Getting your homework done is a little easier with the incentive of rocking out on a guitar after.
Earlier this year we mentioned Rock to the Future, an afterschool program that one of our clients, Jessica McKay, began to provide students the opportunity to learn a musical instrument while getting homework assistance. Now we’re happy to report that the homework is getting done and the rocking out is not far behind.
Students from Rock to the Future will play their first annual holiday concert on December 18, 2010 at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 1542 East Montgomery Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., at 6:00 p.m. for the community. A $5.00 donation is suggested and refreshments will be served.
“We invite the community to come out and support our students for their first concert,” said McKay. “We’re looking forward to a great evening for the whole family. The students will play a variety of holiday songs, covers from the Beatles and some original music.”
Founded in 2010, Rock to the Future, is the only program of its kind in the city, which combines an afterschool music education and youth development program, at no cost to students. It is open to Philadelphia students between the ages 9-14. The program focuses on incorporating music education with academics to create success in school and in life by improving cognitive thinking, learning capacity, socialization skills, self-esteem and creative thinking. Students learn to play an instrument – their choice of guitar, bass guitar, drums, vocals or keyboards – and also receive homework help. Students attend the program every day after school at the Atonement Lutheran Church in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. During the course of the year, the students will work together to write new, original music and attend free educational and musical seminars and workshops. All donations support Rock to the Future.
For more information, contact McKay at 610.416.6742 jessica@phillyrock.org.
It’s a foggy, misty day in Philadelphia. How to brighten the outlook? With the power of electricity and design, of course. Lighting is so important in how a home looks, whether you’re trying to sell it or you just moved in. A new place may need completely different lighting depending on your windows and what direction you are facing. We looked to a few well-lit sources for lighting ideas beyond your typical dust-catching chandeliers and table lamps:
Classic Lighting Emporium has moved its Old City location over to Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, and it’s the place to be if you’re looking for antique lighting from 1860 to 1960. If you have antique lighting and are in need of restoration, this is the spot. Poke around the warehouse and see if you can find something that will light your fire.
Classic Lighting Emporium
1105 Frankford Ave.
1-800-536-7674
Busybee Homestore & Design Center has opened its doors on South St. and they are letting in the light. We spotted some gorgeous arc floor lamps that really shine in larger spaces. We also saw some tall candlestick holders that would bring a warm glow to a long dining table, and plenty of candles so that you can spread the light wherever you wish.
Busybee Homestore & Design Center
734 South St.
If you’re looking for some modern light in your life, then Artemide in Old City has some Fall Specials just for you. Through November 30, a selection of LED, desk lamps, floor lamps, and suspension lights are marked down hundreds of dollars off of the list price.
Tattoos aren’t for everybody. But for houses? We think we love it. It gives a modern home some distinction from all of the other new construction projects that are going up. It’s not enough to just be sleek these days, you’ve got to accessorize well.
We spoke with Nic Darling of Postgreen to see what inspired the inkage:
“The house tattoos came out of discussions with Brian Phillips of ISA, our architect. We demand a fairly simple structure for cost and efficiency reasons. This often means, among other things, no unnecessary corners and a single material on the facade. In other words, we give our architects a fairly limited palette to work with. So, we often end up in discussions about how to add depth and texture to a simple flat facade. Printing on or applying graphics to the exterior came out of these discussions. The name “house tattoo” followed soon after, and we all got very excited about the potential.”
Have you seen house tattoos elsewhere?
“After we started working on the idea we noticed house tattoos elsewhere (though under different names). There was a particular home in Australia (I think) that had some trees printed on part of its facade material. We also began to think of Philly as literally covered with a form of building tattoos. They are, of course, better known as murals, but the concept is similar. In creating the house tattoos for the Skinny Project, we didn’t feel that far from a tradition with which Philly is already somewhat comfortable. That said, the application technique and design was still intended to be bold and different.”
Is this something we will see in further projects from Postgreen?
“We definitely hope to use the tattoo concept again. In fact, we would like to see it migrate inside the house. We have concepts for custom wall graphics that could be available in our home customization tool and a line of cabinet doors that uses the work of local artists to create interesting textures and designs. I think, while one has to be careful of the design, that graphics are an affordable way to add interest and differentiate an otherwise simple moment in a home.”
What do you think? Would you ever get a tattoo on your home?
This holiday season, we have a new construction listing on Collins Street in Fishtown/East Kensington that we are really excited about. And while we were exploring the area, we noticed something else nearby, the Walking Fish Theatre, just a few blocks away. They are currently promoting their Holiday Show, B. Someday Productions’A FRACTURED CHRISTMAS CAROL. They describe it as:
“A Fractured Christmas Carol is a slap-dash, fast-paced, family-friendly adaptation of a favorite holiday ghost story with loads of audience interaction for everyone–young and old. Opening Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 2:00pm and running until December 30 at Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Avenue, Phila, PA 19125. Tickets are $5 for children and $8 for adults. Every Wednesday show is Pay-what-you-can.
All your favorite characters are updated. Meet Scrooge (Emma Dietel-O’Neill, 11), Jacob “Bob” Marley (Johnny Smith), The Ghost of Christmas Present from da Hood (Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez), the Ghost of Christmas Past, Curley from the Three Stooges (Michael Trainor, 13) and more!”
Show dates and times:
Saturday, Dec 11 @ 2pm
Sunday, Dec 12 @ 2pm
Friday, Dec 17 @ 7pm – Press Opening
Saturday, Dec 18 @ 2pm & 4pm
Sunday, Dec 19 @ 2pm & 4pm
Wednesday, Dec 21 @ 7pm
Thursday, Dec 22 @ 7pm
Friday, Dec 23 @ 7pm
Wednesday, Dec 28 @ 4pm
Thursday, Dec 29 @ 4pm
Friday, Dec 30 @ 4pm
So, we hope you come to check out A Fractured Christmas Carol during the holidays and take a walk around Fishtown. If you would like a tour of Collins St. before or after the show, be sure to schedule a showing with us!
Every year, First Friday in Fishtown continues to grow, as new galleries and businesses fill out the neighborhood and bring exciting works and wares into the fray. We scanned November’s First Friday schedule and look forward to checking out some of the latest participants:
Craft Foundry – A destination for handcrafted jewelry and book-binding, with craft classes such as Greeting Cards and Decorative Papers. For every book that is sold, a tree is planted in collaboration with Eco-Libris.
701 Belgrade Street
267-977-8499
Kensington Yoga and Reiki – We heard about the recent opening of this yoga studio which offers a sliding payment scale that is income-based with no questions asked. It puts classes at a budget-friendly range of $5-$15.
2042-46 Amber Street First Floor
267-593-4962
The Lola Bean – The Frankford Avenue coffeeshop has opened recently, and they’ll be having a reception featuring multi media works by Henry Bermudez & Michelle Marcuse during First Friday. In addition to cheese and wine, check out their regular offerings, which include apple cider with whipped cream and the LolaCinno.
One of our newest neighbors is bringing new meaning to “Borrowing a cup of sugar” from the house next door.
The SugarHouse Casino. Not what you would expect us to write about in our “Meet Your Neighbors” spot of our newsletter, huh? Well, this neighbor quite literally sits on one of the sweetest pieces of Real Estate in Philadelphia. They are located on the rivers edge overlooking the Ben Franklin Bridge to the South and the winding Delaware River bank from the North. SugarHouse’s waterfront view were held hostage for decades by an unmanaged, pollution ravaged, and ignored site that was once the location of a long forgotten sugar refinery in use from 1881-1984.
Ironically the news that SugarHouse was moving to the neighborhood was not so sweet, at least not according to the neighbors, community associations, and Casino-Free Philadelphia members who feared the worst would happen if a casino took up residence at the old refinery site. For the people who live in the riverside communities such as Old City, Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and Port Richmond, we had been looking at the SugarHouse site for the past couple of years with mixed emotions. Our SugarHouse neighbor was under a significant amount of scrutiny from the City of Brotherly Love.
With the many proposals, the city red tape, and countless protests behind them, the SugarHouse Casino opened their doors in October welcoming the community with open arms even though they were not overwhelmingly supported. We stopped by to check out the new neighbor. We thought we’d ask to “borrow a cup of sugar”. Since our office and home is a stone’s throw from the casino, we drive by often only to report that the parking lot seems to be filled with plenty of cars and people enjoying the entertainment being offered.
* 45,000 square feet of gaming floor
* A mix of the newest slot machines
* Live table games, including: o Blackjack o Craps o Roulette o Mini Baccarat o Pai Gow Poker o Three-card Poker o Four-card Poker
3 Restaurants
So, has everyone shaken hands and made amends with the casino? Well, not exactly. The community still launches negative comments about what the future holds for Philadelphia and criticism has been heard on the streets about everything from being a lackluster architectural specimen to failing to cater to a high end audience. The positive comments are from those that love gaming as a form of entertainment and from those that simply see SugarHouse as a riverfront pioneer with the revenue to build a walkway and bike path behind the casino that provides public access to the long forgotten majestic Delaware River. Perhaps The SugarHouse Casino development can be the catalyst that will really sweeten up Philadelphia’s most neglected feature.
We hope you enjoy our pictorial introduction of our featured neighbor. If you have not visited, we recommend it. Even if you do not gamble, you can make SugarHouse one stop as you tour Northern Liberties, Liberties Walk, and visit us The Somers at our office at 1033 N 2nd Street, 5th Floor of the oval shaped building in the Piazza.
Beautiful property in Fishtown! Renovated from top to bottom!! First floor features spacious Living Room, formal Dining Room, and modern kitchen with ceramic floor and backsplash. Second floor has three large bedrooms and new ceramic hall bath. Full semi-finished basement with ceramic floor,powder room, and new heater. Freshly painted throughout, new C/A, and rear yard.
When there’s a chill in the air…Let us invite you to come inside for our December Meet the Builders Tour in Fishtown.
We’ll officially announce the date of December’s Tour soon, but until then, we can only promise that we are hard at work on what will be our best tour yet! Not only will we be touring the latest new construction in Fishtown, we’ll also get a taste of what the neighborhood is known for: fine beer. Who should attend?
Rehabbers and Investors looking for tips
Those who want to get to know the area
Buyers looking for more information
Curious consumers that want to be in the know
If you can’t wait that long, we’ve got a sneak peek opportunity for you. Remax Access will be hosting a Broker’s Open on November 4 at 2568 and 2570 Collins St., our 2 New Construction Homes in the Fishtown/East Kensington neighborhood. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Please contact the Somers Team if you would like to attend.
Are you the kind of person who is always looking ahead for something new, something unique, something that will really satisfy your love of craft and functionality? Are you drawn to the energy of an emerging neighborhood, do you appreciate craftsmanship whether it be a building or a well crafted beer?
Now for the 2 New Construction Homes that puts you where the brew is…
2568-70 Collins Street is the location of two 3 Story New Construction Projects with Garage Parking, Balcony, Yard, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, and a 10 year Tax Abatement. Modern amenities such as the Fresca vanity at left. Both properties are priced at $275,00. That’s a deal we could drink to.
Wouldn’t it be nice…To spend your weekends cooking with fresh, local produce from nearby Greensgrow Farm? Have brunch at Memphis Taproom, enjoy several cups of coffee at Leotah’s Place, check out a neighborhood meeting at NKCDC and get to know your locals, then head on over to a homestyle Yugoslavian dinner at Jovan’s Place. You’re located right next to the Frankford Arts Corridor, which has undergone recent streetscape improvements should you fancy a leisurely bike ride.
Stay tuned for a peek at the interiors of these unique new construction properties as they near completion!
A pumpkin patch in Fishtown? Believe it. Instead of hopping in your car and making a trip to a farm to visit a pumpkin patch, you can walk or bike over to Penn Treaty Park for their Halloween Hoedown on Saturday, October 23. There will be hayrides and live music from 10 am – noon.
And check out the Harvest in the Hood video from Philadelphia Brewing Company, which is bound to make you smile and make you thirsty for their latest brew, an ale that is described as having “a deep auburn color and vibrant hop aroma.” Look for it on your local taps.
Getting your homework done is a little easier with the incentive of rocking out on a guitar after.
It’s a foggy, misty day in Philadelphia. How to brighten the outlook? With the power of electricity and design, of course. Lighting is so important in how a home looks, whether you’re trying to sell it or you just moved in. A new place may need completely different lighting depending on your windows and what direction you are facing. We looked to a few well-lit sources for lighting ideas beyond your typical dust-catching chandeliers and table lamps:
They’re skinny. They have tattoos. They’re invading Fishtown.
This holiday season, we have a new construction listing on 
Every year, First Friday in 
One of our newest neighbors is bringing new meaning to “Borrowing a cup of sugar” from the house next door.
Are you the kind of person who is always looking ahead for something new, something unique, something that will really satisfy your love of craft and functionality? Are you drawn to the energy of an emerging neighborhood, do you appreciate craftsmanship whether it be a building or a well crafted beer?
with Garage Parking, Balcony, Yard, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, and a 10 year Tax Abatement. Modern amenities such as the Fresca vanity at left. Both properties are priced at $275,00. That’s a deal we could drink to.
A pumpkin patch in 
