PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

FREE | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

PhiladelphiaWeekly.com | @phillyweekly

The

Cartesian South Philly Gets Another New Brewery

Approach

: Millennials have changed the focus of gambling | Page 8

2

I

CRIMEBEAT

s there any personal possession bigger or more precious to one than their car?

Yes. That would be their house.

Even if the owner has passed on or otherwise vacated the home, most would want the home passed on to loved ones, not to a bunch of crooks who stole the deed.

The FBI first reported on this criminal scheme in 2008, calling it the “latest scam on the block,” and coined the phrase “house stealing.” The FBI described the crime as a cybercrime cocktail of sorts, mixing identity theft and mortgage fraud.

The FBI stated that home title theft can generally be summed up in three steps: Thieves find a home they want to target. Thieves commit identity theft to assume the victim’s identity by creating supporting documentation such as a fake ID or Social Security card. The thieves then work through proper channels to transfer the home deed by forging the victim’s name and using the fraudulent documents.

Sadly, house stealing is still prevalent today. On January 10th, District Attorney Larry Krasner and his office’s Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) announced multiple charges against eight individuals for their role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to fraudulently obtain and transfer deeds involving 17 properties located across Philadelphia.

Perhaps to offset the widespread criticism

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

HOUSE STEALING: THE LATEST SCAM ON THE BLOCK that he is soft on crime, Krasner made a major District Attorneys Dawn Holtz and Kimberly Esack, our hardworking DA Detectives, and production of his office’s takedown of what he Sgt. Andrew Jackson, formerly of the PPD’s described as a “sizeable deed theft ring.”

Major Crimes Unit and now detailed to the According to the DA’s office, their joint inDAO’s ECU, for conducting a very thorough vestigation with the Philadelphia Police Deinvestigation and for bringing these suspects partment’s Major Crimes Unit began in June to justice.”

2019, when complaints filed with Kimberly Esack, the ECU’s asthe Philadelphia Police were prosistant supervisor, added, “We vided to the ECU. The properties, cannot emphasize this enough: ranging from empty lots to houses, Without the public’s help, we canincluding one belonging to a womnot prosecute these crimes. Law an in a nursing home, are located enforcement was able to shut down in Kensington, South Philadelthis deed fraud ring only with the phia, Southwest Philadelphia, and assistance of the public. I want Northwest Philadelphia. The thefts Philadelphia residents to know have cost property owners more that we are here for you, and that than $900,000. if you suspect that you or someSeven suspects have been arrestone you know may be the victim of ed but the alleged ringleader refraud, please contact our Econommains at-large. ic Crimes Unit today.”

“The Philadelphia District AttorThe FBI offers some tips on how ney’s Office Economic Crime Unit, one can avoid becoming a victim led by ECU Supervisor Dawn Holtz of deed theft. If you receive a payand Assistant Supervisor Kimberly PAULDAVISONCRIME.COM ment book or information from Esack, continue to seek justice on a mortgage company that’s not behalf of communities plagued by yours, whether your name is on rampant deed fraud,” said Krasner.

“This type of crime occurs all over the city, the envelope or not, don’t just throw it away.

Open it, figure out what it says, and follow up but more often than not disproportionately with the company that sent it. impacts disadvantaged communities. My ofFrom time to time, it’s also a good idea fice will continue to aggressively and approto check all information pertaining to your priately prosecute deed fraud wherever it ochouse through your county’s deeds office. If curs in Philadelphia. I’m grateful to Assistant

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

PAUL DAVIS

you see any paperwork that you don’t recognize or any signature that is not yours, look into it.

Security experts suggest that owners should be suspicious if they no longer receive bills or tenant rent payments, or if they receive rising utility bills at vacant or second properties. You should also be suspicious if you receive information from a lender that you’ve never done business with, receive notifications of foreclosure, or are notified of suspicious loans or new lines of credit in your name.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests that if you’re suspicious, contact the companies where you’ve identified an instance of fraud occurred.

Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus and get your credit reports. Report identity theft to the FTC. File a report with your local police department.

“When someone steals a property, they aren’t just stealing an item, they’re stealing a person’s security. They’re taking away a person’s past, present, and future,” said Esack.

To report fraud or other types of economic crime, including scams against elders, crimes against workers, home improvement schemes, and insurance fraud, contact the DA’s Economic Crimes Unit hotline at 215-686-9902.

Paul Davis’ Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com.

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

FROM THE EDITOR

WHY DOES CITY

SUPPORT

BOBBY HENON?

and help us make it.

HALL STILL LOVE GREAT CONTENT

I

t’s finally over. After getting condefending it. victed in federal court in November, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richnow-former Councilman Bobby Heardson, for example, sent a media advisory non has resigned from City Coun- that she joined local union representatives on cil, after collecting a few extra payJanuary 19 to announce her second annual checks courtesy of the public. That Apprenticeship Guidebook, which gives inparticular saga, aside from the quesformation to workers interested in the skilled tion of whether Henon will keep or trades. A handful of unions were there, along lose his pension, has ended. with State Representative Joe Hohenstein, A bigger problem, however, reCouncil President Darrell Clarke—and Bobby mains: The unbothered attitude that local pol- Henon. Never miss a photo op, one supposes.

It doesn’t seem exactly approiticians have about cavorting with priate, though, for city and state disgraced councilmembers. Before officials to share a stage with HeHenon resigned from City Council, non. It doesn’t express much of a most other councilmembers didn’t concern for local corruption. Nor mind keeping him around. Nor did does it show wise governance. How, Mayor Kenney. inquiring minds might wonder, do The mayor’s statement after HeRichardson, Clarke, and Hohenstein non’s resignation was like he wantjustify appearing with Henon? Did ed to say the right things without they raise any concerns about Heupsetting Henon. “As I’ve said benon being there? fore, I’ve always believed that CounThat’s hard to say. Not because cilmember Henon would do what no one asked, but because Richhe feels is right for his constituents, ardson, Clarke, and Hohenstein all for the people of Philadelphia, and declined to respond to an inquiry for the entire city,” Kenney said. from Philadelphia Weekly. The pub“While he must now face the con@ANTHONYHENNEN lic doesn’t deserve a response, and sequences of his past decisions, it is probably shouldn’t ask such impoimportant to evaluate the entirety lite questions. of a person’s contributions to public service So let this be a lesson, and one to bear in throughout their whole career.” mind as Councilman Kenyatta Johnson’s fedContra Kenney, a federally convicted polieral trial starts next month. A not-so-powertician does not deserve the privilege of doing less contingent in City Hall isn’t bothered by “what he feels is right” for the city of Philadelfederal convictions. They are content to conphia. What utter nonsense. Henon should’ve tinue as they see fit. Don’t expect a push for been thrown out of City Council the day after his conviction. That he’s been able to stay on clean governance.

Don’t expect transformative action on the Council reminds us that the status quo in local murder crisis, carjackings, or the indignities politics sees the public as a nuisance to be tolof petty crime. Don’t expect much of an effort erated rather than a citizenry to be respected.

Let’s not single out Kenney, though. That to expand housing if it means losing a few parking spaces. City Hall has its priorities. would be rude. Other elected officials haven’t And it’s not terribly concerned if you don’t been shy about joining the convicted Henon in like it. public, though they aren’t enthusiastic about

JOIN US philadelphiaweekly.com/join

ANTHONY

HENNEN

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

4

STATE OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

STATE

OF OUR

CITY

Suiting the Sound - Jewish Rodeo Tailors of Country Music Tuesday, February 15

Torah of Country Music Tuesday, March 1

Ablaze with vibrant colors and sparkling with rhinestones, country music stars have been lighting up stages and turning heads in spectacular, custom-designed Western wear since the late 1940s. Who created the iconic clothing? “Rodeo Tailors,” the most prominent of whom were Jewish. This program explores the lives and work of three Eastern European immigrants who became the most influential of the pioneering rodeo tailors.

Jewish Americana musician and Texas native Joe Buchanan has spent the last nine years finding his voice in the history, Torah, and values of the Jewish people. Over the last decade Buchanan’s journey into Judaism has sent him touring across the United States, leading an original Shabbat service, playing concerts and facilitating a workshop called “Choosing to be Chosen” about his conversion to Judaism. In this online program, Rabbi Sandra Lawson will chat with Buchanan about their shared love for Judaism and Country music.

Mark Rubin: “Jew of Oklahoma” Tuesday, February 22

Nefesh Mountain Tuesday, March 8

Oklahoma-born, Texas-reared, and New Orleans residing multi-instrumentalist Mark Rubin is an unabashed Southern Jew, known equally for his muscular musicianship and largerthan-life persona. Rubin will share music from and insights into his new album The Triumph of Assimilation, pulling from country, western swing, bluegrass, Tex-Mex, polka, klezmer, and Roma music.

38

Nefesh Mountain’s co-band leaders Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg will perform live from their studio in North Jersey.

A boundary pushing bluegrass/Americana band, Nefesh Mountain is the only group on the scene who openly represent Jewish American culture, tradition, values and spirituality.

The current number of homicide victims year-to-date under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents a 6 percent increase over the same time last year. The city ended 2021 with a horrific 562 murders.

Philadelphia Weekly 1701 E Cathedral Rd Ste 45 PMB 445 Philadelphia, PA 19128 215-543-3743

Philadelphiaweekly.com @phillyweekly JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Ian Moe Chairman & Publisher Anthony Hennen Executive Editor

John Montesano Art Director

Kyle Sammin Senior Editor

Contributors: A.D. Amorosi, A. Benjamin Mannes,Jesse Bunch, Paul Davis, Timaree Schmit, Ryan K. Smith, Stu Bykofsky, Eugene Zenyatta.

Intern: Genevieve Wittrock

To contact the news department: mail@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Philadelphia Weekly Controller Michael Chambers Director of Circulation Signature Supporter: Ted Kazantzis

To purchase advertising in Philadelphia Weekly, contact Sales at 215-543-3743, ext. 104, or sales@philadelphiaweekly.com.

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

VOICES

THE SHOUT OUT

Omicron cases continue to nosedive, but masking and restrictions aren’t letting up.

Your turn: How long will plague-era restrictions last?

Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com

OF OUR

CITY

5

What is and isn’t said in the NBA By now you’ve probably watched the video of billionaire and part owner of the Golden State Warriors, Chamath Palihapitiya, explaining just how little he personally cares about the plight of the Uyghurs. Seriously, he does not care and he wants you to know it.

I’ve seen some of Palihapitiya’s defenders argue that the short clip that’s making the rounds on Twitter lacks context and that a more nuanced conversation occurred in the longer discussion. I disagree. (See it for yourself.)

If anything, it makes Palihapitiya look worse, as he suggests it’s “virtue signaling” to talk about Uyghurs and bizarrely asks another host if it’s worse for 10 Uyghur women to be raped or 10 million American men to be falsely incarcerated.

There’s a lot that is obviously wrong with what Palihapitiya — a billionaire who thinks caring about human rights is a “luxury belief” — argued but what stood out to me was his statement that you shouldn’t criticize another country’s human rights violations until you “clean up your backyard.” I hear this a lot. It’s always stated as if it’s the height of moral sophistication, and it’s implied that you’re a bit of a buffoon if you disagree.

But what advocates of this view usually fail to mention is who that leaves to fight for human rights. In China, for example, it’s people who will likely suffer imprisonment, censorship, or threats to their family for speaking out (which many continue to do, by the way, at great personal risk). It’s not wisdom to think that you should recuse yourself from conversations about human rights because you live in an imperfect place. It’s selfishness.

What’s been even more interesting to watch is how the league has responded thus far. The Warriors issued a statement asserting that

Palihapitiya doesn’t speak for the team and his views don’t represent the organization. It was one sentence long, with no mention of Uyghurs or what the organization’s stance actually is here. And Warriors head coach Steve Kerr simply said, “He doesn’t speak for our organization. All of us within the organization feel very strongly about our values.”

But let’s turn the dial back just a few years to 2019, when Daryl Morey tweeted “Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong.” The reaction was immediate and furious. LeBron James said Morey was “not educated” on the situation, and that he could’ve harmed people “not only financially, but physically, emotionally, spiritually.” Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai worried that “the hurt that this incident has caused will take a long time to repair.”

And the NBA itself said (in a separate statement written in Chinese) that the league was “extremely disappointed in the inappropriate comment by the general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey,” and that “he has undoubtedly seriously hurt the feelings of Chinese basketball fans.”

Compare the reaction to “Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong” to the response — or lack thereof — to “nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs.”

It’s possible more statements will roll in, but if not, this says a lot about what vocal members of the league value and what they disregard. And, given the league’s failure to respond to a request for comment from The Guardian, it seems unlikely the NBA has anything more to say.

If you need to distance yourself from a simple message of support for freedom but you have nothing to say about total indifference toward horrific human rights violations, it’s time for a look in the mirror.

Sarah McLaughlin is the director of targeted advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. She writes a newsletter at https://sarahemclaugh. substack.com/. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

6

FEATURED

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

The Brewery

Beer Lovers Build a Local Haunt of Their Own

BOOM JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

I

so they had to push back their opening to Ocn 2015, Evan Roth decided he wanted to open a brewery. tober.

By 2018, he had a name – CarRoth then turned the roadblock into an imtesian Brewing – and a concept provement project. He made it so that the new fleshed out well enough to launch exit opened out into a small concrete space on a Kickstarter. Cartesian would be the building’s backside that now serves as a a “local origin brewery,” meaning courtyard for outdoor seating, complete with a that Roth intended to “create beers fire pit, space heaters, and string lights. that celebrate the flavors of the “It’s been the most fun I never want to have region” – malt from Pennagain,” said Alex Leh, Cartesian’s lead sylvania, hops from New York, yeast brewer. They’ve had help from fellow from Philadelphia brewers, fruit and Philadelphia brewers too, whom Roth BY: NICK honey from local farmers. and Leh say have been extraordinariRUSSO Funders liked the idea: His Kickly welcoming. When Leh has had starter campaign raised over $20,000, questions about Philadelphia’s water and Roth turned his vision into a rechemistry (mineral content is an imality. In 2019, he leased an old building on the portant element of the brewing process), he’s 1300 block of East Passyunk that had been an been able to reach out to other brewers in the auto shop and a fitness/dance studio. area for help. As further evidence of how genConstruction began, and then came COVID. erous the local brewing community has been, Roth and his team took the unwelcome Roth and Leh noted that they have a walk-in challenge in stride and were set to open in cooler “full of other people’s beer.”

May 2021. Except Cartesian hit another unexCartesian has also collaborated with local pected roadblock. Turns out that their space brewers on beers. is ever-so-slightly too large to get away with On January 14, they released a pub ale having only one exit under the City’s fire code, called “Pride of Passyunk” that they brewed

ing to Oc-

nto an imat the new e space on erves as a lete with a hts. nt to have sian’s lead om fellow hom Roth aordinarihas had ia’s water is an imcess), he’s wers in the how genhas been, a walk-in

with local

a pub ale ey brewed

FEATURED

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

with Separatist Beer Project, which has a South Philly taproom of its own. Pride of Passyunk is an example of Roth’s local-origin brewing philosophy in action, featuring malt produced in Pennsylvania by Double Eagle Malt, which gets its grain from local family farms. When Leh is finished brewing, he loads the spent malt into bins where it’s taken away by Bennett Compost, a Philadelphia-based urban composting company.

For Roth, a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia region, the localist ethic goes deeper than the brewing process.

The tables at Cartesian Brewing have doorknobs and deadbolts jutting out because they are, in fact, doors – repurposed

by Beaty American, an architectural salvage company in North Philly. If the walls are bare when you stop in for a beer, it’s because they’re waiting to be filled with pieces of local art as part of Cartesian’s new artist-in-residence program. They’ve already hosted one exhibition featuring artwork by Christine Sullivan whom, Leh said, “must have sold at least 70% of the pieces she brought.” The exhibition was part of Cartesian’s “first First Friday,” which also hosted food from Angie’s Vietnamese Cuisine – a tradition that Roth hopes to carry on indefinitely.

Local musicians have been reaching out to Roth, asking if they can play at the brewery.

Roth and Leh would love for Cartesian to be a live music venue, but they’ve run into red tape here as well – the neighborhood’s zoning ordinances don’t allow it.

Not to be defeated, Roth lets his love for the Philadelphia music scene shine through in the names of his beers – “Wide Eyes to Acknowledge” is a nod to a Philly band called I Dreamed of Pompeii, an old favorite of Roth’s that’s no longer active and leaves behind little trace online.

Beyond music, Roth is determined to keep finding new ways to support the local arts scene, such as commissioning artists to design labels for Cartesian’s beer cans.

“We just love beer,” Leh said. He previously worked for Victory Brewing, which is a much bigger company, which made it harder for him to experiment and try his hand at new brews. Cartesian, on the other hand, had a full-staff meeting of Roth, Leh, and their three bartenders. Everyone brought a few beers to sample together, and it was clear from the conversation that what Leh said was true: Cartesian Brewing is, at its core, a small group of people who just love beer – and Philadelphia.

Leh has taken advantage of Cartesian’s free environment. Over the past few months, he’s been playing around with a peculiar strain of Norwegian yeast, called Kveik, which can withstand far higher temperatures and alcohol concentrations than normal yeast, allowing brewers to push the en-

7

velope and create previously inconceivable beers. Kveik yeast can ferment at temperatures approaching 100° Fahrenheit and 16% alcohol by volume (ABV) – whereas a typical lager yeast, which Leh calls “prima donna” yeast, flourishes in the range of 50-60°F and can’t tolerate more than 10% ABV. Some of the beers currently on tap that Leh is most proud of include Wide Eyes to Acknowledge (a delicious Belgian single-and-a-half with hints of graham cracker and fruit) Kempt (a farmhouse IPA and their first beer produced with Kveik yeast) I Hope I Live Long Enough to Call You My Old Friend (a tart, dry-hopped Saison), and Stanchion (a dank, citrusy hazy IPA brewed with malted oats and New York hops).

Other than being local origin, the common theme binding all of Cartesian’s beers is defiance of conventional style guidelines.

Instead of sticking to the script, they follow whims and customer suggestions, think outside the box, and always brew beer that they want to drink themselves.

In addition to experimenting on their own, Leh and Roth are looking forward to a bunch of upcoming collaborations with other Philadelphia breweries, such as Brewery ARS and Stickman Brews, both of South Philly.

Other local favorites Leh and Roth admire are Crime and Punishment (Brewerytown), Human Robot (West Kensington), and Fermentary Form (West Kensington).

If you stop by Cartesian Brewing, there’s a good chance a food truck, such as PDM BBQ, will be posted outside (the chef, of course, with a complimentary beer in hand).

Cartesian is “BYOF,” so you can bring in food from the truck, or a cheesesteak from Pat’s or Geno’s down the street, and wash it down with a flight.

If you come with your friends, you can earn 10% off your bill by playing a board game off Cartesian’s shelf. And if you bring along a brewery sticker that isn’t yet featured on one of the bathroom doors, you can barter it for a 5-ounce beer.

If you’re not comfortable hanging out indoors just yet, Cartesian just launched their online store, where you can order beer for pickup or purchase some Cartesian merchandise. By drinking local and supporting Cartesian, you’re supporting a whole community of brewers, artists, farmers, composters – all in or around Philadelphia.

“I like my job for the first time in six years,” said Kerry, Roth’s head bartender, after the staff meeting ended and Roth left for the night. Maybe Roth has just assembled a good group of people at Cartesian. Or maybe a happy workplace is a residual benefit of his localist approach to brewing.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

8

NEWS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

The millennial future of

GAMBLING Slot machines are out, table games are in

I

t’s logical to assume that due to accounting for between 70 and 80 percent of their enthusiasm for video games, gross gaming earnings throughout the inyounger people who enjoy courting dustry. But, say those in the know, the tables Lady Luck at brick-andprovide something that even the most mortar casinos would be intricate slot machines cannot, and drawn to the increasingly which pretty much everyone needs:

BY CHUCK DARROW sophisticated slot machines in-person interaction with other that occupy most of a gampeople. bling den’s real estate.

“I do think that there’s a But according to gaming-indus- social aspect. I see that here at the try insiders, it’s the decidedly low-tech table property,” said Justin Moore who, games—roulette and blackjack in particular— as general manager of Rivers that these days tend to grab the hearts, minds, Casino Philadelphia, oversees and wallets of millennials and Gen Zers. the riverside adult playpen’s It’s not that anyone foresees the games ever operations. becoming the primary source of gambling dens’ revenue: For decades, the traditional slots/tables income breakdown has remained fairly consistent with what, in pre-digital times, were known as “one-armed bandits”

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

NEWS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY “I think a big part of it is that social activity,” Moore said. “If I go out gambling with my wife, most likely you won’t see us together; I’ll be playing video poker and she’ll be playing keno somewhere. But I see it more with the younger folks. They definitely gravitate towards the social aspects of gaming.”

He added he believes there is also a “coolness” factor that figures in the equation.

Mike Cray, the vice-president of gaming operations at Live! Casino-Hotel Philadelphia in the city’s stadium district, credits the internet—and its seemingly endless gambling options— with luring young gamblers through his casino’s doors.

“Internet gaming is driving younger generations to live table games,” Cray said.

“When they’re playing at home, they’re getting a feel [for casino action] and they want to experience the real thing. It’s driven them out the door to get that interaction.”

Like any business, casinos need younger customers to replace those who have “aged out” (become too infirm to visit or died). But, explained Moore, that is getting tougher as time passes.

“The industry has been very vocal about its concerns about the lack of [casino] gambling from the younger generation,” Moore said. “We know the top gaming demographics are men from 40-to-50 years old for table games, and for slots, it’s always been 50-to-65-year-old females. And we’re looking at the younger generations going, ‘Okay, these guys aren’t playing like the people before them, and that’s a problem.’”

“I know that the industry is aware of younger generations not having the same aptitude for [casino] gaming,” Moore said. “So we just have to figure out what inspires a younger person to come in and play.”

One ostensible answer would be slot machines, which, at least on the surface, have more in common with video games than a blackjack or roulette table.

But Moore said that so far, that hasn’t been the solution because “skill-based games that play like a video game are [still] slot machines.

And the problem with that is that video gamers know a phony video game when they

see one. And that’s not gonna draw them in.”

According to veteran gaming-industry observer Roger Gros, younger gamblers prefer hybrids known as electronic table games, which play like standard table games but are digital in nature. As such, novice casino gamblers can feel a little more comfortable with them. But, he noted, there’s an even better reason to play at them rather than at oldschool tables.

“In [table-played] blackjack, the rules have really deteriorated extensively,” said Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business, the industry’s leading trade publication. “On the Strip in Vegas, you can barely find a game that pays three-to-two on blackjack anymore [a two-card hand totaling 21 points consisting of a face card worth 10 points and an 11-point

ace]. Now, six-to-five is what they pay, which ups the house edge.”

“And they have other rules like you can’t surrender,” he added, referring to a player’s option of forfeiting half a wager if it is believed the dealer’s exposed ace means blackjack.

“There are just some really bad rules now.

You can get the [more advantageous] rules, but you have to play at least $50 a hand to get them; all those lower limits have the terrible rules,” Gros said. “So it’s almost better for you to play the electronic table games because they’re the ones that you actually have some decent rules on. “The problem is these young people don’t realize they never see the good rules [at low-limit blackjack tables].

These are the only rules they know, so they

9

don’t understand that unless they’re really into playing and want to do some research on it,” Gros said.

So, does this mean traditional table games are headed for extinction?

“I think there’ll always be the real table games, and as young people get older and get more income, they’re gonna discover that real table games are where you really get the camaraderie and interactivity with other players,” Gros said.

“But there’s gonna be a lot of evolution with tables over the next decade,” he added. “I think a lot of it will involve technology, but you’ll still have that live aspect there.”

Hard Rock Salutes Black History Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City will be a big part of this year’s Black History Month observance in the seaside gambling capital. The pop-and-rockthemed gambling den is sponsoring a series of programs celebrating the African-American experience.

The African American Heritage Museum Pop-Up Exhibit will be on display Feb. 17-20 at the entrance to Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena just inside the valet parking entrance. A collaboration between the ’Rock and the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, the display focuses on two crucial aspects of Black life in the 20th century: Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier and the Black church’s central role in the lives of generations of African Americans.

Greetings Welcome to CasiNotes, which we hope will become your go-to guide to what is happening at casinos in Philly and the rest of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Atlantic City, and, when merited, beyond.

Each column will do its best to keep you informed about what’s going on in entertainment, dining, special events and gambling. If you want to contact me, please feel free to do so: chuck@philadelphiaweekly.com See you at the casinos!

Chuck Darrow has covered the fun and games at the region’s casinos for more than 35 years. He is still afraid that one day he may have to work for a living.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

10

GOSSIP

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

The Book-Banning Fad

RETURNS ICEPACK

BY: A.D AMOROSI

New Plans for the Pen & Pencil Club’s Menu

S

o far within the stillyoung 2022, we’ve talked about hating on the Eagles (but not its QB) and the Flyers for their losses, the Double Ks— Kenney & Krasner—for their hatred of public safety, local restaurants and Philly’s Italian population, and the whys-and-wherefores of Will Smith making his one-time comic Fresh Prince into something grave and bleak.

Book banning Know what we haven’t mentioned that might be even more crucial than all-the-above? Book banning, a mean, weirdly dated trend not solely local, but worrying even more so for its national (Nationalistic) spread. From YA authors to works on social justice and Black, Brown and LGBTQ issues, if it doesn’t suit a bigoted insular community of principals and teachers – I’m looking at you, Central York School District – it’s taken off shelves.

Of course, this all comes down to the fissure between the left, the right, and the aims of cancel culturalists everywhere. John L. Jackson, dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, told WPG-AM Talk Radio that book bans are “a microcosm of the political

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

divisions in the country…It’s almost immaterial what the books are and what’s in them. It’s all about the readers… the folks who are organizing our contemporary political discourse.”

Thanks, Professor. There are a lot of things that aren’t OK: allowing shoplifters to destroy local businesses such as Wawa because the police aren’t allowed to step in and stop them or the way that Tastykake has managed to take the buttery flavor out of its chocolate frosting for its Juniors.

Book banning, though, the freedom of speech, and the vision of free learning, is never OK. Fuck you, York, PA. I have been to your auctions and I have eaten your mock-Amish meals. This will not stand. Not from York, and certainly not in Philly if any of its school board jackwads get any bright ideas.

Joseph Fox Speaking of the printed word (stay awake for this, you clowns), when I was a kid, and you (OK, me, you weren’t reading. Be honest.) wanted a rare and unusual book, you either went to Middle Earth Books on Pine Street, one of two Robin’s on Chestnut or 13th Street, the original Wooden Shoe on 20th near where Jose Garces’ Village Whiskey is now, and Joseph Fox Bookshop on Sansom Street. Joseph Fox’s aisles were way narrow, its ceilings were low, and its lighting bright, but not so that

you, the consumer, looked healthy.

Rather, you had that book worm’s glow, that blank, dampened glow and that was the joy of it: losing yourself in book after book, from Keats to Kerouac, from over-sized oddball Man Ray photo tomes to Charlie Plymel broadsides. Joseph Fox had it, or could get it (I recall my dad ordering and bringing me two UK-only Monty Python books that he got from Joseph Fox. Thanks Alfonso.). Well, Joseph Fox is closing January 29, probably due in part to fucking Covid, and probably due in part to fucking Amazon. The Fox will be missed.

Hall without Oates Temple U. grad, Lebanon bologna enthusiast, and Pottstown, PA native Daryl Hall is releasing his first ever compilation of old solo stuff/non-John Oates related material on April 1 (not fooling) with “BeforeAfter,” a package that arrives the same day that Hall will commence his first solo tour, this time with Upper Darby’s Todd Rundgren as his special guest. And yes, the pairing of Hall & Rundgren (no, it doesn’t roll off the tongue like Hall & Oates, but the tour is like a week-long so just deal with it) will appear on home turf at The Met Philadelphia on April 9.

The Geator Let’s stick with Philly music for a sec: last week’s local cover icon, Jerry

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

GOSSIP

Blavat, hosted his packed, masked-up party healthy meal programs for his neighbors in at the Kimmel Center on Saturday night with West Philly. fellow South Philadelphian Frankie Avalon, “It started with one friend who was ill – not The Tymes, Darlene Love, Little Anthony, Covid ill – who needed help with his daily and more. Get it. Got it. Good. During a time routine when he came home from the hospiout from the stage, The Geator with the Heattal. Primarily with food. I started cooking for er stopped the show to shout out WMMR DJs him and developed a healthier meal program Pierre Robert and Jacky Bam Bam (or, as The in concert with his medical requirements and Boss with the Hot Sauce called him, “Bam dietary restrictions,” Chavis said. “PortionBam Bam a Lam Bam”), praise them for their ing and packaging was a huge part of this as perseverance when it came to maintaining the well. When other friends and neighbors heard spirit of rock against all odds (Jacky did just about this, my diet trickled down, and I wound host an evening of Jackie Wilson song the up doing this regularly for several people. other night in-between sonic slabs of MetalliWith so many people stuck at home, inactive, ca and Green Day tracks), then called the two I think this was a genuine benefit for them.

DJs “the future of Philadelphia radio” before Plus, it sparked in me another culinary intercalling himself “the past.” Heart-warming est – another way into what I usually do.” stuff, that.

Bravo.

West Chester. It’s no longer just the home The mask and vax? Chavis is down with of all things “Jackass.” Justin Weathers and both.

Executive Chef Joseph Monnich are open“The mask is utilitarian, necessary, and I ing the spaghetti-westorder a bunch of them. I’m ern-sounding Good, Bad all for stopping the flow of Image | Courtesy of Nantambu Chavis and Ugly as a casual foodthis and any Covid varierie, cocktail hatch and ant – I don’t usually take craft beer salon - Stove and strong stands over what Co. Restaurant Group’s people should and shouldn’t first-ever bar, and a designdo with their bodies, but er dive bar at that. Check the evidence, the science, out the GBU action at 158 is there for being masked West Gay Street this weekand vax to slow the spread,” end. he said. “Seeing locals go Masked Philadelphia: beyond the mandate – say, Nantambu Chavis Dirty Franks where they’re In Icepack’s way-tooguarded of their regulars long, way overly complex and the regulars are guardand continuing saga of ed of it – I get it. Everybody asking mask-donning local is in for the good. I don’t celebrities what they’ve want people to believe that been up to, beyond the their rights are being depale, during C-19 – from nied, but…being a part of lock down to the current civilization isn’t just a right. re-opening, present-day It’s a privilege. It’s just like un-masking and re-maskthe old saloon sign reads, ing, worrying about Delta variants, freaking ‘No Shoes. No Shirt. No Service.’ Now we just out about Fauci’s call for a potential third have to add ‘No Mask. No vax’ to that sign.” round of vax shots mere five months after Nicely put. the last, new mask and vax card mandates, As for P&P, Chavis is not only sprucing ignored or not ignored (I mean why did I wait up the menu to include fine-dining-worthy in line at the Convention Center if you’re not items and extending the spaces dining hours, asking to see my card?), the possibility of mix- but adding events such as a regularly schedand-matching vaccines which is weird, AND uled monthly “Supper Club” and other more NOW, YEAH OF COURSE, the whole worldsocially driven meet-and-greet events for wide B.1.1.529 Omicron variant scare, so welits members, guests, and “like minds,” so to come to ROUND THREE, I reached out this booster and bolster the idea of community. week, to Nantambu Chavis.

Chavis is also pushing the general popuIcepack fans will remember Chavis from lation at large to understand that the Pen & his before-the-fact mention when he got the Pencil isn’t just a late night hang out, but, adgig as executive chef at the newly re-configditionally, a happy hour/early evening dining uring Pen & Pencil private membership club and drinking location. “I’m now part of Philly on Latimer Street. Now managed by Raphael restaurant, bar, and community history,” ChaTiberino and run by Bobbi L. Booker, the P&P vis said. “I want to help transition this club is looking for a new vibe. And that starts with into its next 150 years. Raphael and I have lots cool new cuisine. of plans, and their implementation of those What Chef Chavis did before the P&P, but plans is what drives us. Make your plan. Work after the pandemic kicked in, was related to your plan.” his culinary schematic, but in a different, @ADAMOROSI more communal fashion: he made and set up

ARE YOU READING THIS? GOOD. SO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS.

PW

E-News

Native Content

@phillyweekly

$62.50 / week 28,500 circ

Are your customers under 40? Engaged in the city? Chances are they read PW, and we want to help you get more of them. Our marketing team will help you build a multi-channel campaign that delivers REAL RESULTS, and new customers in the door.

$237 / article 18,900 weekly visitors

$150 / week 15,800 subscribers $50 / week 19,500 followers

NO MATTER THE PLATFORM, PEOPLE TURN TO PW REACH YOUR AUDIENCE AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

CONTACT SALES AT 215-543-3743 OR SALES@PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM

See Us About...

Whether You’re Purchasing

a New Home or Refinancing Your Existing Mortgage,

Turn to us for a Great Deal and Personal Service.

Mortgage Loans

to Meet all of Your Needs -

u

Conventional Fixed and Adjustable Rate Programs

u

Various Terms

u

Low Down Payment Options

u

Jumbo Mortgages Home Equity Loan Home Equity Line Of Credit

Competitive Rates • Quality Service Customized Lending Programs Our friendly mortgage experts will work with you to choose the financing option that meets your specific needs.

A Home Mortgage Loan

215-755-1500 www.psbanker.com Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer: Prudential Bank is not affiliated, associated, authorized or endorsed by or in any way officially connected with The Prudential Insurance Company of America or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

12

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell

VALENTINE’S DAY

Image | Urban Farmer

12th Street Catering’s Valentine’s Day Virtual Cooking Class

Assembly Rooftop Lounge

Cupid’s Undie Run

Forsythia

Join 12th Street Catering for a virtual Taste of Italy cooking class to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 11. Attendees will cook a delicious 3-course meal with step-by-step instructions from Executive Chef Adam DeLosso. The menu features an Italian-inspired Antipasti platter, a Tuscan petite filet & jumbo shrimp dish, with a delightful Tiramisu dessert to finish.

Cooking class kits are available for onsite pickup, local delivery, and priority overnight shipping. Registration must be completed by February 4 at 2 pm. Call 215386-8595 or email info@12stcatering.com to register.

Every February, thousands of undie runners in cities all across the U.S. come together, in-person or virtually, to support those affected by NF, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affects 1 in every 3,000 births. Cupid’s Undie Run kicks off with drinking and dancing, and runners jog it out with a mile(ish) run and end it all with a dance party. In Philly, runners will gather February 19 at Xfinity Live, 1100 Pattison Ave. at noon. More details at my.cupids.org.

Image | Frosythia

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Assembly Rooftop is adding a dash of romance to its intimate and cozy winter set-up, accurately dubbed Alpine Heights, a modern ski lodge-inspired pop-up running through Saturday, February 26. Lovebirds can sip on themed libations including Love Potion #9 crafted with butterfly pea tea-infused Ransom Gin, Nonino Amaro, apricot liqueur, and lime juice or Scarlett Kiss composed of Cruzan White Rum, strawberry basil shrub, Becherovka, and lime juice.

Assembly’s Valentine’s Day menu is available on Friday, February 11, Saturday, February 12, and Monday, February 14. Reservations on Tock.

Forsythia will have Valentine’s Day dining on Monday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 15. Guests can select small plates, entrées, and desserts from the seasonal menu OR opt for à la carte specials including roasted scallop & bone marrow with morels and artichoke, black lime cured hamachi prepared with heart of palm, white soy, and sea urchin vinaigrette, Wagyu beef short rib with maitake mushroom, red wine salsify, and black truffle, and sheep milk ricotta gnudi composed of beetroot, chanterelle mushrooms, and brown butter cacio e pepe. Reservations on Resy.

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

13

Image | Rex at the Royal

VALENTINE’S DAY REX at The Royal

REX at The Royal is offering a three-course prix fixe in addition to the current seasonal dinner menu, available Saturday, February 12 through Monday, February 14.

For $70/person, elevated Southerninspired offerings on the multicourse menu include fried oysters with pimento deviled eggs and remoulade, halibut a la plancha with conch peas cassoulet, roasted okra, smoked ham hock, and tomato jam, smoked beef short rib with hominy grits, madeira BBQ sauce, and baby carrots, and choice of buttermilk panna cotta with cider poached pear or molten chocolate cake served alongside raspberry ice cream and chocolate chantilly crème for dessert.

Square 1682

Square 1682 has a three-course prix fixe meal for Valentine’s Day weekend, available Friday, February 11, Saturday, February 12, and Monday, February 14 for dine-in. Chef Mackenson Horebe has prepared a plethora of decadent dishes to elevate date night for $65/person including crab dip, red snapper filet served alongside grilled broccolini and romesco sauce, jerk halfchicken with pikliz, basmati rice, and sauce pwa, and for dessert choice of chocolate-raspberry bomb or amaretti cookie sorbet. Reservations on OpenTable.

Urban Farmer

Urban Farmer has a curated selection of à la carte specials for Valentine’s Day courtesy of Executive Chef Sonny Ingui. In addition to the current winter menu, guests celebrating the holiday can enjoy east coast oysters with caviar and mignonette foam, foie gras served alongside brioche pain perdu and plum gastrique, an 8oz. Prime Beef Wellington with mushroom duxelle, spinach, and sauce périgueux, whole roasted branzino composed of mussels, lemon, tomato jam, and fingerlings, and for dessert, chocolate whiskey gateau with raspberry gelato and Chantilly, and chocolate fondue with pound cake, strawberries, house-made marshmallows, and Asian pear.

Reservations on OpenTable.

Image | Rex at the Royal

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

14

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Image | Fidget Forum

Fidget Announces 2022 Spring Season

Fidget announces its lineup of spring programming, including a work-in-progress showing of Fidget’s newest performance piece, The Alt.terre, a dance film festival, an open jam session for musicians and dancers, several educational programs in partnership with local schools and universities, and four new events in our Fidget Forum series. For more details, visit www.thefidget.org/upcoming.

THE ARTS Warren Holzman Compressive Forces

The Commonweal Gallery is taking a field trip. On Sunday, January 30th, from 12 pm to 2 pm, designer Warren Holzman will host a private event for friends of Commonweal at his Holzman Iron Studio in Olde Kensington. Holzman will offer a tour of the space and share more about his approach to metalworking, which combines Old World craftsmanship with the latest in metalworking technology. This event is limited to 15 audience members. An RSVP and POV is required.

Arden Theatre Company - Backing Track

In this new play by acclaimed satirist R. Eric Thomas, a change is in the air for a family after an unexpected loss. Mel, mother of Avery and Jessica, tries to reclaim her place in a gentrified neighborhood while her kids learn firsthand how to balance their own lives. Praised

by Lin-Manuel Miranda as “one of the funniest writers,” R. Eric Thomas’s play contemplates what it means to start over again. March 3-April 10, run time 2 hours, 40 minutes with intermissions. Details at https:// ardentheatre.org/reopening/.

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Arden Theatre Company – A Streetcar Named Desire

Originally slated for March 2020, A Streetcar Named Desire held just one public performance at the Arden before the company shut down. This production will return to open the 2022 Mainstage Season. Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece depicts a story of love, lust, and the memories we leave behind. January 27-February 13.

Details at https://ardentheatre.org/.

The Move Bombing: A Turning Point In The History Of Philadelphia?

Was the bombing of the home of MOVE organization on May 13, 1985, a turning point in the history of Philadelphia? How are scholars and activists reclaiming the narrative by creating archives to preserve local histories and combat erasure? How can we historically contextualize the recent revelations about the Penn Museum’s use of human remains as “teaching tools”?

Villanova University will host a conversation with local activists and scholars on February 9 about the significance of the MOVE bombing for the city’s history.

Register on Zoom.

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

15

The Clay Studio Lunch & Learn

February 3 at noon. Join Jennifer Zwilling, curator of artistic programs at The Clay Studio, as she introduces three new residents: Dante Gambardella, Jinsik Yoo, and Liisa Nelson. Dante Gambardella, based in Montana, uses local materials to initiate conversations about environmental issues by creating functional and sculptural ceramic pieces. South Korean figurative sculptor Jinsik Yoo mashes up two- and three-dimensional works to explore subjects such as gender binaries, how memory affects perception, and conscious decision-making. Montana native Liisa Nelson references science, math, religion, anthropology, and art history in her ceramic work while embracing and building bridges between dissimilar ideas. Join on Zoom.

THE ARTS In Praise of Love: Fidget Forum Tuesday, February 8

A discussion of In Praise of Love by French philosopher Alain Badiou. Book summary (from the inside cover): “Love without risk is an impossibility, like war without death. Caught between consumerism and casual sexual encounters devoid of passion, love today — without the key ingredient of chance — is in mortal danger. Alain Badiou proposes a vision of love as an adventure and an opportunity for re-invention of the individual.”

The Alt.terre: Work in Progress Showing Sunday, April 24

Megan and an intergenerational cast of five local Philadelphia dancers will be in rehearsals for The Alt.terre in the spring, culminating in a work-in-progress showing. The Alt.terre explores the concept of alternate universes, and works with altered states of consciousness on the part of the performers.

SHARE Philly Sunday, February 27

SHARE is a place to communicate and collaborate in a group sound and dance improvisation. Electronic musicians, dancers, media and sound artists and curious observers are all welcome. Bring your gear and plug into the mix, come jam with other improvisers, or just watch and listen. This iteration features electronic musicians Thomas Patteson and Aaron Pond.

They Exist in Two Places at Once: Dance films by Palestinian and PalestinianAmerican artists Friday, March 25

This program includes dances for the camera by four Palestinian and Palestinian-American artists and companies who live and work in the U.S. and The Levant. During the pandemic many choreographers began making dance films as a way to share their work. Palestinian artists––who often don’t have access to their collaborators or audiences due to frequently closed checkpoints and denied visas––have been experts at remote and digital collaborations for years.

Image | Fidget Forum

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

NICE RACK

SEX WITH TIMAREE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Friend WITHOUT BENEFITS

REACH OUT TO US. Carry PW’s at your spot. drops@philadelphiaweekly.com.

household and raise a family. To have sexuReader question: “I am an older woman al compatibility with a spouse? An outstandwho has always appeared to be “good.” I was married for over two decades and have ing surprise, a result of fortuitous pairing.

In modern marriages — particularly moa teenage daughter. My marriage was pretnogamous ones — we demand that our partty much sexless, and we’ve been divorced ner be a good domestic teammate while also for five years. I had a raging hot uncommitour romantic and sexual match. ted relationship after that lasted We may also expect that person to four years — but went nowhere. I be our best friend, someone who started dating a good friend two also meets our social, emotional years ago. This man has treated and recreational needs. Add to me like a QUEEN! He is a touch that the pressure to bring in compajealous (which I can’t stand), but he is an amazing person. rable amounts, financially.

However, he is TERRIBLE in Interestingly, this has made some bed. After 20 years of a sex-free people much happier. If we invest marriage, I learned that sex is a deeply in a relationship, the payout big deal for me. It’s a part of who I can be huge. For others, though, the am. And having to endure “getting expectations are so high that they through it” with him is an issue for feel disappointed, even when the sitme. I have tried to teach him, but DR. TIMAREE uation is objectively good. there’s so much to teach that I’ve Which brings us to your situagrown frustrated. tion and proposed solution: having @TIMAREE_LEIGH I really want to have a couple of multiple partners to meet differing other men on the side. I can’t needs. You have a good friend discuss this with anyone in and support, but you also my cohort because I’m not have significant desires that a big believer in monogamy are going unsatisfied and you — and they all are. Can I do feel are unlikely to be met by this? Please? Or would you him. It would make a ton of suggest something else besense to continue to engage fore I take that route?” in an intimate, companionate Answer: What you derelationship with him while scribe is a dilemma many having your sexual needs face: trying to find single met elsewhere. human person who can The question is whether meet all of our romantic that would meet his needs and sexual needs. It’s a lot as well. You describe him as of pressure to put on an injealous, but don’t mention if dividual, and yet over the past few decades you’ve asked him directly about opening up we have come to pile more and more expec- things. That might be a first step: having an tations onto our partners. open, honest conversation about the things In centuries past, marriage was largely an you both want, need and fear. economic institution, serving to protect family His penchant for jealousy doesn’t mean he assets of the wealthy and to create sustainable couldn’t learn to navigate non-monogamy. He domestic units among the working class. For would just need to be motivated to work on it. most of human history, love was not a prereqNon-monogamous people feel jealousy as well, uisite, though it *might* be fostered during a of course. Jealousy is simply our brain’s way marriage, through working together to run a of alerting us to some insecurity or unmet

SCHMIT

Where ALL GUYS come together Visit www.squirt.org today to join the action JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

A dilemma many face: trying to find single human person who can meet all of our romantic and sexual needs.

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

SEX WITH TIMAREE

Image | Getty Images

learn more and sign up for early access at nourity.com

ve sexuutstandairing. arly mour parthile also match. erson to one who motional Add to in compa-need. It can happen in any relationship, in. cluding non-sexual ones. made some Before we ask this man to change his life we investto accommodate a new model of dating, there he payoutare questions to ask yourself. The first: why hough, theare you with him? Do you have romantic and that theysexual desire for this person? Or did you just en the sit-fall into that kind of interaction? Research shows us that we tend to push forward in relaour situa-tionships even when it’s not working because on: havingwe fear being alone. t differing Your message is ood friendfilled with clues that you alsoyou desire steamy, esires thatpassionate fucking. It ed and yousounds like you not be met byonly have this innate e a ton of craving, but also want to engageto make up for lost panionatetime. And that’s cool. him whileYou have identified a ual needsneed! You have also decided that you don’t want to have to labor s whetherover the process of training a lover, which is his needsalso cool. You have identified a limitation. be him as We must identify our needs, wants, fears mention if and limitations so that we can clearly commupening upnicate them. This is a good place to start. having an You mention that you had a steamy affair he thingsthat lasted four whole years but say it “went nowhere.” I’m curious where you wanted it to t mean hego. Four years is longer than many significant ogamy. Herelationships. Were you hoping to get remarwork on it.ried? Is that a desire or goal you have? If so, sy as well,what do you need from that person? Is it imrain’s wayportant to you that your conservative friends or unmet

approve of your lifestyle? Does that factor into your decision to stay in a commitment that is so deeply unsatisfying?

You ask if you can have multiple lovers. If you want my permission, you have it. But if you draw your current partner in a mono-poly arrangement, it’ll require a great deal of work and skill building on both your parts to sustain.

And if you don’t have the patience to teach this man how to fuck you right and his jealousy is already frustrating to you, I’m gonna guess you’re not gonna be stoked to go over the nuances of consensual non-monogamy with him either. That sounds like a really efficient way to turn a friend (without benefits) into an ex to whom you don’t speak.

My suggestions are to do some more thinking about all these things and if, in lieu of other men on the side, you might just want other men entirely — to start over fresh with the plan to date as a solo poly person. Also, if you can’t safely talk to your friends about this, you might also want to start a hunt for new friends too. You can have several of them as well.

Good luck!

Have a question for Dr. Timaree? Send an email to asktimaree@philadelphiaweekly.com.

If you draw your current partner in a mono-poly arrangement, it’ll require a great deal of work and skill building.

Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase?

Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food?

OVERWHELMED, School? Reopening? Green Phase? Testing?

COVID19? Safety?

Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School?

Reopening? Green CONFUSED, Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent?

Food?

Safety?

School?

Reopening?

Voting?

Stimulus

Green

NEEDTesting?

ANSWERS. COVID19?

Phase?

Check?

Rent?

Food?

School?

Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting?

Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase?

SEND Q's TO

Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase?

Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food?

School? Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety?

Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent?

Food?

Safety?

School?

Reopening?

Voting?

Stimulus

Green

Phase?

Testing?

COVID19?

FREE, ANON. INFO-LINE Rent?

Food?

School?

Check?

Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting?

Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase?

TEXTING Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening?

Green Phase?

Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food?

EQUALINFO School? Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety?

TO 73224

Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus THX! Check? Rent?

Food?

Safety?

School?

Reopening?

Voting?

Stimulus

Green

Phase?

Check?

Rent?

Testing?

COVID19?

Food?

School?

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

18

REAL ESTATE

RIGHT NOW, IT’S A SELLER’S MARKET, SO WHY NOT JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON AND SELL YOUR HOME FOR TRIPLE WHAT IT’S WORTH? Give PW readers a reason to move today.

Contact sales@philadelphiaweekly.com today to get your property listed.

JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

XXXXXXXXXXX MARKETPLACE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

General Employment

HOME IMPROVEMENT

COMMUNITY SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

Windows

Center City District is looking for outdoor CSR’s. for days or evenings to act as a roving ambassador in specific areas of Center City. Assisting tourists and working with other city agencies. We provide excellent Benefits & Perks.

Wage starts at $15 p/hr to $16 p/hr. after probationary period.

Shift differential after 6 PM. Please apply at www.centercityphila.org/jobs

NM-00483859

General Employment

Non-CDL Drivers

Wanted

Paratransit Operations

$400

NM-00482236

SIGN-ON BONUS!!!

$18/Hr. Starting Pay Immediate Positions Available Paid Training / Benefit Package Match of salary with experience!

Flexible Shifts Available Safety Bonus Incentives

APPLY IN PERSON Monday Through Friday • 9:00am to 3:00pm 4201 Tacony Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 | 215-992-8000 Apply Online: www.philly.totalbusco.com

EMPLOYMENT General Employment

GENERAL AND TREATMENT FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED Open your heart and home to children of all ages New Foundations, Inc. 215-203-8733 www.nfi4kids.org FLAGGER Traffic Plan seeks Flaggers to protect our clients and the motoring public by setting up work zones and controlling traffic. A valid driverʼs license is a must. Good pay and benefits offered. If interested, please fill out an application online at www.trafficplan.com.

Sell with PW Classifieds classifieds@philadelphiaweekly.com

Sell with PW Classifieds classifieds@philadelphiaweekly.com

Legal Notices

AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify the existing building wireless telecommunications facility located at 901 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 19123 (N39° 58' 7.0" and W75° 9' 7.0"). AT&T Mobility, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under National Historic Preservation Action Section 106. Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Impact7G, Inc. at 9550 Hickman Road, Suite 105, Clive, IA 50325 or call 515-473-6256 and reference project #NE 877/CR. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice.

HAPPY WINDOWS Shutters, 2-Inch Wood, Pleated Shades, Roman Shades, Drapes, Verticals, Mini-Blinds

Discount Price With Installation

Call Eileen

215-465-7525 Legal Notices

AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify the existing building wireless telecommunications facility located at 33 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 19102 (N39° 59' 6.0" and W75° 10' 1.2").

AT&T Mobility, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under National Historic Preservation Action Section 106. Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Impact7G, Inc. at 9550 Hickman Road, Suite 105, Clive, IA 50325 or call 515-473-6256 and reference project #NE 890/CR. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice.

Notice of Public Sale The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by CubeSmart, 456 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia PA 19123 (215)922-3715 to satisfy a lien on December 14th 2021 at approx. 6:00 PM: www.storagetreasures.com A002 Thomas Limongello, A042 Andrew Seitz, B096 Kenneth Roberts, B182 Victor Babatunde, B223 John Osuna, C323 Seonaid Smith Centz, C364 Stepanie Luongo

Legal Notices

Notice of Public Sale The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by CubeSmart, 501 Callowhill St., Philadelphia PA 19123 (215)627-3510 to satisfy a lien on February 1st 2022 at approx. 6:00 PM: www.storagetreasures.com C1 Monica Burke, 1095 Emily Sofia, 2026 Michelle Farrell, 2151 Michelle Sampson, 2160 Cutis Herron, 3002 Wahid Remond, 3062 Nyfis Topping, 3122 Barry Adelman, 4025 Brian Mildenberg, 4152 Duran Brown, 5088 Zackary Krapf, 5099 Dominique Travis'Bey

19 X

Recent break up?

PW Classifieds is a great place to

sell your ex’s stuff.

AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify the existing building wireless telecommunications facility located at 33 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 19102 (N39° 59' 6.0" and W75° 10' 1.2").

AT&T Mobility, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under National Historic Preservation Action Section 106. Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Impact7G, Inc. at 9550 Hickman Road, Suite 105, Clive, IA 50325 or call 515-473-6256 and reference project #NE 890/CR. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice.

SELL WITH PW Classifieds

classifieds@philadelphiaweekly.com PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Nothing’s going to slow you down Staying up to speed is everything. With Xfinity xFi your family can stream 4K shows and movies, game online, and video chat to their hearts’ content – all at the same time. Plus, Xfinity xFi gives you the coverage, security, and control you need for the ultimate in-home WiFi. Can your Internet do that?

Call 1-800-xfinity, go to xfinity.com/xFi, or visit your local Xfinity Store today.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement. Xfinity xFi is available to Xfinity Internet service customers with a compatible Xfinity Gateway. Call for restrictions and complete details. Subscription required to access HBO®. Programming subject to change. Viewing uses your Internet service and will count against any Xfinity data plan. © 2022 Comcast. All rights reserved. Individual programs and marks are property of their respective owners. NPA233359-0013 2022-NED-LGBTQ-Internet-V7