PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 – 17, 2021

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Will ‘The Album’ put Chestnut Grove over the top?

Image | Karl McWherter

One for the

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The Inquirer’s new protocols and the dangers of being afraid to offend. | Page 8

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STATE OF OUR CITY

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STATE

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NEW

FOR

AIDEN JAMES MUSIC

PRESTON

AND STEVE The American Red Cross and 93.3 WMMR are teaming up once again to present the 16th annual “I Bleed for Preston & Steve” blood drive on Friday, June 18, 7am-7pm at multiple locations. Presenting donors will receive a free, limited-edition, Preston & Steve T-shirt, while supplies last, and WMMR DJs will make appearances at each location throughout the drive and will give away concert tickets and other items to random presenting donors.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive by visiting RedCrossBlood. org and entering sponsor code WMMR or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

Singer songwriter Aiden James has released his first new music in over a year: a moody yet dance-forward single called “Elixir.” Written during the physical isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic, “Elixir” is how James dealt with, and ultimately overcame, the feeling of helplessness – a tonic for the soul, music for the ears. “Elixir” draws heavily on ‘80s pop classics like Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” with some more modern influences reminiscent of The Weekend. “Elixir” is available for purchase and streaming via iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and Tidal. For more on AJ, visit aidenjamesmusic.com.

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Dan McDonough, Jr. Chairman & Publisher Anthony Hennen Executive Editor

John Montesano Art Director

Kyle Sammin Senior Editor

Alan Bauer Managing 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.

The current number of homicide victims year-to-date under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents a 32 percent increase over the same time last year.

Ed Lynes Chief Revenue Officer Stephanie Hawkins Michael Chambers Controller Director of Circulation Signature Supporter: Ted Kazantzis

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 - 17, 2021

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ROCKING

ON

WITH CHESTNUT GROVE Delayed a year by the pandemic, area quintet drops ‘The Album’

JUNE 10 – 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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“We were a disorganized mess, as any young person is.

We had big dreams and no real way of reaching them.

Just play, play, play.”

TOP: Chestnut Grove has been together since high school. Their new LP, ‘The Album,’ is a product of getting to learn how to be a band for 10 years while pretty much flying under the radar. Image | Karl McWherter LEFT: Philadelphia area quintet Chestnut Grove is eager to get back on stage to perform before live audiences once again.

Image | Karl McWherter

P

roster from 2018-2020 until sidelined by the hiladelphia area retro pop, rock, Americana and jam pandemic. They have shared bills and stages with The Hooters, Turkuaz, Ron Gallo (Toy quintet Chestnut Grove recently released their debut, Soldiers), Cyril Neville & the R.S.B., The Felice Brothers, Ryan Montbleau, Wilderado, studio-recorded LP, “The AlPeople’s Blues Of Richmond, Hoots & Hellbum.” Recorded at BarnSound mouth, Wild Adriatic, and others while tourby producer Derek Chafin, ing the East Coast from 2015 to 2017.

“The Album” features 11 origChestnut Grove has headlined the Trocadeinal songs alternating lead vocals by singers ro, World Cafe Live and Ardmore Music Hall James Daniels and Dee Gerhart. while gathering large crowds at festivals inThe members of Chestnut Grove have been cluding Mile of Music in Appleton, together since high school and are WI. nearing their 30th birthdays, and BY: EUGENE PW recently caught up with Danthe sonic themes on “The Album” ZENYATTA iels and Gerhart to talk about the reflect this period of growth with band’s music and the new album. lyrics that discuss how difficult it is Chestnut Grove has been togethto cope with getting older, the pain of losing friends and the sting of romantic er since its members were in high school in 2011. How did you first come together to breakups. Initially scheduled for release in 2020, “The Album” was pushed back to this form a band, and how have you managed to stay together all of these years? spring following the release of the first single, James: Actually, John and I have been “Golden Age.” playing together since 2006 when we were Chestnut Grove was formed by John Tyler, in seventh grade. We were best friends and James Daniels, Sean Murray and Dee Gerhart we jammed around with tons of people until in 2011 during their senior year of high school. senior year in 2011. That’s when the band beThe band’s name was chosen in memory of came Chestnut Grove. It was John, Dee and would-be member and guitar player Matt myself until 2012 and then Gary and Zach Barber, who passed away in a car accident on joined the band.

Chestnut Grove Road. Current members inWe grew up together and we all are lucky clude Gerhart – guitar/piano/vocals; Daniels drums, vocals; Tyler - guitar/keys; Gary Geers enough to be best friends who had a love for bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The - guitar; and Zach Winkler - bass.

Chestnut Grove toured the U.S. relentlessly Raconteurs. We have stayed together because we are family. We drive each other nuts for as a part of The Nimbleslick Entertainment

sure but we actually love each other and we love what we do.

Dee: From my perspective, luckily. I’ve always dreamed of performing in front of people. James and John had been playing together for a bit with a group, but by senior year, they were looking for a new roster. I had been playing open mics acoustically and sort of singer-songwriting my way around. I hadn’t actually thought a band was even possible at that point. I never considered myself a singer or a musician of any kind, but I really wanted to be both! So we had a day at school where I was playing guitar and singing, with Zach actually, I somehow convinced him to join me so I had the guts to even do it. James saw it and immediately asked me to come to practice.

Gary and Zach shortly joined after we graduated and we really started to click into our own garage rock animal. Some of us come from some sort of “broken” home, so we have become a family. We spend holidays together, eat dinners, and some of us live together. We just got along in a way that was more than just about the music.

Has the band’s sound or approach to making music changed over the years?

James: If we go all the way back to 2011 it’s outrageous how much we have grown. We went from being a guitar rock Zeppelin/Janis lookalike band. Now flash forward to 2020 and we are working more like a Fleetwood Mac, SEE CHESTNUT GROVE PAGE 6

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Chestnut Grove recently released their debut, studio-recorded LP, ‘The Album.’ Image | Karl McWherter

CHESTNUT GROVE, FROM PAGE 5 The Beatles and The Band. We are a vocal group with multiple songwriters, and I think that’s the type of band we really love and want to be.

Dee: We were a disorganized mess, as any young person is. We had big dreams and no real way of reaching them. Just play, play, play. We toured relentlessly since 2015, and I think the break from the pandemic really allowed us to take an important step back and sort of, catch up? But also come together in a new way.

Musically, emotionally, as a band and a business. We have a much more level head these days. We are able to collaborate much easier and communicate while songwriting, in a way that we really hadn’t two years ago. It’s refreshing and I can’t wait to see what else comes out of us.

Talk a little about “The Album.”

How did it come together? How are people able to hear it?

James: “The Album” is a product of getting to learn how to be a band for 10 years while pretty much flying under the radar. We have finally hit our stride as a band. Our producer, Derek Chafin, really professionalized our product and sound.

It’s a rock n roll record with a lot of New Orleans and Philly soul influences. People can find “The Album” on Spotify and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and our website Chestnutgrove.band.

Dee: Actually a few songs have been around for a few years, and others had

“Being on stage and performing is a huge emotional release for me, and I have been struggling a bit because of it. I’m ready to get back to the place I’m most comfortable.” been worked out in 2018-19. We had general ideas but not a great direction. We had the privilege of working with a great producer, Derek Chafin. He was able to pull out the good, and get rid of what didn’t need to be there. It was great having “outside” ears to help us along. We trusted him and I think together we did a great job.

You can purchase a physical copy from us! We have an online store – store.chestnutgrove.band. We would LOVE to mail

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“Hopefully ‘The Album’ helps put us in the rock n roll history books. We started this band as teenagers with aspirations of making it big. Hopefully we never have to give up on that dream.”

you one. Or even deliver it if you’re close. But you can also find it on all the major streaming platforms (Spotify, iTunes...).

Chestnut Grove has toured and performed at a lot of Philly venues. How excited are you for the pandemic restrictions to ease and to get back on a stage before a live crowd?

James: After touring and playing shows so often since 2015 I definitely had a hard time mentally during the pandemic. That being said, when I wasn’t having a mental breakdown we were trying to take advantage of all the time off we were granted, as hard as it was to put our music career on hold right after we were finally getting noticed. We did our best to just focus on getting better. I said early on, we get an entire year off to re-learn music. It was kind of like starting over. Maybe we should have called “The Album” Born Again.

Dee: So incredibly excited. Being on stage and performing is a huge emotional release for me, and I have been struggling a bit be-

cause of it. I’m ready to get back to the place I’m most comfortable.

We have all been working overtime to make sure we are tight as a band and I know our live show is ready to really grab some attention.

While you’ve shared bills and stages with a lot of artists. Is there anyone you’d like to perform or collaborate with in the future?

James: We love touring with our friends in Wild Adriatic. They are The Godfather’s of Chestnut Grove. Mateo has helped us get on festival bills, got us our first booking agent and has guided me and the band in a way that I hope to properly thank him for someday.

We will be making a split release with Wild Adriatic this summer. Hopefully we have it out by winter 2022.

I would be happy to tour with any national touring act as an opener. I think we are very much ready for an opportunity to tour with some of our biggest influences, Dr. Dog, Jack White, Ron Gallo and maybe even the Foo

Fighters. If anyone can give us their phone numbers that would be greatly appreciated, But in all seriousness, we just want to be able to play music for our fans and continue to grow our brand.

Hopefully “The Album” helps put us in the rock n roll history books. We started this band as teenagers with aspirations of making it big.

Hopefully we never have to give up on that dream.

Dee: Oh so many... I can’t wait to record with our buddies Wild Adriatic this summer.

It will be our first time collaborating with another band while recording. It would be great to run into Ron Gallo again, he’s been really hitting his stride. We opened for the Toy Soldiers once, and I won’t forget it. Genuinely nice dudes, so it’s awesome to see him still pluggin’ away. Really anyone striving to create good music. If anyone needs backing vocals or some extra hands, hit ya girl up. But honestly.

My big outer space dream is to meet Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. I just for some

reason think he would really dig our story, love that kids are still getting together and making noise and jamming with him would probably kill me, in the best way. So, Dave, if you can hear me, man, let’s get together. Your place preferably.

What are the best ways for your fans to stay current with what you’re doing?

James: Fans can sign up for our mailing list at Chestnutgrove.band. We can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and almost all streaming platforms. You can also follow us on Patreon. For exclusive content.

Dee: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook.

We have a Patreon, subscribe to that for secret cool fun Chestnut Grove stuff. We release videos and demos on there. If you can find our personal profiles on Instagram, and you REALLY wanna know us, check those out. We would love to engage with you.

Come on out to a show to really find out what it’s all about. That is the BEST way. We would love to meet you.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 – 17, 2021

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OPINION

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The dangers of being afraid to offend Inquirer CEO announces protocols to ensure ‘anti-racist’ news coverage

L

et’s get this out of the way at the admitted what they were doing. They deserve beginning: I wrote for the Daily some limited credit for placing their cards on News and the Philadelphia Inthe table. quirer from 2003 until March of Those cards were revealed recently, in a 2020, when I was fired. The offimanifesto disguised as an OpEd penned by cial reason for letting me go was Inquirer CEO and Publisher Lisa Hughes, my social media presence. The who openly proclaimed that from now on, editors suggested to me that my the paper (including the its sister publication, rather feisty responses to the readers I’d manthe Daily News) will be skewing the facts to aged to annoy were counterproductive, and advance a preferred narrative, one that incornot what the paper wanted. I was told that I porates social justice policy with a politically should not offend the people who are paying relevant impact. good money to read (and criticize) Hughes’ piece announced the what I wrote. institution of new protocols that The real reason for my dismisswould ensure that the papers’ news BY: CHRISTINE coverage was “anti-racist.” The al was a virus similar to that othFLOWERS er one that emerged in 2020: wonew policy apparently followed keness. Yes, COVID-19 took lives, multiple meetings that took place which are infinitely more importover the past year, triggered by the ant than any newspaper byline. controversy over a headline that But what is happening at newspapers and appeared shortly after the killing of George media outlets across the country is threatenFloyd in May 2020. That headline, attached to ing journalism at a very real level. Conservaa column by Pulitzer Prize-winning architectives like me are becoming inconvenient, and tural critic Inga Saffron read “Buildings Matit’s not because of anything related to Donald ter Too.” Deemed a “grievous and unpardonTrump or the fickle cycle of politics. This is able offense” by Hughes, those three words about a sea change in the way that society is precipitated the resignation of an editor, the approaching how we present the news, how “retirement” of several administrators and we access it, how we digest it and the sort of staffers and as we now learn from the CEO’s impact it should have on its consumers – the OpEd, “a comprehensive process to examine average American. nearly every facet of what our journalists do.”

It’s not limited to the paper I used to write The OpEd provides a list of ways in which for, and the only reason the Daily News and the paper will seek to combat perceived or Inquirer are exceptional is that they openly overt racism, one of which will directly im-

JUNE 10 – 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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OPINION

SUPPORT

GREAT CONTENT and help us make it. pact the readers’ ability to access information, and one of which actually involves changing the focus of news coverage.

In the first case, the Inquirer is going to make it more difficult to find stories that reflect negatively on people and communities of color. Hughes writes that they will be “establishing a formal process that will allow, upon petition and approval, for certain types of stories to be rendered harder to find in online searches. This recognizes that our digital archives includes [sic] countless stories focused on minor crimes and disproportionately affect people of color.”

Hughes does not specify what will qualify as a “minor crime,” only that stories about some of them will be cast down the memory hole.

In the second case, the papers will try not to report as frequently on crime in neighborhoods that, again, might reflect negatively on communities of color. Hughes notes that they will be “establishing a Community News Desk to address long-standing shortcomings in how our journalism portrays Philadelphia communities, which have often been stigmatized by coverage that over-emphasizes crime.”

One takeaway from this is that, depending on where a crime happens, it may or may not be reported as visibly as if it had occurred in another neighborhood.

Even after my own experience with the paper, I admit that when I saw these admissions in print, I was taken aback. Here was a news outlet openly stating that it was going to attempt to skew the news so that it did not cast certain communities or individuals in a negative light.

Let’s look at some probable repercussions.

A newspaper is now going to turn its investigative and reporting activities into an

editorial barometer of what will, or will not, benefit certain specific communities. It will change the delivery, the focus, access to and the nature of news to advance a preferred social narrative.

It will slant, by omission, current events to present a manufactured picture of what is actually happening in the streets.

That will impact the authenticity of journalism, sure.

But it will have a larger impact as well. It will place a finger on the scale of elections, by downplaying criminal activity in certain areas of the city and thereby favoring certain candidates and philosophies over others. We saw that recently in the Democratic primary for district attorney. It was no surprise, nor was it a problem in the least, for the editorial board at the Inquirer to endorse Larry Krasner.

That is the prerogative of editors and OpEd columnists. Lord knows, I was outspoken in criticizing Krasner when I wrote for both papers.

But imagine if the papers attempted to shift focus away from crimes in the same black and brown and immigrant neighborhoods that voted overwhelmingly for Krasner. That would have a direct impact on the vote, and on the political process.

Editors and columnists can be biased, but it is not the job of the Fourth Estate to have such a weighty and, to my mind, dishonest impact on our public offices and their management.

Newspapers don’t get to report the news they want, just as they don’t get to choose the facts that are more convenient to their “anti-racist” agenda.

If they do that, they are no longer filling the sacred role they’ve always presumed to fill, particularly not in the city that gave us the First Amendment.

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VOICES

OF OUR

CITY

PHILADELPHIA, WHERE HARRIET TUBMAN GAINED HER FREEDOM One hundred seventy years ago, the Mason-Dixon Line that forms the Pennsylvania-Maryland border was often seen as the invisible line beyond which the evils of slavery were allowed to exist. But for freedom seekers like Harriet Tubman, crossing the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania represented a step into a better world. Philadelphia doesn’t have much to formally commemorate Harriet Tubman, but the area still bore witness to some of the most important events in Tubman’s life.

Tubman, who was enslaved by Edward Brodess in Maryland, made a bold escape to freedom in 1849, heading north from the Eastern Shore into Delaware until she crossed into Pennsylvania, a free state. It was where she first gained her freedom, and where she first worked to support herself without paying her slaveholder for the “privilege” of doing so.

She saved what she could from working as a domestic worker in Philadelphia, and crossed back over to the dark side of that line on her first of at least 13 missions to rescue family and friends and become the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad.

But Tubman was not able to permanently settle in Philadelphia. Soon after arriving in the city, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which made law enforcement throughout the nation cooperate with slaveholders intent on finding freedom seekers and returning them into bondage. Given its proximity to the slave states of Maryland and Delaware and the slave catchers already active there for decades, Philadelphia was no longer the safe haven it was when she arrived. Tubman would ultimately bring most of those she rescued to Auburn, New York, or southern Ontario, Canada. Abolitionists made Auburn comparatively safe, and the Fugitive Slave Act did not apply in Canada.

There were still many in Philadelphia who opposed slavery and helped Tubman on her rescue missions. Underground Railroad conductor William Still operated a secret station for freedom seekers at 244 South 12th Street and assisted Tubman many times. Still’s station would become Tubman’s go-to stop whenever she led freedom seekers through Philadelphia. He would provide assistance to many people that Tubman brought north, including

the Ennals family and Tubman’s parents.

Many free Blacks like Still were conductors on the Underground Railroad, and in a few rare cases enslaved Blacks were as well.

White community members in Philadelphia, especially Quakers, also worked on the Underground Railroad and helped Tubman on her missions. Tubman’s friend Lucretia Mott was a Quaker woman who assisted Tubman throughout her life. A steamboat captain once wrote Tubman a pass stating that she was free and living in Philadelphia to allow her to travel across the Mason-Dixon Line to rescue an enslaved woman in Baltimore.

Despite being denied the right to vote, during her time in the city, Tubman was politically and militarily active as well. She likely attended the National Colored Convention in Philadelphia in 1855, along with other notable figures like Frederick Douglass and William Still. Many attendees, including Tubman, also visited Underground Railroad conductor Passmore Williamson while he was imprisoned in Moyamensing Prison at the corner of 11th Street and Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia. Until the end of her life, Tubman worked for civil rights and women’s rights, giving persuasive lectures throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

When the Civil War broke out, Gov. John Andrew of Massachusetts realized that Tubman’s skill as a conductor on the Underground Railroad could be put to use for the war effort, and arranged for her to travel to South Carolina.

There she worked as a spy, scout, and nurse for the U.S. Army and became the first American woman to lead an armed raid, in the process freeing over seven hundred enslaved people.

Returning from leave in Auburn to visit family, in April 1865 Tubman gave an address at Camp William Penn in La Mott to the United States Colored Troops 24th Regiment about her service in the war. Coincidentally, her future husband, Nelson Davis, had enlisted at that same camp in 1863.

Philadelphia was the first place Harriet Tubman was free, and while she had to leave for her safety, she would remain free for the rest of her days.

Adam Larson is a seasonal park ranger at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Church Creek, Maryland.

JUNE 10 – 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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THE SHOUT OUT

Philadelphia officially reopens for business tomorrow with capacity restrictions being lifted.

Your turn: What are you most looking forward to as everything returns to normal?

Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com

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VOICES OF OUR CITY

NICE RACK

POLICE REFORM? NO, JUST MORE OF THE BIG LIE It is known by many names: The Big Lie, dezinformatsiya, and disinformation. But they all mean the same thing – false, misleading information; distortion or mischaracterization of facts solely for the purposes of deception. One of the main targets of The Big Lie, and understandably so, are the police.

Police are the most powerful domestic arm of government. They are also its most visible arm. So when one hears politicians, “activists” and the media talk about police reform it is just the Big Lie. Reform is not the objective, abrogation is.

One example of The Big Lie spread about the police was the shooting of Jacob Blake

by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police. The shooting triggered nights of violent rioting. The Big Lie was that Blake was an unarmed Black man shot by a racist White police officer.

CNN’s Jake Tapper stated this during a broadcast. He said, “Video shows police shoot unarmed black man.” Future President Joe Biden repeated The Big Lie. He tweeted, “Once again, a Black man – Jacob Blake – was shot by the police. In front of his children. It makes me sick. Is this the country we want to be?”

But the truth was that Jacob Blake was armed.

Another example of The Big Lie was the police shooting of Michael Brown. The media routinely pedaled the falsehood that Brown had his hands up and was surrendering when shot by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer.

The truth was that Brown did not have his hands up asking the police not to shoot. But the facts did not prevent future VP Kamala Harris from repeating The Big Lie – five years after the incident occurred.

Police are vulnerable to The Big Lie because they take actions and make judgments in nanoseconds during moments of mayhem and terror. Actions and judgments that their contemners and critics – journalists, lawyers, civil rights leaders, civil libertarians, judges, and jurors – have hours, days, weeks, months, and even years to deliberate, reconsider, debate and resolve.

Police are easy to condemn because they operate within a framework of unstable laws, rules, and procedures that have the consistency of the color of a chameleon on a kaleidoscope. They must somehow adhere to policies and laws that change sometimes whimsically.

Police are never called when things are trouble-free. They are only called when there is trouble, tumult and often death.

Society expects the impossible from the police. They are expected to comport themselves

with the refinement of a head waiter, but be stern and cruel as a soldier in battle – simultaneously. They are expected to leave the scene of a gruesome automobile accident, a horrible rape, or murder, or a vicious domestic dispute, then return home within 30 minutes to have dinner with their family – acting as if nothing ever happened. They are expected to leave a holiday dinner and, within the hour, transport a suicide, a corpse impaled on a spike, to the morgue. Indeed, some police officers work rotating shifts, which severely disrupts biorhythms.

Despite these stark emotional transitions and stresses, society’s elite ignores the emotional, mental and physical toll on police. Why they do so defies comprehension.

I recall a conversation with a friend about combat versus policing. He is a decorated, Purple Heart Vietnam veteran. We spoke of the differences between his wartime service and my duties as a police officer in an inner-city, high-crime area of Philadelphia. One of the differences we noted was decompression.

A soldier overseas does not immediately return to the tranquility of home life. Despite this time to readjust from the brutality of combat, soldiers still suffer PTSD. On the other hand, a police officer experiencing a life-or-death situation does not have time to readjust to the tranquility of the home.

For example, once, after taking a gunshot victim to the hospital at the end of my shift, I noticed the victim’s blood and what looked like skull fragments on my uniform as I entered my home. I quickly showered, changed clothes, and put my uniform in a trash bag to take to a laundry later on before sitting down to dinner.

Despite the conflicting roles, responsibilities and burdens society puts on the police officer, they do their job anyway. But if a police officer makes a mistake, there are legions ready to exploit it for personal gain. Journalists, “civil rights” lawyers, “civil rights” leaders – none of them could do the job they ask of police. But they will profit from police errors.

The police are an impediment to those seeking to overthrow the established order. Police are obstacles to power and wealth. It is imperative for “revolutionaries” to discredit law enforcement.

False claims of systemic racial injustice and brutality are propaganda used to silence dissent and demonize the police.

Do not be fooled by The Big Lie. Reforming and improving police are not the intent, vilification and vitiation are.

Michael P. Tremoglie is a former Philadelphia police officer turned writer and journalist.

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JUNE 10 – 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Arts and

MONEY H

Proposed city budget another blow to arts community

minimum. And so, I’m pissed. ey, Philly. How’s your quality of Fireworks advertising life, that special, increasingly And speaking of exploiting the most annoyunusual, soon-to-be unattainable ing quality of life issues for political or finanthing where you can exist without being jostled if you so desire cial gain: the Washington Avenue billboard for Philly Fireworks. Like the old Chris Rock joke and not-so-neighborly people about crack sales (“Drug dealers don’t sell don’t get to pee on your doordrugs. Drugs sell themselves. It’s crack. It’s step at will? I ask because after the city smartly and correctly slowed down not an encyclopedia”), firecracker users need no provoking or advertising. Stupid nuisance racist stop-and-frisk practices, a three-month pilot program in Northwest Philly ordered and the rush of low expectation sells itself.

Arts funding by a federal judge furthered that wise cause, Arts in Philly. Moving beyond COVID and weirdly, seconded that emotion, and made quarantines, you’re still fucked. Since this it so police can no longer stop people from urinating in public as of Aug. 1. (Why Aug. 1 mayor can only have one good thing on his budget agenda at a time, this session finds and why, singularly Philly’s Northwest corKenney proposing a budget with only $10 milridor is as arbitrary as it is ridiculous.) Funlion in cultural spending for the next ny thing is, most of the court order fiscal year – famously including just $2 sounds solid – why should a cop stop million for the Philadelphia Cultural you from smoking dope or holding

BY A.D. Fund, $2.1 million for the Mural Arts open liquor containers on the street AMOROSI Program, $2.04 million for the Philalike they allow in New Orleans? Peodelphia Museum of Art, $500,000 for ple are high and drunk all the time. the African American Museum, $470,407 for Why not make it convenient? The peeing thing though, that riles me probably even more than the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative the gear-grinding roar of a thousand ATVs Economy and certainly some cold hard cash barreling down Broad Street, and the fact in a black leather Tom Ford valise for Jay-Z for bringing Made in America to Philly just that all the Philly cops are allowed to do when confronting a racehorse-like pee-er is say, because Hova asked, and why not? Anyway, “move along,” as if we are eternally grumpy the $2 mil for Philadelphia Cultural Fund is an old neighbors stuck in a comic strip like insult. Like bringing only $50 to Steak 48 while Mr. Wilson or Marty Burns. (Expect flashy, wearing a tube top insulting. We know David Oh, at-large member of City Council and the hand-crafted “Move along” T-shirts to hit Etsy chair of Council’s Committee on Global Opby the time this column goes online.)

Considering that most of Philly, from portunities and the Creative/Innovative Econdowntown to uptown, smells like a million omy wants Kenney to tuck into its still unused Porta Potties after their habitues have eaten $1.4 billion of federal stimulus cash for at least raw asparagus and drunk red wine vinegar $45 million of a total arts bailout, and is produring the already sweltering 90-degree heat posing as much this week. Bravo. Now let’s see how far that conversation gets. of June’s mid-spring, I was really hoping they Crime of the week could keep the always-active, live-streaming, Crime o’ the week: the verrrrrrry lyrical-flowing street urination in Philly to a

slow-moving carjacking of a DiBruno’s customer at its homespun Italian Market cheese salon on Sunday by two guys looking for more than rare capicola. Considering that Ninth Street on a Sunday is a crowded mess, balanced against a block filled with vendors, customers and burning barrels, and that the jacked car couldn’t have moved more than two miles an hour, it’s a weird one. That said, maybe the Italian Market Business Association will bring back the private rifle toting armed guards that it did in 2020 between COVID quarantine and spring’s boarded up protests.

Philly in NYC Expect Philly’s Geoff Gordon to be part of the August NYC in Central Park “welcome back” to live everything in celebration of that city’s reopening. Music biz producer and executive Clive Davis will help organize the talent, (eight “iconic” stars performing a three-hour show for 60,000 attendees and a worldwide television viewership) and Gordon’s East Coast division of Live Nation will run the entire game, tentative for Aug. 21, according to the New York Times. Mayor de Blasio is part of this too, but fuck him. He’s worse than Kenney.

The mundane is fun?

Headline of the week: “The mundane is fun again with reopening,” went the Inquirer on Sunday, before going on to tout Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” and Wrigley’s gum commercials. Odd time warp, that.

Plus, the “mundane” is never ever “fun,” unless one’s tedium always includes popping Molly, riding unicycles without pants and listening to old Nicki Minaj mixtapes, loud. Then again, if Celine Dion and Wrigley’s gum commercials from 1974 are your thing, maybe…….

‘Summer of Soul’ A pre-recorded talkback with first-time film director, top Sundance documentary seller

GOSSIP

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY of all time (plus the 2021 winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at this year’s film fest) and Philadelphia native Ahmir-Khalib Thompson is the totally cool kick off to this year’s PFF SpringFest with Quest’s “Summer of Soul” being the opening night film, June 11, at the PFS Bourse Theater. Having already viewed Questlove’s look at old footage from 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival in all its Black glory, it’s a stunning piece of history, culturally and cinematically.

Masked Philly: Christopher Kearse In Icepack’s continuing saga of asking mask-donning local celebrities what they’ve been up to, beyond the pale, during C-19 – from lockdown to the current, heightened reopening and still-evolving unmasking – I reached out this week to Christopher Kearse. Famously, Kearse is the chef-owner and heavy metal head behind the intimate, molecular gastronomical palace, Will BYOB, which commenced the East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Renaissance 20 years ago, THEN revived Old City 2.0 with his hearty, sensuous Franco-inspired Forsythia dining-and-drinking boite on Chestnut at 2nd.

Sure, Kearse and Forsythia got hit hard with the pandemic’s quarantines, so Chef Chris found himself developing and re-developing in so many ways: an already jacked fitness lover, Kearse simply got more pumped.

With no less than 44 tattoos in a pre-COVID mode, Kearse got new ink in new places.

His motorcycle – he loves that bike as much as he does his 98 house plants, and 700 cookbooks. “I repotted all of my house plants, learned how to work on my motorcycle, figured out how to play the entire Black Album

by Metallica on guitar, and got to hang out in New York City quite a bit,” says Kearse.

It is, however, on a more existential level that Kearse existed through the pandemic; “not a sense of abandonment; but a more cerebral reassessment of priorities and what’s

worth spending time and headspace on. Pursuit of excellence? Always. Carving a unique culinary space? Absolutely. But reassessment is more about finding life balance and finding peace in well-being than fast bikes and ink.

More Zen than abandon. I had a lot of time to reevaluate my life and myself Image | Courtesy of Christopher Kearse in general. I learned to truly love myself and appreciate my strengths and accept my shortcomings.

I felt like life and the world in general was moving way too fast to stop and smell those roses. Then I asked myself, do these roses even smell so good? I’ve been working in the industry for 22 years now and it’s the first time I had this much down time.”

With all that, Kearse was not about to sweat the mask.

“Life’s hard enough, so I didn’t try to make a big deal about the mask. It was just a temporary annoyance, and sometimes a discomfort. But I have other things to really worry about, ya know?

Working out while wearing a mask was challenging at first, but I’d rather have to wear one than not have gyms open.”

BRAVO. Feel the burn.

As for Forsythia, Chef Kearse and the revival of normalcy and new culinary seasons a la spring and summer 2021, Chris will get a fine chance to expand the menu, and have fresh French adventures.

“A frosé machine is being talked about by Jen (Forsythia’s general manager) and Tomas (Forsythia’s lead bartender).

I’m really looking forward to bringing back more canapés (my favorite part of the menu, fun tapas-style dishes, how I like to eat). We’re also looking forward to the return of happy hour.”

I’m personally looking forward to his foie gras and hearing him play Metallica back-tofront, but that’s another story.

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A

MUSIC

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Newtown’s Capri has been writing songs since she was 7 years old, and recently released her single ‘Raining in LA.’ Image | Mikey Nappz

Area singer/ songwriter Capri catches the attention of big-name artists

N

ewtown’s Capri When she was 7, she started has gone from writing original songs, and at belting out Dis- age 13, Justin Bieber inspired ney tunes as a her to begin posting videos of child to catching herself singing on YouTube.

She hit the stage for the first the attention of time at 14 at her stars middle school talent such BY: EUGENE show singing “White as Kelly Clarkson ZENYATTA Horse” by Taylor and Ne-Yo. Now Swift, and put out she hopes to continan EP CD at age 16. ue to take steps as her career blossoms. Capri’s Today, she continues to enjoy journey into music began at songwriting and singing cover a very young age – 2, to be ex- songs, and has begun releasing act. Songs from Disney movies more music to YouTube and inspired her to start singing. other social media platforms.

little help from her

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JUNE 10 – 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

MUSIC

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Capri’s music has captured the attention of stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Ne-Yo. Image | Steven Horvath

In 2019, Clarkson offered feedback about her singing on her cover “Breakaway.” This year, Capri released “Raining In LA,” which is hosted by Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo has helped promote it on Instagram by posting it on his Instagram stories as well as going on Instagram Live with Capri to talk about the song and her journey.

PW recently caught up with Capri to talk about her career and her music.

You’ve been writing songs since you were 7 years old. Where do you find inspiration for your songs? Can you describe your writing process?

Inspiration for my songs come from feelings, emotions, true stories and experiences of mine or from loved ones, movies, etc. There’s no rules to songwriting for me, but I would have to say a lot of my songs are from true stories and based on emotions from my own past experiences. I write songs in many different ways. I write in my notes app on my phone or on paper with and without instrumental music. I also record myself singing on my voice memo app on my phone when I get an idea in my head, such as lyrics and a melody. And lastly, I use instruments such as my guitar or my keyboard while writing lyrics and thinking of melodies for my songs.

Your song “Raining In LA” dropped this year. How did that song come together?

What’s been the response from your fans?

Yes, I’m so happy it has finally dropped and I have a lot more songs coming! A few years ago, this song transpired after a friend of mine named Frank Gannon told me he was in LA and while it was raining there, he had texted me that he thought of me to write a song around that idea. He told me that he could see me writing a love song using the words “raining in LA” and “Hollywood Boulevard.”

I wrote the rest of the song and came up

with the melody of how I wanted to sing it.

Frank and another friend of mine, Mikey Birchard, also known as Mikey B Media, c created the instrumental for the song. Frank played the guitar and Mikey completed the rest of the instrumental track. Recording this was so much fun, especially having them by my side. We recorded this song in Mikey’s studio.

Fast-forward to this year, Ne-Yo had reached out to me after I had tagged him in a couple of my cover song videos on Instagram.

He told me that it was “dope” that I was working on music and that he wanted to help push my music. Long story short, Ne-Yo liked my song and hosted it! Ne-Yo also went on Instagram live with me to help me promote the song to his and my fans/followers. I’m thankful he is helping me as he is one of my favorite musicians. I have been singing his songs since he first came out when I was a kid.

I’m happy I now have a music video to this song too, and I always dreamt of having one. My fans so far have been sharing it a lot across multiple social media platforms and it has received great feedback! Tristan Rice reached out to me this year around the same time Ne-Yo had reached out, and actually heard my song before Ne-Yo hosted it. Tristan is a Grammy-nominated, multi-genre platinum songwriter, singer, vocal producer and photographer who is helping me with artist development. He loved my song and offered to help direct a music video for it out in LA, as well as work on other music out there together. My mom and I flew out there to work on all of this, and it was an unforgettable experience being my first time in LA. The music video is on YouTube called, “Capri - Raining In LA (Official Video) - Hosted By Ne-Yo.” This song has received such an amazing re-

sponse, and I’m so grateful to be able to even say that with it being my debut single.

Ne-Yo played a big role in “Raining in LA.” Can you talk a little about his involvement in the song? What was it like to work with him?

We communicated with one another through Instagram direct messaging and email. Since the release, Ne-Yo and I have still kept in touch. He is still helping me, and I am truly honored. Working with him on this song was a great experience! After Ne-Yo first reached out to me through an Instagram direct message, I sent him the song on a private share link, and the rest was history. He liked my song and offered to host it, as well as help me with promoting it. At that time, I taught myself how to distribute my own music and market right away that same week. I barely slept, but it was so worth it to get this song out as soon as I could!

What’s ahead for you in the coming months and years?

I am currently an independent artist but hope to be able to someday do this for a living, like many of the musicians I look up to. Regardless though, music is a big part of me and I will continue this journey no matter what.

I am going to be releasing more music soon, both songs that I have been working on in the past as well as songs that I have more recently been working on. I also plan to perform more and plan to release an EP. “Raining In LA” is out now on all platforms: Instagram: instagram.com/capri.wagner Twitter: twitter.com/capri_wagner Facebook: facebook.com/caprimusicpage YouTube: youtube.com/capriwagner Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@capriwagner Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/caprimusic7 LÜM: lum.fm/profile/capri

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 – 17, 2021

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THE RUNDOWN

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THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell

See Willie Nelson, take in great dancing and more

From the return of the Red Headed Stranger to dance performances and more, we’ve rounded up some great events for you.

Freshwater Mussels, Our Blue-Collar Bivalves

Freshwater mussels are the most imperiled animals in both America and the Delaware River watershed, and restoration of mussels has become a national priority, especially as these hard-working animals perform the vital service of filtering our water. A coalition of public and private partners has ambitious plans, including propagating as many as a million mussels annually in labs and ponds to restore their populations. Lance Butler, senior scientist with the Philadelphia Water Department, one of the partners, presents the astonishing sweep of this ambitious program, designed to help these blue-collar bivalves thrive in our waterways again.

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.

June 10 at 7pm. schuylkillcenter.org

Willie returns to Philly

The Umbrella Dance

Willie Nelson, Blackbird Presents, Live Nation, and the Outlaw Music Festival Tour are on the road again.

Willie will once again be live and in concert with his family and friends as part of a 14-stop tour starting this summer. VIP packages including great seats and exclusive festival merchandise will be available. Sept.

11. TD Pavilion at the Mann. manncenter.org

Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company will perform a reimagined version of its signature travelling dance video installation, “The Umbrella Dance,” June 11 at 5pm. The event is hosted by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation in conjunction with its Fermentation Festival, following COVID guidelines. This free public performance is AMM & DCO’s first live presentation in 2021 and kicks off the Company’s 35th anniversary season. In addition to the live performance, AMM & DCO will screen its best hits consisting of dance films and performance clips on the Cherry Street Pier video screen. annemariemulgrewdancersco.org

Antoinette Nwandu’s ‘Pass Over’

Image | Anne Saint Peter

JUNE 10 - 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Theatre Exile and Theatre in the X present Antoinette Nwandu’s “Pass Over.” “Pass Over” tells the story of two Black men, Moses and Kitch – friends hanging out on a city street corner, sharing dreams of an escape from their circumstances. When a stranger wanders onto their corner with his own agenda, he derails their plans of finding their promised land. June 10 at 7pm. theatreexile.org

Pride Month with Festive Fitness

Join Mike Watkins of Festive Fitness this Pride Month for a donation-based outdoor workout at the Spring Gardens, with all proceeds benefiting The Attic Youth Center, Philadelphia’s only independent LGBTQ Youth Center. Saturday, June 12, 11-11:45. Suggested Donation of $10-$20. festivefitnessphilly.com

Tribute to Ron Rubin

On June 10 at 7pm, the National Museum of American Jewish History is hosting a tribute to Ron Rubin, a passionate Philadelphia civic leader and developer who helped make Philadelphia’s streetscape and skyline what it is today. Rubin passed away in April; he would have been 90 in May. His friends, colleagues, and family are co-hosting this celebration of his life. nmajh.org

THE RUNDOWN

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Make Music Philly will join over 90 cities across the U.S. and 120 countries worldwide to celebrate Make Music Day on June 21.

Make Music Philly is part of Make Music Day, the worldwide music celebration held each year on June 21. With the pandemic starting to recede, there will be a number of in-person musical performances and participatory events available this year.

Visit makemusicphilly.org for details and to register.

Meanwhile, here are some of the highlights.

17

Rock, pop, classical event

Local 77 Musicians Union and the Elegance String Quartet are inviting musicians with string instruments to join them for a fun rock, pop and classical participatory event.

Tentative location is Clark Park with scheduled time to be published shortly.

Make Music Philly returns J.W. Pepper

The largest sheet music retailer in the world will be offering free music lessons from their talented staff members from 12:30 to 3:30pm at the main office in Exton.

Flower Pot Music

Join this fun, participatory event making music with flower pots. Tentative location: Clark Park 6pm Rehearsal and 7:30pm performance.

Lit buildings

One & Two Liberty Place, FMC Tower, Cira Centre and Cira Garage in Philadelphia will join buildings and landmarks across the country by lighting up in orange for #MakeMusicDay on the evening of June 21.

Community Ring

Malmark Corporation will host Community Ring, a hands-on ringing and drumming event featuring handbells, handchimes and cajons on the grounds of their manufacturing site in Plumsteadville with three sessions: 10am, 1pm and 3pm.

Ice cream and soft pretzels will also be available by another Plumsteadville family business, The Salt Box.

Ukulele Circle

Keep Music Alive will host a Ukulele Circle at the Kelly Music & Arts Center in Havertown from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Bucket Drum Circle

Rockdale Music will host a Bucket Drum Circle at Sundown in Aston starting at 7:30pm.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 - 17, 2021

18

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Tour to Dye For

My Local Brew Works, Philadelphia’s soon-to-launch nano-brewery focusing on contract brewing, special events, and direct-to-public brewing, is sliding into Philly Beer Week with this year’s most spirited event – First Look: Tour To Dye For – a brewery tour led by founders of My Local Brew Works, including the Globe Dye Works (an event and work space focusing on makers and the creative community), and wrapping with beer tastings and parting gifts from MLBW. There’s a tour scheduled for Saturday, June 12 from 1-4pm. Due to the exclusive nature of First Look: Tour To Dye For, participants are required to confirm the day prior via text correspondence from My Local Brew Works. Interested participants of legal drinking age must register on the My Local Brew Works website, providing first and last name, email address, phone number, and favorite beer. www.mylocalbrewworks.com.

Image | Lexy Pierce

The sights and sounds of Philly are once again open for business. Here are a few you’ll want to check out.

Live jazz, great art and a flea market you need to visit One Africa! One Nation! Uhuru Flea Market One Africa! One Nation Uhuru Flea Market is an economic development institution of the African Peoples Education and Defense Fund . This seasonal, monthly market located in Clark Park provides a low-cost economic platform for established and budding small businesses. Vendors make and sell a wide array of products for the whole family. For more information, visit uhurufleamarket.blogspot.com. June 12, 9am - 5pm.

Pride workout

Come Alive 215 and Meet Philadelphia have joined forces to present one of the most unique, fun and heart-pumping outdoor events for Philly Gay Pride Month. Come Alive 215 x Meet Philadelphia Pride Workout, Drag Show and Picnic Brunch brings together a morning of movement, celebration, charity and community on Saturday, June 12, from 9:15am to 1:30pm. Fitness gurus Kim Harari and Shannon Brennan will bring their electric, contagious and community-driven fitness experience to the Lawn at Park Towne Place (2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway). The event will feature a 45 minute workout programmed for all fitness levels, followed by a drag show and a picnic brunch. Tickets are on sale now for $65 each with a portion of proceeds going to support two local charities: The Attic Youth Center and William Way LGBT Community Center.

Tickets are available at hellopride.eventbrite.com. For more about Come Alive 215, visit comealive215.com.

JUNE 10 - 17, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Live jazz

Fabrika, 1108 Frankford Avenue, will be one of the first places to experience live jazz in Philadelphia with the launch of CHOPS – a jazz series that takes place every Wednesday from 6- 9pm at the Fishtown entertainment venue. The club has locked down some well-known names from both the Philly and NYC jazz worlds, including pianist/composer Luke O’Reilly and Samara Joy McLendon, winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Visit fabrikaphilly.com for details.

Derive

All art comes from somewhere, a place, a reference, a memory, a state of mind.

The Da Vinci Art Alliance’s Members Exhibition, Derive, will explore the diverse origins from which their community of artists creates art. This exploration will take the form of two artist-submitted components: an artwork and a source image. Through this exhibition, we asked our members: where does your artwork come from? On view through June 20 at Da Vinci Art Alliance and as a recorded video tour on the Da Vinci Art Alliance website. davinciartalliance.org

I

b Sp fri Sp of Ya in al and wro v. ‘Tough T Lewis’ b ed Boyle, who had d tion and s murder hi Chuck candidate told me h Peruto, th end, A. Ch enced gre he switch attend the room actio “I learn have in t said. “I dr al for the n Peruto ed him for that Spra chairman

CRIME BEAT

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A look back at a ‘lawyer’s lawyer,’ Richard Sprague.

Image | Courtesy of Thomas A. Sprague

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REMEMBERING

RICHARD SPRAGUE

I

became interested in Richard Sprague in the mid-1980s when my friend Arthur H. Lewis told me how Sprague prosecuted the murderers of United Mine Workers official Jock Yablonski and his wife and daughter in 1970. Lewis covered the murder trial and wrote “Murder by Contract: The People v. ‘Tough Tony’ Boyle.”

Lewis’ book details how Sprague prosecuted Boyle, the United Mine Workers president who had defeated Yablonski in a recent election and subsequently ordered his underlings murder his rival.

Chuck Peruto, currently the Republican candidate for Philadelphia district attorney, told me he attended the Tony Boyle trial.

Peruto, the son of another Philly legal legend, A. Charles Peruto Sr., said he was influenced greatly by Richard Sprague. He said he switched to night law school so he could attend the trial and observe Sprague in courtroom action.

“I learned more at that trial than I could have in three years of law school,” Peruto said. “I drew on the things I learned at that trial for the next 42 years.”

Peruto also said that the legal lion supported him for DA against Larry Krasner, noting that Sprague was his honorary campaign chairman before he passed away this past

A look back at the legendary lawyer

reputation as the most feared and respected April at age 95.

Sprague was born in Baltimore in 1925. He prosecutor in Pennsylvania, if not the nation.

A Philadelphia judge who witnessed Sprague enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and in action marveled over his ability to pounce served on submarines. He joined the Philadelphia DA Office in 1958 and became well-known on his opponent’s witnesses and tear their stories apart. “Some men are like a tiger,” he as a relentless and feared prosecutor when observed, “Dick Sprague is like a he served from 1966 to 1974 as the whole cage of tigers – leashed and first assistant DA. In 1970, he was caged, thank God. But you can feel appointed as a special prosecutor the power.” and won convictions against the Bradley said that Sprague’s murderers of Jock Yablonski and methods were unorthodox but lehis family. Sprague later became thal. He never scribbled a note. a congressional counsel and then While other lawyers focused on went into private practice, defendtheir legal pads, he watched the deing many high-profile clients. fendant, looking for telltale signs of Mark A. Bradley, the author guilt or listening for contradictions. of a new book on the Yablonski He retained every word of testimomurders, “Blood Runs Coal: The ny and was absolutely humorless Yablonski Murders and the Battle in the courtroom. for the United Mine Workers of He delivered his closing arguAmerica,” told me that Sprague ments to juries in his booming was a throwback to a different time voice without a scrap of paper or a when notable trial lawyers were break in a sentence. He conveyed to featured regularly on the front pagPAULDAVISONCRIME.COM them his burning sense of indignaes of national newspapers. tion.

“By the time of the slayings, he “I owe Dick a great debt. He graciously anhad supervised or handled over 15,000 crimiswered all my many questions and allowed me nal cases, more than 450 of which were murto use an office in his law firm while I combed der cases,” Bradley said. “His long string of sensational convictions of gang members, through his case files on the three murders,” blackmailers and cop killers earned him a Bradley said. “Even in his 90s, he had a ra-

PAUL DAVIS

zor-sharp mind. He was still able to recall the smallest details about the killings. His prosecutions of the Yablonski family killers catapulted him onto the national stage, but he never forgot the horrors of what happened in that isolated farmhouse on that snowy New Year’s Eve in 1969.

I believe he was enormously pleased that he was able to bring justice to the killers and those behind them and to deliver a degree of peace to the surviving members of the Yablonski family.”

Bradley also marveled that Sprague had no political ambitions, which is a rarity in a big city prosecutor’s office.

“My father was a lawyer’s lawyer who was a zealous and fearless advocate for all his clients. He was meticulous and painstaking in his investigation and preparation of cases. He was also a devoted public servant who served his country and the citizens of the commonwealth and the city with distinction,” said Thomas A. Sprague, his son and partner at Sprague and Sprague. “I felt privileged to work with him for over 30 years, and our family was blessed to have him in our lives for so long. In his 95 years, my father lived a long, full and fulfilling life.”

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

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JUNE 10 - 17, 2021

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SEX WITH TIMAREE

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NERVOUS ABOUT GOING DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME

I also don I’m bad at lenging, ev off than so ton of cul mance, w and a half joy yourse existentia Q: I’ve tried looking on every website possiIt gets at several things that our culture has But let’s ble, but I could not find the answer I was looka hard time handling: consent, body shame,ality moni When y ing for, so I thought I could come here. I’m a double standards, and pleasure. queer woman and I’m currentI’ve received queries aboutlove to do, ly seeing another woman. We whether vulvas or balls smelltime you haven’t gone far yet, but I realworse, if someone is obligated totouching y ly like her, and I hope we can reciprocate giving head, and howibly satisf move forward. However, the to make vaginas and semen tastewhere you with some one thing that is scaring me so “better.” much is the sex.

All understandable questions,meh? Do I’ve never done it before and but they obscure the fact thatvolves sol I’m scared that I’m going to go several things can be true at thespecific act? down on her and not enjoy it, same time: which gives me another anx• No one has to perform any These tions poi ious thought: what if I’m not sex act they don’t want to. really queer if I don’t like giv• Sexism has told us for atoward the ing a woman oral? I fantasized long time that women’s bod-that we ca w it for so long as much as I fanies are gross – which is bull-fun being tasized giving blowjobs, but I shit. @TIMAREE_LEIGH think society’s expectations on • Genitals aren’t supposedly skilled vaginas is what to taste like fruitenjoymen is making me snacks, they’recome wi really nervous supposed tocreased co on the idea of taste like geni-sexual and sarily the giving. tals.

How can I First: Let’sa lot to a p overcome this validate your You me anxiety? fears, becausetrying to There are that can be –There are going to be a paradoxically –tips on b as well as lot of people – calming. myself includPersonally, considera ed – who are grateful for this question!

I’m never good at anything the first time andthread goi

DR. TIMAREE SCHMIT

“For some folks, feeling studied up will give them a sense of confidence and mastery, but for others all the information – and the reminders that every vulva is different – will be overwhelming.”

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I also don’t tend to enjoy things when I think I’m bad at them. Performing oral can be challenging, even tiring and there’s less direct payoff than some other activities. There is also a ton of cultural pressure about sexual performance, which can be its own anxiety attack and a half. So, I get the fear that you won’t enjoy yourself, which then spirals into a whole existential question about your orientation.

But let’s challenge those fears with some reality monitoring.

When you think of the things you most love to do, were you amazing at them the first time you tried? Do you derive pleasure from touching your partner? Are there any incredibly satisfying sexual experiences you’ve had where you didn’t cum? Have you orgasmed with someone, but the overall situation was meh? Do you believe sexual orientation revolves solely around a partner’s genitals or a specific sexual act?

These questions point us toward the truth: that we can have fun without being expertly skilled, that enjoyment can come with increased comfort and experience, that our best sexual and romantic experiences aren’t necessarily the goal-oriented ones, and that there’s a lot to a person’s sexuality.

You mention that you scoured the internet trying to find an answer, and I believe that.

There are many guides to oral sex techniques, tips on bringing a vulva-haver to orgasm, as well as introductions to safety and other considerations. I even managed to get a cool thread going on Twitter with advice.

Reading this kind of information may or may not quell your anxiety.

For some folks, feeling studied up will give them a sense of confidence and mastery, but for others all the information – and the reminders that every vulva is different – will be overwhelming.

Perhaps some of the best advice I’ve heard is to approach sexual experiences with the intention of touching for your own pleasure.

The idea here is that you are not just engaging in this act for her satisfaction, but for your own.

What does that even look like? Consider non-sexual examples, like: running your hand across a soft fabric, fidgeting with play-doh, or petting a cat. We enjoy the texture, the process, the sensation.

Rather than going in with a game plan to give her the best head she’s ever had or to set a land speed record for orgasms, approach with the intention to play and have fun.

You say you have fantasized about this. What were the things that made that fantasy appealing? Were you picturing the up-close look of her flesh? The lip-smacking sounds? The ability to feel, grasp and explore?

Now you get to go do that!

And let’s say it turns out not to be your bag: there are plenty of other ways to touch, play, bring each other pleasure and connect. But one thing at a time. First: just go have fun.

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

“Rather than going in with a game plan to give her the best head she’s ever had or to set a land speed record for orgasms, approach with the intention to play and have fun.”

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Legal Notices NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Mastery Charter Schools of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, solicits sealed bids for the installation of bi-polar ionization unit installation at the Mastery at C. Thomas High School, Mastery at Shoemaker School, Mastery at Pickett School , Mastery at Lenfest School, Mastery at Smedley School Gymnasium and Cafeteria, Mastery at Clymer School Gymnasium, Mastery at Prep Elementary School for the following contracts: Contract No. MC-1 – Mechanical Construction Sealed bids shall be submitted electronically via the PennBid Program no later than 1:00 p.m. on June 25, 2021, at which time they will be publicly opened with the results displayed on PennBid. Sealed bids shall be accompanied by a certified check or bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10) of the amount of the bid, made payable to the Mastery Schools. All bids must be accompanied by Non-Collusion Affidavit, Contractor’s Qualification Statement, and Bid Security in accordance with the Bid Documents. Bids must remain in force for sixty (60) days after the date of the bid opening and may be rejected any time prior to the expiration of said date.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a Performance and Payment Bonds in amounts equal to 100% of the contract price.

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Bid Documents will be available starting June 7, 2021 after 10:00 a.m. at no cost via PennBid (www.pennbid.net).

Questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted via the “Questions” feature within PennBid. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on June 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pickett School, 5700 Wayne Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144. The remaining school locations will be available for a walk-through after the Pre-bid Meeting on June 7, 2021.

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