05-13-2010 Air Miami

and I'm off...first a flight to Milwaukee for the American Institute for Conservation's annual conference, which occurs annually in various cities.  Currently I hold the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Photographic Materials Group, a specialty group for photograph conservators.  We have decided to host our reception for the group at the Pabst Mansion (if you live in Philly, you'll be stoked about this.  PBR is a beer staple in this city).  I'm looking forward of delivering you some bizarre imagery from my trip there.  AND leg two of my trip involves a visit to Pittsburgh, where I will be seeing those puppies I mentioned a few months back.  More pictures to come, I promise.

While I hate to leave, I guess I have to get out of this city sometime.  And in light of my upcoming airport travel, I leave you will the Air Miami video for Airplane Rider.

05-10-2010 Screamin' Jay Hawkins

mmmmm....hot tofu soup.   this is so delicious and one of my favorite meals.  it was probably the best idea i had today, seeing that the weather was quite chilly and nothing warms you up more than a boiling bowl of spicy soup.  if you haven't been and you live in philly, you need to check this out.
totally out of the way but totally worth the drive, jong ka jib (soft tofu restaurant) is a real gem of the city.  this whole meal you see before you was (hold your breath) $9.00!  and it's a byo!

i know you're jealous....


and just like the soup, you know you made me love you...screamin' jay hawkins

05-09-2010 Unrest

I know that sometimes I get really sentimental here about my city, but it is really nights like these and places like this with incredible views that make me really love Philadelphia.  This view is north of Chinatown on the roof of the Vox Populi building.  I happen to be at a party with someone who was kind enough to share this amazing place with me.

For those who don't know me personally, I have lived in almost all of the major east coast cities as well as many other places in the mid atlantic and even in the midwest.  And in all of those places I have found little things here and there that I loved but never have I desired to live in a place as much as I have loved living in Philly.  So much, I moved back stat after grad school.  This place always takes a back seat to our larger, more metropolitan neighbor to the north, but if you ask me as someone who has lived in both places, Philly wins hands down.  It has everything you want:  top notch restaurants, great art scene, tons of live music, a wealth of history of this country, the largest city park in the US (take that central park), etc without the high cost of living.  You may argue with me, and I welcome this, but when it's all said and done, I am grateful to call this place home.

And speaking of our music scene, I just bought a ticket to see UNREST on their limited engagement tour.  I have to admit that my few recent reunion style tours have sorta sucked eggs, my hopes remain high still that this one will be a success.  So on that note, I will leave you will a video by Unrest- still one of my favorite songs by them- make out club.  enjoy!

05-02-2010 Mazzy Star

I know it's only May but it feels more like a summer day in mid August here in Philly.  The temperatures are climbing and the humidity is evident in the air.  Yet I made the most of it this weekend escaping the oppressive heat of the concrete jungle for the more soothing breezes of the trees in Bartram's Gardens.  It happens to be the oldest botanical garden in the United States.  Nestled in a neighborhood I've never been in before in Southwest Phila, it's just far enough off the beaten path to seem rural but close enough to still catch a glimpse of the city skyline.  The day I went there was a plant sale and Yards was giving away refreshing beer on the premises.

Post garden tour was a visit to Franklin Fountain where I enjoyed some old fashion ice cream-always a good choice on a hot day.  Following that, I made my way to the Fleisher Art Memorial for an art opening of Tetsugo Hyakuttake, Scott Kip (photo featured above) and Brenna K Murphy.  The photograph I've added is just a glimpse of this incredibly crafted art installation that greatly utilized depth perception and voyeurism.  It will be running through the end of June, so I highly recommend you get yourself over there and have a look.

I'm feeling a dreamy summer jam for today, as per afternoon discussions over ice cream.  Mazzy Star.