Philadelphia Weekly | May 30 – June 6, 2019

FREE | MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019

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Get ready for 10 glorious days that always goes down smooth

Heading into her fourth term, Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez tells us her plan to fix Kensington. | Page 6

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

FROM THE EDITOR

Gutless sacks

W

ho are these men, Philly? dress as provocatively as they want and get These pussy ass men who checked out without being whistled at, catthink it’s OK to tell a woman called, grabbed or followed. Women need to what she can and can’t do? feel safe in a relationship, that they won’t get To beat them. To grab slapped in the face for speaking their minds or them. To slap and hit them for calling you out or for putting you in your so violently they leave visual place.

Sadly, Herrera won’t be the last douchebag reminders for days, sometimes weeks – not we hear about – and even as we speak some to mention the permanent mental scarring.

What it’s alleged Phillies outfielder Odubel woman somewhere just caught a beating at Herrera did to his girlfriend is not only class- the hands of someone they love. According to the National Coalition Against less but for me, honestly, the proDomestic Violence, there are more verbial straw that broke the camel’s than 10 million reported cases of back. abuse nationwide annually, an avFor the latter part of a month erage of 20 people experiencing doI’ve been reading and watching and mestic violence from a partner evlistening to men, old, stodgy men ery fucking minute of the day. play the role of the decision makThat’s sickening. There are that ers, passing laws on what women many pieces of shit out there that shouldn’t do with their own bodies. think it’s OK to abuse their partMen, who have no idea what it’s like to be woman ban services that allow ner. I’m talking about men beating women to render informed decion women, women beating on men, men beating on men and women sions and then make ultimate choicbeating on women. es based on those decisions.

What will we ultimately learn I’ve been already slightly irritatfrom the Obudel Herrera situation? ed over all of this news and then on @SPRTSWTR Not much. I fear that sadly, just Tuesday, we find out that an athlete like this column, the knee jerk reacfrom our own hometown team altion of anger from Phillies fans will legedly put his hands on a woman pass until there’s the next thing to get upset seven years his junior? To the point where he left bruises on her body? Just the latest piece about. But while all this happens in the immediate, because it’s “alleged,” Herrera sits at of shit meathead in a long line of jacked up douchebags to take their anger out on their home in the shadows, collecting a check Mabetter half. jor League Baseball while all of this runs its LeSean McCoy. Ray Rice. Randy Moss. course.

For me, however, this isn’t a knee jerk reFloyd Mayweather. Josh Brown. Austin Wataction. I don’t even like baseball, so I could son. care less who I offend or what organization That’s only the ones I can readily recall off won’t want to work with me as a result. A colthe top of the dome. umn that I’m sure is bound to get me a stern Listen, I’m not going to sit up here and not pretend like my significant other hasn’t made talking to by my superiors but it’s a talk I’m prepared for. I’m pissed off. I’m pissed that me upset. Fights are a part of relationships. we’re still talking about athletes beating up on But you say your piece or say nothing and their partners. We’re still talking about men leave the room. At what point does it go from a shouting match to physical assault? At no removing laws that don’t apply to them because it upsets their beliefs. point during or after do you stop, reflect and Men in power desperate to preserve a life say to yourself, ‘wow, I’m really a piece of shit inside the womb, but comes only prepared for even thinking about doing this?’ with “thoughts and prayers” when those same And women this isn’t one-sided. Stop letting these men beat up on you. The last thing I kids get shot up inside the sanctuary of their schools. Same men in a position of power act would condone is violence, but I am a advocate of protection. I don’t care how much you “love like they’re all for women’s rights but behind him,” or “think the world of him,” or think closed doors treat their wives like its the 1950s you can “manage his temper,” if your man has and wouldn’t bat an eye to degrading their significant other physically, emotionally and ofta propensity for violence you need to protect times, sexually. yourself at all costs.

Fuck these gutless sacks of shit. All of That is your right. Men can’t take that from them. Needless to say, I’m angry this week, you.

It’s time for equality. It’s baffling to me that Philly. I’m angry that this is where we are in in 2019, women are still marching for equal America at this point in time.

And somewhere down inside, I really hope pay or asking to be treated fairly or not to be mansplained to. Women should be able to you are too.

KERITH GABRIEL

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

5/28/19 4:56 PM

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STATE

Meek gets stiff deal by Cosmo

OF OUR

CITY

37

Over the weekend, rapper and activist Meek Mill put the staff of Las Vegas’ Cosmopolitan Hotel on blast with a video showing staffers asking the 32-year-old Philly native to leave the premises and threatening to have him arrested if he refused.

Needless to say, we all have our popcorn ready for the heat the Cosmopolitan is probably about to catch and are sad for all the racists the hotel just attracted on their upcoming trip to Sin City.

That’s the number of a Phillies player you won't see on the field for a bit.

Outfielder Odubel Herrera was arrested in Atlantic City Monday on charges of domestic abuse. On Tuesday, the Phillies released a statement that per MLB guidelines, Herrera has been placed on administrative leave. What it did not mention is that regardless of this being an alleged incident, Herrera just became the most hated man in red pinstripes to Phillies fans and Philadelphians everywhere.

Flopped the nut SugarHouse Casino is getting sued by two guys who claim they were dealt “illegitimate” decks that purposely messed up card games, according to a Philadelphia Magazine report. Apparently, this isn’t the first time the casino has been accused of some shady dealings and has been investigated by the state Gaming Control Board before. In this latest accusation, these guys claim they lost more than $250,000, which...damn. Getting beat by at the casino legitimately hurts in its own right, so here’s hoping, if true, these guys land good odds of getting some of that cash back.

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A Point Breeze resident was pissed earlier this month that the city hadn’t yet fixed a pothole in her street, even after calling 311. So, she spray painted a penis next to it to get the city’s attention. Guess what? It worked.

According to NBC10, the city’s Streets Department said they appreciated her being imaginative – but she should’ve just continued to call 311. Well, now you all know what you need to do.

Ritas mascot gives cold shoulder to prolifers

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Mea culpa time This awesome image featuring local rocker Ali Awan graced the cover of our May 9 edition. What did not appear was a credit to Philly-based photographer Kristie Krause, who snapped this pic and others of Awan.

Our apologies to Kristie and shoutout for producing this gem.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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POLITICS

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Weight on her

shoulders Maria Quinones-Sanchez was just re-elected for her fourth term in City Council has to figure out this term how to ensure the satisfaction of both old and new residents looking for a shake-up in a rapidly growing swath of Kensington. | Image: Jamie Giambrone

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Elected for a fourth term, what’s Maria Quinones-Sanchez’ plan to eliminate the same old and revitalize Kensington?

BY COURTENAY HARRIS BOND

POLITICS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

7

We’ve talked about a pathway to housing. The models that we have are very expensive.

Doing a full housing and wrap-around services is like $28,000 per person. That’s not a sustainable model, so we really do have…to look at how we support our legitimate rooming housing and recovery houses. We have 1,000 recovery houses in the city. How do we provide capital support to some of those houses so they can create beds in that structure, and provide a grant to some of those recovery houses – whether they’re funded by the city or not?

–Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez on the opioid crisis in her district of Kensington

F

our terms.

That’s now the number for Philadelphia City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and her representation of District 7, which is Fairhill and the ever-changing region of Kensington, thanks to a continuing housing boom that has brought in arguably the most economically diverse collective of residents in the city.

In the aftermath of her defeat of Rep. Angel Cruz by a tight margin and facing no Republican challenger in the Nov. 5 election, Quinones-Sanchez sat down with Philadelphia Weekly. The conversation covered everything from the opioid crisis to broken property tax assessments to whether she sleeps much considering she reps one of the most challenging districts in the city.

for residents of Kensington: public safety, some of the trash concerns, some of the pothole concerns. So I really feel like this was a ‘let’s go back to basics [and] make sure departments are really being proactive in improving blight and some of the day-to-day issues people confront.’

So how will you do that, for instance, with the environmental waste? Are there going to be more street sweepers? What’s the plan?

What should residents of your district expect going forward?

We’ve been over the last couple of months in particular but definitely moving forward using my chairmanship as chair of appropriations to really ask the question department by department, ‘What’s you’re anti-poverty strategy, and how are you improving the quality of life for residents in the city?’ We really have to revisit bulk trash. I’m happy that we’re doing this pilot street cleaning project, but we really need to figure out a plan over the next three years how we really expand that. For me, in this budget in particular, we really want to make sure that every single commercial corridor gets some investment and that it’s not based on our CDBG* funding but really us funding some base-level stuff to improve the quality of those corridors that for many people is their lifeline. It’s where they do everything. So I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. This budget for the mayor was a safe budget. We need to make it one that is not about equality but about equity.

First of all, I will always come to work. I think you have to be present. What I think I heard the most is that going back to some of the basics around quality of life is huge, particularly

Let’s talk a little bit about the opioid crisis because in your district, that’s a huge issue.

What do you think should happen going forward?

How are you feeling post-election?

Besides relieved? Actually, very happy with the amount of support that we got through this campaign, the opportunity to tell our story about the work that we’ve accomplished together, and at the same time listen to what people continue to be worried about and really trying to figure out how I prioritize some of those very legitimate issues in the work ahead.

We’ve talked about a pathway to housing. The models that we have are very expensive. Doing a full housing and wrap-around services is like $28,000 per person. That’s not a sustainable model, so we really do have…to look at how we support our legitimate rooming housing and recovery houses. We have 1,000 recovery houses in the city… How do we provide capital support to some of those houses so they can create beds in that structure and providing a grant to some of those recovery houses, whether they’re funded by the city or not?

And then the big piece of it that’s always been missing in this conversation: What are we doing to help families be able to take their loved ones back in a sustainable model? And I say this as someone who has an uncle in recovery…

My aunt who is the primary caretaker, he lives with her. We literally had to make capital improvements to the house to accommodate him, make sure that we had a medical plan for him.

He did not get into any of the treatment services he wanted, actually went cold turkey. We spent a year to get him to be stabilized. And we need a plan for that. We need to… really [talk] to the families about the types of support they need as they work through [with] that person in addiction, since we understand people go in and out until they make a decision to really stabilize. We don’t have that. We don’t have a model for that kind of family reunification for what is a lifetime of recovery for that person.

SEE SANCHEZ, PAGE 8

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So it’s not just addressing the individual but the entire family structure/support network around that person?

What do you want to say about supervised injection facilities?

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SANCHEZ, FROM PAGE 7

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POLITICS

…I never say that I would not consider anything. I think the problem in Kensington in particular is that we broke it. We asked the community to support the respite centers. We promised them that we were going to keep them safe, and we failed at that. We lost their vote of confidence in our ability to protect them and their children. So we have to go back and do restorative investments in that area.

And then the city, and the mayor in particular, his position is that he wants to support [supervised injection facilities]. If this is going to be a medical intervention, then… we have to take a leadership role in it. The reason the needle exchange program was effective is because the government led it, managed it, funded it. And I just don’t think we can get in another field of doing stuff and say we’re going to do it at arm’s length. I think that’s irresponsible, because ultimately, the government is the one that protects people…

There’s no one in Kensington who doesn’t have a family member who’s in some sort of addiction, or have been and conquered an addiction, or have lost someone. So it’s not like people are not empathetic. But the government has to show them a pathway where we can do this to save lives without jeopardizing theirs.

And the guns and the level of open-air drug dealing… our unwillingness…to reclaim those open-air drug markets is part of our challenge and that requires a serious investment. We know who sells drugs. We know freebie mornings. We have to break that down. And putting a police vehicle somewhere but not asking them to disrupt the behavior doesn’t make people feel like that’s a plan. So I’m going to continue to push that and create the political space by which this mayor understands that open-air markets in Kensington cannot happen. Because right now, we’ve lost the ability to even have a conversation with the community. They do not trust us.

You are opposed to opening a supervised injection facility in Kensington as a first location?

Absolutely. I cannot have Kensington bear the brunt of everything we’re trying to do. If

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY this is a citywide problem, if it’s a medical intervention…you need multiple sites. I’m not going to let them pilot something in Kensington that they’re not willing to put anywhere in the city.

In terms of the mayor, you’re saying turning it over to a nonprofit. You need more government oversight and leadership for that?

Yes. I think that letting Safehouse** litigate this through the U.S. Attorney’s Office without the government saying this is an important medical intervention almost sets them up to fail, and all they’re trying to do is save lives. I appreciate Ronda [Goldfein] and the work that the Aids Law Project [of Pennsylvania] has done. Everything I’ve learned around harm reduction, before it became a popular term, I learned from Jose Benitez [director of Prevention Point Philadelphia]. I do not for one minute doubt their commitment, their compassion. You can’t give them the burden of the legal challenges through this, and that’s why this is something that cannot work without the political will. The mayor can’t say, ‘I’m for it,’ and not be for it. ‘For it’ means we’re going to fund this, we’re going to be part of the legal lawsuit to define what this is in an allowable space. Anything less than that is irresponsible.

What about long-term residents of your district who are starting to be priced out of their homes? How do you help them?

What’s the plan?

So one of the things that in council we’re continuing to be frustrated about and in this budget really going to have to make a decision around is this OPA (Office of Property Assessment) stuff. We found through the OPA audit that…the OPA assessments are wrong…

What we haven’t addressed is the methodology for assessment that is fair… We passed a bill requiring the City of Philadelphia to articulate their formula and also articulate how they protect long-term residents from the modeling that they’re doing. So because their assessments were so off, they used a model called “trending”… What trending does is it allows them to capture the value of a tax-abated property. So you have a block.

Three new houses get built. They sell at $500,000.

They’re only paying $1,000 in rent for the land piece. [Trending] allows them to factor that $500,000 unrealized value and then spread it out to all the long-term residents.

So all of a sudden, a block where houses are really worth $130,000 because they all need $100,000 in upgrades, gets assessed at $250,000.

That is government-done. And we need to fix it. And the city can’t continue to project its budget projections based on increases and OPA assessments using this model of trending because they’re not real. It is unfair for

POLITICS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY that person who has a house worth $130,000 because they have one bathroom for the four-story house with three-and-a-half bathrooms to impact them. And so the formula has to demonstrate how we back out that unrealized value for that long-term resident.

What if a 30-year-resident, a homeowner, walked up to you and said, ‘I’m being priced out of my home!’ What would you say to them, in layman’s terms?

One of the things is the OPA process is broken… Council has to hold the mayor down as much as possible. The discussion in this budget is do we go back to 2016 values? Do we stop allowing any increases until we fix this? Right now, with the current assessments that they gave us, the administration came back and essentially said to us Point Breeze and Rittenhouse have lowered their value over the last year. How do I explain that in North Philadelphia? I can’t. There’s no explanation. It is a broken system. And [it] has allowed the mayor to create a five-year plan based on growing increases moving forward. Essentially, we are condoning a broken process and then allowing him to budget out on that basis of continual increases. That’s a problem.

You have the weight of this district, which is one of the most challenging districts of any city councilmember, on your shoulders. How does that feel day-to-day?

I take this job very, very seriously… I grew up in Huntingdon Park, a high homeownership rate neighborhood, where our parents bought our first house at $12,000 because my mother finally got a union job as a garment worker.

So to me, I look at our government’s role as how do we facilitate hardworking people, protect the values which Philadelphia was founded on, which are homeownership, the American Dream?... Mixed-income housing is hugely important because city policy — along with the private sector, banks, red-lining — has created concentrated poverty in the city of Philadelphia in a place where we are already a city of neighborhoods, and then we deepen that segregation with poverty by saying we’re only building affordable housing here… We have to be intentional in saying high-priced housing is where we create affordability, so we can have a mixed-income, diverse city. Government can do that.

So I wake up every day with this sense of urgency about how do I become more effective and more efficient, and how do we operationalize some of this vision? That’s why when I legislate, I’m very proscriptive. People say, ‘Why are you so proscriptive?’ And I say, ‘If you’re not intentional about it, everything gets lost in translation.’ So the press conference about the successful legislation is nothing if you don’t operationalize it in the department and ensure that your goals are being

met. The Land Bank*** legislation required an annual strategic plan. It requires every council person to articulate goals. That’s as transparent as we can be. That doesn’t mean I have to sell everything to the highest bidder.

I can directly sell to everybody I want because I’ve articulated goals that represent the interests of my district and the city because, again, it cannot be the only place where poverty is concentrated. That’s not good for the city.

Do you sleep at night?

Barely. I go away, and I sleep. So no. I wake up at all hours. I’m known to do my best work at 4 o’clock in the morning. I do my best reading when I’m on vacation, on a beach, reading annual reports and data sets and all of those things because it’s kind of relaxed. You can open up your mind. And it helps that you have the good scenery. But no. I take this really seriously. When people look at my district, they look at the statistics, and I’m a data person. I look at my litter index. I look at my poverty and my compliance rate. But I know the faces and the people behind those numbers, and I take that really seriously.

Anything you want the residents of your district to know that we haven’t talked about?

I want them to know that I appreciate their confidence in me. I appreciate being re-elected. And I promise to work really hard for them over the next four years to do the best I can to improve their quality of life.

@CHARRISBOND * The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development. **“Safehouse is a privately funded Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation whose mission is to save lives by providing a range of overdose prevention services. The leaders and organizers of Safehouse are motivated by the Judeo-Christian beliefs ingrained in us from our religious schooling, our devout families and our practices of worship.

At the core of our faith is the principle that preservation of human life overrides any other considerations. Safehouse is working with community partners to find a suitable location(s) to deliver those services.” ***Philadelphia Land Bank is an agency that sells city-owned land.

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019

10

BEER WEEK

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Next on tap The versatile 2300 arena — South Philly’s premier event megapalace — preps for Philly Beer Week’s signature event

BY A.D. AMOROSI

T

here’s a long, elevated stretch of I-95 that acts as the overpass for the 2300 block of South Swanson Street.

Along that same stretch, you’ll find the 2300 Arena, the recently renovated, 1,500 capacity venue that has always mixed things up. Normally the venue usually plays HQ for boxing favorites such as bantamweight Raesse “The Beast” Aleem and South Philly’s favorite son, heavyweight Sonny Conto. However, tattoo conventions, fringe rockabilly shows, and weddings have forever been as much a part of 2300 Arena as mixed martial arts and wrestling matches – long before owner Roger Artigiani bought the arena 13 years ago.

Roger Artigiani and partner Christy Bottie have transformed South Philly’s 2300 Arena into so much more than just a house for boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts. Next up for the venue: the new home of Philly Beer Week’s Opening Tap. | Image: Kerith Gabriel

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

BEER WEEK

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Artigiani was part of the 2300 when Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky famously filmed the indie-favorite “The Wrestler” at the South Philly punching palace. “That was a lot of fun, and incredible to watch,” said Artigiani. “We filmed a Rocky movie here too, but The Wrestler was great because they used our wrestling fans as part of the filming.”

The venue now prepares for a new challenge as the folks at Philly Loves Beer have moved its signature event, the soiree that is Opening Tap, from the Fillmore and will host over 70 breweries and cideries in the heart of South Philly. Much of this is courtesy of Artigiani’s addition of Vicki Pohl, who heads the arena’s events and catering program (and co-created The 2300 Arena’s gorgeous new bar). Together, the 2300 collective, which also includes Artigiani’s business partner Christy Bottie are up to the task of welcoming some of the most devout beer lovers in the region.

Also, Philly Beer Week’s notable totem, The Hammer of Glory, used to ceremoniously tap the opening keg, cements the venue as a great fit, considering it sounds like it could be a 2300 Arena wrestling champion.

“I have been in the catering industry and corporate event booking my whole life and was looking for something large scale to host and place my events,” said Pohl. “I coerced Roger into doing this a year-and-a-half ago,

and it’s been great ever since.”

Before he got to 2300 Arena and the concept of a megalopolis for sporting and music events, Artigiani had friends in what would be the core tenants and core promoters from Pennsylvania Hall of Famers Russell Peltz’s boxing promotions, Joe Hand’s boxing promotions and Marshall Kaufman’s King’s Promotions.

“Along with those names, I had a slew of martial arts and wrestling promotions, and combined, had the best of the best of the independents,” said Artigiani.

Add in the participation of ESPN, – according to Artigiani, The 2300 Arena won an ESPN honor as “venue of the year” – Univision, Fox Sports, NBC, CBS and more filming at the arena, and the intimate feel of blood, guts, competition and camaraderie is complete.

“ESPN once said that our atmosphere is one where the fans can reach out and touch the fighters,” stated Artigiani. “MMA, boxing, wrestling, even concerts – you feel part of what is going on in that ring or on stage.

That’s a cool feeling. Add it all up, and this became the best place to see such sporting and music events. Then Vicki Pohl took us to a whole new level with her private and corporate events.”

SEE 2300, PAGE 12

11

An artist at heart, 2300 co-partner Christy Bottie, left, designed much of the fully renovated 2300 Arena, from the outdoor signage to all the artwork and interesting pieces that pay homage to the building’s storied past. | Image: Kerith Gabriel

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One of the things that attracted Philly Loves Beer, the organization responsible to Philly Beer Week was putting their event in a classic Philly venue. PLB executive director Christina Dowd said the group is excited to add some beer chatter to the stories 2300 holds. | Image: Kerith Gabriel

2300, FROM PAGE 11 Pohl wanted to offer the idea of a differently unique venue opportunity to those who might normally book stodgy ballrooms and old fashioned country clubs. The 2300 suited her designs, “a phenomenal space that can be used to its capacity attendance or – because it is comprised of two different rooms – more intimate events. Plus, it just has the look and feel of being alive. That makes a big difference, and business is booming because of it.”

Weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate bashes – they can be found at 2300. The Philadelphia Eagles had their Super Bowl ring ceremony there.

The Philadelphia Flyers recently held their Friday Night Fights there with the original Broad Street Bullies. There are upcoming events such as design and catering confabs (June 5), heavy metal concerts (with OldEarthAnalög, Gods Shall Burn and Eyes Of The Living on June 15), drag comedy (RuPaul Drag Race contestant Katya, July 30), and what’s being dubbed as a literal Dog & Pony show on Oct. 20.

Artigiani noted that, along with a Carl Palmer drum clinic in November, additional big-name concerts will hit 2300. “Plus, we’re a non-union facility with 300 free parking spaces, our own video walls, lighting and sound,” noted Pohl.

Then there’s the 2300 Bar and the overall renovation of the arena gives the entire space a slickness that wasn’t there when The Wrestler filmed in South Philly.

“My partner Christy Bottie, an artist in her own right [and a muralist with Jane Golden’s Mural Arts program] has everything to do

with that as she created the whole look,” noted Artigiani of 2300’s onyx luster, and multiple street-wise scenarios such as subway systems, bridges and ticket-taker booths. “It’s all Christy and Vicki. I’m just the pretty face around here.”

Artigiani is fond of saying that Bottie came to him, first, in order to do a men’s room mural in tribute to the old days of ECW Wrestling. “This mural is so great,” he said. “[We have] thousands of wrestling fans, young and old, snap photos in front of that mural. I never let her leave after that.”

As for Philly Loves Beer and Philly Beer Week, when there was a scheduling conflict with The Fillmore, all eyes went toward 2300 Arena as PBW’s heads of state knew Pohl’s prowess when it came to hosting and making a great party.

“Philly Loves Beer is always looking to highlight Philly landmarks, be it historic or a secret treasure, and the 2300 Arena certainly is on that list,” said Christina Dowd, executive director of Philly Loves Beer. “What I remember the most is [2300] being home to Extreme Championship Wrestling throughout the 1990s. I can’t even imagine the stories these walls must hold. We’re just happy to add some beer chatter.”

A sentiment Pohl and the rest of the 2300 crew wholeheartedly agrees with.

“I invited them over to look at the space, they loved it, and we’re excited to have them here,” Pohl said in regards to their meeting with Philly Loves Beer. “I think we’re going to get exposure to a whole new crowd of people we didn’t have – but will now.”

@ADAMOROSI

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13

The brains and brawn of brewing

The

Brains

Meet the players steadfastly growing Philly’s eclectic beer culture, behind the scenes

Image courtesy: Facebook

L

uke Bowen, co-founder of Evil Genius Beer Company in Fishtown, said he and his partner, Trevor Hayward, struggled mightily when they were building and first running their brewery.

“We sucked at it,” Bowen, 36, admits. “Every decision we made was incorrect. There’s really no make-up for actual experience.”

Experience is what Bowen and Hayward, 35, now have plenty of, more than eight years after opening Evil Genius on Front Street in Fishtown.

Friends who met at Villanova School of Business’ graduate program, Bowen and Hayward were both into beer and decided to make the jump to opening their own brewery. It was the perfect marriage with Hayward a whiz at accounting and operations and Bowen was the sales and business development. They met in the middle when it came to marketing – developing the name for the business and the titles of their beers – co-creating the brand.

But landing on their tongue-in-cheek style took a little while.

SEE EVIL, PAGE 14

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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EVIL, FROM PAGE 13 Luke Bowen and Trevor Hayward, founders of Evil Genius Beer Company, said that they knew long ago that Evil Genius would become the mecca it is today for craft beer lovers of all types. | Image: Bradd Eelles

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“The first couple of years were very tough,” Bowen said, adding that they were working 100-hour weeks. “We had a different branding strategy. We were a little more regal…that was something we learned very quickly was not going to fly.”

They also realized high-brow wasn’t really who they were, a couple of dudes who were always dropping movie and TV quotes, such as, “That’s what she said,” from Steve Carrell’s character in “The Office.”

“So we decided, ‘What if we started naming our beers after that?’” Bowen said about the company’s pivot into the more humorous of territory. “That was the turning point when we became who we are, and people really responded to that.

“We obviously don’t take ourselves very seriously, but it’s really very genuine to our sense of humor. At the end of the day, it’s us and who we are. It happens to be our sense of humor, but people kind of relate to it.”

One of the slogans on the Evil Genius website is “Very silly names for very serious beer.”

Bowen, who is from South Chester County, describes the brainstorming sessions he and Hayward, who hails from Dublin, have about naming their brews as “super fun.’

We really do get a chance to sit down and be

creative,” he added.

Right now on the menu is “Stacy’s Mom,” a Citra IPA. “If you think you don’t like IPAs, give Stacy’s Mom a try,” they tout. Then, of course, there’s “I’ll Have What She’s Having” a chocolate hazelnut imperial stout; “#ICANTEVEN” is a watermelon blonde ale; and “You’re Killing Me Smalls” Evil Genius’ raspberry-infused lemon shandy.

They work with brewer Jon Defibaugh, who defected to Evil Genius from Tired Hands Brewing Company in Ardmore. The brewing community in the Greater Philadelphia Region is intimate, however, Bowen said.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “Everybody gets on really well.”

Within that community, Bowen said Evil Genius is glad to have found its niche.

“We really pride ourselves on being innovative and quirky,” he said. “Our goal is to really change people’s perception about what craft beer is, that it’s accessible to everybody… rather than creating something that people feel intimidated by.

“It’s just fun, and it’s supposed to be fun,” Bowen added. “That’s why the brand has legs because we’re not afraid to make fun of ourselves… It’s beer. It’s OK. We’re not curing cancer. We’re doing something that’s supposed to make people laugh and have a good time.”

The

14

BEER WEEK

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Tuesday 6/4

Brawn

4pm

Ommegang Happy Hour

Chesapeakin’

6pm

Toppling Goliath Launch!

PHILLY

The

2019

Saturday 6/1

AT

12pm

John Ricketts, standing in a tank he set up, has installed brewing systems for much of Philadelphia’s steadily growing craft beer breweries and cideries. | Image courtesy: John Ricketts

John Ricketts Jr. is passionate about helping build breweries in any way that he can.

“It’s become part of who I am building these breweries and doing this for people,” Ricketts said. “When I get there, it’s a pile of tanks and parts and none of them are connected together, and when I leave… they’re brewing. We get invited to the grand openings, get to see the families that built these places.

It’s pretty cool.”

Ricketts, 36, has been the owner of John C. Ricketts Jr. Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning since about 2003 and has done the plumbing, steam fitting, and other work for approximately 24 breweries in the Greater Philadelphia Region, ranging from Evil Genius Beer Company in Fishtown to Ship Bottom Brewery in Beach Haven, NJ. He is currently working on Triple Bottom Brewing on Spring Garden Street and the expansion of West Philly’s Dock Street Brewery, which is opening a new location on Washington Avenue.

Ricketts, who gets his work mostly by wordof-mouth, through the years has become the go-to guy when it comes to plumbing breweries, their kettles and tanks. It’s hard work, sometimes overnight because the breweries that employ him are under pressure to unveil with their leases set to open. And it’s physically taxing, heaving 21-foot-long pieces of pipe, weighing between 300 and 400 pounds, and securing them to the ceiling, or shifting around kettles that weigh as much as a small car.

Ricketts and his crew are the brawn behind a lot of the local brewpubs. It’s not exactly chilling out, sipping a cold brew in a beer garden.

“Building a brewery is really stressful,” Ricketts said. But he added that he finds the work to be extremely gratifying.

“It’s fun. It’s creative,” he said. “I think what gives me so much joy out of this work is a lot of times these people have dreamed of opening a brewery. They’re so passionate about their beer. Beer is like a sense of camaraderie and hanging out with groups of people.”

Friday 5/31

4pm

In fact, Ricketts is covered in tattoos, much of which is the logos from different breweries he has worked on and took a liking to the company logo or bottle art design.

Ricketts, who also does residential plumbing, heating, and air conditioning, got into working with breweries because he apprenticed under a man who knew a lot with steam heat. Breweries need steam, and there is a dearth of plumbers who know to work with it any more, Ricketts said.

“Steam is an older type of heat and plumbing,” Ricketts said. “It’s kind of like a dying art. A lot of guys don’t know how steam works.”

Not only does his company often do the plumbing for the bathrooms and the bars in these venues, as well as often the heating and air conditioning, but he also installs and pipes the tanks and does the steam piping for the kettles and hot liquor tanks.

In addition, Ricketts puts in big chillers and pumps that regulate glycol, a cooling agent that runs through pipes, in the fermenters, all of which needs to maintain a certain temperature. Different types of beer require different fermenting temperatures.

Ricketts, himself, prefers IPAs, which tend to cool in the 60s before they are chilled for drinking. Some beers require a direct fire kettle, where a gas burner shoots flames directly under the kettle. Ricketts installs those, usually in smaller breweries for 5-to-10-barrel systems. In larger breweries of 10-to-15 barrels, the kettle is usually steam heated, Ricketts said.

“It’s different than plumbing in a house or a bar,” Ricketts said. “It’s a little bit more artistic.

“It’s not the day-in-day-out work we normally do,” he added. “It’s very satisfying to hand over the reins once we are complete. The brewers are excited to get that first brew done on their new system, and it is very satisfying to have a hand in making it happen for them.”

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

16

BEER WEEK

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Beer, by

design Great works of art on the label of your favorite brew the topic of discussion during Philly Beer Week

I

t’s OK, we’ve all done it. ner, Art on Beer is more than just That time we picked up discussion. It’s a passion project for a six pack of some beer Dowd, who created the event three not because we're won- years earlier. Dowd ran her own graphic design company for over dering how it tastes, but a decade and has been in because the art love with the fusion of art on the label was and beer for even longer. so damn cool.

BY ALEX In the case of Flexner, who But if you only knew NAGY has illustrated band postjust how much that packaging was by design – in ers for the likes of Green both the literal and figuDay and Foo Fighters, his artwork appeared wrapped around rative sense. For the third year in a row, Art on Beer, the annual panel cans of Neshaminy Creek Brewing discussion that takes place during Company.

Heather Vaughan and Ryan ThiPhilly Beer Week, hopes to explain just how much that same artwork bault from Collective Arts in Philawas so influential in your decision delphia, Andrew Radcliff from Free making.

Will Brewing in Perkasie, and Mike Hosted by Philly Loves Beer execVan Hall from Stillwater Artisanal in Baltimore are this year’s feautive director Christina Dowd and moderated by Philly artist JP Flextured illustrators on the panel.

For the third year in a row, Art on Beer, a discussion with the artists, illustrators, and creatives that come up with great eye-catching labels for your favorite brews will take place during Philly Beer Week. | Image: James Francis MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Typically, for most artists, they will collaborate alongside the owners of breweries, who often give them a concept for an existing beer and allow the imaginations of artists to run with abandon.

Many times, however, it could easily work the other way around.

“I’ll have this piece of art that I want to go out,” Van Hall, who is the creative director for Washington D.C.-based Stillwater Artisanal told PW. “[Knowing that], I’ll work to create something in liquid form that kind of complements the visual or complements the concept [the brewers are going for].”

Van Hall has actually done a host of other concepts and pieces several other breweries, distilleries and restaurants. Remarkable considering this now full-blown creative mind was a practicing lawyer for five years before deciding to take his talents into the world of beer. It’s the awareness of both what is visually appealing and what will keep a beer lover married to a particular brewery that makes this role a constant challenge for minds like Van Hall.

“People are fans of a particular beer company in the same way that they are fans of a musician or a band,” Van Hall said. “The label itself is a way to give [to the consumer] more than just a liquid product.”

In the case of Vaughan, in addition to working with Collective Arts, he’s also the associate art director for video game hub, Silverclutch Games. She has also created illustrations for the American Cancer Society and Bravo TV Network.

“Good design and art by extension is the best way to get your product seen by the consumer,” Vaughn said of how art expresses beer. “With all that creativity going on inside of the can, it makes sense to carry on that same creativity to the outside of the can too.”

This event won’t be short of passionate, artistic conversations. In addition to all of the great factors of creating art for beer cans, a focus on the challenges that often arise – like working with the shape of the can and deciding how to convey what the beer is – will also be topic of discussion which will be followed by a Q&A session, said Dowd.

“I’m looking forward to talking shop about the illustration business in general,” Vaughan said. “Additionally, I’m excited to talk about the format Collective Arts uses for procuring all the great work they use on their products.”

The beauty of Art on Beer is that it’s never been billed as an event for the artsy fartsy. If you have ever bought beer – especially from smaller and local breweries – know just how much thought goes into the intersection of both the visual and the taste is as much educational as it is informative.

“I think it’s worth going to things like this because it’s too easy to overlook the work that goes into the individual labels,” Van Hall said.

Art on Beer | June 4, 7 pm. $15. Warehouse on Watts, 923 N. Watts St. universe. com/events/art-on-beer-tickets-philadelphia

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18

NEWS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Frank Schaffer, owner of FGS Gems, moves out of Jewelers Row after 35 years doing business in the historic district. | Image: Jon Hurdle

Removed from the Row Jewelers Row tenants vacate five historic buildings as demolition looms

BY JON HURDLE

J

ewelers Row tenants emptied their stores and packed their boxes in five of the street’s historic buildings on Tuesday with a mix of anger, relief and optimism.

Days before a May 31 deadline to vacate the buildings, one tenant who has worked on Jewelers Row for more than 40 years said she had reluctantly found new premises for her business in Queen Village. Another said he was moving 25 years’ worth of equipment into storage while he considered his options.

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

NEWS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY A third said he has no problem with the redevelopment project that has riled preservationists and is simply moving across the street to a building that isn’t part of the redevelopment .It’s been three years since mega-developer Toll Brothers proposed plans to demolish the buildings and make way for a high-rise apartment building overlooking America’s second-oldest diamond district. In the meantime, there were many howls of protest and several years of ultimately unsuccessful litigation from preservation activists. Now, longtime tenants were finally forced to vacate the buildings, marking the end of an era for the brickpaved 700 block of Sansom Street.

Outside FGS Gems at 708 Sansom, owner Frank Schaffer said Toll Brothers has been pushing him to move out by the May 31 deadline, even though some of his neighbors have been given extensions.

Schaffer, a gem cutter and jewelry maker who has been an outspoken critic of the project, said he has about a month less to move out than the developer first promised, and has been treated with “no respect” by his landlord who he said is more interested in selling to Toll Brothers at the highest price than in helping tenants who have been with him for years.

But after 35 years on Jewelers Row, Schaffer said he’s looking forward to a new business venture as “one door closes and another opens.”

Mostly, he’s glad that he won’t be working on Jewelers Row, where he predicted that the remaining tenants will have their businesses destroyed by several years of construction and then by an expected influx of baby boomers and retirees who he said won’t be interested in spending money on gems and jewelry.

“I’m getting out before it really gets bad down here,” he said, as workers loaded a U-Haul truck with boxes and equipment from his nearly-empty storefront in the latest phase of his multi-day move-out. “The construction will just destroy the rest of the business that’s left down here. Anybody that thinks they can survive three years with a big hole in the ground, and traffic, and cranes overhead – good luck.”

Schaffer expects the new building will be occupied by boomers and millennials but not by the 40 to 55 year-olds who are his target market for gems and finished jewelry.

The five buildings date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries but weren’t able to secure historic designation from the city, which might have saved them from demolition.

Next door to Schaffer’s building, Nick Sama has been running his third-generation jewelry wholesale business, NCS Metals and Jewelry from 706 Sansom, for 15 years. He doesn’t see why people like Schaffer are so upset that the neighborhood is being redeveloped with what its critics see as a project that rides roughshod over historic fabric.

Sama, whose grandfather started in business as a watchmaker in 1942, dismissed the

argument that the neighborhood’s new apartment dwellers won’t spend money on jewelry.

“They’re going to bring vitality to the street,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of people in that beautiful building, and at the end of the day, it’s definitely going to bring a lot of money to the street.”

Extensive media coverage of the Jewelers Row project has led the public to believe that all the jewelers there are being forced out, whereas it will only affect those in the five buildings, Sama said. “People are calling my colleagues wanting to know if they are still going to be here,” he said. “They think the whole street is turning into Toll Brothers.”

At 704 Sansom, 68-year-old Maryann Ritter, owner of the jewelry business that bears her name, doesn’t pull punches about the meaning of her impending move for the Jewelers Row community.

“My business that’s been here for over 100 years is no longer going to be here on Jewelers Row,” she said. “And the history that enveloped it before it became Jewelers Row is going to be gone.”

Ritter, who has worked on Jewelers Row for 47 years after taking over a company that opened in 1905, is moving in coming weeks to a new office in Queen Village. There, she will have less than half the space she has now but will be able to continue to make and repair jewelry for her customers and do the job she loves.

She’s optimistic that the business will do well in its new location because it will be staffed by the same people who have provided quality service to customers over the years.

But she’s not looking forward to the upheaval at her current stage in life. She was given a short extension on her original May 31 deadline to get out, but that’s not going to make the move any easier, she said.

“We not only have to get displaced but also have to, if we want to stay in the business, do the expense of starting all over again,” she said.

Despite the upheaval, Ritter said she has no thought of retiring at her present age, which is when many people are already drawing a pension. “I love what I do, I’m healthy, I can still do it. Why would I want to retire?” she said while inspecting two large-beaded necklaces on her store counter.

She doesn’t fault the building owners who are doing well from selling their properties but wishes they had not sold them to Toll Brothers for building the new project.

“To displace people that have been here forever and that are thriving, for me, this is throwing a monkey wrench into the works.

This is unique. This is history,” she said.

Toll Brothers did not respond to a request for comment for this story. The company scaled back its original plans and is now planning to build a 24-story apartment tower at Jewelers Row.

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

20

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PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

picks: P

hilly Beer Week, the annual homage to all things beer, pops off May 31. There are over 2,000 events scheduled throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, courtesy of over 70 breweries and cideries, in addition to a host of signature scheduled events from Philly Loves Beer. We sifted through the lot and created this small sampling as the events beer lovers, enthusiasts and aficionados of all types most certainly need to have on their calendar.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 HOG Relay Hop on the magic school bus of Philly Loves Beer in the Great Northeast and follow the Hammer of Glory all the way down to South Philly. This stops at tons of bars along the way, of course. There will be plenty of activities throughout the trip, like the Standard Tap Drag Race, where drag kings and queens will literally rip through Northern Liberties as they race to the finish line at Yards Brewing. | 9:30am. Prices vary. Hop Angel Brauhaus, 7980 Oxford Ave. universe.com

Ladies Night Pink Boots Fundraiser

Try some brews made in collaboration with Pink Boots Society and local breweries while raising some dough for the organization. Catch the Hammer of Glory during the afternoon, then stick around for the Opening Tap after party at night. Don’t miss the chance to meet some of the brew-tiful ladies of the beer scene. | Noon. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. facebook.com

Opening Tap The can’t-miss annual kickoff event of Philly Beer Week. This year’s will be inside a new venue with even more beers on tap — over 65, if we’re being exact. Take the first sip of Duveldelphia, the official brew of Philly Beer Week and the new collaboration brew between La Cabra Brewing and Belgium-based Duvel Moortgat.

Hear tunes from Fava Le Chic, who will be performing live, followed by live band karaoke. This is the perfect kind of event sure to get you hype for the weeklong celebration of beer. | 6:30pm. $46. 2300 Arena, 2300 S. Swanson St. 2300arena.com

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 A Beer Week Street Carnival Take a break from the walls of a stuffy bar and get outside for this quintessential street fest. Enjoy local brews as you play some carnival games and enjoy what we hope will be another great weekend weather-wise.

There’s something for everyone at this one — beer drinker or not — to try out. | Noon. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. facebook.com

Ancient Alcohol Ever wonder how our ancestors turned up? Get schooled on all the drinks they turned to when it was time to unwind. This is your chance to check out some of the world’s oldest wine jars and try some ancient liquor that’s been chemically recreated by an archaeologist. | 3pm. $25. Penn Museum, 3260 South St. penn. museum

Late Night DJ Battle with Half Acre

A good ‘ol battle of whose beats are most sweet between DJ Glyde and J The AudioPhile. But we know you’re more concerned with the beer lineup, so how’s this: Galactic Double Daisy Cutter, Beachweed, Bodem and Pony Pils are all going to be on tap for this show.

Clearly, we’re all in for a party at this one, so just prepare for lots of beer and bass. | 10pm. Free. Lucky’s Last Chance, 848 S. 2nd St. facebook.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 2 Beer and Yoga You wouldn’t readily think these two would go together, but I guess we’ll be proven wrong. Bring your own yoga mat, but not your own booze as beer will be flowing during a private tasting following the session. Bottoms will be up, and we don’t just mean your drinks. | 10:15 am. $25. Perkasie Taproom, 410 E. Walnut St. freewillbrewing.com

Puppy Pageant Unleash the pageant parent inside of you and pressure your dog into this competition. Dress them up in their finest digs for a chance to win some dope prizes.

All that matters, though, is that part of your money spent on beer will be given to the Morris Animal Refuge. See? You’re exploiting your furry child for a good cause. | Noon. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St.

Late Night Brunch Who doesn’t love brunch for dinner? This may even be your first meal of the day, but we’re not judging.

Fill up on some good food and, of course, throw back a few delicious brews. | 8pm. Prices vary. Lucky’s Last Chance Manayunk, 4421 Main St. phillylovesbeer.org

MONDAY, JUNE 3 Pro Tap Beer-Cocktail Competition Witness a fierce “Chopped”-style beer competition.

Four Philly bartenders will battle it out to create the best beer cocktail from a trio of random ingredients.

Attendees will place their votes at the end of each round to decide who stays in the game. Voting rights and free samples of the cocktails? Why wouldn’t you want to go to this? | 2pm. $30. Prohibition Taproom, 501 N. 13th St. phillylovesbeer.org

Doughnuts & Beer Bet you can’t name a better duo. Your ticket gets you a flight of Terrapin beers and a Beiler’s doughnut.

Reserve your spot now and savor one of the sweetest events of the week. | 6:30pm. $21. Lucky’s Last Chance, 848 S. 2nd St. upcomingevents.com

Chemowarrior Fundraiser Tip your bartender and do your part to help this organization fight pediatric cancer. A variety of brews from Founders Brewing will be on tap at this charitable Beer Week event. Probably the one event where the more you drink, the more generous you’ll feel. | 6pm.

Prices vary. Varga Bar, 941 Spruce St. phillybeerweek. org

TUESDAY, JUNE 4 Tattoosday Happy Hour There are simply no rules to this savage pour contest. Brewers from four different breweries will compete for their beer to get a spot at the bar. Loser has to get a tattoo. Pretty safe to call this one a high-stakes competition. | 5pm. Free. Lucky’s Last Chance, 848 S. 2nd St. facebook.com

Art on Beer Drop in on this discussion of the art on beer labels.

Artists who have worked with member breweries will be on-hand to share their experiences. We’ve all bought beer before because of how cool the label looks. This

BEER WEEK

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Philly Beer Week event will prove just how important art is in the brewing business. | 7pm. $15. Warehouse on Watts, 923 N. Watts St.universe.com

Jersey Attitude Get Jerseylicious at this night dedicated to beer and tomatoes. It’s all to push the ongoing campaign from Flying Fish Brewery for New Jersey to adopt“Eetahtimatah!” as the new slogan. If you have any better (and possibly less corny) slogan ideas, feel free to pitch them, just make sure you get your gym, tan and laundry done before you head out to this one. | 7pm. Free. The Grey Lodge Pub, 6235 Frankford Ave. facebook.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 Bad Dad Joke Face Off You can finally put your extensive bad joke repertoire to good use. In this competition, you have to look at your competitor in the eye and joke back and forth.

The first to laugh loses. | 7pm. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. facebook.com

Funk Shop Special Edition This artist showcase goes down a couple times a year, but this one’s different. Local art from Birdwatcher Studio will be on display, and there will be a DJ set with Dave Mass. Get down while sipping on a lineup of Neshaminy Creek beers. | 8:30pm. Free. Lucky’s Last Chance, 848 S. 2nd St. facebook.com

Meet the Goats Come say hello to the spokesgoats of Sly Fox Brewing Company at this night of delicious beer and adorable animals. We don’t think we need to try any harder to sell you on this. | 8pm. Free. BAR, 1309 Sansom St. phillylovesbeer.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 Kick the Cans!

Get an exclusive taste of some canned beers that will only be carried in limited supply. Try them all and decide which ones will get “kicked.” You probably won’t see many of these beers anywhere else, so drink up. | 4pm. Free. Interstate Drafthouse, 1235 E. Palmer St. facebook.com

Local Love

Drop in on this happy hour and fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Three Phillies players will be hosting and making drinks for everyone.

When’s the next time you can say you were served a cold one by Rhys Hoskins? | 4pm. $20. Tradesman’s, 1322 Chestnut St. phillylovesbeer.org

Ben Franklin Mob Hash House Harriers Run

The Philly Hash House Harriers are a “drinking club with a running problem.” Join in a group run with beer pit stops being made along the way. Take it seriously and work off your beer belly, or take it slow and drink even more. | 7:30 pm. $10. Love City Brewing, 1023 Hamilton St. phillylovesbeer.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 Front Stoop Lounging Hang out front with some brewers at this super Philly event. Just bring a chair and be ready to enjoy some great beer. It’s an “anti-event” beer event, so it’s perfect for those looking to stay lowkey this week. | 7pm. Free. The Grey Lodge Pub, 6235 Frankford Ave. facebook.com

Barrel Aged Extravaganza Come to this celebration of barrel aging and try a variety of oaky brews. This bar’s very own nine-month aged house brew will be featured. Think of it as a beer event with some character. | 4pm. Free. Twisted Tail, 509 S. 2nd St. phillylovesbeer.org

Sly Fox Brewing Canwood Derby Invitational

Craft a car out of a beer can and race with it. Drink and talk trash as you fight against each other. This might get even rowdier than an Eagles game. | 5 pm.

Free. Good Dog Bar, 224 S. 15th St. phillylovesbeer.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 The Ladies Beer Tea This High Tea is for you lush ladies out there. Sip some beer and sample light bites as you chat with friends. This is a step up from spending the afternoon and evening hours inside a stuffy bar. | 2:30pm. $30. Belgian Cafe, 601 N. 21st St. thebelgiancafe.com

Luau BBQ This event is running on island time. Hawaiian BBQ, tropical cocktails and fruit beers will be served up.

Send off Philly Beer Week with an event as refreshing as ocean air. | 2 pm. Free. Uptown Beer Garden, 1735 Market St. phillylovesbeer.org

Neshaminy Creek Seven Year Anniversary

How fitting of this brewery to celebrate its anniversary during Beer Week. Join them for a festival of music, beer and food to commemorate this successful Philly brewhouse. This might even be the only all-ages event of the week. | 1 pm. Free. Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, 909 Ray Ave. neshaminycreekbrewing.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Kick the Kegs!

Basically, this bar bought too much beer and they need your help kicking the unused kegs. You’d be a fool to turn this one down. This is going on all day, so whether you’re a day or night drinker, your help is needed. | 11 am. Free. Interstate Draft House, 1235 E. Palmer St. phillylovesbeer.org

Suburban Love We’ve been laser-focused on Philly breweries all week. Now it’s time to show some love to the suburbs. A bunch of breweries from outside the city will be pouring their brews for us to appreciate. Hang outside, eat some food and catch a buzz one last time this week. | 1 pm. Free. La Cabra Brewing, 642 Lancaster Ave. facebook.com

Get Milked: Queer Pride Festival & Dance Party

This celebration fittingly falls on the same day as the Philly Pride Fest. Brau Brewing Company’s “Pride Pils” will be released and all proceeds will go to LGBTQ organizations SMYAL and The Blade Foundation.

Catch some drag shows and other live performances in a safe space. | 12 pm. Free. Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut St. facebook.com

-ALEX NAGY |

@ALEXBNAGY

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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MUSIC

Play that funky music R&B and jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco heads home for headline show at the Kimmel Center

BY A.D. AMOROSI

Part of a long jazz family lineage, Hammond organist and Philly native Joey DeFrancesco prepares to play the Kimmel Center on June 1. | Image courtesy: Michael Woodall

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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J

oey DeFrancesco has always brought his family’s funky lineage, soul and innovation to the Hammond organ, arguably jazz’s most ignored solo instrument.

This year however, DeFrancesco happens to be pushing freedom and spirituality along for the rhythmic ride. The onetime Miles Davis band member spent 2018 in the company of Van Morrison with bluesy albums The Prophet Speaks and You’re Driving Me Crazy to their collective credits.

After a Christmas gig at South where DeFrancesco played heartwarming handfuls of seasonal

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classics, the organist found his groovy inner-vision focused on cosmically free and holy jazz with 2019 offering, In the Key of the Universe. Now, DeFrancesco is bringing that elegant openness and spirituality together with his unique brand of organ pumping, indigenous to the Philly R&B-jazz organ trio sound – to the Kimmel Center on June 1, with the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia for a big band match-up.

Before all that, we caught up with both DeFrancesco and his wife-manager Gloria before they made the trek back east.

SEE DEFRANCESCO, PAGE 25

A former member of Miles Davis’ band, DeFrancesco is known for his R&B, jazz and funk sound on the Hammond organ. | Image courtesy: Michael Woodall

Saturday June 1, 2019 Haddonfield, NJ

indiankingfriends.org Sponsored by Friends of the Indian King Tavern Museum Rain Date:Sunday June 2 PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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The sound of the street. Watching people. There’s always been a lot going on in Philly. That’ll never leave me.

DEFRANCESCO, FROM PAGE 23 The notion of being a prodigy, something you were considered when you began playing the organ at age 3, was that ever a difficult expectation to meet?

No. Or I never thought about it. I was grateful for positive reinforcement, but, I just played. I loved to play, and work on playing. I did what I had to do.

Whether you look at your family (grandfather Joseph DeFrancesco was a reedman, “Papa” John was the organist dad that gave Joey his first look at the organ) or mentors you played with such as Miles, how has their influence evolved as you evolve?

Growing up surrounded by music was a great situation. Who knows if I had grown up in a different family if I would have the same interests.

Or same talents.

Exactly. A lot of people grow up around it, don’t latch onto music and don’t play [an instrument]. My dad was an organist with an organ in the house and a ton of jazz records. He got me set up, and guided me in all the right directions. He wasn’t teaching me every day.

He let me do my thing, and let me enjoy the organ. It became my favorite toy, you know.

When I toured and recorded with Miles when I was 17, that influence was tremendous, but, there were things about it, musically, that I didn’t realize until later because I was so young. Growing up in Philadelphia, too, at the time I did, was a big deal. There were a lot of great old musicians still around, playing. The clubs too. All that continues to be an influence – you just don’t always realize it at that moment.

Is there anything non-musical about Philly that stayed an influence?

The city’s vibe. That just happens. The sound of the street. Watching people. There’s always been a lot going on in Philly. That’ll never leave me.

How, when and why did you hook up with Van Morrison?

In 2017, his manager contacted [DeFrancesco’s wife and manager] Gloria and asked if I’d like to record with Van, after [he saw] me play at Ronnie Scott’s in London. A few years before that, we opened for him in the Cork Island

Jazz Festival. His manager’s email was out of the blue. We flew over, talked about music, and he let me run with it all with my own group.

He’s smart like that. He knew I had a vibe, and figured with that together, he could come in and do his thing on top.

Are those all one take recordings?

Yeah, he sang live with us. No overdubbing, save for my trumpet playing. The star of it all wasn’t easy. He goes through his motions, whatever his rituals… but, once everything gelled, it gelled. We hit it off personally. He’s an R&B guy, but loves Coltrane. He wanted to make a going-in-a-club in the 60s R&B record.

That’s not what you’re doing in your current situation.

Not at all. But I can go there anytime I want.

That’s a permanent part of me. And that’s where he wanted to go. He called the one album we did together You’re Driving Me Crazy – as much my record in his opinion as it was his – because he was having that good of time hanging with us.

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Your current direction happens to be freer, open, and more spiritual feeling that any album in your catalog. You’ve always been free and pushing the boundaries. But, this new album is out, and not a sound you’re always associated with – when did the music of the Universe make itself available to you?

I’ve always been stretching the boundaries of the instrument since day one. I have my influences, but, nobody’s played the organ the way I play it. And I say that very humbly, good or bad. The natural progression of how we mature, and the cultures and belief systems we witness… I have been moving toward that spiritual direction in music and life. One is not separate from the other. When it comes to free jazz, I love Coltrane’s free period, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders (he plays with DeFrancesco on Universe). The thing with these gentlemen, they can play ‘free’ because they had tradition. They understood everything else.

There’s blues in their playing. They know harmony. Free to me means doing whatever you want because you have the ability to do anything you want – free to groove, free to be out. Understanding the spirituality that goes with going out… it doesn’t even matter what you believe. It’s a spiritual vibe that, no pun intended, comes with being in tune with the universe. Being aware, enlightened. Having gratitude. I had to be ready for this album.

@ADAMOROSI PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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Philly Weekly writer Courtenay Harris Bond with her pal Noel Berrios inside city men’s jail, the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility. | Image courtesy: Courtenay Harris Bond

Doing Time IV A five part series looking at the blurred lines of an authentic friendship

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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A

fter I dropped off clothes for that cut his cravings for heroin and other narNoel at his treatment program, cotics and kept him from getting sick without my phone rang with a “215” area getting high. He was gaining weight. He now code and a number I didn’t recwore a size 40 jeans, Noel said. The ones I had bought him, a size 36, were already too small. ognize.

“Even my dad was like, man, Suspecting it you getting a belly like me!” was Noel, I picked Noel joked. up. “Hey, gangster rat! How But he wasn’t too worried are you doing?” I was happy to about getting fat. Noel said his hear Noel’s voice, happy that body was just starting to recovhe had made it out of jail once again, albeit into another kind er from all the abuse he’d put of shut-in environment, but it through for so many years. this one at least hopefully therHe also said that he really felt good about this time in treatapeutic. Noel thanked me for the clothes. He told me that a ment – that he was getting a lot doctor at the rehab center had out of it already, that he was so committed him for 86 days, glad he was there. Sharing in instead of the 28 he was anticgroup sessions was becoming easier for him and he felt less ipating, because of his PTSD ashamed about his past or what from childhood sexual trauma, @CHARRISBOND he had done during his active extensive drug use and bipolar addiction. illness. But Noel was happy for “If people judge me, that’s on the extra time.

“I feel really good about this go-around, them,” he would say. “I’m just trying to help myself.” gangster rat. I really do.”

During one phone conversation, Noel talkI told him I was proud of him. He said that meant a lot to hear me say that. I realized how ed about a nightmare he had recently had in few people in his life had ever told him they which a pack of pit bulls was attacking him. were proud of him. I felt the honor and the Noel frantically tried to fight them off. We burden of being one of the few. spoke about how the dream might be about Almost immediately, Noel went on bu- him confronting his demons, the beasts that had been chasing him into a life of drugs and prenorphine, the opioid replacement therapy

COURTENAY HARRIS BOND

crime, anything to get away from facing his past trauma.

Noel also described an intense “drug dream” he’d had at the treatment center. He was with some people he used to hang out with, and he was giving them more and more money to buy heaps of drugs. It was very frenetic. “It wasn’t real,” Noel said. “I realized I was actually glad to be where I am and not back on the street.”

Two of the guys he came into the program with from jail had already walked off to go get high, Noel said. That was him, not too long ago but this time around just felt different. This time, he was finally starting to contend with his past and his current issues so he could begin to live what he called simply a more “normal” life.

Noel had a good talk with his brother, Reuben, and Reuben had sounded better than he had in a long time because he had lost some weight, Noel said. Reuben had to have his legs amputated years ago after a horrific accident, but, just like Noel, he seemed to be working to improve his health and ultimately, his future.

Noel thought that Reuben might be open to coming to see him.

His father, on the other hand, was not being so open. Noel seemed to have clenched onto the hope that his father would finally become the father he never was—attentive and empathetic. These words are mine, not Noel’s. In fact, Noel always defended his father, saying

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that he worked hard to support his new wife and his wife’s family and that nobody helped him. Unsolicited – a move I wrestled with later – I suggested that perhaps Noel needed to try to let go of the fantasy that his father would change, that that probably wouldn’t happen.

“I know,” Noel said. “But it’s my fault. I brought all this on myself.”

Then I broke the news to Noel that I wouldn’t be visiting him until after we had moved back into our house. A year prior, a tree had crushed much of the house and it was undergoing renovation. The earliest I thought I would be able to make it would be March.

“It’s OK,” Noel said. “I always say, family comes first. You need to focus on your family.”

He did admit, though, that he was a little upset when I didn’t visit him his first week at the facility when I had initially said I would and then needed to postpone because of my relationship with my husband, Jeff. Jeff wasn’t saying anything, but I could tell he was put out by my interaction with Noel. I had reassured Jeff that this was a story for me, that Noel had, indeed become a friend, but that the relationship was nothing more than that – and that Jeff and the kids came first.

I said I would never visit Noel if that would make Jeff feel better. No, Jeff said, confirming that wasn’t what he wanted. But we did agree that it was best for our family if I didn’t visit SEE NOEL, PAGE 28

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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NOEL, FROM PAGE 27 Noel for a while. So now I found myself in the uncomfortable position of trying to do what was right for my loved ones, despite the fact that I wanted to see Noel and felt guilty about letting him down.

A few days passed with Noel’s number popping up on my phone screen and my ignoring it. I had been so busy with sick kids, work, and preparing to move home that I easily found excuses to avoid his calls. But I knew the real reason I wasn’t answering was that I felt like I was betraying his trust by not visiting right away as I had promised him I would when he was still in jail.

Noel never tried to make me feel guilty about my not seeing him immediately. In fact, he continually expressed a reciprocal interest in my life that I felt to be somewhat extraordinary for someone in his position, for someone with so many immediate needs and problems.

For instance, he always asked about our house and how it was coming along. When I said I was frustrated that things weren’t moving as swiftly as I would have hoped, Noel said that when he got out of jail, he was seriously thinking about having a “heart-to-heart” with our contractor. Noel was joking but also adamant about wanting to help me in some way. I always assured him that it was all good—that things would work out—that I was just venting. But I was impressed with his sense of empathy and a little frightened by the violence behind his words.

There were other things that surprised me about Noel. His steadiness, for instance.

Despite the fact that Noel had spent all of his adult life in and out of incarceration settings, had endured a year at one point in the hole with only an hour a day outside, and had suffered from bipolar illness and anxiety, he seemed so sturdy.

Even when he was feeling his worst, and even when I sensed a sort of franticness to his mood, Noel had an underlying fortitude that I have rarely encountered in another person—especially one who has been through so much.

Noel never yelled, rarely cried, always reasoned with me or himself when talking about emotional topics. He had the ability to maintain equilibrium in the most challenging circumstances. When we spoke about the fact that Philadelphia had just banned smoking at all city-affiliated rehab centers, including the one he was headed to – and Noel was a heavy smoker – he was matter-of-fact. “Well. What are you gonna do? I’m just going to have to deal with it.” He told me that they would help him with patches and other nicotine-replacement protocols.

What also surprised me throughout my months of speaking to Noel as a journalist and ultimately as a friend was that despite the fact that we came from such disparate backgrounds, we had so much in common.

We made each other laugh. We liked to tell little anecdotes about our days: about how my daughter had thrown up in the middle of Tar-

get, about how much fun he had had bowling with folks at the rehab center. Noel taught me street/jail slang, saying, for instance, “Souk, souk now!” which was essentially “Look at you!” or “Way to go!” Then he would belly laugh when I would use the phrase when he reported something positive that he had done, such as starting to share in his group sessions.

But mostly, I was surprised at how much we could empathize with each other’s emotional struggles, our battles with anxiety and depression not being that different from one another’s, despite the fact that we had treaded such different life paths. As everyone always says but rarely experiences the truth of in their own lives, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues don’t discriminate. But through my talks with Noel, I realized how deeply these behavioral health conditions were the greatest of equalizers.

We spent a lot of time discussing how it doesn’t matter where you come from or how fortunate or unfortunate you happen to be; if you have anxiety and/or depression, the suffering is the same. You may feel unique or isolated, but you are actually surrounded by a harrowingly immense pond of other fellow sufferers, each of whom thinks that their tribulations are special but who are actually, to use the phrase of one of my past therapists, very “garden variety.”

Noel and I were both “garden variety” and similar when it came to our mental illness. If we were feeling low or worried, we didn’t have to explain very much to each other in order to understand. We knew from our own experience what the other person’s experience was like. I was stunned that I was feeling this kind of empathy for someone I had gotten to know mostly over the phone and who had grown up in poverty and in prison and jail, while I had two master’s degrees and had come from an embarrassingly fortunate background—at least in the material sense.

I found myself tempted to take him out for some kind of experience, despite the fact that I hadn’t even yet visited him at the facility for an in-person meeting—which would only have been our fourth in the entire year-plus length of our knowing each other. I also wanted just to see Noel under supervised circumstances, and I knew my husband would not only be uncomfortable with me taking Noel out on my own, but also angry with me for doing so. That Noel might already be reaching a point where he was expecting me, literally and metaphorically, to be the one to bring him into the world was causing me anxiety— and making me fear that I was losing grasp, once again, on the boundaries of the situation.

This article which has been edited for print, is Part IV of a five-part series. The finale will run next issue but you can read all five parts of Doing Time via our website, philadelphiaweekly.com. Doing Time first appeared on Medium as under the headline Doing Time with Noel

by Courtenay Harris Bond.

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THE value OF things

Champion of the Bored & Lonely

♫ Leaping Through the Sky, Like a Tiger ♫

It Wasn’t Just a Phase.

May 30th, 2019

Today I woke up with a powerful hangover as the sun rung it’s dishwater

raglight through the window at the foot of my bed. I rose by degrees and made myself a smoothie. I took two healthy shots of tequila, laced my shoes and left with a pep in my step. I ate a bagel and drank a coffee. I ran a mile, I did 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, then ran another mile. I threw up all over the ground--a victorious throw up. I wrung out my shirt and limped up the stairs to the Secret Admirer office. I lay on a couch and listened to Chapo Trap House. I went to Atlantis: the Lost Bar, drank a few things, then went to see my therapist. I wandered my way back to the office, limped up the stairs, and made a crossword puzzle and a jumble with my business partner and best friend who is also my roommate. That’s what’s on this page. Those things. This is the day I made those things and what it looks like. Hello and how are you?

WELCOME TO THE JUMBLE PLACUAS WOBEL MENTRUS GLAPENSHA NEPHOIDS Why did the skeleton NOT cross the road?

Monkey Club person- He fed chicken bones to a rabbit at Bojangles.

Clark park gal 1- I can tell the color of paint by smelling it. gal 2- No you can’t, it all smells the same. gal 1- Try me.

Memorial Day BBQ (Fergalicious playing) guy- Telling someone that In front of Honest Tom's their suspicion is fictiguy- I mean, do animals cious... is gaslighting. have foreskin?

Compliments, Cwestions, Concerns, Comments?

PhiladelphiaAdmirer@gmail.com @ThePhiladelphiaSecretAdmirer 603 203 4766 secretfamily.com

Circle Thrift guy- Would you place this lampshade in the "country ducks" category?

If you hear something, say something.

Text your Overheards™ to: 603 203 4766

And that is why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit Have a Terrif ic Week !

For solutions to this puzzle and others, visit philadelphiaweekly.com 49. Posts carved into the 30. (A boooooob) left-rights messenger of the Greek gods 31. Seasonal trees 1. Pizza crust 32. The people we’re about to 4. Dark brown edible seaweed 51. Utterances of amazement 54. What fills Lord Manderly’s war with 9. Chronological standard pies 33. World’s most-eaten fruit (abbr) 55. Pre-colombian Peruvians 36. A man that’s a column 12. Glorified wall 56. Early YouTube hit 38. Farm product storage shed 14. Not a human 57. Airport bomb scanner (abbr) 39. Loops of carpet yarn 15. Operatic solo 58. Strunk & White gave of the 40. Something we should have 16. Sol, for instance elements more of 17. Identifying a word’s part 59. Scatter for growing 42. Hurt with dull persistence of speech 43. Horny upper finger 18. About to have a holiday up-downs sheathes 19. The office of a bishop 1. Latin for technique 44. Thomas the Tank Engine’s 21. Fucked up 2. The end of a turn of the smallest pal 22. What defines a triclops? wheel of life 48. Nitrogenous waste 23. Unhealthy romance 3. Towards the sea 49. It belongs to him 27. First time players 4. Anagram of fap 50. Clockwise from 8 Down 28. Yoga pants lemon 5. Authorized land seller (3 52. Will be slayed by Bernie 29. Running out of minutes (2 words) 53. Witnessed words) 6. Freshly-hoisted anchor 31. Little Alex’s largest droog 7. Weasel, mink, or ferret 34. Siren song 8. 180 from WNW 35. Early US political 9. Cereal fruit pamphleteer 36. Bright section on the moon 10. A position of proximity to 11. Sat backwards 37. Don’t eat the brown (abbr) 13. This one doesn’t cost 38. Hickory with unpleasant anything nuts 15. Farewell 40. A condition of comfort 20. The Emerald Isle 41. Sending via USPS 22. The Devil’s favorite hands 42. Father of Italian 23. Including everything (2 architecture (2 words) words) 45. Biblically, the first birth 24. Ethiopian emperor 46. Ornamental mineral 25. Regard with contempt 47. Dinosaur-like bird 26. 1, or 2 48. The least bit

I'm having such a good time!

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PUZZLES

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

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THUR M AY 3 0

LGBTQ

Cünty: A Queer Party

It’s the season of kickoffs.

This party is a sickening preview of all the fun and expression pride month will bring this season. Queer artists and drag kings and queens will be lighting up the dance floor. | 10 pm. $3. The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave.

THE SCENE A WEEK'S WORTH OF ADVENTURES A C R O S S P H I L LY N E I G H B O R H O O D S

Philadelphia Latino Film Festival

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY LGBTQ

Melangerie: An All QPOC Show This show comes around every now and then to showcase the brilliant artists of the QPOC community.

Come out and show your solidarity and support their talents. There will be several local artists performing, including Areola Grande and Deej Nutz. | 9 pm. $10. Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar, 254 S. 12th St.

Art for the Cash Poor Kickoff Party

MUSIC

Duff McKagan

FESTIVAL

Delaware River Waterfront Promenade

Get a taste of the Philly food scene at this annual fundraiser. Spend all your money and feel good about it, because it’s all going to fund arts programs on the Delaware waterfront. That funding goes towards the events at Spruce Harbor Park, the movies in the dark at Penn’s Landing, and more. | 6 pm. $150. Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. facebook.com

facebook.com EVENT

ART

facebook.com

The beer vault is getting cracked open for this one.

Barcade will be showcasing some of its rarest and most unique beers to kick off Philly Beer Week one day early. Get a leg up on all the drinking you’ll have to keep up with all week. | Thursday, 12 pm.

Free. Barcade, 1114 Frankford Ave.

eventbrite.com

facebook.com

McKagan used to slap the bass in Guns & Roses, but now he’s flying solo. Catch him on his U.S. tour now hot off the releases of a few singles. One of his singles, “Last September,” is inspired by the stories he’s heard from the #MeToo movement. | 8 pm. $35. Theatre of the Living Arts, 334 South St.

FOOD & DRINK

Philly Beer Week Kickoff

Celebrate the works of extraordinary Latin filmmakers all weekend long at the only festival in Philadelphia dedicated to doing so. This event is all about collaboration as filmmakers, producers, actors and many others mingle with meet like-minded artists, and discuss their thought process behind some of the most innovative films, both current and what’s to come.

Designed with the mission of showcasing some of the most creative upand-comers and fully established members of Latin films, the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival provides screenings for works across all genres of film.

Come watch and discuss the latest in documentaries, short films and, of course, full-length features.

Created by David Acosta and Beatriz Vieira in 2012, this event has since grown in size, scope and we hope going into its seventh year becomes as much a staple in the melting pot that is Philly as anything else. So come with an open mind a passion of film and of course, money for popcorn.

We’re confident you won’t be disappointed.

WHAT: Philadelphia Latino Film Festival WHEN: May 30-June 2, Times vary. COST: Free WHERE: University of the Arts, 211 South Broad St. MORE: phlaff.org/

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

This is a kickoff for the annual block party type event that benefits local artists.

It’s your chance to catch a preview of the artists that will be at the festival selling their work. Your money will support InLiquid, the art design organization hosting the event, and the Philly AIDS Fund. | 6 pm. $50. Location 215, 990 Spring Garden St. eventbrite.com EVENT

Stroll the Street

This seasonal, rotating event is back to kick off the summer. This one’s Meet Your Neighbor Night.

There will be food specials at certain restaurants and special sales at select stores.

Keep up with this jawn to see what the next event will be. | 5 pm. Prices vary. Locations vary. manayunk.com

Disco Italia

Lean like the tower of Pisa at this Italian blowout. Italian classics will bump all night and Fernet and Peroni will be poured up. There’s a reason why Italians do it better. | 10 pm. Free. The Dolphin Tavern, 1539 S. Broad St. facebook.com

FRI M AY 3 1

MUSIC

Tired Hands Earth Day

on a rooftop t jams spun by When you can what you do, y count on this every Friday. | Warmdaddy’s Christopher C

Weedeater, Pallbearer, Heavy facebook.co Temple and Solace are on the bill for this beer-centric bash. PARTY Pallbearer is set to perform their 2012 EP “Sorrow and Extinction.” We are so ready You’ll have gli lungs after th for this band to lead us to our booze-induced funeral. | know this is g 7:30 pm. $20. Union Transfer,over-the-top, pink, extravag 1026 Spring Garden St. all things girly facebook.com doesn’t look l old girl’s room PARTY the end of the was done wro The Barbary, Ave.

Unicorn

Whiine Down Carribean Fridays

Light up the end of each week this summer. Let loose

facebook.co

CALENDAR

LYWEEKLYPHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY a variety show like no other. | 8 pm. $23. The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St. LEARN

Exotic Dance 101

Allow a professional dominatrix to show you the way around a pole. Get those heels on and learn how to dance like a stripper with confidence. You’ll be making it rain all over you in no time. | Friday, 7 pm. $20. Sexploratorium, 317 South St. eventbrite.com

Work Work Work Work

Work on a rooftop to some tropical jams spun by rotating DJs. When you can’t figure out what you do, you can always count on this jawn happening every Friday. | 8 pm. $10.

Warmdaddy’s, 1400 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. facebook.com PARTY

Unicorn Party

You’ll have glitter in your lungs after this party. You know this is gonna be an over-the-top, bubblegum pink, extravagant display of all things girly and fun. If it doesn’t look like a five-yearold girl’s room on steroids by the end of the night, then it was done wrong. | 10 pm. $5.

The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave. facebook.com

SHOW

Fifty Shades Male Revue

We know you ladies love getting titillated and tantalized by rock solid male strippers. Feel your fantasy at this show and bring your girlfriends. Even if you’re vegetarian, your sausage cravings will be fulfilled tonight. | 8 pm. $25.

Gardendale Social Club, 888 Spring Garden St. eventbrite.com SOCIAL

Black and Boujee: Roots Picnic Edition

A celebration of black excellence to go kick off one of Philly’s biggest events of the summer. It also happens to be the number one party for black professionals.

Come dressed in all black and mingle with great minds that think alike. | 10 pm. $20.

Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut St. blackandboujee.com DISCUSSION

Body Positivity 101 This workshop is focused on “learning to love yourself at any size.” Get ready to redefine what beauty is and learn to love and take care of yourself before anyone.

We’ve seen way worse things on the beach than someone with a bit of a tummy, so please don’t worry about having a “beach bod” this summer - just worry that your head’s in the right place. | 6 pm. $25. Curve Conscious, 2719 W. Girard Ave. eventbrite.com

ticketfly.com

SAT JUNE 1

PARTY

Old School Hip-Hop Party

80s-2000s hip-hop, food and an open bar will keep this party bumping all night.

Come for the appreciation of the music, stay because you can’t stop dancing. It’s sure to be a nostalgic night. | 8 pm. $45. The Deck Philly, 401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. eventbrite.com

DISCUSSION

Common: Author Talk & Signing

The actor/rapper just added another work to his impressive resume with the release of his book, “Let Love Have the Last Word.” It’s already a NY Times Bestseller, just like his memoir from 2011, “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.” Discuss some real shit with him and get his signature. | 1 pm.

Free. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, 5445 Germantown Ave. facebook.com PARTY

Official Roots Picnic After Party

After the all day festival, it’s time to party even more.

You can catch Questlove back here spinning with

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Vikter Duplaix. You don’t wanna be shut out from this - get your ticket and get there early before the club fills up. | 7 pm. $15-$25.

Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut St. eventbrite.com LGBTQ

The Rainbow Connection: A Tribute to The Muppets

Philly queen and Rupaul’s Drag Race alumni Mimi Imfurst is hosting this flamboyant tribute to the creations of Jim Henson.

If this wasn’t at a bar, this would probably be a fun event for kids, but anyone who’s into rainbows, puppets and music will have a great time here. | 8 pm. $15. Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St. eventbrite.com

DISCUSSION

LGBTQ+ Social & Self-Care Discussion

Come out and talk to others in the community about wellness. It’s important that we check in with each other and make sure everything’s alright. Exchange some ideas and maybe learn some tips from others on how to better look after yourself. | 6 pm. Free. Fishtown Wellness Center, 430 Belgrade St. eventbrite.com SHOW

The Big Mess Cabaret

Common: Author Talk & Signing

One of our last chances to tip our hats to the Troc. This two-day performance is the last one that will ever be performed here. Celebrate the history of the theater with

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FESTIVAL

TWIN: A Gemini Festival It’s finally Gemini season time for all the shady bitches to come out. Party like a real twin at this festival packed with artistic talent including musicians, chefs and body painters. If you sin a little too much, get back in line with the spiritual healers that’ll be there. | 4 pm. $15.

Philadelphia Urban Creators, 2315 N. 11th St.

Omar Apollo

This dope jazz/R&B musician blends genres and makes his own rules with his music. He broke free from playing his guitar in church at 12 years old and learned to create something new with his guitar. Catch this show and look out for his debut EP coming out this summer. | 8 pm. $18. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. facebook.com

facebook.com MUSIC

The Low Road

This “acoustic pop quintet” truly started from the bottom in the 90s in Philly.

They went from playing coffee shops to performing on the same stages as Sinead O’Connor, Ben Folds Five and many more. They broke up in ‘97 and have gotten back together to tour several times. You should definitely try to catch them live who knows if they’ll break up again? | 8 pm. $17. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. facebook. com

Fantastic Negrito

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

SUN JUNE 2

Sundae. with Questlove

ART

Celebration of Craft

Here, there’s no division between creators and consumers - we’re all united by the love of crafting. Join a bunch of vendors that will share their creations and indulge in some food, music and family friendly activities.

This event couldn’t be more wholesome. | 1 pm. Free. One Art Community Center, 1431 N. 52nd St. facebook.com FESTIVAL

Philadelphia Irish Festival

If you’ve never heard an Irish band perform live - like Dropkick Murphys - we feel sorry for you. Don’t be afraid though - you can catch an awesome performance, some killer food and some crazy dances that are all authentic Irish. | 12 pm.

Free. Penn’s Landing, 101 S. Columbus Blvd. facebook.com

MUSIC

Sundae. with Questlove

Get a taste for something sweet at this show featuring one of Philly’s finest. This is the opening of the season of shows that everybody could love. Bring your kids, but keep your phones at home - they’re the only ones that aren’t welcome here. | 6 pm. $15. Moshulu, 401 S. Columbus Blvd. residentadvisor.net LGBTQ

Pride Family Festival

We’re here to plug all the inclusive pride events going down this month. This is a day full of engaging activities to get kids excited about pride. There will be crafts, live performances and drag queen story time.| 11 am.

Prices vary. Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic pleasetouchmuseum.org

LEARN

Inside the Eye of American Terror: Art Therapy & Trauma Response Treatment

This is an intensive masterclass of how to use art therapy as a response to trauma. More people are victims of mass devastation than we’d like to think. It’s definitely important to know how to equip people with the right coping skills. | 7:30 am. $100. Geary Auditorium, Drexel University, 245 N. 15th St. eventbrite.com MUSIC

Salut les Copains: ‘60s French Pop

Honestly, we don’t know anything about French pop from any time period, but this seems like the perfect

chance to gain some appreciation for it. Go across the pond and dip back in time as you jam out to this music in its heyday. | 2 pm. Free. The International Bar, 1624 N. Front St. facebook.com FESTIVAL

La Festa Street Festival

“La festa,” you could probably guess, literally translates in English to “the party.” That’s exactly what this outdoor celebration of Italian heritage is destined to be. All the usual street festival fixings will be there, completed by an annual spaghetti eating contest. | 11 am. Free.

Filitalia International, 1834 E. Passyunk Ave. facebook.com MUSIC

Fantastic Negrito

Now this is a guy who truly

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Frenship

Get hooked on this pop band’s infectious beats.

Drawing inspiration from a bunch of different decades and genres, Frenship creates some uplifting songs that connect with all types of people. They just released their album “Vacation” about two weeks ago, which features a collaborative track with Bastille. | Monday, 8:30 pm. $15. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. facebook.com

Parkway Pals This kid-oriented event will be happening Monday-Wednesday every week this summer.

This Monday’s starting out with two events: “Story Art” and “Art in the Park.” Expect some educational, artistic material and activities centered on getting your kids to have fun with making art. | 10:30 am.

Free. Sister Cities Park, 210 N. 18th St. facebook.com MUSIC

Jamila Woods

inspires us with his music.

He went from having a multi-million dollar record deal, to almost losing his life in a tragic car accident. His musical rebirth is evident in “Please Don’t Be Dead,” his latest album from 2018. | 8 pm. $18. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. facebook.com

MON JUNE 3

MUSIC

Brain Clouds

Sims Hardin is the man behind this musical masterpiece. His single from July, “The Melting Stranger,” is an incredible mix of wild west country and fuzz rock.

We can hardly explain it without comparing it to an ayahuasca journey. | 8 pm.

$7. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. ticketfly.com DISCUSSION

LGBTQ State of the Union

It’s time to check in with the current issues in the LGBTQ community. This open discussion gives members of the community a chance to have all their questions answered. On the other hand, leaders of service organizations will lay out their plans for improving issues throughout the year. | 6 pm. Free. The Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St. kimmelcenter.org DISCUSSION

James Patterson: Unsolved

out books faster than a damn assembly line. Well, this event is a discussion around yet another one. Elin Hilderbrand will be leading the event and will also be signing her own books. | 7:30 pm. $32.

Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. freelibrary.org ART

Teen Summer Reading Kickoff: Mini Zines

Get your teens off their asses this summer and sign them up for summer reading. This first event of the season is around creating zines - a book where you basically create your own rules. | 4 pm.

Free. Kingsessing Library, 1201 S. 51st St. facebook.com

This R&B poet has exercised her powerful voice in the music industry. She can be heard on the final tracks of Macklemore’s album “White Privilege II” and Chance the Rapper’s “Coloring Book.” Give her new album “Legacy! Legacy!” a listen and hear what she has to say. | 8 pm. $16. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St.

bounced back better than ever and have been releasing new music - their latest being their EP “Lifelike” from this March. | 8:30 pm. $10. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St. facebook.com

TUES JUNE 4

ART

DISCUSSION

Inquiring Minds: A Conversation About Philly Schools

This is a new event series from the Inquirer that’s all about bringing readers in for face-to-face discussions on revolving topics. This one’s all about the ambitious

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upcoming graduates from Philly’s high schools. Get inspired as they share their general hopes and dreams for their futures. It’s never too late - or early - to get after what you want in life. | 6 pm. Free. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 801 Market St. pmnevents.philly.com

DIY Succulent Workshop & Drag Show

What else are you basic bitches doing on a Tuesday?

Make and take a cute little succulent and watch some fierce performances, all while learning about proper plant care. Seems like a wellrounded, educational event. | 7 pm. $30. Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front St. eventbrite.com

facebook.com MUSIC

FACS

This modern art rock band is blowing in from the Windy City to tear up the stage.

They formed in 2017 with the remaining members of the broken-up band Disappears - pretty ironic name.

They’ve

Jamila Woods

We all know this guy turns

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MUSIC

Geographer

This solo act is on the “Leaving the Garden State” tour, and he has a new album from March called “New Jersey.” So, yeah, we can only guess that he’s from there. Although he’s based in San Francisco now, he still makes some sick synth/ indie pop like he always has since 2007. | Tuesday, 7:30 pm. $13. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St. etix.com

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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Melanie Fiona

Fiona is an R&B singer with melodies that make everything in the world seem alright. She’s here to sit you down and have a good “song-versation” with you through her soulful stories in her lyrics. Get hyped for her third studio album, which is bound to be released soon. | 8 pm. $45. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. facebook.com MUSIC

Philly Eid in the Park

The month-long fast for the Islamic holiday Ramadan comes to an end at this all-out celebration. Join the Muslim community for a unified prayer session and some family friendly festivities. Don’t worry - food will be served. | 8:30 am.

Free. Cricket Field, 4231 Avenue of the Republic facebook.com MUSIC

Xavier Wulf

This Memphis-native trap rapper made a name for himself in the underground music scene. He was part of the “SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ” collective, but he’s released lots of impressive music on his own. | 8 pm. $25. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. facebook.com MUSIC

House Plant

All you need to keep a plant alive is water and some love. The same kind of applies for supporting this band at their show. In fact, they’re not really a band, but an “experience.” A funky,

psychedelic one at that. | 8 pm. $7. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. facebook.com SHOW

Rents Due

An open mic night with no written rules. You better have paid your rent by now, or else you’re just pushing it. If you like to push the limits anyway, though, sign up for this, get on stage and blow the crowd away with whatever talent you have. | 8 pm. $10. Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St. facebook.com

WED JUNE 5

FUNDRAISER

Philly Fights Cancer Charity Workout Fists will fly against cancer at this benefit workout in one of Philly’s newest boxing gyms. Philly Fights Cancer raises funds for and brings awareness to the Penn Abramson Cancer Center’s research and efforts. Show your support and help to clock cancer right in the face. | 7:30 pm. Prices vary.

Rumble Boxing, 1520 Walnut St. upenn.edu COMEDY

Time Bandits: On the Run

Join some elders every Wednesday in June for a night of mature improv comedy. By “mature,” we mean comedy for old people.

Get ready for some cultural references on stuff that probably happened before

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most of you were born. You might not always get what they’re talking about, but I’m sure they’re so senile that they don’t, either. | 7:30 pm. $5. Philly Improv Theater, 2030 Sansom St. eventbrite.com PARTY

Kickoff Summer Dance Party with The Sensational Soul Cruisers One hand on the crab fries, the other in the air. Jam with this smooth-singing group that always throws it back with classic R&B and soul. | 7:30 pm. Free. Chickie’s & Pete’s, 1526 Packer Ave. facebook.com FUNDRAISER

Love Above Bars Bash

The Prison Society has been working at providing humane conditions for prisoners for over 230 years - it can’t be easy to keep going. Give them a hand for all their hard work at this annual celebration. People may do shitty things, but it doesn’t make them any less human. | 6 pm. Prices vary. Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave. eventbrite.com MUSIC

Whiskeyhickon Boys

Get ready to jam all night with a funky ass band. All we know is that these guys are, obviously, from Philly, have known each other for a long time and are pretty wild. | 8 pm. $10. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St.

Melanie Fiona

facebook.com

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Live at Lunch

You may have to work your summer away, but at least your lunch hour won’t always be boring. A new jazz performer will be in the park every Wednesday and Thursday to freshen up your work day. First up is Shayne Frederick - a Philly multi-hyphenate who has performed on many major stages in the city. | 12 pm.

Free. Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St. facebook.com FUNDRAISER MUSIC

Falsifier

Have you been craving some Canadian heavy metal? Good, we have to. You’re in for an uplifting time with these guys who play intense riffs and believe the end of humanity is coming soon. | Wednesday, 6 pm. $12. Voltage Lounge, 421 N. 7th St. facebook.com

C14 Foundation Charity Gala

This is basically the Philly version of the MET Gala.

“Gladiators & Goddesses” is this year’s category on the carpet - we’re not sure

if there will be a carpet, but you get it. Forget the fashion, though - the real focus of this night is all the money and support that will be raised for this organization that focuses on sustainably helping the poor with basic human needs. | 9 pm. $127.50. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. facebook.com

THUR JUNE 6

PARTY

House Fire

There’s enough going on here to keep this shit burning all night. Light it up with some hip-hop, house and club music being spun by DJs Alice Xtra and Atcheli. | 10 pm. Free. The Dolphin Tavern, 1539 S. Broad St.

Be Gay, Throw Axes: Pride Party

Naturally, what else is there to do when you’re gay?

Benefit the William Way LGBTQ Center by coming out and playing in an axe throwing competition. Don’t think it’s so casual, though - there will be a costume contest, so you kind of have to dress up. | 5 pm. $40.

Bury the Hatchet, 1719 Washington Ave. facebook.com LGBTQ

Celebrate the official start of pride season by raising the rainbow flag atop the skyline. Walk on over to LOVE Park afterward for a celebration to kick off the month of festivities across the city. | Thursday5 pm. Free. City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd. facebook.com

MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

facebook.com FUNDRAISER

Shades: A Celebration of Black, Queer Identities & Expression

“Slay in all your shades” at this party to honor the beauty of being black.

Before the turn up, join in a conversation on gender and reproductive justice. It’s all in support of New Voices for Reproductive Justice - a local non-profit. | 6 pm. $15-$25.

SOMO SoPHI, 3101 S. 13th St. eventbrite.com

facebook.com PARTY

Pride Flag Raising & Pride in the Park

tricycle. Get the fastest time and get gratified with a trophy and some bragging rights. | 6 pm. Free. City Tap, 3925 Walnut St.

EVENT

West Philly Tricycle Championship It’s the second year of this intense competition. Get fucked up and try to figure out how to even fit on a

SOCIAL

The City Social on the Pier This is a sustainable, zero waste event for young professionals eager to make connections. Get free headshots and free resume and LinkedIn profile advice.

There’s lots that you could probably learn from Google, but getting ahead in the professional world means getting people to know your name. Show your face for some future success. | 6 pm.

Free. Cherry Street Pier, 121 N. Columbus Blvd. eventbrite.com

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

CALENDAR

37

MUSIC

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

We can’t believe we’re saying it, but this is the band’s last ever performance in Philly. Funk legend Clinton will be retiring from touring this year. Groove together for one last time and be sure to give them a proper sendoff. |Thursday, 8 pm. $72.50. Franklin Music Hall, 421 N. 7th St. facebook.com

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019

38

THE

BIG

PICTURE

Saturday in the Park It wasn't the Fourth of July (or Memorial Day) for that matter but this recent pic on a perfect day of a stroll through Jefferson Square Park has us all excited. We are back to warmer temperatures here in Philly and there will be many, many more days like this over the next couple of months. Kudos to Philly based photographer Marisa Fischetti for capturing this. Did you snap an image you want to have considered for Big Pic? Send it via mail@philadelphiaweekly.com or tag us on social using the hashtag #PWBigPic.

SAVAGE LOVE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Burning questions

Savage Love Live swooped into Seattle’s Egyptian Theater and Denver’s Oriental Theater over the last two weekends. I couldn’t get to everyone’s questions at these sold-out shows—there were so many great questions and I’m just one lousy advice columnist—so I’m going to power through as many as I can in this week’s column.

Q: Weddings are terrible. I attended “Dueling Dallas Lesbian Weddings,” and both couples are pressuring me to tell them whose wedding was better (or better in the eyes of social media). Am I obligated to “rat” these couples out to each other?

Weddings aren’t terrible, people are—some of them, not all of them. But you certainly aren’t obligated to “rat” these couples out to each other. You aren’t even obligated to speak to any of these terrible people again.

SWEET BOX

much, I feel like I’m the one being cheated on!

You get the D. Let your boyfriend have the DMs. Q: We are married 10 years, monogamish, pansexual. My friends are opening up their relationship and so are we. Any good reason I shouldn’t have sex with my friends?

Only the most obvious one: If someone gets hurt, these friendships could end. But friendships end all the time without anyone getting off, so…

DAN SAVAGE

Q: I’m 31; he’s 44. I know how you feel about splitting the rent in proportion to income, but my higher-earning boyfriend points out that I’ve opted for more leisure time and less stress with my lower-paying job.

How should we split the rent?

REACH OUT TO US. Carry PW’s at your spot. drops@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Someone making two or three times as much money as their partner should be willing to pay more of the rent. Splitting the rent 50/50 wouldn’t be fair, particularly if the higher earner wants a larger and/or nicer space because then the partner making more money is effectively having their lifestyle subsidized by the one making less. But if someone chooses to make less money because they want more leisure time, they shouldn’t expect to have that choice underwritten by a partner making more money. I don’t think they should pay half the rent—but a higher percentage of their income should go toward the rent.

@FAKEDANSAVAGE

Q: What is the best relationship advice you’ve ever received?

Cup the balls.

Q: I’ve been talking to a guy for four months, and we still haven’t met in person.

He’s recently divorced, and I find it odd that he is all into me with sexting, etc., but doesn’t want to meet. What do I do?

Stop wasting your time.

Q: I have always loved anal sex with my partner of more than a decade. He loves it, too.

We’ve noticed a trend over the years where he gets melancholy after we have anal sex. He doesn’t know why. Do you have any ideas or theories about why?

Nope.

I’m a woman and I’ve been in a relationship for two years. My partner is not able to make me orgasm. He is my first love. HELP. If you can make yourself come, show your partner how you do it. If you can’t make yourself come—if you’re one of those people who have never masturbated—start masturbating, learn how to make yourself come, and then show him how you do it.

Q: My boyfriend is a cuckold and very into the humiliation aspect of cuckolding. I’ve been hooking up with one guy who is so into humiliating my boyfriend that it’s kind of freaking me out. They message each other so

Q: How can I nicely convince my girlfriend to have anal sex?

By using your words—your best noncoercive, non-threatening, willing-to-take-nofor-an-answer words. And it will help if you tell her you’re willing to take it slow and willing to take turns.

Q: My boyfriend of 1.5 years doesn’t feel it is “appropriate” to tell me he is in love with me. I want so bad to have our “I love you” moment.

What should I do?

Say it to him—and if he doesn’t hit you with an “I love you, too,” then either he’s not in love with you or he’s in love with you and knows how badly you want to hear him say “I love you” but he won’t say it because he likes to torture you.

THERE’S ALWAYS MORE SAVAGE TO LOVE! Read: PhillyWeekly.com Have a question?: mail@savagelove.net

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6 2019

40

MARKETPLACE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

MARKETPLACE EMPLOYMENT

Real Estate Wanted

General Employment

Non-CDL Drivers

Wanted

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Immediate Positons Available / Paid Training / Benefit package Match of salary with experience!

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AB BLOOD DONORS NEEDED Will be compensated up to $85.00 for a complete donation, starting on their 2nd visit!!

In order to donate you need: Valid picture ID. SSI card Be between 18 & 70 yrs. old.

Be in good health. Walk-ins are welcome. New donors will be paid $50.00 for a full donation.

INTERSTATE BLOOD BANK 1250 N. BROAD STREET. PHILA PA. 19121 215-765-2554

BLOOD DONORS All donors paid $40.00 No appointment necessary.

Walk-ins welcome. Must be healthy and have proper I.D. Must provide Social Security card.Interstate Blood Bank 1250-52 N Broad St. Phila PA 19121 215-765-2554 Hrs. 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM NEW DONORS BRING THIS AD IN FOR A $10.00 BONUS

DRIVERS AllThree's Luxury Sedan & Taxicab looking for professional drivers. High income.

Set your own hrs. Please call M-F. 10a-4p. 215-333-1111

DRIVERS/ LIMO - F/T Must be 27yrs. old & lic'd.

Dave's Limousine, 5915 Harbison Ave.

GENERAL AND TREATMENT FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED Open your heart and home to children of all ages New Foundations, Inc. 215-203-8733 www.nfi4kids.org

PAID RESEARCH SUBJECT SPACE MISSION SIMULATION 8 day study of resilience at U. of PA. Must be healthy, about 30-55 yr. old with STEM educ.

MS or BS+ equiv. exp or military exp. Compensated time & travel.

Call 215-573-5855

PAID RESEARCH SUBJECT SLEEP QUALITY STUDY 7-day study of cognitive performance at Univ. of Penn. Must be healthy, approx. 30-55 yrs. old, pref. with STEM educ. or military exp.

Compensated time & travel CALL 215-573-5855 FLAGGERS ($12.50/hr) Traffic Plan seeks Flaggers to set up and direct traffic around construction sites. A valid PA driver license and clean driving record a must, good pay and benefits. If interested please fill out an application at 510 Hertzog Blvd, King of Prussia, PA on Monday’s 10am - 2pm or online at trafficplan.com.

FOR RENT Apartments for Rent

8500 BUSTLETON AVE. Corner of Evart St. Spring Special 1BR, $850, 2BR, $1,000 water & gas incld.

215-742-2261 Grant Garden Apartments Spring Special, 1 & 2 BR, 1 BA. $775 - $980 includes water. Laundry room on site.

Off of Blvd. 215-464-6411

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Mortgage Note for Sale Balance $75,000. $10k Discount, 9% return. PR. value $175,000. Mount Airy. Call John 215-740-4629.

NOTICES MISSING

PROPS TO OUR PARTNERS PW loves to work with great brands across Philly. Want to hook up? Drop us a line at drops@philadelphiaweekly.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT Windows

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215-465-7525 NOTICES Legal Notices Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, April Term 2019. No. 001521. Notice is hereby given that on April 18, 2019 the petition of MALCOLM ROBERT ROSS was filed, praying for a decree to change his name to Malcolm Robert Ross. The Court has fixed June 11, 2019 at 12:00 o’clock P.M., in Room No. 691 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA for hearing. All persons interested may appear and show cause if any they have, why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted.

FOR RENT Apartments for Rent 25XX S. Broad St. Newly renovated 2 br, 1 ba apt. 2nd fl. Brand new kit., h/w floors, and new appliances. Located minutes from subway, bus and major highways. Walking distance to stadiums, Passyunk Ave. and shopping. $1625 mo., tenant pays gas & elec. First, last & 1 mo. sec. dep. to move in.

Email: nbtab@aol.com

RECENT BREAK UP? PW Classifieds is a great place to sell your ex’s stuff.

Contact: classifieds@philadelphiaweekly.com

REAL ESTATE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY AWARD WINNING GARDEN

117 LOMBARD ST, SOCIETY HILL $1,150,000

Kathy, Patrick and the

90% OF OUR BUSINESS COMES FROM FRIENDS TELLING FRIENDS.

Conway Team Patrick Conway 215-266-1537 Kathy Conway 215-850-3842 Society Hill Office • 215.627.6005 Please visit us online at www.conwayteam.com

This magnificent Society Hill home is in pristine move-in condition. 2800 sq. ft. (20 x 80).

Four bedrooms + an office. Three and a half beautiful spa baths.

Hardwood floors. Fireplace.

Details. Character. Light. Drama and space. A perfect two-story chef’s kitchen. A formal dining room.

Graceful staircase. And a full room butler’s pantry. Unbelievable storage and to-die-for closet space ( a full separate closet/dressing room).

Now to the award-winning garden - planned and designed by a horticultural architect. Rivals any garden in the city featuring a famous water fountain, a sculpture of Naiad (featured in the Philadelphia Flower Show). The garden setting also allows space for wonderful dinner parties or just an intimate candle-lit dining al fresco. Parking is at the garage at corner of the block. Society Hill is the best neighborhood.

Everything is in walking distance to your needs and wants.

41

OPEN SAT 6/1 & SUN 6/2 12 TO 2:30

712 S 2ND ST, QUEEN VILLAGE $759,900 A bright, dramatic and spacious contemporary home found within the sought-after Meredith Catchment with deeded one-car parking within a gated community.

This three bedroom, two and a half bathroom home boasts gorgeous hardwood floors throughtout, fireplace, back patio, private deck, new roof installed with 25year manufacturer warranty, new washer/dryer, new HVAC and tankless hot water heater under warranty and service plans. All this and located in the heart of Queen Village on one of the beautiful tree-lined blocks! This movein ready home is conveniently located just footsteps away from the soone-to-open Giant Heirloom Market, Headhouse Farmer’s Market, Shot Tower Playground, Starr Playground, The Waterfront, Spruce Harbor Park, movies and plenty of exceptional restaurants.

This is a super home in a super neighborhood.

What they are saying: Kathy & Pat did an excellent job finding tenants for us in our Queen Village home. Even after the rental agreements were signed and the tenants moved in, they maintained close contact with me, even though I live overseas. They also helped deal with surveys and real estate tax issues, which goes above and beyond the call of duty. ~ Helen Hwang

Anne E. Koons

ACCREDITED LUXURY HOME SPECIALIST Licensed in NJ & PA

The #1 Agent of the Cherry Hill Home Marketing Center 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012 NJAR Circle of Excellence PLATINUM Award 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012,GOLD 2014, 2013

Direct 856-795-4709 office 856-428-8000 ext. 142

Merchantville Beautiful 3 Story Grand Victorian has 8 Bedrooms, 3.5 f baths located in the heart of town. The first floor has 12 ft ceilings, formal living room w/fireplace, parlor, dining rm, family rm & kitchen, crown molding, hardwood floors, gorgeous wood staircase and banisters with a cover front porch .This home has an updated heating system, full unfinished basement, a 2 car detached garage on almost an acre of property. Property is being sold in as is condition. $305,000.

Cherry Hill/Europa Wonderfully maintained 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garage home with a full finished walk-out basement that has two extra rooms, full bath, family room, bonus room that is located in a quiet neighborhood. The home has beautiful hardwood floors throughout the foyer, dining room, kitchen and Living room. $399,900.

Marlton/Mayfair At Evesham Beautiful, well maintained 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage w/finished basement located in a great neighborhood. The Kitchen has hardwood floors, granite counter-tops, newer stainless steal appliances & patio doors to large stamped concrete patio. The master bedroom suite has been freshly painted with a large WIC. This home is a must see & In Move In Condition. $418,000.

Moorestown An amazing, truly unique 4 bedroom, 5 ½ bath home with gourmet kitchen, full finished walk out basement, 2 car garage w/home theater on 2nd level, a tennisbasketball court, built-in pool w/slide, hot-tub & waterfalls and a covered outdoor kitchen & bar which is nestled on a resort like professionally landscaped 2 acre property. $1,449,900

Cherry Hill/ Wilderness Run Beautifully updated 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3 car garage home that flows seamlessly from one room to the next, it's elegant, bright and spacious. Designer kitchen, with professional appliances. The master bedroom suite has a wonder-fully updated bath w/a free standing tub, glass enclosed shower w/decorative tiles, floating double vanities with marble tops and make up area, there are 3 walk in closets and patio doors to a private balcony. $670,000.

Moorestown/Miller Court Beautiful custom home on a private cul-de-sac with over 8,800 Sq. Ft of living space & a 3 car garage. This gorgeous new construction has a walkout basement, 10 ft ceilings on both floors, elevator, 2 staircases and a large gourmet kitchen. There are 5 bedrooms 5.5 baths, 1st floor office and 2nd floor playroom, 2 story family Rm, extensive trim and molding work throughout.$2,495,000

Cherry Hill/ Short Hills 4 Bedroom ,3.5 Bath with finished basement, master bedroom suite with sitting room, first floor office, 2 car garage situated on a cult-de-sac located in the desirable neighborhood of Short Hills. Hardwood floors can be found in the foyer and flow through the living rm, dining rm and kitchen. The family room has over sized windows, gas fireplace. The home is freshly painted w/newer carpet and an open floor plan $559,900.

MOORESTOWN Magnificent estate on 7 acres w/ pond. 6BR, 6 bath home w/3 car heated garage.

Atrium, indoor pool/spa & 10 person Jacuzzi, blue stone & brick patio overlooking the backyard w/ water-falls & ponds. Newer Cedar Shake roof, AC & barn w/ kitchenette $1,395,000

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO STEVEN, NICOLE & JOSH………...

Now more than ever, EXPERIENCE counts, that is why you need to call our AUNT ANNE, because she has the

EXPERIENCE, COMMITMENT, PASSION & KNOWLEDGE to help you in selling or buying a home.

CALL OUR AUNT ANNE TODAY FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS 856 -795-4709

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

42

REAL ESTATE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY New Price - Kensington

New Price - Grays Ferry

Nestled in the quaint back nook of this Waterloo Street block stands the deep rosy-red painted brick facade of this 2 BR, 1.5 BA home. The high functioning kitchen space shines with LED lighting, stainless steel appliances, an expansive granite center island, and lots of storage space. Enjoy gardening in raised beds in the private back patio framed by custom built wooden fencing and more of that lovely red brick!

Welcome to this beautiful renovation! The main floor features a living room with recessed lighting, hardwood flooring, and a new updated kitchen with granite countertops, new cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. Freshly painted throughout. Full basement with plenty of extra storage space.

The backyard is great for outdoor entertaining. 3 BR | 1.5 BA

$210,000

$230,000

New Price - Fishtown

New Listing - Brewerytown

Welcome yourself home and find an open concept floor plan including a comfortable and expansive living area, formal dining area, chef’s kitchen with induction stove and radiant heat floor, and then laundry and powder room before the giant outdoor living area. There are 5 years left on the tax abatement. 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths

Light pours into the home through a central skylight and ample windows throughout. Thoughtfully designed with high-end finishes and great attention to detail.

Situated on a 70-foot deep lot, with a large backyard, this spacious home has 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths.

The spectacular roof deck is a great place to entertain.

New Price - Washington Square

Back on the Market - Society Hill

Bright and airy 1 bed, 1 bath south-facing condo, just blocks from Washington Square. Enjoy beautiful views, 10 ft ceilings and tall windows. Hardwood floors, a renovated kitchen with gas cooking and an updated bathroom. Great location in a doorman building and parking on-site available for additional fee.

Occupying more than 3,000 square feet of luxurious living space in a boutique building on the edge of Society Hill and Old City, this corner bi-level unit is a rare find. It comes with one car deeded on-site parking, 3 spacious bedrooms plus den and 3.5 baths. You’ll feel right at home the moment you enter the impressive two story foyer with grand staircase.

$320,000

$429,900

$385,000

$895,000

Anne E. Koons The #1 Agent of the Cherry Hill Home Marketing Center 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012 NJAR Circle of Excellence PLATINUM Award 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012,GOLD 2014, 2013 Direct 856-795-4709 office 856-428-8000 ext. 142 Website: www.annekoonsrealestate.com Akoonsbhhs@gmail.com

MAIN LINE SUBURBS

CENTER CITY PHILA.

ACCREDITED LUXURY HOME SPECIALIST Licensed in NJ & PA

WILLIAM PENN HOUSE 1919 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia Unit #1820 2 BED | 1 BATH | 1,134 SQ FT | $549,000 Unit #923/924 3 BED | 2 BATH | 1,581 SQ FT | $539,000 Unit #2920 2 BED | 1 BATH | 1,134 SQ FT | $415,000

717 CONSHOHOCKEN STATE ROAD, PENN VALLEY

1814 LUDLOW STREET, PHILADELPHIA

Unit #1310 1 BED | 1 BATH | 825 SQ FT | $320,000

6 BED, 6.1 BATH | 6,508 SQ FT | $1,950,000

INVESTMENT | 3,150 SQ FT | $1,395,000

Unit #2022 | 1 BED | 1 BATH | 867 SQ FT | $310,000

MAIN LINE SUBURBS NEW LISTINGS

1124 Youngsford Rd, Gladwyne 5 BED | 4.3 BATH | 6,144 SQ FT | $1,449,000

1655 Oakwood Drive, Unit#N103, Penn Valley Unit #510 1 BED | 1 BATH | 825 SQ FT | $310,000 1 BED | 1 BATH | 858 SQ FT | $145,000

533 N. Spring Mill Road, Villanova

1030 E Lancaster Avenue, Unit #304, Bryn Mawr

5 BED | 4.1 BATH | 4,716 SQ FT | $1,375,000

1 BED | 1 BATH | 700 SQ FT | $128,000

1305 WOODBINE AVE, PENN VALLEY

1351 Bobarn Drive, Penn Valley

2000 Valley Forge Cir, Unit#36, King of Prussia

5 BED | 2.2 BATH | 2,502 SQ FT | $449,000

5 BED | 4.1 BATH | 6,647 SQ FT | $1,149,000

STORAGE UNIT | $12,000

39 Aberdale Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 7 BED | 3.2 BATH | 2,818 SQ FT | $785,000

7106 LLANFAIR ROAD, UPPER DARBY 5 BED | 2.2 BATH | 2,840 SQ FT | $229,900

1305 SUMMER HILL LANE, GLADWYNE LOT | 0.5 ACRES | $150,000

34 Sandringham Rd, Bala Cynwyd 5 BED | 5.3 BATH | 5,217 SQ FT | $1,095,000

106 Airdale Road, Bryn Mawr 8 BED | 4.1 BATH | 6,200 SQ FT | $995,000

JUST REDUCED

1417 Centennial Rd, Penn Valley

1310 Pine Road, Bryn Mawr

5 BED | 3.1 BATH | 4,371 SQ FT | $899,000

5 BED | 3.1 BATH | 3,655 SQ FT | $975,000

239 Trianon Ln, Villanova

517 Righters Mill Road, Penn Valley

4 BED | 3.1 BATH | 3,443 SQ FT | $839,000

4 BED | 2.1 BATH | 3,818 SQ FT | $949,000

200 PRICE AVE, UNIT#4, NARBETH

1205 Chermar Ln, Penn Valley 5 BED | 4.1 BATH | 3,356 SQ FT | $799,000

207 Lindy Ln, Bala Cynwyd

3 BED | 3.1 BATH | 3,038 SQ FT | $799,000 4 BED | 3.1 BATH | 3,422 SQ FT | $775,000

LISTINGS

CONDO LIVING

1211 Mirabeau Ln, Gladwyne

190 Presidential Blvd, #415, Bala Cynwyd

6 BED | 8.3 BATH | 15,317 SQ FT | $3,950,000

2 BED | 2.1 BATH | 1,970 SQ FT | $639,000

1320 Monk Rd, Gladwyne

200 W. Elm Street, #1420, Conshohocken

6 BED | 8.2 BATH | 9,923 SQ FT | $3,850,000

2 BED | 2 BATH | 1,318 SQ FT | $325,000

1309 Summer Hill Lane, Gladwyne

1750 Oakwood Ter, Unit#1A, Penn Valley

4 BED | 4.3 BATH | 6,465 SQ FT | $2,990,000

2 BED | 2 BATH | 1,299 SQ FT | $227,000

MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

THE KENNEDY HOUSE Unit #2521/2 3 BED | 3 BATH | 1,906 SQ FT | $950,000

NEW LISTINGS

Unit 2006 2 BED | 2 BATH | 1,171 SQ FT | $485,000

3419 Sunnyside Ave, Philadelphia Unit #1213 1 BED | 1 BATH | 872 SQ FT | $289,000 3 BED | 1.1 BATH | 1,380 SQ FT | $279,900

JUST REDUCED 710 Lombard Street, Philadelphia 2 BED | 2.1 BATH | 1890 SQ FT | $919,990

Unit#1819 1 BED | 1 BATH | 606 SQ FT | $249,000 Unit#1919 1 BED | 1 BATH | 606 SQ FT | $219,000 Unit #1512 STUDIO | 1 BATH | 475 SQ FT | $200,000

809 Latona Street, Philadelphia

Unit#2911 STUDIO | 1 BATH | 522 SQ FT | $184,900

3 BED | 1 BATH | 1,288 SQ FT | $339,000

Unit#2816 STUDIO | 1 BATH | 517 SQ FT | $169,000 Unit#710 STUDIO | 1 BATH | 475 SQ FT | $150,000

LISTINGS 5860 Woodbine Ave, Philadelphia 6 BED | 4.1 BATH | 3,725 SQ FT | $689,000

2401 Pennsylvania Ave, #17B28, Philadelphia 1 BED | 1 BATH | 1,258 SQ FT | $299,000

KINGSLEY COURT Philadelphia 500 Kingsley Court 3 BED | 2 BATH | 2,000 SQ FT | $487,000 502 Kingsley Court 3 BED | 3.1 BATH | 2,000 SQ FT | $485,000

410 Shurs Ln, #A308, Philadelphia 504 Kingsley Court 4 BED | 3.1 BATH | 2,000 SQ FT | $480,000 1 BED | 1.1 BATH | 1,260 SQ FT | $279,000

Voorhees/ Sturbridge Estates Expanded Danbury model w/ 4bd, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage located on 1/2 acre on wooded splendor. 1st floor office, sunroom, newer roof, newer HVAC, newer Mstr bath, newer appliances & a full unfinished basement .Hardwood floors thru out first floor & newer carpet upstairs. $744,900

1901 JFK Blvd, Philadelphia

CENTER CITY

1315 Bobarn Drive, Penn Valley

3 BED | 4.1 BATH | 4,217 SQ FT | $599,900

UNIT# 1421 1 BED | 1 BATH | 837 SQ FT | $310,000

Cherry Hill/Villagio Stunning 3 Bedroom, 3 bath, 1st floor Master Bedroom Suite, large eat in Kitchen with a 2-car garage located in the quiet 55+ community of Villagio. This home has HW floors, office, formal living and dining rm, family rm and has been meticulously maintained. $549,900

506 Kingsley Court 4 BED | 3.1 BATH | 2,000 SQ FT | $480,000

PW REAL ESTATE To advertise in this section contact Dan Tangi 215-543-3743 ext. 111 or dtangi@philadelphiaweekly.com

REAL ESTATE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MAY 30 - JUNE 6, 2019

Spring is for new beginnings.

And now, an awesome deal.

It’s time for a refresh. Why not start by upping your family’s Internet and entertainment game? With the fastest, most reliable Internet powered by Xfinity xFi, everyone can get stellar service in any room of the house. Plus, you can go from live TV to On Demand, or even to your favorite streaming apps, just by speaking into your X1 Voice Remote. Don’t miss the Xfinity Spring Sale! It’s out with the old and in with the simple, easy, awesome.

Ask about Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube in To schedule a two-hour appointment window, go to xfinity.com, call 1-800-xfinity, or visit an Xfinity Store today.

Get Started with Internet TV Voice

$

79

99

/ month

for 2 years with 2-year agreement

Choice of DVR service or upgrade to up to 250 Mbps download speed FREE for 1 year

America’s Best Internet Provider

Equipment, taxes and other charges extra and subj. to change. See details below.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to the Standard Triple Play with Performance Pro 150 Mbps Internet and Voice Unlimited services. Early termination fee applies if all Xfinity services are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including regulatory recovery fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $10.00/mo.), Regional Sports Fee (up to $8.25/mo.), and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after agreement term or DVR promo. After term agreement and DVR or Blast! promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for DVR service is $10.00 more/mo. and for Blast! Internet is $20/mo. (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Access to Netflix and Prime Video on Xfinity X1 requires an eligible set-top box with Xfinity TV and Internet service. Netflix and Prime Video streaming memberships required. Netflix and Prime Video use your Internet service and will count against any Xfinity data plan. Internet: Best Internet service provider claim based on download speeds measured by over 111 million tests taken by consumers at Speedtest.net. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Voice: If there is a power outage or network issue, calling, including calls to 911 may be unavailable. © 2019 Comcast.

All rights reserved. The CN Cartoon Network logo is a trademark of The Cartoon Network, Inc. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved. NPA223170-0002 FRE-Spring Sale-PhillyWeekly-Q2-19

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