Bok Summer 2023 Newspaper

Dog Days of Summer Lenny (right), pooch of Wag Days’ owner Nora Rodgers, photo bombs his doggie daycare pal Walter, who belongs to Bok neighbor Kate Towson.

A Look Inside

Issue 22 Summer 2023

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Summer 2023

Summer School is in Session School may be out, but classes and workshops at Bok never end! Here are a few of the offerings from our Bok tenant community this summer.

Peep our full event calendar at buildingbok.com.

Studio Incamminati Unplug and pick up a pencil with Studio Incamminati this summer in their Level 1 Drawing Intensive, 9:00am-4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from June 21st to July 26th. Even beginners can make rapid progress in the fundamentals of figure drawing in this five-week class taught by the nationally recognized artists of the atelier school founded by portraitist Nelson Shanks. studioincamminati.edu / @studioincamminati

Weaver House Learn how to weave beautiful textiles on the rigid heddle, a portable and accessible weaving loom! No weaving experience is necessary for this introductory workshop, happening on June 4th from 10:00am to 5:30pm. Check out their website for other upcoming classes and workshops. weaverhouseco.com @weaverhouseco

ARTXSTITCH Learn the intricate and beautiful art of embroidery with ARTXSTITCH. They are hosting a weekly Intro to Embroidery/free stitch on Mondays from June through September. Stop by this all-levels casual gathering to learn a few basic embroidery techniques, connect with fellow creatives, and start your week off on the right foot. This is a free event and supplies are included to get started.

Visit the ARTXSTITCH website for info on more classes and workshops this summer. artxstitch.com / @artxstitch_embroidery

Amy Novinsky Ballet Ready to make your dreams of being a ballerina come true? Dancer Amy Novinski hosts workshops and weekly classes for adults. Whether you are a trained dancer or have never put on a leotard in your life, Amy’s approachable teaching technique will open you up to a whole new world of ballet artistry. The Adv. Beginner/Intermediate Adult Workshop will run from June 26th to 30th, and the Absolute Beginner Adult Workshop will run from July 10th to 14th. amynovinski.com / @amynovinski

Tuft the World Education Studio Tu f t t h e Wo r l d ’s Education Studio is a place for makers of all ages! Learn rug tufting, crochet, embroidery, screen printing, and more in one of their many summer workshops held between June 1st and August 5th. tuftinggun.com @tuft_the_world

Beehive at Bok From June 19th to September 1st, Beehive and The Craftship will host an immersive crafting camp for 4-8 year olds, spending time in Bok spaces, outside at local parks, and visiting other crafty experts in the neighborhood.

Discounts are availabile for siblings and for multiple weeks. beehiveatbok.com @beehivecommunity

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/ A Look Inside

Bok Gets Outside Want to make the most of this sunshine season? We tapped some Bok tenants to get their recommendations for how to best enjoy summer days outside in the city.

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Concerts Enjoy sun, trees and sweet tunes with Bok tenant The Bowery Presents this summer. They are teaming up with R5 Productions to promote the Make the World Better benefit concert on August 26th at the Dell in Fairmount Park (6). Alex G and Alvvays will be performing, and ticket proceeds go towards revitalizing parks and public spaces in Philly. Tickets available on the R5 Productions website. bowerypresents.com / @bowerypresents

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Play for kids Both parents and kids alike are excited to get out of the house and play in one of the many public playgrounds and parks. Bok tenant Project P.L.A.Y. School (Partners in Learning About You) likes to take trips to the Children’s Discovery Garden in Sister Cities Park (7). Inspired by Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley, the garden’s winding pathways, scalable rocks and meandering stream provide a setting for discovery and imaginative play.

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projectplayschool.org / @projectplayschool 7

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Farmers markets 11

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Getting out to local farmers markets is a great way to enjoy fresh air and stock up on fresh food in one fell swoop. Bok tenant Catt Fields White of Farmers Market Pros has the scoop on the best in the city. Closest to Bok, she suggests strolling to South Philly’s small but mighty Dickinson Square Park Farmers Market (8) every Sunday.

The budding Germantown Farmers Market (9) on Saturdays works in partnership with Philly Forests and supports urban agriculture and a school garden, so it’s a great place to get information about street trees and mushroom foraging while picking up veggies. For a wider selection of farms and foods, the Clark Park Farmers Market (10) on Saturdays and the Headhouse Market (11) on Sundays offer everything on your grocery list. cattfieldswhite.com / @cattfieldswhite @farmersmarketpros

Biking trails

Public art

Running trails

For sport and leisure, escape the hot concrete into a shaded and tree-filled Philly park. The crew at Redshift Sports names the Schuylkill River Trail (1), MLK Drive (2), and Pennypack Trail (3) in the Northeast as great places to get out and bike.

The team especially enjoys the mountain biking trails in the Wissahickon (4), but even a bike novice can enjoy the smooth gravel paths on Forbidden Drive. Their friends at the Paper Trail Bike Cafe in the park can rent you a demo bike kitted out with Redshift parts, plus they sell delicious treats and coffee to fuel your ride.

You don’t have to walk too far in any direction to find fantastic public artwork in Philly, thanks to Mural Arts. Not far from Bok at 747 Wolf Street is “Routing For You” (5), the most recent piece from Bok tenant Southeast by Southeast, a program of Mural Arts which works with local immigrant and refugee groups. This mural, a map of community assets by artist Shira Walinsky (another Bok tenant), is a collaboration with our friends at the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC) and was created with the students at Key School. muralarts.org / @muralarts

Take advantage of those cooler summer days with a run around the city. Bok tenant Rita Carroll of Out and Back Creative loves running along the Schuylkill River Trail (12) during all seasons, but says it’s extra nice during the warmer months because so many folks are out enjoying the trails. If you’re looking for fun local races this summer: Philly Runfest through Fairmount Park is June 14th, the Philly 10k through South Philly and Center City is August 27th, and the Philadelphia Distance Run through the museum area is September 17th. Use code BOK23 for 10% off of any of them (thanks, Rita!).

redshiftsports.com / @redshiftsports

outandbackcreative.com @outandbackcreative

All Bok and no bite! These pups (and kitties) of Bok have great names and even greater parents.

Can you match the pet in the Bok dog park to their name and owner?

Moose

Vidal

Corinne Dodenhoff, designer corinnedodenhoff.com

Fringe Hair Salon fringesalonsouthphilly.com

Bashi

Sassoon

Aubrey Levinthal, painter aubreylevinthal.com

Fringe Hair Salon fringesalonsouthphilly.com

Byrdie

Panini

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Joe Basile, music + sound thechicken.net

Ben Wong, Dragonfly Audio Post dragonflyaudiopost.com

Lois

Lenny

Kate Miller, U90 u90soccer.com

Nora Rodgers, Wag Days wagdaysphilly.com

Canyon

Ben

Elise Miller, Bok Wed bokwed.com

Sam Oberter, photographer samoberter.com

Bear

Brooklyn

Christopher Cieri, Franklin & Whitman franklinandwhitman.com

Sarah Naji, Minimal Chaos minimalchaos.pink

Olive

Gus

Sierra Barela, painter sierrabarela.com

Katelyn Bladel, Studio Bladel etsy.com/shop/studiobladel

Loki

Pretzel

Alysia Torres, Miles Table & Catering milestable.com

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Carley Hussain, Black Cat Design House blackcatdesignhouse.com

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Marnie

1. Canyon, 2. Bashi, 3. Panini, 4. Pretzel, 5. Lois, 6. Marni, 7. Loki, 8. Brooklyn, 9. Ben, 10. Gus, 11. Bear, 12. Byrdie, 13. Moose, 14. Lenny, 15. Olive, 16. Sassoon, 17. Vidal

Answers:

Alysia Torres, Miles Table & Catering milestable.com

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5 8 7

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Summer 2023

Amazulu Collections Longtime Bok tenant Charita Powell of Amazulu Collections expands into a new home in the WKSHP, and shares more about what inspires her jewelry line and clothing brand.

What are Amazulu Collections and Urban Karma Wear all about?

Amazulu Collections is a conglomeration of designs that are inspired by world travels (Ghana, West Africa, Indonesia and other countries abroad).

Urban Karma Wear is a clothing brand established 12 years ago in the Philadelphia Region. We source fabrics from all over the US and abroad.

What brought you to Bok? Born and raised in South Philly, being at Bok allowed me to continue the family traditions and creative designs of my ancestors. I come from a family of designers and creators who also attended school at Bok.

What inspires your designs, and who are your designs for?

What can we expect from Amazulu Collections this summer?

We are inspired by color, textiles and ethnic appreciation of all cultures. Urban Karma Wear represents “Where Cultures Meet.” Our designs are for anybody who desires and appreciates bold colors and unique styles.

Amazulu/UKW will be launching its summer collection June 8th to 10th at both the new retail space in the WKSHP and in our 3rd floor space.

Shop Amazulu Collections in the WKSHP Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00am-5:00pm amazulucollections.shop @amazuluphilly

Pet Riso Step into the colorful world of Pet Riso, the tiny but mighty print studio in the WKSHP. What is Pet Riso all about?

Pet Riso Studio is a risograph print shop that I (Claire Cooke) run with my business partner Ben Kraemer. A risograph is a colorful copy machine; it was created for office use but was discovered by artists who use it to make work similar to screen prints. At Pet Riso we make all sorts of work on paper: zines, posters, art books, flyers, postcards... we've done it all!

How did Pet Riso come to be?

Artwork by Myles Pittman, @lasagnafanpage (above), and Shannon Dougherty, @c00kiepuss (right)

I studied printmaking at Tyler School of Art, where I worked as a risograph technician with Ben at Tyler’s gallery. I connected with Scout in 2021 to produce and print posters for their installation at the PHS Flower Show. I wanted to keep working with the risograph, so I got Ben in on my plan to see if Scout would let us use their risograph and lease a space in the building to open a shop. Pet Riso was born! We celebrate our one year anniversary in May.

Why should people print risograph?

It's an accessible, sustainable, and affordable way to print. Riso ink is made of soy and there's no clean up process, so no water or chemicals are used.

Most importantly, riso prints are so beautiful! You can make incredible prints utilizing the machine's ability to print either super graphic bold colors or soft and delicate line work and gradients.

What do you love about working in South Philly?

Ben and I both have been living here for several years now. I love that it takes me 7 minutes to walk to work. The feeling of the neighborhood is wonderful, and I think that carries over into the Bok building! I love chit-chatting with the other small businesses on the first floor, and eating their pastries and drinking their coffee, of course.

Visit Pet Riso in the WKSHP Thursday-Saturday, 10:30am-4:30pm petrisostudio.com / @pet_riso

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/ A Look Inside

Bok Bar When the warm weather hits, the Bok rooftop is it!

Check out Bok Bar’s reoccuring events, with more to be announced this season. Event tickets available at bokbar.ticketleap.com

Brittany Lynn and the Drag Mafia

Salsa nights with DJs Big George and Veronica

April Small Oven & Porco’s

Sunset Yoga with KG Strong

Savory sandwiches and sweet treats smallovenpastryshop.com

Get to know some of the friendly faces behind the bar...

Hi, my name is Shahbaz. I live in Newbold. This is my 3rd summer at Bok Bar. My Bok Bar beverage of choice is Half Acre Daisy Cutter.

My favorite Bok fun fact is that the building houses over 200 businesses, and over 50% of them are women-owned! Other than Bok Bar, my favorite South Philly spot is Fountain Porter.

When I’m not working, you can find me running. I could chat all shift about the Pennsylvania Historical Markers found around the city.

They offer rich history and insight about the roots of Philly.

Hi, my name is Ric! I live in Little Saigon. This is my 6th summer at Bok Bar. My favorite Bok Bar memory is the first time I saw the view when I went up there for an interview. The thing I love most about this building is all the folks!

Everyone is doing something cool, and that’s cool. Other than Bok Bar, my favorite South Philly spot is Triangle Tavern. When I’m not working, you can find me in the woods, in my basement, at various grocery stores.

Hi, my name is Aubrey. I live in Point Breeze. This is my 5th summer at Bok Bar. My Bok Bar beverage of choice is a lil’ glass-o-Grüner or Vinho Verde. My favorite Bok Bar memory is seeing the storms come through; watching them roll in is weirdly comforting, plus I usually get a good chuckle out of the chaos of people running for cover! Other than Bok Bar, my favorite South Philly spot is Fountain Porter. When I’m not working, you can find me puzzling, crafting, wiggling, or playing Sims.

Wednesdays + Thursdays 5pm – 11pm Fridays 5pm – 12am Saturdays* 2pm – 12am Sundays 2pm – 10pm *Starting June 17th, Bok Bar will extend their hours to open at 2pm for Summer Saturdays through September 2nd. On Saturdays prior to June 17th, Bok Bar will be open from 6:30pm to 12am.

@bok_bar on Instagram for updates on hours or closures due to inclement weather

Bok bar partners with local restaurants and chefs for month-long popups, featuring some can’t-miss munchies.

Peep the current menu at bok-bar.com.

May

Tabachoy Filipino cuisine tabachoyphilly.com

June

Fiore Fine Foods + Kalaya “Thaitalian” fiore-finefoods.com kalaya.net

July

Puyero Venezuelan cuisine puyeroflavor.com

Aug.

BLVCK A Culinary Collective @eatblvck

Sept. Jezebel’s Cafe

Argentinian cuisine jezabelscafe.com

Oct.

Sweet Amalia Oysters and sandwiches sweetamalia.com

• Bok Bar is located on the 8th floor of Bok. The entrance to the bar is at 800 Mifflin Street, nearest 8th Street • Bok Bar is open for service on a first come, first serve basis • All ages are welcome, but minors must have parental or guardian supervision. After sunset on Fridays + Saturdays, Bok Bar is 21+ only • Dogs allowed at any time

bok-bar.com for more details

Issue 22 // Summer 2023 A Look Inside

What’s Next

buildingbok.com @buildingbok

B[L]OK Party

Promument: Monument Lab’s Spring Fundraiser Thursday, May 25th Get ready to relive your prom memories at Promument, Monument Lab’s annual fundraiser in the West Gym. Proceeds support their mission to engage critically with our inherited monument landscape and work joyfully with artists, organizations, and movements to imagine the next generation of monuments. The night promises to be an unforgettable evening of celebration and support for the arts.

B[L]OK PARTY Sunday, June 25th Our spin on the South Philly summer block party where we invite tenants, community partners, food trucks and more to join us on Mifflin Street between 8th + 9th from 12-4pm. Bring your friends and family to this free community event!

Alumni Day Sunday, August 20th Every August, we invite Bok Tech Alumni to come back to their high school stomping grounds to see the new and the old. We encourage alumni and tenants to swap stories about the building and grab a drink up at Bok Bar!

For more events, visit buildingbok.com/calendar

Produced by

scout

Design Smith & Diction Cover photo Wag Days by Colin Lenton Illustrations + Content Kelley Garrard Photos Provided by each feature + social media