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Chuck the
Entertainer
Despite what City Council says, pointless posturing won’t stop the violence. | Page 3
Image | Courtesy Charles Peruto
Charles Peruto wants to be your next D.A.
PHILLY
NOW! WANTS TO K
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FROM THE EDITOR
MORE POINTLESS POSTURING
WON’T STOP THE VIOLENCE
M
urder, crime, and gun vio- of the City of Philadelphia to sustainably inlence are out of control in vest in gun violence reduction efforts over Philadelphia. By now, that the long-term” is especially bizarre. “Invest” should be news to no one. is politician-speak for “spend,” so what the Nearly 500 were killed in the Council seems to be asking is that the maycity last year, and this year’s or work with them to spend money. If that is murder total is on pace to sur- the case, why don’t they just pass legislation pass even that bloody number. doing that? That is, after all, one of the main jobs of a legislature: appropriating funds. InPeople are scared, frustrated, and fed up with stead, they just gesture at their jobs and ask a city government that is unwilling or unable the mayor to do it. to do anything to stop the slaughter. Kenney, to his credit, has rejected the idea, So it is understandable, maybe, that City noting that he is already doing all of the tangiCouncilmember Jamie Gauthier demanded that Mayor Jim Kenney issue an executive or- ble things that City Council is imploring him der declaring a “citywide gun violence emer- to do. But, if that is the case, we must also note that whatever he’s doing hasn’t actually done gency.” And it is understandable that City anything to reduce crime — gun-reCouncil would pass a unanimous lated or otherwise. Standing, rallyresolution calling on Kenney to do ing, and posturing don’t compare just that. favorably to arresting, prosecuting, Understandable, but pointless. and jailing. Gauthier’s resolution passed in But even beyond its inherent useSeptember 2020 and she has latelessness, the call for an emergency ly called upon Kenney to act on it. declaration is a sign of how rotten Councilmembers Bobby Henon and the basic functioning of democracy Kenyatta Johnson, themselves curis becoming in Philadelphia. Maybe rently under federal indictment, it’s the hangover from the pandemwere among the co-sponsors of the ic, but people have gotten a taste resolution demanding that someone for declaring emergencies. Fearful else fix the crime problem. It conpeople crave a strongman’s rule, tains a nine-point plan for dealing but in a republic we are supposed to with gun violence that addresses know better than that. We are supeverything but the real problem: too @KYLESAMMIN posed to trust in the people to elect many criminals are on the streets, a responsive government and in the unprosecuted by District Attorney government to do its job in a legal and orderly Larry Krasner, who would rather make a docfashion. umentary about himself than fulfill the basic Calling for an emergency decree is admitrequirements of his job. Instead, we are told ting that the normal government is not up to that the mayor must make a series of meanthe task. There are times for an executive to ingless gestures that will do nothing to stem rule single-handedly, but they are rare. The the flow of blood in Philadelphia’s streets. earliest days of the pandemic may have warMany of these proposed actions are just ranted swift response, just as a foreign invamealy-mouthed nonsense. The mayor is called sion or natural disaster might. But none of to “rally corporations, healthcare and educathese factors are at work in Philadelphia right tional institutions to raise funds, increase renow. search and innovation, and supply meaningCity Council was in session until recentful jobs to combat the gun violence epidemic” ly, when they began their summer recess. If and to “consistently stand with and support they had wanted to do anything substantive community members in public as they conabout this problem, they had months to do it. front the gun violence crisis in their neighborInstead, they tell the mayor to do it and then hoods.” throw up their hands in frustration that nothThis is all feel-good pablum. “Standing with” people and “rallying” corporations and ing is fixed. Kenney and Krasner won’t fix the crime institutions is what a politician does when problem, and City Council doesn’t even try. he’s out of ideas. Most of Gauthier’s resoFor a city that gave birth to the American relution asks the mayor to undertake a perpublic, we do a poor job of remembering how formance for its own sake, not to act in any self-government is supposed to work. Lock meaningful way. up violent criminals and prosecute them to Other parts are simply stupid and show the the full extent of the law, and there will be no abject failure of the normal workings of govneed for phony emergency decrees. ernment. A call to “partner with the Council
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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - 29, 2021
4
STATE OF OUR CITY
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
A Mano reopens A Mano announced its highly-anticipated grand re-opening with the addition of new Executive Chef George Sabatino, featuring an all-new menu of hand-crafted, soulful dishes in its welcoming and picturesque Fairmount location. Noted Philadelphia-based Sabatino brings his extensive scope of experience and expertise to the kitchen at A Mano. As culinary director for Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s Safran Turney Hospitality organization, Sabatino oversaw 35 sous chefs over the span of four restaurants. Prior, Sabatino worked in some of Philadelphia’s most respected kitchens such as Fork and Monk’s Café as well as his first Executive Chef position at East Passyunk Avenue’s Stateside. 2244 Fairmount Ave. | (215) 236-1114 amanophl.com
309
CITY
Summer reading Ever wonder what life would be like if you broke the rules just for one night? This is the dark and twisted plot Philadelphia author Nina Raman centers around in her debut Young Adult Murder Mystery, “Everything You Wanted.” Wren Clements is a high school senior dying for one night of teenage rebellion that might just end in bloodshed. Could this star student be the perfect suspect, or could this be the perfect crime? To find “Everything You Wanted,” check the Barnes and Noble website, select Barnes & Noble stores, and Amazon. Follow along with Raman’s writing journey and hear more about the book through her Instagram @ninaramanwrites and her TikTok @nina_raman, where you will find it to be a new #Booktok book.
Nina Raman. Image | Neha Raman
Chef George Sabatino. Image | PUNCH Media
STATE
OF OUR
The current number of homicide victims year-todate under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents a 34 percent increase over the same time last year and is higher than the annual number of homicides that took place in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
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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
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CRIME BEAT
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
5
‘THE WALKING
DEAD’
“I
t looks like a scene from ‘The Walking Dead,’ doesn’t it?” I recall nodding my head in agreement to the retired detective who drove me through the mean streets of Kensington a few years ago. We drove under the El and around the Market-Frankford Train Station and up and down nearby streets. We passed by the many homeless, mentally ill and alcohol- and drug-addicted people who swayed and staggered along the neighborhood, much like the zombies from the apocalyptic horror TV series. The retired detective, who asked that I not use his name, worked this area for many years. After a conversation with me about the neighborhood, he offered to return to the scene of the crimes with me riding shotgun. He pointed out the places where drug addicts can buy drugs easily in what has been described as “the largest open-air drug market on the East Coast.” Seeing the seemingly hopeless drug addicts on the streets of Kensington reminded me of the heroin epidemic in the late 1960s when I was a teenager in South Philadelphia. Pathic-looking heroin addicts, many of whom I knew from the neighborhood and school, wandered the streets at all hours looking for opportunities to rob cars, homes and businesses to pay for their next heroin injection. Many of the young men I grew up with died from over-
Kensington Initiative targets major drug organizations
announced last month that his office had shut dose and drug-related issues. I was no angel back then, but I was spared down another large drug trafficking operation this fate largely because I had a tough father, a in Kensington. According to Shapiro, the investigation, former WWII UDT frogman, whom I suspected would have killed me if I crossed that line. conducted by the Kensington Initiative, resulted in the arrests of eight individuals, includI also joined the Navy at 17 and shipped out. ing the organization’s ringleader I remember how families were and two high-level dealers. Agents devastated by the 1960s heroin also seized seven firearms, includepidemic, from the thefts from ing a ghost gun and a semi-autotheir homes by their own drug-admatic shotgun, more than 8,000 dosdicted offspring to the tragedy of es of heroin/fentanyl, and $30,000 their sons and daughters dying so in cash. young. Announced in 2018, the KensBut as bad as the scene was ington Initiative is a partnership during this earlier drug epidemic, between local, state, and federal the drug use never looked as blalaw enforcement formed to target tant or the city streets so dilapidatmajor criminal drug organizations ed as it did in Kensington during in the Kensington neighborhood of my drive-through. Philadelphia. “Look at these people. It’s “As part of our ongoing Kensheart-breaking,” the retired detecington Initiative, we are committive said. “These people are someted to doing our part to protect one’s son and daughter. Someone’s communities and families that call mom and dad. And there’s a lot of PAULDAVISONCRIME.COM Philadelphia home. That means decent people living around here. holding accountable the individIt’s a shame they have to put up uals directly responsible for pumping poison with this squalor and drug crime.” To the embarrassment of Philadelphia of- and committing violence in our neighborhoods,” Shapiro said. “My office is committed ficials and residents alike, the story of Kensto this goal, and we are not leaving any block ington’s rampant and open drug use has been picked up by the national and international behind. We’re also grateful to our partners in law enforcement for their support in this difpress. To combat the Kensington drug scourge, ficult and often dangerous work, and to the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro city’s managing director’s office for beginning
PAUL DAVIS
to restore and recover these communities that have been ravaged by violence.” The Attorney General’s office stated that, on June 3, agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Gun Violence Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, officers from the Philadelphia Police Department, FBI, Warrington Police Department, Hatboro Borough Police Department and the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department executed eight search warrants in Kensington. During the execution of the search warrants, agents seized 259 grams, or 8,633 doses, of heroin/fentanyl, 560 grams of crack cocaine, 1,533 grams of cocaine, seven guns, and $30,139 in cash. Eight individuals were arrested on June 3, including the drug operation’s ringleader. They have each received charges that include Corrupt Organizations, Dealing in Illegal Proceeds, Possession with Intent to Deliver, Conspiracy, Knowing and Intentional Possession of Narcotics, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility, and Possessing Instruments of Crime. Fourteen people are still at large with warrants issued for their arrest. “This work is important – it saves lives, it saves families, and it protects neighborhoods,” Shapiro said. More needs to be done. Paul Davis’ Crime Beat column appears here each week. You can contact him via pauldavisoncrime.com.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - 29, 2021
6
FEATURED
Charles Peruto wants to bring his unique style to the D.A.’s office
‘A
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
D
uring his decades-long career as a lawyer, which included outrageous stunts in the courtroom and gossip column-worthy affairs outside of it, there is one thing that enemies will use to smear A. Charles Peruto Jr., known to friend and foe as Chuck. In May 2013, while Chuck was downashore in his lavish Avalon home, 26-year-old paralegal/girlfriend Julia Law died in the bathtub of his four-story Center City townhouse.
LAUGHING JURY NEVER CONVICTS’
RIGHT: Charles Peruto pulls no punches when it comes to his feelings about current D.A. Larry Krasner. Image | Stu Bykofsky
JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
who was later sentenced to five years for bribThose are the facts. ery and corruption, but some attorneys whisWoman found dead in Peruto’s home. Peruto not there. Peruto was taken in for questionpered it was payback for all the times Peruto ing, naturally. had beaten Williams’ staff in court. Peruto talks to cops for seven hours, unnatBy a curious coincidence, Carlos Vega, the urally, without a lawyer present. man who ran against D.A. Larry Krasner in Defense attorney Peruto would kill a client May’s Democratic primary, was the prosecuwho did that. tor assigned to the bathtub case. Innocent or guilty, you don’t do that. I asked Vega for his opinion of Williams’ So why did Peruto do that? intent in ordering the grand jury. Because he was innocent, which Vega says grand jury proceedings is different than “not guilty, ” he are secret and he would venture no BY: STU explains during a conversation in opinion. BYKOFSKY his new office/home – a $2.9 milThe grand jury embarrassed Willion Center City mansion he bought liams by refusing to indict Peruto. about three years ago. The man who wants to be your In addition to cell phone traffic that could district attorney is willing to take a break conclusively prove Peruto was downashore on from his 42-year career as one of Philadelthe night of the tragic incident, he was seen phia’s best known and most successful deby scores of people in the Princeton beach bar fense attorneys. in Avalon, and he left with Eagles linebacker His father, A. Charles Peruto, was a PhilTrent Cole. adelphia legal legend up until his death in Despite an air-tight alibi, no means, no op2013, a defense attorney famed for using folksy portunity, and no motive for a crime, D.A. Seth warmth to seduce juries into seeing things his Williams took the unusual step of empaneling way. Chuck’s tactic is to entertain. “A laugha grand jury to probe Law’s death. ing jury never convicts,” he says seriously. In No one can peer into the mind of Williams, court, he is The Entertainer.
FEATURED
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY In one memorable case, he defended a county detective charged with beating his girlfriend, who happened to be a judge. She claimed he had beaten her, but instead of calling 911, she first called a police captain friend of hers who rushed over to her apartment, to stage the scene, Peruto told the jury. The judge then called 911, claimed to be in death throes and slipped unconscious to the floor at the conclusion of the call. Peruto acted out her testimony, winding up on the floor, in mock unconsciousness, splitting his pants. The jury roared with laughter – and did not convict. Behind closed doors, many of his colleagues say that Peruto is a hot dog, a term he would relish. Peruto jokes he “tricked” his second wife, Lindsey, 34, into marriage in 2019 by “always making her laugh.” In a self-effacing addendum, he says, “it makes up for my ugly mug.” The mug is Keith Richards leathery when he smiles, but not ugly. He says laughter “caused me to be successful in all walks of life.” He met Lindsey Glasgow at the aforementioned Princeton beach bar. Before long, she ended his 35-year run as a bachelor, manabout-town and serial romantic who loved often and well, but not for long. A native of Hollidaysburg, Pa., near Altoona, Lindsey knew of his reputation as a ladies man, of course. Neither had marriage in mind when they started dating and were surprised when their mutual interests, and laughter, drew them into a serious relationship. What did she think when she heard the girl-in-the-bathtub story? “I knew he had nothing to do with it. He doesn’t have it in him to do harm to a person,” she says. But he would be willing to harm bad guys. Now settled, after 42 years of service to various scumbags accused persons, the millionaire attorney (he has a profitable sideline as a residential developer), wants to be of service to you, and to his three grandchildren, who are even more precious to him than his classic car collection. He’s not in Jay Leno’s league – although he has met the comic at car shows – but won’t reveal how many vehicles he has. Let’s just say he has more cars than days in the week. In the 2017 D.A. election, life-long Democrat Peruto, 66, voted for Krasner.
Charles Peruto supported current D.A. Larry Krasner in the last election because he felt like the office needed to be turned upside down – but he didn’t believe it was going to be this upside down. Image | Stu Bykofsky
“The office was in dire need of reform. We were coming out of a term with a convicted felon as district attorney who went after me for no reason. I wanted someone who was going to turn that office upside down, but I truly didn’t believe it was going to be this upside down.” He mentions Krasner’s hires of numerous out-of-town progressives – about one-third of whom couldn’t pass the bar exam, his failure to prosecute gun crimes, and his reported lack of empathy for victims. These are serious indictments. In passing, Peruto calls himself a “law and order” guy, which sounds strange coming from a mouthpiece whose clients include organized crime figures. “One is my living, one is personal philosophy,” says Peruto, whose campaign slogan is “enough is enough.” Peruto believes Krasner’s Achilles heel is his arrogance “To those who know him. To those who don’t know him, his lack of respect for the city’s citizens,” he says. “He’s not going to budge from his agenda, even if the number becomes 1,000 homicides a year.” The spectacular rise in homicides is what spurred Peruto to run, but even after he announced as a Republican, he said he would quit the race if Democrat Vega beat Krasner in the May primary. Vega got whipped 65-35 in a race that most political prognosticators believed would be much, much closer. Krasner’s show of strength scared off Re-
publican leadership which had promised financial support, says Peruto. Republican City Committee chair Martina White says the Philly GOP “will support Chuck to the fullest extent that we can, including financial support,” but she would not attach a price tag. The GOP will do its own advocacy and digital campaigns, she says, and hopes to get Peruto before some national people “interested in seeing that these progressive D.A.’s have real challengers.” Peruto says he can win if he can raise $500,000, despite Democrats having a 7-1 registration edge. He is $400,000 short right now. Vega says he spent close to $900,000 in his losing effort, but he couldn’t get free media as freewheeling Peruto can. The last Republican D.A. was Ron Castille, first elected in 1985, who had the advantage of running for an open seat against a Democratic non-entity. Castille campaigned everywhere, often appearing on crutches that drew attention to the leg he lost as a combat Marine. Castille eventually became Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and has endorsed Peruto. But Castille’s victory was a long time ago. In this contest, Peruto is reaching out to what he believes are overlooked and crime-threatened ethnic communities. Peruto talks to potential voters from the shoulder in a manner that sometimes can seem offensive. You find no arrows of Political Correctness in his quiver. “Having represented hundreds of Hispanic
7
defendants over my career, I have learned a great deal about how their communities, religion, and politics operate. They, most of all, feel left out and unrepresented.” Likewise, he says the Russian and Asian communities are marginalized. “The Asian community in particular, seems to be targeted for many scam type crimes, which go ignored,” he says. “This city is not just black and white.” His first priority, Peruto says, is public safety. His website, perutoforda.com, lists other concerns: Unlike Krasner, so-called “small” crimes will be prosecuted. Krasner’s refusal, for example, to prosecute shoplifting for less than $500 amounts to “free Christmas shopping,” says Peruto, who is known for his wisecracks. He will not pursue illegals living in the shadows, he says, but if they commit a felony, he will prosecute them, send them to jail and deport them when they get out. He threatens to prosecute anyone – hello, Mayor Jim Kenney – who interferes with him carrying out the law. During the primary D.A. debate, when the issue of academic studies was raised, Peruto held up a trash can to show contempt for pointy-headed profs. He opposes so-called “safe injection sites,” where people break the law by injecting illegal drugs. Rather than perpetuate addiction, he would force addicts into rehabilitation in repurposed county jails that are now empty. He says he would like to see a change in police culture, starting at the academy, with more education in psychology and knowledge of neighborhoods, but he will back up cops when they lawfully carry out their duties. Social justice warriors won’t get a pass. “George Floyd’s memory is ill-served by refusing to prosecute looters and burglars,” he says. We closed our conversation with what seems like an anomaly in the primary vote. The areas of strongest turnout for the prosecution-averse Krasner were identical to those with the highest homicide rates. I think it is a demonstration of political ideology over self-interest. Peruto disagrees, and offers a startling explanation. “I can sugar coat this, but I am going to come out and say it. These people, they have a family member serving life in prison, a cousin, a friend who they think was wrongfully convicted and Larry Krasner gives them hope,” he says. “If someone who believes they were wrongfully convicted and brings me a case, I will look at it, but I’m not running for public defender.” And he’s not joking. Stu Bykofsky served the Philadelphia Daily News as an editor, reporter and columnist for nearly 50 years before retiring in 2019. He now publishes at the centrist stubykofsky.com. Follow him on Twitter @ StuBykofsky.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021
8
VOICES
OF OUR
CITY
THE DELICATE BALANCE OF UNIVERSITY INNOVATION AND TRANSLATION The “virtuous cycle” of accelerated tech- jobs. Bayh-Dole unleashed the benefits of Amerinology transfer – the process by which university research funded by the federal govern- ca’s innovation ecosystem and has been hailed as “the most inspired piece of legislation to ment can be licensed, refined and marketed be enacted in America over the past half-cenby private businesses – has been the driver tury.” Notwithstanding this success, some for a whole string of uniquely American tech successes, from quantum computing to cut- lawmakers want to use the law’s “march in” authority – which allows the government to ting-edge medical treatments. Accelerated transfer works so well that it’s relicense innovations in limited circumstances – as a backdoor mechanism to regulate easy to forget how new – and how delicate – drug prices. the policy balance is, or Sens. Bayh and Dole how the system was once clearly stated that the so difficult to navigate. “march in’’ provision was Back in the late 1970s, written to encourage patAmerica’s innovation pipeent holders to license their line was clogged. Then as work for development and now, university researchwas never intended to be a ers were developing baprice control mechanism. sic scientific knowledge Distorting that original inthrough their research. tent would inhibit univerAnd the business commusity-industry transfer and nity was eager to engineer the very research pipeline that knowledge into new that produces life-saving consumer products. But healthcare treatments. because the patents on fedAmerica’s innovative, erally-funded science were economic edge has long held by the federal governbeen bolstered by a strong ment itself, licensing the policy framework that research became a bureauencourages public-pricratic obstacle course. vate partnerships. This Both university reis why I’m heartened to searchers and the busisee bipartisan support for ness community wanted much-needed investments reform, and the struggling in scientific research as economy of that time cerpart of the U.S. Innovation tainly needed it. U.S. Sens. Image | Alexandre Debiève and Competition Act. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) and These investments could Bob Dole (R-Kan.) partyield new breakthroughs that transform our nered on a new system. Under their proposal, research institutions that conducted federal- industries and spur widespread economic opportunity. For that potential to be realized, ly-funded research would be allowed to patent their work, and to license their intellectual though, we must ensure that any discoveries or technologies generated by this activity are property directly to the private sector. transferred from the laboratory to the private The Bayh-Dole Act ushered in a new era of scientific discovery and economic innovation sector for commercialization. The Bayh-Dole Act is the linchpin for this unlike anything the world had seen before. The results speak for themselves. Accord- delicate balance. So long as we preserve its ing to one study, the total economic output merits, we stand poised for a generational generated by the Bayh-Dole research cycle be- transformation of our innovation infrastructure. tween 1996 and 2017 was $1.7 trillion, resulting in over 14,000 new businesses and 5.9 million Kelly Sexton, Ph.D., is the associate vice president for Research - Technology Transfer and Innovation Partnerships at the University of Michigan.
JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
THE SHOUT OUT
I am ap would give publish un tarnish th ful subscr and the ol United Sta to verify th been runn sources ju zations. The Wa tors and a craft and equity the equity in complaint actress an bly were n thought th competenc bullying ta of irrespo I starte ories of m
There are reports about variants of COVID and increasing cases across the country.
Your turn: Are you worried about another wave of the virus? Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com
VOICES OF OUR CITY
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
IN SUPPORT OF WALNUT STREET THEATRE I am appalled that Philly news publications would give voice to a disgruntled actress and publish untrue and unverified information to tarnish the reputation of the most successful subscription-based theatre in the world and the oldest active operating theatre in the United States. News publications have a duty to verify their sources. The fact that they have been running articles without verifying their sources just causes distrust for news organizations. The Walnut Street Theatre gives local actors and actresses the ability to practice their craft and get paid well to do so. They are an equity theatre that must follow the rules of equity in putting on their productions. The complaints being alleged in the news by an actress and her small hate group that probably were not qualified to get a role that they thought they should have or were fired for incompetence and whose only recourse is to use bullying tactics on social media, is an example of irresponsible journalism. I started going to the Theatre after memories of me going on school trips when I was
a child. I subsequently decided to bring my children and expose them to the joys of live theatre. The Walnut Street Theatre is easier to travel to than NYC and equal in every way to Broadway. I have been a subscriber for over 15 years. About 10 years ago I started donating to one of the funds to benefit minority children. As a result, I was invited to a dress rehearsal where I saw many schools attending the dress rehearsal for free, as part of their adopt-aschool program. There have been many shows over the years that have cast every group imaginable. To state as a fact that the theatre or Mr. Havard practice racism, transphobia, body shaming and misogyny is, besides being completely false, is also not based on any firsthand accounts by its accuser and is based on hearsay and anonymous allegations. After the devastation of COVID, you should be writing about the upcoming season and how wonderful it is that Philadelphia’s theatre community is working again.
W. Miller | Linwood, N.J.
ACCESS TO DIGITAL PLATFORMS CRITICAL TO STATE’S RECOVERY As Pennsylvania reopens this summer, it’s crucial that local communities and businesses are supported throughout the process. This includes protecting their access to key tools and services, like digital platforms. At GSD Solutions, we’re a virtual event production company, and we have seen firsthand how critical technology has been, especially over the past year. When COVID-19 hit, demand for our services skyrocketed, and we have since helped dozens of clients host webinars and grow their online presence. Even with in-person events returning, companies are still interested in digital engagement because it’s affordable and provides a higher return on investment. The accessibility of internet-enabled services has been especially helpful for minorities and marginalized communities, who
were disproportionately affected during the pandemic. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, almost half of all Black-owned small businesses shuttered their doors by April 2020. But free digital systems – many of which we utilize as well – have allowed countless others to stay afloat and helped us all level the playing field. As tech-related policy discussions continue to pick up among lawmakers on topics including how they moderate online content, we should hope that they can keep the small business perspective in mind. The current landscape of services, platforms, and surrounding policies has provided critical infrastructure for our operation and countless others and will only be more critical in the months ahead.
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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021
10
GOSSIP
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
ICEPACK
MASKED PHILLY FOREVER? I
Use some common sense, people
’m never one – OK, hardly one, OK, an already congested five lanes to three trafmaybe one, OK, maybe often and re- fic lanes to make bicyclists happy) just got delayed for at least another year. Let’s spread peatedly, and therefore, a lot – to be the guy who said, “I told you so.” But, out those flaming garbage cans and celebrate. with the fact that all of you won’t step Or that, yes, City Hall is open again, but most city services reps are not around much off and step away from being on top to help (this might not be a COVID or postof each other, maskless, with just a COVID problem, so let’s table this one). hint of common sense on your side, One interesting aspect of having this pandemic’s roll won’t slow to a to monitor the public’s health is this stop. With this type of stupidity, I’ll city’s search for a new health combe running Icepack’s Masked Philly BY A.D. missioner (after Thomas Farley truly section forever. AMOROSI fucked up by ignorantly disposing of Look. Nothing good comes from a MOVE member’s human remains me having to be that scold, or having with nary a thought to contacting family to hear long, dull chatter about watching out or authorities). I wound up seeing an applifor masks, distancing and vax vs. non-vax iscation/job description post for the Health sues; save for the fact that so-called “safety Commissioner Search Process after Philly overhaul” of Washington Avenue nearest the Italian Market (the stupid idea to slim down hired DSS Global, “an international execu-
JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
tive search firm specializing in multicultural recruiting and diverse leadership talent,” with Mayor Kenney saying “Our next health commissioner should have extensive experience working in public health, leadership and working with diverse, underserved communities, as well as a demonstrated commitment to advancing the department’s health equity agenda. It’s an incredible opportunity to double down on everything we’ve learned from the pandemic to improve health outcomes in all corners of our city.” Now, I’ll second all of what Kenney is saying there. Maybe though, Mayor, let’s look for a health commish who is just a little more compassionate with human remains (and the frailty that goes with it). And please make the new health boss tell Philly to step back a few inches from each other. If not, it’s Masked
Image | Noah
Philly Forever. Throng, then no throng Speaking of Washington Avenue, again, for a sec, each weekend for the last several weeks, we’re seeing scads of cars, crowds and orange cones – to say nothing of a GoPuff food prep van – at the 13th & Washington parking lot once used for the old, now-vacated Sav-Mor supermarket. First, there’s a throng, then whoosh gone, with no one holding any fun takeaway food. Wtf ? Is this the spookiest-ever ghost kitchen around or an outtake from “Goodfellas” where Robert DeNiro keeps telling Lorraine Bracco to go in the scary open door on the side of his vacant warehouse so he can whack her? ‘Shazam’ filming If you loved the original “Shazam” comic, caped hero flick set in Philadelphia, but wondered why its super powers couldn’t extend to actually filming here, fear not. The 2022-planned “Shazam sequel,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” has been filming at a handful of locations (for a start) last weekend into this week. Watch the skies. Philly buses This isn’t sexy news, but, did you know that Philly removed its $24 million worth of Proterra buses – initially unveiled during this city’s 2016 Democratic National Convention to promote the city’s goal of “plugging into an emissions free future” – due to “structur-
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GOOD. SO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS.
LEFT: Image | Courtesy of Eric Bresler
al shortcomings?” Apparently, no one realized that they would actually be in use “over 100 miles a day” to an avid public transportation-using throng on a daily basis. (OK, maybe not so much now with SEPTA riders still COVID-scared). Plus, the batteries were too heavy and they cracked the buses’ chassis, so, also bad. I have witnessed this case being politicized, that President Biden once called Proterra a business of the future. Trust me, this goes beyond Blue or Red into plain old stupidity in design. Hell, I have driven a car in my life, and I could guess that a heavy battery would screw things up. Star sightings Funny that whole LeBron James’ “Space Jam: A New Legacy” was heading to No. 1 as the top-grossing film in America last weekend (with Philadelphians Lil Uzi Vert and John Legend as part of its soundtrack), the star of the first “Space Jam” film from 25 years ago, baller Michael Jordan, was staying at The Borgata and hanging in Margate and Atlantic City for his part in the Jimmy Johnson A.C. Championship Fishing Week. That’s decent. Plus, rapper Lil Durk, who was at the Mann for one of its first live gigs over the weekend, wound up hanging after his show at NoTo in Chinatown. Masked Philly: Eric Bresler In Icepack’s too-long and 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 reopening, present-day unmasking and re-masking, worrying about Delta variants, and freaking out about Fauci’s call for a potential third round of vax shots – I reached out this week to Eric Bresler. Since 2012, Bresler has been the curator, boss, booker and pretty much everything else at the Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Arts, better known as PhilaMOCA, at 12th & Spring Garden. While this space has been the city’s go-to, all-ages venue for left-ofcenter smart art, film, music and performance (think appearances by David Lynch, Lydia Lunch and solo members of Sonic Youth), PhilaMOCA was made to close in 2019 due to minor structural issues with a closure exacerbated by 2020-into-2021’s COVID quarantine. So what was Bresler up to all that time while MOCA was closed?
Along with fixing MOCA up as ordered and then some (“It was all structural, so you can’t even see the money we put into it”), the recently-married MOCA man was starting his real life. “I married my wife Karli in 2016, we bought a house in Bellmawr, N.J., in January of 2019, and we had our daughter Berry in April of 2019,” says Bresler. “It was actually nice being home a lot during the pandemic because we had an old house that is totally livable, but needs a lot of cosmetic work, so I did that on and off. It felt like a luxury being able to spend so much time with Berry as she started walking and talking. Closer to MOCA, I have been participating in the West Poplar Neighborhood Association cleanups that started in April. They’re a new neighborhood group for our side of Spring Garden, different than the political-related one that I had to deal with for our building’s rezoning.” The mask, better still a DEVO face shield? Bresler is all for them. “While my DEVO face shield is more of a souvenir of the pandemic than anything, I wouldn’t wear it out in public, I have put zero thought into the style of the face masks that I actually wear. I continue to wear masks for two reasons: I really enjoyed not catching a cold or flu for the past two years though that may eventually be unavoidable with the amount of traffic that we get at PhilaMOCA. Also, continuing to wear the mask has become a statement of sorts, much like not wearing one during the pandemic was. It shows that I believe in science and I care about others. I’ll keep wearing one through the summer.” That’s good as, suddenly, it is going to be a busy summer for Bresler as PhilaMOCA finally reopens this week with a July 22 screening of “Mausoleum,” and a July 23-24 first; Bresler, onstage, talking his way through a multimedia presentation of his time off, what the past of MOCA means, and what the future will hold. “I thought long and hard about what I might have to do if MOCA didn’t come back,” says Bresler. “It would always be a job in the arts, even if I had to wait for a great one. Luckily, that didn’t happen, and I’m proud that PhilaMOCA will be back in action.”
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@ADAMOROSI PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021
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WELCOME
TO MYTHIC THUNDERLUTE Podcast based on Dungeons and Dragons launches July 26
M
ABOVE: Leigha Kato. Image | Emily Lambert Lillian Castillo. Image | Zoe McKenzie Photography Jake Blouch. Image | Rebecca Gudelunas Photography Mike Doherty. Image | Mikki Schaffner
JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
Behind the scenes, Philly-based actor and ythic Thunderlute, the first fantasy podcast musical director Alex Keiper serves as an associate producer and episode coordinator. Composer, based on Dungeons and Dragons, will premiere July Orchestrator and Music Director Dan Kazemi has also joined the project. 26 on all podcasting platFor more information, visit the Mythic forms. Thunderlute website at mythicthunderlute. Philadelphia-based accom, or listen on all podcast platforms. tors and musicians created PW recently caught up with Blouch and Mythic Thunderlute during the COVID-19 lockdown when live theaters and music ven- Doherty to chat about the podcast. Who came up with the idea for a podcast ues were shut down putting many artists out based on a rock band in a Dungeons and of work. Dragons adventure? Who came up with the Suddenly finding themselves with no creative outlet, but endless free time, the creators name, Mythic Thunderlute, and what does it mean? of Mythic Thunderlute developed a Blouch: We had been trying podcast that features fully produced BY: EUGENE to create a live D&D musical that and original musical numbers, ZENYATTA would change night to night based gameplay, and improvised dialogue. on the decisions the players made. “We edit it down so the dialogue A musical that also functioned like a sounds rehearsed, but that’s all us off the cuff. The five of us, and the chaos the game you could play that would center around dice introduces, drive the plot together,” said a fantasy rock band. Steve Gudelunas, who’s one of the creators, our resident drummer and Jake Blouch, producer and songwriter on the also plays Roscoe Chubb on the pod, suggested project. “Some of the most exciting storytellwe re-conceptualize it as a podcast. Steve must ing I’ve been involved in is around the D&D have had a crystal ball because a few weeks table when critical moments are determined later the pandemic hit but didn’t slow us down by chance.” because we already had something we could Each episode of Mythic Thunderlute follows an eponymous rock band in a D&D based do remotely. Mythic Thunderlute is the name of the band, and we sort of came up with it toadventure. gether over the course of several discussions. “The four players will improvise their way through a fantasy-style role playing game that My character, Edgar Hawke, has a magic lute in the series called the Thunderlute, and that’s I create,” said Michael Doherty, who serves what the band is named after. We almost went as the Dungeon Master (or Game Maker) of Mythic Thunderlute. “After we record the with “Mystic” instead of “Mythic,” but we figgame, we add sound effects, underscoring, ured it’s a myth after all. Doherty: Jake Blouch and Steve Gudelufull-fledged musical numbers, and special nas approached me over a year ago with an guest voices. It becomes a fully-produced, paridea for a podcast that was a scripted fantasy tially-improvised, fantasy rock musical.” musical. I mentioned that my favorite part The cast of players includes: of podcasts was the interaction between the • Blouch – Edgar Hawke, and producer, hosts and wondered if we could use actual songwriter and guitarist D&D gameplay as our starting off point, and • Lillian Castillo – Jocasta Stormwood • Steve Gudelunas – Roscoe Chubb and then turn it into a musical in post-production. They said, “Great! You wanna Dungeon Masdrums ter it?” (The Dungeon Master or DM is the • Leigha Kato – Pugface Doodleop
game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure.) I had literally DM’d only one time in my life (and Steve and Jake were the ones who taught me). But considering we were a couple months into the pandemic, and I was no longer leaving the house, I had a surplus of time on my hands to build an intricate fantasy world based on the desires and suggested backstories of the players. The original name for the podcast was ElfMother (still centered around a medieval rock band), but by the time we’d made a few demos and assembled the team that would be making the product, we felt it was time to find a new name that everyone had a hand in choosing. We knew we wanted it to be a podcast title evocative of fantasy that was also the name of the rock band our story is centered around, and there were many different suggestions we voted on (many of which you’ll hear as other bands in the world of the podcast – including ElfMother). Why we landed where we did: Jake’s character has a magical lute called the Thunderlute, and the story is a myth, so there you go. Do you have to be a Dungeons and Dragons fan to enjoy Mythic Thunderlute or is it something anyone can follow? Blouch: Anyone can follow this! This is a D&D podcast for people who don’t understand or like D&D, or D&D podcasts, but also a nice respite for your hardcore gamers. If someone doesn’t like musicals, well, we can’t help. It’s very light on the rules, plot-first storytelling, but the dice rolls of the game still add an element of chaos that can make the storyline go in any number of directions. Doherty: Nope! This is a podcast that focuses on story and the audience’s experience above all. But also lovers of fantasy and D&D will appreciate the richness of the world, and the chaos added by dice rolls and player’s decisions. In fact, even people who don’t normally listen to podcasts or audiobooks can get on board: The pace we’ve set is way faster than
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Philadelphia-based actors and musicians created Mythic Thunderlute during the COVID-19 lockdown when live theaters and music venues were shut down putting many artists out of work. Image | Lee Cortopassi
your average podcast, the story we’re telling is epic in scale, and the musical element makes each episode such a carefully crafted listener experience. When someone tunes in to the podcast, what are they going to encounter? Blouch: When you tune into Mythic Thunderlute, you’re going to hear a tightly edited, 40-minute radio play (musical) created from the audio of the crew playing a stripped-down D&D game together. We take the audio and add sound effects, underscoring, and fullfledged musical numbers. The musical numbers replace key plot points, so they advance the story the way song does in any musical you’d go see on Broadway. All of the tunes are written by me and Dan Kazemi. So you’re
getting a new, three-song, 40- minute musical every two weeks. Doherty: They are going to hear five professional musical theatre performers and musicians having a blast playing D&D together, but it’ll be so tightly edited with sound effects, underscoring, and songs, you’ll have a chance to get whisked away into a rich fantasy world and just go on a wild ride. Also, the songs are such jams, my wife (Alex Keiper, who’s also a producer on it) and I CANNOT stop singing them! It looks like you launched with a Kickstarter campaign. Is it still active? Are you still accepting donations? The Kickstarter was a big success, but it’s over. We just raised the start-up money we
needed. But if you want to support Mythic Thunderlute, the best way to do that is to become a patron on Patreon. For just a few bucks a month, you can help us out and help fuel what has become our insanely involved post-production process. You’ll also get access to all kinds of exclusive content and other goodies. We’re going to have a bi-weekly recap show called Shoot the Lute, Zoom hang out with the cast, song downloads and plenty more. Visit patreon.com/mythicthunderlute for details. Give our readers your best sales pitch: Why should someone tune in to Mythic Thunderlute? If you’ve ever wanted to hear what it would sound like if you mixed Lord of the Rings,
Spinal Tap, and Cheech and Chong together, now’s your chance. Each episode you’re going to be whisked away on a fantasy adventure, and how it will turn out none of us know. There’s a healthy serving of laughs, but also a ton of heart, and three new rockin’ tunes to tell the story. It’s fun as hell. There’s something for everyone in Mythic Thunderlute. For fantasy nerds, the richness of the world is modeled after lands created by Tolkien and Martin. But it’s also subversive as hell, and at times feels like the players are traversing their way through political cartoons and literary allegories. And at its core, it’s a piece of rock musical theatre, where story comes first… and the songs frigging SLAP.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021
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JOBS
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THE ‘TURNOVER
TSUNAMI’ Delco moms start program to aid job seekers
Estelle Curry
JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
JOBS
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
Kristen Struys
E
tegic and maintaining success veryone knows the pandemic • Job seeking skills: creating a resume dramatically impacted the job and cover letter, interviewing, and nemarket. But Estelle Curry and gotiating Kristen Struys actually have done Florescit Life Coaching, a life coaching something to help people prepare practice, started Prepare to Flourish in June. for the changes. It will run through August. Every Their free, online week, a new blog and podcast are program, Prepare to BY: EUGENE released. Observing limited support Flourish, addresses the “Turnover ZENYATTA from the authorities, Curry and Tsunami,” the impending surge in Struys, two impassioned mothers the market expected in the coming and neighbors from Delaware Counmonths. The Prepare to Flourish blog and podcast ty, took it into their own hands to create this series to aid anyone looking for a new job; but series covers a wide range of topics to aid job more pertinently, females. seekers returning to work, including; The number of women out of work since • Life skills: creating self-awareness, the pandemic has risen dramatically reports building confidence and being resilient • Career skills: networking, getting stra- the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the
close of 2020, there were 5.3 million fewer women employed compared to 4.4 million fewer men. It’s been labeled the “shesession” by the media. Curry, life coach and former human resources executive, and Struys, program manager and communications professional, speak with industry experts who share best practice job seeking strategies. PW recently caught up with Curry and Struys to talk about their new program. Talk a little about how Prepare to Flourish came about. Estelle Curry delayed her return to work following maternity leave as the daycares were closing. Once her children were back in daycare in February 2021, and she had returned to work, she started seeing repeated headlines about the number of people out of work due to the pandemic and wanted to help in some way. Knowing that these people would likely be looking to return to work in their droves once childcare was more consistent and the environment was safer to return to, Estelle had an idea to create a return-to-work coaching program. At this point, Kristen had recently been laid off from her corporate job in hospitality. Estelle knew that Kristen was passionate about empowering women and had vast experience in program management and communications, so she asked her if she would be interested in partnering up to create something to support people to return to work. Together, they surveyed local job seekers to understand their pain points in their job search, and many admitted that they did not have the money to spend on a course. So, they pivoted and instead decided to create something more accessible, Prepare to Flourish, a blog and podcast series. This series is a free resource and includes industry experts who share their insight regarding the job search. Tell us a little about the program itself – how it works, who should be interested. Prepare to Flourish has nine segments – each segment has a blog and a podcast episode, tackling a challenging aspect of the job search. In addition, they have conversations with experts within the particular field for
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each podcast episode, and they share their insights and tips for job seekers. While anyone can benefit from the information, the target audience is job seekers whose jobs were impacted by the pandemic. You started sharing the content in June. What’s been the response? Is it what you expected or have there been some surprises along the way? Are you accomplishing what you hoped when you started it? The response is slowly building, but gaining momentum. So far, all segments have touched three to five times more people than if this content had only been offered as a private coaching course. These initial results are promising, but Estelle and Kristen want this content to reach even more job seekers to help people put themselves in the best position to take advantage of the upcoming job opportunities. With the pending “Turnover Tsunami” this summer and fall, these resources will prepare these job seekers with life skills, career skills, and job-seeking skills. This biggest surprise along the way is how willing our fantastic guests have been to get involved. They have been really wonderful to work with and have given their time so freely to help people return to work. More information about our guests can be found at Our Guests & Hosts | florescit-life-coach (florescitlifecoaching.com). The program will run through August. Do you see it returning in the future or taking a different approach? We are posting the content weekly to give people the opportunity to review and reflect on the information. The blogs and podcasts will be available for all until the end of the year. Depending on the response to this content, Estelle may continue this discussion through the Florescit Life Coaching website. How do people get involved with Prepare to Flourish? Job seekers will find the blogs and podcasts at the Florescit Life Coaching website, florescitlifecoaching.com/preparetoflourish. The podcasts are also available on most major podcast services, including Spotify, Anchor, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Radio Public, Google Podcasts, and Audible.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - JULY 29, 2021
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THE RUNDOWN
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THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell
NATIONAL TEQUILA DAY
National Tequila Day is this coming Saturday, and we’ve rounded up some of the best places to celebrate in the city. Germantown Garden
Germantown Garden’s house margaritas will be $12 from open to close on National Tequila Day, and $30 for pitchers of margaritas (that serve four). germantowngarden.com
Image | Courtesy of Summertime
Image | Courtesy of Germantown Garden
Añejo Philly
Añejo Philly turns one on National Tequila Day! Come out for a double celebration from 5pm to 7pm at one of Philadelphia’s newest and most celebrated Mexican restaurants in Northern Liberties’ restaurant row. In honor of the Anniversary and National Tequila Day, Añejo will set up their outdoor bar with a tequila and cocktail tasting station. Additionally, Añejo serves up discounts on featured tequilas, including Milagro, Corralejo, Los Arango and Tequila Ocho. There will be complimentary swag given away during the event. anejophilly.com
Image | Courtesy of Añejo Philly
JULY 22 - 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
Distrito
Celebrate National Tequila Day with Distrito’s signature margarita, El Jefe, made with Jose Garces Double Barrell Patron Reposado, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. Available as dine in or takeout. distritophilly.com
The Love
You know what they say, when life gives you lemons, ask for limes and make a margarita! Head over to The Love and try the famous “Broken Arrow” cocktail infused with Reposado tequila, lime, prickly pear puree, agave, and salt for the perfect mix of sweet and sour and a perfect recipe to celebrate National Tequila Day. theloverestaurant.com
Charlie Was a Sinner
It’s National Tequila Day! Serving small plates and strong drinks, Charlie Was a Sinner is the perfect place to celebrate this holiday. Leave your worries at home and enjoy their renowned East Atlanta Love Letter infused with white rum, peach liqueur, basil and lemon. charliewasasinner.com
El Vez
There’s nothing like a cold drink on a hot day, and the frozen blood orange margarita from El Vez is arguably the best margarita in the city! Infused with silver tequila, orange nectar, and fresh blood orange puree, it’s a must-order. elvezrestaurant. com
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Juno
One of Philadelphia’s most stunning openair authentic Mexican restaurants, Juno will be pouring $10 flavored margaritas – and the option to add Watermelon Red Bull on top for only $2. Flavors include blood orange, strawberry, spicy, basil, strawberry/cilantro and mango. Pair with Tacos Mexicanos features, including Asada, Al Pastor, Carnitas, Chorizo Con Papas, Camarones, Suadero, Pescados, Pollo Tinga and Verdura. junophilly.com
city.
Image | Courtesy of Juno
Rosy’s Taco Bar
Rosy’s Taco Bar will be featuring tequila flights and a special tequila-infused menu for National Tequila Day. For flights, each will contain a 1oz pour of Blanco, Repo & Anejo and a 2oz shot of their house made verdita (a refreshing shot that you take before drinking tequila, featuring cucumber, jalapenos, cilantro, mint & pineapple). The flight options are Espolon for $12, Cazadores for $15, El Tesoro for $20, Patron for $21, and Mezcal for $22. In addition, Rosy’s Barrel Select Patron Margarita will be available for $11 in a glass or a pitcher for $55. rosystacobar.com
Vesper Dayclub
Outdoor and covered seating available. Vesper Dayclub, located in Northern Liberties next to Germantown Garden, will feature their house margaritas at the bar throughout the day for $12. vesperdayclub.com
El Camino Real El Camino Real will serve up a special National Tequila Day Weekend Happy Hour with half priced margarita pitchers between 4pm to 6pm. Additionally, they will celebrate with $12 Cazadores Tequila Flights, as well as Tropical Margaritas served in fresh pineapples for $15. elcaminophilly.com
SET NoLibs
SET NoLibs, located in the heart of Northern Liberties, will feature Patron specials all day from open to close, including their pineapple patron anejo cocktail for $12 and Patron Blanco for $10. For food options, customers can mix and match any three tacos for $15. Taco options include the Bulgogi Cheesesteak, Tempura Fish, Tempura Shrimp, Bahn Mi Chicken, NYC Chopped Cheese, and Lettuce Wrap Taco. sethospitality.com/location/set-nolibs
Buena Onda
Buena Onda serves up half-price margaritas, available in the Baja, Frozen, Classic or Frozen Seasonal style. In addition, their classic pitchers will be $25 and flavored pitchers will be $27. Food features include Tequila Lime Glazed tacos available in Fresh Fish, Jumbo Pacific Shrimp and Grilled Tofu. buenaondatacos.com
Image | Courtesy of Buena Onda
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 22 - 29, 2021
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THE RUNDOWN
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Petapalooza
Chestnut Hill Business District and Weavers Way Co-op join forces to celebrate our four-legged friends with activities for animals and their favorite humans along Germantown Avenue. Treat your furry pals to the refreshing doggie pools, try pet treat samples, and sit and stay for a pet caricaturist. Children can enjoy activities like face painting and more. Dog owners will have the chance to visit dog training exhibitions, onsite veterinarians, and pet service providers. For those guests without a furry friend, more than a dozen pet rescue and adoption agencies will be on location with animals looking for their forever homes. Participating Chestnut Hill restaurants and bars will offer “Yappy Hour” specials. Aug. 8 at 1am. chestnuthillpa.com
From live music to celebrating pets and more, here are a few events you’ll want to check out.
Pets, music and more Durand Jones & The Indications Jazz Brunch at the Walnut Street Cafe
Join the Diamond Swing Jazz trio for brunch on Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Walnut Street Cafe in Philadelphia. Live music from 11am-2pm. Make your reservation! 11am. walnutstreetcafe.com
Pushing beyond the boundaries of the funk and soul on their previous releases, “Private Space,” due out July 30, is Durand Jones & The Indications’ third album and unlocks the door to a wider range of sounds and launches boldly into a world of synthy modern soul and disco beats dotted with strings. It’s an organic, timeless record that’s as fresh as clean kicks and familiar as your favorite well-worn LP. Find out for yourself when you see them Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Union Transfer. utphilly.com
Princeton Photo Workshop: Queen Village & Fabric Row
Photo Artist Jenny Lynn takes you off the beaten path to explore one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive but less traveled neighborhoods, including its colorful murals, unusual buildings, gardens, alleys and people. Discuss camera settings for the conditions you find and learn how to use color, shape, texture and composition to create images with a fine art sensibility. July 24 at 1pm. princetonphotoworkshop.com
JULY 22 - 29, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
Altered States: A Performance Conversation
On Aug. 5 at 8pm at the Fidget Space in Kensington choreographers/performers Megan Bridge (Fidget) and Zornitsa Stoyanova (Bodymeld) will present the U.S. premiere of their new duet: Altered States: A Performance Conversation. In this performance conversation, Bridge and Stoyanova will propose that “performance presence” is, in fact, an altered state of consciousness. They will discuss, demonstrate, and explore their own techniques, compositional tools, and physical practices for creating altered states. thefidget. org
An Evening of Classics with The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Mann’s summer residency with The Philadelphia Orchestra continues on July 23 with Pictures from an Exhibition: An Evening of Classics. This performance transforms the Mann into a sonic art gallery for Modest Musorgsky’s most famous work, Pictures from an Exhibition, as well as works by Camille Saint-Saëns (with Principal Second Violin Kimberly Fisher as soloist) and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Picnics on the Mann’s Great Lawn are welcome for this performance as part of the Mann’s Summer Picnic Series. 8pm. Philorch.org
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Jet Wine Bar
At long last, Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia’s “global vineyard,” has announced the return of its iconic Happy Hour happening Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 pm. Guests can imbibe on satisfying libations outdoors at the iconic Jet Wine Garden during happy hour. Happy hour lovers and imbibers can look forward to refreshing fan favorites such as White Sangria ($6), Rosé Aperol Spritz ($7), a selection of Rotating Craft Beer ($4), Sauvignon Blanc Blend ($6), and Garnacha ($6), alongside light fare such as, Soft Pretzel Sticks ($5), Italian Hoagie Sliders ($6), and Margherita Flatbread ($7). jetwinebar.com | 1525 South St.
Here’s the latest on the best places to eat, drink and have a great time.
Image | Courtesy of Jet Wine Bar
Eat, drink and be merry Library Bar
The Twisted Tail
Philadelphia Taco Festival
Uptown Beer Garden
Library Bar at The Rittenhouse Hotel just launched its summer cocktail menu. In addition to a menu of signature classics, seasonal sips include the Blue Moon, prepared with silver tequila, blueberry, basil, lime and agave; Riffin’ The Scotch, a blend of bourbon, Averna, Cynar, orange and Laphroaig; Willow Weep for Me, made with white rum, St. Germain, raspberry, lime and lemon; I Wished on the Moon, prepared with vodka, coffee and condensed milk; the Long Gone Blues, a blend of bourbon, peach, mint, strawberry and lemon and the frozen Ain’t Nobody’s Business, made with white rum, mango and Thai chili. rittenhousehotel.com
The 4th Annual Philadelphia Taco Festival is taking place at Xfinity Live! Enjoy 20-plus taco and food vendors (over 75 styles of tacos); live bands on multiple stages; tequila sampling area; hot chili pepper and taco eating contests; and more. $9.99-$59.99. The fun kicks off Saturday, July 31 at 2pm and runs through the following day. Upcomingevents. com
The popular Southern-inspired restaurant, bar and live music venue on Headhouse Square known for its extensive array of brown spirits is hosting an exclusive Owner’s Collection Tasting of several hard-to-find and award-winning bourbons, ideal for the bourbon aficionado on Friday, July 23 from 6:30 pm – 9 pm, and its first-ever Blind Tasting whiskey event, perfect for the whiskey novice on Sunday, Aug. 15 at 2 pm. George Reilly, Master Craftsman and owner of The Twisted Tail, will lead guests in a guided bourbon tasting and teaching featuring exclusive bottles. 509 S. Second St. | 215-558-2471 thetwistedtail.com
Center City’s largest and most celebrated beer garden is back! Craft Concepts Group and Teddy Sourias announce the return of Uptown Beer Garden at a new permanent and year-round home at 1500 JFK Boulevard. Chef Craig Meyers and his culinary team will fire up the menu using the concerted giant food truck that is now installed in Uptown’s central garden. Uptown is now open Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 10pm, Friday, 4pm to 2am, Saturday, 2pm to 2am, and Sunday, 2pm to 10pm. For more about Uptown, follow @ uptownbeergarden on social media or call 215-397-3308. Image | Eddy Marenco
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SEX WITH TIMAREE
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Is it weird that I masturbate this way? Q: For as long as I can remember, I masBecause really the point is that humans are turbated by rubbing my thighs together. It’s delightfully creative about sexual pleasure what works for me. I don’t use my hands, just and find the erotic potential in surprising my legs; sometimes there will be a pillow or places, and, as long as no one else is getting blanket in the mix too. It’s not a problem most hurt, I encourage you to rock it out however of the time and in long term or more serious you like. relationships, the guys have always After receiving your question, I been OK with it, but I’m self-conput out a call on social media about scious when it’s a more casual hook unconventional masturbation techup. I feel like it’s weird or maybe I niques and got a few fun replies. should work on being able to use What I realized is that there are fingers and dildos, like everyone very few “conventional” narratives, else. Is this weird? and a lot of people have their own When we’re asking what’s routines. weird, we’re really asking about Let’s explore just a few of the anwhat’s normal. There’s statistical swers I received. normal – the most likely/common “Since I’m a sex worker and I answer to something, there’s social film myself when I masturbate, for normal – the things that a particumyself I like to use THC lube and lar culture considers appropriate, DR. TIMAREE cuddle in my coziest blanket. Then and there’s what is sustainable, read erotica to warm up and then healthy and works for you. @TIMAREE_LEIGH my favorite part of masturbating It sounds like you have developed for myself is that I can be quiet and a self-pleasure style I don’t have to put on a that you enjoy and is show.” – Carly functional. From a “I like experimentsexuality educator’s ing with sensations. As point of view, that’s a kid I did the whole what matters. Sure, I fruit thing: cut a hole can point out that thigh in a cantaloupe, waterclenching is often the melon, peach, whatevfirst form of masturbaer. It’s fun to try differtion for most clit-havent textures against my ers and actually super body, especially on the common. I could also head and shaft. If I find go over the history of something mind-blowresearch into masturing, it might become bation techniques and part of the repertoire, share that most people but there’s a lot of onehave their own unique offs. I’d try most anytwist, whether it inthing once.” – Trav volves standing, laying “I grew up with lots on their backs or stomof siblings and have achs, integrating toys, pressing against a chair always had roommates, so I’ve gotten used to or firing up the ole showerhead. And notably, stealth masturbation: under the covers, staydespite what Freud and most straight porn ing almost entirely silent. Now it’s just what insist, the majority of vulva-owners don’t reI’m used to and I don’t know if I could do it quire penetration. any other way.” – Kat
SCHMIT
“The point is that humans are delightfully creative about sexual pleasure and find the erotic potential in surprising places, and, as long as no one else is getting hurt, I encourage you to rock it out however you like.”
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SEX WITH TIMAREE
at learn more and sign up for early access at nourity.com
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ker and I urbate, for lube and ket. Then and then sturbating quiet and o put on a y periment- And one that was exations. As tra intriguing, so I sent the whole follow up questions. ut a hole “I am a looner and pe, water- have a fetish for big h, whatev- blown up balloons. try differ- Sometimes I use them gainst my for masturbation. I lie on lly on the my back, spread my legs ft. If I find and rub a balloon over mind-blow- my shorts/push the balt become loons on my shorts with repertoire, my hands/feet to crelot of one- ate some pressure until most any- I cum, sometimes using a second balloon to Trav kiss/lick/smell it while I ‘get f *cked’ from the with lots balloon between my legs. and have “I first tried this technique when I was 12en used to 13. I didn’t know much about sex/orgasms vers, stay- and played more in a childish way with a just what balloon. And then I had that new feeling beould do it tween my legs I didn’t know before when I
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?
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Reopening? Green Phase? Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? pushed the balloon on my underwear. I pushed and rubbed it again and again and was very surprised/shocked when I had my first orgasm because, as I said before, I didn’t know a lot about sexuality at all. And after that first experience, I did that technique again and again. I enjoy balloons, how they smell and taste, the sound a balloon can make.” – Lars So the point of this story is that I think you’re doing great and so are all these folks and so is everyone else out there who has found a thing that works for them. Have a question for Dr. Timaree? Send an email to asktimaree@philadelphiaweekly.com.
“I think you’re doing great and so are all these folks and so is everyone else out there who has found a thing that works for them.”
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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?
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215-465-7525 General Employment Teaching Position - F/T Teacher Assistants PT/FT, experience preferred. Email resume: amanda@alphabetacademy .com Public Notice AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 136.2’) on the building at 261 S. 13th St, Philadelphia, PA (20210720). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.
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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 Local South Philly Haunted House looking for haunters & make up artists. Go to: frightfactoryphilly.com or Call 215.33.ghost MAINTENANCE TECH Must have knowledge of plumbing, painting & some electrical. Prior maintenance exp. necessary. Salary commensurate with exp. Email: nsgprop@gmail.com PAID RESEARCH SUBJECT SPACE MISSION SIMULATION 8 day study of resilience at U. of PA. Must be healthy, about 27-55 yr. old with BS/BA or military exp.Compensated time & travel. Call 215-573-5855 SECRETARY/ LEASING AGENT - F/T Located in NE Phila. Pleasant person with good phone skills, to show apts., process applications, minimal secretarial work. Email resume to: nsgprop@gmail.com or Call 732-886-6830
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General Employment U PENN RESEARCH STUDY Are you or someone you know living with HIV and struggling with feeling down lately? You may be eligible for a research study using an FDA approved antidepressant medication and teletherapy at the U OF PA. 10 wk study. Must be 18–70 years old & HIV positive. Compensation provided. Call 215-573-2881. Full Time Flagger Traffic Plan seeks FT Flaggers to set up & control traffic around construction sites. A valid drivers license is a must, good pay & benefits. If interested please fill out an application at 510 Hertzog Boulevard King Of Prussia, PA 19406 on Mondays 9am -12pm or apply online at or online at www.trafficplan.com
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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 August 3rd, 2021 at approx. 6:00 PM: www.storagetreasures.com 2010 Xunqi Li 4031 Maricia Seigler
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