Neighborhood places to keep on the your interest House The Newsletter of by Byron Fink know the ones I mean: Betsy Walking back to Ross House, Independence Hopkinson House • Fall 2010 Hopkinson House after seeing Hall, National Constitution a movie at the Ritz Five, I Center, Elfreth’s Alley, etc. passed a window on Walnut Marvelous places, all, but I Street near Third that read have my own favorites.) Polish American Cultural My list covers a mish- Center. I said to myself: “This mash of Museums, Exhibition qualifies as a Place of Interest.” Halls, and Enjoyable Places For some time I have Worth Visiting. Maybe in a been making a mental list future issue of On the House of My Favorite Places of I’ll be allowed to describe Interest Within Easy Walking Favorite Places that are Distance of Hopkinson somewhat farther away but House. Now’s the time to still (theoretically) walkable. make a written compilation. So, here it is. Of course it isn’t Curtis Center an exhaustive aggregation— 6th & Walnut Streets I’m sure that there are 215-238-6450 places that have escaped my In the east lobby on Ben Franklin statuary (left) and a Renaissance ceiling at Philadelphia’s attention—and I know that 6th Street, like a gigantic Public Ledger Building. a few have been covered in pointillist creation, Louis past issues of On the House. C. Tiffany’s extraordinary, glass, was inspired by and the west lobby, on 7th Street, (Then, too, my list does not 51-foot-wide mural, “The expanded from a small the Curtis Center atrium I include Philadelphia’s familiar Dream Garden”, made from painting by Maxfield Parrish. find the most ravishing in the high-profile powerhouses. You 100,000 pieces of iridescent I have visited it many times. In world. Its airiness, its marble columns resembling palm trees and its gently-cascading Editorial: What’s inside season. See articles by Byron Fink, Lynn fountain make it a place of Miller, Ralph Rodriguez, Susan Tomita beauty and calm. by Nelly Childress and Scott & Nelly Childress intended to You will find in this issue information refresh your memories of theaters, musical National Liberty Museum from Council on the hallway renovation and artistic venues, museums, interesting 321 Chestnut Street project and also about the swift response sites and restaurants in our neighborhood. 215-925 2800 of Hopkinson House to the arrival of These articles were definitely not written as Offering 200 permanent bedbugs with a “tip sheet” on keeping them advertisements! and changing exhibits, this out of your individual units. Management’s David Roberts’ nutrition article on beautiful museum in a historic recycling column is a must-read. sugar is most informative—a good sequel building has a powerful, I am somewhat sad when summer to his “praise of fat” that appeared in the complex glass sculpture by shows signs of ending: regretting the summer issue. Don’t miss Ralph Rodriguez’ Seattle artist Dale Chihuly. lazy days of swimming, reading, sipping article giving tongue-in-cheek advice on the The museum is adjacent cool drinks and recharging my batteries - management of out-of-town visitors. to the Chemical Heritage Absolutely Wonderful! But only for a while! Another new feature is a Hopkinson Foundation, which is located Fall means, to most of us, resuming activities House social and activities calendar at 315 Chestnut Street, (215) while awaiting and preparing for the holiday (October–December). ■ 925-2178. see places, page 9 Photography: Byron Fink Byron Photography: 2 • FALL 2010 • ON THE HOUSE on the Introducing architectonics ouse by Ralph Rodriguez “bloom” in the mouth. And, directly bring to his or her HEditorial Committee As Philadelphians it of course, the New Yorker attention your vanishing Nelly M. Childress Enny Cramer is our duty to uphold our must perfect looking rueful carbon foot print. The Byron Fink special traditions in the yet disdainful when the advanced host may consider Lynn Miller management of out-of-town conversation, as it must, only outlining the aerobic David S. Roberts Ralph Rodriguez visitors. The Londoner turns to what the price of his benefits of outrunning the Dan Rothermel must find an out-of-the- studio apartment would buy flash mobs and the insights Susan Tomita way Indian restaurant—and in Dubuque. you daily gain into the Graphic Design practice not sweating while In each case the goal is Empire of Byzantium by Desperate Hours Productions [email protected] eating the specialty of the clear: make the out-of-town keeping up with local politics. house that brings his guests guests feel that they have At some point, there will Advertising Nancy Snyder to their knees in an agony somehow made a mistake by be the forced march of the (215) 627-1731 of burning tongue and tears. living in a leafy suburb with out-of-town guests through Council Liaison The Roman host must be excellent schools in a four- Society Hill. The kids will Jason Norris well practiced in pointing the bedroom, three-bathroom, be texting, so we can pretty Photography car vaguely down the avenue, two-car garage home. much ignore them; but what David Roberts at terrifying speed, while In Philadelphia, we bring of the parents who will be Issue Contributors directing his full attention, to the task the old standbys forever asking about parking Nelly Childress and field of vision, to the about walking everywhere, and privacy? Here is where Scott Childress Byron Fink conversation in the back the symphony being only the Philadelphian brings Judi Forte seat. The Parisian host must eight blocks away, and that out his “my architecture is Lynn Miller remember how to stare down the local restaurants are better than your architecture” Jason Norris David Roberts the waiter while returning uniformly excellent. If the gambit. As in any interaction Ralph Rodriguez the excellent bottle of wine out-of-town guest is a bit where the goal is to win, Susan Tomita for some obscure failure to dense, you may be forced to see visitors, page 21 Photography: David Roberts. David Photography: ON THE HOUSE • FALL 2010 • 3 Message from Council Welcome news and unwelcome guests by Jason Norris available in the lobby. Bedbug Tip Sheet With the summer drawing This summer also marked to a close, Council is happy the arrival (and departure) of Please read carefully and follow the recommendations to report that the hallway some unwanted guests for a concerning bedbugs given in the four-page “Message From renovation project—approved handful of residents. Although Management” distributed in August. 1. Learn to identify the signs of bedbugs. If you suspect unanimously by Council the sources from which our that you have them, call the office (215-923-1776) immediately. earlier in May—is well under bed bug visitors arrived are 2. Do not use pesticide bombs or foggers—they can way. Although changes may unknown, Management took make conditions worst. A pest management professional will not yet have taken place on swift action to coordinate be needed. your respective floor, our a response to minimize the 3. To prevent and contain bedbugs: management team has been infestation of bed bugs. As A. Seal wall cracks and crevices. coordinating the behind-the- a result of these efforts and B. Clean and remove clutter, particularly in bedrooms scenes efforts including, among the diligence of the affected and around upholstered furniture. other things: soliciting bids for residents, the problem has been C. Inspect beds, upholstered furniture and rugs. various elements of the design, contained. With the increase D. Vacuum carpets, floors, bed frames and furniture obtaining necessary approvals, in bed bug infestations across often. Bag and seal vacuum bags in plastic before disposing of them in the trash room. and preparing the building the country (including upscale 4. Inspect suitcases before packing when leaving hotel for construction. As such, hotels, stores, and apartments), rooms. When back home, keep luggage off your bed and we anticipate that temporary it is up to each of us to remain upholstered furniture (leaving luggage in your bathroom until protection and fan work will diligent and take precautions you unpack may be prudent if space permits). begin on or about September to protect against bringing 20, with the renovation of bed bugs into our building. the 31st floor beginning on Echoing the earlier letter from some guidance on the steps to Thank you for your time, or about September 27. Of Management on the subject, avoid introducing bed bugs to and I look forward to the next course the preview board is still the following tip sheet provides your individual units. update. ■ Message from Management Changing, clarifying House’s recycling policy by Judi Forte personal), phone books, food to-go containers Mixed paper: hardback books, This column is being boxes (remove plastic liner), #7 Many mixed plastic tissues, paper towels, napkins, dedicated to recycling. The no food-soiled paper or containers and plastic wax-coated cups or containers, items which can be recycled boxes, computer paper, flyers, products food-soiled paper, file folders have changed since August 1, wrapping paper (no foil or These are just some Plastic: styrofoam, plastic bags, 2010. plastic wrap), soda and beer examples of what you can PVC pipe, packing inserts or cartons recycle, so look for the number “peanuts” What you have been on any plastic container to be Other: chemicals, rubber, recycling The following items may sure. Please be sure to wash out wood, and ceramic or porcelain Plastic containers: now also be recycled all food and beverage containers plates and cups #1 Soda, water bottles Plastic containers: before putting them in the For further information #2 Milk jugs, detergents, #3 Rigid plastic containers recycling bins.