SOSNA and NLNA Weekly Candy List

Neighborhood Update by Aaron Stella

CITYSPACE: re-thinking real estate. Philadelphia is a neighborhoody city, and we love if for that. Each neighborhood possesses its own charm, feel, aesthetic and various delights. So those in-the-neighborood-know are the ones who will reap the benefits, no? Absolutely! Ah, but so many neighborhoods to choose from. Not to worry, folks. Every week, CITYSPACE brings you updates of the movements in, out and about the city’s haunts. Saves you time so you can hang-ten on the web just a little longer. This time around, we’re zeroing in on the Libby North  (a.k.a Northen Liberties) and the south-of-South St (South Philly). Check out the info below to get the skinny on events, meetings, festivals, weekend bashes and more blowing up in these neighbohoods. Nothing but love for Philly here, folks. Check in on our blog site for periodic updates on other neighborhood events throughout the city. Plenty of other event on the horizon to, folks. Don’t miss out. Until next time…

Let’s Get Lit – this Saturday!

The Party and Fundraiser of the Season – Sep 26, 5-10PM, 3rd & Fairmount

Phase One of the NL Community Center Project – the rehabilitation of 700 N. 3rd St. into first floor office and meeting room with 2nd & 3rd floor apartments is complete… Well, almost.

We still need exterior lighting for safety, some repair work, and some interior finishing-up.

So join us Saturday for grilled food, beer, raffles, presentation of the NLNA Leadership Award, and live music! RSVP’s are not required, but are appreciated - 215-627-NLNA or pgansky@aol.com.

Please bring a check or a credit card to make your tax-deductible donation. Can’t make it on the 26th? We’ll be happy to pick up your donation – or you can donate online anytime at nlna.org!

September 23 – SOSNA GENERAL MEETING – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE SOSNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23, 7:00 PM
WHERE: St. Charles Senior Center, 1901 Christian Street

The SOSNA Board annually seeks 5 new members.

Come nominate yourself, your friend, or your neighbor.  Board members MUST reside/own property within the SOSNA area – South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street to the Schuylkill River.

Why sit on the SOSNA Board?
•    Give back to the neighborhood you love.
•    Learn a lot about the day-to-day issues, like zoning, safety, and sustainability.
•    Help your fellow neighbors make our neighborhood the best place to live in the City.

Elections will take place on OCTOBER 14, 2009!

ZONING: SOSNA holds monthly zoning meetings about new construction in the area, providing the only local opportunity for neighbors to raise suggestions and concerns about nearby building projects directly to developers and designers.

CLEANING: SOSNA organizes many neighborhood clean-up days throughout the year with the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee, and in conjunction with your PMBC Block Captains.

RECYCLING:  In partnership with Councilman At-Large Bill Green’s office, SOSNA has distributed over 500 blue recycling bins to neighbors this year – helping the environment and saving neighbors from getting fined.

GREENING: Over the years, SOSNA has organized the planting of hundreds of new trees in the neighborhood, and assisted neighbors’ efforts to create new public open space.

SAFETY: SOSNA has a close working relationship with the 17th Police District and the South of South Townwatch, most recently helping to organize a Nuisance Court for our area.

WALKABILITY: This year SOSNA was awarded a nationally competitive grant to help improve pedestrian safety neighborhood-wide, specifically around our three elementary schools.

Any questions? Call 215 732-8446, email AndrewD@southofsouth.org, or stop by the SOSNA Office at 1901 Christian Street during office hours – Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Spring is in the air (or at least it was until the temps dipped back down below 40 but hopefully that’s just a temporary setback!)

Last weekend’s brief burst of fine weather motivated me to prep my backyard space for a season full of out-of-doors fun. What better way to get inspired than to take a trip to the ultra-fabulous Terrain! This gorgeous nursery and cafe, located in Glen Mills, offers a wide selection of beautiful plants, pots and accessories, as well as unique housewares and botanical products. Terrain also offers a full schedule of events (last weekend, we caught Sustainable Garden Design II featuring Jonathan Alderson of Jonathan Alderson Landscape Design Architects, Inc.) Check out the amazing greenhouses spaces housing different varieties of plants, as well as the sprawling grounds, for tons of ideas on how to turn your backyard or deck into the garden of your dreams.

Terrain is also currently offering complimentary landscape design consultations to help you figure out what will work best in your space. I met with designer Matt Sigda, who offered great advice on what tall plants would fill out my built-in flower beds and what would work on my full sun deck that wouldn’t get fried (like all my plants did last year – sigh). Get in touch with the Landscape Design Services Team at 610-459-2400 or click here to read more about their services.

Mosses and other green things on display at Terrain

Check out a few pictures I snapped during my tour of Terrain below and click here to search all local listings to find the backyard space that you can transform into your very own urban oasis!

Orchids, planters and birdhouses at Terrain

So I went up to the Museum of Modern Art this past weekend to check out their brilliant exhibit “Home Delivery, Fabricating the Modern Dwelling.” For all of you who haven’t seen it – get on up to 54th Street in Manhattan, it closes on October 20th.

This exhibition is basically a short (but very thorough) investigation of the history of prefabricated architecture – and then is culminated in the commissioning of 5 contemporary prefabricated houses on the lot next to the museum. The houses are pretty amazing, and you can go into or poke your head into all of them. I enjoy functionality you can walk around in – seeing this exhibition was like a giant open house for the future possibilites of the modular home. It is amazing to think how the idea of prefabrication can not only be viewed in several different ways, but also executed with using a variety of processes and a incredibly differing materials. It was hard to pick a favorite – I think the Cellophane House was my favorite, with it’s modernism and entire exterior wall of solar paneling, but I also found Burst intriguing. Who doesn’t want bleachers attached to their house? I admit a bit of clausterphobia with the Micro Compact Home, this makes dorm living seem luxurious… and System 3 – talk about lux mobile home. Sign me up!

Check out the photos I took and check out the great interactive website at the Moma:

 

French Vanilla Kiss? Are you serious? Hazelnut Dream? Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown Kona!? C’mon! And starting at $7.75 a pound? It is a dream come true! Thanks to Dean’s Beans, I am alive with happiness and mirth at being able to order these fantastic brews online. Over here at Remax City Space we pride ourselves on being Green, so of course we drink Fair Trade, Organic Coffee, use our mugs (disposable cups are for the birds!) and because we work so hard – we guzzle like fiends. Hey – coffee is good for you – especially when it is good for everybody else. Check out Dean’s Beans, order yourself something to start your day off right, and support the fair trade movement!

-Heather Riley

Ever wonder what the political views and hot topics are in the Philadelphia area? Are you interested in getting your voice heard on such views and topics? If so, we’ve found the site for you. Young Philly Politics, the self-described ‘progressive, young, Philadelphia politics, from small to big’, offers great insight into the local political community. It is a simple blog format, without excess bells and whistles, that allows the viewer to concentrate on the content provided. If you feel strongly enough, one way or the other, about a particular post you have the ability to share your opinion with other members of the site. The only requirement is that you are also a member of the community. If you’d like to sign-up for an account, Click Here.

If you’re a die-hard Eagles fan always wanting more info. on the Birds, or if you’re moving to Philly and want to get to know about the Eagles and their fans then Bleeding Green Nation is the blog for you. This unofficial Philadelphia Eagles blog is jam packed with all things football. The site is well laid out with quality content. From roster information to stats, the schedule to recent news, Bleeding Green Nation keeps you updated on the Eagles and the rest of the NFL. There is also an extremely active fan community that will talk about anything at anytime. If you have the itch for the ‘iggles’, Bleeding Green Nation has the cure. Check it out today!