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THIS WEEK’S ISSUE 03 04 06 08 10
Event Spotlight “Backing Track” at the Arden Calendar Feature Made to Stick Article Planting in the City Article Beginners Guide to Philly Music Venues
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Feature Writing Empathy and Hope in Far Away Worlds, Meet Philadelphia’s Alex London
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Article Philadelphia’s Most Beautiful Cemeteries
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Sex with Timaree Doing Good Neighborhood Gardens Trust
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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR I have no idea why people settled here bylines this issue. Since taking the helm before modern climate control. If you’re here at PW, I’ve been working closely with new to Philadelphia, you’ll soon underour managing editor JR Blackwell on restand what I mean. If you’re a longtime cruiting a fine slate of writers and other resident, I don’t need to go into much decontent producers that, once finished, tail aside from pointing out that we Philwill allow everyone who picks up a copy adelphians quite literally walk around to see themselves reflected somewhere with dish towels in summer like this is a – whether in lived experience or plain perfectly normal thing to do. shared interest. Then again, lists I check my pocket for a like this are never quite finished sweat rag, as my dad used just as the seasons never quite BY JOSH KRUGER to call it, before leaving the stay the same, either. @JoshKrugerPHL house regardless of season Of particular note also in this given our humidity. Whether issue is R. Eric Thomas, a playthis is a literal dish towel or a more genwright whose past tenure in Philadelphia tlemanly single ply handkerchief depends was marked by untold amounts of friendon the temperature. ships, a wedding that exemplified the The transition between winter and city’s brotherly love and sisterly affection, summer or back again into winter isn’t and the start of what’s become a nationalexactly pleasant here on the 39th line of ly renowned career as a truly fine writer latitude in the northern hemisphere. Reand excellent podcast guest. Thomas has ally, I feel a little bit like a scoundrel with returned to the city, a springtime blessing the verdant, lush floral imagery conjured that anyone who cares about good writup by our arts team for this week’s cover. ing, good theater, and good conversation The idealized spring we’re dreaming of should cheer. on the cover is admittedly a bit far from You’ll also learn how to keep plants the reality in Philadelphia. If we were alive, what to do this week and throughnever permitted artistic license, we’d out the season, and a little bit about the have to feature about a dozen covers rangbeauty of cemeteries. While it might teching from frostbitten mud to sweltering nically be spring, when this issue hits sunshine and every form of precipitation newsstands, it could very well be winter in between to accurately convey spring. again or summer or something else alOne thing we can say is that the season together – so at least use these pages for is one of renewal – or of new things altoplanning purposes or, for a brief while, gether. some daydreaming of warmer days with With that in mind, you’ll see some new floral patterns galore.
Image: JR Blackwell
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Ian Moe Publisher Michael Chambers Director of Circulation
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Contributors: Kennedy Allen, A.D. Amorosi, Bobbi Booker, CJ Higgins, Josh Hitchens, Timaree Schmit, Eric Smith, Aubrie Williams
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EVENT SPOTLIGHT
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"BACKING TRACK" AT THE ARDEN A WORLD PREMIERE WITH “CABAROKE” AND HEART BY CJ HIGGINS
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s I finished telling my friend and theatrical companion for the evening about my recent debut into the worlds of queer dating and dating apps, the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of “Backing Track,” in which our protagonist receives a plethora of notifications from the popular queer dating app Grindr.
You don’t get that kind of coincidence anywhere else but the theater, folks. That’s why I keep coming back. Fortunately for myself and my fellow audience members, this show had far more laughs than the comedy that is my personal life. “Backing Track” makes its world premiere on the Arcadia Stage of Arden Theatre Company, written by R. Eric Thomas. He has received acclaim for his other theatrical works (“Time Is On Our Side,” “Mrs. Harrison,” and “The Ever Present” have all seen world premieres in Philadelphia), his bestselling book “Here For It,” and for being a “person on the internet” with 48,000 Twitter followers and counting. His work with “Backing Track” is no exception to this deserved admiration, navigating the subjects of grief and love in all of their messy and beautiful complexities. I won’t spoil anything, but the first scene of Act Two tied together multiple character moments in a way that felt like watching an opera, if operas also talked about using a fake name on a dating app. The plot of “Backing Track” centers around the childhood home of Avery, Jessica and their mother René, all of whom are grappling with the unexpected passing of René’s wife and the siblings’ mother. The home serves as both a central hub and a point of conflict: Who will shoulder legal responsibility for a place with so much emotional baggage? Can the house — and by extension, its family — maintain its place in a neighborhood that is becoming stranger and more gentrified every day? The work of this production’s design team makes the set feel so much like home that you feel compelled to walk in (note from a past front-of-house manager: please don’t!), then transports the space beyond reality with use of technicolored lighting and karaoke-style projections. The six-actor ensemble of this production brings all of the heart and humor of the script to life. Brenson Thomas is hilarious and touching as our “cabaroke” (cabaret/karaoke) host Avery, with a stunning singing voice to boot. Also making their Arden debuts are Joseph Ahmed and Carl Hsu, both of whom left me excited to see them on this or another stage again soon. Bi Jean Ngo brings an honest portrayal of that one woman in your neighborhood who always has a concern or 12. And Danielle Leneé as Jessica and Melanye Finister as Mel perfectly capture the highs and lows of navigating life’s biggest challenges with a family who ultimately loves each other despite the occasional gripe. In a time when I and many others are trying to cautiously re-enter the world, “Backing Track” harkens back to a not-so-distant past (this play takes place in 2018, which already feels like ancient history) and reminds us that the most difficult and confusing times are best faced not alone, but side by side. Doing so using karaoke and “Titanic” is optional, but strongly encouraged.
“Backing Track” is running now until April 10th, 2022 on the Arcadia Stage at Arden Theatre Company. Tickets can be reserved at ardentheatre.org or by calling (215) 922-1122. Vaccination cards and state ID are checked at the door, and masks are required for all audience members regardless of vaccination status.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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CALENDAR TABLE OF CONTENTS
A WEEK'S WORTH OF ADVENTURES A C R O S S P H I L LY ' S N E I G H B O R H O O D S
Hey there – last week I asked you who is your favorite Philly bartender but I didn’t tell you why I want to know. It’s two-fold but quite simple. While my beat here at the Philadelphia Weekly is to, primarily, curate a week of fun excursions, events, and things to do for the adventurer in us all, I hope to turn this into a community bulletin board of a kind - a place we can find something to do or, just as easily, find a spot with good music or good lighting (for the best selfies) or good drinks. That’s where the bartenders come in. My personal favorite has pretty much given up the profession because her consulting and marketing business has taken off. The nerve of some people being successful in what they really want to do; selfish, he said with a dry throat. So my friends and I need a new
bartender. Judging by Derek Shuman and Caroline Hearn, we should head over to Paddy Whacks to take in the charms of Kathleen Petrucelli. I’d love to follow up on their recommendation however, while they named their favorite bartender, they neglected 1) to say why ‘Madame Petrucelli’ (That’s a good name for a cocktail) stands out from the rest and they 2) did not say where she tends bar; Paddy Whacks Northeast or South Street. Details, I need details! Meanwhile over at McGillin's Olde Ale House (1310 Drury St, 19107), I think we have two guys at opposite ends of the bar. Nathan Hicks impressed emailer Matthew Hope, while Nathan’s brother-in-barkeeping John Doyle received high marks from Shawn McMullen. Don’t know why, though; maybe do the Kid-N-Play kick step for shots. That’d get them my vote.
KEEP THEM COMING, MY WEEKLY PHILLIES — WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE BARTENDER IN THE CITY AND WHY? Email your answers to len@philadelphiaweekly.com so we can tell them you sent us.
MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
THUR & Garfunkel MARCH 24
FILM
Hellbender
A ‘spellbinding and sickly satisfying' coming-of-age horror film from Yellow Veil Pictures taht tells the tale of a lonely teen’s discovery of her family’s ties to witchcraft. The A.V. Club says the punk-rock scary movie by the filmmaking Zelda and John Adams is 'one of the more unique takes on both occult horror and coming-of-age tales we've seen in a while.' cinéSPEAK presents The Adams Family's Hellbender; Thurs March 24, Door opens 6:30 PM, Screening 7 PM; The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Story
Chronicling the story of the chart-topping duo, from their humble start as Tom & Jerry to their 60s breakthrough and beyond, George Clement and Brendan Jacob Smith (as Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel) create an immersive and transcendent experience. The Simon & Garfunkel Story; Thurs - Fri March 24-25, 8 PM, Sat Mar 19, 2 PM, 8 PM; Merriam Theater at The Kimmel Center, 250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, 19102
FRI MARCH 25
SHOW
sang you a song? DON’T BE RUDE! The Wonder Years: The Upsides & Suburbia Anniversary Tour; Fri March 25, 8 PM; The Fillmore, 29 East Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 COMEDY
DJ LO-L Live Comedy Album Recording
Come out and support DJ LO-L as he records his first comedy album! Enjoy some opening acts and a special musical guest as well. * When a comedian does an album, they (usually) perform on 2 or 3 nights to different audiences. The crowd that responds best determines how the shows get edited down to one
Miss Lisa Lisa's Drag Show
Hosted by the fabulous Miss Lisa Lisa, Bob & Barbara's Lounge is home to Philly's longestrunning drag show every Thursday night. Lisa Lisa and her dynamic group of performers put on an interactive show guaranteed to get everyone in the crowd singing and dancing along. * I have a friend at PhillyCAM who sings the praises of Lisa Lisa every time he sees me. So this is a ‘Sylver Alert’ – I’ll see you there! Miss Lisa Lisa’s Drag Show; Thurs March 24, 9;30 PM, Bob & Barbara’s Lounge,1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 SHOW
The Simon
MUSIC
The Wonder Years Started in Lansdale; now they’re here! The raucous punks celebrate the anniversary of their landmark release Upside with a hometown performance for the ages. * What would you do if they
performance. We can part of history in the making, people. DJ LO-L Live Comedy Album Recording; Friday March 25, 8 PM; Lucky 13 Pub, 1820 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, 19148; Saturday March 26 8 PM; Craft Beer Store, 35 Baltimore Pike, Springfield PA 19064
About...
MUSIC
Michael Colyar
Michael Colyar has been slaying audiences for over 30 years, packing out shows night after night with his wit, charm and unique sense of style – the man’s sharp! His legacy in comedy is set and yet he still gives his heart to the craft (and his time to philanthorpany – the man’s a giver, I tell ya!). * I just want his hat budget. Michael Colyar; Fri-Sun March 25-27, 7:30 PM, 10 PM ; Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia 19103
Celebrate the start of playground season with games, crafts, performances, music, dance, food, giveaways, and unstructured play across Smith's sprawling 6.5-acre property in the heart of Philly. * Man, they didn’t have a ‘playground season’ when I was little. That giant sliding board – I’d still be on that thing! Matter of fact, I’m going back. Smith Memorial Playground Play-APalooza 2022; Saturday, March 26, 12 PM - 4 PM; 3500 Reservoir Drive Philadelphia, 19121 MUSIC
SAT MARCH 26
CULTURE
Art-ish
What is “Art-ish”? It’s an evening of live performances with some of Philadelphia’s most exciting emerging artists, musicians, and performers – such as Beano French, Seraiah Nicole, jewelry craftsman Devin McNutt, visual artist Kristen Buck and much, much more. And its at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so - yeah! * I heard there’s gooing to be whiskey and rum tastings, too. I get to break out my monogrammed pandemic chalice. Art-ish; Saturday, March 26, 8 PM - 12 AM; Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, 19130 BAR CRAWL
Smith Memorial Playground Play-A-Palooza 2022
Ravi Coltrane
According to the New York Times “There are few saxophonists in jazz today as silvery and deft as Ravi Coltrane.” Tthe son of musicians Alice and John (yes, THAT John Coltrane), Ravi and his band take audiences on a fascinating journey of imaginative musical improvisations and scintillating jazz symphonics. Ravi Coltrane; Saturday, March 26, Doors: 7:30 - 9:30 PM; Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 19104
SUN MARCH 27
MUSIC
Philadelphia International Music Festival Concert For Ukraine Wrap up a beautiful spring weekend with glorious music, in person or via livestream. Join Kimberly
SeeUs Us See See Us About... About... About... CALENDAR
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Fisher and John Koen of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Grammy-nominated pianist Mark Livshits, and six incredible competition winners and finalists from past Philadelphia International Music Festivals for a concert dedicated to relief efforts for the valiant people of Ukraine and a portion of the proceeds will go to organizations that support those efforts. Philadelphia International Music Festival "Winners' Circle Concert"; Sunday, March 27, 7 PM; Valley Forge Military Academy & College, 1001 Eagle Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087; For livestream details, visit pimfonline. org
TUE MARCH 29
MUSIC
Judas Priest With Special Guest Queensryche
The first name, last name of one of the greatest bands in music history is Judas Priest, who - after 50 years and 50 million albums sold - are a two word definition for heavy metal (which I know is two words too; work with me here!). A one word definition would be their opener Queensrÿche, who have an impressive history of thier own. Judas Priest With Special Guest Queensrÿche; Tuesday, March 29, 7:30 PM; The Met Philadelphia, 858 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
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THEATRE
Waitress
The hit Broadway musical
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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FEATURE
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MADE TO STICK LOCALLY MADE SWEETENERS REMIND US TO SAVOR OUR CONNECTION TO PHILLY’S GREEN SPACES—AND TO EACH OTHER. BY ADAM HYMANS
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n any given Saturday, Jethro Heiko holds court in a tiny plywood shed. A Willy Wonka-esque contraption churns at its center, billowing caramel-scented steam. More than 400 gallons of maple sap a week are simmered here, as volunteers from across Philly haul in bucket after bucket of the sweet water drawn from nearby tree trunks. Soon, most of this brew will vanish, leaving just 10 gallons of thick, nut-brown syrup. “We’re like really large bees,” says Heiko, founder of Oak Lane Maple, the only community-based syrup program this far south of Vermont. “A volunteer workforce collecting a very diluted honey and processing it in our hive.” When it comes to sweeteners, the world knows two kinds: connectors and con artists. Photo: Philadelphia Bee Company Sugar stands among the tricksters. It’s seductive and entertaining in small doses, but before you know it, it traps you in a toxic relationship. Sugar also comes with bitter baggage. Wars have been fought over it. People have been trafficked for it. Land and labor today are still being exploited to produce it. Maple syrup and honey, meanwhile, are generous networkers. They‘re delicious reminders that we depend on one another, and that our trees, rivers and animal neighbors work together to nourish us. “Maple trees are basically large factories,” Heiko describes, “powered by leaves that act as small, self-replicating solar panels.” Oak Lane Maple sprouted from a backyard hobby Heiko nursed during the pandemic. As his family moved from Fishtown to leafy East Oak Lane in 2018, he grew curious about the giant maple trees dotting the neighborhood. As Heiko would discover, the towering maples of Philly’s “urban sugarbush” — the term for centuries-old tree clusters found in cemeteries, parks and backyards throughout the city — yield sap that’s often two to three times sweeter than what you would find in the forests of Vermont. The only downside? Once extracted, sap spoils fast. “We want more people to see trees as food sources.” Identifying trees, managing taps, and securing the places, people and equipment needed to move and boil sap demands major collective effort. Luckily for Heiko, organizing comes naturally. “Community organizing skills come in handy when you need to have awkward conversations. I’d knock on folks’ doors and say, ‘Did you know you have a sugar maple? Would you like to be part of our program?’” Heiko has stirred up “good trouble” in Philly and his native Boston for decades. Before
MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
Oak Lane Maple, he founded Casino Free Philly, a movement challenging the development of gaming in favor of public space on the Delaware River waterfront. He draws inspiration from his mother, a teacher who protested racist practices in the Boston school system. Heiko’s roots helped Oak Lane Maple flower into a viable syrup share program. Now it’s supported by an equipment grant from the USDA and partnerships with Stockton University and Wyncote Academy. Property owners who offer their trees for tapping, and residents who volunteer their time, get to take home a pint of maple syrup every week. For now, much of Heiko’s operation is limited to the trees within a mile or two of the Elkins Park sugar shack. But with enough community interest, he sees the program expanding to other tree-rich areas of the city: Fairmount Park, Wissahickon, Germantown, Mt. Airy and more. “We want more people to see trees as food sources,” Heiko emphasized. “Once people are connected to these trees, they’ll want to protect them.” The key to doing that, he says? “Let’s create a tree homeowner insurance program, educate landlords, connect more folks with edible green spaces and [the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s] Tree Tender groups.”
Tell it to the bees For Don Shump, founder of Philadelphia Bee Company, making honey means spreading joy. “The main draw for me to beekeeping was about the stories you could tell. When you tell people at a party that you design websites, they go oh, OK. But when you say you keep millions of bees within city limits, eyes light up.” Shump never expected he would become Philly’s bee king. He spent most of the early aughts coding homepages, counting hours until his true calling revealed itself. “I was living a life of quiet desperation,” Shump says of his rat-race existence at the time. “I would take up any weekend hobbies I could to keep myself entertained.” Photo: Ben Poole Destiny arrived on the deck of a cod fishing boat. Shump volunteered on the Gazela, a historic tall ship docked at Penn's Landing. When he mentioned he had seen a video of a guy keeping bees in Manhattan, “a crewmember who belonged to the Southwark Queen Village Community Garden said that bees had been kept there since the ’70s. I had to check it out.” Within a year of learning the secret language of bees at Southwark, Shump fell under their spell. He purchased two hives of his own in 2008. Soon after, two hives became 10. 10 multiplied into 20, and today, the Philadelphia Bee Company is one of the largest urban beekeeping operations on the East Coast. Most of this buzz, Shump reassures the phobic among us, happens out of earshot.
FEATURE
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Don Shump - Photo: Addison Geary “I have a quarter million bees on the roof of a candy store next to the busiest ice cream shop in Philly. No one would ever know unless they see me walking by with my smoker and veil.” More than 3 million company bees sip flowers from Pennypack to Point Breeze, each traveling no more than a mile from its hive. The result? A kaleidoscope of honey that changes taste from zip code to zip code. Bees have their favorite haunts — clover buds, bee balm and virtually anything in the mint family — but in a pinch, they make do. Famously, Shump discovered that his hives took honeydew from the invasive spotted lanternfly, the kiss of death for many trees, and transformed it into a rich, savory honey. “I walked into our honey house one day and thought, who’s eating maple bacon?” Resilient as they are, nature’s hardest workers face serious threats: pesticides, diseases and the effects of climate change, to name a few. And stressed out bees spell danger for us: bees and other pollinators are responsible for an estimated 70% of the fruits, vegetable and grain products we buy at the grocery store. Locally, the biggest threat comes from us. “Modern lawns and yards are like deserts to bees,” Shump warns. Our obsession with manicured, tree-less turf and ornamental plants, he explains, deprives bees of critical nutrition, and us of natural shade and flood protection. The best remedy? More trees. “Native, flowering trees rich in nectar, especially lindens and black locusts, which are on Philly’s approved street tree list, give bees the most bang for our buck. And the only space needed for them to grow is up.”
A spoonful of wisdom Growing up outside of Wilkes-Barre, Ben Poole of Bee Creek Farm worked in the family business, helping golf courses cut back on their use of harsh chemicals. “It was there I learned about the devastating impact that pesticides have on bees when they accumulate in the landscape,” Poole shared. “I was determined to create a renewable resource that doesn’t require the destruction of nature.” But on a cold February morning at the Philadelphia Home and Garden Show, it wasn’t his honey that attracted attention. He doled out spoonfuls of a syrup few had ever heard of. Its flavor could be best described as that of a campfire-charred marshmallow. The naturally smoked, spicy sweetness reminded one of birch beer. “It’s shagbark hickory syrup,” Poole explained. “Perfect for glazing salmon.” The shagbark hickory is a slow growing hardwood that only lives in the Northeast and the Midwest. It gets its name from the long, curling strips of bark that it sheds throughout the year. Indigenous Susquehannock peoples made tea from the bark for thousands of years. Poole thinks a lot about the wisdom our surroundings hold for our mental health. With the pandemic, climate change, endless war and oppression, it's easy to feel alone and afraid, even in an uber-networked world. Perhaps a spoonful of syrup and a walk in the park are just what the doctor ordered. “Reconnecting with nature may help us appreciate how interconnected we really are.”
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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ARTICLE
PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY
PLANTING IN THE CITY
MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
I
t seems like everyone is gardening these days. But if you live in the city, you could be short on space. Maybe you have a strip of land, a community garden, a pot on a stoop, or just a windowsill. Whatever your space, you can grow something if you grow something in a container. We asked Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Public Gardens and Landscapes for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, for tips to get started with gardening in the city. How can people with limited space grow something beautiful?
PW: How much space do I need to have a container garden?
Andrew Bunting: If you have any free space inside or outside of your home, you can be a plant parent. Almost any space will do. A front stoop, a balcony, a little bit of sidewalk, or just a cement pad in the back yard can accommodate pots of many sizes. For a statement in an outdoor space, fill it with pots in different sizes and designs for variation. If you have windows, consider a window box that will add beauty to the outside of your home while giving you visual interest from inside your home. If you are don’t have much space, try using your windowsill and some small containers of plants that will thrive with more sunlight.
PW: What supplies do I need to get started?
Andrew Bunting: It’s simple to get started with gardening in containers. A container such as a pot or a window box is the first step. The container needs a drainage hole or holes so that the water doesn’t pool inside the pot, which can cause your plant’s roots to rot if its left in standing water. Then grab some potting soil and some seasonal annuals, tropicals, perennials that are widely available.
PW: What kinds of ornamental plants are easiest to grow in a city container garden?
Andrew Bunting: For larger containers I love summer tropicals like cannas, caladiums, banana plants, and elephant ears. Their large leaves and brightly colored flowers do great during Philadelphia’s hot and humid summer months.
Photo: JR Blackwell
For any container, I like to use the “thriller, filler, and spiller” method. The “thriller” is your central feature plant like any of the aforementioned tropical plants or something that grows a bit taller and really stands out. The “filler” can be something that lies a bit closer to the bottom of the container and has interesting texture, foliage or color contrasts like a coleus, abutilon,
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ARTICLE
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LIMITED SPACE? TRY THRILLERS, FILLERS, AND SPILLERS BY JR BLACKWELL Madagascar periwinkle, Alternanthera or Persian shield. Finally, the “spiller” is the plant that spills over the edge of the pot and gives it a beautiful cascading effect such as Bidens, verbena, Dichroa ‘Silver Falls’ or vinca vine. If you follow this method, you will have endless interesting combinations of plants.
PW: How do I know what my plants will need to grow?
Andrew Bunting: Before committing to buying your supplies, you should assess your location’s conditions. Pay attention to how much sunlight (full sun, shade, or part-shade) your location gets and match that to the plant you select so that your plant has the proper amount of sunshine to help it thrive. Maintaining containers is relatively easy and there are just a few tips that will make your containers lush and vibrant throughout the summer and into the fall. Typically, summer containers get planted in the fall. A simple regime of watering, fertilizing, pinching, grooming and deadheading should make them look great right up to frost typically in October of November. You don’t want to overwater, but you also don’t want them to dry out. When the containers are planted add a slow-release fertilizer. This will release small amounts of nutrients over the summer. This can be supplemented with a liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. As the plants grow be mindful to pinch the new growth from time to time of plants like coleus, salvia, etc. this will make these plants “bushier” and more full. Also, remove any yellow leaves, broken stems or spent flowers (deadheading). I try to “groom” my plants constantly so that the container plantings are always look fresh and vibrant.
To learn more about gardening, visit our website www.PHSOnline.org to get tips on all kinds of gardening or to learn more about how to contribute to the health and well-being of the Philadelphia region through gardening.
Photo: JR Blackwell
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PHILLY MUSIC VENUES BY NOEL V. BARTOCCI
THE 2022 LIVE MUSIC AND EVENT CALENDAR IS RAPIDLY FILLING UP WITH ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER A REFRESHER ON SOME OF PHILADELPHIA’S WELL- (AND NOT AS WELL) KNOWN LIVE MUSIC VENUES. Johnny Brenda’s — 1201 Frankford Ave. — Capacity 250 JB’s is a triple threat (restaurant, bar and live stage), not to mention that the clutch Fishtown location makes a visit there the perfect opportunity to make a day of it or extend festivities well into the night. The upstairs venue is a smaller room with a balcony level that hugs the stage, making it the perfect place to see a band in a more intimate setting. Unless you hide behind the wall or stay at the bar, there’s no bad view of the show.
Underground Arts — 1200 Callowhill St. — Capacity 650 UA is a two-room, 12,000 square foot, subterranean space that facilitates everything from art exhibitions and DJ sets to poetry readings and live music. Parking can sometimes be difficult, but UA is a fantastic place for smaller shows. There are some obstructed views, but the cavernous layout of the room carries the sound to every corner with little to no noise reduction. Also, the bottled beer selection is surprisingly eclectic — if that’s your thing.
TLA (Theatre of the Living Arts) — 334 South St. — Capacity 1,000 The TLA is located on the busiest stretch of South Street, which often makes parking a nightmare. Despite that, this historic venue is one of the best rooms in Philadelphia. The size makes it the perfect stop for bands that are on the precipice of hitting super big or usually only tour as openers for massive arena shows. Bonus, the general admission space sports a slight incline towards the back of the room, giving those more likely to gravitate to the back a better chance at unobstructed views.
Franklin Music Hall — 421 N. 7th St. — Capacity 2,500 Formerly the Electric Factory, Franklin Music Hall has an open warehouse vibe, broken up by second-floor landings that frame the general admission area with a bar and stadium-style seating. Pro-tip: you get the best sound quality on the first floor, but better views from above, so choose your concert spot wisely.
MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
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The Fillmore Philadelphia/Foundry — 29 E. Allen St. — Capacity 2,500/450 The Fillmore Philadelphia opened in Fishtown in 2015 and very quickly became a go-to live music destination. The industrial space has five bars, two levels, VIP service, an incredibly spacious GA area and its own club/smaller venue inside called the Foundry. The Fillmore is effectively a twofer for music lovers — a bar-style small club and a larger spectacle stage all under one roof.
The Tower Theater — S. 69th St. & Ludlow St. — Capacity 3,100 You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more musically historic space in Philadelphia than The Tower Theater. Built in 1927 as a movie house, it was refurbished into a concert venue in 1972 and has since hosted some of the most high-profile and culturally relevant acts of the last 100 years. The acoustics are fantastic, and even though purchasing an assigned seat might sound appealing, taking the GA option is the way to go. Few things beat the pit floor at the Tower, sound- and view-wise.
Mann Music Center | Photo: JR Blackwell
The Met Philadelphia — 858 N. Broad St. — Capacity 3,500 At the end of 2018, the 100-year-old Metropolitan Opera House reopened as The Met with the goal of becoming Center City’s premier music venue. The opera house aesthetic and seating are maintained with boxes, a balcony and a mezzanine, while the floor level has been turned into a giant general admission area with rows of seats underneath the Mezz. It’s a fantastic layout that thematically mixes the historic and experiential aspects of the city.
The Mann Center — 5201 Parkside Ave. — Capacity 14,000 Consisting of two different venues (TD Pavilion and Skyline Stage), The Mann Center is probably the most versatile venue in Philadelphia. The whole family can attend an indoor/outdoor live film score performance with The Philly POPS, or just the adults can enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two with their favorite jam band at the Skyline Stage. The event schedule is always inclusive and on-point.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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FEATURE
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Writing Empathy and Hope in Far Away
MT. AIRY IS HOME TO ONE OF PHILA
The first time I met Alex London, in-person, it was a harried hello near the Pennsylvania Convention Center, sometime in 2019, as we hurried towards our respective conference events. The “before times” as a lot of writer friends tend to say, when book convention and publishing conferences were still all over the place, before 2020 shut them all down. We were standing across the street from the Wawa, talking about his somewhat recent move to the city, how I’d just moved back, and how we’d have to get together soon. While that was the first time I saw him in person, it was far from the first time I’d gotten to know him. Because where I truly first met Alex London, was through his astonishingly beautiful books. I couldn’t believe our city was going to be lucky enough to have his voice here. And that theme is something I hope to be an ongoing one, as I introduce you Philadelphia Weekly readers to more of the authors who call this city home, that you might not be aware of. So, if you’ve yet to meet Alex London… meet Alex London, and get ready to meet some more folks over the coming months. London’s been publishing books for children for well over a decade, from his fantasy-filled animal adventures in The Wild Ones to the author-jumping, genre-spanning 39 Clues series, featuring titles written by household names like Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, and Linda Sue Park. But it was through his breakthrough, Young Adult debut, the critically acclaimed Proxy (Philomel Books, 2013), that I fell in love with his words. The dystopian Young Adult sci-fi novel racked up numerous accolades and found itself on numerous reading lists. And with good cause. Focusing on a teen who lives life as a Proxy, a kid assigned to take the punishments of the wealthy, whose life is not his own, the sweeping sci-fi thrill ride is an astonishing exploration of empathy. What happens when capitalism is completely unhinged and goes unchecked? When every possible thing is available for purchase? It’s a question we ask ourselves now, and we aren’t in some far-flung future. Not yet anyway. And that’s the beauty of challenging, dystopian books like Proxy. To hold that mirror up and ask the scary questions we don’t necessarily want answer for… but need to face. A glimpse at London’s catalog of recent books showcases a lot of that. Using sci-fi and fantasy to dig into big important messages surrounding society, sexuality, identity, he gives readers the opportunity to sit with those questions, through mirrors that reflect themselves, and windows that allow readers to understand others. An Alex London novel is a masterclass in empathy and understanding. MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
But he didn’t stop there with his Proxy duology. The last few years, Alex London has been busy. His critically acclaimed Skybound Saga published over the last three years with FSG, kicking off with the outstanding Black Wings Beating (2018), and followed up with Red Skies Falling (2019) and Gold Wings Rising (2020). Set in an astonishingly complex yet accessible fantasy world where falconry is a huge part of the lives of everyday people, it’s a roaring, gorgeous series that is completely unputdownable. His most recent project is the Middle Grade series Battle Dragons, set in a world full where dragons just live with us. They burn our garbage, work as taxi services. The second novel in this series hits in August, and I was lucky enough to talk with Alex about his books, his writing life, and how much he loves being in Philadelphia.
PW: You've written a few series. Your duology, Proxy. The Skybound trilogy which concluded last year. And now, Battle Dragons. What draws you to writing stories that take up multiple books? What's the challenge there? London: As a young reader, I loved series books. Brian Jacques’ Redwall were the books that made me a reader. There was a comfort in getting to know characters and worlds over multiple books, returning to them over and over in different circumstances in my life and in the characters’ lives. I think series appeal to young readers because of that sense of safety, even in books where no one in the story is safe, you can trust the writer to take you through the tale safely because you’ve traveled with them before. As a writer, I love the space series writing gives me to create expansive worlds and take my time exploring them. I also spend a good deal of time with the imaginary people (and animals) I create, and it seems sad to just abandon them after only one book. I like that in series writing I get to spend years with these people (and dragons!) that I create, watching them grow and change as their stories get bigger and bigger. Series writing gives me enough room that I rarely have to abandon ideas I like; I can just save them for later use in the next books. The biggest challenge is remembering what color eyes everyone has from book to book. I’m not a terribly organized person. I should probably start a spreadsheet.
PW: The next book in your Battle Dragons series, City of Speed, publishes this summer. In August! For kids who loved book one (and adults who did, like me), what can readers expect in the sequel? London: City of Speed picks up a few weeks after
book one left off, but tells its own story, this time centered on illegal dragon racing! So there will be high stakes dragon races, both professional and illegal street races; there will be new and wonderful breeds of dragons, as well as new friends and new enemies for Abel and his friends. There will also be more dragon drag queens, because why not? It’s a high stakes, high speed, high flying romp that I hope readers race to devour! See what I did there? Race to devour?
PW: Alex. London: Because dragon racing…
PW: A lot of your novels dig into powerful themes surrounding identity and complex relationships, and it's done through sci-fi and fantasy lenses. What about the fantastical and far-flung futures, make this kind of storytelling work so well for you? London: I think all writing is world building, whether you’re writing a contemporary romance about competing cheesesteak shops in Philadelphia today or a book about futuristic dragon riding gangsters. Authors choose what details to include and what to leave out through a set of beliefs about what their readers will and won’t assume. In fantasy and sci-fi, you have fewer reader assumptions to work with, because you’re creating their world, but at the end of the day they’ll follow you into any world you make as long as the people in it and their interactions feel authentic. So for me, invented worlds are a fun way to explore and amplify dynamics that exist in our world. For example, all middle schoolers feel powerless sometimes, feel uncertain or anxious, and all of them explore the limits and boundaries of their own agency. In Battle Dragons I write about those feelings, but I give my middle schoolers dragons. What if you were exploring the limits of your own power on the back of a dragon? I truly believe that power doesn’t
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Worlds, Meet Philadelphia’s Alex London
LADELPHIA’S MOST PROLIFIC WRITERS change people, it reveals them, and what better way to reveal a character that giving them the ultimate power: a ten-ton dragon!
PW: You have a picture book coming out in a few years (2024!), and it's your first one in a while after years of novels. What can you tell us about it? And what drew you back to picture books? London: My 3-year-old loves picture books and I wanted write one I could read to her while she’s still young. That was the motivation, but the execution of what became Still Life was a whole different story. It took a lot of drafts and revision and two years to sell to a publisher! I have never worked so hard on a book, which is only a few hundred words long! I feel very lucky, however, to have landed with an amazing editor who paired my text with the absolutely legendary and brilliant artist Paul Zelinsky. I’ve loved his work since I was kid, so I’m just Mann Music Center | Photo: gobsmacked JR Blackwell he’s bringing my story to life.
PW: Once upon a time, before the novels, you were a journalist, reporting in conflict zones and covering major crises. Does that part of your writing life ever find its way into your current work? London: Well, writing nonfiction on any topic is great way to learn how to write fiction. If you can render reality into words, you can render an imagined reality into words. As for what I covered, it does indeed. I wrote mostly about young people impacted by armed conflict, from refugees to child soldiers. In that work, I saw the amazing capacities young people have to transform their world—for good and ill—and to survive, with wit and whimsy and boundless humanity in the terrible circumstances created by adults. I began writing for young people with the knowledge that young people are worthy protagonists in their own lives and in a society’s transformation. The kids
and teens I met all over the world were brave, silly, dangerous, impulsive, considerate, loving, reckless and wise: all the things we imagine our invented heroes to be. Young people already have the bravery and brilliance I write about; I just add the dragons.
PW: Now this is the Philly Weekly, so I have to ask... you've lived in a few places. Baltimore. New York City. Why Philadelphia? London: We moved here in 2016 to start family, not actually knowing a lot about it! We knew we wanted to live somewhere more affordable than Brooklyn, somewhere still on the East Coast, somewhere with a vibrant queer community, and a place with a sense of history. Also, my husband, a teacher, got offered a job here, which made the decision easier! I knew Philly’s reputation via battery attacks on Santa Claus and deep feelings around sandwiches, and I had some familiarity with Wawa already. We had some friends who lived here and who made a strong case for it before we moved, and then my husband fell in love with the Mt Airy neighborhood after our first visit. After a few more, we realized this was the place we wanted to be. Oh, and I needed a good independent bookstore or ten, which Philly definitely has. It was more vibes than anything, though we also needed a place with good pizza, and Philly definitely fits the bill. So, yeah…we moved here because of a job, and also books, gays, vibes, and pizza.
BY ERIC SMITH
Isaac Fitzgerald’s How to Be a Pirate and my daughter can’t get enough of Dragons Love Tacos (which makes my dragon loving heart glad). As to actual grown-up reading, for some reason, the past year has been all about spies and horror for me, so I’ve been devouring everything the historian of espionage Ben McIntyre has written, most recently Agent Sonya. I’ve also escaped into the Slough House series by Mick Herron. And I’ve been loving just about everything horror writer Stephen Graham Jones has done. Just finished Night of the Mannequins, which is creepy and weird in all the best ways. In the YA space, I am extremely excited for my friend, and local author, Katherine Locke’s This Rebel Heart.
You can learn more about Alex London via his official website, www.calexanderlondon.com, and watch out for the next book in his Battle Dragons series, City of Speed, out with Scholastic this August.
PW: Where do you go to be inspired? London: Well, I used to love writing in coffee shops all over the city, but the pandemic and having a small child kind of stopped that. Now, I’ll stroll in Carpenter’s Woods to clear my head sometimes, but honestly, just heading to Center City or South Philly and wandering is still my favorite way to find inspiration. I love walking in cities, taking in neighborhoods I don’t live in as they go about their business. I’ve read about ‘forest baths’ where people soak in the wilderness to cleanse their spirits or whatever…I take concrete baths. I like to soak in the feel of the street and it always fuels my imagination. I guess that’s why the city is such a huge character in Battle Dragons. It’s an imaginary place, filled with dragons. It’s not Philly nor anywhere else, but it is a city of neighborhoods and of people living in very close quarters trying their best to thrive, in sometimes challenging circumstances. Philly is one hell of an inspiration for that.
PW: What have you read and loved lately? London: We’ve got a three-year-old, so a lot of my world is picture books these days! I’m a big fan of
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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Philadelphia’s Most Beautiful Cemeteries BY JOSH HITCHENS
M
any people understandably regard cemeteries as uncomfortable and sometimes creepy places. For me, they have always been places that I can go to find deep peace and contemplation. There is something immensely comforting to me about visiting a “city of the dead” and being among the graves of those who have lived and struggled before me, with the assurance that with their headstones their lives are not forgotten but rather memorialized in stones that will withstand the test of time. Especially since the pandemic became our reality, many of Philadelphia’s historic cemeteries became a refuge for those who wished to be outside during such a terrible time. I am one of those people, and I want to celebrate the graveyards that have brought so much comfort to so many over the past two years. When most of these cemeteries were established, they were designed almost as parks for folks to visit, perhaps with a picnic lunch, enjoying their lives amongst beautiful trees and flowers while paying tribute to those who were gone. This is something that came unexpectedly into fashion again during the height of the pandemic, and for me, personally, it became a way for me to center myself and put current world events into context. If you are looking for a respite from Philly city life or the tumultuous events of the world at large, I highly recommend giving these places a visit. You’ll find serenity and beauty (and incredible history) that will surprise you. Best of all, you can enjoy all these places for free.
THE WOODLANDS (4000 WOODLAND AVENUE)
MARCH 24-31, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY
The Woodlands began as the estate of William Hamilton, the great-grandson of Andrew Hamilton, who made the term “Philadelphia lawyer” famous. Aside from building a grand mansion, which still exists today, Hamilton was also a botanist who created landscaped gardens around his property that, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, were “the only rival I have known in America to what may be seen in England.” After William Hamilton died in 1813, his descendants sold off most of the estate, but in 1840 the Woodlands Cemetery Company purchased the remaining 92 acres with the intent of turning it into a rural cemetery so that “the beautiful landscape and scenery…may be perpetually preserved.” Victorians flocked to the Woodlands cemetery, as many thousands do every year in the twenty-first century. The Woodlands offers digital tours on its website, so that you can walk through this idyllic haven and learn about the lives of some of its most notable permanent residents. The Woodlands also has a Grave Gardeners program, where people can volunteer to “adopt a grave,” planting Victorianera flowers and plants to beautify the cemetery and pay tribute to the dead. The Woodlands, open every day from dawn till dusk, is a West Philly paradise, the perfect place for you to exercise and also to rest among its stones and trees. www.woodlandsphila.org
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LAUREL HILL CEMETERY (3822 RIDGE AVENUE) Laurel Hill Cemetery is justifiably famous. It was the second “rural cemetery” constructed in the United States, preceded only by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston. Founded in 1836, Laurel Hill comprises 78 acres of land and is home to more than 33,000 graves. Unlike The Woodlands, which you can tour the entirety of within a few hours, you could spend a day walking through the beautiful landscape of Laurel Hill Cemetery and not come near to seeing it all. That is part of its immense historic appeal – it is a place that invites you to return to it again and again, and it is guaranteed that on each visit you will encounter pieces of this city of the dead you have never seen before. Laurel Hill has always been a mecca for visitors seeking a peaceful respite from the outside world. As early as 1848, it was reported that nearly 30,000 people had visited within that year alone. By 1860, as many as 140,000 people were annual visitors. It is easy to see why. Laurel Hill Cemetery is an urban landscape of unqualified beauty and contains gravestones, monuments and mausoleums that are nothing less than great works of art. Buried here are numerous famous names from both Philadelphia and United States history, as well as more popular contemporary figures such as Harry Kalas, the radio broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies who boasts four seats from Veteran’s Stadium by his headstone. Laurel Hill Cemetery also offers a robust program of tours and special events throughout the year. Its gates are open to all visitors year-round, and more information can be found at www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org
MOUNT MORIAH CEMETERY (6201 KINGSESSING AVENUE) Also located in West Philadelphia, Mount Moriah Cemetery is special. Established in 1855, Mount Moriah, encompassing 200 acres and 150,000 graves, is the largest cemetery in the city of Philadelphia. Unlike The Woodlands and Laurel Hill, Mount Moriah in its earliest history welcomed the burials of African Americans and Jewish Americans within its hallowed ground. In 1856, the remains of Betsy Ross and her third husband John Claypoole were moved to Mount Moriah, and then excavated again in 1976 to what is now known as the Betsy Ross House in Old City for the bicentennial celebrations in Philadelphia. In 2004, the last member of the Cemetery Association died, leaving Mount Moriah with no owner, and for nearly a decade this historic graveyard was abandoned, with nature beginning to reclaim the land and many of the graves falling into serious decay and neglect. Fortunately, in 2011 the Friends of Mount Moriah organization was formed. Their mission is “to make the grounds accessible for families to safely visit their loved ones while creating a place for people to connect with nature, take a walk, ride bikes, bird watch, and find serenity in the middle of a densely urban environment.” They have done extraordinary restoration work and welcome volunteers, and you can learn more at www. friendsofmountmoriahcemetery.org
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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SEX WITH TIMAREE
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SEX WITH T Reader question: My girlfriend and I have been together for about 4 years and everything is generally really good with us. I’m not afraid to talk honestly with her and we’re good at communicating on most things. But I have one nagging concern. I’m a straight man and she’s bisexual, which is something she has been open about with me since the beginning. We’re monogamous and have discussed that we both prefer to keep it that way, as we would both be uncomfortable with the other person doing things separately or having group sex. But I can’t help but feel like I’m keeping her from living her full life. We talked about what porn we watch the other night and she revealed that she only watches lesbian porn. I don’t mind that she watches porn — I do too. But I’m worried that she feels like she’s missing out on something or that I’m not enough. Am I being unrealistic about us being monogamous? Should I encourage her to try to hook up with a woman?
Ah, yes. The tale as old as time.
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Mathematically, it makes sense this dynamic comes up so often. Bisexuals comprise the majority of the lesbian/bisexual/gay population — more than gays and lesbians combined. Meanwhile, women are more likely to identify as bisexual, pansexual, heteroflexible or otherwise sexually fluid than men — you can thank a mix of biology and patriarchy for that. So that means there are a lot of bisexual women and a lot of straight dudes in the world. Between living in a society that assumes heterosexuality, the delightful challenge that is femme on femme flirting, and the issue that some lesbians won’t date bisexual women — it’s statistically a lot easier for bisexual women to end up dating straight men. Yet, for its prevalence, bisexual women in relationships with straight men are less likely to be out than if they’re dating women or a bisexual man.
SEX WITH TIMAREE
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DR. TIMAREE
SCHMIT
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Why is that? It could be that they fear the stigma of biphobia — including assumptions that they’re going through a phase, are incapable of fidelity or simply don’t know their own orientation. It could be that straight men (perhaps inadvertently) invalidate their partners’ bi identities, by failing to recognize how their queerness exists outside of the relationship or by acting as if sexual interactions with other women somehow “don’t count.” Bisexual women who date men often report the same kind of struggles: of having their queerness questioned, of having their attraction to men questioned, of feeling out of place in both straight and gay spaces. To many monosexuals (people who only date/are attracted to one gender), there’s apparently something fundamentally incomprehensible about the idea of being legitimately into to a variety of genders. This dubiousness seems to be especially true if the bi woman hasn’t dated or slept with [insert arbitrary number of] women. My advice would be to remind you of the first thing you said: that this is a good relationship in which you communicate openly and honestly. You feel like the two of you can share deeply personal things and she’s been clear to you that she’s bi from the jump. So: believe her. Believe her when she says she’s bi; believe her when she says she prefers monogamy. The situation may well change. People grow and evolve, and circumstances shift. Maybe down the line shit will be different. If she’s secretly harboring desires for experiences and relationships outside your dyad, that’s on her to realize and express. The only thing you can do is be the understanding, calm and supportive person who makes it easy and safe to be honest. As for her porn habits, that’s also not a huge surprise. Lesbian porn has dominated the industry for years — for people of all stripes — including straight women! There is a litany of reasons for this popularity. Our culture has conditioned us all to sexualize women’s bodies, and lesbian porn is more likely to emphasize sensuality and clitoral stimulation. It’s also (somewhat) less likely to be all about penetration and domination — which can be turn offs for some. Queer porn — especially the stuff made by and for women — often focuses more on pleasure and showcases a wider variety of bodies. As I pointed out in this 2018 piece on lesbian porn, the genre tends to not have a lot of men in it. That may appeal to straight men who don’t want to see male bodies or compare penis sizes, and it could make some women more comfortable to remove the power dynamics of gender. That doesn’t mean she’s not attracted to men or that you’re not enough. It just means she prefers lesbian porn. So just enjoy your honest and comfortable relationship with this lovely bisexual woman, and good luck!
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2022
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DOING GOOD
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DOING GOOD: NEIGHBORHOOD GARDENS TRUST
A NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
BY JR BLACKWELL
Welcome to Doing Good, where every week we feature an organization that’s having a positive impact in our community. Every nonprofit gets the same five questions, and every week you get introduced to the people who are making our city better. The nonprofit spotlight is here to shine a light on the helpers, and, who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to get involved, volunteer or donate to an organization you meet here. Or maybe you’ll just leave feeling a bit better about the world. In the spirit of our spring guide, this week we are introducing you to Neighborhood Gardens Trust, which helps save and create gardens across Philadelphia.
What is your mission?
Neighborhood Gardens Trust is Philadelphia’s neighborhood garden protector. We keep land in the hands of Philadelphians to grow food, flowers and community. We do this by securing ownership or long-term leases for green spaces that are created and stewarded by community members.
How have you made a difference?
Philadelphians have been working together at community gardens across the city for decades. They do so for many reasons: To transform vacant land into safe shared green space. To grow healthy food for family and neighbors. To spend time outdoors in nature. To educate kids and pass along cultural traditions. To clean and cool the urban environment. Unfortunately, despite their many benefits, these open spaces are under serious threat of being lost to real estate development. NGT was founded to help address this problem. We’ve protected 50 open spaces to date and we’re working to reach 70 protected gardens in the next two years. We also work closely with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) to help provide supplies, materials and ongoing support to preserved gardens so they can continue to thrive for generations to come.
Can you tell us a story about the work you do?
This winter, NGT was able to permanently protect threatened properties at the Brewerytown Community Garden at N. 27th and Master Street. This garden is an essential community hub with 80 garden beds, a greenhouse, a communitysupported agriculture program and a weekly farm stand. The garden hosts many programs that bring together diverse neighbors and build community. Part of the space is protected by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, but another section was for sale last year. NGT worked with the gardeners, community, city and state to raise the funds to be able to purchase and permanently preserve the land. Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief.
What do you wish people knew about you?
Vacant land speculation is Philadelphia is increasing, and many community gardens are in danger of being lost at sheriff’s sale. Figuring out a pathway to preservation for each land parcel at a community garden is complicated. NGT has a proven track record, and we are working hard to keep up with the real estate market and to advocate for better city policies to support open space protection. We need resources to save more vital gardens before it is too late.
How can people get involved?
NGT needs your support to protect community gardens and shared open spaces. This process takes money, time and advocacy. To get involved, please consider making a charitable donation at ngtrust.org/donate. Volunteers are sometimes needed for workdays to help maintain these open spaces. You can raise awareness of the importance of protecting neighborhood green spaces by spreading the word to friends, family and your local government representatives. Sign up for NGT’s monthly e-newsletter for updates and follow us on social media @ngtrust.
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | MARCH 24-31, 2O22
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