UNFILTERED | OFF-KILTER | TRUE
Inspired By The 90s 4 Philly Turn-Up Spots Inside the Insomniac's Warehouse
Something
Sweet On The Side From Dancers To Sugar Babies, The Secrets Of The Side Hustle
April 2016
urban setting multimedia focus award-winning faculty
Department of
JOURNALISM
Seniors participate in the PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com: a converged newsroom in Center City Philadelphia emphasizing neighborhood reporting.
SMC.TEMPLE.EDU/JOURNALISM
5th and Cecil B. Moore By artists in Non-Stop Familia Photographed By Emily Davis
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Street Art We’re taking you two blocks over to check out some of Philly’s real art
The Philadelphia skyline brought to the streets 5th and Cecil B. Moore
Photographed By Emily Davis
5th and Cecil B. Moore By Greg ‘CA$H’ Clark and anonymous artists Photographed By Emily Davis
5th and Cecil B. Moore By artists in Non-Stop Familia Photographed By Emily Davis
5th and Cecil B. Moore By Greg ‘CA$H’ Clark Photographed By Emily Davis
Editor’s Note Philly has always grown up in New York’s tall shadow. For outsiders, New York is glitzy and glamorous—a place where famous people live and work. It’s a bustling city that never sleeps. I compare Philly to New York all the time, telling people that we’re the better city. But no one takes me seriously. You know why? Because when I say “New York,” you think Times Square. But when I say “Philly,” you’re thinking of Will Smith getting his ass beat on a West Philadelphia basketball court. The truth is, Philly can be just as entertaining as the Big Apple. You just gotta know where to look. Put down the yawn-worthy tourist maps and historical adventures, we’re so much more than that. We’re more than cheesesteaks, museums, and the Rocky statue. Forget skipping town for something to do. Fourteenth Street will help you skip your comfort zone to show you the best bars in the hood, sweet places to eat, and places to visit after Philly goes to sleep. We’ll get you thinking outside of your comfort zone, too, by showing you the inner workings of a secretive business and by sharing alternative views on touchy topics. Read on, get out, and be inspired. Because Philly is deeper than you think.
Yousif Memon Editor-In-Chief
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Yousif Memon MANAGING EDITOR Jessica Johnson ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Michael Griffith DESIGN DIRECTOR Allison Merchant ASST. DESIGN DIRECTOR Emily Davis PHOTO EDITOR Diana Shalenkova DIGITAL EDITOR
Morgan Falconer
FEATURES EDITOR Grace Maiorano ASST. FEATURES EDITOR ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR ASST. ARTS + CULTURE EDITOR FOOD + ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
April 2016
14thstreetmagazine.com
Lindsay Vallen Alexa Zizzi Delialah Burns Eva Arce
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Zahara Hill 10
@14thstreetmag
Cover Image Modeled by
Taylor Smethers
Photographed by
Breanna Keohane
14TH Street
Table of Contents
Food + Entertainment Philly's Ethnic Food p. 12 Salt - Pepper - Ketchup p. 13
Features
On The Cover Two Sides To Every Hustle
p. 16
Insomniac’s Warehouse p. 23 Homeless Hustle
p. 39
Drawing Inspiration p. 28 p. 36 Told To Dream
Art Culture
Home Is Where The p. 15 Art Is Late Night at P&P p. 40 Philly’s Erotic Nights p. 41 Barz N The Hood p. 38
Lifestyle See You Work The ‘G-Word’ The Big Splurge
p. 14 p. 25 p. 42 Photographed By Emily Davis
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Food+Entertainment
Pura Vida Latin Where: 527 Fairmount Ave Casual/Divey: Corner restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, BYOB What I Had: Shrimp Tacos with Guacamole and veggies, side of black beans and rice Total: $14 Pura Vida brings BYOB to another level...bring your own liquor and they will make you margaritas or mojitos. The menu has plenty of options from cubanos to burritos to tacos, and it’s a great spot for date night.
Philly’s Ethnic Food Scene Four Must-Try Joints Around The City
Baan Thai Thai Where: 1030 North American Street Casual/Upscale: Indoors and outdoors seating, BYOB What I Had: Drunken Noodles with Chicken Total:$12 Baan Thai’s casual atmosphere, large portions, and dynamic flavors make this a great place for lunch or dinner with friends or for date night. The BYOB bonus makes Baan Thai worth a visit for some fun.
By Lindsay Vallen
Tasty Place Chinese Where: 143 North 11th Street Dive: Inside a basement grocery store What I Had: Sautéed shrimp with greens over rice, daily soup. Total: $6.50 With 162 menu items you literally cannot go wrong, and will have to explore this menu to find the gems. Eat in for the experience of a restaurant in a basement within a grocery store or order takeout any day of the week for your authentic Chinese food fix.
Indonesian Where: 1754 South Hicks Street Family run: Home cooked with dynamic flavors What I Had: Collard greens, beef rendang, curried tofu and egg, and tempeh over rice with a side of the house hot sauce. Total: $8 Served on Styrofoam plates with huge portions, Hardena is as authentic as it gets. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere makes you feel a part of this family. Eat in for lunch or dinner, or grab take-out anytime. 12
April 2016
Photography By Lindsay Vallen
Hardena Resto Waroeng Surabaya
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Food+Entertainment
Salt-Pepper-Ketchup A Short History of Philly’s Fave Toppings By Jessica Johnson
Photographed By Breanna Keohane
Philly is well known for its steaks and hoagies, but there’s more to it than just the meat. An odd combination of toppings is often added to these signature sandwiches—mayo, mustard, oil, whiz, and of course: salt-pepper-ketchup. But where did all of these staple additions that take our meat to the next level come from? We wanted to find out where all of these flavor explosions originated, so check out our short history of some of Philly’s fave toppings.
Katsup Derived from the Hokkien Chinese word kê-tsiap, it was a fish sauce first brought from Vietnam to China. The first tomato ketchup recipe dates back to 1812 and includes tomato pulp, spices and brandy. In 1876, Dr. Washington Wiley partnered with Henry J. Heinz and started producing preservativefree ketchup.
Mellow Yellow Mustard seeds were highly valued as medicinal treatments before being known as a flavorful food addition. The first mustard paste recipe dates to 42 AD. The paste made a name for itself in France. In 1904, French’s made its debut at the World’s Fair in St. Louis.
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Mr. Peppa Trade of pepper dates back to 1000 BC. Found in the Kerala region of India, the spice rose to luxury due to tales of hardship to procure it and the distance traveled in transporting it to Europe.
Peter Piper Pickles Pickling is believed to occurred as far back as 2400 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. In 1893, Heinz introduced its “57 varieties” of jarred foods, including pickles, at the World’s Fair. The same year Pickle Packers International was founded. Mt. Olive Pickles first hit the scene in 1926.
Stay Salty Dates as far back as 6050 BC. Native Americans and colonial settlers used boiled brines to create it. The condiment is considered historically significant in religion and commerce.
Gee Whiz Invented by Kraft foods in the early 1950s, this processed cheese in a can made its way into the hearts of eaters by offering an easy-to-spread topping. April 2016
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Lifestyle
Lose Yourself In These Playlists
I Wanna See You Workout To These Hot Songs By Lindsay Vallen
Stay Loose
Jog one lap around the track or park to warm up Play : Till I Collapse Eminem & Nate Dogg
Ladies Get It Right Get It Tight Jog One Lap Between Exersices: Squat Jumps x 10 Leg Kicks x 10 Each Leg Walkig Lunges x 10 Each Leg Walk Outs x10 Jumping Jacks x 20
Guys Stay Flexin On ‘Em
Press Play:
Jog One Lap Between Exersices:
Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh) — Rich Homie Quan Man Of The Year — Schoolboy Q Panda — Desiigner White Iverson — Post Malone 679 (feat. Remy Boyz) — Fetty Wap, Remy Boyz Antidote — Travi$ Scott The Next Episode — Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
Mountain Climbers x 10 Each Leg Burpees x 10 Leaps x 10 Push-ups x 20 Jumping Jacks x20
Famous — Kanye West
Final Burnout
Sprint 50 Meters and Jog Back, Sprint 25 Meters and Jog Back Repeat 2 — 3 Times Play: Big Rings — Drake, Future Bad B*tch — French Montana, Jeremih
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Press Play: Consideration — Rihanna, SZA Work It - Promo — Missy Elliott Work — Rihanna, Drake Roses — The Chainsmokers, ROZES
The Next Episode — Dr. Dr, Snoop Dogg Work Out — J. Cole I Don’t Fuck With You — Big Sean, E-40 Me, Myself & I — G-Eazy, Beb Rexha
Art + Culture
Photographed By Dante Dantonio
Home Is Where The Art Is Leea Kelly lights a fire under This is About Art! at Lavender Town.
A Community of Artists Comes Together Over Cheap Beer Instead of Champagne By Kayla Babicki
H
ammers banged loudly against aging blue walls, and the scent of stale beer and acrylic paint hung in the air. Eclectic characters of all ages began to fill the living room, toting beer and various art supplies. The pre-show frenzy of final preparations ended with giant canvases (depicting unsettling charcoal demons) being nailed into the walls. This is About Art!, a new underground Philadelphia art collective meant to promote community and growth among local artists, had its first show on Friday, Feb. 5 right in Eric J. Myszkowski’s living room. The collective, a brainchild of Myszkowski, 23, aims to transform the local arts scene into an accessible, diverse community focused on artists’ growth and collaboration. It was born out of the local music scene, an underground 14TH Street
community where not all art forms get group can make art accessible, so that equal love and exposure. This is About anyone, regardless of funds, can participate. Art! aims to change that. He’s even looking to raise money for This show featured everything from more Philly art projects in the future. paintings and sketches to textiles, Although the group’s goals may seem photographs, sculptures, poetry, “I’ve always described this group as comedy, and glass my baby and I’m glad that everyone blowing. “I love that there adopted it.” is an open space for artists of all mediums,” said Leea Kelly, 20, a glass small, the support from the community blower and jewelry maker. “It’s fascinating is not. The first gallery show brought to see how people discuss art from so out 13 acts and over 100 supporters, but many perspectives.” Myszkowski and the other moderators Unlike your typical wine-and-cheese are not stopping there. art collectives with a focus on sales, This “Eventually, we want to hold more is About Art! is geared towards artists events such as tonight,” Myszkowski receiving feedback and inspiration from said. “I’ve always described this group each other and networking. as my baby and I’m glad that everyone Myszkowski said that he hopes the adopted it.” April 2016
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Photographed By Breanna Keohane
Two Sides To
16
Every Hustle
Successful Working Women Find Balance Between Two Lives
April 2016
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Photographed By Breanna Keohane
In The Limelight
With living wages on the rise, young women scrape up some extra cash by mastering the balance of full-time jobs with part-time work, or as we like to call it—the side hustle. By Alexa Zizzi
L
ook around - it’s not the ‘50s anymore. Since then, women have transformed from the confined, nurturing housewife to the independent, multitasking businesswoman, dominating today’s society as the jack of all trades. Women’s education levels have risen, their pay grades have heightened and in today’s economy, where our 9-5 day jobs can’t always pay the bills, they have mastered the art of the side hustle.
‘burbs, she now hosts her own show, Comedy-Gasm!, while balancing the full-time HR day-job. Although comedy has become her passion, Fogletto says the scene is extremely demanding because it’s competitive and difficult to make money in. “You kind of feel your social life slip away, because you’re not as available as you were, and now you’ve committed to this, and start to get a booked show here and there – so anytime you have an opportunity you have to take it because there’s like 200 other people in the city
doing the same thing you are,” Fogletto said. “It’s hard to explain to people that you don’t know if you’ll be free or not until that day, and when you say it’s for something like stand-up comedy, I think people don’t really understand,” she added. She addressed the difficulties of not only mastering two jobs that demand full-time attention but also the challenges of pursuing her passion in an extremely competitive, male-dominated scene. “It’s very boys club, although, it is
Rachel Fogletto, a New Jersey native, works in Human Resources by day and is a comedian/entertainer by night. She attended Temple University for her undergraduate degree, then received a Master of Social Work from University of Pennsylvania in her early twenties. With little experience in the field at such a young age, Fogletto couldn’t land a job to sufficiently cover her Ivy League student debt. She started comedy as a side gig by performing at open-mics, making YouTube videos and launching a satirical feminist podcast. After performing local shows throughout Philly and the surrounding 18
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Photographed By Alexa Zizzi
Following Her Passion
Rachel Fogletto performing a weeknight, open-mic comedy sketch at Medusa Lounge in Center City Feb. 9. . 14TH Street
“It’s part of the game – you have to show up, be consistent, you can’t fall out and you have to really push yourself as much as you can,” she said. Although the dominance of career-driven women has risen, society just can’t seem to accept this new wave of feminism. As Fogletto explained, women still seem to face more challenges than men in many fields, such as the entertainment business, especially when it comes to earning the same amount of respect. And when it comes to respect, some women have to create what almost
comedy career. Similar to Fogletto, many other performers in various platforms of the entertainment business choose not to disclose personal information due to public opinion.
amounts to a “separate life” for their side jobs, solely due to the negative outlook society has on many of these professions. This is why Fogletto preferred not to share the name of the company she works for at a full-time day job - she chooses not to associate it with her
Women who are mastering their fulltime professions with side hustles are building a successful life to provide for themselves and their families, yet still face judgement and a negative association as many people label certain professions in the entertainment business as promiscuous job.
“Keeping muggle identity secret in this line of work is important for many reasons."
Photographed By Alexa Zizzi
getting better.” she said. “Being a woman in comedy you really have to decide how much you want to push, because I’m a button pusher, so sometimes I have to play with how much I actually can.” She said due to the gender gap in the comedy scene, it’s especially difficult for her to adjust to different venues, audiences and other performers, because a lot of her material contains dirty jokes and sexual references. “It’s hard because you might perform in a room where you’re the only girl in the show and every guy gets up and
talks about their dick, but if you get up and do the same thing, people are uneasy – so you sort of still have to cater in a way,” she said. Fogletto believes that despite the challenges, the comedy scene’s demanding dedication is what has led to her ultimate success in the field. 14TH Street
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Being Promiscuous
Go-go dancer by the stage name of Bettie Pagan performs in-between sets at Broad St. Burlesque’s Miss Rose’s Sexploitation Follies show last February. Photographed By Alexa Zizzi
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A local burlesque dancer who goes by the stage-name of Liberty Rose said keeping anonymity in her type of entertainment business is essential. She works as a costume designer and stylist by day and as a burlesque producer by night. “Keeping muggle identity secret in this line of work is important for many reasons, mainly it’s not mainstream enough to get naked in public even if it is for art and sometimes people don’t know we do this, so it needs to stay that way – at least until society gets over its prudish norms,” Rose said. As co-founder of the dance company Broad St. Burlesque, she runs her own show, Miss Rose’s Sexploitation Follies, and has performed in various venues throughout the city, as well as helping to produce the first-ever Philadelphia Burlesque Festival last summer Though her burlesque business is ultimately successful and she continues to pursue her passion as a performer and producer, Rose remains cautious of the information disclosed in her nightlife gigs due to the simple fact of society’s judgement. When it comes to other forms of entertainment as a side job, the more promiscuous the job is considered, the more challenges women face when balancing two careers – causing them to mask one of their lives from the other. A former dancer at a gentleman’s club in the city, who chose to remain anonymous, is a mother of two and said she stripped throughout her entire 20’s and early 30’s in order to provide for her family. She received an Associate’s degree from a local community college, then finally transferred to a university to work towards a profession in social work. “It was hard being a dancer while in school,” she said. “I had to give a presentation once about working a job while being a student and I just lied on the entire thing and said I was a bartender at a fancy restaurant and that was why I made such good money.” Though she lived the common double-life of adult entertainers, she wishes it wasn’t such a reputational risk to be open about it to the public. “I could have had the chance to make some really good points and educate people on the benefit and empowerment stripping gives women, but I wasn’t brave enough,” she said. “I regret that.” 14TH Street
Photographed By Breanna Keohane
In The Shadows
While some women seize the stage, others seize the fellas.
Getting Some Sugar By Jessica Johnson
F
o r Temple University Senior Akasha Maples, “sugar baby”-ing brings in the side cash. The idea struck Maples after she heard about Temple ranking third for sugar babies on SeekingArrangement.com. “Growing up I never thought I would do this, because I was always taught that no man is going to just give you
Photographed By Breanna Keohane
gifts, they always want something “If it sounds too good to be more,” said Maples. true, it probably is.” While being a sugar baby is a lot like having a relationship, it’s really just a business transaction. The sugar baby and daddy (or mama) relationship and even an allowance. clearly state what they are looking for And contrary to popular belief, being when entering into an arrangement. a sugar baby doesn’t necessarily make Both parties agree on the amount of you a sex worker. time spent together, the nature of the ”Once I met a man who was 31, married, with a great sex life, he just wanted someone to talk to because his wife is dumb,” joked Maples. “It’s hard to find someone who isn’t totally interested in sex, but there are some out there.” Every arrangement is different. Profiles of Sugar Babies on Tumblr show us that the role can be extremely lucrative, and according to posts on SeekingArrangement.com, allowances can range from $1,000 to $10,000 a month. There are also not-so-obvious perks as well, such as the opportunity for networking and the ability to live a fantasy life that’s very different from your own. “I like that I am getting the opportunity to experience high society. It’s a culture,”
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the money that he’s claiming to have,” Maples said. Often women feel they need to compromise in order to get a Sugar Daddy. The Seeking Arrangement website even boasts “four Sugar Babies to one Sugar Daddy,” leading some to assume they have to up their game because there is so much competition. Many online Sugar Baby resources encourage doing background checks and video chatting before meeting to stay safe. Additionally, the Sugar community has built a blacklist of Sugar Daddies
who provided negative experiences. Don’t be fooled into thinking that being a Sugar Baby is a cake walk though. Sugar Babies often live multiple lives that they struggle to keep separate from their real one. Considering arrangements are like business transactions, Sugars don’t involve their friends and family in their fantasy life. “You have to always remember it’s business - a tool for financial leverage,” Maples explained. “I don’t need this. It’s just a bonus.”
Photographed By Breanna Keohane
said. Maples. She often eats at Five Star restaurants, goes to the Opera and more. Being heedful is a big factor in becoming a successful Sugar Baby. “Don’t believe everything everyone says. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” warned Maples. While messaging provides some level of interaction between potentials, it also can reveal a lot of cues for caution. “If a man says he has a lot of money, but he wants to take you to a regular restaurant, he probably doesn’t have all
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GoPuff Delivers For Munchies
...And Everything Else, Too By Grace Maiorano
“You have to be a defensive driver, knowing how to maneuver these streets,”
Saleena Darrien explains, as she swerves her black vehicle onto North Broad Street. “It’s like being in control of life.” With a full tank of gas, a GPS system and a six-pack of beer, the Temple University senior tackles one of her several deliveries. Before attempting the next one, she ventures back to a discrete building nestled among a row of dilapidated structures. Underneath the ordinary address plaque sits a sticker of a tiny blue blowfish with a rather clever smile. The mysterious façade on 12th and Buttonwood houses a startup company imprinting its grinning blowfish across the United States. GoPuff, founded in 2013 by Drexel graduates Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev, is a delivery service encompassing nearly 4,000 products from Hershey bars to hoverboards, and prides itself on getting such oddities to your doorstep around the clock – all in a guaranteed 30 minutes. In its infancy, the enterprise was a haven for hookah and hemp, providing just about every piece of paraphernalia to grind, roll and light a blunt. The original logo curtailed with a tapering hookah hose, which eventually changed to an arrow heading in a ceaseless direction. Naturally, with midnight bong hits comes midnight cravings, manifesting the need to deliver munchies. Customers grew tired of Doritos and Cheetos and began seeking substantial food, leading to the typical conveniencestore inventory like bread, butter, eggs - then why not a frying pan, while we’re at it? With roughly twenty orders placed
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Inside The
Insomniac’s Warehouse
April 2016
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“You’re not working for a no-name big business. You’re part of a tight-knit team.” every minute on an average weekend night, late night cravings seem to be getting satisfied at a revolutionizing rate. The staff’s collaboration and communication lie at the cornerstone of this ambitious, almost mystical promise, according to GoPuff employees. “It’s about commitment. If we’re not committed, then it’s not going to work,” says Ron Gabbay, an operational manager. “Every single person in here is 100 percent committed.” “Our drivers and managers really aren’t here to just punch in and punch out,” adds Taylor Goldman, the company’s social media manager. “We really try to cultivate relationships here, and that comes from the commitment of our drivers and managers.” Just outside the warehouse, a few computers are lined up in an office painted the “GoPuff” blue. The team embodies an assembly line from the moment an order appears on a monitor.
Based on a color-coded system, a yellow box indicates an order has just been placed. After being packed by the operational managers, the box turns to pink, for pending. From there, the order waits to be picked up by a driver after being placed in its respective bin, depending on where it’s heading. From collecting items in cramped hallways to transporting those products across the city, the system works meticulously on prioritization, depending on timeliness, proximity and customer frequency. “It’s a combination of methods,” says James Pierce, a deliveryman and operational manager. “…All of it is theories as of now, but our method is [to] go with the newest customer to make a good first impression, even if another order came in before.” These good impressions even withstand blizzards, as GoPuff deliverers maneuvered through Superstorm Jonas when two feet of snow fell on the city in January. The other key component is knowledge of the city, particularly for the drivers. They are trained to familiarize themselves
Photographed By Grace Maiorano
with the bustling blocks, according to Gabbay. In Philly, the company serves South Philly, Center City, University City, Temple Town, and just recently expanded to the Lower Merion area. But this geographical growth is no longer limited to the company’s hometown, as GoPuff has scattered across the country, pleasing those late-night longings from Boston to Austin. A team has recently popped up in Denver, along with Miami and Chicago locations set to open this year. “In the future, GoPuff will conquer the states. That’s the goal,” Gabbay says. Gabbay adds that nearly 300 new products were added to the colossal collection between February and March, striving to meet irrepressible requests from clients, including organic options and - of course - alcohol. With the opening of GoBeer at the Buttonwood warehouse in December 2015, Philadelphia serves as a laboratory for this multiplying enterprise. And while customers’ needs are met at all hours of the day, the staff finds themselves to be particularly rewarded, as GoPuff fosters an exquisite work ethic. “I’ve had plenty of jobs in the past, and I’ve only been here for two months, but being here has definitely inspired me to work harder and step my game up,” Pierce says. Their employment is the epitome of a startup—a fluid space where individuals work their own hours amid familiar faces striving towards a shared goal. “You’re not working for a no-name big business. You’re part of a tightknit team,” Darrien says with the six-pack tucked under her arm, waiting for a customer to arrive at the door of a recently renovated porch on the outskirts of TempleTown. “This is great for our generation.”
A GoPuff employee unloads merchandise before it hits the road. 24
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The ‘G-Word’
Photographed By Yousif Memon
Dr. Walter Gholson stands in front of the Norris Appartments at 11th and Berks streets.
How Can a Professor of Urban Studies Support Gentrification? By Mike Griffith
W
alking into 105 Anderson Hall on a Tuesday evening was a bit of a shock, almost like time had been reversed and sent me back to 4th-grade art class. As I opened the door, electronic music blasted throughout the room, and a handful of college students sat at long, marble-like desks. My initial thought was confusion, as
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my eyes shot down to what the students were actually doing. Coloring. I looked around the room and noticed that, of the four students left from the dwindling class period, all of them were intensely shading their papers with bright Crayola markers. At the front of the class was another desk, where two massive boxes of markers sat beside the stack of finished masterpieces
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Photographed By Diana Shalenkova
created by students who had already left for the day. Sitting behind them was Dr. Walter Gholson, a broadshouldered, elderly black man with a thick, graying mustache and a Barack Obama-like demeanor: laid-back and cool, with just a touch of seriousness. “We do a lot of creative exercises to get the juices flowing,” said Gholson about his coloring assignment. He explained how it relates to this class, Art in the City, because it focuses on artwork in Philadelphia, including the establishment of the Mural Arts Program over the last A no trespassing sign is posted on a fence outside of a redevelopment lot on 11th Street. several decades. Dr. Gholson also teaches two other Museum of Art to Broad Street. It has So what happens to those low-income, Urban Affairs classes at Temple: Black grown into a middle-class haven of the long-time homeowners who see their Males in the City and Schools in the City. city with many families moving into the property taxes begin to skyrocket? However, he has an ironic perspective on area in the 2000s due to its convenient They end up either being pushed out a serious issue he studies: gentrification. location between the greenery of the of their homes or scrambling to find In fact, very early on in our discussion, Schuylkill River and the bustle of Center more income. he made his view clear, saying, “I’m not City. “There is some pushback from the against it, I’m for it.” Dr. Gholson said that he purchased neighborhoods, and it is primarily So a black professor, who has lived his home for about $190,000 in 1997, disingenuous because there was plenty in Philly for nearly two decades and and that amount adjusted for inflation of time for people to have made some teaches courses about the lives of black would equal about $283,000 today. Today, alternatives,” said Dr. Gholson. males in the city, supports gentrification. the typical asking price for homes in Dr. Gholson believes that the market Hold up...really? his area ranges from about $400,000 will determine the value of the land or Dr. Gholson, a native of Cape Charles, to $600,000, with some even going for the buildings on top of it and that those Virginia, spent much of his younger over $1 million. who can’t afford to live there should years at the University of Nebraska, Dr. Gholson said his house is worth move somewhere more suited to their where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree over $600,000 now, due to renovations economic status. However, this may end in Journalism. He then lived in Chicago his family made. up forcing long-time homeowners out for five years, working at Chicago State “We put in some work...gentrifying our of the neighborhoods, due to massive University, and came to Philly in 1997 purchase, [then] other people started property tax hikes that are out of their to earn his Master’s and Doctorate in doing the same thing. And because of control. Education from Temple University. He that, the neighborhood City Council moved into the Fairmount section of became the place to buy,” has recognized the city, which gave him a first-hand he said. that this is a understanding of gentrification. Which is exactly what growing problem “The Fairmount neighborhood is one happened. and created the of those that say ten years [before] was The Fairmount neighborhood instantly Longtime Owner Occupancy Program a ghetto. And when I moved in, you became the place to be. According to back in December of 2013. This program, could walk maybe a block and get any census tract data from 2000 to the present, which was voted to be extended on March narcotic you wanted.” many sections of the neighborhood saw 18, currently gives homeowners who Fairmount stretches from the Ben median home values grow an average have lived in their residence since 2003 Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia of 145 percent, to around $350,000. an opportunity to cap their property
“Of course it’s not fair.”
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taxes for ten years; if Mayor Kenney approves the extension, the cap will last until the owner either moves out or passes away. Dr. Gholson is wary of programs like these, as he believes that homeowners and renters should be trying to avoid the situation altogether by “getting out of their comfort zone” and bettering themselves through education and job training. Liora Engel-Smith, a Masters of Journalism student at Temple University, has lived in South Philly for four years, at the edge of Point Breeze and Passyunk and has seen firsthand what happens to a neighborhood in the throes of change. Her rent has gone up steadily over the last two years, and new businesses have popped up on her block. “I noticed the neighborhood was getting better when they put trees in...There were no trees around us,” Engel-Smith said. “And when we first
moved here, there was trash all over, and there’s no trash now.” She does understand, however, that she may have played a role in these changes. “We are newcomers to the neighborhood, and maybe we are part of the problem,” Engel-Smith said. In her experience, the problem is a fine line between affordable housing and feeling safe on the block. She thinks it’s difficult for students to find a middle ground unless they move into a neighborhood which is being gentrified. The other problem is renters and homeowners not being educated on the value of their property or how to navigate the real estate market. Dr. Gholson mentions, how in the early 2000s, developers were buying up homes left and right in dilapidated neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. “These guys went in with cases full
of money. And when you’re poor... No questions asked,” Gholson said. He believes that this is the widespread problem. “Two years later, when you realize the property you just sold to this individual is now worth $20 million dollars...You just got got,” he said. And does he think that’s fair? “Of course it’s not fair!” Dr. Gholson argues that real estate, and ultimately life, isn’t fair and that the city shouldn’t be trying to mess with the market to preserve what they think is fair. Who knows, maybe one of the students that had already left Dr. Gholson’s classroom before I entered was being pushed out of her neighborhood right now, and she had left her creative masterpiece behind, hoping that his teachings could help her get a better job and stay in her home.
DRAWING INSPIRATION
n, Photographer, _________
90’s-Born Artists Create From The Decade That Shaped Them Story by Eva Arce Photography by Emily Davis Yo, ‘90s babies: you were born in a pretty awesome decade. It brought you boy bands, Gameboys and freaking Furby. So, it’s safe to say the people who grew up in that decade are pretty damn awesome too. Specifically, we’re talking about the creative scene...
...in Philadelphia: those dope kids with hella swag who live, eat and breathe ‘90s. It’s an immensely diverse scene, including everyone from artists and photographers to poets and rappers. From the art they make to the way they dress, these “creatives” are heavily influenced by the decade and you can see it in everything they do. We got the chance to hang out with six ‘90s-borncreatives who told us how they draw inspiration from the decade that shaped them.
“It’s hard to say that you incorporate the ‘90s into your poetry, because poetry
is the way you’re currently feeling, but I think the whole framework I’ve surrounded my poetry in - and the people I share my poetry with - has helped incorporate the ‘90s into it.” – Shirmina Smith, born 1998, poet. w
w
“Growing up in the 90’s I listened to a lot of DMX and Big Pun. I felt as though
their music at the time was real and relatable to my life. The pain, the struggle, and the good times during the bad. With my mom being the reason for this music being played in my home, when I decided to make music she was my biggest critic. She used to tell me if it ain’t real don’t rap about it. Ever since I make sure everything I make is heartfelt and relatable.” –Dirty Kenzo Kid, born 1993, rapper and graphic designer
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“One thing that I admire about the ‘90s is the realness. Basically, it was just
raw and there were a lot a pioneers back then. It just shows you the power that music and any art has on the world. It shows you what you could do if you wanted to change the world in a different way.” –Suirad Franklin, born 1994, rapper, “all around artist”.
“The ‘90s was where hiphop started growing limbs. It went from Kurtis Blow to Nas. And what would the world be without Nas? Reasonable Doubt by Jay Z, that album fathered my whole life. The whole appeal of the ‘90s: the style, the soul, the youth were connected.” –K’Nen, born 1995, rapper and producer.
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“Film itself, that shit is just ‘90s completely. Everything
about that is ‘90s, because there’s no editing done to it. I feel like I completely embody the ‘90s sex appeal - sassy sultriness within dressing, the way I talk to people, my music selection, whatever it is. That’s just me.” –Robin Smith, born 1995, filmphotographer and model.
“The style and the culture from back then influences my photography. History
repeats itself, so everything people are doing now is just an advanced repetition of what happened before, and I like to capture shit like that. I feel like all my pictures tell a story no matter what it is.” –Jamez La Flame, born 1994, photographer. w
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"I am movers and shakers and rule breakers I am sleepy heads down but woke fists up." –Shirmina Smith, born 1998, poet.
Photography By Brittany Selerno
Junior, Sarayna Vega, loves both journalism and the cello.
WE WERE TOLD WE COULD
DREAM
The Philadelphia School District is no stranger to budget cuts. The district borrows $250 million just to keep schools open.
By Delialah Burns
W
alking through an instrument classroom of Abraham Lincoln High School, Sarayna Vega points to six cellos. Only two of them are functioning—one of those two is on its last string.. Considering how much district borrows, one can only imagine how challenging extracurriculars are to
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fund. Out of 218 schools in the district, only 174 have a visual arts teacher and only 25 have school-based instrumental music teachers, according to The Notebook. About two-thirds of these teachers don’t have a budget for supplies. We spoke with two art-focused students at Abraham Lincoln High School: junior
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“I feel like my dream is not supported.” Sarayna Vega, 17, and senior Matthew Quntana, 18. 14th Street: Are you being encouraged to pursue a career in the creative arts by the district? Quntana: No, I don’t believe that we are. I don’t think that acting is supported because it’s such a non-promised thing.... That’s not fair for me. Acting is my dream. It’s my everything in my life. I feel like my dream should be supported no matter how other people think. 14th Street: What advantages are there to being a student in a Philadelphia public high school involved in the arts? Vega: They take you to plays...So if you want to get in like drama they really do take you to see visual arts and stuff [that’s] interesting and there’s people that do come up and show arts and stuff.
Vega: Not really - they don’t announce [opportunities] to the students. I have to dig my way through to find things to put myself out there, and it’s really hard to find. Quntana: I don’t really believe so. I am in a program called Philly Reality where only the drama majors go to a theater - The Suzanne Roberts downtown - and we perform there. We actually write our own plays. We write our own parts everything. We do the set. We do everything on our own. We perform it, and it’s published because it is recorded, but I don’t think it’s from the school district. 14th Street: Do you feel your dream is being fulfilled by the Philadelphia Public School District? Vega: Not at all, because like I feel like they shoot everyone down and there are not enough opportunities for us to do. We just sit in class all day and listen
to the teacher all the time. It’s really depressing because the school district is really sad...you talk to kids from other school districts talk about what they do and you’re like, ‘I can’t do that.” I don’t like the school district that much. I see a lot of students here, and all they do is walk the halls. Their not interested to anything but like rap music. There is a lot of things to do here. They offer a drama class, a journalism class. You can get free lessons and one of the kids may be like oh lets do this this seems awesome. I think if they announce it to the whole school. Quntana: I feel like my dream is not supported. I feel like maybe if I had a different career or aspiration maybe it would be supported, but acting is not supported now aside from my drama teacher. I have asked my other teachers and they say, “you should do this you should do that” not “oh you should just follow your dream and go do acting.”
14th Street: How has the Philadelphia Public School District budget affected your experience at Abraham Lincoln High school? Quntana: We couldn’t go on trips. We couldn’t go on hardly anything. I’ve seen my teacher, Ms. Swift, struggle because we have no funding. I feel like if we were funded more, we would have more. For example, a prisoner gets through a year with $40,000 from the government. A student receives an average of only $10,000. 14th Street: Has the district offered opportunities for your work to be published? Senior, Matthew Quntana, is an inspired actor and creative artist. 14TH Street
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Food+Entertainment
Barz N The Hood Trust Me, The Hood Is Where It’s At
By Zahara Hill
Depleted bank accounts, Uber price surges and obnoxious drunkards; sounds reminiscent of a Saturday night in Center City. So many collegiates flock downtown for a turn up, despite the superficial atmosphere of bars that serve overpriced and over-watered drinks. How about an alternative? With DMX classics playing from the jukebox, cranberry and vodkas and the comfort of neighborly atmospheres, there’s no greater lituation than that of a bar in Philly hoods.
Crab House
Urban Saloon Ok, so this certainly isn’t your typical hood-bar given it's in Fairmount, but it certainly has a classic dive atmosphere. It’s been visited by the 76ers dancers, but can also serve as a relaxing and quiet hangout spot. “Great night out with the boys except for Wednesdays... we were looking for a [more] personal place,” said Brian McGillicuddy, a regular at the bar. Jalapeno-infused tequila, lime juice, guava, and triple sec with a sugar rim comprise the makings of the Urban Sombrero, considered one of the bar’s strongest drinks.
2120 Fairmount Ave.
5706 Germantown Ave.
Playmakers
Sitting comfortably on the corner of 28th and Girard is Playmakers Bar. Founded by former Eagles player Calvin Morris, Playmakers offers the ideal environment for your neighborhood kickback and a jukebox to suit any mood. Friendly older folk, young lovebirds and a few standoffish pool players make up your typical crowd here. Playmakers doesn’t have a signature drink to advertise, but when trying to attain the most turnt of turn ups, trust the bartender with your clear or dark preferences.
Lively, funny and twerk-happy bartenders are the most revered feature of this Germantown Avenue bar. The food and drinks aren’t entirely exceptional but the personalities at the Crab House will certainly top off your night. With classy white furniture, an intimate bar space and a seafood counter right behind it (yes, another one), the ambience in Crab House sets them apart from other bars in the area. One of the more adored bartenders, Rosalyn, likes to create a tropical tequila and rum infused drink she calls, “Tasty.” The name says enough.
Clock Bar
928 N 28th St.
3649 Germantown Ave.
Any bar serving fried shrimp is a bar we’d consider lit. But your luck in this bar won’t end at the seafood counter - the staple turn up juice at this bar is none other than a pink liquor-infused slushy named Smooth Bitch. When the bartender overheard us talking about how potent the liquor was, he came over and graced our cups with a triple shot of vodka. With that kind of hospitality, it’s no surprise the bar is a hit with the local residents. “Good seafood and good people,” are the reasons Ron H. keeps coming back to the bar. Great service, succulent shrimp and a “Smooth Bitch.” Need I say more?
Photographed By Zahara Hill
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Art + Culture
Homeless Hustle 11 Ways Philly Homeless Strive To Stay Alive By Morgan Falconer
T
here are people on the streets of Philadelphia who collect empty soda can bottles, sell paintings, sleep on cardboard and beg for money on the train. To most people, they are considered panhandlers, poor and homeless. But to some, they are considered hustlers. Every day these individuals find creative new resources to stay alive. So how exactly do they survive on the streets? We compiled this information through interviews with Jason Roskowski, Director of Shelter Services Our Brothers Place, and David Holloman, Director of Chronic Homelessness for Philadelphia.
Shelter
Money
Panhandling They key to getting cash on the streets is finding the right corners of the city. One of the best locations is the I-95 entrance ramps. Every 30 seconds, succeeding rounds of traffic offer a never-ending stream of income. Collecting Items Worth $$$ Collecting any item with a money-back guarantee, like soda cans and water bottles, is essential. After digging through legions of litter, bring a cart full of found objects to the nearest supermarket to claim the cash.
Protection
Head in his
Abandoned Houses hands homeless Abandoned structures are man prays Photographed By seen by many as an eyesore Morgan Falconer to the community, but for the homeless, it’s a place to call home. These structures provide a warm place to sleep and protection from harsh weather. Finding them is easy, Laundromats as there are over 40,000 such houses in The laundromat serves as a refuge, Philadelphia according to PlanPhilly.com. offering more than washing machines. Leftover clothes can be salvaged, and Sleeping Bag waters bottles can be filled here. The best way to stay warm during the colder months is in sleeping bags. They Garbage Bags are lightweight and compact, making Being both inexpensive and accessible, them easy to carry around, and cardboard garbage bags are a versatile item. Besides can be put underneath for extra comfort. storing belongings, a garbage bag’s purpose fluctuates with the seasons, acting as Location, Location, Location a raincoat in the spring and deflecting When living on the streets, the key heat in the summer. to a good night’s sleep is finding quiet places on the outskirts of the city. The best places are underneath bridges and in makeshift tents along the highway.
Clothing
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Weapons Protection is a necessary element in surviving a shelterless life. Small weapons are a source of safekeeping from the unknown that lurk the streets at night. Knives or broken nail files work well, or scraps of other objects can be blunted or sharpened. Safety in Numbers Keeping safe at night means convening in groups: the larger the group, the greater the protection.
Food
Fast Food Not only is it affordable, but some customers will offer leftovers or whole meals. Water Stay hydrated by filling up water bottles from water fountains at libraries, schools, restaurants and grocery stores. April 2016
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Food+Entertainment
P hilly ’ sE roticN ights Photography By Alexa Zizzi
Nightlife explorers can be spotted at this mysterious salon exposing their deepest, darkest secrets. By Alexa Zizzi
A
t the top of the steep, dark stairwell leading to a cryptic, candlelit room, tables and chairs face a microphone sitting under a dimly-lit spotlight. On one side of the room, strangers mingle at a small bar. On the other side, a few lustrous couples cuddle closely on benches aligning the curtain-covered wall. A secretive man sips on a glass of bourbon as he makes his way across the room towards a tall, slender, darkhaired woman gliding across the floor in 8-inch heels. The mysterious room is full of people with mysterious stories – and they arewere herethere to expose them. The room is called the Bohemian Absinthe Lounge. It’s located on the second level of Time Restaurant in Center City. where this special event is held to draw in this particular crowd. The Erotic Literary Salon is an uncensored, judgementfree, open-mic where anyone and everyone can share their written works and personal stories, provide sex-educational discussions or just listen and learn from othersothers. Susana Mayer, a petite, spunky, 63-yearold with a Ph.D. in human sexuality, 40
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started the salon as a way for people to express creativity by revealing their deepest, darkest secrets and desires through uncensored and unedited poetry, comedy, fiction, storytelling and what she calls “edutainment” – incorporating open-mic with sex-education. Before people perform, she throws a Q&A to the audience, allowing an open-discussion and educating the curiousunknown. Sometimes she has experts, published authors and sexologists speak on important topics. Other times, the audience shares their personal stories about sex, relationships, personal life and anything relatable.
Susan Mayer host the Erotic Litery Salon at the TIME Restaurant
“I match people’s wants, desires and goals with education,” Dr. Mayer said. “The salon has grown because of the needs
and desires of the community that attends it.” From personal stories of sexual abuse and emotional outcries, to graphic sex stories and dirty fantasies – the salon has no limits and no rules. The only rule is silence. Dr. Mayer enforces strict, profound silence during all readings to establish intimacy between the performer and the audience – an atmosphere not commonly experienced in an open-mic environment. Confidentiality is also compulsory with enforcement of anonymity, stage names and prohibited photography to protect people’s identities. As Dr. Mayer hosts and leads the discussion between each person’s reading, she suggests to the crowd, “make sure if you see someone you recognize on the street, don’t shout to them, hey! – remember me from the erotic—you know, because you never know who they’re with.” She said creating a comfortable and safe setting is one of the most important factors in this type of community. Dr. Mayer said from a psychological perspective, she has learned that not only verbalizing, but putting emotions down on paper, can sometimes be the best therapy. “When you’ve said it in public, you take a lot of weight off yourself,” she said. “Not only is it healing to them, but they also can know they’re not the only ones.” Dr. Mayer said the salon shares the best of both worlds – pain and pleasure – and allows people to leave with “the gift of growth and transformation.” The Erotic Literary Salon is held the third Tuesday of everyeach month from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with an intermission. A full bar and dinner menu is offered throughout the show with appetizers like Pei Mussels in white wine sauce or Crab Mac & Cheese and entrees like Cider Braised Short Rib and Chicken & Waffles. Anyone 21+ can attend and sign up to read their work in future performances. 14TH Street
Photography By Alexa Zizzi
Art + Culture
Whether you’re one of the city’s journalists, restaurant workers, or just a part of the late-night crowd—the walls in this club tell a story.
By Alexa Zizzi
“Some nights won’t end until around 6 a.m.”
Like a scene from an old black and white movie—a room
1920s-1930s and was later rebuilt after a fire in 1946 which destroyed most of the club’s records and memorabilia. It full of fedora-wearing men has been tossed around Philadelphia smoking cigars and sipping through numerous relocations and scotch while pounding on typewriters and arguing over currently resides at 1522 Latimer Street. politics—the Pen & Pencil Chartered in 1892, the club was Club is that present-day spot. originally created as a place of socialization Except with iPhones instead and relaxation for newspaper men of typewriters. – and only men, as there were no Wedged on a side-street in women journalists at the time. Now, the depths of Center City, a still functioning as a private club, black-gated door leads into a the members have grown into a more tiny foyer where you must be diverse crowd of people who mostly Table tops in the Pen and Pencil Club, located at buzzed in to enter. Inside the work the night shift. You must be an 1522 Latimer Street smoke-filled atmosphere, the vibe active member or associate member is reminiscent of a local town hall to get in (meaning a member’s guest.) or social club where everybody knows standing and surviving its predecessors, Each member is allowed three guests one another. the Journalists Club of Pennsylvania, at a time, but word on the street is that As one of the oldest press clubs still the Stylus Club and the Reporters Club, the doorman may not always turn you Pen & Pencil has away—especially if it’s late. Stu Bykofsky, full-time employee at “A place of socialization become more than just a club for local The Daily News and Secretary of Pen & newsmakers. It’s become a nightlife Pencil Club, has been a member since and relaxation for community of Philadelphia’s hard-working the ‘70s. As a non-profit organization, newspaper men...” after-hours crowd. all of the officers serve as volunteers It has survived prohibition through the and Bykofsky refers to his position as “a labor of love.”
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Art + Culture
Bar in the Pen and Pencil Club
With late hours, from 6:30p.m.-3 a.m., Bykofsky said the crowd is a mixture of both journalists and hospitality workers. “We have a small crowd that comes in after opening when we serve a light dinner menu Wednesday through Friday, then there might be a low, and then at 11/12:00 it picks up again,” Bykofsky said. “We only have two newspapers left in town, and many of the people who work at the newspapers don’t work in
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Center City and are not getting off that late anymore,”Bykofsky added. “So by 11/12:00, pretty much the journalists are out of there, and then the late-night crowd comes in, which would be more of the associates.” Dennis Hagen, longtime member and bartender at Pen & Pencil since 1991, said sometimes his night won’t end until around 6 a.m.