesday and add a shower or thunderstorm chance as well. The weather winner of the week is the Weekend; the weather loser is Friday. •

Is there something going on a that’s a little funky in your neighborhood that you want us look into? Have something juicy you want to leak? Know of something fun or interesting going on that you think we should know about? We rely on sources like you for news that effects our neighborhoods. No tip is a bad tip. Drop us a line at news@spiritnews.org.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

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WRITTEN BY SPENCER HOMAN

know your history

THE STORY OF WHAT USED TO STAND AT BREWERYTOWN SQUARE

rewerytown Square at 31st and Thompson Streets has seen some vast changes in recent years. As ocfrealty.com reminds us, “It was not so long ago that the eastern view at 32nd and Thompson was that of a giant empty field.” The addition of 31 Brewerytown brought another 114 units to this block, which will most likely lead to more businesses opening and redevelopment taking place in the neighborhood. 31 Brewerytown’s website offers seven different floor plans ranging from $1325 to $1925, depending on how many bedrooms, bathrooms and balconies you desire. Many people may remember the controversies that arose over the development of this block between the African-American Business and Residents Association (AABRA) and the Westrum Development Company. Phillyliving.com explains that AABRA saw the real estate development as a way to “drive out lower-income residents who have lived in the area for generations” by the increased property value. Others argue that this kind of development would stimulate the local and city-wide economy while revitalizing the neighborhood. The aspect of the region that has not been discussed is: What used to stand here? Newcomers to the area may be surprised by the lack of breweries in Brewerytown. The very block where Brewerytown Square rests is the same location where the neighborhood earned its name. In the early 1800s, this area was barely inhabited, let alone developed. Maps from 1843 do not include Thompson Street, but by 1855, most of the present-day city blocks had been formed as well as all of the major roads from Brown to Montgomery. However, some streets have since been renamed: Columbia became Cecil B. Moore; Parrish was renamed Ogden (and then used to describe the street parallel and south of Ogden). Streets like Poplar and Cambridge did not yet exist. Charles W. Bergner established a brewing company in 1849 on 7th Street below Girard. A few years later, his son Gustavus took over the business. The business was small, producing 7,000 barrels of beer per year and employing 12 men. In 1870, Theodore Charles Engel partnered with Gustavus Bergner. Engel sold his old brewery at Fountain Green to park commissioners. The brewery at that time employed 180 men. According to a 1919 Atlantic City Directory, the brewery was incorporated in 1879 with a cash capital of almost $1 million. In the first year, they produced over 200,000 barrels of beer and gave half of it to the city, and the other half to southern states via 40 refrigerated train cars. Bottlebooks.com explains that the train cars were an investment of $30,000. By 1883, Bergner and Engel’s was producing 210,000 barrels of beer annually. Merging breweries made both brewing families extremely wealthy. The New York Times even published an article on April Brewerytown Square/Photos by Patrick Clark

Brewerytown Square/Photos by Patrick Clark

15th, 1886 about the wedding of Theodore’s daughter, Josephine. They called it “one of the most largely attended and noticeable social events of the season.” The Times described the couple thusly: “The bride, who is a brunette, and in great contrast to the bridegroom, who is a blonde, looked strikingly handsome in white satin trimmed with rich lace, and wearing magnificent diamonds.” About 70 people attended the wedding at Theodore Engel’s house. An orchestra played during a dinner that featured “several brands of champagne.” Carriages blocked the streets for several hours before and after the wedding. “Quite a number of prominent politicians were also present.” Frank Hamilton Taylor’s book, "The City of Philadelphia as It Appears in the Year 1894", states that the Bergner and Engel Brewing Company had a “capital amounting to $4,800,000.” Because of the great reputation of the company, they not only gained “local fame” but also created a “constantly increasing demand in the West Indies, Mexico, and even in Australia.” At the Columbian World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893, “the exhibit of The Bergner and Engel

Brewing Company won the highest premiums and [was] awarded four medals.” Many drinkers considered the beer to be equivalent to the best Bavarian beers. Theodore Engel lived in Northern Liberties as early as 1850. By 1870, he moved into Brewerytown, and by 1880, his address was 2820 Girard Avenue. 2820 is just one door down from where Rybrew operates today. Engel’s house is also across the street and a few doors down from where German immigrant Gustave Leins operated a flower shop a few decades after Engel left the neighborhood. The flower shop now operates as the Monkey and Elephant Café. Theodore’s father, Wendell, died in 1890. He was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at 22nd and Diamond. Theodore died in 1894 and was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, along with many notable Philadelphians, including David Rittenhouse, after whom Rittenhouse Square was renamed. David’s great-great-aunt married a powerful lumber dealer from Richmond Street named Edward W. Gorgas. Prohibition was hard on Brewerytown. The breweries that opened back up after Prohibition only lasted a few years before shutting down again. The 1942 Land Use Map by the Public Works Administration shows the entire block on which 31 Brewerytown now stands as vacant. By 1962, American Stores Inc. was the only building on the block. In recent years, we have watched the block completely change. No longer is it a vacant lot; it is now covered with hundreds of residential properties. This is a part of a movement that phila.gov says is to “beautify” the neighborhood. There are plans to plant trees around the neighborhood, upgrade the Athletic Square, and, most importantly, “remember the past.” Phila.gov states that it has plans to commemorate the Philadelphia Athletics and other baseball history in the area. However, we know that there is much more history that belongs to the neighborhood called Brewerytown. It is the history of the Bergner and Engels Brewing Company, and a neighborhood landscape that is vastly different than the one we see today. •

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

WRITTEN BY JACK GRAUER

op-ed

O N T H E U N F U N C T I O N A L I T Y O F P H I L LY ’ S O P E N G O V E R N M E N T M A C H I N E

n an old sketch comedy bit, two bored airplane pilots get on the PA system and repeatedly assure passengers the plane’s wings aren’t on fire. Passengers grow more worried with each announcement. That’s kind of how it feels as city officials continually release new government data some people asked for while ignoring burning questions from others. Mayor Jim Kenney in April released city worker salary data. His office credited its “commitment to making the data of city government open and easily accessible.” “Ooh. Aah,” fawned the open government crowd. Stuff like salary data is great for journalists like me when we’re looking for some faceless public official to baste or to write another amateur league budget analysis. And Opendataphilly.org’s got a simple and handsome interface for viewing real estate and crime data: vital stuff for someone looking to make a sensible housing investment in the least “dangerous,” fastest “changing” neighborhood. The site's also got maps of farmers’ markets and the city's tree inventory. But it’s useless to someone looking for a Section 8 landlord that doesn’t abuse and/or extort tenants, for example. It's useless to someone getting a hard time from a police officer. What about results from racial bias exams people take when they apply for jobs with the Philly Police Department? Concerned residents asked about those records at a Police Advisory Commission this month. They also asked about information regarding abusive or otherwise corrupt officers. Last year, a judge forced the City of Chicago to release over 56,000 civilian complaints lodged against Chicago after. As a result, the public, journalists and defense attorneys now have a fairly comprehensive database of problem officers at their disposal. Police records are an open government highmark. But unlike Los Angeles, Boston and New York, Philly won’t even release basic stuff like its checkbook: a list of itemized, individual expenditures. The Philadelphia City Solicitor’s Office has informally argued with Spirit News that such a release would compromise government contractors’ private information. My point isn't that Jim “Constitutional Police Stop” Kenney’s administration would never put this kind of stuff online. I'd be thrilled if they made this article irrelevant by doing so. My point is that the bureaucracy in place encourages the release of certain information that helps certain people. And it discourages the release of other kinds of information, namely the uncomfortable stuff. In Philly, the Mayor’s Office itself directly hosts and funds the open government show. A firm called Azavea, which designed and mostly runs Opendataphilly.org, also cashes close to a million dollars in government checks a year: almost half the $2.18 million in net sales they reported during that time, according to Dun & Bradstreet. Former Mayor Michael Nutter created the City’s open government positions with a 2012 executive order. Now imagine that a future mayor takes offense to a data release that catches them from the chin up. She could kill the whole thing with another unilateral pen-stroke. This isn’t standard. Open government-related work in LA, Boston and NYC falls to controllers’ offices. As elected officials usually head those offices, they tend to enjoy

STOP AND FRISK DATA COLLECTED DURING THE FIRST HALF IN PHILADELPHIA'S 22ND POLICE DISTRICT BY RACE

Source: American Civil Liberties Union. Bailey, et al. v. City of Philadelphia, et al. Report 6, Tables 4A, 4B and Figure 4. URL: <https://www.aclupa.org/download_file/view_inline/2674/198/>. at least some autonomy from the mayor. And city law legitimates the controller’s office, not mayoral orders. This makes those offices harder to squash. Former Philly Chief Data Officer Mark Headd reflected on his stint at the job in a 2014 blog post shortly after he quit. “Don’t hang any pictures in your office,” he advised. And “[d]on’t get comfortable. Recognize that your time in public service is temporary… The contents of the cabinets and desk drawers are those that the previous occupant left behind. There are no decorations, few items with sentimental value, nothing to suggest permanence.” Kenney moved some chairs around within Philly’s open government organ this year. But the changes don’t break the power line from the Mayor’s Office. Until that happens, I’m keeping a tight confetti budget for what people in those positions and their private sector friends accomplish. •

You can check if your landlord's been to court with tenants in the past at the City of Philadelphia's Municipal Court and Philadelphia County Common Pleas Courts at these sites: http://fjdefile.phila.gov/efsfjd/zk_fjd_public_qry_00. zp_disclaimer https://fjdclaims.phila.gov/phmuni/login.do#

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

B Y PAT R I C K C L A R K

small biz profiles WE ASKED LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT BEING IN THE 'HOOD

Courtney Tripp, Owner, Fairmount Pet Shoppe (2024 Fairmount Ave.)

“We opened on a sheer leap of faith in 2005. My husband and I were living a couple of blocks away on Corinthian Ave. when I saw the for rent sign in the shop window. I just felt it was the perfect spot for a pet shop. One of the great things about Fairmount is what wonderful pet loving community it is. It just seemed like it would be a perfect fit.”

“We always have cats for adoption in our adoption window. We partner with Green Street Rescue, a local cat rescue group. We also like to have dog adoption events on weekends when the weather is nice. We are planning our next dog adoption event on September 10th during the Flea Market around Eastern State Penitentiary. I’m hoping with the large crowds that come to Fairmount for the flea market some dogs in need can find their forever home. We just totaled 500 adoptions at the shop since we started counting in 2009, and we hope to keep that number growing!”

“When we initially opened we only had enough products to fill half the store, so we had to divide the space with a curtain to make it look more full. Thanks to the support of our neighbors in the Fairmount community, we’ve been able to fill the space, and hopefully serve their needs more effectively."

Jill Fink, Owner, Mugshots Coffee House (1925 Fairmount Ave.)

“Since 2004 we’ve been committed to sourcing products locally. And whatever we can’t get locally we source fair-trade and often through co-operatives.”

“We’ve been here for 12 years, so we’re very rooted in the Fairmount community. It’s been interesting seeing families come in 12 years ago and now we’re seeing their kids grow up here and be molded by the community. When I think back to why I started Mugshots, I always knew that it would be rooted in community. For me it was less about coffee and more about creating a place in the community that people could gather around.”

“We do open mics on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9. The Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon is coming up soon so we’ll have specials related to that.”

Reddy Cypress, Co-Owner, Win Win Coffee Bar (931 Spring Garden St.)

“We wanted to create a small space where the surrounding community could have a safe, relaxed space where they can express themselves and enjoy themselves. We want to offer a little bit of everything.”

“We’re worker-owned. So worker-cooperative. We’re a cafe, bar, and kitchen. We source everything locally, sustainably, seasonably, or ethically. It has to fit one of those criteria for us to serve it or buy it. We make everything in-house from scratch such as our bread and almond milk. The idea is sustainability. Win Win actually stands for ‘waste not, want not.’”

“We have dance parties on Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday through Sunday, there’s something happening here. We do Sunday brunch and a coloring club comes around then.”

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

COMMUNITY

calendar N E W S @ S P I R I T N E W S . O R G • 1 4 2 8 E . S U S Q U E H A N N A AV E • 2 1 5 . 4 2 3 . 6 2 4 6 Tuesday, September 6 6-7PM RACE AND INCARCERATION IN AN 1850’S PRISON MEMOIR English and American Studies professor from Yale University, Caleb Smith is coming to Eastern State Penitentiary to continue their Searchlight Series. Smith recently discovered the earliest documentation of an African American writer who was incarcerated in New York Auburn State Prison. Smith will be discussing the prisoner’s, Austin Reed, memoir.

Second Thursdays GBCDC MONTHLY MEETING The Greater Brewerytown CDC holds monthly public meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30. Meetings cover a variety of community news and initiatives, and features new guests each month. Meetings are held at the GBCDC office at 3000 Master Street.

Every Saturday from June-September 9AM-12PM BREWERYTOWN GARDEN ORGANIC FARM STAND At 27th and Master Sts., the Brewerytown Garden will host a farm stand selling seasonal organic produce. Past sales have included collard greens, kale, mustard greens, broccoli and more! For more info, visit Brewerytown Garden’s Facebook page.

Saturday, September 10 FLEA MARKET Philly Flea Markets will host a market in front of the Eastern State Penitentary from 8AM-5PM, with over 100 vendors. Parking is available in the adjacent lot at the NW corner of 22nd and Fairmount. For more information visit philafleamarkets.org Wednesday, September 21 6:00-7:30PM GAMBA U: SECURITY BEST PRACTICES FOR A SAFER CORRIDOR Join Art Museum Area businesses for a discussion on security best practices to prevent loss while helping make the entire corridor safer. Security experts will be on hand to discuss products/solutions as well as incentives and programs offered by the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. Networking Events 1ST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 6:30-8:30 PM DIG - Philadelphia Commercial Sub Group Diversified Investors Group Meetup for London Grill 2301 Fairmount Avenue For more info, contact Joe Scorese 215-290-5108 jscorese@ firstrust.com Tuesdays 7:00-8:30PM SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS OF ADOLESCENT & ADULT CHILDREN LIVING WITH ADDICTION AND BRAIN DISEASE Learn about substance use and mental health disorders every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Rodeph Shalom (615 N Broad St) Those affected can share experiences and resources as well as how to support their children anonymously. For further information contact Caron at 800-854-6023 or Rabbi Jill Maderer at (215)-627-6747 x216 or rabbimaderer@rodephshalom.org. Tuesdays, 7-9PM OPEN MIC NIGHT Mugshots Coffeehouse (1925 Fairmount Ave.) hosts an open mic night every Tuesday. For more information visit Mugshots Coffeehouse on Facebook. Wednesdays 5:00-8:00PM WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAMEPLAY Every week there are different games to play in the galleries of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Play with friends or with fellow visitors in friendly competition provided by the Museum. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215)-763-8100 Wednesdays 5:30-7:30PM MAKE STUFF A drop-in program to craft handmade objects or create art being surrounded by the art of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Activities include sketching, knitting, Lego fun or even creating a puzzle. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215)-763-8100 Wednesdays at 6PM YOGA AT THE ART MUSEUM Practice your poses with Dhyana yoga outdoors in the Museum’s sculpture garden. Class size varies. Weather Dependent and cancelled above 90 degrees. For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215)-763-8100 Thursdays, 12-1PM COFFEE AND CONVERSATION On Thursdays, The Stephen Klein Wellness Center opens up for the community to talk about what they please while enjoying free coffee and snacks. Anyone can drop in.

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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – August 24, 2016

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WRITTEN BY WHITNEY JOHNSON

Animal Farm to Table T H E R E G E N G A D E C O M PA N Y B R I N G S A N E W S P I N O N A C L A S S I C TA L E T O U R B A N C R E AT O R S ' FA R M

ood is an amazing concept. It fuels our bodies, gives us energy to take on the day and can flat-out taste incredible. The Renegade Company wants to start a conversation on how food and literature both effect our community. "Animal Farm to Table" is an installment that is taking your average interactive dinner theater to another level. The Artistic Director of The Renegade Company, Michael Durkin, has been thinking about this performance for the past two years and will finally make it a reality in September 2016. Durkin has built a relationship with local businesses and companies to help bring a conversation to the community about food. “We work on creating an environment where we can reflect and share what we are going through in our lives, in social media and internationally,” Durkin says. Durkin enjoys figuring out how classic books, movies and plays are interpreted or brought into our city. He has been doing this with The Renegade Company he created in 2009 with past performances of "Damned Dirty Apes!", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame...A Mute Play" and "Bathtub Moby-Dick." This specific performance is nothing different from what he is known for creating. Durkin wants to research the connection between "Animal Farm" by George Orwell and what people think about their food; he plans to do so with the help of the community. “Food is the most important part of our lives,” Durkin said. “It connects us, separates us, nourishes us; we even sometimes fight over it.” Those who come to the event will be walking through Urban Creators’ Farm (2315 North 11th St.) — a grassroots organization that helps transform inner-city neighborhoods to become safe spaces that were once neglected. As the show concludes, the guests will be making their own vegetarian dinners with the food picked in the garden. “We have been meeting with different organizations east of Broad and west of Broad to talk about where they see the city going in terms of food,” Durkin says. “The audience is very involved in the production and it’s very interactive.” One of The Renegade Company’s main goals is to engage all five senses and spark an organic discussion that otherwise would not have happened. The people of the community can be involved in this dinner theater by coming to Urban Creator’s Farm on one of the following dates: Preview - Wednesday, September 7th (6:30PM) Opening - Thursday, September 8th (6:30PM) Friday, September 9th (6:30PM) Saturday, September 10th (6:30PM) Sunday, September 11th (3PM) Monday, September 12th (6:30PM) Thursday, September 15th (6:30PM) Friday, September 16th (6:30PM) Saturday, September 17th (6:30PM) Closing - Sunday, September 18th (6:30PM) If you plan on attending and have any dietary restrictions, you are asked to email them to info@therenegadecompany.org. You may purchase tickets at http://fringearts.com/ event/animal-farm-table/ Tickets are $20 and there are discounts for seniors, teachers, students and people of the industry. If you are a resident of North Philadelphia, you are able to pay what you wish at the box office. •

No one understands small business like small business. We may be getting a bigger staff and more readers, but we’re still just like you. Work together with Spirit News to help grow your business and inform your neighbors. ads@spiritnews.org 215.423.6246

Photos courtesy The Renegade Company