Fairmount Park: Protecting the Water Supply
One of the largest urban green spaces in the nation sits right here in the City of Brotherly Love. With more than 10,000 acres of parks, trails and trees, Fairmount Park wasn’t originally created to build recreation centers with playgrounds and pools. It was created to protect the city’s water supply. To begin to understand […]
South Philadelphia: The City Unites over Soccer
The city will host the second annual Philadelphia International Unity Cup , a 48-team regional, World Cup soccer-style tournament, this fall with the final match set to take place at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 11. In addition to a highly competitive soccer match taking place that day, there will also be a parade of nations, where each team […]
Fairmount Park: Historic Homes Have Stories to Tell
The Charms of Fairmount Park are six historic houses with six different stories to tell. Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Woodford are maintained as historic house museums. Some people have visited all of them while others have never heard of them. In recent years, fewer people are visiting the […]
Germantown: From Liberia To Philadelphia, Strengthening Community With History And Art
Trapeta Mayson has lived in the Germantown community for 20 years. She has served as the executive director at Historic Germantown since August 2014 and feels like it is a perfect fit for her interests. Mayson was born in Liberia before immigrating to the United States in May 1975 with her parents, Rebecca and Lysander, […]
Germantown: Bringing The Farm Life To The City
Philadelphia holds the fifth largest city population in the United States and largely is made up of rowhomes and businesses along busy streets. One of the major identifiers for large cities is that the high quantity of buildings leads to fewer green spaces than there are in rural areas. Located at 215 E. Penn St., Germantown […]
West Oak Lane: Flowers Bring Family Closer
It all started in Virginia. The 15-year-old Paul Beale would rush to the flower shop after school and on weekends to be able to work with flowers. “I’ve always wanted to work with flowers,” Beale said. “It makes me feel closer to nature. You get to have so many different options to work with.” Shortly […]
West Philadelphia: A Slice of Japan in Fairmount Park
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is getting ready for a partial roof replacement later this summer. While most might find this subject to be of no interest, there is actually a unique story behind it. The roof on the home is made out of hinoki bark. “Hinoki roofs are a pretty rare thing to find […]
Manayunk: Q&A With A Local Legend Who Turned His Life Around
After a traumatic accident, doctors told Dave Scarpello he would never walk again. The Manayunk native who has lived in the area for 32 years, proved them wrong. He ran in the Broad Street Run this year, spent his days on disability participating in running clubs, started the Roxborough Manayunk News Facebook page and became a […]
Parks and Recreation: Five Spots in Philly’s Urban Outdoors for Canoodling
Philadelphia is a city with around 10,000 acres of parks and plazas open to the public where the environments are conducive to romance and well, making out. Water Works There are lush gardens surrounding fountains in this historic landmark and gathering place on Kelly Drive adjacent to the Art Museum. Along with being a park adorned with benches, it is also a popular place for […]
Northwest: The Craft Beer Industry Is Booming. Here’s Why.
Twenty years ago, when Philly entrepreneur Harry Renner and restaurateur Michael Rose decided to open up a brewpub in a former cotton mill factory on Main Street, they didn’t know what to expect. They were one of the first new craft breweries to open in the city. “It was Harry Renner’s vision,” Rose said. “He had […]