Video: The Walkmen - "In the New Year" (10.15.11)

My mixed feelings towards Bloktoberfest were easily ignored when I realized The Walkmen were playing a full-set of music.  Here is video from their performance of "In the New Year."  This video was shot on a Sony Cybershot, point and shoot camera.  The video footage comes in and out of focus, but the audio is pretty sharp.  Enjoy.

Map: "The younger center" in Philadelphia (Census 2010)

Map of Philadelphia using Census 2010 tract data to show the distribution of the 20-34 year old population by section of the city.  Tracts that are shown have an equal or greater percentage of 20-34 year old residents than the citywide value of 26%.  The map indicates a young urban core in Center City and nearby neighborhoods, with a noteworthy percentage of 20-34 year olds in Manayunk and East Falls.

Inequality (and the city)

From Mother Jones, February 2011

Income inequality in the United States is growing massively.  Take a look at a Mother Jones article from February 2011, and imagine the real consequences this is having on people and the city.  [link]

Video: Fun with technology, the city, and Radiohead

Photo: Woohoo, another condo!

S. 15th Street (south of South Street)

January 30, 2011

A population always hoping for a miracle

 

The euphoria of yesterday's Eagles win, quickly branded "The Miracle at the New Meadowlands," could still be seen around the city today.  The food cart at 9th and Market already has the clipping from the front cover of the Daily News posted below their menu.  From Reading Terminal to Rite Aid, I could hear snippets of conversation that mentioned Desean Jackson and Michael Vick.  Every sports talk radio host recalled the same chain of events and played the same Merrill Reese highlights when returning from commercial.  On a cold and windy day, the working class of the city experienced a more enjoyable start of the workweek than usual.  For another day the city's struggles and pains are lost on a population of sports fans always hoping for a miracle.

A Sense of Place: December 8th and the Old Downtown

December 8th is always a day that Catholic school kids have off.  The church holiday falls perfectly in the middle of the pre-Christmas shopping season.  December 8th is a day that mothers take off to spend with their kids.  For many mothers, December 8th is a day to take their children Christmas shopping.

For my mother's entire childhood, her mother, an immigrant from Germany would take her and her brother and sister into Center City to see the holiday decorations and to go Christmas shopping.  My mother claims that on December 8th her siblings, and the rest of the Catholic school kids in Philadelphia would get dressed up and hop the el to the stop at 13th and Market.  The day would usually begin at the John Wannamaker's light show (later the Hecht's show, then the Lord and Taylor show, and now the Macy's show).  The giant atrium of  the department store would be packed with the loud voices of little kids whose mothers had planned the same routine for their day off.

Photo: Consequences of the American tax system

Abandoned Street, Baltimore, January 2009

Photo: A weekly sports ritual

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, October 17th, 2:25pm