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WEEK SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 VOL. 1 NO. 30
STEP UP TO THE PLATE Sights and sounds from the 10th Annual FBI-Strawberry Mansion Softball Game. 5
TRUMP IN PHILLY Presidential candidate’s visit to People for People Charter School draws protests. 6
MOVIE REVIEWS Short reviews of movies playing at 1600 N. Broad St. 8
ACCU-REGGIE 7-day weather forecast for the region. 3
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t TECH Freire Charter High School, head of school David Shahriari wants the students to know “success looks different for different people.” “At the end of the day, we’re not a school that says every kid has to go to college,” Shahriari said. “What’s important to us is that we’re providing kids with a quality education and when they graduate here after four years, they’re living positive, productive lives.” TECH Freire (2221 N. Broad St.) opened for its first year of school last
month. 313 ninth and tenth graders are enrolled in classes at TECH Freire for the 2016-2017 school year. Each year, more students will begin to attend the school until there are 580 students from grades 9-12 enrolled in classes. Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP) funded the opening of TECH Freire with a $1.9 million grant, an extension of the organization’s initiaContinued on Page 2.
Local author Michael Ferrence starts his new serialized fiction column with Part 1 of “When We All Went Away.” 8
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Events and happenings in our neighborhoods. 7
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tarting at 9AM on Saturday, September 10th, community members gathered to celebrate a day full of festivities at Strawberry Mansion Day 2016. The event kicked off as runners took their marks for the fifth annual Boxers’ Trail 5K, a 3.1 mile run/walk through Fairmount Park starting at Mander Playground (2140 N 33rd St.). According to Fairmount Park Conservancy, the path is named Boxers’ Trail because renowned pugilist and Philadelphia native Joe Frazier frequented the trail. Boxers-in-training still use it to this day.
Fred Jenkins Jr., a professional boxer out of Strawberry Mansion’s ABC Boxing Gym (1400 N. 26th St.), said he runs the trail every day. “As boxers, running teaches us endurance and pace,” he said. Following an award ceremony for the Boxers’ Trail 5K winners, Strawberry Mansion’s ABC Boxing Gym showcased a boxing clinic featuring many of the gym’s young boxers. “It means a lot to these kids and this community to be out here,” James Continued on Page 4.
Page 2 Continued from Page 1. tive to donate $100 million to schools in Philadelphia by the end of 2016. Since 2011, PSP has invested more than $50 million in district, charter and private schools across the city. Jacob Waters, a spokesman for PSP, said the organization wants “every child to have a great education.” “It’s a reality that Philadelphia students in certain neighborhoods don’t have access to quality schools,” Waters said. “When Freire applied to open up the new school, we were excited to support it. It really just comes down to demand from the families.” Freire Charter Schools have served children in Philadelphia since 1999 with another high school near 20th and Chestnut Streets. The organization also opened a middle-school campus located near 10th and Market Streets in 2012. Shahriari said each location offers a curriculum that is “real, rigorous and gets kids ready.” “There’s an insane amount of work that has to happen to have an environment where learning is going to occur and teachers are really going to be able to teach,” he added. All Freire Charter Schools have a shared leadership model. Kyle Hornley, head of school for culture and operations, and Sarah Grugan, head of school for academics, work with Shahriari to ensure TECH Freire’s extracurricular and educational programs are getting the necessary attention one person may not be able to offer. “We all work together. We all care about the kids,” Hornley, who has worked in Freire Charter Schools since 2007, said. The leaders’ main focus while collaborating is to create a safe environment that is conducive for learning. With no metal detectors or police officers monitoring the hallways, TECH Freire offers students resources for support, not discipline. Whether there is an academic or emotional issue, struggling students can participate in a peer mediation program, empowering kids to help their peers work through conflicts, or talk to one of the school’s multiple social workers and counselors. Cece Woodridge graduated from Freire Charter High School near 20th and Chestnut Streets in 2008 and now has a full-time job as an administrative support in TECH Freire, an experience she said has been “nothing short of amazing.” Woodridge graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and public relations in 2013, an achievement she attributes to her education at Freire. “The biggest thing for me was the support system,” Woodridge said. “The teachers had a really good bond. They just showed they cared about the students.” TECH Freire is the third Freire Charter School to open in Philadelphia. The building the school is located in was originally built in the late 1920’s and was formerly used as a showroom and storage facility for Packard Motor Car Company. Unlike other Freire Charter School locations, most of the school’s attendants are from the surrounding community. By law, 60 percent of TECH Freire’s student population must be children who are from Strawberry Mansion. Hornley said working at TECH Freire, which is Freire Charter School’s most northern location in Philadelphia, has been an “incredibly unique experience.” “It’s been great to get to know the North Philadelphia community, to get to know the students who are now a part of our community and to get to build a really amazing
The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016
David Shahriar, haed of school at TECH Freire Charter High School. /All photos by Grace Shallow
school with an awesome culture and fantastic educators,” Hornley said. TECH Freire is also the first Freire Charter School to have a MakerSpace, which is a collaborative studio with 3-D printers, a laser cutter and engraver and computers with softwares like Photoshop or Adobe Premiere Pro. Shahriari also put a drill-press and a bandsaw in the MakerSpace to communicate to kids that digital technology and hand-operated tools have the same purpose: using technology as “empowerment, not entertainment.” “It’s more about giving kids confidence in their own ideas,” Shahriari added. “Here are these things and what they can do. When you just let kids run with that, that’s when you’re really going to see them do amazing things that are really going to be empowering for them.” The students’ first project in the MakerSpace will be creating signage to place in front of the school. No matter what the subject, Shahriari wants to encour-
age a “dialogue” between faculty members and students. “You have to include and value the voice of the people you are attempting to educate,” he said. “These kids, you can see them grow over time.” Interacting with the students has been a source of personal growth for Shahriari himself. Before he began working in Freire Charter Schools eight years ago, he bounced from job to job, including a position in the critical care unit of Jefferson Hospital as an EMT. He said it was not until he began working for Freire that he finally felt “self-actualized.” “This is the first place I had been where I could say, ‘Wow, the people here have motivations that are completely pure.’ It’s not tainted at all with cynicism or it’s not about money at the end of the day,” Shahriari said. “That was really liberating to me.” “If the adults stop growing, the kids are going to stop growing,” he added. “It’s just true.” •
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016 FORECAST FOR PENN’S GARDEN
accu reggie TWITTER: @ACCUREGGIE • FACEBOOK: ACCU-REGGIE
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e have had enough! We are absolutely, positively done with it! The monster summer heat that has relentlessly tormented us this season has just paid what should be its last visit. Yes, it will get hot again, but not THAT hot. This week we begin the descent to fall. Temperatures will be in the 50s and even 40s (in the suburbs) at night on Thursday and Friday evening. The summer muggies start off the week on Wednesday before giving way to the refreshing breezes of late Summer and early fall.. We stay mostly dry AGAIN this week; we only have the slight chance for a shower on late Wednesday and some
light rain is likely on Sunday. Either way, none of these chances are large enough to put a dent in the dryness we have been experiencing. I’ve got the feeling it’s going to start dumping on us soon. Wednesday kicks off our forecast with heat and humidity briefly spiking into the region. It won’t be like the oppressive heat we’ve had, but still pretty warm. A front comes through late at night with a shower chance. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are absolutely perfect weather days. Temperatures do not leave the 70s on Thursday and it will feel “cold” on Friday morning since our bodies are not used to the 50s yet. Friday is perfect,
but clouds move in late on Saturday setting us up for rain on Sunday. Sunday will start off rainy. It won’t be a washout, but be prepared for a couple hours of light rain. On Monday and Tuesday we switch back to gorgeous weather with plenty of sunshine and low humidity as temperatures settle nicely in the lower 80s. The weather winner of the week is the Friday; the weather loser is Sunday. Accu-Reggie is also in the App Store! Download the official Accu-Reggie iPhone App today! •
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Continued from Page 1.
The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016 Runner’s cross the finish line at Mander Playground. /All photos by Kaitlyn Moore
Lyons, ABC Boxing Gym’s assistant coach, said. “Boxing helps this neighborhood a lot. It takes the kids out of the streets and gives them something to do. It’s a very disciplined sport.” The festivities continued on to 8PM with free food and many community-based organizations set up to greet and provide information to the community. With temperatures reaching up to 95 degrees, the day proved to be a hot, but nonetheless enjoyable day for community members. A stage hosted singers and dancers that kept the crowd entertained throughout the day despite the heat. Ernest and Ben, two attendees, commented, “It’s been a good time. And the food was really good. All in all a great day.” “After today, we start planning again,” said Denise Clark, a member of the Strawberry Mansion Day planning committee. “It takes us an entire year to plan this. [Strawberry Mansion Day] brings a closeness here,” Clark added, “When we don’t come together, we are separate. But when we are together we can have fun and give back.” •
The top three men’s division winners of the fifth annual Boxers’ Trail 5k pose for a photo.
A young girl enjoys the water sprinklers at Mander Playground during Strawberry Mansion day.
Two boys enjoy the display at the Audubon Pennsylvania table, one of the many programs to partake in Strawberry Mansion Day.
One of the many performers to host the stage during Strawberry Mansion.
2020 Olympic hopeful, Isaiah Johnson of ABC boxing gym performs with his assistant coach, James Lyons, during the annual Strawberry Mansion Day festival.
Lauren Smith spars with James Lyons during Strawberry Mansion day.
Crowd members enjoy the performances showcased during Strawberry Mansion Day.
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016
W R I T T E N B Y K A I T LY N M O O R E
Step Up to the Plate 1 0 T H A N N U A L F B I - S T R AW B E R RY M A N S I O N S O F T B A L L G A M E
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trawberry Mansion community members and the Philadelphia division of the FBI sat side-byside on Tuesday, August 30th, tying their cleats for the 10th annual “Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence” softball game. Derrick Ford, a social worker from Strawberry Mansion and one of the organizers of the event, explained that the game wasn’t about winning, but about bringing the community together. “The media perpetuates what is happening with the multitude of cops killing African-American kids,” Ford said. “And we are trying to the kill the stigma of how these inner-city kids view law enforcement.” Families and children lined the field, looking on as their coaches, family and friends competed against members of the FBI. “It’s an opportunity for kids to be up close and personal with law enforcement and realize it’s okay to be an officer,” Ford added. The crowd grew heated, cheering and laughing as the plays became more intense. The FBI ended up taking the win 18-11, but Special Agent Bill Sweeney remarked, “If you ask me, it was a win-win on both sides.” After the game, the two teams lined to shake hands and pose for a photo to commemorate the day. A member of the FBI team, Daron, said, “They get to interact with us and see a different side of us. And sometimes in the job we lose sight of the human aspect of the people we investigate. This helps shed light on that.” •
Brandon Mundy makes it safely to third base during the 10th annual Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence softball game.
Organizers, players, family members, and both teams pose for a photo after an afternoon of baseball at the 10th annual Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence softball game./All photos by Kaitlyn Moore
Strawberry Mansion teammate, Brandon Mundy looks on at his hit during the 10th annual Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence softball game.
Brandon Mundy makes it safely to third base during the 10th annual Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence softball game.
Jahmarr Gardner, right, and Naji Reid Lawrence Lewis look on during the softball game in support of their friend Alex, the pitcher on Strawberry Mansion's team.
Tonetta Graham enjoys the 10th annual Step Up to the Plate: Strike Out Violence softball game.
The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016
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WRITTEN BY RUTHANN ALEXANDER
trump in philly
P R E S I D E N T I A L C A N D I D AT E ’ S V I S I T T O P E O P L E F O R P E O P L E C H A R T E R S C H O O L D R AW S P R O T E S T S
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uilding a wall is a major point of emphasis in Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, so it only made sense that a wall was one of the prominent images at the Philadelphia Coalition for Real Justice’s protest on Friday. Outside the People for People Charter School (800 N. Broad St.), Coalition protesters stood unfurling a banner painted to resemble a brick wall to symbolize their opposition to Trump’s presence in the city that day. As one protester at the microphone explained, “This wall is for Trump.” “We are tired of being incriminated and we are tired of racism,” she added. “This is the wall we’re building to tell him to stay out.” The controversial GOP presidential nominee held a private meeting at the People for People Charter School at 2PM on Friday, September 2nd in an effort to reach out to African-American voters. Trump was invited and hosted by Rev. Herb Lusk II who heads Greater Exodus Baptist Church, which is affiliated with the charter school. Protesters were critical of Trump for holding a private meeting with registered Republicans, such as Lusk II, who already support him and have pledged their vote to the GOP candidate. Local activist Paula Peebles had some choice words for Trump’s visit at the protest on Friday. “Shame on the pastor of the church for allowing him to come,” Peebles said. “We’re sending the message that we’re shutting Trump down.” Trump was not the first Republican presidential nominee to be hosted by Lusk II. In 2000, George W. Bush was hosted by Lusk II at his church where the Trump event was originally scheduled to be. Peebles said Bush “got a pass” then, but in reference to Trump said, “you do not get a pass for being an open racist. He’s sneaking into North Philadelphia like the rat he is. We will shut him down.” Local resident Diane Jones, who has lived in the neighborhood all her life, has been registered to vote since she was 18. According to Jones, she knows a thing or two about politics and will not stand for Trump being invited to the community. “It’s a smack in the face to African-Americans,” Jones said. “He wants to make America great, but American is already great,” Jones said. “I don’t know how he thinks he’ll make it great with his racist-behind-self.” Like many of Trump’s critics, Jones did not believe that Trump was speaking with people who represented all African-Americans at his private meeting. She said the Reverend and other community leaders were not speaking to Trump about anything that benefits her as an African-American woman. “If you want to talk to us, talk to people like me who's been working all my life,” Jones said. “Why would we pick him for president? He can take his racist butt back to New York.”
Protesters unfurled a banner painted like a brick wall to symbolize their disdain for having Trump in Philadelphia. Many voters, including the African-American and immigrant communities, find Trump’s words and actions offensive, especially his idea to build a wall at the border of Mexico and make Mexico pay for it./Ruthann Alexander
/Ruthann Alexander
Jones said of the pastor’s meeting with Trump, “They do not represent all of us.” Criticism wasn’t reserved for just the GOP candidate. Coalition activist Cornelius Moody was also critical of the presence of the Philadelphia Police Department because he said they were being paid that day to protect Trump, not the protestors. “I can’t help but point out that in a city that’s supposed to be about brotherly love and sisterly affection, we still seem to have a police force that… is obligated to be out here today to protect Donald Trump. Our tax dollars are paying the Philadelphia Police Department to protect Donald Trump.” Also in attendance at the protest was former third-party presidential candidate Ed O’Donnell who believes that Hillary Clinton and Trump are not focusing on the right issues in this election. O’Donnell’s platform focuses on no wars, a guaranteed job at $40,000 to $50,000 yearly for all Americans and
/Ruthann Alexander
mental health courses in all schools. He also believes in a non-violent foreign policy based on feeding, clothing, educating, housing and employing third-world peoples. A man in a suit named Jerry Lambert stood across the street from the action holding a sign reading “I love walls” and “Democrat for Trump.” He occasionally booed the protestors mockingly. Protesters also painted a sign that read, “Slaves made America great” as a criticism of Trump’s catchphrase “Make America Great Again.” Activist Melissa Robins responded to Trump’s use of the term “The Blacks” when referring to African-American voters. “I’m more than a black. I’m descended from slaves who built this country,” Robins said. There were no reports of arrests at the protest. The Trump Campaign held a similar event at and African-American church in Detroit on Saturday. •
/Ruthann Alexander
A man known as James Lambert (below, left) holds a counter-protest across the street. Lambert was supportive of GOP nominee Donald Trump’s policy to build a wall to keep immigrants from crossing the Mexican border. He is also a proclaimed to be “Democrat for Trump.” Protestors took Lambert's sign and struck him with it during the protest. /Photo by Jack Grauer
/Ruthann Alexander
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 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 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.
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 Practice your poses with Dhyana yoga outdoors in the Museum’s sculpture garden. Class size varies. Weather DeSeptember 13-October 14 pendent and cancelled above 90 degrees. INSTANT REPLAY COLLECTION For further information contact Philadelphia Museum of Art Instant RePlay collection of gently used toys/books at Ali's at (215)-763-8100 Wagon (2017 Fairmount) to support Smith Playground's Play for All program. RePlay, which organizes collections Thursdays, 12-1PM of gently used toys and donates them to organizations that COFFEE AND CONVERSATION work with kids and families in need in Philadelphia. We On Thursdays, The Stephen Klein Wellness Center opens see play as a vital childhood opportunity. Since launching up for the community to talk about what they please while in 2015, Instant RePlay has kept more than 1,000 toys in enjoying free coffee and snacks. Anyone can drop in. circulation. For more info visit www.aliswagon.com Tuesday, September 27, 2016 ANNUAL LIBRARY LECTURE: WHY THE BOOK STILL MATTERS Timothy Rub, The George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer, and Martha Hamilton Morris, Trustee and Chair of the Library Committee, cordially invite you to the Annual Library Lecture, Why the Book Still Matters. Noted book historian and digital humanities leader Michael F. Suarez, Director of Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, will consider the importance of books as objects and the future of libraries. 5PM Reception in Granite Hill, 6PM Lecture in Van Pelt Auditorium RSVP by September 21 to Marie Philbin at 215-684-7349 or ormarie.philbin@philamuseum.org. October 1-November 11 INSTANT REPLAY COLLECTION Instant RePlay collection of gently used toys/books at The Schuylkill Center (8480 Hagy's Mill Road) to support the Children's Crisis Treatment Center.RePlay, which organizes collections of gently used toys and donates them to organizations that work with kids and families in need in Philadelphia. We see play as a vital childhood opportunity. Since launching in 2015, Instant RePlay has kept more than 1,000 toys in circulation. For more info visit www.schuylkillcenter.org 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
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.
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The Spirit of Penn’s Garden – September 14, 2016
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WRITTEN BY DAN O’NEIL
Movies in North Philly S H O R T R E V I E W S O F M O V I E S P L AY I N G A T T H E 1 6 0 0 N B R O A D S T. "Sully" Clint Eastwood is one of the more iconic figures in film history, but his constant turns as director have been, if anything, almost better. In his latest effort behind the camera, Eastwood focuses on one Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, a pilot who, on the fateful morning of Jan. 15, 2009, landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River. With this last-second decision, Sully saved the lives of all 155 passengers and crew onboard and was praised, loved and adored by the general media, with some going so far as to call him a “hero.” While it was a proud time for Sully, America and, most of all, New York City, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes. There was an investigation into Sully’s decisions that day and whether or not he should get his captain’s license taken away. Eastwood’s movies tend to be mixed bags – they’re not always perfect, but they’re still good enough, with only a select few actually being bad. However, with “Sully”, Eastwood hits just the right notes to make a 90-minute movie seem justifiable. Over the course of the film we get to know everything there is to know about the titular pilot, without anything seeming phony in the least. Eastwood is a master storyteller when he wants to be and this time, along with the help of the always dependable likes of Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and a small performance from Laura Linney, he gets the chance to show the world that even at age 86, he’s still got what it takes to make a good movie.
"Mechanic: Resurrection" Though this film’s precursor, 2011’s “The Mechanic”, wasn’t all that much of a hit, for some reason, we’ve got “Mechanic: Resurrection”. The sequel returns with Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop and a surprisingly solid supporting cast featuring Tommy Lee Jones, Jessica Alba and Michelle Yeoh. The supporting actors bring what they can to this awfully silly material. Considering it's an action movie, it’s going to be looked upon with judgmental eyes; and it shouldn’t. “Mechanic: Resurrection” is a fine piece of late-summer, early-fall action that doesn’t ask for much attention from the audience. Its story doesn’t break any new ground – it’s basically just an excuse to watch Statham fly around and pull off all sorts of crazy, unbelievable tasks. But in an action movie that seems to be having this much fun, it doesn’t matter. All you need to do is go in with low expectations and expect loud bangs, shots, kicks, punches and Statham being a badass. •
WRITTEN BY MICHAEL FERRENCE
"WHEN WE ALL WENT AWAY" Pt. 1 HYPERLOCAL SERIALIZED FICTION
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just miss seeing her things lying around — shoes lying crooked along the wall, jeans on the floor, underwear turned inside-out and tangled in the sheets, earrings atop the nightstand, a toothbrush still wet with saliva, a cereal bowl in the sink, a purse on the sofa… A faint trace of perfume on her jacket… Her reflection in the mirror. I keep reliving our last conversation, replaying it over and over, thinking there’s something I could have said or done to make her change her mind. Her absence has left an enormous void, once filled with the many moons of my imagination. “Shut the hell up and play already!” “Nobody gives a shit!” “We came to hear some rock!” “Play something!” “Let’s go!” “Stop!” “Enough!” “Jesus Christ, we can’t take it anymore!”
I quit talking and we all stood there in near silence for a few seconds before Maxwell counted us in. I pulled my guitar firmly against my chest, gave the volume knob a quarter turn, strummed the opening chords to the recently released “When We All Went Away” and watched as the sound tore a hole right through the place. Even with everything on my mind, all that I was going through, I was immediately locked in, transported somewhere else, and we played even better than we had two nights earlier, the day before Elizabeth pulled the plug. “Dude, Jack, what was that many moons of your imagination shit? You hung us out to dry up there,” said Max. You could have started the song if I was going on too long. That’s on you. Click the sticks next time. “There won’t be many more next times if you don’t pull it together. I get that you’re in a bad spot right now but this can’t keep happening.” It won’t, I said. It didn’t. It took a few months, but I realized that girls come and go, relationships will too, but good relation-
ships will last. They won’t end. As much as I thought everything between Elizabeth and me was perfect, once she was gone, I understood that we were both better off. Once I started feeling less shitty, I was still able to continue doing all the things I enjoyed, and eventually found myself happier without her than I was with her. In December, a little more than three months after I almost put the crowd to sleep and nearly blew any chance of The Bumblebees blowing up, we had grown so much that we were able to land a headlining show at a much bigger place, a brand new venue in Brewerytown called The Fender, a retrofitted former auto showroom over on 33rd Street, just a few doors down from John Coltrane’s old house. Eight songs into a planned 18 song set, with 1,200 people stomping and swaying and singing along, as our momentum swelled, all at once the windows burst, the power cut out, and everything went black. Part Two of “When We All Went Away” will be published in next week’s edition of The Spirit of Penn’s Garden. "Many Moons Of My Immagination" Illustration by Luke Cloran. •