Around the Square Summer Review 2016
We’re social.
Table of Contents President’s Welcome .................................................................. 1 Tips for Adopting a Pet ............................................................... 3 Furry Friends Spotlignt: Meet Daxby & Eddie Spaghetti........
Facebook Friends of Rittenhouse Square Little Friends of Rittenhouse Square Young Friends of Rittenhouse Square
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18th Annual LFRS Festival ............................................................ 6 Young Friends of Rittenhouse: Ball on the Square.................... 8 Ball on the Square....................................................................... 12 Ball on the Square Patron Party................................................. 20 The Formal Gardens.................................................................... 22 Upcoming Events......................................................................... 25
Donate Your Time The friends are always looking for volunteers who can donate their time to help Rittenhouse Square. Throughout the year there are a bevy of different projects that we could use extra help with in the office. From general administrative work like invitation mailings to more crafty antler and holiday give-away assembly - a few hours of your time could make a huge difference. We are also always looking for extra event staff! Please contact 267-586-5675 or
info@friendsofrittenhouse.org to let us know if you are able to help.
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President’s Welcome: It always feels like summer flies by after our June fundraising events. Thank you to everyone who worked on and supported these events. The Little Friends Festival had a record-breaking 900+ attendees, the Young Friends Ball had a presenting sponsor for the first time and with the addition of a new garden tent, the Ball on The Square was able to hold an additional 100 guests this year. While these events are important fundraisers for our organization, they are also a time for friends, neighbors and the community to come together. Each year, I continue to be surprised and moved by the generosity and support of all of you. This June we saw the unveiling of our new formal gardens within The Square. It is wonderful to have the formal gardens planted and to see the concept realized. The commitment of our supporters has allowed The Friends to make tremendous improvements to Rittenhouse Square. The formal garden renovations were a very different type of improvement project for us to embark on. While the scope of the 2013 historic restorations was significantly larger in cost, the decisions involved were very straight-forward. Reviewing landscape architect drawings and making aesthetic decisions that would impact the future landscape of the park was daunting. A great deal of time and thought was put into the project, and I am so pleased with the outcome. These new gardens will only get better and better as they establish and FRIENDS SQUARE Square. become a true jewel ofRITTENHOUSE Rittenhouse of
The city sidewalk project should also be done in the next few weeks. While the repairs to the sidewalks were definitely needed, to the Friends of Rittenhouse Square in 2016. Your support makes our mission I think we are all ready to see the work completed. This project utifying The Square possible. We truly appreciate your continued dedication e to accomplish great thingsmanaged for the park. Below is a breakdown of the is solely by the city because of insurance reasons and our organization. Please feel free to contact us at 267-586-5675 or with any questions. the contractors and timeline are at their discretion. There have been delays because of weather and material issues, but the ribution: $2,500.00 goal is to do a thorough job and not have to address the sidewalks 00 again, to this magnitude, for several years. In terms of city timelines, onsorship/Ticket Deductible Total: $0.00 non-deductiblewe for goods services) areor actually quite fortunate as the project was funded and nations: $0.00completed within four years of our initial request. July 7, 2016
Part-time
Bookkeeper Wanted As the organization grows, so do our needs! We are actively looking for a part-time bookkeeper to help with day-to-day financial tasks. This is a great way to donate your time and skills in an impactful way for The Friends. Experience with QuickBooks is required and the bookkeeper will work directly with the President, VP of Finance, and Executive Director. Hours are flexible and vary from month to month. If you are interested, please contact info@friendsofrittenhouse.org or 267-586-5675.
State of The Square
The Friends are working with city officials, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the police, community organizations and several key individuals to resolve the park issues that have escalated over the summer including the homeless population, drug use and smoking ban. A full update will be presented at the Membership meeting on November 15th. A current membership is required to attend the meeting.
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$0.00 Friends Ball ticket non-deductible for goods or services)
I am truly inspired by how much a group of motivated people can accomplish when they truly love something. I thank you all : $2,500.00 Tree Adoption again for your continued support of and commitment to The are is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible Friends Rittenhouse Square. Unless noted otherwise above,of no goods or services were provided in exchange
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this written acknowledgment of your donation for your tax records. Once again t.
Regards,
Betsy Hummel President, Friends of Rittenhouse Square
NHOUSE SQUARE BOX 1308 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
Our Mission
The mission of the Friends of Rittenhouse Square is to presreve, protect and beautify Rittenhouse Square. Rittenhouse Square is part of the Fairmount Park System, operated in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.
WE SPEAK BELLA WE ALSO SPEAK EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE The region’s only Level I Facility AND recognized Veterinary Trauma Center
Ryan Hospital | 3900 Spruce St. | 215.746.8911 | www.vet.upenn.edu
Tips for Adopting a Pet Dr. Brittany Watson, Penn Vet’s Director of Shelter Medicine and Community Engagement The decision to adopt a pet can be both an exciting and stressful time, as you carefully consider what is right for you and your family. The following tips can serve as a helpful guide as you navigate this decision process. One of the first things to think about is what type of pet you want and why you would like to add a new member to your family. Are you looking for a dog or a cat or an exotic animal? Does your lifestyle fit a laid-back companion or an active running partner? Age, activity level, and social needs of the animal should match with your own schedule. For example, a young Labrador Retriever may not be the best match for someone seeking a calm couch potato. Shelter workers can help you find the best match for you, your family, and personality. You should identify who will be in charge of walks, feeding, vet care, or watching the animal during vacations. Do you have permission from your landlord and roommates for a pet? It is also extremely important to consider the financial implications of pet ownership. Owning a pet is a long-term financial commitment. You will need regular vet care, food, toys, training courses, grooming, litter boxes, etc. It is worthwhile to consider pet insurance or an emergency fund for your animal, which help cover thousands of dollars of care needed in an urgent situation. Regular vet visits are essential to ensure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations and disease preventatives. In the long-term, you can save money through disease prevention and early treatment. Your veterinarian also can serve as a useful resource for medical issues and finding a positive-reinforcement trainer. Training is very important, especially for puppies to have proper socialization. Pet ownership can be incredibly rewarding in many ways, and making an informed decision about pet ownership can make the transition easier for you and your new pet. Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital 3900 Spruce Street Appointments: 215-746-8387 Emergencies: 215-746-8911 www.vet.upenn.edu
Watch Penn Vet on Animal Planet this fall! Life at Vet U premieres Saturday, October 1 and airs Saturdays at 10pm ET.
About Furry Friends The Furry Friends of Rittenhouse Square are the pet members of The Friends. Your pet can join at www.friendsofrittenhouse.org or by calling 267-586-5675. In each edition of the newsletter, one of our Furry Friend members will be featured. If you would like to have your pet considered for inclusion join today or if they are already a Furry Friend, email us at info@ friendsofrittenhouse.org.
Furry Friends Spotlight:
Meet Daxby & Eddie Spaghetti Names: Daxby (black spots) & Eddie Spaghetti (liver spots) Breed: Miniature Dalmatians Ages: Daxby = 1 1/2 years old Eddie Spaghetti = 1 year old Favorite food: Anything the humans are eating. A nice meal at Parc is great for dog watching and potential table scraps. Favorite toys: We love our Lamb Chop toys from Doggie Style - but dirty socks are a close second. Favorite activity in Rittenhouse Square: Greeting other Furry Friends & watching kids climb on the goat. Dog idol: Astro from “The Jetsons� Favorite place to nap: My teepee (Eddie Spaghetti). Right next to my humans (Daxby). Best Friend: Hands down, Rich, the doorman at 1830. He always gives us treats and plays with us when we come home. Daily activities: We get up around 6am and head into the Square on our way to the office. At the office, we like to sleep and play with our office friends. You can find us in the Square around noon when we get up to stretch our legs. After an exhausting day at work, we head home to eat dinner and play with our cat sister, Obama.
The 18th Annual Little Friends Festival
was held on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 under the Big Tent in Rittenhouse Square. Our Little Friends and their families enjoyed an evening filled with stage acts, games, rides, food and music. This year’s festival proved to be one of the Little Friends’ most successful with over 900 attendees. Special performances by Mr. John’s Music and MacGuffin Theatre & Film Company got the crowd on their feet and singing along to popular Disney and pop songs. A very special appearance by Temple University’s Hooter the Owl and volunteers from the Temple University Football team gave our Little Friends the chance to take pictures and interact with a few of Philadelphia’s collegiate athletes while enjoying their evening. A very big thank you to our Little Friends Committee, led by Susanna Brown, Rebecca Shapiro and Jennifer Schulman for their hard work and dedication to making this year’s event such a great success. Thank you to our sponsors, community partners, and participants for helping to keep The Square beautiful for all to enjoy.
Presented by:
BILLY GOAT SPONSORS
Cole & Grant Brown Holden Hummel Andrew, Ben & Jacob Schulman Nate & Harry Shapiro Estate of Betty Elgart Aster Friends Select School Germantown Friends Pine Forest Camp, Lake Owego Camp & Camp Timber Tops Springside Chestnut Hill Academy The Baldwin School The Philadelphia School William Penn Charter School
FROLICKING FROG SPONSORS Advocare Society Hill Peds Ari “City” Block & Ezra “City” Block Colin & Ben Pelegrin Corey & Hannah Goldstein David Nazarian, MD NEST Primrose School of Center City Philadelphia Ray, Paige & Max Jaffe
CHEERFUL CHERUBS SPONSORS Family of Star C. Foster Jack, Max and Ike Grodin Jeffrey Orleans Maya & Miles Schulz Eli & Maya Kerstein
LIONS BED SPONSORS Lolli Lolli MBR Nanny Network Chris & Natalie Nagele Olde City Day School Petrelli Law, PC Primp & Play Right Steps Tall Pines Day Camp The Handwork Studio
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
All Entertainment Ben & Jerry’s CBS 3 D’Angelo’s Ristorante Italiano Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia Festival Foods HipCityVeg Insomnia Cookies Joe’s Pizza Lazaro’s Pizzeria & Grille Lil’ Pop Shop MacGuffin Theatre & Film Company Mac Mart Metropolitan Bakery Mister John’s Music Randazzo’s Pizzeria Rittenhouse Market Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Association Schlesinger’s Restaurant & Delicatessen Shake Shack Slice Snap Custom Pizza Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel Temple University Athletics The Burns’ Family Fresh Grocer The Rittenhouse
Young Friends of Rittenhouse On June 16th, 2016, The Young Friends Ball on The Square was held at the Stotesbury Mansion at 1923 Walnut Street. The Stotesbury Mansion held close to 200 young friends for an evening of food, drinks, dancing and an elaborate silent auction. Our Young Friends then joined our guests at The Ball on The Square in the Big Tent to dance the remainder of the evening away while enjoying various after-dinner drinks and desserts. Building off the momentum of the past three years, Young Friends Ball Co-Chairs Jennifer Brown and Tori Johnston were joined by Peter Dilsheimer and Cory Siegfried who helped spearhead a wonderful event. The Co-Chairs and committee members were hard at work to ensure this year’s Young Friends Ball was not only a sold out event but it was an even bigger success than years prior! We would like to give a special thank you to our sponsors who have helped make this year’s Ball one to remember.
Thank you to our 2016 Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor:
Arthur Alan Wolk Cozen O’Connor Eberlein Design Consultants Ltd. Jay Butler The Johnston Family Linda & Fred Lightman The Sid & Sandy Brown Foundation
Ball
Square
on the
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n the evening of Thursday, June 16, 2016, the Friends celebrated the Annual Ball on The Square, presented by Arthur Alan Wolk in celebration of Boo. The funds raised from the Ball will be instrumental in funding the on-going care for the Goat, Frog, and Lion flower beds. The 2016 co-chairs Robyn Lewison and Faith Weiss did an outstanding job fundraising and had over $390,000 in sponsorship alone! A special thank you goes to Arthur Alan Wolk, Steve & Sabrina Thorne, and Richard Vague & The Governor’s Woods Foundation, for their continued support. The Pre-Ball Champagne Reception took place once again at The Rittenhouse and a grander tent configuration with a new garden tent was used for the Ball to allow the event to host over 500 guests. Brian Kappra and the team at Evantine Design once again created a magical environment with clean white lines and vibrant pops of color. Guests enjoyed a menu from STARR Events that was inspired by traditional steak house fare, including a Chesapeake crab wedge salad, sliced filet accompanied by summer vegetables and a dessert duo of white chocolate cheesecake paired with a milk chocolate mousse STARR bar. Attendees danced into the night to the sounds of the Eddie Bruce Band. Mark your calendars for next year’s Ball on The Square on Thursday, June 15, 2017. Make sure
Presenting Sponsor Arthur Alan Wolk Preservationist Sponsors
Steve & Sabrina Thorne Richard Vague & The Governor’s Woods Foundation
Ball Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Firstrust Bank
Platinum Sponsors: 1911 Walnut Allan Domb Real Estate Anapol Weiss Cissy & Eugene Block BOYDS deme & Jefferson Plastic Surgery Glenmede Neiman Marcus The Rittenhouse
Program Book Sponsor: Joanne & Donnie Davidow
Invitation Sponsor: Elaine Levitt
Gold Sponsors: Clemens Construction Company, Inc. Amy & Bill Green The Honickman Family: Lynne, Harold, Margie, Jeff The Hummel Family: Dennis, Betsy & Holden Susanna Lachs & Dean Adler Levy Baldante Finney & Rubenstein, P.C. Robyn Lewison & Walter Bailey Louis P. Bucky MD Plastic Surgery Susan Martinelli Shea MaryOnTheSquare: Mary Genovese Colvin & Margaux Pelegrin Hilarie & Mitchell Morgan Laurie Phillips & Barry A. Milberg Drs. Joseph F. Roberts & Kathryn Ames TD Wealth West Capital Management
Silver Sponsors: AKA Rittenhouse Square Leslie & Marc Benner Berkshire Hathaway: Jody Dimitruk & Johanna Loke Sharyn Berman & Chuck Meyers Janice & Arthur Birenbaum Bryn Mawr Trust Amanda Burden, MD & Guy Aiman RenĂŠe Dubyk Joseph & Marie Field Fineman Krekstein & Harris, P.C. FirstService Residential Rosalie & Harvey Goldberg Golomb & Honik, P.C. Nancy & Ben Heinzen Irina Sigal Dressmaker Linda E. Johnson Dave Kietrys & Jack Edler Linda & Fred Lightman Colette & Christopher McElwee Mark R. Nicoletti, Sr. Mary Parenti & Richard Castor Rachel & John Paz Aileen & Brian Roberts Irene & Craig Rogerson Wendy & Paul Rosen David A. Schwartz & Jim Miller Irene & Fred Shabel Lynn & Howard Shecter The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson UNCOMMON EVENTS: Wedding Planning & Design Joseph Weiss & Sharon Pinkenson Randi Zemsky & Bob Lane
Bronze Sponsors: Apex Metal Forming Di Bruno Bros. Barbara Eberlein, Eberlein Design Consultants Ltd & Eberlein Classic Homes The Kristen Foote Group Fran & Leon L. Levy Scannapieco Development Corporation Val & Will Schwartz Kate & Sam Sidewater White and Williams LLP
Media Partner: CBS 3
Event Partners: Cuisine by STARR Events DĂŠcor by Evantine Design Music by Eddie Bruce Band Public Relations by Cashman & Associates
Special Thanks to: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
This year’s Ball on The Square Patron Party, a special evening for sponsors and Patron level ticket purchasers, was held the week before the Ball on June 8th at the beautiful home of Lisa Popowich and Jonathan Stein. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening along with a beautifully executed silent auction. The Patron Party also served as a chance for guests to purchase treasure chest keys to win a Breitling watch donated by Govberg Jewelers or make a $250 pledge towards a rose bush in the revitalized rose garden in The Square. The evening raised an additional $30,000 towards the on-going care of the new formal gardens.
Thank you to our Patron Party Auction Donors Audrey Claire Barneys New York Foundation BOYDS Bronzed Bee Coeur Comcast-Spectacor Eyesite Govberg Jewelers Gran Caffe L’Aquila LAGOS Le Chéri The Logan MJS Restaurants Neiman Marcus The Prime Rib Pure Design Rescue Spa Rouge Scarpetta The Shade Store Shop Sixty Five Skirt Snap Kitchen Sophy Curson STARR Catering Group STARR Restaurants Suga Twenty Manning Grill Vernick Volvér
PARK PATH
CENTER PANEL WITH LOW GROUNDCOVER
COLORFUL MIXED BORDER
COLORFUL MIXED BORDER
PARK PATH
24”H EVERGREEN HEDGE FRAME
SECTION THROUGH WEST GARDEN
ELEVATED VIEW OF WEST GARDEN LION STATUE
UPRIGHT EVERGREEN 24”H EVERGREEN HEDGE FRAME ROSE SHRUBS UNDERPLANTED WITH GROUNDCOVER 18”H INTERIOR EVERGREEN HEDGE CENTER PANEL WITH LOW GROUNDCOVER FENCE ALONG CURB LINE
EXISTING PLAQUE FUTURE COBBLE EDGE, BY OTHERS
ROSE GARDEN
FENCE ALONG CURB LINE
SHADE GARDEN
24”H EVERGREEN HEDGE FRAME
EXISTING LONDON PLANE
18”H INTERIOR EVERGREEN HEDGE
FROG STATUE
SUNDIAL GOAT STATUE
CENTER PANEL WITH LOW GROUNDCOVER
WEST GARDEN
EAST GARDEN
COLORFUL MIXED BORDER UPRIGHT EVERGREEN TREE
06 OCTOBER 2015
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE | FORMAL GARDEN REDUX
The Formal Gardens
Rittenhouse Square’s beloved Lion, Frog, and Goat received an expanded and rejuvenated habitat this spring in the redesigned formal garden at the center of the park. The sculptures now sit within a higher-level horticultural display befitting one of Philadelphia’s most iconic spaces and in line with the strong horticultural traditions of the region. Spearheaded and funded by the FRS, representatives from the group worked closely over the past year and a half with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) and the designers, TEND landscape inc. to develop the new design and maintenance guidelines. The garden plan takes its cues from Paul Cret’s original 1913 arrangement of strong cross axes and formal geometry. The key organizing feature—a central spine defined by low, evergreen groundcover and bordered by colorful planting—opens the garden to frame the sculptures and recently refurbished limestone balustrades and urns. As a nod to the park’s namesake, astronomer David Rittenhouse, diagonal lines of hedges connect points creating patterns reminiscent of constellations. Color inspiration was found in the abstract watercolor works of Sonia Delaunay, a contemporary of Cret. Painterly horticultural compositions will unfold each season along the length of the garden. Plant species were selected for their particular aesthetic qualities of height, texture, color, and form, as well as their suitability to the site’s cultural conditions.
The realization of the project spanned nine months, beginning with plant removals, soil aeration, and biological amendments in fall 2015; followed by fence restoration and fabrication, and plant sourcing, during the winter; and finishing with fence installation, irrigation upgrades, and planting during spring 2016. The activity was likened to performance art by one observer—a daily choreographed show unfolding to the ever-present audience. Clearly a new garden at the moment, its care and growth will be shepherded by skilled horticulturists from Fine Garden Creations in collaboration with TEND, FRS, and PPR. Enjoy the garden as it matures and evolves from season to season.
Five Fun Facts The lines of boxwood hedges are based on shapes of real constellations. Through the design process, lines of angels were simplified to what you see today.
By The Numbers 66 5,802 244 780
Different kinds of plants Total number of plants, about half of which are groundcover plugs for the center panels Total number of boxwood shrubs Linear feet of fence (over 200 feet more than the height of City Hall!)
This fall nearly 1,500 bulbs will be planted in the garden. Next spring expect to see the usual daffodils and tulips, but also a mix of windflower, snowdrops, and allium. Special care was taken to accommodate the two existing trees within the formal garden. The trees are commonly known as London plane trees, popular in parks and along city streets in the U.S. and Europe. The botanical name is Platanus x acerifolio. The “x” between the genus and species signifies it’s a hybrid, in this case, between the American sycamore and the Oriental plane tree.
Thank you to our
2016 Ball on The Square Committee Co-Chairs Robyn Lewison Faith Weiss Event Committee Deborah Baird Claudia Balderston Leslie Benner Sharyn Berman Janice Birenbaum Cissy Block Alyse Bodine Sandy Brown Barbara Brown-Ruttenberg Amanda Burden Nicole A. Cashman RenĂŠe Dubyk Barbara Eberlein Kristen Foote Ashlee Fuglio Lisa Glassner Amy Green Nancy Heinzen Margie Honickman Betsy Hummel Linda E. Johnson Brian Kappra David Kietrys Kate Kosarek Laura LaRosa Linda Lightman Hilarie Morgan Mary Parenti Lisa Popowich Dana Rosen Joy Sardinsky David Schwartz Irene Shabel Carole Shanis Lynn Shecter Kate Sidewater Nina Stanley Sabrina Thorne Richard Vague Randi Zemsky
Upcoming Events:
Fall 2016 October 7, 8 & 9
Rittenhouse Square Craft Show October 8
18th Street Outdoor CafĂŠ November 12
LOVE Your Park Volunteer Day November 15
Membership Meeting November 29
Holiday Lighting (Rain date December 1)
Volunteer for LOVE Your Park Volunteers are needed for the 2016 Fall Love Your Park Day on Saturday, November 12, to help plant daffodil and tulip bulbs in the park. Work starts at 9:00am by the Gardener’s Cottage and continues until 12:00pm (or when work is complete). Groups are welcome; please make sure children arrive with adequate supervision. If you would like to help, please contact chloe@friendsofrittenhouse.org to sign-up. This event is weather permitting and may be cancelled due to rain or extreme temperatures. For more information about Friends of Rittenhouse, please visit www.friendsofrittenhouse.org
Join the Philadelphia Art Alliance in honoring Friends of Rittenhouse President, Betsy Hummel, at Fall at the Mansion this November. Contact Marie Newman at mnewman@philartalliance.org or 215.545.4302 for more information. Marking 90 years on the Square! www.philartalliance.com