South Phila. People & Places

Flip the Script (Part 7): 65 More Ways to Beat the Blues

/ unexpectedphila / 4 Comments

When we dreamed up our anti-angst, South Philadelphia window project this summer,  we knew this election season was going to get rough.

16_10_21-1-vote-tasker-side-dc_8280Click here to learn more about the upbeat artists in our lighted windows at E. Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street – and our quest to photograph hundreds more smiling Philadelphians.

But we had no idea how ugly it was going to get….

16_11_3-kate-in-door-2-dc_1289Go away!   I’ll be out on Nov. 9….of,  uhm,  2020.

NO  RETREAT,  BABY….

But it’s hard to abandon all hope when you can still find such goodness right outside your studio door.

So we are especially happy today to share more photos taken during last Saturday’s East Passyunk Fall Fest — along with another group of artists we’d like to introduce….

Continue reading →

Flip the Script (Part 6): Meet 8 More of Our Window Artists

/ unexpectedphila

Over the past several posts,  we’ve told you about many of the 28 artists,  writers,  musicians and performers who appear in our South Philadelphia window display.   (And,  yes,  if you’re not familiar with our pre-election,  anti-angst campaign,  you can read about it here.)

Today,  we’ll tell you about the remaining 8 artists overlooking South Philadelphia’s popular “singing fountain”….

16_10_02-4-passyunk-windows-cm_5590The view on our second and third floors at East Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street….

16_10_02-15-asa-maisie-cm_5576….and the bottom line on our first floor.

Continue reading →

Flip the Script (Part 5): Halloween Edition

/ unexpectedphila

When we opened our South Philadelphia studio on Saturday,  over 130 people poured in to add their upbeat images to our anti-election-stress,  flip-the-script photo campaign….

16_10_25-01-vote-corner-view-dc_0137Click here to learn about those reassuring artists and musicians in our windows – and the hundreds of other Philadelphians we’re photographing for our blog.

THERE’S  SOMETHING  STRANGE  IN  YOUR  NEIGHBORHOOD

Given that the East Passyunk Avenue Fall Fest was in full swing Saturday,  it’s no surprise that the crowd included a mad mix of superheroes,  frogs,  princesses and one extremely large chicken.

So to celebrate Halloween,  we’re featuring all our costumed  players and their parents today.

And,  yes,  even the bear and the chicken got along this weekend – which makes us think there’s an over-sized metaphor there for this high-stress election season….

Continue reading →

Flip the Script (Part 4): Beat the Election Blues, Dumpster Diver Style

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

Over the past several posts, we’ve told you about our new South Philadelphia window display,  a do-it-yourself remedy for the pre-election blues….

16_10_21-1-vote-tasker-side-dc_8280Twenty-eight smiling artists light up our windows at E. Passyunk & Tasker to remind you that the apocalypse isn’t quite here yet.

And,  yes,  regular readers of our  Unexpected Philadelphia  blog and website might recognize a few familiar faces…..

16_10_28-3-window-dumpster-diversSay, haven’t I wandered through your living room?

Continue reading →

Flip the Script (Part 3): A Cure for the Pre-Election Blues

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

Sometimes the anger and angst on the national stage makes it impossible to see the goodness on your own corner.

That’s why we gathered over two dozen Philadelphia artists,  writers,  performers and musicians,  and asked them to pose for our windows holding upbeat signs with words like create,  collaborate,  envision and – yes – VOTE….

16_10_25-01-vote-corner-view-dc_0137Click here to learn more about our pre-election window display on the corner E. Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street.

16_10_02-9-tasker-street-photos-cm_5602You can see it just across  from South Philadelphia’s  “Singing Fountain”  through election week.

WE CAN WORK IT OUT

That’s also why today – and several more times until the election – we’ll share photos here of scores more optimistic Philadelphians holding these same signs.

And,  yes,  they really are out there by the thousands – even though it’s sometimes hard to see them through the haze of the evening news….

Continue reading →

Flip the Script (Part 2): Meet Our Window Artists & Join Them on our Blog!

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

Earlier this month, we told you about our upbeat new South Philadelphia window exhibit – a non-partisan response to the soul-draining divisiveness and election angst in the news right now.

16_10_21-1-vote-tasker-side-dc_8280Show me a sign:  28 local artists share positive messages from our windows at the corner of E. Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street.

After all,  if we can’t come together to make things better here,  then who in the world can?

PASS  IT  ON…

Starting today, and continuing through Election Day,  we’ll introduce you to the artists who generously agreed to help us “flip the script”.

We’ll also share dozens more photos of good-hearted Philadelphians who grabbed a sign and added their optimism to our campaign.   (And,  yes,  read on to learn how you can join them on our blog between now and Election Day.)

16_10_21-2-miguel-horn-karen-benson_5563Artists Miguel Antonio Horn and Karen Benson help light up our lives – and the corner across from South Philadelphia’s “singing fountain”.

Continue reading →

Sounds of South Philly: Mural Dedication & Nov. 4 Bandstand Book Party

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

Last week,  we told you about the planned dedication for the new “South Philly Musicians Remix” mural by Mural Arts Philadelphia.

16_10_18-1-south-philly-musicians-remix-dc_5127There’s a new crew hanging out at Broad and Tasker Streets.

And,  yes,  it features local luminaries  (from left)  Eddie Fisher,  Fabian Forte,  Bobby Rydell,  Frankie Avalon,  Jerry Blavat,  Al Martino,  Chubby Checker,  Charlie Gracie and James Darren,  along with tributes to Bob Horn’s and Dick Clark’s Bandstand shows.  (Click here to see our close-up photos of the mural.)

PAINT  AROUND  THE  CLOCK

But Philadelphia mural artist Eric Okdeh had another surprise up his paint-covered sleeve last week when he revealed the final honoree….

16_10_18-2-danny-cedrone-cm_5726Guitar virtuoso Danny Cedrone

Continue reading →

Celebrate South Philly’s Music Legacy on Oct. 15!

/ unexpectedphila / 8 Comments

When  Mural Arts Philadelphia announced it would retire “Sounds of Philadelphia”,  its crumbling homage to South Philadelphia’s mid-century music legends at 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue,  the opposition was….well, spirited.

16_10_11-1-original-mural-dc_0870The painted clock is running down for Peter Pagast’s beloved 2005 mural honoring Fabian Forte,  Frankie Avalon,  Bobby Rydell,  Chubby Checker,  Jerry Blavat,  Al Martino and Eddie Fisher.

 The building behind it had deteriorated,  and developers planned a four-story structure in front of it.

The cost of re-creating it elsewhere was prohibitive,  and there were hundreds of other mural projects already in line.

Continue reading →

Election Year Blues: Help Us Flip the Script!

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

This year,  we struggled with finding a new topic for our annual holiday window display.

We’d already displayed photos of our South Philadelphia neighbors and of local celebrities from the 1960s….

16_09_27-12-neighbor-windows-dc_6507

What was left?   South Philadelphia restaurant owners?    Current local celebrities?    Favorite Philly athletes?   (Way too controversial!)

But one topic kept intruding in our heads.

ELECTION  STRESS  DISORDER

Like many people,  we’ve been beaten down by the soul-draining divisiveness in the country this year.

Violence.    Name-calling.   Corruption.   Terrorism.   Racial and religious divides.   Following the news – particularly the election news – you’d think that the country and the entire human race were sliding down that greased pole to hell.

16_10_02-2-kate-newspapers-dc_8245“Uhm,  Dave,  do you have the comics?”

 And,  yes,  it even has a name:   Election Stress Disorder,  and everyone we knew had symptoms.

Continue reading →

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time….

/ unexpectedphila / 2 Comments

“You will do foolish things,  but do them with enthusiasm.”   Colette

After four years of postponing outside repairs on our South Philadelphia home,  we finally decided to bite the proverbial paintbrush.

Not because the building desperately needed painting,  but because our metal bump-out windows had so many leaks that birds were nesting inside….

16_09_27-1-linn-street-before-dc_6305“Besides,  I am so over this green and tan color scheme….”

 SHOW  ME  THE  MONEY

So this summer,  we dug into our piggy bank and hired Mexcon,  the  cheerful, talented, and very popular local cooperative that has helped us with everything from kitchen cabinets to sidewalk repair…

16_09_27-2-linn-scaffolding-cm_3860Heaven bless those Mexcon guys,  who spent endless days in the 90-degree heat sanding and repairing our vintage bay windows

Continue reading →