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Philaphemera
A 1894 Harper's magazine article that City Paper discovered (via Philly Speaks) describes North Philly as "by far the largest and most beautiful section of Penn's city" and "like Chicago on a very small scale, with the important advantage that it is much cleaner." It goes on to call Kensington "paradise," where "every laboring man is a landed proprietor and every woman the mistress of her own house," and nicknames Philadelphia "The City of Homes."
You can read an original clip of the piece here. Or here:
"North Philadelphia, which was referred to in the early part of this article as New Philadelphia, is by far the largest and most beautiful section of Penn's city, but it is for the most part of very recent date, and it has, I believe, no history.
I can describe it generally no better than to say that it is like Chicago on a very small scale, with the important advantage that it is much cleaner. The men who have made money in North Philadelphia have, for the most part, preferred to there live out their lives and have, with few exceptions, shown a desire to be accounted members of the society of old Philadelphia. They have built beautiful homes and great blocks of massive business houses. They have gone away from their own town and brought back all those things which give a home individuality and beauty.
There may be much that is showy and ostentatious in this new town, but its display is not of tinsel. In their homes, as in their offices and places of amusement, they have spent money with a lavish hand, and they have done it wisely.
North Broad Street has its own society and its own amusements. Theatrical companies move from the theatres of old Philadelphia to those of the new town with the knowledge that they will play to as different a community as if they had taken a railway journey of many hours. And yet the theatres may not be ten blocks apart. It is simply because they are on the opposite sides of that great dividing line — Market Street.
Still further north of this modern city lies Kensington, the paradise of small houses where every laboring man is a landed proprietor and every woman the mistress of her own house. There are miles and miles of these little brick homes, encircling the old town on all sides, with their white facings and marble steps. Here is the first cause of the prosperity, the vast magnitude, and, above all, the health and happiness of this great manufacturing city, in which the skilled laborer with small pay must necessarily play so important a part. Here also is to be found the inspiration for that name which so aptly tells the secret of the Philadelphian's love for his Philadelphia — 'The City of Homes.'"
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| Photo | Sorbagi |
I found these at the bodega on the corner of Sixth and Tasker streets.
Besides the fact that condoms are, kinda by nature, anti-family doesn't the phrase "family condoms" gross you out? Especially next to pictures of sexy gals squeezing their armpits, with titles like "Sweet Love" and "Erotic Sensation" above them?
You may have seen a lot of references to Askadelphia on this site as of late, and you may be wondering what it is.
Simply enough, Askadelphia is a community forum for asking questions and getting answers. Questions can be about any topic, but tend to focus on things happening in and around Philadelphia.
That's it! Anyone can ask, anyone can answer.
We've received some feedback, so here are some replies to frequently asked questions:
Is it difficult to sign up?
Not at all; you can even use your Facebook account if you prefer.
Why do I have to log in to ask or answer questions?
So that the system can keep track of what you've done. Feel free to use an alias.
I'm on Twitter and can receive answers to my questions there. Why use Askadelphia?
Twitter is great for fast info, but tweets tend to fade into Internet history rather quickly. Askadelphia can serve as an archive for questions and answers. Plus, it can be seen by many more people than just those on Twitter.
What am I waiting for?
I don't know! Find out answers to your questions. Teach people what you know. Get on it!
City Paper Editor in Chief Brian Howard asks:
What's the best place to watch the Mummers Parade?
Are you a member of Facebook?
Askadelphia runs on Facebook Connect.
Do you have your own answer to one of the most popular questions on the brand new Askadelphia?
Where's your favorite view of the Philly skyline?
The answers have been wide and varied. What's your answer?
Or do you have an answer for...
Choice thrift stores in the city?
Askadelphia. is a forum for, by and about Philly.
Your Questions. Your Answers. Your City.
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| Drew Lazor |
Huffington Post is reporting that General Electric has reached an agreement to buy out Vivendi's stake in NBC Universal. This sets the stage for Comcast to buy a 51% stake in the entertainment behemoth.
Leaving aside arguments against mass media giants leading to propagandized futures filled with uni-minded zombies, I find the news interesting on a Philadelphia front. I would imagine it would create jobs in general as well as make the new Comcast Tower a major hub in the entertainment industry.
What do you think? Would Comcast ownership of NBC Universal be beneficial to Philadelphia?
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| Elizabeth Robertson | Inquirer |
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| Her first buyer's remorse. |
While cruising Frankord Avenue's First Friday this weekend, I came across a batch of quirky trading cards in Rocket Cat Cafe and Highwire Gallery. Called "Recessive Traits" cards, they juxtapose illustrations of children's book characters with images of M&Ms and supermodels. What makes 'em interesting are the witty captions at the bottom, which comment on the allure of commercial products and the transition from childhood to adulthood.
For instance, below a picture of a little boy looking eagerly at two cartons of cigarettes, the caption reads, "It was then that Billy made the choice that would haunt him forever: Winston or Marlboro." Or, describing a toddler with Reese's candy in his lap: "He would miss his family, that was true, but now he had something far sweeter to love."
The artist who's responsible for this work is Ken Miller, a Philadelphian and member of Highwire Gallery. You can buy his T-shirts, bags and greeting cards on recessivetraits.com, but the trading cards are nowhere to be found online. I'd like to do what the back of the cards tell me to and "Collect them all!" Clog readers, do you know where else I could find them?
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