The Spirit of the Riverwards - August 10, 2016 by The Spirit

H Y PERLOC AL

DON E DI F F E R E N T LY

FISHTOWN + KENSINGTON + NORTHERN LIBERTIES + PORT RICHMOND + BRIDESBURG

THIS

WEEK AUGUST 10, 2016 VOL. 13 NO. 30

THE FIRE Northern Liberties staple, The Fire, is relaunching this Saturday night. 10

JUSTICE “SPEEDY” PEREZ Boxer makes amateur debut at Diesel Fit Gym. 9

DEVELOPMENT NEWS Find out what’s being built on your block. 11

PROJECT TRANS(M)IT New dance exhibition connects bodies and movement through technology. 6

WEEKEND PHOTOS

entucky has her bourbon trail, Napa Valley has her wine and, soon, the narrow streets of the Riverwards will have their very own boozy claim to fame: Distiller’s Row. There are five distilleries currently in Fishtown and Kensington and a sixth is on the way. They range from boutique operations like Rowhouse Spirits and Red Brick Craft Distillery to more commercially ambitious outfits like New Liberty Distillery and Federal Distilling. Philadelphia Distilling (coming soon to Fishtown) and La Colombe’s distillery round out the list. These distilleries are a recent phenomenon: Until 2011, when Pennsylvania created limited distillery licenses, it was nearly impossible to open a distillery. The relaxed laws allow for distilleries to operate as long as they produce fewer than 100,000 gallons of liquor a year. These licenses

also allow distilleries to sell their spirits directly to restaurants, bars and individuals. Though the distillers are in competition with each other, there is a sense of community and friendliness that recalls friends trying to one-up each across a bar. “The fact that we’re all here in Kensington helps all of us. It brings people to the neighborhood. I’ve had a number of customers referred from other places and I’ve referred customers, too,” said Dean Browne, owner of Rowhouse Spirits. All of the distillers Spirit News spoke with said that they were excited for the future of craft distilling in the neighborhood. Rob Cassell, founder Continued on Page 4.

Photos from First Friday and Second Street Festival. 16

ACCU-REGGIE Seven day forecast for the Riverwards. 3

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local events, meetings and more. 12-13

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

ummer beer gardens have been popping up across the city in increasing numbers in recent years — and a dozen more will be making the rounds in the coming weeks. Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation recently launched their Parks on Tap program, a mobile beer garden that will travel to parks across the city through October. Parks on Tap kicked off June 29 at the Schuylkill Banks at Walnut Street Bridge, and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden the following weekend. Upcoming local events include: Aug. 19-21 at Penn Treaty Park, 1341 N. Delaware Ave. Sept. 21-25 at Powers Park, 2987 Almond St.

Parks on Tap runs from 1PM-11PM Fridays and Saturdays and noon10PM. Sundays, with evening weekday hours at some locations. Parks and Rec commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell said the program grew out of the building popularity of pop-up public spaces, such as The Oval, which features a beer garden, live music, movie nights and more each summer at Eakins Oval. That effort, also a joint venture of Parks and Rec and Fairmount Park Conservancy, was slated to run for three years but is now in its fourth year. “The Oval was insanely successful,” Ott Lovell said, noting officials wanted to parlay that idea into a travelling effort to encourage Philadelphians to utilize city parks. “We thought mobile pop-up beer gardens Continued on Page 9.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 THE

local lens BY THOM NICKELS

ast week I participated in a press tour of Philadelphia’s new Mormon temple. As I made my way to the opening event, I thought of my introduction to Mormonism as a teenager. After a Mormon family moved into our neighborhood, I quickly read the only Mormon book in my high school library: Joseph Smith’s “No Man Knows My History.” Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church (established in 1830), claimed to have had a visitation from an angel who showed Smith where to dig up the ancient religious history of American civilization on a hill near Palmyra, New York. That history was engraved on metal plates and became "The Book of Mormon", which purports to be the story of Jesus Christ’s presence in the Americas after his death and resurrection in Jerusalem. Another memory this visit evoked was that of a trip I made with my parents to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Here I saw a number of religious sites, such as the Vatican Pavilion, a Russian Orthodox chapel, and the Mormon Pavilion. What stood out for me in the Mormon Pavilion was the famous copy of the Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue in Copenhagen, Demark. The tall, imposing white statue of Christ was conceived by the Mormon Church for the $3 million pavilion. Its sheer size and dominance not only commanded attention, but also helped put the Mormon Church into the popular consciousness. The Christus statue followed the accepted Mormon practice of representing Jesus as striking and extraordinarily handsome. Mormon Jesus was not a dark and swarthy Rembrandt likenesses, but a cleft chinned, blue eyed, well built golden haired gladiator. This is the Jesus of Jeffrey Hunter in “King of Kings,” not the thin, ascetically inclined Jesus in Pier Pablo Pasolini’s wonderful, “The Gospel According to Saint Matthew.” The New York World’s Fair, in fact, was a pivotal moment for the Mormon Church. “…The huge leap forward initiated by the Mormon Pavilion must be considered a seminal event in the evolution of the Church’s use of media in spreading the gospel message to the world,” writes Brent L. Top, dean of religious education at Brigham Young University. “From that time to the present day, the Church’s outreach through its use of technology and media has increased steadily and exponentially.” I’ll say. This fact was clearly in evidence during the Philadelphia Temple’s first media tour. The press group of about 22 people included members of both the print and broadcast media. A Fox News reporter was there along with her camera crew. There were other unidentified camera crews and a number of photographers, although no pictures were permitted inside the temple itself since it is considered the House of the Lord. The press met in the less than inspiring Robert A.M. Stern-designed Meeting House, the place for Mormon Sunday worship, since the Temple is reserved for marriages (and the “sealing” of those marriages for eternity) and for baptisms of the deceased. The tour was to last 2 hours with light refreshments at the end. There are 112 operating Mormon temples worldwide. At times, the building of such a temple or a Mormon institution has caused some controversy. In 1984, when ground was broken in the Mount Scopus area of Jerusalem for the Brigham Young University Jerusalem campus, all hell broke out. Ultra Orthodox Jews saw this invasion of Mormons from Utah as a proselytizing threat and sought to have construction halted. The Mormon Church had to hire security guards to proceed with the project. Mordechai Ben David, a famous Orthodox pop star, even composed a hit single titled “Jerusalem is Not for Sale.” Jerusalem is not for sale! Voices, crying, thundering throughout our cities, You better run for your life, back to Utah overnight, Before the mountaintop opens wide to swallow you in-

side. Today the BYU Jerusalem campus hardly raises an eyebrow, although students there must sign a contract promising not to missionize. Our Philadelphia Temple tour guide was the Harvard educated Larry Y. Wilson, who serves as Executive Director of the Temple Department in Salt Lake City. The silver haired Wilson had a sleek “father knows best” demeanor about him. He took us from the Meeting House to the Temple entrance where coverings were put over our shoes. The shoe coverings were to keep street dirt off the meticulously clean Temple floors and rugs. Inside the Temple, Wilson described the furnishings and the commissioned art on the walls, including several original murals. He also explained how the Temple’s features were aligned to fit a southeastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia theme, right down to the temple’s main door and frame with its bas-relief mountain laurel “Pennsylvania” blossom design. “We believe that the founding of this country was divinely inspired,” he said. The interior of the temple was an extravaganza of quality craftsmanship. There were no traces of the flimsy and cheap construction materials that you see in new construction all over town. There are no thin walls or doors that weigh a few ounces. One astonished journalist asked how the temple was able to ward off the sound of outside traffic. Wilson replied, “With very thick walls.” Press questions about the Mormon religion began early on. This was to be expected, given that much of the tour included references to Mormon theology and doctrine. These references were woven into descriptions of the temple’s Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns, the decorative lighting, flooring, the outside fence, walkways and the landscaping. “We believe that this is the Lord’s House,” Wilson reiterated, something that many Christian denominations might ascribe to in theory, but that in practice falls short, especially when one considers those Protestant sanctuaries that are used for services on Sunday are transformed into jazz festival arenas or concert halls on other days of the week. Emaneul Swedenborg, a Swedish scientist, mystic and founder of the Swedenborgian Church, wrote that heaven is filled with cities and houses of many different types. There are mansions and simple homes, lavish communities and humble neighborhoods. We reap in heaven what we sow in life, meaning that those who were terrifically good in life live in afterlife mansions of marvelous splendor, while those who lived mediocre lives on earth inhabit less than spectacular heavenly ‘hoods. In Mormonism, there’s a belief that non-Mormon ancestors in the afterlife are free to accept or reject the offer of baptism into the Mormon faith by living relatives or friends. A yes answer, however, would transfer the deceased to a Swedenborg-like greater heaven. In the Philadelphia temple, each floor is designed as a stairway to heaven: As one goes higher the furnishings and the chandeliers on each floor become more elaborate until one reaches the apex, or the Celestial Room. This chamber is the most scared and beautiful room in the temple. The Celestial Room features a hanging chandelier that fans out into the room like an exploding comet. Visiting Mormons in good standing (Mormons must get a recommend pass from their bishop or stake leader in order to enter the temple) pray and meditate here despite the fact that this room, as well as the entire temple, tends to resemble a lavish Ritz Carlton Hotel with a lot of pictures of Jesus. The press’ fascination with Mormonism came to a fore at the Baptismal Font. Generally, a concerted design effort would be necessary to transform a baptismal area into a secular looking space, but one can see elements of that here. It is not hard to imagine someone perceiving this space, despite its sacred nature, as a hot tube of the high-

THOM NICKELS IS A PHILADELPHIA BASED AUTHOR, JOURNALIST, POET, FILM CRITIC & FEATURE WRITER FOR SPIRIT NEWS.

est quality, perhaps a faux Disney recreation of the baths of ancient Rome. Still, “spectacular” doesn’t begin to describe the Font area, which had journalists gazing into the pool of water as if lost in the bliss of hypnosis. Like characters in a Robert Altman film, we journalists formed a long line along the circumference of the curving marble barrier that overlooked the oxen accented pool as questions about Mormonism ricocheted back and forth like tennis balls. The Baptismal Font, to me, was the highlight of the tour. Later on in our tour, in the marriage sealing room where couples kneel facing one another across a small altar to have their marriages sealed for all eternity, things got a little dicey. A journalist inappropriately dressed in shorts, a tight tee shirt and a frayed baseball cap, asked Wilson if same sex marriages are preformed in the sealing room. The question seemed to come across as a triggering device for other members of the press, designed to set off a series of consecutive explosive comments and questions all related to same-sex marriage and engineered to put Wilson on the defensive. Perhaps it was possible that a reporter had no clue about the Mormon stance on same-sex marriage. Americans, after all, are tremendously ignorant about religion. This is why the wife of one visiting Mormon Elder told me that people who should know better mistake her for a Mennonite or Amish. “But would an Amish woman wear these kinds of heels?” she asked me, showing me her feet ensconced in the brightest of the bright Frederick’s of Hollywood heels that would attract a thumbs up at a Philly Style magazine party. As for that baseball capped reporter, his question did set off a few same sex marriage follow up comments, although the ever savvy Wilson was able to defuse whatever small bomb lay hidden in the reporter’s initial inquiry. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 S E V E N D AY F O R E C A S T F O R T H E R I V E R WA R D S

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ast week was absolutely beautiful with temperatures in the 80s and lower 90s. It was mostly dry and sunny with heat building back in the region as the week progressed. The heat will continue for the start of this forecast period, but it will become less hot and humid after the weekend. Overall, it will be typical August weather in Philadelphia The best chances for rain and thunderstorms come on Friday and Saturday, but the weekend does not look like a washout at all. The intense heat and humidity on these days could lead to pop-up storms, especially in the afternoon and evening. Of course, it’s impossible to know ex-

actly where and when storms will occur, so keep the umbrella handy these days just in case they develop over your neighborhood. Sunday does look like the best day of the weekend as it looks to be drier and less humid. Wednesday kicks off the weather period very hot and humid. Temperatures will be in the 90s and we could also see a stray shower. Thursday continues the heat wave as temps jump to the middle 90s. Yuck. I think we have all had enough heat this summer! Friday features temperatures in the middle 90s again, but we also have the threat of thunderstorms from all the

extreme heat and humidity. Saturday should be the last day in the 90s as a front comes through in the afternoon with thunderstorms and showers that push out the latest heat wave. Sunday is warm, temperatures will be in the upper 80s, but dry. Monday and Tuesday continue the nice streak of weather, but the way the heat has been surging over us this summer, get ready for more heat soon! The weather winner of the week is Monday; the weather loser is Friday. •

FINANTA

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016

Continued from Page 1. of Philadelphia Distilling and New Liberty Distillery, said he’s looking forward to coming together in the future and promoting the concentration of distilleries in the neighborhood. “It’ll be great. We can collaborate and set up a Philly spirits trail. The more we all communicate, the better craft distilling will be in Philadelphia,” said Cassell. Collaborations and celebrations of the community may still be a ways off since many of the distilleries are in their infancy and are working hard to succeed in a cutthroat industry. “Dean from Rowhouse really helped us get started and get licensed,” Brian Forrest of Red Brick Craft Distillery said. “He had done it before us so he was a huge help. It never felt like we were competing, just working towards opening good businesses in the neighborhood.” So without further ado, we introduce our readers to “Distillers Row." 1. Philadelphia Distilling Company (1000 Frankford Ave.) Philadelphia Distilling (PD) is the pioneering distillery in Philadelphia. The story goes that when Robert Cassel (now of New Liberty), Andrew Auwerda and Timothy Yarnall set out to open Philadelphia Distilling, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) had to draft, from scratch, an application for new distilleries. Currently located near Woodhaven Road and the Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia Distilling plans to open a new distillery within the historic Ajax Metal Building in Fishtown. PD’s Fishtown location was originally going to open in Spring 2016, but, as of the time of publication, is not yet open. Once it opens, visitors will be able to taste and learn more about Philadelphia Distilling’s history and their decision to relocate to Fishtown. The plan for the new distillery also includes a restaurant and an event space for hosting larger parties. At the distillery, visitors will have the chance to taste Pennsylvania’s first original line of legally produced craft spirits. There, drinkers will be able to sample Blue Coat Gin, an American style gin that is more citrus-forward and less piney than a traditional London Dry Gin. PD also produces a barrel aged version of Blue Coat, which has been mellowed in American oak barrels for at least three months. The oak adds whiskey-like caramel and vanilla flavors that give the gin a whole new life. PD also produces two vodkas and an absinthe. Penn 1681 is a vodka made from locally sourced rye as a tribute to Pennsylvania’s agricultural history. The Bay, PD’s “Chesapeake Bay” seasoned vodka, is made with celery seed, pepper and other spices reminiscent of a crab boil. The Bay makes an extra savory bloody mary or simple way to enjoy an oyster shooter. Vieux Carré, PD’s absinthe, is a strong liquor made from neutral spirits infused with wormwood, anise and other fragrant botanicals. The absinthe is herbal and commands attention. Vieux Carré is the first absinthe produced on the East Coast in 100 years. 2. La Colombe

(1335 Frankford Ave.) Though primarily a coffee shop and roaster, La Colombe debuted it’s Different Drum Coffee Rum in early 2014. The rum, which according to a PR rep for the company is made at La Colombe’s Fishtown location, is an infusion of Panama geisha coffee and rum, lightly aged in oak barrels. La Colombe’s team calls Different Drum a sipping rum, a spirit smooth and mellow enough to enjoy neat or over ice. The company also offers a few cocktail recommendations, like a dark and stormy. According to the website for Different Drum rum, La Colombe’s founders decided to distill after noticing that whenever they visited a coffee farm, a distilling or moonshining operation was never very far away. La Colombe’s PR rep was unable to provide more information about the distillery’s place in Fishtown or about its possible future plans. 3. Federal Distilling (1700 N Hancock St.) Kensington’s Federal Distilling brings craft vodka to Philadelphia with Stateside Urbancraft Vodka, which is distilled from corn and is still bottled by hand in the

neighborhood. Matt Quigley, the distiller, honed his skills through years of practice and surreptitiously distilling in his parents’ basement. Today he runs his business with his brother, Brian. “In craft distilling, vodka only covers about 7 percent of craft spirits,” Quigley said. “If we open up and make our core focus a super premium local vodka and don’t stray from that I think we’ll be successful.” Federal’s Stateside vodka is crisp and clean. There’s a subtle, unobtrusive sweetness from the corn. The vodka is soft and balanced and would be just as enjoyable on the rocks as it would be as a cocktail spirit. Quigley chose corn, in part, because it’s easy to purchase and can be grown sustainably. “The access to your raw ingredient is going to be there for days. It’s not like trying to source some abstract base that would be subject the environmental conditions,” he said. “It gives a lot of bang for your buck. It gives a lot of sweetness. I’ve used it in the past and I just prefer it.” Currently Federal Distilling produces roughly 5,000 bottles of Stateside per month. The Quigley brothers distillery is housed in an industrial looking warehouse that gives the ambitious brothers plenty of room to expand. Currently, Federal Distilling occupies 6,000 of the available 15,000 square feet. “There are options to expand into different pockets of the building. We know we’re going to outpace this space once we build a full on bottling line,” Quigley said. “Kensington is like the Brooklyn of Philly. Brian and I both live in South Philly. He is moving to Kensington in the next couple weeks. We liked the expandable area: There’s a lot of warehouses here that have a ton of space.” The brothers are still focused on getting their tasting room open to the public and Quigley says they are looking forward to collaborating with other distillers in the area once their own house is 100 percent up and running. “We’re not even open to the public yet and we’ve been booked 45 times for private events,” he said. According to Quigley, the tasting room should open in early August. Check Spirit New’s calendar or Statesidevodka.com for information about their public opening. 4. New Liberty Distilling (1431 N Cadwallader St.)

The Brothers Quigley of Federal Distilling./Thomas Weir

When Rob Cassell started New Liberty Distilling/Millstone Spirits, he didn’t have much left to prove. As the founding distiller at Philadelphia Distilling and an advocate for craft spirits in Pennsylvania, he has proven to be a man who knows a thing or two about distilling. Despite his track record with clear spirits (see Philadelphia Distilling), Cassell was not satisfied. It was time for whiskey. New Liberty Distilling/Millstone Spirits Group (NLD) is a whiskey-focused distillery that holds tradition dear while still reaching for new and innovative products, Cassell said. “We want to make great whiskey. I want to remember the classic styles and change some things up. I want to try and make ‘weird’ whiskey, but I am interested in atypical and Continued on Page 5.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 Continued from Page 4. heritage grains,” Cassell said. “We do a bourbon with Bloody Butcher Corn from Bucks County. It’s this crazy purple looking corn. When you distill it through you get this crazy buttered popcorn note.” Bloody Butcher corn is a heirloom variety that is rarely grown for food or feed because it is too high in fat and inefficient to grow, Cassell said. Those mass market inefficiencies made it a natural choice for one of Cassell’s experiments. New Liberty Distilling is housed in an early 20th century horse stable originally used by the Crane Plumbing Company. Though the stills and tanks dominate the first floor, upstairs barrels of whiskey rest next to the two remaining stalls. “The whole place was restored ten years ago now,” Cassell said. “To me it’s very much like what being a Philadelphian is about: You own it, you are what you are and you don’t need to fake it.” Though Cassell’s experimental attitude and spirit are on display at the distillery, he’s serious about only bottling products that he believes will stand apart from their competition. NLD’s line of spirits is uniformly well made. Their vodka is soft and clean with a light grain flavor that would mix well and be enjoyable on its own. Their white whiskey is simple and direct: Think a little sweetness and raw grain flavor. NLD’s white whiskies and vodka are marketed under their New Liberty brand. The centerpiece of NLD’s portfolio, however, is the Kinsey family of whiskies. Kinsey Rye is spicy without being too assertive. Blended from three distinct mashbills, baking spices and a little grassiness set this apart from other ryes on the market. Kinsey Bourbon is a well-made bourbon that hits the right note: sweet honey and warm vanilla. The most interesting whiskey in the Kinsey line is the 7-year-old blended whiskey. The blended whiskey is lighter than a typical bourbon or rye and lets the more delicate flavors shine through. The spirit has some of the caramel and citrus typical of a bourbon but is most prominently a light and floral whiskey. 5. Rowhouse Spirits (2440 Frankford Ave.) Dean Browne makes his spirits by hand. As the proprietor and distiller at Rowhouse Spirits, he has the final say on what to distill, (perhaps) age and bottle next. Currently, Dean is aging some brandies that he hopes to have ready for the holidays. “I don’t know which one will be ready first, but I’m confident that I’ll have either an apple or grape brandy out by Christmas,” Browne said. Before operating his own distillery Browne worked at IBM and Philadelphia Brewing Company (which is located right behind his distillery). In 2013 he was laid off from IBM. “Me and my wife cashed in our whole lives to open up Rowhouse,” he said. “We opened up and sold our first bottle in August 2014.” The process of getting off the ground wasn’t as difficult as one would expect, though. “The state was pretty responsive,” Browne said. “We had our licence approved by the state before federal license came in.” “I was expecting an intense process, but it was all waiting periods,” he added, echoing the other community distillers when he talks about the state licensing process. Browne’s spirits are extremely small batch: around 100 bottles, depending on the spirit’s proof. The lower proof liqueurs tend to produce larger batches than his whiskey or rum. Rowhouse releases a mix of common spirits and more unique drinks that aren’t as readily available. “I’m pretty sure I make the only Aquavit sold in state stores,” he said. “It isn’t the most popular drink in America, but nothing else tastes like it.”

Part of the distilling apparatus at Rowhouse Spirits./Patrick Clark

Aquavit is similar to gin, though often sold at a lower proof. It’s made by steeping caraway, dill and other botanicals in neutral spirits. Browne’s take on the spirit is smooth well balanced. The herbs blend together and deliver a crisp anise flavor. Besides offering strong takes on rum and gin, Browne produces two of his own liqueurs: Le Coeur Noir, a coffee liqueur made with local Reanimator coffee, and Bear Trap, his spin on an herbal aperitif. Le Coeur Noir delivers a strong coffee flavor without tipping towards bitterness. Browne’s herbal additions add some complexity to the coffee backbone. Bear Trap is more of a mystery. It’s dry and herbal but with a lighter mouthfeel than other herbal liqueurs. It’s a tasty liqueur that works best on its own. “I start with a flavor in mind and layer things on,” Browne said. “I might start with half a dozen botanicals and see what gets me closer.” Browne has been in the area for nearly 20 years and said he’s excited to see what the community that develops around the neighborhood distilleries. “I talk to Brian [Forrest, of Red Brick] and Rob [Cassell, of New Liberty] quite a bit,” Browne said. “This seems a lot more cooperative than the craft beer scene as it grew.” 6. Red Brick Distillery (2628 Martha St.) In the basement of a Kensington warehouse, Red Brick Distillery’s Brian Forrest waits for his whiskey to age. “It started as a hobby,” Forrest said. “Basically the interest kind of piqued the business idea.” Red Brick’s Malt Whiskey is essentially a scotch recipe, Forrest said. As a startup distillery devoted to whiskey, Red Brick has overcome some of the challenges that come with trying to produce an aged spirit. In addition to ensuring that Red Brick is following the letter of both federal and state laws, Forrest has had to maintain working relationships with the malthouse that supplies the distillery. The boutique distillery uses locally malted barley from Deer Creek Malthouse to ensure that their whiskey is all local. “We’re about a year away from being able to plan for a whole year in advance,” Forrest said. “It’ll be easier once we can order our grains up front and have a year laid out in front of us. That’ll make Deer Creek’s [the malthouse’s] and our lives easier.” “Small barrels made whiskey a possibility at a scale smaller than to fill a 55 gallon barrel and wait 12 years,” he added. “The volume to surface area ratio [in 5 gallon barrels] made it possible to get essentially ‘12 years of age’ quality

in 7 months.” Red Brick’s Single Malt American Whiskey is a pure expression of barley. The grain shines through but is supported by rich chocolate and coffee notes. Both the regular bottling and the barrel strength are smooth and easy to drink, the barrel strength especially so though there is some heat from the additional alcohol. Forrest is invested in the neighborhood and the entrepreneurial spirit he sees around him, he said. “We may use other grains someday, but what happened was we fell in love with our own product. We feel like we’re making the best product we can with the single malt combined with the first use barrel,” he said. Despite the ups and downs of starting a whiskey focused distilling from scratch, Forrest and Red Brick have made the best of their opportunity. To keep afloat while his whiskey ages, Forrest created a rum from white sugar and yeast called Simple Shine. Its an easy product to distill and works as pliable base for cocktails, Forrest said. He added that a pineapple infused take on Simple Shine was on the way. “Since October we’ve been on the market with our most straightforward product. We’re all about creativity and making interesting small batch things. We’re very whiskey centered. We are barrell people,” Forrest said. “It was difficult. We had to completely change gears and learn to make cocktails. It’s funny, I really enjoy it now.” Red Brick’s tasting room is open from 1-6PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors can chat with Forrest and taste his summertime rum concoctions as well as the whiskey he’s so rightfully proud of. All of Red Brick’s spirits are also available for purchase directly from the tasting room. • Brian Forrest of Red Brick Distillery /Jordyn Cordner

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 WRITTEN BY WHITNEY JOHNSON

Project Trans(m)it CONNECTING BODIES AND MOVEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

n today’s world, a conversation with someone in Tokyo is only a FaceTime away. With advances in modern telecommunications, people are able to communicate across great distances to catch up with old friends, handle business deals, teach classes, and so much more. But these advances can be used in other, more creative ways, too. For example, three women are utilizing this technology (and a solid internet connection) for the sake of performance art and dance. Becca Weber, Megan Mizanty and Lora Allen are located in different cities across the globe, but spend their Fridays rehearsing together for Project Trans(m)it, a collaborative, long-term research and performance project delving into tech-riddled space. The performance explores the transmittance of dance and movement via technology, transference of choreographic ideas in different continental spaces, what is gained and lost in these transfers, and which technological platforms are best used for which types of physical information transmission. Rehearsals and practice for the project aren’t held in a meatspace studio; instead they occur in online live streams. Project Tran(s)mit began when Weber, who is currently based in Coventry, UK, introduced Mizanty and Allen over the internet. Weber and Mizanty met while obtaining their MFA’s in Dance at Temple University and Weber taught at The Iron Factory, an arts space in Kensington where Allen worked. The group wanted to put together a performance, but didn’t want to be limited by their physical locations. So they took to the internet to make it happen. “I think this was out of my own desire to stay connected to the communities and people I was leaving across the pond,” Weber said. “We were all interested in working in some similar ways, so I helped connect us; but the project was really co-conceived once that spark was lit.” The trio rehearsed online, eventually performing Phase 1 of Project Trans(m)it in October 2015. That was the first time all three met and danced together. “Meg and Lora had never even met [in person] prior to beginning the project,” Weber said. “After working together for quite some time, when they met in person, Lora took one look at Meg and said, ‘You're tall!’ That was a fun reminder of just how distant we'd been, though we'd been working so closely and grown together through the technology, despite the distance.” Following eight months of online rehearsals, the trio is almost ready to unveil Phase 2 of Project Trans(m)it to audiences. Since their first performance, the group created and expanded their work over technology and social media to construct an evening-length performance. Even though the technology to make a performance like this happen is available, practice still comes with its fair share of issues. Nobody, not even technology, is perfect. “We frequently joke that half the battle of rehearsing online with one another is the setup process; there almost always seems to be a tech glitch,” Mizanty said. “We've learned to expect and make time for the tech issues during rehearsals. Phase 2 uses much of these ‘mistakes’ for creative inspirations. It is fascinating when one of us is dancing on Skype, and suddenly the screen freezes. We may be suspended in midair, or perhaps our body becomes blurred or transparent. We've tried to capture those moments, and insert them directly into our choreographic processes.” Phase 2 of Project Trans(m)it will debut at 8PM on August 13 and 14 at The Iron Factory (118 Fontain St. 3rd Floor) and tickets are $15. You can contact projecttransmitus@ gmail.com for more information. •

The Iron Factory (118 Fontain St.)/Patrick Clark

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 WRITTEN BY CASEY ANN BECK

clean plate

RECIPE FOR BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH PISTACHIO BUTTER AND LEMON

hink back to a particularly great birthday, when you perhaps only wanted one gift, but wanted it badly. Maybe it was something you had your eye on for quite some time, but you knew being patient would work in your favor. And, on your special day, you finally get it, and it’s just as amazing as you thought it would be. Those same feelings, of being a kid on their most memorable birthday, sum up how I feel about my brand new dishwasher. I realize it’s not a necessity. My husband and I have made it this far without one and even had a reasonable system when it came to sharing dish duty. But with a schedule that revolves around a toddler, and days away from welcoming a new baby, I can already see how it will have an incredible impact on our daily lives. In just the short time we’ve had it, cleaning up after meals is a breeze; we have more time to spend as a family after dinner; and we’re not too exhausted to have an adult conversation after putting away toys, corralling a toddler for bedtime, and washing dishes. Our new addition - the dishwasher, not the baby - required a fair bit of research, parting with unused kitchen items to make some space for the new appliance, and a visit from an electrician and a plumber. And, just like a kid counting down the days until their birthday, being patient certainly paid off, and I feel like it’s a new toy I want to play with all the time. Since I’m a May baby, though, I guess it was more like Christmas in July. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pistachio Butter and Lemon 1.5 to 2 lbs fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved 3 tablespoons olive oil ¾ cup pistachio butter, available at Green Aisle grocery, on Girard Avenue Zest and juice from one large lemon Sea salt Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss Brussels sprouts and olive oil. Pour onto one large baking sheet (use an additional sheet if it seems crowded). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the Brussels sprouts about half way. In another large bowl, whisk together pistachio butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add hot Brussels sprouts to mixture and toss until evenly coated. Season with sea salt and serve warm. Congratulations to Casey Ann and her husband on having their second child last week. Clean Plate will be on a short hiatus while Casey gets some special mommy time with the newest addition to her family. We wish the Beck's all of the best and can't wait for the recipes to return soon!•

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The Spirit of the Riverwards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; August 10, 2016

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 Continued from Page 1.

Powers Park (2987 Almond St)/Patrick Clark

could be a great way to activate our parks; active parks are safer, healthier and better-stewarded by the people using them.” Officials met with park groups from around the city in the last year to generate their buy-in. “We have worked with the Conservancy on a number of projects,” said A.J. Thomson, president of Penn Treaty Park. “They are such great supporters of our park and all parks. It was an exciting opportunity to bring a new experience to the Delaware waterfront, so we jumped at the chance.” While the beer garden deviates somewhat from PTP’s typical programming, the park has hosted events that include alcohol in the past, such as its annual Champagne in the Park, which is coming up Sept. 16. “[Parks on Tap] is a good way to show that responsible drinking is a feature that can be a part of our parks and another way to get together with friends and family in our unique environment,” Thomson said. At each venue, guests will have the opportunity to partake in five draft beers while noshing on sliders and snacks crafted by Mitch Prensky of Global Dish Caterers and Scratch Biscuits. Program organizers will provide activities at each locale, including live music, games and Saturday yoga, the latter of which is offered at noon on a pay-what-you-can basis. Each park will also offer its own activities. “It’s a unique experience that innovates the traditional park picnic and also helps you get to know your city,” (Left and right) Penn Treaty Park (1341 N Ott Lovell said of Parks on Tap. “A lot of these parks aren’t Delaware Ave)/Patrick Clark places you might normally go on your own, so it’s almost like a curated tour of city parks.” Powers Park Conservancy will finalize the lineup for its event later this summer, but group president John Kalicki said they’re considering outdoor games like cornhole, as well as a karaoke night. Throughout the year, the park hosts family-friendly activities like an Easter egg hunt, movie nights, concerts and a Christmas tree-lighting. Kalicki noted Parks on Tap is a good opportunity for new residents in the neighborhood, which he noted has been undergoing changes in recent years, to get to know both he said. “All the changes that have been happening to Fishtheir neighbors and their park. “We seem to be the only park on the Parks on Tap pro- town are pushing north so we have a bunch of new people gram that’s right in a residential neighborhood; we’re who may not know their neighbors. [Parks on Tap] is a good Somers Team Spirit Half Page Adand 2 copy.pdf 5/2/16 opportunity 8:13 AM for people to come out, have a beer and meet surrounded by houses on three sides a library 1on the other so we really want to give this a neighborhood vibe,” their neighbors and see all that the park has to offer.” •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 WRITTEN BY AMY STRAUSS

Rekindling The fire

16-YEAR-OLD NORTHERN LIBERTIES MUSIC VENUE MAKES A COMEBACK

erek Dorsey is looking to make a big statement. Just a week shy of The Fire’s relaunch party on Aug. 13, I touched base with its longtime talent buyer and booking agent in regards to what’s to come. Dorsey, who has worked at the 16-year-old Girard Ave. music venue for a majority of its lifespan, is now the club’s owner. When the opportunity arose to take over its full operations and purchase the building, he couldn’t refuse. (Formerly, the business was owned by Dan McShane who opened the venue in 2000.) “Rarely does a venue have a chance to reinvent itself and that’s what we are doing,” said Dorsey. “We have a strong brand with an incredible history and there’s so much excitement and enthusiasm of The Fire being back.” As a notable pillar in the Philly music scene, the Northern Liberties venue has scored its share of buzzed-about musicians. It’s even given household names their start, by offering up on-going — sometimes weekly or monthly — musician residences. “Amos Lee signed his half-million dollar record contract with Blue Note Records in The Fire’s Green Room — something that we helped set up,” he reminisced. “We are just involved differently with artists.” Its laundry list of accomplishments include giving a young John Legend, then a University of Pennsylvania student, stage time. There was also the time that Maroon 5 played and filmed their MTV Live show at the venue — which was broadcasted internationally. Let us not forget that there was a period where bands like Dr. Dog and War on Drugs called The Fire "home." If they had an EP coming out, they’d play every Wednesday or Friday or every month to two months — however long it could sustain itself,” recounted Dorsey. “This really helped bands build a following. That was probably the biggest part of building The Fire.” But, through the years, a lot of the top talent hitting the neighborhood bar’s stage was due to its now-owner’s deferential relationships he’d developed through the years in the music business. Though Dorsey, uncommonly, came to work in the industry through a hapstance circumstance: he was a social worker attempting to raise funds for North Philly students by hosting a benefit concert. A personal connection led him to meet Elise Brown, former PR Manager of WXPN. With her help, his event proved more than successful raising twice the anticipated donations. Soon, he was propelled into the music business, managing and consulting for several largescale music conferences (Philadelphia Music Conference, North by Northwest Music Conference). Around this time, The Fire’s original owners were in the market to expand its brand. “It had a very slow build with local bands and gradually improving the music program and equipment,” he said. ‘They realized their vision was something greater, but needed a talent buyer/booking agent. That’s where I came in.” The West Philly native continued to wear many hats after taking this role, including acting as an A&R executive for Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company. “I had this crazy dual life where I had a place in Astoria, a place in Philadelphia and was still running The Fire (though I had an intern to work as a full-time booking assistant). Sometimes, I’d be in Philly, D.C. and New York to see different shows all in the same day.” His first official deal was with the Cold War Kids, who happened to also play their first Northeast, sold-out show at The Fire. “The Fire wouldn’t have been able to forge on [throughout those years] without Nick Fanelli,” Dorsey recalled. (He’s now co-founder of The Guild, a DIY concert promoting collective.) “Even now, I’m very fortunate to have an incredibly strong intern program. It initially started at Drexel and now has expanded to Rowan University. Some amazing people have come out of it: Paige Snyder, formerly the production manager of PETA, and Jeff Meyers of Boot &

Saddle, among many others.” But, what’s his deal with taking over The Fire now? “I’m bringing us back to what we did and what worked and why it worked,” he said. “We are a very strong presence that’s not only local, but in the regional and national music scene. I’m investing in what we do, investing in the building — which, through the years, became one of our biggest handicaps.” Over the last few months, The Fire has undergone physical renovations to enhance the space, as well as built a recognizably fierce team to help with its reinvention. His staff includes bar manager Lydia Giordano, who happens to be Bumrunner’s pedigree-guitarist. “I met Derek in the music industry, but from the business side, which is always daunting from a musician's standpoint,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from him and we’ve seen the music industry change. He’ll bring The Fire to what it needs to be.” Dorsey’s The Fire will relaunch in two phases. Phase 1 is this Saturday, Aug. 13, 7 PM. It’s a free show that acts as a “thank you” to those who have supported The Fire through the years. Expect Joie Kathos, the Ill Fated Natives, Chalk & The Beige Americans and Attic Tapes to hit the stage. Phase 2 gets even better. Consider it The “new” Fire’s grand reopening, unfolding from Sept. 12–18. Dorsey bills it as “one of the most epic weeks in Philadelphia music” and believes “it’s going to make a statement—not just for the venue and the community around us. It’ll show that Philly can support a lot of shows and artists in a big way.” Performances will include Illinois on Sept. 14, Mirah with special guest Ben Arnold on Sept. 16 (smallest venue Mirah’s played in 15 years!), CRUISR on Sept. 17 and an all-day music festival on Sept. 18. Full list of events at www.thefirephilly.com. “Philly is one of the places that is at the epicenter of the nation music scene,” he concluded. “There is as talented a group of artists here that you will find anywhere; there is a real music community that supports those artists. Along with Brooklyn and Nashville, Philadelphia is where the hub of music is happening right now and if you’re a musician, it’s a really good place to be. What we are doing at [The new Fire] is re-engaging and coming in with a big splash.” •

The Fire (412 W Girard Ave)/Amy Strauss

Derek Dorsey stands by the bar inside The Fire (412 W Girard Ave)./Amy Strauss

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 WRITTEN BY THOMAS BECK

development news FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING BUILT ON YOUR BLOCK

Northern Liberties Callahan Ward plans to construct 12 new homes by the intersection of Green and Galloway Streets in Northern Liberties. The initial proposal called for five homes to be built on the property at 309 - 311 Green Street. Three foundations have already been established on Galloway. A 26- or 27-home project is in the works nearby. A number of other structures are being built or have recently been completed at the intersection of 3rd and Green Streets as well. The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association (NLNA) is raising funds to clean and repair the Doughboy statue in Madison Memorial Park. They will also use a portion of the donations to replace a stolen bronze plaque that bore the names of hundreds of soldiers, apply a protective coating to the sculpture and maintain the small park in the future. The almost 100-year-old statue (named Over the Top) was created by John Paulding and has been dedicated to the memory of Word War I soldiers from the area. Harry Kyriakodis’s book Northern Liberties: The Story of a Philadelphia River Ward was published in 2012 and provides more in-depth details with regard to the statue’s history. The NLNA aims to raise a total of $7,000. Transport Workers Local 234 has already pledged $2,500. Visit the NLNA’s GoFundMe page if interested in making a donation. HOW Properties plans to construct a 53-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor at 1002 North 2nd Street across from Schmidt’s Commons and around the corner from Liberties Walk. HOW is not at liberty to divulge the soon-to-be occupant of the building’s commercial space.

Green and Galloway Sts./Patrick Clark Panda Express/Michael Klusek

The Doughboy at 2nd and Spring Garden/ Patrick Clark

Kensington PRDC Properties plans to demolish the property at 1736 Mascher Street in South Kensington, out of which Interior Creations had been operating. 20 new homes will be built in its place. Each unit will include garage parking. Developers have yet to release any virtual renderings of the structure. A little more than a year ago, developers purchased the property at 1201 North 3rd Street (previously a master carpentry shop). A UPS store will soon occupy the first floor of the structure. The two upper floors are being converted into apartment units.

1201 N 3rd Street/Patrick Clark Fishtown MPN Realty is constructing a mixed-use building on the currently vacant property at 512 East Girard Avenue. There are, according to LoopNet, two available commercial spaces, each at $25 per foot (NNN). It is uncertain what businesses plan to set up shop here. In 2013, an unnamed buyer purchased the former auto supply store at the intersection of Marlborough Street and East Girard Avenue for approximately $725,000. Construction has been ongoing for the past several months.

The current owners decided to create a second-floor addition to fill up the open portion of the structure. It is not, however, architecturally fluent. No one yet knows what is to become of the building. Port Richmond There are new housing developments coming to Tulip and Westmoreland Streets in Port Richmond. A new Asian restaurant is coming to Aramingo Avenue. A Panda Express is almost finished being built along the neighborhood's commercial district. •

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 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

m eet ing s NKCDC OPEN OFFICE HOURS NKCDC is hosting open office hours in the 19134 zip code at two locations. They will be at the Firm Hope Baptist Church on Tulip and Auburn Streets every second Wednesday of the month from 4-7PM. They will assist you with signing up for benefits like SNAP, connecting to housing counselors for any housing needs, rent and property tax rebates, food referrals, health insurance and safety or quality of life issues in your community. For further information contact Tess at tdonie@NKCDC.org or 215-427-0350 x 139. AL-ANON AT HOLY NAME CHURCH HALL Meetings are held every Monday night from 7-8PM at Holy Name Church Hall at 701 Gaul Street. Anything shared at a meeting stays there and everyone is welcome to attend. Al-Anon meetings are free, anonymous and confidential. NETWORKING MEETINGS Philadelphia Mastermind Group – Every Friday, 8-9:30AM, B2B Networking at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) HAPCO/DIG/GPAR – 2nd Thursday of the Month, 12:001:30PM. Lunch & Learn, real estate meetup at the Greater Philadelphia Association of realtors (341 North Delaware Avenue, Suite 200) DIG/HAPCO – 3rd Wednesday of the Month, 6:30-8:30PM. Philly Riverwards Sub-Group, Diversified Investors Groups meet up at Front Street Café (1253 N Front St.) For more information contact Joe Scorese 215-290-5108 or jscorese@firstrust.com. Tuesday, August 16, 7PM FNA ZONING MEETING Proposal for (1) surface parking space added to an existing single family dwelling at 2330 E Dauphin St. This meeting will take place at the Fishtown Rec Center, 1202 E Montgomery Ave. All residents and business owners in Fishtown are eligible to vote. Please bring proof of residence or business ownership in the form of a driver’s license or a photo id and a lease, utility bill, or recent piece of mail addressed to your home or business. Wednesday, August 17 FNA MONTHLY MEETING Join the conversation around beautification events, neighborhood news, safety, and zoning at the monthly membership meeting at Fishtown Rec Center (1202 E Montgomery Ave).

events Wednesday, August 10 GREENSGROW FARM DINNER WITH BALBOA CATERING Join us for a seasonal, 4 course dinner on the farm with Balboa Catering, a premier Philadelphia caterer. Chef Alex Garfinkel hosts a series of pop-up dinners at his beautiful dining room in Kensington and at regional farms. Chef Alex works with the best farmers and producers in the region to get top quality food for his supper club dinners, many of whom also provide produce for our CSA. BYOB, one drink pairing is included. For more information and to buy tickets, visit greensgrow. org/event. Wednesday, August 10 MOVIE NIGHT Join the Friends of Penn Treaty Park and the Philadelphia Parks and Rec Department for a spooky, family fun movie under the stars and the film Hotel Transylvania 2. Bring your blankets or chairs for a great night out, starting at 7:30PM. Saturday, August 13, 10AM - 2PM GIRL SCOUT CAR WASH At Frank Glavin Playground, 2600 E Westmoreland St. Outside clean only, Car – $7; SUV’s – $10, larger vehicles if can access to clean – $15. Refreshments will be sold, as will the popular MegZ fragrant candles. Please stop by and help this great group of girls, earn their way to Disney World next summer. Another event scheduled for Saturday Sept. 10 – same time and place.

Saturday, August 13 Fishtown Community Softball Game Come join the Alumni as we get set to play our annual "Fishtown Community Softball Game." The game will be played immediately following the scholarship presentations at 12:00. Interested in playing? Send an e-mail to bcg62152@gmail.com., or show up at Hetzell playground. The cost of $25.00 to play in the game will include a shirt and also a picnic afterwards. Saturday, August 13 KENSINGTON GARDENS Join us for a pop-up beer garden event at the site of the store, starting at 5PM. More information about the beer garden is available on the Kensington Gardens website. Saturday, August 13 PUPS AND CUPS A favorite activity, especially in the summer months, is going to a sidewalk café with your pup. We are introducing a continuing education course for people who have already attended a training class with their dogs but would like to bone up (excuse the pun) on this very specific behavior. If you’re interested in your pup learning sidewalk behaviors, attend this class from 11:30AM-12:30PM at the PSPCA Fishtown (1546 Frankford Ave.) Sunday, August 14 SEED AT SUGARHOUSE CASINO Home Brewed Events and Eat Your PHL are proud to present S.E.E.D, a new vegan craft food and beer festival from 2-6PM at Sugarhouse Casino. The food and beer community in Philadelphia is one of the best in America and the time has come to feature the flourishing vegan food scene in the city. S.E.E.D, Sustainable Everyday Edibles and Drinkables, will be the area’s first fully vegan food and beer festival, an inclusive and sustainable experience that everyone can enjoy – vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. For more information and to buy tickets, visit phillyseed.ticketleap.com. Tuesday, August 16, 6:00-6:45PM YOGA ON THE FARM WITH ON THE GOGA Give your mind and body a workout with Yoga on the Farm. We invite you to find serenity in our urban oasis as you work on your vinyasa flow. On the Goga instructor, Anna Greenwalk, will teach a 45 minute class designed for all levels of yogis. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on site. In order to register and by your tickets go to http://www. eventbrite.com/e/greensgrow-yoga-at-the-farm-tickets-26709176867 Thursday, August 18 HAPPY HOUR AT PARKS ON TAP Join the Friends of Penn Treaty Park and Parks on Tap for the only event of its kind in the area. Parks on Tap is hosting beer gardens in parks throughout Philadelphia. They have selected Penn Treaty Park as one of their sites this year. The event will run from August 18-21. August 18th night will feature a Happy Hour fundraiser for 3 neighborhood groups - Friends of Penn Treaty Park, FNA & FACT. Come out and have a drink in our waterfront treasure. Check back for more info. August 18 - 21, Hours vary by day PARKS ON TAP The next stop for this beer on wheels is in Fishtown at Penn Treaty Park (1341 North Delaware Avenue). Enjoy a beer on Thursday, August 18, 5-10PM, Friday/Saturday 1-11PM and Sunday 12-10PM Thursday, August 25 DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE NIGHT Tall Short People will be performing The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in its glorious entirety. 4 Lads Insane will bring their eclectic sound and interpret songs from throughout Bowie's career. The event will take place at Ortlieb’s (847 N 3rd St.) at 8PM. For more information and for tickets, visit ortliebslounge. ticketfly.com. Thursday, August 25, 8PM CAT-A-STROPHE AT THE PAPERMILL THEATER Cat-A-Strophe is coming to Philadelphia: A new play written by playwright Yoel Wulfhart will premier at the Paper Mill Theater, 2825 Ormes St. Cat-A-Strophe is what would

happen if Samuel Beckett, Dario Fo and Hannoch Levin co-wrote a sitcom. Tickets are $15. For more information, contact the Papermill Theater at thepapermilltheater@gmail.com. Saturday, September 10, 8AM FLEA MARKET Flea Market at the Bridesburg Rec Center (4600 Richmond St.). Spaces $15/2 for 25 For more info: 267-738-5414 Saturday, September 10 PENNY PARTY Bethesda Methodist Church (2820 E. Venango St.) will host a penny party. Doors open 11:30AM, starts at noon. Cost $5, includes 25 tickets, tea, coffee and dessert. 2 packs of tickets $9, 3 packs of tickets $12. Hoagies, hot dogs, soda, water for sale. Saturday and Sunday September 10-11 COMMUNITY GARDEN DAYS AT GREENSGROW FARM Join local gardeners at 2501 East Cumberland St. to learn more about community gardening and managing a nursery. Come out and meet other local gardeners.Come out this fall weekend to get goods for your community garden. Community Gardeners will receive 10% off of purchases made for their community garden. Your garden must be preregistered to receive the discount at the time of purchase. Discount applies to nursery items only–produce and other food items are not included. For more information, info@greensgrow.org. July 14-August 27 LOCAL COLOR Local Color: Cut Paper Collages, a solo exhibition of artist Joseph Opshinksy’s work, will be on display at the Hall in Crane Arts (1400 N. American St.). Receptions will be held on July 14 and August 11 from 6-9PM. June 27-September 1 WINDOW BOX AND PLANTER CONTEST Once again the FNA is holding a window box and planter contest to reward the best flower boxes helping to keep the neighborhood green and beautiful. The contest entry deadline is September 1st. Submit entries to beautification@fishtown.org, or to FNA’s Facebook or Instagram page with the tag #FNAFlowerBox. Be sure to include a photograph and the address. September 30-October 2 SEAN MURPHY FIELD OF DREAMS The Sean Murphy Fall Classic will be played on Friday, Sep. 20 - Sun., Oct 2. All Games will be played at Shissler Rec (Berks and Blair Sts.) in Fishtown. Opening ceremonies will start at 6PM on Sep. 30. We will be unveiling a mural of Sean to start the festivities. The weekend will include the following activities: Baseball tourney, food vendors, kids activities, concessions, live music, golf ball drop with a chance to win $10,000, Beef and Beer, raffled items. All proceeds will be used to renovate our neighborhood fields and provide a scholarship to local kids. For more info, or if you want to make a donation, please contact Billy Gorey (215-901-2017 or goldenbeargarage@ gmail.com) or Dave Doc (267-312-5869 or djdave05doc@ aol.com) Mondays 6:30-7:30 PM ST. MICHAEL’S LABYRINTH On Good Friday during Holy Week this year, St. Michael’s Church at Trenton Avenue and Cumberland Street opened their doors to walk the labyrinth that was installed on the second floor in the sanctuary of their church. Monday evenings from 6:30 until 7:30 the doors are open on Trenton Avenue for anyone who would like to experience the labyrinth. There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth, and there is plenty of literature available that offers suggestions for your walk. You are also welcome to bring a journal or do art in that allotted time. Come one Monday and meet Yvonne Walker who will answer any questions you might have on the labyrinth and take the walk to bring faith, hope and love into your daily life. Contact St. Michael’s Church at 215-423-0792. Thursdays POWERS PARKS FARMER’S MARKET Come attend the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 3-7PM at Powers Park (Ann & Almond Streets). Fresh food available from local farms and kitchens. More information (vendors, etc.) is available on the Powers Park Conservancy Facebook page. 2016 CAMPBELL SQUARE EVENTS While every effort will be made to reschedule events cancelled by bad weather, we cannot guarantee that alternate dates will be scheduled. Please call John at 267-886-8799 or Susan at 215-426-3766 on event dates for possible cancellations, or check us out on facebook at Friends of Campbell Square. Aug. 17th, Weds., 7-9PM BIG HOUSE BAND Sept.9th, Friday, 7-9PM DOO WOP NIGHT (tentative) Sept. 18th, Sunday, 8AM-l:30PM FALL FLEA MARKET Interested in volunteering? We want YOU! For example, help with scheduled gardening and maintenance at Campbell Square on Wednesday nights, 6:30-7:30PM, Spring/Summer park events and all year round!

children LEPRECHAUNS SIGN UPS Leprechauns Sports Association is now accepting registration for Football and Cheerleading. This is open to boys ages 5-14 and girls age 6-14. The clubhouse will be opened Wednesday nights from 6-8 pm and Saturday mornings 10 am-12 pm.. The clubhouse is located at 2973 Gaul Street 19134. For more information call 215-423-6309 Check out our website http:// leprechaunsysa.wix.com/leps#!blog/chi3, or find us on facebook.https://www.facebook.com/Leprechauns-Sports-Association-347773417784/ SIXERS NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE Hancock Rec has more openings for players in their SNBL league held at Moffett Elementary School. For more information please contact Coach Larry @215-685-9877, or come to Moffet to register on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6PM. WEDNESDAY Preschool Storytime at Richmond Library This program is intended for children ages 1-4 and their caregiver. Siblings are always welcome. Daycares should call for separate appointments. Richmond Branch of the Free Library, 2987 Almond Street. For further information call 215-685-9992.

seniors

Meetings take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:308PM.

sign ups RESURRECTION BOWLING LEAGUE Resurrection Bowling League is looking for male and female bowlers, individuals and teams. The league bowls on Tuesday nights at 8:30 PM at Thunderbird Alley on Holme Ave. League play begins Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Anyone interested in bowling, please call Joe Gessner 215725-3556 or Kathy Pearce 215-802-6912. BRIDESBURG REC CENTER (4625 RICHMOND ST) Zumba – Classes are Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8PM, and the cost is $4. Beach Photos - Beach photos by <rs. Gooden will be taken in early June. Save the Gas! Beach photos will be taken at the Rec in an air conditioned room. Bridesburg Nursery School - Boys and Girls ages 2-4 as of September 1, 2016. 2’s Mon. and Thurs., 3’s Thurs. and Fri., 4’s Mon. and Wed. Food Pantry - Please donate nonperishable food and clothing for needy in the neighborhood. Drop off donations at the Rec weekdays from 9AM-9PM. Scrapbooking – Scrapbooking group meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30PM. The cost is $5 per class and everything will be supplied except a book and photos. For more information call Miss Jackie at 215-685-1247. CIONE SIGNUPS Cione Tot Rec Program — We are now accepting applications for the 2016/2017 school year. The program runs Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9AM until 12 noon. Children need to be 3 1/2 years to start the program. For more information ,call 215 685 9950 to leave a message and your call will be returned. Arts and Crafts for Kids – Meetings for 5-12 years old. Arts and crafts have no cost and takes place every Wednesday from 6-7PM. Zumba – Adult classes are on Fridays from 7:30-8:30PM, and the cost is $5 per class. Chess Club – For beginner to advanced players of all ages.

Fridays ART WORKSHOP FOR SENIORS St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St., is offering an art workshop for people age 50 and older. “Clay Creations” will meet weekly on Fridays, from 12:30-2 PM Participants will learn about the art of hand building to create pots and other clay forms. Those interested should register in advance. For more details call 215-426-9799. SENIOR EXERCISE CLASSES Exercise classes for people 50 and older will be offered at St. Anne’s Senior Center, 2607 E. Cumberland St. Class schedule will be Enhance Fitness on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 AM, Chair Yoga on Tuesdays at 9:30AM, Tai Chi on Wednesdays at 10AM, and Line Dancing on the first and third Friday of every month. For more information call 215-426-9799.

FREE ENGLISH & CITIZENSHIP CLASSES Can you or someone you know benefit from English as a Second Language (ESL) or Test for Citizenship Classes? The Richmond Library at 2987 Almond St. presents free English and citizenship classes. Tuesday and Thursdays from 6-7:30PM at the Richmond Library. For more information, call the Library at 215-685-9992.

WALKING CLUB The Playgrounds and Rec Centers in Parks and Recreation District 2 are starting a Walking Club. Exercise as you wait at your child’s program. There is no cost to sign up, and the first 100 participants get a free t-shirt. Stop in and sign up at the Bridesburg Rec Center at 4601 Richmond St. For more information and to register, call the Center at 215-685-1247.

faith

Wednesdays First Presbyterian Bible Study Group A Bible study group meets at First Presbyterian Church, 418 E. Girard Ave at 7PM . Come and bring a friend for informative, exciting and lively open discussions. As always, everyone is welcome.

Thursdays St. Anne Weekly Novena St. Anne weekly Novena Thursday evening service, 7:30PM Church of Saint Anne, Memphis St. and Lehigh Ave.

Obituaries Raymond M. Sinick January 16, 1921 - July 27, 2016 At the age of 95. Beloved husband of the late Edna; devoted father of Raymond (Dorothy), Ronald, Robbie, Roger (Christine) and the late Richard “Hubs”; dear brother of the late Herbert; survived by 5 grandchildren, his sisterin-law Eleanor Whitlock and many nieces and nephews. Mary Corboy November 18, 1957 - August 7, 2016

Sundays SUNDAY BINGO St. Anne Church will host bingo on Sundays in the Social Hall, Memphis and Tucker streets. Doors open at 4PM; bingo starts at 6PM. Cost is $12. Call 215-739-4590 for more details.

TOT SOCCER SIGNUPS Sign up now for Tigers Tot Soccer. Girls and boys ages 3 ½ to 6. The season will begin soon, so sign up now at the Tigers’ clubhouse (2423 E. Ann St.) Also, t-ball pictures are in, please pick them up! For more info, call Tom Mack (215-275-8838)

Mary Seton Corboy, (born Nov. 18, 1957 in Washington, D.C.) daughter of Joan Elizabeth (nee Cowley) Corboy and Edward Anthony Corboy loving sister of Regina Funk, Bill Corboy, Eileen Corboy, Nora Christie, Katie Kumkumian, John Corboy, Martin Corboy, and aunt to 12 nieces and nephews, graduated from Saint Anthony High School (Washington, D.C.), Wilson College and Villanova University. Mary inherited the family gift for storytelling and relished regaling friends with the hilarious stories of growing up with seven siblings in a family reared in Washington D.C., Ethiopia and rural Pennsylvania. Throughout her life she was happiest when the lines blurred between friends and family at countless parties, vacations and projects that cemented her extended network of fans. While serving as a property manager for Andrew Wyeth, the renowned artist captured Mary’s essence in the “The Liberal,” a riveting portrait that captured her beauty and strength. Although her passion for reading and politics fed her intellect, her love of cooking enriched her early career as a chef employed at great haunts and fine dining establishments from Block Island to Montana, to the Philadelphia suburban restaurants, The Upper Crust and Taquet. All the while, Mary sought to build something different that could marry her passion for good, healthy food, her love of physical labor, and the principal of “giving back.” Her life’s culminating work was the building of an innovative urban farm intended to breath life into the long neglected Philadelphia neighborhood of Fishtown. There, in 1998, with her business partner Tom Sereduck, Mary reclaimed a trash-strewn, contaminated city block and built Greensgrow, now one of the nation’s most innovative and longest lasting urban farms. As Mary and Tom constructed the greenhouses, hydroponic beds and thriving retail nursery, Mary began to fulfill her dream of employing cutting-edge sustainable farming practices to not just feed, but also nourish and

employ the community. Mary’s described this labor of love in a 2015 Smithsonian magazine feature on Greensgrow as ” taking the lot from abandoned to abundant.” Adding to the long list awards she received, just this year, Food Tank recognized Mary as one of the nation’s 17 Farmer Hero’s, noting that she is “heralded for not only growing vegetables, but changing attitudes around food.” In service of this mission, in 2015 Mary wrote and published a charming children’s book, “Blanche Gets a Job” chronicling the escapades of a troublesome feline who learns to love and be loved while helping out at her neighborhood farm. The blossoming of Greensgrow coincided with Mary’s own battle with cancer and recovery. Ever the teacher, she shared her recovery strategies boldly saying” I’m proud to talk to other people and help other people that are going through it and see if some way my experience can make their experience a little easier.” Although her life was a testament to the serious pursuit of change for the good, Mary will perhaps best be remembered for her combination of sass and piercing insights. When Philadelphia Magazine awarded Mary the Philadelphian of the Year in 2008, they said, “Armed with a Blackberry and a sarcastic wit, Mary Seton Corboy is showing Philadelphia that the solution might be right beneath our feet.” In Mary’s life the personal was the political. Out Smart magazine featured Mary’s pioneering vision in 2011 in which she explained ... “you can’t just demand things for yourself out of government and out of society and out of community. Obviously you need to do something yourself.. to make the world better.” In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary’s memory can be made to Greensgrow (2501 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19125) or at greensgrow.org.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 COMMUNITY

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We reserve the right to edit, refuse or classify any advertisement. Advertising is a privilege which must be protected against misuse. All classified advertisements subject to pre-payment. It is the responsibility of the advertiser to check the advertisements each time it is published. No responsibility is assumed by the newspaper for errors. Errors will be rectified by reinsertion in the following issue only.

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Landlords must allow you to make reasonable accommodations to ensure full use of your apartment. Telling you that you can’t install grab bars and ramps is against the law. You can fight back. If you suspect unfair housing practices, contact HUD or your local Fair Housing Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance.

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The Spirit of the Riverwards – August 10, 2016 WRITTEN BY PTAH GABRIE

Help Jerry’s Kids! After 45 years, Walter Pomroy is still devoted to helping Jerry’s Kids and it’s time for him to hit the sidewalk once again. Pomroy, also known as Fishtown’s Good Samaritan, will hold his annual campaign to raise funds for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He’ll be on the sidewalk at 314 E. Belgrade St. from August 12 to September 5th. Stop by to make a donation and support a worthy cause. If helping kids is not enough to rouse you into action, Pomroy will also be selling hot dogs and soda cans for $1.50.

Justice “Speedy” Perez BOXER MAKES AMATEUR DEBUT

n Friday, July 22, a few hundred people crowded into Diesel Fit Gym to watch kids from around the area compete in a USA Boxing sanctioned fight night. The sweltering heat did not stop boxing fans from coming out to show their support for the sport and to watch Justice “Speedy” Perez, 8, make his ameteur boxin debut. Speedy came out swinging. His quick jabs and ability to dodge his opponents punches demonstrated why he has earned the nickname “Speedy.” Perez bobbed and weaved around the ring, landing blows to his opponent and taking some licks himself, all with the audience cheering his every move. Perez put up a great fight, but in true Rocky form, he lost

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his first real match. He was noticeably upset by the decision, but Perez exited the ring into the arms of waiting fans who cheered him. He gave a triumphant peace sign, as he was carried off into the crowd. • Photos by Ptah Gabrie

The Spirit of the Riverwards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 2, 2016 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL KLUSEK

weekend photos P H O T O S F R O M F I R S T F R I D AY A N D S E C O N D S T R E E T F E S T I VA L

It was another fun-filled weekend in the Riverwards. On Friday, August 5, Lutheran Settlement Home (LSH) hosted a First Friday party on their deck. There was free food and drinks, games, music, and artwork by LSH seniors. On Saturday, August 6, the 8th Annual Second Street Festival came to Northern Liberties. There were various food trucks, arts vendors and local musicians performing throughout the day. â&#x20AC;˘

Second Street Festival

First Friday

Second Street Festival

First Friday

Second Street Festival