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.

04-29-2010 Charles Mingus

This week brought some rather sad news for Philadelphia.  After 30 years of business, Ortleibs JazzHaus closed its doors.   A rather brief article stated the reason to be due to the economy but I was just there on Saturday, one day before the doors officially closed, and it was full of people.
My friends and I started at happy hours (they had great specials) and a $5 food menu that provided me with the largest delicious salad known to man.  So much great music has gone through the doors at this fine establishment that it is a real shame to see it go.  Long lost like these rolls of film I have featured at the left, I bid farewell to Ortleibs.  Please Philadelphia developers, don't turn this fabulously charming venue into another trendy restaurant just because its in No Libs, no offense Steven Starr.   Signing off with a Charles Mingus video for Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.

04-25-2010 Wild Sugar

 So, I went on a tour of the Philadelphia Brewery Company recently and I learned a lot about making beer but I also learned that my favorite PBC beers are either seasonal (Joe Porter) or a special limited edition run of this delicious Scotch Ale (NOTE TO PBC: if you're reading, please brew again.  thanks).  While I left empty handed, I learned that if I repeat the tour next fall, I will be able to purchase a case of Joe Porter all for my own (well, I'll share with friends).


I'm going to go out on a limb here with my musical connection and say that I chose Wild Sugar because sugar is a catalyst for yeast that is used in the fermentation process of beer, though honestly, its just been my current favorite spring time biking riding jam.  Either way...here you go.

04-21-2010 St. Etienne

Spring has finally arrived and with all of my travels and whatnot, I've neglected my blog.  But life has been busy and mysterious things have been happening in my life, so you should take my hiatus as a good sign.
To the left is proof of spring, taken in beautiful Rittenhouse Square .  I'm so happy to be able to eat my lunch outside again- it really makes my days so much more enjoyable. I like to get coffee from La Colombe or yogurt from Yogorino and sit in the park all day.  I often meet my friends before dance class, too.  Its the highlight of my warm weather seasons.

To celebrate spring, I'm going to choose a light hearted tune by St. Etienne appropriately titled "spring".  This is the Air France Remix version.

03-31-2010 Bobby Womack

so, i'm out in grand rapids michigan right now for work, sadly missing my philadelphia.  so hard to be away from both my home and the place i grew up right now because our dog, lilly, just gave birth to the first puppy of her very first litter.  and it's a boy!!! more to come i'm sure once the rest of the puppies are born and i get some pictures.

but before all of the excitement back home began, i was having a typical work travel day in grand rapids.  i ate some pretty decent food here and tonight i sat in a movie theater with two other people, who were also flying solo.  perhaps others on business trips???  i saw this indie film called fish tank on a whim...turns out its about a girl who's a little lost in life and turns to hip hop dancing to find herself in her chaotic surroundings.  i saw it in this art gallery space in the downtown area call the urban institute for contemporary art, where on my way into the theater i saw some cool art on the walls that were words spelled out in old cassette tape film.

the last night in my bed and breakfast too... leonard at logan where i'm staying in the princess cecille room complete with spa tub and heated floors in the bathroom.  if you ever end up here, i can highly recommend staying her.

in the movie fish tank, there is one song that predominates the film, and that's a version of california dreamin' by bobby womack, so i'll leave you with that.  good night grand rapids, hello philly tomorrow.

03-22-2010 Orange Juice

My birthday.

 
My birthday jam.  Simple as that.