The doors to the iconic Divine Lorraine Hotel were opened on Wednesday, May 11 for the second iteration of a pop-up shop featuring clothing and housewares from Najeeb Sheikh’s Divine Lorraine Hotel Collection. This marks the first time the building has been open to the public since the first pop-up shop, which took place September 2015.

/Patrick Clark

Given the reputation of the building and the buzz over Sheikh’s clothing line, crowds began lining up hours before the doors opened at 3:30PM. By 5PM, hundreds of people were allowed into the event. Once inside, curious patrons were able to shop, take photos, and enjoy art installations from 7 local artists.

/Patrick Clark

EB Realty Management, a private development firm for the Divine Lorraine, also had a table set up in the lobby to talk to patrons about the possibility of leasing apartments in the building. Regional Property Manager Ed Casella explained, “For us (EBRM) it’s almost like a love story. We absolutely fell in love with the building and we’re very excited to have samples of all our finishes here.”

/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

Once complete, the Divine Lorraine will feature 101 apartments. According to Casella, leases have been signed for two apartments. Leasing prices start at $1,325 and two-bedrooms start at $2,540. As a special incentive, attendees who expressed interest in signing leases with EBRM were given tours of the apartments during the event.

“Of course there’s a real history here and an allure to this building. It has a cult following that is unmatched in this city.” Casella said of the Divine Lorraine. The “cult following” was extremely apparent, with dozens of photographers stepping over each other to get the right shot of a broken tile or cracked column.

/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

The Divine Lorraine Hotel has come to be known as a rite of passage of sorts in the world of urban exploration in Philadelphia. For years it has been one of the most sought after locations for photographers seeking abandoned aesthetics. Jack O’Connor and Abbey Nesbitt attended the pop-up shop for a chance to catch a glimpse.

“I figured this was a great chance to come out. I knew this was a popular urban exploration site,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor and Nesbitt were made aware of the event through the snapchat of Conrad Benner, a local photographer who runs Streets Dept, a prominent photo blog that documents street art and urban exploration in Philadelphia. Benner has covered the Divine Lorraine on his blog in the past. With the extra publicity provided by Streets Dept and other local bloggers, the event proved effective at drawing in the underground art scene. “It’s a cool way of highlighting street art, graffiti, urban exploration in a legal way that also gives exposure to Philly based artists,” O’Connor said.

/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

The post PHOTOS: Pop-up Shop, Art Installations Last Week at the Divine Lorraine appeared first on Spirit News.

Next to Kensington Methodist Church at the corner of Marlborough and Richmond Streets, a green Chevrolet truck sits with its right passenger window smashed into tiny pieces, glass sprinkled on the front seat and ground like confetti. This is a remnant of about 13 to 14 vehicle vandalisms that occurred in Fishtown on the weekend of April 12, mostly under the Columbia Avenue and Marlborough Street overpasses. But at the core, there lies a question of not only why these vandalisms occur, but a disparity between experiencing crime and reporting it — and the struggle to understand why.

A 16-year resident of Fishtown, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said vehicle vandalisms have escalated in the last three years. “In the last incident, nobody had anything stolen;  it was just malicious vandalism,” she said of the April 12 episode. Spirit News previously reported that some vehicles had their windows smashed, glove compartments and consoles visibly tampered with, and there was even blood found inside some of the vehicles.

Green Truck with Window Broken Next to Kensington Methodist Church/Paulina Malek

Elizabeth Rogers, a Fishtown resident who shared her experience through EveryBlock, a website that posts neighborhood news and discussions, said she’s lived in the area for three years during which time her vehicle has been stolen twice, and the windows smashed three times.

Perpetrators of these crimes often check for unlocked car doors or GPS mounts on the windshield hoping to make quick cash, according to John Massi, a 26th district lieutenant who characterizes these acts as “desperation-type crimes.” He suggests these crimes could be fueled by Philadelphia’s heroin crisis, in which a bag of the drug could sell for as cheap as 5 to 7 dollars. The City, along with others, remains one of the largest and most profitable heroin markets, according to The 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. The availability and low cost of heroin adds the proverbial fuel to the fire.

But there seems to be a gap between experiencing and reporting crime in Fishtown. According to the 2016 Fishtown Crime and Safety Survey, as of mid-March, 33 percent of respondents stated they’ve been a victim of an automobile crime in the last 12 months, but only 47 percent of victims reported the crime to police. The survey further specified that incidents that are deemed insignificant can prevent reporting crime. The point is to move residents away from simply discussing crimes on social media and in community meetings, and towards reporting them.

Broken Car Mirror Under Columbia Ave Overpass/Paulina Malek

In the case of the vehicle vandalisms on the weekend of April 12, Massi summarizes a common but problematic way of thinking among victimized residents, “If nothing is taken, why report it?” he said.

The importance of having residents report crimes is critical now more than ever. In April, Police Commissioner Richard Ross told Philadelphia Magazine that the number of the city’s police officers is at its lowest level in 22 years. The police force has declined to a little more than 6,100 officers in contrast to the 6,525 positions the city can afford.

“We can use whatever help the public can give us,” Massi said.

The Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) outlines several solutions to close this gap between experiencing and reporting crime. Shannon Wink, the FNA Safety Committee Chair, told Spirit News by e-mail that the organization is working with the 26th District to help residents determine when to call 911, and how to do so effectively. “Calls help the department determine which districts have the most activity, and help district officers identify patterns,” she wrote in the FNA e-newsletter and on social media.

Marlborough Street Underpass/Paulina Malek

John Consolvo, president of the organization suggests that assigning police officers to regularly patrol on foot or bike “might go a long way toward changing that perception.” He is also planning to meet with Fishtown Action’s president, Maggie O’Brien to discuss a plan to provide more adequate lighting in areas where residents feel least safe, and how grant funding can be utilized to implement even more lighting.

Broken beer bottles and glass scattered from smashed car windows line the sidewalks of the Columbia Avenue and Marlborough Street underpasses and are reflective of the broken windows theory mentioned by the 16-year Fishtown resident, who wishes to remain anonymous. The criminology theory suggests that more serious crimes can be prevented from happening if smaller crimes like vandalism are monitored in urban environments. In response, the FNA’s Beautification Committee organizes monthly neighborhood clean-ups and, in fact, 42 percent of residents polled in the safety survey stated less signs of disorder would make them feel safer.

“The moment the police in the city stop cracking down on small crimes, all hell breaks loose,” the resident said.

The post Fishtown Vehicle Vandalisms Highlight Disparity Between Experiencing and Reporting Crime appeared first on Spirit News.

The Fishtown Beer Runners, the local running club founded by David April in 2007, hosted an “International Beer Run” through the streets of Philadelphia on Thursday, May 5. The event was part of the Craft Brewer’s Conference, which attracted 5,000 brewing professionals from around the world to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for a week of seminars, exhibitions, and networking.

The International Beer Run was organized by members of The Fishtown Beer Runners, Mikkeler Running Club in Copenhagen, and Toronto’s RunTOBeer.

David April greet the Beer Runners at his Fishtown home.

More than 150 runners made their way from three starting points across the city to Philadelphia Brewing Company (PBC) in Kensington. Once they arrived at the brewery, runners were greeted by a DJ, food trucks, and free beer samples from PBC, Mikkeller, and Sawdust City Brewing. With tunes blaring and beer flowing, runners from around the world traded stories and talked about their mutual love of beer and running.

The concept of beer running was first made popular by David April right here in Fishtown in 2007. April, who turned to running as an outlet following a devastating divorce, was fascinated to learn about hydration research conducted by Dr. Manuel J Castillo-Garzon, Professor of Medical Physiology at the University of Granada in Spain. This surprising research showed that beer and water have similar rehydration effects when consumed in a moderate amount (660 mL). Before long, David was regularly ending his training runs with a pint and inviting friends to join him on “beer runs.”

Nine years on, The Fishtown Beer Runners are stronger than ever. Dozens of runners gather every Thursday to “further the research” of those initial hydration studies. Each week, the group runs three to five miles to a pre-determined bar, where they share a toast to Dr. Castillo-Garzon, whom they’ve affectionately dubbed “The Professor.”   Since its humble beginnings, the group has grown exponentially and has spawned dozens of offshoots across the country and around the world.  The club’s story was immortalized in the award-winning 2014 documentary film Beer Runners.

Toast to the Professor

Tej Sandhu, Co-Founder of RunTOBeer, credited the Fishtown Beer Runners as the group that started it all for him. In 2014 he and his friend Dan Grant brought the idea of beer running to Toronto. Their semi-weekly runs now regularly attract more than 100 runners at a time. When he learned that the Craft Brewer’s Conference would be held in Philadelphia in 2016, the idea for an International Beer Run immediately came to mind.

“With brewery professionals from around the world descending upon Philly, the home of the most recognized beer-running crew, I thought what better way to promote the idea that beer and running are two great things that can be enjoyed together?” Sandhu said.

He reached out to David April and Soren Runge, who runs the MIkkeller Running Club, and the wheels were quickly in motion.

Donning a red Fishtown Beer Runners tech shirt, acquired in a soccer-inspired “jersey swap” with Fishtown’s Ceasar Bautista, Sandhu beamed as he talked about his experience organizing and participating in the International Beer Run.

“This is exactly the kind of event that I look forward to most at conferences. People who love running and drinking beer are the best! The energy was very much the same as a RunTOBeer event: completely positive, inclusive, and friendly. I could hear complete strangers exchanging stories about where they were from, their running goals, and beer,” he said.

Prior to this conference, Sandhu’s only experience in Philadelphia was a short layover at Philly International, a stark contrast to Thursday night when he ran past the historic sights of Independence Hall, through scenic Old City and the lively streets of Fishtown.

“What a great city! To see the birthplace of America was really awesome. I grew up in Chicago, so I learned American History in school and so much happened in Philly. I love the architecture and it seems to be a really great city for running too,” he said.

David April with fellow runners from Mikkeller and RunTOBeer

When asked about David April, Sandhu couldn’t be more complimentary. “What an awesome guy! His positivity and energy must be a huge reason people come back to run with Fishtown Beer Runners. I love the way he thinks and cares about making a great experience for his members,” he said.  

Clutching a DVD version of the Beer Runners documentary, he added, “I’m really excited to show this to RunTOBeer members in Canada.”

The post Fishtown Beer Runners Go Global with International Beer Run appeared first on Spirit News.

Sam Rudich has been living in his house on Vineyard Street in Francisville for 6 years.

“Honestly it was here and it was cheap. I’ve always liked it. I’ve watched [Francisville] get built up, I’ve talked to more people in the neighborhood, I’ve just been around the whole time. I’ve always liked how there’s never really been the swell of punks living in the neighborhood,” Rudich said. “It’s not a hot spot or anything. It just always felt isolated. I just like hanging out with my neighbors.”

Most every surface of the 3 story house is pocked with relics of past projects: old screens from screen printing, show posters from years past, scraps of random paper —  and, of course, tapes. Lots and lots of tapes.

“I’ve sort of transformed the house so I can work wherever I am in it,” Rudich explained. “Printing, cutting up paper — now I’m making noise in the basement. Up here there’s a computer, scanner, big-ass stereo and tape machines and all that.”

This is the home of Ranch Records.

Welcome to the Ranch: Pictured left-right: Mike Kuhn (NAH), Colins Regisford (The City and I), Sam Rudich, and Briffin McGinley./Sean Kearney

Rudich moved to Francisville in 2010 from Easton, Pennsylvania with intentions to go to Temple’s Tyler School of Art for screen printing. While Rudich was accepted into Tyler, he wasn’t accepted by the University itself. In the meantime, Rudich decided to tie up some academic loose ends at Community College of Philadelphia while booking local concerts.

“I got a job on South Street selling falafel, met people there and kept going to shows. I wanted to keep booking because that’s what I did in high school before I moved here.” Rudich booked a show here and there, but was not getting the same satisfaction from it as he did back at his parent’s house in the Lehigh Valley. Rudich felt frustrated, not knowing how to reconcile the sense of community he felt back at home and the relative alienation he felt in his new city.

That’s when Rudich got the idea to start a record label that focus on the production and release of cassette tapes.

“I always liked the quality of it,” Rudich said, “just the personal nature of owning a cassette. Knowing that this person made everything from the music, to folding the paper, to handing it to you.”

“The whole label started because I didn’t feel like I had a place in the scene because all I really had was contacts with the bands I really liked,” Rudich added. “I always had this feeling that if you were hanging out in the scene and you weren’t behind a guitar or behind a table you kinda weren’t worth shit. Everyone [in the Lehigh Valley] always seemed to do something. And here it was all different cliques and niches all over the city and everyone had their own style of what they thought punk to be. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. I was definitely hungry from the beginning to do as much as possible.”

When it came time to get a name for the label, Rudich decided it was only right to pay homage to where it all started: his parent’s basement. “First show I had there when I was 16 or something, I talked to [my parents] about it 6 months before. We ended up calling it ‘The Rudich Ranch’ because I thought that was chill for everybody in my whole house. It’s my parent’s house, it’s their basement. So calling [the label] Ranch just felt like keeping it real.”

Since then, Ranch has released 26 projects from bands hailing from Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Boston, The Lehigh Valley, and Europe.

The culmination of all the recording, designing, screen printing, and booking is Ranch Records’ yearly “Big Gig,” a showcase of about 10 bands involved with Ranch. The first Ranch Records “Big Gig” was in August of 2013 at a small house in West Philadelphia called 4QHQ.

NAH

“That was a crazy mess and it went super well somehow, everyone liked it,” Rudich said. “Big Gig” was followed up by “Big Gig Duck” (Rudich assures me the process of naming each “Big Gig” is rooted in total nonsense) in 2014 at the legendary and now defunct DIY show space Golden Tea House headlined by Ranch Records regulars NAH, Gunk, and Spirit of the Beehive.

Spirit of the Beehive

“I was high for days off of it and so were my friends. So I’ve just been trying to recreate the feeling of being so stoked for a show that goes so fast. If there’s a band you don’t like, you don’t have to watch and in 15 minutes another band will be playing. Essentially just get in, have a cool party, everyone can sort of do whatever they want– get real drunk or real high, there’s gonna be a ton of people there to see 6 out of 10 bands and it’ll happen really fast.”

Marge

The most recent big gig, “Big Gig Truck,” might have been Ranch’s, well, biggest gig yet, ditching the humble beginnings of a house basement for the more spacious First Unitarian Church where around 350 people were in attendance. The lineup included Ranch regulars such as NAH, Spirit of the Beehive, Gunk, Marge, and Dogs on Acid. Even Rudich’s family, the original members of Rudich Ranch, are in attendance with Rudich’s mom providing free coffee and cookies in the back of the basement.

“My family being there was great. I don’t get to see my mother much,” Rudich said. “My brother used to play in The Beds and I try to stay in touch with him as much as possible. My dad is one of the most supportive people in my life and also just wants to sip a cold beer and listen to cool music and hang out. I think [Big Gig Truck] went perfectly.”

In spite of Ranch’s new digs, the mood is warm as if the basements Ranch was born in only got a little bigger.

Wanna hear more? Check out the label’s website at https://ranchjams.bandcamp.com/

The post Ranch Records: Francisville Home to Cassette-Based Independent Label appeared first on Spirit News.

It’s a Tuesday evening at the LocalHost (formerly Devnuts) building on North 3rd Street in Northern Liberties. The room is filled with couches and computer screens. As people begin to file in, they headed straight for the PCs or linger near the door to chat. Many also stop by the free pizza table. Welcome to a meeting of Code For Philly, a program designed to get tech-minded people together in order to generate new ideas. These people then partner with government and community leaders to build tools that will benefit civic issues.

Code For Philly is part of San Francisco-based Code For America’s Brigade program. There are now dozens of Brigades across the country, as well as in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Germany, and Croatia. Chris Alfano, Chief Technology Officer for the software engineering company Jaruvs Innovations, founded the Philadelphia Brigade after representatives from the Code For America Fellowship program hosted a few promotional events at Jarvus’ headquarters (908B N. 3rd St.). Alfano believes in the importance of technology in improving quality of life issues in Philadelphia.

“Technology has the power to enact radical change,” Alfano said. “Code For Philly is about developing technology that promotes the kind of change that brings communities together.”

Examples of some civic-geared software to come out of Code For Philly include “UnlockPhilly”, a web app used by the disabled to monitor elevator outages; “CyclePhilly”, a smartphone app that records a user’s bicycle trips and uses this data to create maps that will serve to make the city a safer place to ride (this app has since been adopted by Knoxville, Tennessee and Dusseldorf, Germany); and “Not in Philly”, an app that incentivizes and facilitates weekly litter clean-ups in communities around the city.

Code For Philly has a meetup every week. The first meetup of the month is a workshop and is usually partnered with another Philly-based tech program. During the meeting, tech pros lead a short workshop on a topic of their choosing, such as programming languages or software mapping tools. The focus of these workshops is to get people who don’t have much experience with the tech field acquainted with these subjects at the ground level, fresh blood. Past partnerships have included Girl Develop It (a Philly chapter of a nonprofit that provides affordable education for adult women interested in web and software development), Young Involved Philadelphia (non-profit focused on increasing civic engagement), and GeoPhilly (mapping technology enthusiasts).

The next two meetups are free-format, like the one on this night. They’re called hack nights. They serve simply as window of time for people interested in tech development to get together, work, and discuss. The last meetup of every month is an open house and usually takes place at a bar. The open house is only meetup that does not provide time for working. These events are meant to get newcomers familiar with Code For Philly and its projects, for project leaders to recruit volunteers, and for experts to explain different subjects and ideas.

As the first hour of the hack night progresses, things get a little more social around the computers. People move their rolling desk chairs together, clustering around a single screen. They chatter excitedly, proposing and demonstrating. These meetings are designed to function as incubators, a place to work and network with other people who may have the certain skill or idea you’re missing.

Eric Bailey is here tonight as an apprentice in the Urban Technology Project (UTP), a program that helps Philadelphia youth break into the workforce in technology fields like IT and Computer Support. Bailey is currently working for the School District of Philadelphia, developing a program to help them sync up all of the District’s iPads. He says he comes to Code For Philly because it’s a good place to discuss and negotiate difficult problems.

To learn more or get involved visit codeforphilly.org.

The post Code For Philly: Local Techies Meet Up to Develop Apps and Innovate Together appeared first on Spirit News.

Two homes are under construction at 1509 – 1511 North Howard Street in Kensington in place of what used to be a vacant lot. The homes are situated next to a textile mill and coffee shop. Around the corner on Jefferson Street (next to the Market-Frankford Line), a duplex is also under construction. The units were purchased for $375,000 and $400,000 respectively.

The 2000 block of East Hazzard Street is undergoing extensive renovations. V2 Properties, a real estate development company, built and sold two homes at 2012 – 2014 East Hazzard. Another developer sold the property next door last year. Across the street, V&B Properties built three slimmer homes, one of which has already been sold. Down the street V2 has taken on another project at 2039 East Hazzard. A different, unnamed developer is also refurbishing two currently vacant homes a few doors over. There are still approximately a dozen vacant lots on the block.

Approximately a year and a half ago, Princeton-based developers purchased the property at 171 West Jefferson Street for $1.2 million (currently a vacant lot). The proposal, approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA), calls for the construction of 17 new homes. Several similar proposals were taken to the ZBA in 2012, but each in turn was ultimately dismissed.

A condo in Northern Liberties’ Cigar Factory has recently been put on the market. The asking price is $550,000. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit is 1,923 square feet and is located on the south side of the property.

The aged five-story Putnam Building at 1627 North 2nd Street is looking much better these days. The Kensington South Community Development Corporation (KSCDC) repaired the building’s exterior with relative alacrity and in such a way that the old and new portions of the edifice blend together coherently.  At present the building functions as both an art studio and office space.

The post Development News: Know What Buildings Are Popping up on Your Block appeared first on Spirit News.

Cecil B. Moore impacted the city of Philadelphia in significant enough of a way to have a street renamed in his honor. Moore was living in the city during a tense time in our nation’s history; after the Second World War and before Brown V. Board of Education. Cecil B. Moore experienced many successes in his life, but his role in the Civil Rights movement is unfortunately overshadowed by other historical figures, even though he affected the city greater than just about anyone.

Cecil Bassett Moore was born on April 2, 1915 in Dry Fork, West Virginia to a physician and schoolteacher. He moved to Kentucky and graduated from Gary High School before returning to his home state for college. Upon graduating from Bluefield College, Moore took a job as a traveling insurance salesman. Before he became a “soldier for justice,” he became a soldier in the United States Marine Corps. Moore would eventually be promoted to the rank of a sergeant, which was the highest rank a black man could receive at that point in time.

Moore married his wife, with whom he would have three children, in 1946 and completed his nine years of military service in 1947. The following year, Cecil moved to Philadelphia to attend Law School at Temple University. With the aide of his GI Bill, Moore paid for his night classes. To support his family and pay for his other expenses, Moore was a liquor-wholesaler. He developed many good relationships with the bar owners he had business with, and soon his interactions with them became political. He would discuss human rights and the course of action needed to create equality with clients and friends, but he always remained straight forward in his approach.

Moore finished his law degree in 1953 and, as a defense attorney, he represented black lower-class citizens in civil rights cases. Even though he was raised in a middle-class family, he worked vigilantly to appear as a regular person. Not only would this help his law career, but it would also help his own Civil Rights movement in the city.

Moore was also in charge of running the Citizen Committee Against Juvenile Delinquency in the 1950s. By the 1960s, he became the president of this organization. In 1962, Moore decided to run for president “as the voice of the working man” for Philadelphia’s branch of the NAACP as well. He had a successful presidential race and was inaugurated on January 3, 1963. Even though Moore had risen to power quickly, many people were beginning to see him as a divisive figure for the Civil Rights movement, perhaps because he criticized people by saying things like, “middle-class blacks were ‘part-time negroes’.” Obviously, statements like that divide people, but Moore would tell you he was just being honest.

Moore began picketing at several places in his first year as Philadelphia’s NAACP president. Pickets took place at the Municipal Services Building, a local school in North Philadelphia, and Trailways Bus Terminals. Moore organized citizens to protest construction sites that would not employ black workers. In 1965, Cecil and hundreds of others would participate in his most famous protest out front of Girard College. Every day for seven months, people stood outside of the school in hopes that they would move closer to integration at the ‘school for orphans’.

Even though Cecil B. Moore was successful with his protests, other Civil Rights leaders were starting to dislike his approach. Martin Luther King Jr. and Roy Wilkins felt that Moore was harmful to their peaceful approach for equality. Moore claimed that King was weak with his “imported Gandhi philosophy of non-violence.” No one can deny that Moore registering 70,000 new voters in the city and increasing the NAACP membership from 6,000 to 32,000 was a sucess. However, Moore’s “tell-it-like-it-is attitude” called out other successful strategies, creating rifts in the movement.

In order to strip Moore of power, the NAACP split into three branches in Philadelphia in 1967, so he was only in control of North Philadelphia as opposed to the entire city. In order to maintain his prominence, Moore ran for mayor of the city in the same year, although his campaign was wildly unsuccessful, as he received about 1.2 percent of the vote and finished behind both the Republican and the Democrat also competing for the office.

This did not quell Moore’s political ambitions entirely, and he “served as 5th District Councilman from 1974-1979 when he died” from cardiac arrest at the age of 63. His excitable persona may have damaged his heart, or perhaps it was his affection towards cigars and alcohol.   “He incessantly drank; Old Grand Dad being one of his favorite vices.”

Cecil may have been aggressive, but he was pure in his intentions. “I don’t want more than the white man got, but I won’t take no less,” he said.

In case you wanted to pay respect to the straight-talking activist, you can pass by his house at 1708 Jefferson Street, which he bought in 1974 from another Civil Rights Leader (no coincidence), Raymond Pace Alexander, the first black judge in Philadelphia. The most recent owner of this property bought the historical house in 2015.

Information for this article came from Articles.philly.com, Blackpast.org, Cecilbmoorephiladelphiafreedomfighters.wordpress.com, Newsworks.org, Northerncity.library.temple.edu, Philaplace.org, Philasun.com, Planphilly.com, and Zillow.com.

The post Know Your History: Cecil B. Moore, Great Philadelphia Civil Rights Leader appeared first on Spirit News.

The New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and the East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) teamed up for another year of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival on Saturday, May 21.

Despite the rain and mud, the derby drew and large crowd of residents and visitors into the burgeoning Frankford Avenue Arts Corridor. The derby is a design competition and parade of human-powered vehicle floats striving for either Best Art, Best Costume, Best Engineering, Best Breakdown or the highly coveted Judge’s Choice Award.

The arts festival on Trenton Avenue and Norris Street consisted of 200+ local arts and food vendors. This is the 10.5th year (11th for arts festival and 10 for the derby) NKCDC and EKNA have hosted this community event, which now draws 15,000 to Kensington each year.

Here’s our photo and video coverage of the event.

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Michael Klusek

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

Photo by Bob Burton

The post PHOTOS: The 2016 PFCU Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival appeared first on Spirit News.

More than 350 people gathered at the Crystal Tea Room of the Wanamaker Building for the 11th annual Lutheran Settlement House Women of Courage awards ceremony and luncheon on Wednesday, May 18. The ceremony paid tribute to women making a difference in the community and served as a major fundraiser for the Lutheran Settlement House (LSH), a non-profit community organization located on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown that serves homeless families and individuals in the area.

The Crystal Tea Room/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

Welcoming remarks were given by Mayor Jim Kenney before the first award was presented to Karen Hudson of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for Community Advocacy. Hudson serves as the program leader of CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative. This initiative provides LSH’s homeless shelter with important health services and educational sessions. In her acceptance speech, Hudson fought back tears as she told the audience, “I challenge all of us to pay it forward. To make the world a better, brighter, and safer place.”

Kenney addresses the crowd/Patrick Clark

Mayor Jim Kenney/Patrick Clark

Wendy Hamilton, the General Manager of SugarHouse Casino, was presented with the Visionary Leader award. SugarHouse has worked closely with LSH in their employment program and spoke to the audience about their efforts to create jobs through the casino’s expansion. In addition, Hamilton leads a largely female leadership team at SugarHouse.

Wendy Hamilton of SugarHouse Casino/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

When asked about SugarHouse’s involvement with LSH, Hamilton responded, “We love the work that Lutheran Settlement House is doing, so to be honored by this group is something that’s really very meaningful for everyone at SugarHouse. I’m the lucky person that gets to be the face of it but they’re really doing good work and we like to support them in any way that we can.”

/Patrick Clark

/Patrick Clark

The post Lutheran Settlement House Awards Ceremony Honors “Women of Courage” appeared first on Spirit News.

A garden blooms on Girard Avenue, hidden in plain sight. Across the street from the Aldi, below the inspiring faces of Martin Luther King Jr, Ella Baker, Frederick Douglas and Malcolm X, sits The Girard Dream Garden. Though it may not be apparent to the casual passerby, this luxuriant spot at 31st and Girard is a testament to what happens when people come together.

Wide shot of the garden from within, with the backdrop of the Dream Mural in sight./Joe Palinsky

The lush foliage and bursts of colorful blooms are no accident. All of this greenery exists due to the hard work and dedication of several individuals who believe in their community. Specifically, the garden owes its current state to the efforts of Brewerytown residents Dallas Perinciolo, Ernie Lim, Marcus Hines and Alex Bauman. These four young men have taken to the helm of this project, working tirelessly to bring Girard Ave a place of solace, of bounty and of joy.  

This community-driven direction is exactly what was intended for The Girard Dream Garden when it first came to be in 2012. The garden was the product of a collaboration between the Brewerytown and Fairmount CDCs to revitalize land, owned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, and make it more accessible for public use. The two CDCs banded together to clean out the lot, opening up the space and planting several juniper trees along the entrance. Upon completion of the land’s restoration, the upkeep of the garden was left to the community. Residents immediately responded to this, spending free hours weeding, tending to the plants and enjoying the outdoors. 

Planters in the garden./Joe Palinsky

When Perinciolo, Hines and Bauman moved to the neighborhood in 2014, it was Lim who had brought them into the fold of what was happening at the garden. Other neighbors were involved, but for most of them it was more of a hobby, a pet project, than anything else. When asked how he and the others came to be the current masterminds behind the garden, Perinciolo responds with amusing honesty:

“We were the ones who showed up.”

And they continued to show up. Week after week, month after month, these four would be joined by other members of the Brewerytown community in the effort to create a thriving garden. Seeds were planted, dirt dug up, tree stumps were repurposed into stools and plans were made for the future of the space. As the group became more involved with the garden, residents whose property borders the lot would assist in any way they could. Electricity was provided by one neighbor, refreshments by another, all coming together to help see this garden take form. Unlike traditional neighborhood gardens, which rely on a plot system to allot space to each member, The Girard Dream Garden is a community garden where anyone can come at any point. The hope is that everyone pitches in and does the work and everyone reaps the benefits of the bounty when all is said and done.

Locals ​mingling in the garden for the April event.?joe Palinsky

Perinciolo felt motivated by his work with the garden and took a course on Permaculture Design at Heritage Farm in West Philadelphia (4300 Monument Road) in the summer of 2015. What he learned he was able to bring back to the garden. When Lim had the idea for a drip irrigation system, the group was able to combine their knowledge and resources to make it a reality. Materials were purchased, or donated by locals, and a permit was obtained to use a nearby hydrant for water. Drip irrigation helps to avoid overwatering, providing a precise amount of liquid to each plant over the course of a day. This conserves resources as well, as less water is ultimately used in the process. For the group, the goal is to eventually become less reliant on the hydrant by collecting and using rainwater.

Fairmount Art Crawl/ Sponsored by Fairmount CDC

By the time the spring of 2016 rolled around, the dedicated individuals involved with the garden felt it was time to have a kick-off event. They reached out through their networks in the neighborhood to assemble a team capable of creating a gathering that would attract a wide range of locals.

Held on April 30th, the event saw many faces of the neighborhood coming together, offering their own unique skillsets to aid in the success of the day. Steven Parr, a Brewerytown chef and entrepreneur, provided fresh grilled chicken, slathered in a uniquely savory BBQ sauce. Likewise, vinyl enthusiast Steven Ferrell provided sound equipment and hit the turntables with his slick DJing skills. Living legend Jeannie Brooks, a resident of the neighborhood and renowned Philadelphia vocalist, brought The Brew Sessions into the mix. The group, comprised of musicians who used to meet at Sarah’s Place (1216 N. 29th St), played off and on throughout the event, opening up the mic to anyone who wanted to join in the music. Brooks herself got up several times and freestyled with an ease and passion that can only come with experience. Though the event was free, donations were accepted, mainly as a way to show thanks to the musicians and locals who had offered up their time and services freely.

Jeannie Brooks and The Brew Sessions performing in the garden at the April event./Joe Palinsky

The overall success of this event has led the group to plan for the future in a multitude of ways. On the planting front, they have tons of herbs and vegetables in the ground, including potatoes, runner beans, kale, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and Brussels sprouts, among others, with even more on the horizon. On the entertainment front, more events are in the works. On June 11th, there will be another gathering with local food, live music and good company. For updates on this event as it unfolds, be sure to find and explore the group’s Facebook page: Girard-Dream Garden (The Dream Garden). Additional information can be discovered on the page for those who want to lend a hand. The group is always outside working on the garden on Sundays around 1:00 PM. Though, they want to make sure that neighbors know they are encouraged to do work in the garden whenever they feel like it.

Food being cooked up at the April event by Steven Parr/Joe Palinsky

“We want everyone to come,” Perinciolo explains, “We want kids to come with their parents and learn about growing plants. We want the community to play a part in reclaiming this space so that everyone can use it. Come out, even if no one else is here, and get to work. Or don’t work and just sit and read a book and hang with friends.”

The post More Than a Dream: Girard Dream Garden Blossoms In Budding Community appeared first on Spirit News.

For Fishtown residents, live comedy is about to become local.

Almost a year after the opening of the Fillmore, Live Nation Comedy has announced the opening of the city’s first major comedy club in more than a decade, “Punch Line Philly.” The new comedy club will open across from Live Nation’s newest music venue.

Aiming to open in July, the 300-seat comedy club will feature VIP seating, an outdoor patio, lobby bar, and a full-service food and beverage selection including local craft beer and wine by the glass. The menu includes starters, salads, fresh-baked pizza, and sweets.

With locations in San Francisco and Sacramento, Philadelphia will become Live Nation’s first East Coast comedy clubhouse.

“Philadelphia has an amazing comedy heritage and Punch Line Philly will feature the world’s best comedians in a one-of-a-kind Fishtown vibe with great sightlines, food and beverage,” said Ron Bension, President of Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment Division. “Our commitment to the Fishtown neighborhood runs deep and we’re excited to share this new offering.”

As the world’s largest comedy promoter, Live Nation sold 2.5 million + tickets to more than 850 shows in 2015 and features a diverse roster of comics including well known talent such as Amy Schumer and Aziz Ansari at the Oddball Comedy festival and Kevin Hart’s “What’s Now” tour.

Hart, a North Philadelphia native became the first comedian to headline and sellout a NFL arena — and not just any stadium, but his hometown arena at Lincoln Financial Field.

Who’s set to kick things off at Punch Line? Canada’s Russell Peters is set to be the first comic to perform at Punch Line Philly, as he launches an all-star summer lineup. Peters will be followed, in order, by Bill Bellamy from “Last Comic Standing” (July 14-16), Robert Kelly from FX’s “Louie,” (July 21-23), Marlon Wayans from “White Chicks” and “Scary Movie” (Aug. 4-6), Pablo Francisco (Aug. 10-13), DeonCole from ABC’s “Black-ish,” TBS’s “Angie Tribeca” and “Barbershop 2,” (Aug. 18-20) and Nikki Glaser, host of Comedy Central’s new “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” (Aug. 25-27).

Tickets for all shows in Punch Line Philly’s Premier Summer Lineup went on sale last Friday. Complete information at www.punchlinephilly.com.

On May 6th, Punch Line Philly hosted a comedy series at The Foundry, the Fillmore’s intimate, upstairs performance space, which included local comedians Chip Chantry, Jim Ginty and Dave Terruso. The Foundry also will be hosting a “Punch Line Presents” comedy event June 25 with Wheeler Walker Jr.

The post Punch Line Philly, Live Nation’s Newest Comedy Club, Tickets On Sale Now! appeared first on Spirit News.

Numerous volunteers joined forces to renovate the Philadelphia Recreation Center at 1400 N 26th St. on May 18. The recreation center was chosen as the recipient of AEC Cares’ sixth annual blitz build, which took place prior to the AIA National Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center

ConstructConnect, the recently formed construction data company that includes four legacy brands: iSqFt, Construction Market Data, BidClerk and Construction Data have joined forces with AIA and Hanley Wood Media for blitz build, an annual building project that provides community support for worthwhile projects across the United States.  

/Claire Stubblefield

“CMD and iSqFt have a long history of giving back to local communities,” said Dave Conway, CMD iSqFt CEO and President of AEC Cares Board of Directors. “We are proud to support AEC Cares in renovating the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center. Giving this center a facelift is helping to give underprivileged children a better and healthier start in life. Together with generous support from our customers, employees, local architects, contractors and product manufacturers, we are creating a legacy of hope in the communities in which we work.”

/Claire Stubblefield

Used by hundreds of children in the Sharswood neighborhood for after school and sports programs, the Athletic Recreation Center is in desperate need of repair and upgrades. During the blitz build, AEC professionals will improve the center’s main entrance, lobby space, after school art room, performance space and more.

Fairmount Art Crawl/ Sponsored by Fairmount CDC

“At thePhiladelphia Athletic Recreation Center, we believe that sports and physical activity combined with creative arts and education are critical to the healthy development of our neighborhood’s youth,” said Brian Sell, supervisor of the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center. “We are thrilled to have been selected as the 2016 partner for AEC Cares, and are excited to see the transformation on May 18. So many volunteers and designers have already worked so hard in order to make this a reality. We greatly appreciate their generosity and all of us are looking forward to AEC Cares day.”

/Claire Stubblefield

Past AEC Cares projects include the rebuilding of five homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the revitalization of houses for homeless teens in Washington D.C. and the transformation of a 30-year-old former school building into a cheerful up-to-date daycare and early learning center for impoverished children in Chicago’s Southwest Side. In 2013, AEC Cares renovated over $250,000 in improvements to a homeless facility for veterans in Denver. Last year’s project included upgrading an inner-city Atlanta shelter for youths in crisis.

/Claire Stubblefield

Numerous sponsors, including USG, YKK America, Kawneer Alcoa, Vinyl Institute and ProEst made significant donations to make this year’s blitz build a reality.

The post Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center Renovated During AEC Cares Blitz Build appeared first on Spirit News.

Credit history and debt are no longer legal reasons for employers to pass over job seekers, the City Council unanimously decided today.

“Denying employment based on a credit history is a backdoor vehicle to employment discrimination. And people who most are in need of steady employment often have poor credit histories,” Council President Darrell Clarke said a statement. “Making it harder for them to find employment only contributes to widening income inequality in Philadelphia.”

The council amended the Fair Practices Ordinance to outlaw credit-history based discrimination in hiring. The changes to the local law mean that employers won’t be able to use an applicant’s credit history, debt or bankruptcies when hiring.

Roughly 47 percent of employers use credit history or other financial information to make their hiring decisions, according to the Society for Human Resources Management.

Amy Traub, for Demos.org, reported that one in seven workers with imperfect credit were told that they were not hired because of an issue in their credit history. Traub noted that one in ten unemployed workers remembered being passed over because of their credit score.

Poverty and unemployment are linked to higher credit credit debt and poor credit history according to Traub’s analysis. Allowing employers to use credit history to hire or pass on an employee ultimately prevents people from improving their lives following a rough period, Traub said.

Though Philadelphia’s unemployment rate has been dropping since 2014, as of March 2016, 6.7 percent of Philadelphia’s workforce is unemployed.

Additionally, living in poverty often leads to an imperfect credit history. 31.2 percent of Philadelphia families with children survive at or below the poverty line. Focusing on single-mother households, the proportion of families living at or below the poverty line jumps to 46.5 percent.

The amendment, introduced by Councilman Bill Greenlee on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke, will go into effect in 30 days on June 25.

There are exceptions to the code: Law enforcement and financial institutions are still able to access the credit histories of potential employees as is the City of Philadelphia when seeking repayment from an individual. But, the amended ordinance says that if an employer is covered by the exceptions they must inform applicants what information they will seek and offer the applicant a chance to explain their credit history.

The amended ordinance explicitly states that cashiers and retail employees are not considered “jobs of significant financial responsibility” for the purposes of the law.

Council President Clarke’s office acknowledged that catching an employee engaged in credit-based discrimination is very difficult.

“Denial of employment or job loss due to credit checks is notoriously difficult to quantify, as is most forms of employment discrimination,” said a representative of Council President Clarke.

Despite the difficulties of catching employers engaging in this form of discrimination, Council President Clarke maintains that this amendment is an important step in protecting Philadelphia’s most vulnerable workers.

“Giving employers access to credit histories when not relevant to the work…is simply not defensible, period,” said Council President Clarke in statement to Spirit News.

The post City Council Unanimously Amends Fair Practices Ordinance to Outlaw Credit History-Based Discrimination in Hiring appeared first on Spirit News.

You’ve read the weather reports — summer’s finally here and so is the sweltering heat. Sometimes it takes more than just a cold drink (or an AC unit!) to cool you down. Good news is, we have plenty ice cream options in the Riverwards.

It is the perfect time to enjoy melting ice cream on our neighborhood sidewalk, so we have put together a specialized list of where to do just that, including a few recently opened joints in our area.

Cold Stone Creamery (2530 Aramingo Avenue – Olde Richmond)

One of the coolest things about the Cold Stone Creamery is you don’t even have to leave your house to get their delicious ice cream. Yup, you can have ice cream delivered directly to you! The delivery options include classic ice cream cakes, ice cream cookie sandwiches, unique ice cream pies and the option of getting a variety pack of ice cream cupcakes — yup, ice cream cupcakes. Of course if you would rather go pick up your treats yourself, that is perfectly acceptable as well. If you decide to venture inside the store, you have even more options to satisfy your ice cream needs with cones or even quarts of ice cream to bring home. Cold Stone has the opportunity for catering as well.

Famous Italian Ices Inc (1950 Lehigh Avenue – East Kensington)

Even though they’re famous for water ice, this shop has even more to offer in their stores. Famous Italian Ices Inc creates homemade ice cream in average flavors of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies and cream, as well as unique ice creams like Banana Caramel Walnut. Other varieties can be found here. You may also have Famous Italian Ices cater your next party where they can include ice cream/water ice scoops and freezers.

Five Sister’s Ice Cream (1949 N Front Street – Kensington/Fishtown)

This local ice cream shop has enough to complete your desires with 30+ toppings to give the boost your ice cream deserves. Five Sisters brings sundaes, baklava ice cream and other delicious middle eastern inspired desserts to the table. Enjoy all the deliciousness in their outdoor patio area that faces North Front and Norris Streets.

Igloo (1514 Frankford Avenue – Fishtown)

To sum up Igloo, it is frozen yogurt on steroids in the greatest way possible. They give customers the option of froyo, sorbet and gelato in either a cup or cone. After completing this section you move on to their toppings bar which includes hot toppings. If you are looking for a little something extra they have a long list of specialties including hot chocolate, take-home pints, italian ice and more. Igloo is pet friendly — so friendly they have cups for pups that include a bowl of froyo with with a little dog treat on top.

Just Cravings (980 North 2nd Street – Northern Liberties)

Just Cravings is not “just” ice cream, but helps you fight your munchie necessities. They serve hot and cold drinks, various grilled sandwiches, soups, pretzels, cookies, brownies and of course frozen yogurt. Their extensive list of froyo is either low fat or nonfat which includes their seasonal flavors. They claim to have what Philadelphia is craving!

Little Baby’s Ice Cream World Headquarters (2311 Frankford Avenue – East Kensington)

Little Baby’s is connected directly to its neighbor, Pizza Brain. If Just Cravings wasn’t fitting your fancy, these Frankford shops just might hit the spot. When you finish your dinner at Pizza Brain you can simply walk next door and enjoy an ice cream dessert. They describe their business as a “Hand-Made, Small-Batch, Super-Premium Ice Cream Company.” Little Baby’s offers Dairy Ice Cream, Non-Dairy Ice Cream and Vegan Ice Cream to its customers and they also cater.

Rita’s Italian Ices (2499 Aramingo Avenue – Olde Richmond)

Rita’s Italian Ice is a classic spot for water ice and custard that can be found almost anywhere. If you are not familiar with Rita’s, they are only open during the spring and summer all the way up until they close in the fall. When open, Rita’s offers various options to cool down a hot summer day like regular ice, gelatis (a mix ice and custard), and custard, which they use instead of ice cream to create sundaes or cones. You may find more of their unique fun spin of desserts here.

Scoops (812 East Thompson Street – Fishtown)

A window is the only thing holding you back from a Scoops fancy shake. If you are looking for a quick ice cream on Thompson Street, this is the place to check out.

Sonic Drive-In (2201 East Butler Street – Harrowgate)

Just like Rita’s, Sonic is a classic stop to get fun hot dogs, drinks and milkshakes. Once again, if you are unfamiliar with such a delicacy, this drive-in style restaurant allows you to enjoy decadence from the comfort of your car. Sonic has its own app for special deals and a happy hour — after 8PM any customer may buy any own of their 23 milkshakes, half priced. Their ice cream menu is absolutely endless with ice cream in all shapes, forms and sizes.  

Weckerly’s (9 West Girard Avenue – Fishtown)

Last, but definitely not least, Weckerly’s will be joining our neighborhood soon! Starting in West Philadelphia, this creamery makes their own from ice cream from scratch in North Philadelphia using locally grown ingredients. Weckerly’s also has a catering option but also a 2016 Ice Cream Club!

There you have it folks, find your favorite summer spot and enjoy the weather!

The post Here’s Where You Can Get Frozen Desserts When You’re Melting in Summer Sun appeared first on Spirit News.

Left: Mugshot via Philly Police; Right: Corner of E Susquehanna Ave and Frankford Ave.

A shot was fired at the corner of E Susquehanna Ave. and Frankford Ave. around 2 PM on May 26th. Philadelphia police confirmed the incident and that no one was injured.

According to the police report, Eman Kohrncino, 60, opened fire after a man made a comment in passing.

Shots fired #fishtown pic.twitter.com/Qy93Aq0ygx

— Rif (@rifkoosh) May 26, 2016

At the time, Kohrncino was in front of the home at 2043 Frankford Ave holding a fan. The home is best known for interesting quotes adorning its exterior, such as “The Apocolypse Now” and “Where People Flow Underground.”

“Yo, bud, I think your fan is broke,” the passerby said according to the police complaint. The man continued walking until he heard Kohrncino cursing and a loud pop.

The complainant took cover behind a tree and called the police.

Neighbors said Kohrncino is harmless to a point but can be confrontational if he feels challenged. Another resident documented the incident on Twitter.

Crazy dude who lives in apocalypse now house fired a gun @ some local dude who offended him

— Rif (@rifkoosh) May 26, 2016

Kohrncino has been charged with aggravated assault and firearms related charges.

The post Resident Of ‘Apocalypse Now’ House On Frankford Ave. Arrested For Allegedly Shooting At Someone Following Broken Fan Comment appeared first on Spirit News.

The ground beneath you holds more history than you know. Philadelphians that used to walk these neighborhoods more than 150 years ago are now buried under city streets. Most people would be surprised to learn that underneath the ground at Frankford Avenue & Blair and Berks Streets is an old cemetery that potentially holds 10,000+ graves.

From 1832-1868, a large burial ground was located underneath of the properties that sit on the 1800 block of Frankford and Blair. Remains of The Mutual Burial Grounds of Kensington rest under the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, Tires & Auto Repair Shop, Shissler Recreation Center, and the baseball-field at Hewson & Blair.

Some remnants of the Mutual Burial Ground are protected from disturbance, sealed under structures that are non-invasive to the earth. However, structures on Frankford from 1834-46 can be purchased, demolished, and developed. Constructing building foundations and basements on this area could rip through thousands of bodies resting a few feet underground. Destroying burial grounds eliminates our potential to study the “burial customs, funeral practices, and…spiritual beliefs” of a population of local Philadelphians that have not been thoroughly studied previously.

Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, 18th, 19th, and 31st Wards, 1887 Created by: Geo. W. & Walter S. Bromley

“Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915” show that most of the burials at Mutual Burial Ground of Kensington have been German-Americans. This demographic can be understood substantially more if specific archaeological surveys of the ground take place. However, when constructing buildings, “ground penetrating radar” is not set to the proper settings to find things like bones and pine coffins, but rather thousand-gallon gas tanks and larger obstructions. Luckily, almost the entire structure sitting on the cemetery was built on a concrete-slab, without basements (probably to avoid remains). Only trivial amounts of the earth were disturbed by these 1920s constructions, likely between 8” and 4’, which are too shallow to encounter human remains.

In addition to death certificates, proof of the Mutual Burial Ground’s existence is found in land deeds, numerous atlases and maps, church archives, the public ledger, and in the works of many historians.

In the 1730s, Kensington founder Anthony Palmer sold portions of his land called Hope Farm to many buyers, including Port Richmond founder William Ball. Ball rented his land to Revolutionary War hero John Hewson, who shared his property, at times, with his friends George and Martha Washington. Palmer sold the land that would become the Mutual Burial Ground to the Warders (Blair Street used to be named Warder Street) who owned it until 1832.

Church cemeteries filled quickly due to dense Philadelphia population in young-America. The Palmer family donated part of their land as a free cemetery that opened in 1765. Palmer Cemetery, while free, charged for burial costs, and did not guarantee you a plot near loved ones. Still, it was better for poor and working-class citizens, who could not afford church cemetery plots, starting at $100 plus fees (i.e. Christ Church).

Beginning in the 1820s, mutual burial grounds (not religiously-affiliated) arose throughout Philadelphia for poor citizens to affordably bury loved ones together. Family plots began at $10. Because the poor occupied these cemeteries, they were not exceptionally maintained and were often built on less-than-ideal land, which could lead to sinking gravestones (i.e. Franklin Square, but more on this later).

Atlas of the City of Philadelphia by Wards 1893 by J. E. Schiedt, draughtsman

In 1831, two mutual burial grounds opened locally: Union Burial Ground of Northern Liberties and Kensington and Union Harmony Burial Ground. Archives in the Kensington Methodist Episcopal Church show that the Mutual Burial Ground of Kensington opened at Frankford & Berks (Blair Street did not cut through the block yet) by 1832.

A July 27, 1833 plot deed states Jacob Coleman and James McCormick were owners of the land, used “for burial purposes only” and that “no person of colour or those who have been publicly executed” could be buried there. This property had the dimensions of the Mutual Burial Ground, making them the owners of the cemetery. The earliest burial record for the site is dated 28 October 1832. They were buried by November 3rd.

The individual buried was 14-month-old Sarah Ann Cassady who died of marasmus, which is severe malnutrition causing the individual to appear emaciated. Sarah, who barely lived past her first birthday, is one of several thousands potentially buried underground at Frankford, Berks, and Blair.

Details of the 1833 plot deed described the men who split the property sale of the land: Jacob Coleman-dry goods merchant, James McCormick-shoe maker, Christopher Dillman-dentist, Nicholas Helverson-cabinet maker/well-known undertaker, and George W. Coleman-dry goods merchant. All of these men were from Northern Liberties.

Several men co-purchasing a lower-class cemetery yielding little return-on-investment (if any) leads one to believes that this was an act of goodwill, for which Philadelphians were known. Ten months before Sarah Ann Cassady’s burial, Stephen Girard died, whose will delegated the largest-ever donation in American history (until Rockefeller 50+ years later) to build a school for orphans.

In the 1850s, William McNeely bought out the interest in the property from everyone on the 1833 deed, but it was still used for burials, with Nicholas Helverson as undertaker. Helverson also maintained the Franklin Cemetery; his sons followed in his footsteps.

The latest burial record discovered for the Mutual Burial Ground was for 8-month five-day-old Andrew Troop, who died of spinal cord inflammation on September 29, 1868. This means that the cemetery operated for at least 35 years, 10 months, 18 days. The cemetery likely stopped burials because it was full, since it still operated as a cemetery for almost 30 years after.

This space was consistently labeled “Cemetery,” “Burial Ground,” “Burying Ground,” and “Cem” on atlases and maps until 1892. 1895 atlases show the area empty and unlabeled. This could be because 27 years of nonuse cause gravestones to sink and grass to grow over them. Another possibility could be that the McNeely’s began covering or removing gravestones themselves to start selling off the land. Surveyors would consider the cemetery inactive and stop labeling it as such. The only record found of the cemetery closing is from May 11th, 1914. W.S. Helverson (Nicholas’s son) asked the city for permission to remove “200 bodies more or less” for relocation to Mt. Zion Cemetery for the cost of $25.

The land was joined together with other lots Charles McNeely (William’s son) owned, and converted into the Kensington Playground by 1922. The playground is now the location of the Shissler Recreation Center. By 1930, maps show garages built on Frankford, which is now home to the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym and the Auto Repair garage.

Andrew Troop, 8 months, 5 days old, died from inflammation of the spinal cord on 20 Sept. 1868, buried at the Mutual Burial Grounds of Kensington on 23 Sept. 1868. This represents the last burial record found thus far for this cemetery. Courtesy: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1807-1915.

The issue with the body removal proposal is the number of bodies “removed” from the location. Local Historian Kenneth Milano gathered a 38-week sample of burials that he cited in a Proposal for Historical Designation for this site, which the city is meeting about in two weeks. This sample purposefully excluded the years 1832-1849 in order to avoid abnormally high death tolls from multiple cholera and smallpox epidemics. Avoiding these years ensures that the burial rate is not skewed. The only burial from 1832 is for Sarah Ann Cassady, because it is the earliest-found record for the Mutual Burial Ground.

The sample’s burial rate is 6.3 per week (329 per year), which is 164.5 percent more bodies in just one year than McNeely’s 1914 cemetery removal for 36 years of burials. This rate equates to about 12,000 burials over the duration of its operation, without considering epidemic years. Realistically, this cemetery may be congested with 12,000+ bodies, but one can assume that at least several thousands of bodies still remain. Under the addresses 1834-46 Frankford Avenue is enough room for 500-1,000 graves.

In addition to enormous numbers of bodies being present (making it unlikely they were all removed), cemetery removal is notoriously incomplete and hastily done, especially for lower-class burial grounds. There are numerous examples of insufficient cemetery removal in Philadelphia.

The First African Baptist Church Cemetery closed in 1822. Hundreds of bodies were found in 1983-84 and again in 1990. The German Reformed Church Cemetery, closed in 1836, sank into the ground that became Franklin Square. Gravestones, coffins, and skulls were found in 1915, throughout the 1920s, and 1925, when buildings sewer lines, subway rails, and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Construction continued anyway. An archaeological survey was conducted during a 1976 sewer line project. Still, construction continued anyway. No other excavations took place.

3,000 bodies were found under a playground from the Mother Bethel Cemetery. Colonial graves were found at the Second Presbyterian Church Cemetery when the National Convention Center was built on top of it. Graves were found under a playground when building the William Dick Elementary School. Burials were found when constructing I-95. 300 bodies were found when building the Willard School, even though 8,000 bodies were “removed.”

There is definitive reason to believe that graves are still at the site of the Mutual Burial Ground of Kensington — of the thousands of bodies likely buried at the Mutual Burial Ground of Kensington, not a single record exists that these bodies were actually removed.

The post Ghosts from Kensington’s Past: The Mutual Burial Grounds of Kensington Lie Dormant Beneath Fishtown appeared first on Spirit News.

Forget about spring. Last week, summer decided to crash in like a heat wave in July. We officially hit 90 degrees three days in a row making it the first heat wave of the warm season. Just days before it was in the 50s with pouring rain! So will the real spring weather please stand up?!?! This week, I think it will.

The weather this week is all about the 70s, with short forays into the 80s. Ahhhh, spring, here you are! We do need to watch for showers over the weekend, but no day is a wash out. Showers on Friday, clouds and maybe a sprinkle on Saturday, and then thunderstorms on Sunday. Otherwise, enjoy the warm sunshine without the sweltering heat.

Wednesday is a great weather day. Expect temperatures to top out around 80 with plenty of sunshine and happiness to go around!

Thursday will be sunny and warm with temperatures once again near 80. Rain will try to approach from the west, but should only bring some clouds our way.

Friday is cooler with some showers in the morning and afternoon. Temperatures stay parked in the 70s.

Saturday looks mostly dry, but some sprinkles and light showers could pop-up here and there. Otherwise, a little sun and clouds will dominate with temperatures in the upper 70s to near 80.

Sunday starts warm and humid with sun, but then turns cloudy as a cold front swings through with thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Monday and Tuesday are both beautiful with sunshine and less humidity. A cool breeze on Tuesday will feel nice as well!

The weather winner of the week is the Wednesday; the weather loser is Sunday.

For more up to the minute weather updates, follow Accu-Reggie on Facebook and Twitter. 

The post Accu-Reggie: 7 Day Forecast (June 1 – June 7) appeared first on Spirit News.

How much longer will the debate over the future of this historic Fishtown church last?

Last month, supporters of St. Laurentius Church, (1608 E Berks St.) gathered at Unsung Heroes Gallery (2024 E Arizona St) for a meeting of the minds between members of Save St. Laurentius (SSL) and the Faithful Laurentians (FL), a new preservation group started by members of the community. Both organizations support different proposals for the future of the structure.

The building has been closed since March 31, 2014 and was deconsecrated due to the findings of an engineering report commissioned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and completed by structural engineering firm O’Donnell & Naccarato. Since the publishing of that report, some of its findings have been disputed by other engineering firms and specialists.

In February 2016, Leo Voloshin, the owner of the Kensington-based textile design company Printfresh Studio, entered a preliminary agreement to purchase St. Laurentius Church from the Holy Name of Jesus Parish. This agreement is supported by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (AOP). Voloshin plans on turning the interior of the church into apartments while keeping the exterior “entirely intact.”

SSL is open to the proposal of the church’s interior being adaptively reused as apartments, whereas FL are opposed to any reuse of the building that seeks to alter elements of the building’s interior.

Despite the two groups’ differences, the meeting at Unsung Heros Gallery began without debate and instead focused on name introductions of each supporter who filled the gallery that night. By the time everyone had a chance to speak, more than an hour had passed with opening remarks noticeably morphing into a series of emotional tales that showcased each supporters’ lasting devotion to the church, many of which spanned generations.

“Each story struck a common chord within all of us,” FL posted to their Facebook page after the event. “And when we were finished, we no longer felt like strangers, after sharing stories of baptisms and funerals, heartache and joy, we felt intimately connected.”

Jesse Gardner, director of the Unsung Hero’s Gallery and supporter of FL, lent his gallery space for the meeting after hearing about the story of the church through social media. Once he was introduced to a number of supporters from both groups for the first time in person that night, Gardener said, “a lot of it was just an exchange of information, but the meeting was a realization that this matters. It raised people’s consciousness of how much they really care.”

Once everyone was introduced to each other and the heartfelt storytelling about St. Laurentius ended, it was time to get down to brass tax: The point for the meeting was to discuss the specifics of an alternative proposal to Voloshin’s current plan.

FL’s proposal was described in detail by Jeanne Murphy Curtis, a board member of the group.

“The business plan is pretty much complete,” Curtis said. “Not to say we can’t alter it in any way, but it is really a two fold plan. Number one is to create a non profit 501(c)(3) group called The Faithful Laurentius Institute that is charged with writing grants, seeking donations, doing public outreach and setting up educational programs to educate people about the church.”

Curtis acknowledges that a nonprofit model with donation and grant funded initiatives would not allow for the repair of the church’s structural issues, nor provide economic viability to the project long term. This is where Curtis says the second element of the business plan comes in. A cooperative business arm called the St. Laurentius Polish Cultural Center would be heavily engaged in event planning, hosting weddings, corporate events, community functions, concerts and other events to provide much needed fiscal sustainability to their proposal for the church.

According to Curtis, an interior designer by trade, the building would be leasable for a fee, between $2,500 to $5,000 depending on the day, time, and type of event,  

“The key to making this successful is having a money generating business associated with [the structure]. So in order for that not to get muddied, both the nonprofit and the business venture have to be separate initiatives with the same common goal, which is the perseveration and sustainability of the building long term,” Curtis said. “People would also invest in the building by investing in shares of this business concept. So once that building is sustainable, which based on the business plan could happen at the end of the 5th year, those investors would get a return on that investment.”

Curtis, for all her efforts with the group, is not a former parishioner of St. Laurentius, but says she was raised Catholic. Her involvement with the church started in March 2015, when she was approached by Meghan Thomson, a friend and committee member of SSL, to assist in raising support for the group.

Since that time, disagreements formed within SSL on how best to pursue a sustainable future for the church. These disagreements lead Curtis and others to break off from SSL and create FL. The new group’s central difference with SSL is their insistence on keeping the entirety of the church intact, including the interior, and dismissing the potential apartment adaptive reuse plan. FL claims that Voloshin’s proposed re-development does not meet the concerns and needs of many former parishioners.

Matthew Albasi

“Maybe it can’t be a church again, but how can we find a compromise so that void in our lives can be filled?” Curtis said. “Because we really do want to be able to go back into that space and have those moments of peace that we had before.”

The discussion of adaptive reuse and the uncertainty surrounding this proposed plan has caused a schism between the two groups — a divide that serves as a reminder of the long road ahead for those who wish to save their church.

“Save St. Laurentius have done a lot of good and they are great people, but they do not share the same perspective,” Curtis said. “It’s not because Leo is not a great guy, or that I’m a curmudgeon or not a forward thinker. The issue is the space is a work of art and that space is more than just a historic edifice and that is what would happen if it was converted into apartments. It would be an historic edifice.”

Members of SSL hold on to their own convictions supporting the adaptive reuse just as firmly as the new group opposes it. SSL sees Voloshin’s plan as a proper and acceptable outcome, especially given what they see as the alternative.  

“I personally felt that the most awesome and holy part of the church was the inside,” John Wisniewski of the SSL Committee, said. “I was of the mindset that if we can’t have the inside then the heck with it, but then I realized that half of the package is better than none.”

Wisniewski explains that SSL’s distrust of the AOP partially explains the group’s decision to settle on adaptive reuse of the building’s interior along with the preservation of the exterior: “If you don’t allow for something like this (the apartments) to happen, then to be realistic, the church will sit and the AOP will sit on it. Then when L&I tells [the AOP] to fix it they will say we are very poor, we have no money to fix it, and they will wind up knocking it down. So we have a limited timeframe to make something happen.”

Even with wide ranging disagreements between the two groups, Wisniewski and some other members of SSL attended the meeting at the Unsung Heroes Gallery to listen to FL’s plan and begin a dialogue on how to best to facilitate a path for the building’s future.

 Wisniewski says he was encouraged by the meeting: “Most of the people at the meeting did not want the building to be repurposed as appartments. I was encouraged, though, by the plan that they discussed, with the community involvement in there and the cultural aspects of their proposal. It was a very nice approach and a very legitimate one — I think many people there were energized.”

 This public display of support between the two groups comes in contrast to recent heated exchanges between both groups, mostly chronicled in a series of comments on the Save St. Laurentius Watchdog Facebook group.

 “Now it’s an agree to disagree situation… but there was this idea that there was pervasive hatred and that it was us against them,” Curtis said. “Sometimes when things like that happen, some people become so convinced of it and there is no unconvincing them. I’ll be honest, I think it went both ways.”

Since then, tensions between the two groups have gone from simmering to lukewarm, depending on who you talk to. Chuck Valentine is a member of the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Council and, like Gardner of Unsung Heroes Gallery, has offered space at Holy Name to allow both groups, along with residents in the surrounding area, to meet and reach a consensus on a path forward together.

“I have been a part of meetings before about different issues with upwards of 500 people screaming at me and full police protection. So I’m used to dealing with disagreements,” Valentine said. “I have reached out to see if the FNA (Fishtown Neighborhood Association) would like us to host a meeting with residents in the  area, the St. Laurentius supporters, along with L&I, and/or [Voloshin]. So we are still trying to set something up.”

Voloshin says that he wants to engage with all St. Laurentius supporters and the community as a whole regarding his potential adaptive reuse.

“I’m interested in trying to make this work,” Voloshin said. “I know not everyone is behind the idea of adaptive reuse as apartments and I understand that people are very attached to the church being what it was. I know that is not something I can control. So my plan is to keep the community involved as things move forward.”

One thing that does unite both conservation groups is their disdain for Philadelphia’s Catholic hierarchy, who they see as spiteful and unaffected by their constant calls to have more influence on the future of the church.

In response to these claims, Ken Gavin, Communications Director of  AOP, has stated that “Representatives from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Holy Name of Jesus Parish have met with those concerned about the future of the former church building on at least five separate occasions. The majority of those meetings were held at Holy Name of Jesus Parish and one was held in the office of the President of City Council.”

Despite what the AOP says, distrust of the Catholic Church has spilled over among some St. Laurentius preservationists. At the Unsung Heroes Gallery meeting, some in attendance put forth more than a few conspiracy theories regarding the church’s fate.

One theory casts Voloshin as a pawn of the AOP and holds that if the property is sold to him he will claim financial hardship to the Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC). Last July, PHC designated the exterior of St. Laurentius as historic, protecting the structure from demolition. But even with the designation, if the Parish, AOP or developer claims financial hardship on a historic site, meaning that they don’t have enough money for necessary repairs, than demolition could still occur. This theory concludes if the developer were granted such a financial hardship, he would decide to demolish as much of the block as possible in order to build “a hotel.”

Wisniewski says that while unfounded theories regarding the church can be problematic, they are just a product of the conditions the AOP has created for people trying to give their church new life.

“[The AOP] are the ones who foster this kind of ideology because no matter what they told us in the past, it has been a lie since before the merger [of St. Laurentius and Holy Name] and on,” Wisniewski said. “Now I’m not defending this kind of speculative thinking in any way, and in a way I’m sure it does harm efforts. But you have to understand and realize where this thinking comes from.”

The AOP upholds that it understands those in the community have an emotional attachment to the building for good reason. The Archdiocese believes that they are assisting Holy Name in responding to a hard economic reality.

“Holy Name of Jesus owns the former Saint Laurentius Church building,” Ken Gavin told Spirit News via email in response to a series of questions. “The parish cannot afford the necessary repairs and it is seeking a prudent way to face this challenge.”

This ownership claim by the AOP brings to light another major point of agreement between the St. Laurentius support groups: Both believe that it’s the former parishioners of St. Laurentius who really own the church.

In March 2016, Spirit News reported that leading members of SSL sent a number of letters to embattled Attorney General Kane’s office. The letters sought to put forth the case for a multifaceted charitable trust violation claim against the AOP. The SSL committee states in the letter that: “the building was left forever in trust for the Roman Catholic Congregation of St. Laurentius. Subject to a mortgage debt of $5,000. This language is significant and not typical of most Roman Catholic churches deeds.”

Photo: Matthew Albasi

But in order for FL’s proposed Polish Heritage Center and additional reuse of the church’s interior to see the light of day, this ownership dispute has to be resolved in favor of St. Laurentius supporters. That necessity has made getting the state’s AG involved a top priority for FL. According to one of the group’s board members, they now have a “sympathetic ear” in the AG’s office with communication occurring between both parties on an almost bi-weekly basis.

We reached out to the Attorney General’s office regarding their potential support for St. Laurentius preservationists, but their office did not reply to our request for comment in time for the publication.

Both St. Laurentius support groups are in agreement regarding the pursuit of a trust violation claim, but their fractured nature on what plan to support for the church moving forward could spell trouble for Voloshin. When it comes to gaining community backing for a zoning variance required to switch the church’s current designation from single family use to multiple family use, the jury is still out.

In light of the divided community sentiment regarding the future of St. Laurentius, Spirit News sought the insight of a professional. John James Pron, is a historical architecture professor of 37 years at Temple University, and specializes in the areas of historic preservation and adaptive reuse.

“It’s facing up to reality and looking for the best compromise that benefits the highest priorities of the largest number of people,” Pron said. “In the case of St. Laurentius: No, it’s not realistic to believe that a huge and magnificent edifice like that can ever expect to continue to operate as a Catholic Church with pews full of parishioners, but the community could also not fathom demolishing it.”

The Faithful Laurentians invite former parishioners and historical enthusiasts to the Unsung Heroes Art Gallery (2024 Arizona St.) to discuss how to preserve the interior of St. Laurentius Church on Friday, June 3rd.

The post Holy Schism: New Conservation Group Emerges as Supporters of Church Seek Consensus on Future of Historic Fishtown Building appeared first on Spirit News.

Residents of North Philadelphia were excited to bring their children to the Cecil B. Moore Library’s Words at Play Block Party Saturday, May 14. The goal of Words at Play is to promote literacy and combine learning with playtime. The event featured face painting, live performances and free food from local vendors.

According to the Free Library’s website, Words at Play is a grant-funded community literacy initiative with events taking place at the Cecil B. Moore and Widener libraries. The grant focuses on families with children up to five years of age and the program engages them through playing, singing and reading at “play parties.” Through these parties families learn new ways to strengthen their children’s vocabularies.

The Franklin Institute, the Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Zoo are among organizations collaborating to offer Words at Play. Additionally, PNC Grow Up Great and PNC Crezca con Exito have created a $350 million multi-year bilingual program similar to Words at Play to help Spanish-speaking children with their studies.

Resident Carrie Gardner was especially grateful for the distraction for children facing violence every day in the neighborhood.

“I think this is good what they’re doing,” Gardner said. “Imagine the trauma the children go through seeing dead bodies outside.”

Gardner herself has been affected by domestic violence and plans to start a non-profit called Hearts of Courage to help women and children experiencing violence within their homes and in the community.

Acting-librarian Tamica Brittingham said this was the second annual Words at Play Block Party. She explained the goal of the block party as encouraging children to learn and play together. The emphasis is on the importance of literacy and to urge people to take advantage of the library’s resources, she said.

“We want people to come to the library to have access to books,” Brittingham said.

Mother Evy and her three-year-old daughter Jayleen waited in line for a caricature drawings by illustrator/animator Jacob Greenawalt.

Some neighborhood businesses were inspired by Words at Play to spread the love of literacy throughout the community, and to attend the celebration. Jazz the Barber, as he is known, runs Creative Image Unisex Salon at 2737 Cecil B. Moore Ave. The salon recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of its barbershop book nook to promote literacy in the community. The book nook is a part of the shop where children can play and read while their parents are getting their hair done, Jazz said.

“For me, it’s a great addition to the shop,” Jazz said. “Parents come in and read with their children while being serviced.”

The ribbon cutting was celebrated on Thursday, May 12 with Mayor Jim Kenney attending and reading to children. Jazz also read a book called “Pete the Cat” to the children.

Words at Play also offers events at Free Library locations around the city, including pop-up play parties where children and parents read together. Families can also attend events at Words at Play partner locations.

The Words at Play program is also available for community events such as resource fairs where people can learn about the program.

Words at Play Outreach Coordinator Carrie Kreider said the theme of the block part was “family.” Children and parents were urged to observe how many families they saw, to discuss how families are alike and different and to make up a song about their own family.

Families were invited to participate in a scavenger hunt to find various items on a list including something green, something fuzzy, and orange bag and so on. Participants did not have to look far for orange bags, because everyone was carrying orange tote bags containing goodies from various vendors. Some of those goodies included reusable water bottles and pamphlets about the Free Library’s partners.

Live performances with positive messages about loving each other headlined the block party.

Music was provided throughout the day by DJ Bear One. Live performers featured were Joie Kathos, Storytime with Mama Carla and the Positive Movement Entertainment and Drill Team.

“We’ve got to learn how to live on this earth together,”  Kathos said. “I like to empower people with music.”

DJ Bear One asked Kathos how he became interested in using words as art.

Kathos replied that when he was young he was into words. When he entered the public school system, he was ostracized by his peers and bullied.

“But I was resilient because I had music,” Kathos said.

Joie Kathos performed songs about equality. He was bullied as a child, but he worked through the pain with his creativity.

The Positive Movement Entertainment and Drill Team, founded by Philadelphia resident Anitra Payne to help youth in violent communities to focus their energies on artistic endeavors such as storytelling and learning to play drums. Positive Movement’s motto is “Drop the guns. Pick up the drums.”

Payne told stories in the oral tradition of African call-and-response. One story was about West Africans being sold and shipped overseas to the United States as slaves.

Another story was about a girl slave who learned how to fly years after Africans forgot how to fly from slavery. Flying was a theme in African-American storytelling.

Another story she told was about anthropomorphic colors that all thought they were better than each other.

“Words have power,” she said. “If I say I can be something, I become it. Change your words. Make your own story.”

The Positive Movement Entertainment and Drill Team told stories in the oral and call-and-response traditions of West Africa and African-American slaves in America. Anitra Payne, pictured, was the founder of The Positive Movement.

One participating vendor was Maker Jawn, an organization for children to learn about science, technology and math. Young children grouped around the table elbow-to-elbow with paintbrushes in hand, swiping watercolor paints on litmus paper.

Ella Trujillo, a Maker Mentor with the program, explained that the litmus paper is normally used for testing pH levels in chemicals, and the children were using paintless watercolors on the paper so the pH levels in the liquids would become different colors on the litmus paper.

Cecil B. Moore Library, like all Free Library Branches, regularly schedules community events focused on literacy.  Wednesday, May 25th, the branch had an event called Freedom School: The Path to Education at 4 PM.

The focus of the event is on the punishments that people of African descent faced  for being educated in America.  Participants can learn about why education was and still is dangerous through the stories of influential people of African descent.

Ella Trujillo, a Maker Mentor at Maker Jawn, shows children how to use paintless water colors on litmus paper. Llitmus paper is normally used for testing pH levels in chemicals, and the children were using paintless watercolors on the paper so the pH levels in the liquids would become different colors on the litmus paper.

The branch also has a Juneteenth celebration scheduled for June 11th  to observe the African-American day of freedom. This year’s event will feature storytelling  with a group called Progeny’s Legacy Jama.

A list of events can be found at the Free Library’s website at www.freelibrary.org. •

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According to Philly.com, the closing of Mexican-Californian BYOB Isabel (2601 Pennsylvania Ave), which came just short of their 5th anniversary, will spark the relocation of Michael Poole and Van Chau’s Trio, a Thai-inspired BYOB currently located at 2624 Brown St.

Closing notice at Isabel./Patrick Clark

A note to customers from Trios’ owners states that the current location, “in reality … is too much restaurant for what we actually require and the rent and utilities made maintaining a profit a significant challenge.”

On Trio’s website, the restaurant describes its fare as “Pan-Asian cuisine with a heavy Thai influence, along with the warm service and hospitality that you would expect from a cozy neighborhood BYOB.” Their menu includes items like pan roasted atlantic salmon, crispy tofu with fresh ginger and thai basil fried rice.

Trios current location./Patrick Clark

Trio will remain open at the current location for now, with owners calling the new spot “Trio 2.0.” They say that Trio 2.0 will offer, in addition to the above, “Isabel/Mexican-inspired specials and Margarita mixers because hey, letting go ain’t easy.”

The post Trio is Relocating to Pennsylvania Ave Following Closing of Isabel appeared first on Spirit News.