Over the past four weeks,  we’ve photographed scores of optimistic Philadelphians in our home studio,  as part of our pre-election,  anti-angst photo campaign…

Click here to learn more about the smiling artists in our windows at E. Passyunk Avenue & Tasker Street – and our quest to show hundreds more upbeat Philadelphians on our blog.

ON  THE  STREET  WHERE  WE  LIVE…

Today we’ll stroll our South Philadelphia neighborhood to introduce you to just a handful of the equally upbeat business people and customers we’ve met during our four years here….

Metro Mens Clothing,  Halo Hair

Amelie’s Bark Shop,  Izumi restaurant

Black ‘n Brew coffee cafe

Black ‘n Brew coffee cafe,  Mexcon construction

Mexcon construction,  1540 Hardware

1540 Hardware

Urban Jungle – for urban gardeners

Urban Jungle,  B2 Cafe,  Sweat Fitness

Sweat Fitness

Keep It Clean With Raylene  (and,  yes,  we definitely do!)

Sort of puts the evening news in perspective,  doesn’t it?

And, yes,  as the locals know,  this is only a tiny sample of the shops and dining possibilities in a 3-block radius of our home,  smack in the middle of East Passyunk’s celebrated restaurant row – named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the “10 Best Foodie Streets in America”.   (See the full list here.)

…AND  THE  STREET  ACROSS  TOWN

Of course,  South Philadelphia doesn’t have a pre-election lock on positive vibes.

Last February,  we told you about the Blue Grotto, the fabulous art environment created by Philadelphia Dumpster Diver Randy Dalton in Powelton Village’s Community Education Center (CEC).

The CEC,  if you haven’t visited,  is a non-profit performing arts center and artists’ incubator at 3500 Lancaster Avenue.   Classes range from tai chi and capoeira  (a Brazilian martial art)  to flamenco dance and improv theatre,  and they frequently host art shows and performances.

We stopped by on a recent evening and added even more uplifting faces to our inventory,  including several musicians and participants in Cachet Ivey’s African dance class…..

CEC Executive Director Theresa Shockley,  Building Manager Scott Maits

And,  yes,  we left feeling very much better about the universe….

TUNE  IN  AGAIN  ON  MONDAY

So,  join us again Monday before heading to the polls to see a new set of reassuring faces,  including many from our Oct. 29 open house.

Until then – no matter how unsettling the news gets (and we all know it will) –  just remind yourself:

Yes,  you can….

….flip that script!

Kate & Dave  (Click here to see Part 10 or click here to scroll back through all our pre-election, anti-angst posts.)