Fourteenth Street Spring 2015
Do we Have An Image Problem?
Get Thrifting Explore Philly’s Outdoor spaces
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Journalism
www.temple.edu/journalism
Urban Setting
Contents
Multimedia Focus
Award-winning Faculty
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From Broad to Markets: Explore the night and farmers markets of the city.
Do 03 04 Join a nationally accredited program that features a strong liberal arts foundation.
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The Punk Next Door
Philly’s punk scene may just be happening in a basement near you...
Dance, Dance Revolution
Millenium Dance Complex redefines Philly’s dance scene.
Eat 07 08
Think
A guide to food trucks
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The Chocolate of Brotherly Love
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On The Street Eats
Divulge into some chocolate, past and present.
The Resilience of Freedom
The oldest African-American theater lives on Broad Street.
Reputation Recovery
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Philly’s New Outdoors
Does Philly have an image problem?
Food For Thought
Philly’s culinary community gives back in more ways than one
The best outdoor attractions to check out this season
Specialize and individualize your journalism education to your specific career goals.
Be
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Is That Your Grandma’s Coat? Sammy Davis and Philly Thrifting
The City Is Your personal gym
Fit or not, get out and go
This, NOt That
Fourteenth Street staff is your updated tour guide
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Fourteenth Street
Letter From
Executive Editor Andrea Iezzi Managing Editor Alexa Bricker Art Director Lera Salmon Photo Editor Shelbie Pletz
OUr Editor I’ve lived here my entire life. I grew up in a Philadelphia suburb and have lived in the city for the past four years. I’ve never felt stuck here, but I’ve never felt fully satisfied by the thought of staying. Because of my own yearning to explore more, I wanted this magazine to be a guide, a tool for Philadelphians and tourists to realize that we have more than just cheesesteaks and some old stuff. What found their way to almost every story pitch we stuck with were positives about this city we call “ours.” We created laundry lists of positives and places and people that all spoke to a Philadelphia we wanted to know more about. We’ve lived here for a few years now – how have we missed so much? We thought we’d share our discoveries with you. To my surprise and excitement, we discovered that Philadelphia is rich (pun not initially, but now very much intended) with a chocolate history and a current culture that is growing, but not yet mainstream. To balance our sweet tooth, we break down some of the city’s best spots to utilize for your workout. Even if you’re a fitness novice, check out these places to get outside and explore. These and our story about Philadelphia’s booming dance scene uncover what’s been right under our noses. For some of us, it’s almost time to decide whether to stay or leave, and I think discovering the real Philly through this magazine’s creation made that decision a little harder – for me, at least.
Do Editor Chelsey Hamilton Eat co-Editor Jennifer Joselin Eat Co-Editor & Photo/Design Assisant Caitlin O’Connell Think Editor Jessica Smith Be Editor Darian Muka Web Editor Kaylin Espinosa
Cover Art by Chris Robertson
Contributors: Lauren Brown, Paige Gross, Moshe Sutton Kravitz, Logan Krum, Lizzy O’Laughlin, Jackie Nelms, Emily Rolen, Mary Salisbury and Brianna Spause.
Andrea Iezzi Executive Editor
the punk Next Door Philly’s punk scene may just be happening in a basement near you By Brianna Spause
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hiladelphia’s punk scene is still kicking some 40 years after its inception, when the hard and fast movement swept South Street with a wave of unapologetic youths. Donning mile-high Mohawks held up with Elmer’s glue, punks have been cramming all the kids in a tiny basement, turning up the volume and laying out abrasive, often anti-establishment tunes since the mid-70s. At The Nest, a powerhouse venue in North Philly’s Do-It-Yourself scene, the cover is never more than $3 and guests bring their own 40s. A friendly face lounges on the stairs collecting singles in exchange for entry. Inside, the pungent smell of cigarettes and sweaty twenty-somethings is thicker than the line to crawl down the narrow stairs. An age-old TV makes its home on the floor, ‘The Nest’ scribed on the convex screen in chipping white paint. DIY-ers carry the punk music scene, inviting just about anyone off the street into their homes for a night of local music in their unregistered basement venues. Kevin Brusha, housemate and booking manager for The Nest, is in his
photographers:
Brittany Salerno, Caitlin O’Connell, Shelbie Pletz, Mikey Ilagen, Casey Kallen, Kara Milstein, Neal Santos, Matt Stanley and Derek Brad.
Special Thanks: Photo/Shelbie Pletz
Larry Stains and Evergreen Printing Company.
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Fourteenth Street is sponsored by the Temple University Journalism Department. For questions or comments, please contact Professor Lori Tharps at tharps@temple.edu.
Empty beer cans litter the basement floor at The Nest, a non-traditional music venue in North Photos/Casey Kallen Philly.
element as he leans coolly against a blood-splattered wall that rumbles to the bass line, a tattered American Flag hanging upside down in the distance. Behind disheveled hair and curiously wide eyes, Brusha puts it simply, “Punk is freedom.” “The neighborhood kids that gear up in torn t-shirts and bounce up and down the coast between basement shows, dropping their albums on cassette tapes because that’s about all the band can afford, illustrate the heart of the modern genre,” Brusha said. While national icons like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols come to mind, punk is about community and what goes on behind the curtains to keep the scene alive. Nestled in a lime green storefront just off of South Street, Stefanie Jolles finds herself in the center of a More than just a music genre, punk is a style up scene that she can only describe as for interpretation, as displayed by Benjamin Fries “living and breathing.” As co-ownof Shy Boyz at The Nest music venue. er of Crash Bang Boom, formerly Zipperhead, Philadelphia’s home of punk fashion and culture since 1980, Jolles describes being a part of the scene as “having a huge family that we take care of and care about.” The best way to look out for her own, she said, would be to facilitate the “punk aesthetic.” Temple University’s The Dead Milkmen memorialized Zipperhead in their most famous tune, “Punk Rock Girl,” for surviving as the one stop shop for studs, spikes and bondage pants. No matter what they’re wearing, punks spread across the city. Weekdays aren’t off limits to local groups like The Menzingers and The Sidekicks, who played some of the last shows at Golden Tea House, an all-ages house venue that threw in the towel after a vibrant three years. DIY houses are scattered across the city with notable followings in South and West Philadelphia. “There are punk houses throughout the city that have shows but I’m not at liberty to give out their addresses,” Jolles said. “If you really want to go to one, ask a punk on the street to take you to one. Let them bring you home to the family just to make sure you have good intentions,” she added with a wink. It’s about where you go and who you know – whether it be bars like Johnny Brenda’s, Voltage Lounge or Kung Fu Necktie to mosh with the likes of Dogs on Acid, or downstairs where Christmas lights hang from the water pipes and the boys from Clique are getting noisy in the graffiti-littered basement. It’s about helping each other out, which is why Brusha says he never turns away a band, and it’s about the dedication of the people in Philadelphia keeping punk rock alive. “As long as there’s a punk scene, we’re here to stay and support it,” Jolles said.
Do Dance, Dance Revolution:: Millenium Dance Complex Redefine’s Philly’’s Dance Scene T
By Emily Rolen
ee’jay Hearn, a manager and choreographer at Millennium Dance Complex in Philadelphia, calls himself a “spinner.” As an underground hip-hop, West Coast fusion and freestyle improvisation instructor at the complex on South Street, Hearn said his favorite way to dance is to spin. “I’m just spinning my life away,” Hearn said. “That’s the main thing I love – I can put that anywhere in a routine.” Hearn’s home studio, Millennium Dance Complex, or MDC, opened its Philly franchise this past November. The bi-level complex is home to multiple studios and famous choreographers and dancers, making it “the place where it all happens,” according to its website. MDC originally started in North Hollywood, where it took off as a choreography space for professionals and celebrities in the business. The instructors at MDC said they share a similar goal in creating a dance environment in Philadelphia that is a player on a larger scale, similar to the markets in Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey. Hearn, in charge of auditioning dancers and making a team for one of MDC’s newest promotional dance groups, said the complex is striving to have an impact in those markets so that more dancers will move to Philly. “If you really want to be dancing,
this is where you need to be,” he told dancers at the end of a Saturday audition. “We need people to move to Philly. Make New York people want to come here and dance and take your spot.” One of the biggest ways Hearn said he hopes to make MDC a differentiated dance group in Philly and the country is by not entering groups into competitions, but only participating in showcases. “Everybody is so worried about competition that you forget about the real art,” he said. “So that’s our main thing. We just want people to dance because they love to do it. Not because they felt they’ve gotta get something out of it.” “We’ll never compete,” Hearn told the dancers. “We want to get to the point where they’re begging us to compete.” Another instructor in the MDC group, Mark Figueroa, said being hired as an instructor at Millennium was a “dream come true.” Figueroa said he grew up moving from place to place on the East Coast, and after commuting to Philly three days a week from Allentown, Pennsylvania, he’s had the opportunity to see the city’s dance scene from the outside. “Philly’s community is tough,” he said. “They know what they want and what they like.” One of the goals Figueroa has for MDC is to blend the styles of commercial and underground dancers. The distinction between
the two, Figueroa said, is that commercial dancers are focused on branding and the business side of dance, while underground dancers are typically more interested in “communication through dance.” Figueroa said many underground dancers are rooted in Philly, so MDC choreographers hope to blend the two cultures to make all of their dancers more successful. “Underground dancers dance from the heart, from the soul,” Figueroa said. “I bring that underground movement to the commercial stage. I think it brings something real.” As a self-taught dancer, Hearn said he hopes to encourage other artists who feel like they don’t have the resources to make dance a sustainable career. “We have a lot of talented people here in this city and they need to be seen,” Hearn said. “Everything I’ve learned is self-taught, and I want to be able to share that – how I’ve built myself and how they can build themselves if they have to.” “My father always told me, ‘You don’t wanna leave this earth as just being a dancer,’” Hearn added. “You want to be known for something. I want it to be, ‘Tee’jay is the reason’ or ‘Millennium is the reason why my life changed and my career changed.’ We kinda want to add to that. We want to be the reason for that.”
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p o h S e e f Cof ves o L r e n Ow Philly’’s s s e n l a e R
High Point Café, a coffee shop with two locations in Mt. Airy, is true to owner Meg Hagele’s neighborhood roots. It’s known just as much for its delectable desserts (especially the cinnamon rolls) as it is for the genuine customers it serves. Hagele says the realness and open-minded perspective of Philadelphia are what make her cafes successful, and are the reason to keep her business local. Hagele lived in Seattle for nine years, where she made her living as a barista. She could have kept her shop in the coffee capital of the world but chose Philly in the end. Here’s why:
Owner Meg Hagele (center) poses with the managers of the Allens Lane Train Station location that offers commuters coffee and homemade baked goods. Photo Courtesy of Meg Hagele A hip-hop master class takes place at the dance company on South Street. Aside from hip-hop, the studio offers classes in contemporary, tap, ballet, yoga and many other dance styles.
Photos/Kara Milstein
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decided maybe I should go ahead and try making my living having my business niche. I originally had my shop in Seattle for three years. Before long, my husband and I decided it was time to move back to Philadelphia. I missed my family and it was just time to come home. With that, we started shopping around for where we could do a High Point. I looked in Germantown, East Falls, Manayunk and even considered going outside of the city, but I’m a Philly girl. Once the space in Mt. Airy became available, we took it. Mt. Airy is incredibly diverse and open-minded and liberal and accepting. It fits in with my whole objective of creating a community and serving a community in general. It really speaks to me in that way and I feel like so much of the success of High Point is directly due to us coming to a community that is so welcoming. The thing that I love about Philadelphia is that the people are real. You get flipped off sometimes and there are people who are really open, even in a negative way. But there’s just an honesty and genuineness to the city that I haven’t seen in other cities that I’ve lived in. You can have a real interaction with somebody that you don’t know in the grocery store or walking down the street and it just feels good.
As told to Lauren Brown
Eat
On The Street Eats:: A Guide to Food Trucks By Lizzy O’Laughlin
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Philly is no exception, with a truck for just about every appetite, though most trucks don’t stop at great food. Nowadays, entertainment value is equally important, as the outside of the trucks become reflections of the owners’ individuality and style. If you haven’t yet experienced Philly’s food truck offerings, this list might help you get started. And if you’re already an avid food truck diner, make sure to check these off your list.
ecked in dancing hot dogs, sprinkles or complete works of art, food trucks are serving up a dose of Philly culture with every meal. Grabbing lunch at a food truck can also be quicker than waiting to eat at a crowded restaurant, with options not often found in traditional dining. Food on wheels is a concept that has seemingly exploded in the city over the past few years, but these trucks have actually been around for decades. Food truck culture traces back to the period after the civil war, when pushcarts served cowboys and urban workers. In the 1950s, ice cream trucks, with colorful signs and cheery tunes, started to roam the streets. By the 60s, food trucks expanded to serving a variety of foods. Photo/Neal Santos
The Best outdoor attractions to check out this season by Chelsey Hamilton
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Pitruco Pizza @pitrucopizza When you’re yearning for crispy brick oven crust, you’ll find it at Pitruco. This wood fired oven on wheels can cook up a classic margherita, soppresata or braised balsamic radicchio pizza, to name a few.
Race Street Pier (above) is a scenic park located on the Delaware Waterfront, equipped with large grass areas, benches and a view overlooking the river and the Ben Franklin Bridge. This is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic, or come at night and see outdoor movies, firework displays or outdoor musicians. Located at Penn’s Landing Marina and open only for the summer months, Spruce Street Harbor Park (right) offers a pseudo beach day getaway while still being in the city. The attraction includes a boardwalk, fountains, a pop-up restaurant and bar, misting areas, hammocks, an urban beach and decorated floating barges.
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Open only during the winter months, the Blue Cross RiverRink (right) is located on the Delaware River Waterfront. This seasonal attraction urges Philadelphians and tourists alike to get in the winter spirit, offering an ice-skating rink, shops, holiday trees and lights, warm fire pits and festive food and drink.
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Farm Truck @farm_truck This brightly colored truck is decked out in the work of local artist Gabe Felice. Not only does it serve up different gourmet seasonal menus, but many of the ingredients are locally sourced, with menu items changing daily. Past offerings included pork tacos and pumpkin quesadillas.
Undrgrnd Donuts @undrgrnddonuts
Photo/Matt Stanley
Located in Fairmount Park, this venue offers the best area to enjoy outdoor concerts and performances in the summer. The new Skyline Stage at the Mann (right), opened two summers ago, offers a breathtaking view from the lawn seats of the stage, the sky and the Center City buildings behind it.
Mac Mart @MacMart This truck offers classic American comfort food with a twist. For a step above and beyond traditional cheese, try “BBQ-In-Bowl,” or the Philly inspired “Wit Mac.” Feeling extra adventurous? Order up a custom mac and cheese bowl, with anything from jalapenos to hot dog bites. Photo/Derek Brad
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Photo/Matt Stanley
Philly’s New Outdoors
Track These Trucks Around the City and on Twitter
Craving some good old fried dough? Look no further. Creative creations like “The Homer,” with vanilla icing, raw sugar and chocolate bacon chunks, and “Euro Smash,” with chocolate icing, Nutella swirl and crushed nuts make this truck is a must for any donut connoisseur.
The Creperie @TempleCrepes Whether you’re feigning for savory or sweet, Temple students know The Creperie is the go-to spot on campus. Options like buffalo chicken and s’mores crepes prove there’s something for everyone wrapped in an amazingly thin pancake.
Illustration by Chris Robertson
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By Logan Krum
Love
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mongst the paper and pens Benjamin Franklin sold at a Philadelphia printing shop was “very good chocolate.” Richard Saunders (a pen name of old Ben’s) referenced the medicinal properties of chocolate in the 1761 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac. “Ben Franklin would sell chocolate not in the form that we know it,” said Kym Silvasy-Neale of Philadelphia’s Chocolate Clinic. “He sold in kind of a cacao form, a nib form in his pharmacy and wealthy people would come in and buy it and grind it up and drink it.” Franklin was a big fan of the stuff, but he wasn’t the only chocolate buff in Philly – not then and not now. “There’s a real solid history of chocolate in Philadelphia partly because of our waterways and the ships that would come in and dock here,” said Silvasy-Neale. Whitman’s Chocolate, better known today as Russell Stover Candies, found its first footing on Market Street near Philly’s waterfront. The company was founded in 1842 by 19-year-old Quaker Stephen F. Whitman. Its location gave Whitman’s an advantage. Silvasy-Neale added that as European sailors returned to Philadelphia with exotic fruits and nuts, they would stop by Whitman’s to dip them in chocolate to make sweet treats for their wives. Henry Oscar Wilbur and Samuel Croft founded Wilbur Chocolate Company in 1884, with Milton Hershey serving as their apprentice. “[Wilbur] started in Philadelphia, they were called Croft and Wilbur, and I think it was 1894 they were the first to do a solid shape of chocolate,” said Silvasy-Neale. Their signature candy, the Wilbur Chocolate Bud, was a tiny, foil-wrapped chocolate cone resembling a flower. Its base was thick and engraved with a petal pattern, and thinned out to a little chocolate dot at the top. “It looks a lot like the Hershey Kiss,” she said. Although the company went to court in 1909 to stop possible candy copycats, Hershey turned the Kiss into the American candy icon that it is. Regardless, the idea for the candy started in Philadelphia. These chocolate-covered bites of history weren’t for nothing. Now, Philadelphia is back in the chocolate scene. Take John Doyle and Kira Baker-Doyle, for instance. They both ended up in the city and in 2002 launched their national candy shop, John & Kira’s. “[Philadelphia] is so connected to suburban areas and rural farms and communities just ten miles outside of Center City. There’s so much potential for growth,” said Amber Hinshaw, Director of Business Development for John & Kira’s.
Photo/Shelbie Pletz
Photo Courtesy of John & Kira’s Chocolates
The Chocolate of Brotherly
Shaken, Not Stirred:: Y
By Darian Muka
Etiquette Lessons from Your Local BartenderDon’t order what you’ve heard in rom-coms and James Bond movies. Say you want a weak gin and tonic. Ask for it tall, which is the normal amount of gin with more tonic to fill a larger glass. The clearer your order, the better your drink will be. “When it takes more than ten words to describe the drink you want, you are saying too much,” said Kozak.
ou order a vodka coke. When the bartender asks you what kind of vodka, you say Belvedere. Now he knows you don’t know how to order a drink. Top shelf vodka tastes divine but it will cost you. Middle shelf is decent and won’t hurt your wallet. But ordering vodka at all means you want it cheap because you’ll hardly taste it. A vodka coke calls for, well, vodka. “Never tell your bartender, ‘Oh, I’ll have this, but I want it stiff ’ because you sound like an asshole,” said Riley Kozak, bartender at The Industry, located in Old City. “If you know you want a strong drink you order a double.”
Here are some great Philly bars to flex your new bar muscles: Graffiti Bar: (Center city EasT) A hip adventure of sweet cocktails tucked away in a Center City alley.
Garage: (South Philly) Hangout and play a little skee-ball while enjoying a variety of domestics, IPAs, stouts and much more.
1 Tippling Place: (Center City West) Photo/Shelbie Pletz
Eat
With business branching out to New York and Washington D.C., John & Kira’s uses its Philly location to spread its wealth of chocolate. The company focuses on artisanal chocolate, a trend that’s popping up in cities across the states. Another trend catching on is the bean to bar movement. “Chocolate makers [are] going to the farmer in the region they’re sourcing their cacao,” said Silvasy-Neale. “They’re working directly with the farmer, paying him a fair wage, developing a relationship, bringing the cocoa bean back and then making the chocolate from the actual bean.” She adds that this process is very different than how mass-produced chocolate is made. Sometimes all that is added is a little bit of sugar, so tasters can experience chocolate in its some of its purest forms. Silvasy-Neale said that currently there is only one company in Philadelphia pursuing the bean to bar movement: LoveBar. Beginning all the way from the bean, LoveBar employees oversee the candy-making process every step of the way until it is a full chocolate bar, wrapped in paper covers designed by local artists. The idea started in 2008 when founder Tegan Hagy realized no other chocolatier oversaw the chocolate-making process from cacao bean to candy bar. She traveled down to Mexico where a farmer taught her how to make chocolate from virtual scratch. With everything from the chocolate to the wrapper handmade, each LoveBar is guaranteed to be a unique experience. The trends of bean to bar and artisanal chocolate are relatively new, but one chocolate spot that’s remained constant is Chocolate by Mueller. A family-owned business, Chocolate by Mueller was started by Glenn and Terry Mueller as a part of a small farmer’s market in the 1980s. Daughter Cristen Listman, who also helps out at the store, says not a piece of candy goes by without one of them making sure it’s perfect. Well-known for its hand-dipped chocolate covered pretzels, the company also offers eye-grabbing chocolate molds shaped to fit like real human organs – lungs, brains, kidneys and the heart. Chocolate creators past and present have close ties to this city. “Chocolate’s been here since the beginning of Philadelphia, thanks to people like Ben Franklin and Wilbur and Whitman,” said Silvasy-Neale. After a halt in holding cocoa hierarchy, Philly is focusing on chocolate again. “We are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to small batch artisanal chocolate,” said Silvasy-Neale. So leave the extra sugar at home.
Have an upscale evening off the beaten path with well-crafted cocktails.
The Industry: (SOuth philly)
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There is an array of delicious food to choose from to complement your drink, and those in the restaurant industry get 20 percent off. (And it’s winner of the 2015 Diner’s Choice Award.)
The Resilience of Freedom The Oldest AfricanAmerican Theater IN Pennsylvania lives on Broad Street
D
uring the midst of civil rights marches and social unrest, John E. Allen Jr. founded The New Freedom Theatre in 1966. Dedicated to embracing African-American art, dance and performance, the theater has served as a safe haven. Offering the Barrymore Award-winning Performing Arts Training Program that encourages children from preschool through high school to celebrate their heritage and express themselves artistically, the theater prides itself on building active members of the North Philadelphia community. Nearly 50 years have passed since the theater found its home on the 1300 block of Broad Street. Despite having little money and a constant need for renovations, the magic of The New Freedom Theatre is still alive inside its historic walls.
Photos and words by Shelbie Pletz and Brittany Salerno
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halil Munir, a former student of the program, became an acting and dance teacher. Aside from teaching, Munir currently has a one man show, telling his audience about his life through “hoofing,” a form of rhythmic tap dancing that uses less body movement and is “closer to the floor” than traditional tap. Munir said that teaching at the theater feels like he is coming full circle.
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isters Diane and Gail Leslie have seen the theater grow throughout their lives. Their father, Robert Leslie, founded the theater’s Performing Arts Training Program in 1971. They were part of the first class to receive instruction and are still with the theater 44 years later, ensuring it’s a place that gives kids the opportunity to learn and experience African art and performance.
““I’’m glad to see that my father, as one of the founders, his legacy continues. And the many people who have put bricks in this place, as we say, their legacies continue. And it’’s gratifying to be able to do that, to be apart of that happening,”” said Diane Leslie. 12
“When I teach the students and they’’re going through their progression, I have a true reference point. The same teachers that are teaching them, taught me. Now, I’’m instilling their same lessons into a newer generation””,”” said Munir.
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r. Thom Page (left), recruiter for the theater, asks students for the password of the day upon their arrival. One day it was, “Don’t believe me, just watch!” to which instructor Patricia Hobbs responded with, “I see it, now I believe it.”
““They’’ve called us resilient, and I guess that’’s what we have to be.””
At the end of classes, students and teachers recite their universal affirmation:: “I’’m here and I’’m ready to work. I am a human being filled with love and dignity and no one can take my space. I will remove the negative, I will let in the positive. What I believe I can achieve, yes I can.””
The New Freedom Theatre has succeeded in
being a community-based place where people can work and experience art. The building itself is a community resource, providing space for performances, graduations and other programs, such as the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement’s weekly poetry slams.
““We have touched a lot of different lives in our time here. I think the theater needs to be here for other generations,”” said Patricia Hobbes, in charge of the Performing Arts Training Program. 14
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he pitfalls that come from maintaining a building as vast and as old as the Edwin Forrest Mansion have caused financial problems for the non-profit. In order to release current debts and make vital repairs the building desperately needs, the theater is hoping to raise $250,000 by mid-spring. Sandra Haughton, the Executive Director, said that despite everything the theater has gone through in terms of financial problems, they continue to keep their doors open and welcome the community.
To learn more about the New Freedom Theatre go to www.freedomtheatre.org
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Why Does Philly have an Image Problem?
Reputation Recovery
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cantly lower than Miami (538.9); Houston (559), the nation’s fourth largest city; and San Francisco (558.6), where the cost of living is much higher than in Philadelphia. Even true Philadelphians have trouble accepting their own greatness, with their continual self-ranking as the ugliest city in America in Travel+Leisure. But the word is starting to spread and people, both residents and tourists, are letting past prejudices towards Philadelphia go. After years of decline, Philadelphia’s population has been growing for several years, with 64,000 new Philadelphians between 2006 and 2013. As of late, Philly has been a favorite landing spot for millennials (20 to 34-year-olds). People are coming to the City of Brotherly Love, checking it out and deciding to stay a while. The New York Times recently named Philadelphia the third best place to visit in the entire world in 2015. The rest of the country is starting to take notice of all the good things happening here and we need to accept the praise.
he City of Firsts, the Workshop of the World, the Cradle of Liberty. Too few people know that these titles were once synonymous with the City of Philadelphia. That many of today’s modern industries couldn’t have gotten to where they are today without Philadelphia. That the United States of America was born out this city. Plain and simple, many things people take for granted today might not exist if not for the City of Brotherly Love. So why are we always the underdog? For a long time, the city served as a pit stop on the way to Los Angeles or New York. Philly just couldn’t make people commit – couldn’t get them to stay, move in or say “I love you.” The fifth largest city in the country, Philadelphia spent many years in the shadows. The crime rate and drug issues dogged Philadelphia even after they stopped being serious problems.
“WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME”
KILLING A BAD REP
by Moshe sutton Kravitz
From the riverside wonders of Manayunk and East Falls to the hustle and bustle of Center City, Philly has a place everyone could call home. Passyunk and the South Philly neighborhoods are friendly to families and foodies, while hipster nightlife in Fishtown and Northern Liberties is at its peak. Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Avenue of the Arts, Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista, Fairmount, Germantown...the diversity of Philly’s neighborhoods is unmatched. It’s also affordable. Better than New York by far. In March, the Pew Charitable Trusts put out a study for Philadelphia 2015: The State of the City. The study says the median monthly rent for Philadelphia is $913. That is significantly less than paying around almost $4,000 in Manhattan or over $2,500 in Brooklyn. Realtor and artist Christopher Plant, a transplant from New York to Philly, even founded
There was a time that Philadelphia was one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. With the nickname “Killadelphia,” it seemed almost impossible to shake our reputation. But the city’s homicide count was at a historic low in 2013, the lowest since 1967. And there has been a 25% drop in murder victims from 2012 to 2014. As a whole, violent crimes dropped 7% from 2013 to 2014 and have been steadily decreasing for eight years now. Philadelphia isn’t just getting safer by its own standards – it’s doing well compared to some of the other largest and most popular cities in the nation today. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report by Metropolitan Statistical Areas in 2013, Philadelphia’s violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants was 497.5. That’s signifi-
Illustration by Chris Robertson
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“Entrepreneurs are really moving to Philly because it’s livable,” Weber added. “There’s great restaurants, bike paths… It’s easy to get around. If you can afford to live in a $500 [a month] apartment, you can afford to be part of a startup.” Philadelphia has been a contender for a lot of industries during its existence, but Weber said that education and medicine are its real staples, specifically Health Care IT. Comcast, whose headquarters are in Center City, is paving the way for a new type of industry. “In the future, I hope that Comcast is very focused in helping to grow the entrepreneurship ecosystem here,” Weber said. “I’d like to see the family of Comcast alumni grow and see new businesses come out of it.” The current Comcast Center is the tallest building in Philadelphia, but the company will top itself with the new Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, expected to open in 2017. The new building will be one of the tallest in the U.S. when it is finished. Between the two buildings, Comcast will be expanding its global headquarters and will provide incubator space. “It’s b to b here [business to business] not b to c [business to consumer],” Weber said.
his MoveToPhilly.com website to spread the gospel of Philly living to lure young professionals away from the Big Apple. The best part of any Philly neighborhood is the sense of community. You can always find the family-owned corner bar where you walk in and everyone knows your name. One of these places is McGillin’s Olde Ale House, tucked away on Drury and Juniper Streets. It’s been owned by only two different families during its 150 years and its walls are covered in Philadelphia history. In 2012, USA Today listed it as one of the best places in the country to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and was named one of the coolest bars in the U.S. by Gourmet Magazine in 2008. It was also put on Fodor’s Travel Guides’ list of 10 best historic bars in the country. “We’ve always attracted people from all over the city and suburbs,” said Christopher Mullins Jr., the owner and manager of McGillin’s. “But over the last few years it’s just been more people.” “At one time, it was a no-man’s land. It was a really bad corridor so it was harder to get people to come,” he added. “Now that we’re surrounded by so many great restaurants and businesses, people just kind of flow in.”
““Now that we’’re surrounded by so many great restaurants and businesses, people just kind of flow in.””
POP TO THE TOP
BUSINESS IS BUILDING
This past summer Philly took urban pop-up parks and gardens to a whole new level. The Oval outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was home to numerous events, ending with a county fair in mid-October. The highlight of the Oval’s festivities was the beer garden on the parkway, (just one of the many great pop-up beer gardens that took over the city this past summer). The already established Frankford Hall set up an outdoor, authentic German-style beer garden. South Street played host to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Pop-Up Garden. Palm trees, hammocks,
Forbes is basing its 30 Under 30 Summit in Philadelphia – proof that the city is a hub for millennials where people can find success. If you’re fresh out of college, getting hired to your first full-time job or looking for a place to start your business, Philadelphia is expanding its job market. “Lots of founders are finding there’s benefits to being in Philly. [There’s] lots of love and support for startups,” said Ellen Weber, the Executive Director of Temple University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute and the Executive Director of Robin Hood Ventures. “Not a lot of investment yet, but investors are starting to come.”
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““Entrepreneurs are really moving to Philly because it’’s liveable,”” Weber added. “There’’s great restaurants, bike paths... It’’s easy to get around.””
FOOD FOR
of some old elevated railroad tracks. City Hall has made reviving old public spaces, creating new ones and finding other ways to connect to the city a high priority.
GETTING AROUND TOWN
craft-beers and food kept one of the busiest parts of the city even busier. The Independence Beer Garden was set up right across the street from the Liberty Bell, taking up the outdoor area wrapped around One South Independence Mall West. With plenty of seating, two bars, food cooked up by Top Chef alum Travis Masar, a giant projector screen, TVs and games like Jenga and ping-pong, even families could come to enjoy Old City’s beer garden. Spruce Street Harbor Park took the summer by storm. The pop-up park on the waterfront had a boardwalk with a floating restaurant and urban beach. The hammocks became so worn from all the lounging that they had to be replaced. The park was so successful it was extended to stay open through the month of September. The pop-up parks and beer gardens, along with Philadelphia Beer Week kicking off the summer, have made Philadelphia an exciting place to be, even during the hottest months of the year. But they are really just a tiny part of the massive work the city has done to rehabilitate parks and create new public spaces throughout the city. The scaffolding around City Hall finally came down and revealed the welcoming Dilworth Park. Home to free movies, music and markets most of the year, an ice rink brought many to the feet of William Penn throughout the winter. Sister Cities Park has also joined Dilworth Park as one of the best recent additions to the city. There are even plans to create a High-Line-esque park on an area
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e T H G U O H T By Alexa Bricker
Photo/Shelbie Pletz
Philadelphia is helping people get around the green way. Home to the beautiful Fairmount Park, Schuykill River Trail and Boathouse Row, Philly is already a city for bikers. The new Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk starts at Locust Street and stretches out over the water, all the way down to the new stairtower at the South Street Bridge. Indego, Philadelphia’s new bike-sharing system, launches in Spring 2015. Indego will operate 24/7/365, starting out of over 60 stations across the city. From 45th Street to the Delaware River and from Temple University to the Navy Yard, Indego will begin with over 600 bikes. While memberships will be available, anyone over the age of 16 can simply pay at the station’s kiosk and take a bike ride around the city. At the end of your trip just dock the bike at any Indego station and you’re good to go. However, for anyone who doesn’t want to walk, bike or drive, there is SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). For too long Philadelphia’s subway system has run on tokens, but it’s making the jump to the 21st century with the hi-tech SEPTA Key. The city hopes to launch this new system sometime this year and the “key” cards will work for subways, buses and trolleys. (The Regional Rail train lines will be added to the system eventually as well.) Philly is becoming increasingly more accessible, no matter how you travel. All of the attention Philadelphia has been getting is for good reason. We’re taking steps to make our streets safer, our parks greener and our business booming. In a welcoming city that’s brimming with opportunities, we can only continue to grow from here. Let’s put the bad rep to rest and give ourselves a pat on the back. We’re doing just fine.
Philly’’s Culinary Community
Gives Back in More Ways Than One
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shop for stock and will be donating all of the proceeds to the Broad City Ministry. Restaurant owners said it is important for them to not only dish out great food, but to make their presence known in the neighborhood by giving back what they can by using locally-grown fruits and vegetables, employment opportunities or monetary contributions. Some of these restaurants are well known for their charitable efforts, but many are still flying under the radar.
right shades of yellow, blue, pink, purple and green sticky notes splatter the walls of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza. Rosa’s, a restaurant started by 27-year-old Mason Wartman, encourages customers to add a dollar or two onto the end of their bill in order for homeless customers to pick up a free slice later. Those who choose to contribute get to post a colorful sticky note, complete with a handwritten message, onto the now famous walls of Rosa’s, located on S. 11th Street in Center City. Wartman, who appeared on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show for his charitable business model, is now a household name. His concept of donating portions of food may seem cutting edge, but plenty of Philadelphia businesses have been practicing a similar business model for decades. More and more new restaurants are choosing to adopt a charitable model, like the upcoming Rooster Soup Co., the brainchild of Federal Donuts. Rooster plans to use leftover pieces of meat from the donut
Connecting with the community Philadelphia native Marc Vetri, chef and founder of the Vetri Foundation, is extremely passionate about giving back to the city that helped shape him. His foundation has been an important component in a movement for some of Philly’s top restaurants to start giving back, specifically to
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children in the Philadelphia School District. “The fresh food he was used to growing up is the same type of food he “Philadelphia is an awesome place to be talking about [giving wanted to bring to people living in Philadelphia,” said Houston. back],” Executive Director for the Vetri Foundation, Kelly Houston said farms in the greater Philadelphia area, like those in LanHerrenkohl said. “The [goal] of the foundation is to help kids caster, have some of the richest soil around, making Firehouse a prime make the connection spot to source the freshest ingredients. between healthy “A lot of the people [on those farms] have eating and healthy been doing this work for years and have living.” done it the right way, as opposed to the big Through the industrial food processors that have made the Eatiquette program, food industry not as impressive as when it the foundation has was all done locally and done daily,” Houston established itself in said. “We shop for our food everyday here, as a dozen public and opposed to some other establishments.” private schools, inJack’s Firehouse also has a history of cluding the St. James partnership with W.B. Saul High School of School, Wissahickon Agricultural Sciences in Upper Roxborough. Charter School and The high school, founded in 1943, teaches AIM Academy. students the importance of agricultural Children in the practices and has a 130-acre campus, which Eatiquette program houses various dairy animals for the school’s are taught the basics Meat Sciences program. of preparing a nutriHouston said the partnership has been an tious meal and are integral part of the restaurant’s mission for encouraged to intermany years, using food and meat products act with one another Sticky notes that equate to one free slice of pizza to a person in need cover produced at the school to serve their custommultiple walls of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza. socially. ers. Photo/Caitlin O’Connell “We want them “We just bought a whole steer from [Saul],” to have first-hand Houston said. “It’s actually a Philadelphia experiences,” Herrenkohl said. “One of the interesting things is farm-raised steer. There is probably no other [restaurant] in the city that that schools are really one of the biggest restaurant groups in does that.” any city – we just don’t think of it that way.” The partnership with Saul has also extended outside the classroom. In addition to Eatiquette, Vetri also owns and operates a se“We’ve been doing things where the kids have come out and done ries of restaurants throughout the city: Vetri Ristorante, Osteria, events with us so we can talk about their work on the farm,” Houston Alla Spina and Amis. Following the mission of the foundation, said. the restaurants encourage customers to add a donation to the Houston said the restaurant and school worked together a few years end of their bill, which goes toward any of the foundation’s programs. The restaurant then matches that donation, dollar for dollar. Last year the Ventri Restaurant chain raised more than $60,000 in donations, which they doubled to $120,000 total. But Herrenkohl said the donations tend to have a secondary effect. “To some degree, the [success] comes from servers who are willing to share a little bit about what we do,” Herrenkohl said. “That kind of [interaction] with the general public is a huge engagement. Owners said the easiest and most important way to give back is through engagement in the community, especially with its youngest members.
ago for “Zoobilee,” the largest fundraising event of the year for the Philadelphia Zoo, with a focus on sustainability. “It’s not something earth shaking,” he said. “But it makes a difference.” Houston credits the restaurant’s nearly three decades of success to its dedication to using locally-sourced food and working together with the community to make a pleasant dining experience. “I think it shows off in the food that we do,” Houston said. “That’s why we’ve been around for 26 years.”
Looking beyond the city
Though Houston and other restaurant owners turn to the city for inspiration, Kimberly and George Mickel, owners of Hunger Burger in Reading Terminal Market, credit their charitable idea to a trip abroad. After traveling alongside their daugher on a mission trip to Ecuador in 2007 with King’s Castle Ministries, Kimberly Mickel said the family decided to incorporate charity into a new business. “We just fell in love with the people there, and so every year we take a team down of 32 to do a vacation bible school with the kids,” Kimberly said. “[We do] feeding, distribution and construction. Our heart has really been with just giving back.” “We’ve been in the food industry for 25 years at the Reading Terminal, and we really wanted to combine our two passions,” she added. Since Hunger Burger’s founding, Kimberly said they have worked with charitable organizations internationally and nationally, and hope to partner with a local organization in the future.
Kimberly said Hunger Burger is “on track to do a little over 12,000 meals,” that will be donated to children across the country and beyond, but hopes to reach its goal of 75,000 by the end of 2015. A portion of the proceeds from every burger purchased goes toward a meal for a child in need, through both the Kings Castle organization and No Kid Hungry, a national campaign under the Share Our Strength program. “We really want it to be heartfelt,” Mickel said. “Nothing to promote us – just really bring food to children in need.” George was born and raised in Philadelphia and Kimberly moved to the city in the 90s, but she said they both consider Philly a true home. “We want to give back to our people,” Kimberly said. “Our customers are from Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Philadelphia is really a great place to be. It’s really on fire right now.”
A food revolution and sustainable future With partnerships forming between restaurants and organizations, there has also been a trend in the city for urban farming to keep the production of fresh food a community-based endeavor. Marathon Loves Philadelphia, a non-profit organization, is, according to its website, utilizing land from the more than 40,000 vacant properties across the city and transforming the land into small farms to grow fresh, affordable produce. The organization currently has more than 15,000 sq. ft. of property at 27th and Master Streets, and produce grown at the farms is used in Marathons’ chain of restaurants, with locations at 16th and Sansom, 19th and Spruce and 19th and Market Streets. The Marathon organization and restaurants, which began in 1984 as a small burger joint, plan to continue to utilize abandoned properties to construct more urban farms in the future.
More urban farms are popping up all over the city, like Greensgrow and the Philadelphia Urban Creators (PUC), started by residents in Philly’s North Central community and students from Temple University in 2010. Both Greensgrow and PUC dedicate time to engage community members, especially youth, in the growing and harvesting process, which also includes wholesale to Philadelphia restaurants. These urban farms, as well as the restaurant owners who opt to purchase fresh, local food, have helped propel the sustainability trend in Philadelphia and ensure all community members not only have access to better food, but affordable food.
‘Doing it the right way’
For 26 years, Jack’s Firehouse, a restaurant located in a repurposed 19th Century firehouse in Philadelphia’s Fairmount section, has been using only locally sourced meats, cheeses and produce. The decision was made by founder and nationally renowned chef, Jack McDavid. “[Jack] was way ahead of his time,” said current Firehouse owner, Mick Houston. Houston said part of McDavid’s mission stemmed from his childhood living on a farm in Virginia.
Young boys volunteer at the Philadelphia Urban Creators farm on 11th and Dauphin Streets, helping with daily responsibilities in maintaining the farm and have helped the farm produce much of its harvest. Photo Courtesy of Philadelphia Urban Creators
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Customers wait for their eats during a lunch rush at the Reading Terminal Market eatery. Hunger Burger recently joined sister restaurants By George! and Mezze in the indoor marketplace, all of which are owned by George and Kim Mickel. Photo/Shelbie Pletz
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Inspired by Macklemore and perpetuated by Pinterest, Instagram and other social mediums, a thrifting culture has swept a nation of young buyers looking to make a statement. The growing secondhand culture in Philadelphia thrives on making the old new again. Savvy thrifter and Temple alumna, Sammy Davis, explains how she got her start in secondhand buying and how she has succeeded in making it a large part of her lifestyle.
Q&A with Paige Gross
PG: SD:
When did you decide to get into the thrifting scene? Fashion was always something that interested me. I actually dated someone in high school that was equally creative, and he wanted to do a theme for prom. My mom suggested going to a thrift store, because we were going for a gothic look with deep reds and blacks and lace. We found a turn of the century, black mourning dress from around 1910. I got really into making it work.
PG: And you started wearing things during day-to-day life that you found in thrift stores? SD: Yes. The year after I started driving and was able to start to explore shops myself. It really became a form of self-expression, learning to be myself, taking ownership of a piece of me without caring what anyone else thought.
PG: Tell me about your life now. You’re in New York? SD: I live in Harlem. I am currently working and traveling as
a motivational speaker, and I am a part-time Air [Bed and Breakfast] host. I rent out to travelers. I tried to create a vacation-like home, and because I travel so much, there are people there, using my apartment when I am not, really just contributing to the sharing economy. It’s about being sustainable in my life.
PG: Is your wardrobe completely secondhand then? SD: It’s probably around 85 percent. Now, when I go to buy something,
it’s about quality. I am buying so fewer things, but when I do go to a vintage store or show, I’ll spend 100 dollars on an awesome dress that I love and fits me so well. I’ll get something like that and know that I can wear it for five years, ten years and I can wear it in new ways and get compliments on it every time I wear it.
PG: So do you have a clothing mantra? Advice you follow when you’re
looking for “new” old things? SD: [Thrifting] takes time, but we have to look at our lives. How are we spending our lives? There’s enough time to consider second-hand. It is powerful to be focused in your wardrobe – less is more.
Go on the Hunt... Price: ($-$$$$) Thrift expertise levels- high, moderate, low
Bulk Vintage2438 Coral St. Thrift expertise level: High Price: $
This store is well organized and
Retrospect Vintage- bright. The novice thrifter will
508 South St.
Thrift expertise level: Low Price: $$
PG: Thrifting is kind of like that — recycling clothes. SD: Exactly. Depending on what kind of urban area of the country you are from, a year ago, two years ago, [thrifting] became normal. The new thrift stores popping up in every city are evidence enough that we have way too many textiles available. We are living with just way too many materials on the planet.
Second Time Around-
1728 Chestnut St. Thrift expertise level: Moderate Price: $$-$$$$
PG: And that is part of what you are advocating for?
SD: More and more people understand the
PG: So you made the move from Lan-
caster to Philly. Did that change your Thrifting expert, Sammy Davis shows her true value of recycling their things for the greater good. It’s just like organic food. A few years shopping habits? colors even when in black and white. Photo Courtesy of Sammy Davis ago people were against it. They had no idea SD: I took a class at Temple with Dr. Lauwhat it was actually doing, but now, people are ra Levitt, a women’s studies professor, willing to spend a little more money to know that the earth and she took us to Germantown to go thrifting one weekend. I is being taken care of. The secondhand industry today is set discovered this whole culture in Philadelphia, still buying new, up that you can buy some really quality pieces for so little but more and more and more of my wardrobe was coming money. It’s a sense of empowerment to be conscious about through thrifting. I found a lot of pride in it, and I wasn’t your fashion. spending a lot of money.
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Philly AIDS Thrift
710 S 5th St. Racks upon racks of recycled clothing at the 17th and Chestnut Street location of Buffalo Exchange, a chain, combine contemporary and vintage fashion at affordable prices. Photos/Brittany Salerno
The warehouse is expansive and could take hours to thoroughly search. The owner sells clothing by the pound, and according to the website, the store grades its countless pieces during sorting. Look out for vintage gems.
Thrift expertise level: Moderate Price: $
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have an easy time finding some cool things to decorate their body and their home. Retrospect is a great place to browse for costumes or more formal affairs. This high-end consignment store aids low-budget fashionistas in tracking down gently used brand name clothing and accessories, including designers like Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. The more time a piece spends in the store, the higher percentage a shopper takes off of the sale price, indicated by colored tags. This store is known for its many rooms, comedic descriptive clothing tags and giving proceeds to local AIDS support organizations. The renovated townhouse boasts furniture, cookware, formal attire, books, records and just about anything else that has been donated by Philadelphians. Set aside an hour or two to explore.
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The City is your Personal Gym
From Broad to Markets By Mary Salisbury
Got a craving for authentic gnocchi or fresh mozzarella? The Italian Market is the place to go. What about handmade Amish candies or an oozing grilled cheese sandwich? Reading Terminal’s got them. Along with these well-known spots, the City of Brotherly Love is also home to smaller marketplaces that should be on every Philadelphian’s radar. N3rd (yes, pronounced “nerd”) St. Farmers Market, located on Church Street between American and Second Streets, is the premier spot to “geek out on food and local stores’ products,” according to market manager, Karina Ambartsoumian. This weekly farmers’ market, where shoppers can find locally grown produce and other homemade goods, runs from mid-May to November and is typically held from 2-7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Ambartsoumian suggests swinging by N3rd Market between 4-7 p.m., when all the locals are coming home from work. “Everyone just hangs out, eats cheese and converses. The area transforms into a town hall,” said Ambartsoumian. “It’s like, magical time.” The Food Trust sponsors many farmers’ markets throughout the area, including Clark Park Farmers Market, located at 43rd and Baltimore Avenue. Katy Wich, program manager for the Food Trust, stresses that the Clark Park Famers’ Market is a family gathering place for people and children of all ages. Clark Park’s relaxed, neighborly environment makes it the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon. “Remember that dogs are welcome too,” Wich said. Customers peruse the fresh produce selection at the Most vendors accept cash and food stamps only, but some also take debit and Clark Park Farmers’ Market, open year round at 43rd credit cards. Wich says that famers come stocked with fruits, vegetables, meats, Street and Baltimore Avenue. eggs and baked goods to Clark Park every Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. “It’s a Photo Courtesy of the Food Trust hodge-podge,” Wich said. The Food Trust’s website has more information about farmers’ markets throughout the city. One of the most unique markets in Philly is the annual Punk Rock Flea Market, to be held on June 6-7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the old Fed Ex building at Ninth and Spring Garden Streets. Sean Agnew, event organizer, advises shoppers to come early, but stay long enough to grab coffee or lunch at W/N W/N, a coffee bar nearby, located at 931 Spring Garden St. “We get over 500 vendors selling all sorts of things,” said Agnew. “Not just ‘punk rock’ but crafts, art, vintage clothing, bikes, records, skateboards and random junk. One time we even had someone selling $5 ‘punk rock’ haircuts.” If you’ve only ever been to the Italian Market and Reading Terminal, it’s time to branch out and experience the marketplaces our city has to offer.
Held throughout the warmer months, Night Market Philadelphia is a nighttime street food festival that rotates around Philly neighborhoods. Photo/Mikey Ilagen
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This Phila-arctic winter buried the city in over 20 inches of snow, keeping us bundled up and inside for weeks, but with warm weather quickly approaching, it’s time to re-ignite your motivation and enjoy the great outdoors. By Jackie Nelms
Washington Square
The Kelly Drive Art Tour
Society Hill’s Washington Square is a great place to take some of your gym exercises outdoors. There are benches everywhere and a lot of green space to put out a mat or blanket. Take advantage of this space for your ab workout or strength training. You can use one of the park benches for push-ups or dips. These simple exercises can be much more fulfilling outdoors. Who knows, maybe the sunlight and fresh
For those who get winded on long runs, the Kelly Drive Art Tour may be your speed. Yes, biking alongside the river is beautiful, but what about all of those wonderful pieces of art displayed along the way? If you need an excuse to rest, Kelly Drive offers wonderful, unofficial art breaks. You can stop at every sculpture you pass, take a breather and appreciate the artwork placed among the beautiful landscape.
Forbidden drive
Ben Franklin Bridge
The city is an exciting place to be, but if you are looking to escape the skyscrapers, check out Forbidden Drive. Only a fifteen-minute drive out of the city, this seven-mile pathway along Wissahickon Creek in Wissahickon Valley Park does not permit motor vehicles. If you’re feeling worn out, take a jump in the creek to cool off. Feeling more adventurous? Take a walk down some of the back trails to see if you can find one of the majestic waterfalls.
For those of you looking for a thrill, why not check running from one state to another off your list? It’s no secret that the Ben Franklin Bridge connects Philly to Jersey, but many don’t realize that next to the bridge is a running lane reserved for all of you city dwellers. The sight and sounds of the river at dawn are enlightening, invigorating when the city skyline lights up at dusk. So, no matter what time of day, make the time and embrace Philadelphia at a new height.
Dilworth Park
The newly renovated Dilworth offers an abundance of fitness events. With boot camps, Zumba classes and information sessions on being healthy, the park is a great spot for those trying to get into fitness but need a little push. All the events are free of charge, and are easily accessible by subway. Check the schedule at ccdparks.org and grab a friend for the next event.
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1.
3.
11. The Thinker
Pat’s & Geno’s Johnny Utah’s
Sonny’s Famous Steaks - Old City: Ranked “Number One Cheesesteak in Philly” by GQ Magazine for its fresh, hand-sliced rib eye steak, this Old City spot has a classic butcher shop feel. Ray’s Birthday Bar - South Philly: Ray’s Birthday Bar is a relaxing, friendly local pub that offers a free birthday shot, karaoke on Fridays and local bands on Saturdays. Take a picture with Joe Frazier - South Philly (XFinity Live Center): Stand proud with a nine-foot tall statue of heavyweight champion and Olympic Gold Medalist from Philly, Joe Frazier.
Rocky Statue 28
Illustration by Mariya Pilipenko
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Ontario Street
Comic Book Shop
The best selection of Comics in Philadelphia!
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1. Independence Hall
Independence Hall
The Audacious Freedom exhibit at the Philadelphia African American Museum - Old City: This newly opened exhibit delves into how 17761876 Philadelphians of African descent helped shape the city in its earliest years.
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2. Philly-Style Pretzel
XFinity Live
Field House - Center City: Head over to Field House, where you can experience the big game on more than 35 televisions with fellow Philly sports fans.
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3. City Wide
The Liberty Bell
Elferth’s Alley - Old City: Lined with old-time houses that are still used residentially today, this is the nation’s oldest residential street. The Museum of Elfreth’s Alley tells the story of the everyday lives of America’s founding fathers.
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4. Love Sculpture at JFK Plaza
Love Park
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5. Liberty Bell
The Paint Torch Sculpture - Center City: The paint brush sculpture in Lenfest Plaza at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is a great photo opt and has rotating student exhibits and tables for outdoor dining.
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6. Declaration of Independence
medical history houses medical instruments and preserved anatomical specimens, like Einstein’s brain and the tallest skeleton on display in North America.
7. Mummers Hat
The Art Museum
Mutter Museum - Center City: This museum of
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8. Philly Phanatic
Every city has its well-known attractions, but the best places to visit are the hidden gems only the locals know. Philly is more than just cheesesteaks and passionate fans. The Fourteenth Street staff knows just where to go for a less cliché Philly outing.
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9. Philly Cheesesteak
An Update on Attractions for Locals and Tourists
10. Ben Franklin’s Kite
This, Not That.
12. Oldenburg’s Clothespin
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We Hope You Can Indentify Each Iconic Philly Image...
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