Thom Lessner’s piano will be on display in Drexel Park (32nd & Powelton) from June 7-17.
The idea is simple: eight beautifully decorated pianos, in public places, for anyone to play. This is the essence of University City District’s initiative, Heart & Soul: The University City Public Piano Project which will run from June 7-17, 2012. It is an interactive public art exhibition featuring eight artist-decorated pianos on sidewalks and in parks and public spaces throughout University City. Eight artists or collectives were chosen to visually re-interpret the pianos, transforming each into a unique piece of visual art: Terry Adkins, Joe Boruchow, Justin Duerr, Melissa Maddoni Haims, The Heads of State, Kali Yuga Zoo Brigade, Katie Holeman, and Thom Lessner.
UCD will hold an opening reception and launch party on Wednesday, June 6 at 6pm at The Porch at 30th Street Station, where all eight pianos will debut. The launch party will also celebrate the opening of Hakoniwa: A Site Specific Public Art Installation at the Porch. Pew Fellow Nami Yamamoto has “responded to The Porch’s concrete planters creating a ‘garden’ that extends the reach of the colorful forms within each planter. But rather than representing the flora seen around The Porch, Yamamoto has selected objects from her daily life, and reproduced them in colorful silhouettes at once abstract and recognizable to passersby.”
From June 7-17, the pianos will then be placed throughout the neighborhood at the following locations: The Porch at 30th Street Station, Drexel Park (32nd and Powelton), Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore), Drexel Dragon Statue (33rd and Market), University Square (36th and Walnut), Locust Walk, The Radian Plaza (3925 Walnut), and The Science Center (37th Street Pedestrian Mall, at Market St.).
Han Dynasty, one of the city’s premier Chinese restaurants, has quietly opened its West Philadelphia location. The restaurant had a soft opening two weeks ago at 3711 Market Street, the former MidAtlantic restaurant’s space.
The restaurant specializes in authentic Chinese (Sichuan-style) cuisine and recently has been included in the list of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the U.S. It serves lunch and dinner (no buffet), and offers takeout.
See the menu here. Stay tuned for set hours or call 215-222-3711.
Saturday was an amazing day around the City. Tons of folks were out for Philly Spring Clean-up. It was also a great day at Woodlands Cemetery for the Go West! Craft Fest, which was a Cedar Park staple until new regulations on events in public parks prompted a change of plans this year. But Go West! didn’t skip a beat. The Woodlands turned out to be a great spot. Tangle Movement Arts and the Tiny Circus were on the grounds. Give and Take Jugglers were on the scene. Sour Mash (Facebook page) played a set. And a bunch of artists and artisans were selling their wares. Check out the slideshow below.
Detective Joe Murray’s tweet yesterday afternoon telling followers he was back in business.
Detective Joe Murray, aka “The Fuzz,” is back on Twitter, only this time with a much less catchy handle.
As of about 4 p.m. yesterday Murray is now @ppdjoemurray, a much more official name that reflects the Philadelphia Police Department’s endorsement of his social media stardom. In fact, Murray will be helping out others in the department to use Twitter more effectively.
Murray received dozens of tweets welcoming him back within the first few hours that he was online. Those who followed him before will automatically be switched over to the new account.
An online petition started by West Philly resident Amara Rockar earlier this month drew attention around the city and likely factored into getting Murray back online.
The only question that remains is … Can we still call him “The Fuzz?”
Several heavily damaged vehicles remained along the eastbound lane of the 4700 block of Spruce Street this afternoon after an early morning accident that sent a SEPTA bus careening out of control and into a row of parked cars.
A westbound Route 42 bus collided with an SUV that ran a red light at 47th and Spruce at about 4 a.m., according to 6ABC. The driver, who along with four others was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for “non-life threatening” injuries, lost control of the bus. The collision pushed the bus into a tree and nearby parked cars. About a dozen cars in all were damaged.
The Spruce Hill Community Association last night unanimously supported a proposal to replace the Risque adult video shop at the corner of 43rd and Chestnut with an “upscale” liquor store.
SHCA members expressed hope that the liquor store, which the state would like to move into the 5,000-square-foot Risque property in the Chestnut Street Plaza, would be similar to the “super store” at 1218 Chestnut St. and would not serve pints, half-pints or fortified wine. The proposed store would also replace the adjacent check cashing place.
Last night’s vote, which came during the association’s regularly monthly meeting, followed a widely reported zoning committee meeting earlier this month.
The proposed store has attracted support since the closure earlier this year of the Wine and Spirits store at 4049 Market St., sending many shoppers to the often crowded shop near 49th and Baltimore. A new store at 43rd and Chestnut, one member pointed out, would provide service to the growing number of BYOB restaurants in the area.
But there is also opposition to the store, mostly from Muslim residents who live near the Chestnut Street Plaza. Some 40 people attended the earlier zoning meeting to voice opposition, though that was not included in most reports. The plaza also includes a halal restaurant and butcher shop. The Masjid al-Jamia mosque is a block away on 43rd and Walnut.
The SHCA vote has no legal ramifications but provides a sign of community support for the liquor store, which could open within a few months. SHCA members also voiced hope that the state’s interest in the location might provide a chance to improve the lighting and outside aesthetic of the plaza.
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