Nearly ten years ago Mary Button and Erica Zito, originally from New Jersey, met through a mutual friend at an open mic night while living in Baltimore. Three years later, both women decided they were eager to be closer to family and made the move north to Philadelphia. Originally settling in the Queen Village neighborhood, it wasn’t long before they migrated north once again to Fishtown, buying a home on Sepviva Street and becoming part of the community.
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Coming Soon! The Lola Bean
Monday, August 16th, 2010Drive-in / Ride-in / Walk-in Video Screening
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
The Philadelphia Art Hotel will be hosting a screening of 3 cinematic pieces on the grassy lot at 2007-2015 Hazzard St. this Friday. It will be operated kind of like a drive in, except your more than welcomed to walk or ride a bike as well! Sound will be broadcast by low wattage FM radio, so bring a small battery operated FM radio! Click through for full details.
Make sure the arts are part of the Delaware River Waterfront Revitalization!
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Wouldn’t it be great if public art was a prominent part of the redevelopment of the Delaware River Waterfront? Better still: if artists who lived near the river could receive commissions for permanent and temporary installations in newly created parks.
The Central Delaware Advocacy Group will host Round 2 of Civic Cluster meetings for the Master Plan for the Central Delaware. This is an interactive workshop to give the DRWC input about key topics to concept plans for the Plan for the Central Delaware, including open space and recreation.
This is a great opportunity for the Frankford Avenue Arts community to make a showing, and contribute our ideas to the redevelopment of the riverfront. So please, consider bringing your forward thinking, creative mind to one of the below public meetings and contributing to the dialog! Public processes like this can only reflect your demographic if you and people like you show up!
The meetings are:
Thursday, July 15
6:30-8:30pm
Independence Seaport Museum
Chestnut St. and the Delaware River
Monday, July 19
6:30-8:30pm
First Presbyterian Church in Fishtown
418 E. Girard Ave. (between Columbia and Palmer)
The program is the same for both meetings, you may attend the one you find most convenient.
Walking Fish Theater on WHYYtv’s Friday Arts!
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Walking Fish Theatre, along with our friend, Mark Borkowski, was highlighted during this past episode of “Friday Arts”. Mike O’Reilly and his crew were at the Fish several times shooting during rehearsals, performances and along the streets of Kensington. We are very proud to be a part of this program as well as a host for Mark’s terrific plays. You can see part of GRAVEDIGGER: The Plays of Mark Borkowski in various degrees of process.
Latin Grammy nominated Tanghetto comming to Fishtown!
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
Two-time Latin Grammy nominee, Tanghetto, will bring their world-class blend of tango and electronica straight from Buenos Aires to Philadelphia on Saturday, May 29, 2010. The band will play at the Skybox at 2424 Studios, a stunning new studio/ event space in Fishtown. The 10pm concert will be preceded by an introductory tango lesson at 9pm. The concert is offered as part of Philadelphia’s 1st International Tango Festival, a weekend-long extravaganza of tango workshops, performances and events. Tanghetto will open an all-night milonga (tango dance), which will also include djed music, tango performances and social dancing. More information & tickets are available at http://philadelphiatangofestival.com
The concert, and larger Tango Festival, are being organized by Meredith and Andres, founders of Frankford Avenue’s Philadelphia Argentine Tango School.
The Avenue Brightens
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
1524 Frankford Ave
Back in 2007, NKCDC with the support of the William Penn Foundation, was able to create a program that allowed business owners on Frankford Avenue to receive lighting fixtures that were both decorative and improved pedestrian safety. At that time, 10 business or commercial property owners received this assistance. The program was well received by both the nearby residents and merchants and was timely considering First Friday activities were gaining momentum and safety on the corridor at night was a priority. NKCDC became committed to finding a way to expand this program.
In 2009, the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department, a tremendous supporter of neighborhood commercial corridors, provided additional funds to expand a lighting program on Frankford Avenue. This allowed NKCDC to develop a similar program to the one that was launched in 2007. Business owners or commercial property owners along Frankford Avenue and some buidlings along Norris Street could receive decorative, energy efficient lighting fixtures for a nominal fee that would in turn improve the lighting conditions along the corridor. This year, efforts were made to concentrate the location of the lights and of course, address particularly dark spots along Frankford Avenue and Norris Street as the primary passage way for visitors and residents riding the Market Frankford El.
Fifteen buildings received treatment along Frankford Avenue and Norris Street. Each participant selected the color and shape of the fixture that best fit his or her vision for their facade. Like the project in 2007, energy efficent bulbs were used to ensure that ongoing costs for the lights would remain low. Photo censors guarentee that the lights go on automatically as it gets dark, and shut off in the morning.
Some participants include Palm Auto, Move It, Michael’s Decorators, Part Time Studio, Atlantis and Groovehound…just to name a few. This last First Friday was a huge hit and if you didn’t take note of then, make sure to pay attention in the coming weeks.
April First Friday
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Spring is finally here, and that’s something to celebrate. This past winter was enough to make even Midwesterners shiver in their snowboots. Frankford Avenue greets the sunshine and warm temps with arms wide open. There is hardly a shortage of things to do this coming First Friday. The arts corridor welcomes a new print studio, hosts two exhibitions part of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference and even acknowledges ‘failing’ artists. And this is just a dash of what to expect as you stroll along this vibrant corridor.
Details after the jump. Keep checking back throughout the week for additions…
March First Friday
Thursday, February 25th, 2010Let’s face it – we all have cabin fever this time of year. So get out of the house and spend some time on Frankford Avenue. Friday, March 5th, the corridor has plenty to offer. Even though the gray skies and barren trees aren’t inspiring, there will plenty to see, feel and taste on the avenue. Whether your a First Friday virgin or a seasoned veteran, these local entrepreneurs make you feel right at home.
Details after the jump. Keep checking back throughout the week for additions…
Frankford Avenue Construction Updates
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Photo taken in 2007
Last Monday, February 8th, NKCDC, the engineering design firm Orth-Rodgers, designer Group G, a dozen PennDOT employees and the contractor selected for Frankford Avenue finally met face to face after months of delays. L.C. Costa Contractors is a heavy and highway construction firm located in Warminster, PA. This firm is PennDOT approved, a criteria for being selected for this kind of streetscape project. This meeting gave NKCDC an opportunity to interface with the contractor and begin to establish a line of communication as the community prepares for this exciting time. Although the exact location has not been determined, LC. Costa will have a trailer nearby to ensure that they can respond quickly to concerns or questions during the construction period.
The start date was the only disappointing news at this meeting. Because the contractor is currrently in the midst of 2 other large projects, Frankford Avenue won’t see any dirt flying or concrete pouring until June. The good news is that everything else is in place and residents and businesses along the 1700-2300 blocks of Frankford Avenue can expect to receive several weeks notice before the contractor begins work on his or her block. L.C. Costa is also obligated to keep access to businesses open at all times. In the end, the neighborhood can expect a commercial corridor with gleaming new sidewalks, brighter lighting, beautiful trees, a few more art racks, trashcans and signage. Not to mention two lovely bus shelters providing harbor from the rain, wind and something especially relevant in the last few weeks…snow!
As requested by the project team, L.C. Costa will consider local subcontractors for some components of the work. If you have more questions about the Frankford Avenue improvements, please contact Sarah Corlett at 215-427-0350 ext 111 or scorlett@nkcdc.org.
February First Friday
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Got the winter blues? Frankford Avenue has just the thing to cheer you up. Bundle up, grab a friend and head out to the arts corridor to see old pals and maybe make a few new ones. The new vintage boutique, two percent to glory, makes her First Friday debut. Throw in a pony, some vegan pastries, talented artists and the usual food and drink, and you have yourself a night to remember.
This month’s listings after the jump…
