YoCoPros

Fathom Seafood House // Fishtown Just Got Fishier

2011-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well we YoCoPros finally had the chance to check out Fishtown's newest hot spot: Fathom Seafood House. It has been open for about 3 weeks now, and every time we've gone by during those 3 weeks the place has looked packed! Where is this place? Well you can find it across the street from Johnny Brenda's on the corner of Shackamaxon Street and Girard Ave. Just a short two block walk from the Girard El stop folks, easy peasy. We lived on Shack for a year, and we've seen this space transform a few times, a small gallery space Fishtown Airways, then a short lived consignment shop that was gone with a blink of an eye. Then the space sat vacant and we really wished that something great and more stable would move in. Well our wish has been granted: Fathom Seafood House has moved in and we think is here to stay!

We went to check it out on a Saturday night at about 9pm; hopeful that the wait wouldn't be too long... when we walked in we were told it was about an hour wait and that they could take our cell number and call us when our table was ready. We decided to wait it out at the bar (which was also packed, but we lucked out and got to sit down in about 10 minutes.) The cell phone call back concerns us a bit, for us local Fishtownians we know were to go to wait, but the crowd that seemed to be a Fathom that night (Society Hill/ Main Liners) probably would not.

Mike Stollenwerk of Fish and Little Fish, has done it again. As their slogan states on the front page of their website: "Damn Good Seafood." Not only is there a great menu available that consist of locally sourced dishes and sustainable seafood. There is also a Raw Bar, that has lobster, oysters, clams and shrimp. The menu has some great items, some common and some new alternatives: (This list is just a few items that are available.)

Cod Pierogies
bacon, onion, brown butter

Blue Bay Mussels
coconut, panang curry, lemongrass

Fathom Fries
spiced crab gravy, cheese curd

Lobster Grilled Cheese
sourdough, fontina

Smoked Marlin Tacos
crispy shallot, pickled jalapeño

Salmon Burger
maple-mustard, arugula, potato roll

Swordfish Schnitzel
red bliss potato salad

Lets start off by saying that we love mussels and as soon as we saw them on the menu we went for them: Blue Bay Mussels ($9.00), along with that we ordered a side of Old Bay Fries ($3, and a staple of Philly cuisine) and finally we couldn't resist that nights special of Dungess Crab ($8.00). To follow up the food we drank pints of PBC's Walt Wit and Kenzinger, respectably at $4 and $3 a pop. The mussels were fresh, and while they didn't come with a lot of broth like we like, the flavor packed a punch. The dungess crab special, although very messy, was absolutely delicious. So much so that we had to get a second order to indulge ourselves. The fries were a great complement to the meal, but nothing special. We loved not only the food, but the prices. Food was reasonably priced especially when you realize how fresh everything is. The beer menu was vast and affordable, and the day PBR reaches over three dollars in Fishtown is the day we know to move out of the neighborhood.

We have to say there were only two things that disappointed us. First the restaurant is very small, which means there will ALWAYS be a wait if it continues to stay this popular, and secondly the crowd. So lets touch upon the first; upon entering Fathom you will find a long and narrow dining area with laid back modern decor. Seating to your left, consists of simple tables and chairs with every inch maximized for seating. To your right you will find three massive marble topped tables and chairs that are equally as large. These tables seem almost out of place and we saw chairs bumping into each other and waitresses dodging patrons and furniture. Onto the bar, well what can we say other than besides the food the best part of the entire establishment. The bar spans almost the entire length of the restaurant and seats 24 comfortably, we were even impressed by the under counter hooks for coats and purses. Of course the large selection of spirits and the 10 beers on tap did not hurt either.

Our second issue didn't so much disappoint us as it did surprise us. We were first a little confused by the unusual traffic going on outside of the restaurant. At one point we saw several double parked cars, people stopping short in traffic and a Mercedes backing down a full block on Girard. (Good thing there wasn't a Trolly coming.) Upon entering the restaurant we noticed an overwhelming amount of older individuals and couples that clearly were not from the area. We know Mike Stollenwerk most likely has a following and we realize that the first few weeks of business would generate a buzz, especially since the food is great. Once we sat down to eat and enjoy the great food we saw a large man (Eagles offensive line large) posted outside the door wearing all black. After a few minutes, we realized he was the door security which we found to be not only strange, but very much out of place. It had us wondering why he was there? And why would he be dressed as if we were entering a club in Old City? Maybe it was to make the people we mentioned above feel safe in Fishtown, but if that was the case we think it could have been done in a more professional manner. We don't think a security guard outside Fathom would be inviting for anyone, regardless of where your live or where you are from.

As a whole the restaurant was great, good variety, fresh food, decent prices and of course a great location. The bad, the overall size we realize there isn't a whole lot you can do other than make some table changes. The clientele; doesn't bother us unless it creates unnecessary issues or awkwardness as in the case with the crazy traffic and menacing 6'4 350lb security guard.

St. Patty's Irish Potato Candy // From Philly?

2011-03-16T08:48:00.001-07:00

It's true - those weird kinda gross looking candies that you see around the grocery stores this time of year are a Philly tradition! We've lived in Philly for about 8 years now, and have never tried them!! Irish Potato Candy is a traditional Philly confection that is not Irish and does not contain any potato, but is a cocoa powder and cinnamon covering over a coconut nougat made to look like a potato. Oh Ryan's of Boothwyn, PA makes the largest distribution of Irish Potatoes shipping about 80,000 pounds to major chains and smaller candy stores mostly in the Philly area.

And yes they are tasty.

Art For Your Kitchen

2011-03-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

We put art everywhere in our house, and we love screenprints and original handmade pieces.

When we decided to freshen our kitchen up with some new paint, we wanted to find artwork that could blend with our contemporary kitchen, and our collection of retro kitchen collections.
Here are some we loved and wanted to share with you!

'Popsicle'
By Mikey Burton

'In My Kitchen'
By Coverpage

'Time for Coffee'
By Fred DiMeglio

'Grilled Cheez'
By Jill Klienhans

'Tea Stack'
By Peskimo

'Food for Thought'
By Claudia Pearson

'Retro Kitchen'

By AntiGraphic / Patrick Edgeley

Overpriced Oasis or NoLibs Hotspot

2011-02-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well, for those of you who are disappointed over the fact that almost all the galleries and restaurants that opened when The Piazza at Schmidts debuted two years ago are either gone, or have relocated within the same area, so are we. Not to mention we are still waiting for the Pathmark to open, but when word about the A&P Bankruptcy came out everyone wondered what that would mean for the project. In an article that was posted by PhillyNow back in December;

"Bart Blatstein, President of Tower Investments, who owns the property returned our call and assures us all plans for the 2nd and Girard Pathmark are on target. In fact, he says, the Pathmark on Girard is the “flagship for the company, at least as the company sees itself as. Work is continuing, it’s almost done and it’ll be open in a couple months.”

Less then a week away from March, and we haven't seen any progress at the site.

So this leads us to the latest news coming to NoLibs: Arrow Swim Club. According to the website, membership for the season which runs from May 1 - September 30 is $1,000.00. In this economy, one has to wonder if your target area really has this kind of $$$$ to just kick around. The application fee alone is $100.00, which if accepted goes towards your membership fee. Over 21 only, no children, no pets, so of course anyone 'undesirable' will be easily weeded out.

List of amenities:

1,380 square foot, 4 1/2' deep pool
Live DJ & music entertainment
Courtesy flavor ices & refreshing cold towels offered by pool attendants throughout the day
Inside the cabanas, members & their guests are treated to:
> 32" flat screen television
> Blu-ray player
> Mini-fridge
> iPod dock with speakers
> Lush modular furniture
> Ceiling fan
> Electronic gaming system
> Laptop safe
> Wireless internet
> Moroccan-inspired ottomans & stools
> Personal waitress service
> Bottle service
> Reserved lounge chairs
Valet or Complimentary Self-Parking
Luxurious locker rooms
Spa
Outdoor bar and patio seating
Gift Shop

According to Google maps this club will be located right across the street from the Piazza where some old abandoned buildings once stood.

Just a thought, maybe ole Bart Blat should try filling and finishing his other projects before everything comes crumbling down and takes NoLibs with it. #JustSayin

Idea, Paper, Craft

2011-02-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

Time to kick origami up a few notches with PaperCraft? Hell yea, its become fairly popular for those creative minds to design characters and random objects only in 3D form, using only your creativity, paper and a printer. The objective is to design an object, for example a tank, draw it using an adobe product of choice and print it out. Now you can start folding your paper in order to create your 3D look, keep in mind if your doing this from scratch it will take a bit of planning. But here at YoCoPros, we of course will always provide you with some sweet resources. For one, check out this bad ass Mario papercraft project that went above and beyond anything we seen before. Second, for some awesome samples and ideas we highly recommend Cubecraft. In addition to that, there is an online museum of papercraft and of course every enthusiast needs a blog.

So Read, Learn, Make...

Fishtown Just Got Fishier

2011-02-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

So the word on the street is that Fathom Seafood Bar is opening this Monday 2/21/2011!!! The spot? The corner of Girard Ave. and Shackamaxon Street. - right across the street from Johnny Brenda's. This little joint is the mastermind of Chef-owner Mike Stollenwerk (You might know him from Center City's Fish and Little Fish located in Queen's Village.) We are super stoked to check this place out Monday and report back to all our YoCoPro fans with a review, and pictures!!

Taste the Rainbow

2011-02-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

Colors have a huge impact on our everyday life, from the minute we wake up our mood is effected by our surroundings and the time of the year. Is it sunny or dark and stormy? These differences have enormous impacts on our attitudes, and decisions we make during the day and throughout our lives. Colors not only effect you as a person but they have an impact on others around us, in nature colors often times are warning signs, for example its a general rule that the most brightly colored frogs are the most deadly to us. In other cases birds fan out colored feathers to attract a mate. How the human responds to color is called Color Psychology, and fields of both business and advertising have become experts at specifically targeting an audience. This is even true with logo design, check out this comparison of major companies and the colors they use. When you get a chance do a little reading about web colors and usability, its amazing how a simple logo or background could change the meaning and mood of a site. In reality color theory is a whole expertise on its own, outside of general design. A great tool that we use for designing or for some inspiration is the Adobe Kuler site, it allows you to play with color sets and create your own color scheme or sample those that others have created. And if your just playing around on your computer and need to find out what a particular color your looking at is try this handy color picker site.

Words of wisdom: When I doubt about a specific color choice, take a step back and taste the rainbow.

Valentine Gift Ideas

2011-02-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time a year again - time to find that perfect gift for your special someone to show your love and appreciation for them on Valentines Day. Are you sick of the same old flowers and chocolate? Well, here are some ideas from your friends at YoCoPro....remember Valentines Day is this coming Monday!!

Tweet Heart Maple Wood Pendant // $10.00
From Zephry Woods

We're Better Together 8x10 Print // $12.00
From Lemon Squeezy Shop

The Calm Before the Story Tea Set // $54.99
From ModCloth

Tattoo Heart Cookies // $66.00 a dozen
From Whipped Bake Shop

Snuggie Sutra Book // $9.99
From UrbanOutfitters

Dominic Episcopo's Love Poster // $45.00
From Silicon Gallery

To cool for school?

2011-02-07T05:39:00.000-08:00

With the economy being the way it has been its been hard for YoCoPros to justify spending those extra dollars on things you don't need, but is this the case with schooling as well? We have also wondered if higher education is truly necessary. Well after long thought and surveying our friends, family and coworkers we've come to the conclusion of: In some case Yes, while others the answer is No.

We have first hand experience that higher education doesn't always pay off, or make up for all of the money spent in undergrad and postgrad careers. And now its harder than ever to find a job or even keep the one you already have. We know that in some situations for instance Doctors, Lawyers etc need postgrad educations, but many times does it make a difference in other career fields?

Another big factor would also be where you live vs. the jobs available. The economy has hit some parts of the US much harder than others, both in real estate values as well as the job market. Check out this article about what salary buys happiness in your city.

Keep this in mind though: a recent poll by Financial Times, indicated that 70 per cent of those who required loans to fund an MBA will still be in debt three years after graduation, and only 40% of all CEO's have an MBA.

Check out this infographic as well:

A case of the tech goggles

2011-01-30T03:33:00.000-08:00

The tech world just gets more and more amazing everyday. Some in the tech world stand by the idea that technology doubles in performance every 18 months, sometimes referred to as Moore's Law. This can easily be seen in cellphones, just picture your phone five years ago (if you can remember back that many phones ago) and now look at all of the capabilities of the new IPhones or Android phones. We never thought how integrated everything could be, from mobile calls to shopping and adverting, everything is at your finger tips. For example look at Google Goggles, and even better yet download it immediately. Whats it do? Well hold your smart phone up to pretty much any item you can imagine, and snap a picture..... Boom! Seconds later you have instant feedback from Google, if you took a picture of a business it will come up on a map, take a picture of a new tv, find a listing of that tv's prices locally. How bad ass is that! You can even use a little app called RedLaser to scan whatever barcode your little heart desires and shop for the best price right on your phone. Hell, why even leave your couch anymore, we haven't.

Re-use, Re-Upcycle

2011-01-23T03:52:00.000-08:00

All of us have heard of "Re-use, Recycle," but what about upcycling? We recently came across some craft/artwork that made use of old chip bags to create jewelry and wallets. Creativity has no bounds when it comes to upcycling. We were happy to see a local company leading the way, TerraCycle, from Trenton, NJ is making the most out of upcycling. They are turning ordinary food and beverage packaging into things like messenger bags and speakers, and were recently called the Google of Recycling. It's great to see companies recycling waste into usable products and we love the fact that artists and some homegrown companies have taken the initiative in re-use, check out Vaya Bags who make some bad ass messenger bags from recycled bike tire tubes. Also if you would like take the hands on approach there is a plethora of sites you can take a look at for DIY projects: our favorites including Instructables, and Craft Magazine.

Neighborhood Review : Fishtown

2011-01-19T17:35:00.001-08:00

So we thought we would start the New Year off right by not only reviewing local businesses, but to feature a different neighborhood each month of 2011. First stop? FISHTOWN. We just recently got the chance to check out Brindle Cafe, which is located on at 221 E. Girard Ave. It had just snowed the day before, and it was a blustery day - we thought we'd drop in, talk to the owner and get a cup o'joe, boy were we pleasantly surprised when we found their awesome menu of sandwiches and salads!

It's taken six months, but Brindle Cafe is up and running. The Cafe has a laid back, fresh and modern atmosphere. There is a lot of great light from the two huge windows, (it's a corner lot.) Chocolate brown counters span the length of the windows and small tables with inviting succulents planted in small charcoal colored pots adorn each table and make you feel at home. There is a large chalkboard on one wall that states the day’s specials. And the food case under the register is filled with locally baked desserts enticing you to try them all.

Owner: Scott Forman was behind the counter making everything himself, and we got the opportunity to chat it up a bit about what he loves about local businesses, and what he foresees in the future for Brindle. He too like the YoCos appreciates the time and effort local businesses take to provide food that is obtained locally and is organic, unique - and tastes good! He knows that even if the menu isn't huge, just having a few fantastic items makes the public come back again and again. What was the inspiration for the name? That's easy - Scott and his wife own two brindle colored dogs: Kayla and Gracie. Scott is from Philly, and has had the opportunity to live in South Philly, Old City and NoLibs before settling down and buying a house in Fishtown.
  
We tried the Grilled Cheese and the Hummus & Roasted Pepper sandwiches, and we cannot wait to go back! The Grilled Cheese was oozing with cheddar and mozzarella and came with a pickle to enhance the sandwiches gooey deliciousness. How was the Hummus & Roasted Pepper sandwich? Well we are big fans of hummus and have only found a few places that make it to our standards, so we had to try it. Upon receiving the sandwich are usual first impulse is to eat the pickle, I don't know why, but it was a good pickle. Then after examining the sandwich, it was time to go all in. The first bite was the crunch of the fresh French bread followed by the sweetness of the red pepper and the smooth creaminess of the hummus. A good first start, but it wasn't until the third or fourth bite where our senses got the full effect of the sandwich. The combination of hummus, red peppers and onion we are accustomed to seamlessly melt with the harissa/goat cheese and prosciutto. These last two ingredients were the perfect accompaniment. It was a great combination of textures, and flavors of salty, sweet, smooth and crunchy. It’s hard for us to think of a better mix of flavors in a sandwich.

Right now Scott is a one-man show, what does he see for the future of Brindle? He hopes there is a Brindle in every neighborhood of Philly, and that each individual Cafe has it's own menu which would reflect what is available locally throughout the seasons in that area - making each a destination for the locals and non-locals alike. His passion for the neighborhood and local businesses shine through his heart and soul that has been put into the Cafe we all gathered at that afternoon.  

We wrapped up our visit with a piece of Orange Ricotta Cheesecake, that contained just the right amount of orange flavor that makes us want to eat it all day everyday!! That paired with a cup of Nor-easter Blend Coffee, a dark roast with spice and dark cocoa was quite nice, to warm us up from the cold afternoon. $2.50 one size cup fits all, and a $2.00 iced tea is not too shabby for the penny pinchers pocket book.  

We definitely recommend Brindle Cafe as a place to check out! And we look forward to menu items and events to come at this great neighborhood establishment!!

Renegade Dates for 2011!!!

2011-01-18T13:31:00.001-08:00

Now you see it, now you don't?

2011-01-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

We have always admired advertising in its many forms, we even collect old ads and use them as inspiration. If your a true ad enthusiast like us, definitely check out this series by Jim Heimann. As much as we can admire the art and copy of some of the best ads throughout the years we also admire the bad, for example Camel's long running campaign of 9 out of 10 doctors recommend Camel over the other brands. Which you can take a look at here.

So what is advertising? By definition its a form of communication used to persuade an audience to buy a product or service, and in "layman's terms": Selling you s$#t you don't need.

How do advertisers do this? Well the most often used way is visual stimuli, followed by good copy, and that accounts for advertising in its many forms: billboards, print, tv, radio etc. Often times advertising may "enhance" how things look, sometimes even using subliminal messages. Take a look at the following examples and see how it targets the viewer and uses persuasion. Here are two great examples of how products are enhanced the first being the Dominos video above, and the second being the famous Dove Evolution video. Recently BMW has been getting some ~~slack~~ attention for a new video they released, which uses some subliminal messaging, check it out for yourself and read the article from fastcompany.

So in our opinion advertising as a whole is awesome, but as a marketing tool and a form of communication, consumers need to take advertising with a grain of salt; and don't be afraid to do your research so you don't get stuck with something like this!

Monthly Neighborhood Feature

2011-01-13T07:27:00.001-08:00

This month we will be featuring stories on local businesses in FISHTOWN.
We will be interviewing owners, reviewing menus and posting awesome limited edition prints in our Etsy shop that coincide with our reviews!!
We hope you all are as excited as we are about this series, which will include local, organic and handmade features! Remember support local businesses!!

Stay tuned for the articles to come, posts about local events, and the end of this month we will be revealing our brother company......

Holiday Gift Ideas for : HER

2010-12-10T08:14:00.001-08:00

First of many gift giving posts for this Holiday Season!!

Pendant Measures 14x20mm
Chain 18" Oxidized
$56.80
From Miscii Jewelry

Emerald colored, diminutive glass beaded hoops,
handmade caps and studs from sterling silver
Diameter : 4 cm
$119.52
From Donauluft

Printed tea towel with a multi colored houndstooth pattern.
55% Linen - 45% Cotton
16" x 22"
$25.00
From Avril Loreti

One Dozen Box of Wilbur Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies, decorated with the dark brown Faux Bois (French for "false wood") design on Wilbur chocolate.
$18.00 a dozen
From: Sweeties By Kim

Chunky handmade napkin rings with your choice of words imprinted into the clay.
$96.00 for set of 8
From Rae Dunn

The case has a hard outer shell, but is lined using beautiful soft leather to protect your iPhone/iTouch from the inside.
$39.00
From Tovi Sorga and Corrie de Vries

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-25T07:58:00.000-08:00

MC Nutter

2010-11-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

Well Will Smith isn't the only one that can get jiggy. Check out MC Nutter bust some rhymes over at the Mitchell and Ness Store opening this week.

Philly Cupcake Shop Whips Up Something Special For Late Night

2010-11-16T11:15:00.001-08:00

The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon debuted on NBC March of 2009. Former "Saturday Night Live" star Jimmy Fallon has given a great reason for YoCoPros across the nation to tune in to Late Night TV. Once looked at as "Our Parents" late night TV has come around and now features artists, actors and comedy segments that we can relate to. Not to mention our Philly originated favorite band: The Roots, who signed on as the show's band...becoming the first band of that stature to commit to a network TV series, and continue to tour during the networks off season.

The Boss is stopping by the Late Night Show TONIGHT!!!!! Our friend Casey and the crew at Whipped Bakeshop (at 636 Belgrade Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125) have baked some pretty amazing cookies to send up to NYC for the occasion....

Design and portrait piping: Jenn Hall
Additional design and piping: Zoë Lukas
Ribbon measuring, cutting and tech support: Brennen Lukas
Dough making: Rebecca Hauptman

Whipped Bakeshop was started by Philadelphia pastry artist Zoë Lukas. "Zoë's lifelong love of baking was born as a child among her dessert-loving family. Her father traveled frequently and was always in search of the finest bakeries in America, bringing home the tastiest treats he could find. Zoë tried them all. Meanwhile, her mother was an incredible baker in her own right, and her brother Jeff became a successful chef." (-Whipped Bakeshop website)

It was luck, according to Whipped Bakeshop's blog that a recent customer came into their shop who happened to help manage The Late Night Show's band, The Roots. After mentioning that Bruce Springsteen would be on the show tonight performing they asked Whipped if they would be interested in sending over some cookies to help them celebrate. They said: "Um yes. We would like to send cookies to Jimmy Fallon."

We YoCos, think these cookies are pretty f-ing awesome and will be watching Jimmy Fallon to see if there is a mention of our friends!!

Great Thanksgiving Cookbooks

2010-11-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for your first turkey or dissatisfied with the dry results you got last year? Not to worry--"Mr. Thanksgiving," Rick Rodgers, is here to teach Thanksgiving 101. And he ought to know. For the last eight years he has been traveling the country to teach his class as the media spokesperson for Perdue Farms, an industrial giant among turkey producers. The "Main Event" is everything, absolutely everything, you would want to know about buying, thawing, prepping, and roasting a turkey. You needn't look any further. There's a long question-and-answer-style section that anticipates any questions you might have.

In addition to the nearly fifty recipes, there are step-by-step instructions for decorating your home, setting an attractive table, and making a variety of festive drinks -- all lavishly illustrated with color photographs. Detailed work plans accompany each menu, and helpful reference sections provide guidelines on tableware and glassware, setting up a buffet, pairing food and wine, and more. You'll find everything you need to know to host a memorable Thanksgiving that both you and your guests will enjoy.

Vintage Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2010-11-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

You remember watching the parade while the smell of the cooking Turkey slowly started invading your house. But what you probably remember seeing was a lot of giant balloons of Snoopy, Garfield, Smurfs and Miss Piggy. Here are some 1950s and 1960s photographs of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for you to enjoy.
Some are pretty creepy.
And yes that is Betty White, she co-hosted the parade with Loren Green for several years. That picture is from 1969.
You remember how excited you got when Santa came at the end......

All images from Google Images

Top Three Things to do in Philly this Fall Season

2010-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

October is almost over, here are Top 3 Picks of what you need to do this Fall Season....

1. Linvilla Orchards
137 W. Knowlton Road Media, PA 19063

Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre farm dedicated to agriculture, entertainment and education. They raise their own fresh fruits and vegetables that you can pick yourself or purchase in the Farm Market. Their pies are out of this world, and we recommend you wait in that long line to buy one, drink some of their amazing Apple Cider to make the time pass. **Beware this place gets super crowded the closer Halloween gets.** So plan ahead and make sure you leave enough time to buy pumpkins, cider and mums. DON'T FORGET to have the pumpkin pie funnel cake or the apple cider slushie...two treats that should not be missed.

2. Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary
22nd & Fairmount Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19130

Many people believe that Eastern State Penitentiary is haunted. As early as the 1940s, officers and inmates reported mysterious visions and eerie experiences in the ancient prison. And the ghost sightings have only increased since Eastern State was abandoned in 1971. With the growing interest in paranormal investigation, Eastern State Penitentiary may now be the most carefully studied building in the United States. Dozens of teams visit to explore the site each year. So this may be the perfect site for a Haunted Walk Through Attraction...reserve your tickets today! Today till the weekend after Halloween are all you have left!

3. GREAT Pumpkin Sundae at Franklin Fountain
116 Market St. Philadelphia,, PA 19106

The Franklin Fountain aims to serve an experience steeped in ideals, drizzled with drollery, and sprinkled with the forgotten flavors of the American past. We came on a Wednesday night (not too crowded) and indulged in the quite wonderful Great Pumpkin Sundae. Pumpkin ice cream, (made here), carmel sauce, sugared walnuts, whipped cream and cinnamon ...need we say more. Portion is large, we shared, but if you are skipping dinner....one for each person is perfectly fine.

WEDNESDAY LINKS

2010-09-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some things we think you should check out!

2011 Sketchbook Project - Sign Up Ends 10/31!!
DIY Project: Ashley's Floral Tray Table (Design Sponge)
Monday's Pets on Furniture!!
Awesome iPhone App!
Celebrate Dutch Merchants!!
Our favorite place to eat right now:

Eames® Molded Plywood Dining Chair / Affordable Alternatives

2010-09-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Design is for living. That maxim shaped a widespread shift in design during the 1940s and 1950s. It was a revolution of form, an exciting visual language that signaled a new age and a fresh start – and two of its prime movers were Charles and Ray Eames. The Eameses were a husband and wife team whose unique synergy led to a whole new look in furniture. Lean and modern. Sleek, sophisticated and simple. Beautifully functional.

Yet Charles and Ray Eames created more than a "look" with their bent plywood chairs or molded fiberglass seating. They had ideas about making a better world, one in which things were designed to fulfill the practical needs of ordinary people and bring greater simplicity and pleasure to our lives.

As the most important exponents of organic design, Charles and Ray Eames demonstrated how good design can improve quality of life and human understanding and knowledge.

Artist photo from 1000 Chairs courtesy of Taschen.

Here is a comparison of the two original chairs by Eames® available through Design Within Reach. Both come in multiple finishes and are beautiful, but high in price.

First great alternative. We saw these in person at the West Elm store in Center City Philadelphia and fell in love. Not only are they a GREAT alternative but are very similar to the Eames® chairs. These chairs are in stock at the store, however they do require assembly.

These last two alternatives are at a GREAT price point! They are available through IKEA and as all furniture from Ikea, assembly is required. Not quite as similar to the Eames® chairs, but a close match in the idea of the same simple design. Plus at $39.99 a pop you really cannot go wrong!

It's Time to Apply!!

2010-09-22T16:01:00.001-07:00

Summer may be over, but there are still rainbows...

2010-09-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

rainbows to keep us cheerful, and help us make a happy transition to fall.... here are some of our favorites:

The ultimate kitchenware collection, this set includes a large non-slip mixing bowl, colander, sieve/strainer, small mixing bowl, and four measuring cups that nest for storage.
$50.00 Find at: www.momastore.org

This felt garland will make any room more festive, and is perfect for your next summer party. Each 1.5" felt circle was hand cut and sewn with transparent thread to make a delightful garland, which can be hung anywhere you want to add a little extra decoration.
$12.00 Find at: www.etsy.com/shop/erindollar

Long-fiber wool gives the rug a natural sheen and minimizes shedding. 100% wool.
$249.00 Find at: www.ikea.com

Vintage Sunbeam rainbow cloud hard plastic wall clock.
$12.00 Find at: www.etsy.com/shop/becaruns

Why pick one hue when you can have them all? Adorn your doors and drawers with this handpainted porcelain piece and light up any room.
$12.00 each. Find at: www.anthropologie.com

Arch Back

2010-09-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Photography is one of our favorite hobbies and we can easily get lost admiring well taken compositions, especially if they are of some amazing architecture. Checkout the Flickr set from Arch Daily. Every day they upload user submitted work of architecture from all over the world. It's a great site to hit up in the morning before you start your day or even take a quick peek at it during your lunch. We use it as color and design inspiration and I am sure many others do as well.

What are you smoking?

2010-09-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

We love the look of contemporary home especially when they utilize sustainable practices and try to stay green. Well in this case they stayed very green, American Lime Technology has created a zero carbon concrete that is made from hemp. In there words its a "highly sustainable hemp-lime product that can be used to create insulating walls in new structures or to retrofit existing floors, roofs, and walls with thermally efficient, breathable insulating layers." Awesome technology and its green as well...

Some pretty cool hemp houses here and here.

Another Great Project...

2010-09-07T06:17:00.001-07:00

Developed by the International Association for Empty Pockets, the Pocket Artifact Classification System encompasses the entire spectrum of pocket, purse, and bag clutter. By organizing contributions into a common system, the Pockets Project seeks to illuminate the objects that share our pockets' darkest corners.

The Pockets Project imagines a second life for the stuff we've forgotten and offers each of us a chance at a new beginning. Everyone is welcome to participate – there is no artifact too insignificant or contribution too small. As people from all over the world empty their pockets together, these ordinary objects hint at the common threads of our daily lives.

Check out the website to sign up today!! : http://arthousecoop.com/projects/pockets

TODAY!!! Starts right now....

2010-09-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

2010 SKETCHBOOK PROJECT!!!

2010-08-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

The Sketchbook

Each artist is sent the same blank Moleskine sketchbook. We've only got two rules: first, the book must be used in some way - no sending us back an empty book or a completely different book! Second, the sketchbook must stay within its original dimensions (because we don't want to have to provide an extra suitcase just for your book while we're touring the country).

Each book will be given a barcode so we can easily catalog it into The Brooklyn Art Library system. Once we catalog it, artists will be able to track where on the tour their book is viewed and how many times someone pulled it from the shelf - we want to make sure you can stay connected with your sketchbook!

The availability of sketchbooks vary each day, so sign up quickly to reserve the one you want! You have the option to choose the kind of Moleskine and the color of the cover when you add the project to your cart over to the right.

Viewing notifications
Each and every single time your book is viewed, you'll receive an e-mail or a text message alerting you what city it was viewed in and the first name of the person browsing through it (well, only as long as they provide their name!) Even better, you can turn these notifications on or off at will

Your information is in the pocket.
There's a handy pocket attached to the inside cover of every sketchbook. Inside this pocket, you can place a card that contains your artist information - anything from a short biography to your website address.

Your book will tour the country
Every artist who completes their sketchbook and returns it to us will have their book included in the tour. Your book will visit galleries and museums across the country, putting your art in front of thousands of people. (Psst - this is a great way to add some new lines to your résumé.)

HERE'S WHERE IT IS TOURING

Featured Hot Spot: NORTH BOWL, NoLibs

2010-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Opened in July 2006, North Bowl is the ultimate hang-out Oron dreamed. The completely renovated former mechanics garage is now a 21,000-square-foot nightlife haven. From the retro benches from bowling alleys of the 50s to the sculptural bar and glass enclosed pod that overlooks the lanes from the lounge, North Bowl is a place that is truly unique to Philadelphia. Its not just about bowling, it's about the atmosphere and the overall experience.

Start your weekend off right, and escape the heat. North Bowl will open at 12 pm on Fridays during the months of July and August.

Happy Hour Bowling
Monday-Friday 5:00pm-7:00pm
$3.95/person/game $3 Shoe Rentals

SPECIALTY DRINKS:

ALL $6.00

The NoCowSki - ABSOLUT Vanilla, kahlua, and Silk Soy milk
Citywide - PBR and a shot of Powers Whiskey
John Daly - Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonade
Acai Berry Ginger Martini - ABSOLUT Acai, ginger infused liquor, splash of cranberry, fresh lemon squeeze
Chocolate Espresso Martini - Espresso Vodka, Chocolate liquor, Tuaca and a touch of cream
Grapefruit Cosmo - ABSOLUT Ruby Red, Triple Sec, Grapefruit juice, Cranberry juice and Lime juice

Family Leagues

Bowling should never be an individual experience. The kids are out of school, so why not bring the whole family out to compete? All-ages are invited!

Teams can choose between Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Teams will include families of 4 or single parent/child teams will be paired with other single parent/child teams. League fees are only $10 per person per week. Trophies will be given out for highest male and female averages, highest team score, best child bowler, and best adult bowler.

The winning family will receive a kid's party at North Bowl Lounge n' Lanes, all expenses paid, for up to 15 kids!

Benefits also include the North Bowl League Rate of $2 on Sunday-Thursday for all family league members.

If interested, please contact Mary at events@northbowlphilly.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

http://www.northbowlphilly.com/index.php

6th Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn

2010-05-17T20:25:00.001-07:00

What we love RiGhT nOw....

2010-05-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

We were out at the Art Star Craft Bazaar this past weekend and thought that we would feature one vender a day that we loved throughout the week....

VAYA BAGS
"All-purpose bags that are designed with the biker in mind."

Vaya Bags are all handmade by Tianna Meilinger with the occasional help of her family and friends. Tianna is an environmental scientist and believes in reusing and recycling materials. (We think that's just one of the great things about these bags!) Vaya Bags are made from recycled canvas, this canvas is from scrap Sunbrella® Fabric from local sailboat factories. Sunbrella® is a waterproof marine canvas that is typically used for boat awnings and covers. Due to the highly resistant acrylic yarns, Sunbrella® will withstand many years of harsh climates such as heavy rains and the hot sun. The 100% solution dyed acrylics prove Sunbrella® to be fade resistant as well as resistant to multiple stains. Tia also uses recycled bicycle tubes to make all of her bike tube gear.

A petite bag starts at $85.00 (18" x 5" x 10" ), a standard bag $100.00 (23" x 6" x 12") or a standard wide bag $120.00 (24" x 8" x 12" )
Pretty Awesome Features:

Easily adjustable shoulder strap
Foam padding against your back
2 small inner pockets (about 5" x 5")
Pockets under flap include: pen, iPod, cell phone
No-swing stabilizer strap
Reflective tape (optional)
Waterproof inner lining

There are tons of colors to choose from...we are contemplating our bags as we type this blog!
Questions?
info@vayabags.com

The Loft District or Eraserhood?

2010-03-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

After living in Philly for many years now we have often wondered what the hell the area around east of Broad and South of Spring Garden is called. Is it Chinatown? The Loft District? or Eraserhood?

Eraserhood? Well yea why not, not only does it describe the area of empty lots, train tracks, power stations and old factories but its the basis of the 1977 movie Eraserhead which is a surrealistic film written and directed by David Lynch which was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress.

We can't completely hate on the area though, its home to some cool lofts, recently built townhomes, and by far the best brunch in Philadelphia Cafe Lift. In addition to that, Cafe Lift's close relative and neighbor, Prohibition Taproom is the jawn!

Mummer Tradition in Philly

2009-12-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Mummers tradition dates back to 400 BC and the Roman Festival of Saturnalias where Latin laborers marched in masks throughout the day of satire and gift exchange. This included Celtic variations of “trick-or-treat” and Druidic noise-making to drive away demons for the new year. Reports of rowdy groups “parading” on New Years day in Philadelphia date back before the revolution. Prizes were offered by merchants in the late 1800’s. January 1, 1901 was the first “official” parade offered about $1,725 in prize money from the city.

Come out this New Years day and celebrate the tradition with us YoCos and Philadelphians and celebrate the new year:
The Fancy Brigades
South Philly Stringband (Last Year's Winners)

The Mummers parade is a celebration of the New Year but is serious business in Philadelphia. Clubs work on the costumes and practice all year for their one day in the sun (…wind, rain or snow). There are many lively discussions over the scoring by the judges and adherence to the complicated set of rules the marchers must follow when being judged. String Bands are judged on their musical presentation as well as the costumes. Seeing and hearing a String Band performing live in the parade is a one-of-a-kind experience.

The 2010 Mummers Parade will still go from South Philadelpia and climax in Center City. A few changes will be made in reagrds to the start of the parade and the march from South Philadelphia.

Parade starting points:

Comics will line up from Washington to Morris
Fancies will line up from Morris to Snyder
The String Bands will from at Shunk Street.
The Fancy Brigades at will form at Oregon Ave.

Performance Areas of the Parade:

Shunk Street
Methodist Hospital
Washington Avenue
Pine Street
The Doubletree Hotel
the Union League
City Hall where the Comics, Fancies, and String Bands are judged
The Fancy Brigade Division performs indoors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for their judging. There are two shows one is for the families at 12PM and their judged show at 5PM. Click here to obtain more information about the Fancy Brigades and the Fancy Brigade Finale.

Watch this Mummer's video!

Carol Hannah - Project Etsy

2009-12-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

We were perusing Etsy as usual and stumbled across Carol Hannah's Etsy shop! If you love Project Runway like we do, then you saw Ms.Whitfield on last season's show and her beautiful dresses!! Now we, the real people of America can buy her designs online through Etsy!!

Check out the shop!

Beer-tober

2009-09-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

This time of year is amazing, not only is there great weather but great food and beverage. This time of year when the leaves change color, and the mornings are cool I know Wawa will soon bring back their hot turkey hoagie, oh and its also the best time of the year for beer. Octoberfest and Pumpkin ales are two of the YoCo's favorite adult beverages during Fall/Winter. Check out this great article about the best fall beers to indulge in and upon.

Finally, Milkcrate Cafe

2009-09-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

The long awaited coffee shop on 400 E Girard Ave has finally arrived. We mentioned this back in July but the time has come. The former location of canvas coffee, is now home to a much needed coffee/record shop; Milkcrate Cafe. Check it out here and read more. A review to come soon1

Joules! Pedal me into town

2009-09-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

We love bicycles in all of there forms, we also like being lazy on occasion as well. Why not be lazy while on your bicycle? No; why not have someone cycle you around and only for 18 easy payments of $999.99 you can have your own cycling buddy, (names Joules) take that Lance.

Can I put my cell in your column?

2009-09-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

We are not big fans of Excel, or mostly anything that Microsoft creates, but it only takes a creative mind to make art in one of the most boring applications ever made. Microsoft Excel art, Shazaam!

The Magic Garden's - South Philly

2009-09-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a folk art environment, gallery space, and nonprofit organization that showcases the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar. Located at the site of Zagar's largest public mosaic installation, the Magic Gardens includes a fully mosaiced indoor gallery and a massive outdoor labyrinthine mosaic sculpture. The installation, primarily consisting of found objects and contributions from the community, covers half a city block with myriads of tile, texture, and color. A walk through the labyrinth will reveal sculptures from Latin America and Asia, bicycle wheels from local South Street shop Via Bicycles, Zagar's hand-made tiles, and mirrors of every shape and size.

There will be a Mosaic Workshop with Isaiah Zagar this weekend!

Learn Isaiah's techniques, and help him build a public mural from start to finish, in this two-day mosaic mural workshop. Visit: www.phillymagicgardens.org/programs.php for more information.

In the year 93?

2009-09-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

In many respects 1993 seems like a short time ago but on further thought it was almost 17 years ago now. Rendering us without a cell phone, computer, internet, and GPS amongst many other technological marvels we take for granted. Check out these great ads from the year of 93' from AT&T. Crazy how accurate they were since we currently have most of what they predicted.

Bad slice of Piazza

2009-09-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well as we predicted we feel the downfall has started.
Yes we predicted it but did we really want it to happen? No.

The Piazza is not only a great social and gathering place but has allowed many small independently owned Fishtown and Kensington businesses to thrive and get lots of attention. For example; Bambi Gallery, Fresh Melt Water, and Fabric Horse have received great exposure and large increases in business. On the negative side The Piazza still has yet to fill the empty commercial spots and still has some duplicate stores from Liberties Walk, like the Delicious Boutique.

We feel that the first step in the downward spiral was canceling the wildly popular Sundae on Sundays at the Piazza. The Lee Jones dj/music event has been free and packed with people since the Piazza was finished being constructed. Sundae could actually get credit for exposing The Piazza to a large amount of people that would not normally venture out to it's 2nd and Germantown Ave location. Sundae has brought hundreds of people to The Piazza every Sunday for weeks now, all for free. This has spurred more artists renting tables in the courtyard, huge sales of food and drinks at Vino (formerly the official Sundae after party spot) and has increased awareness for all of the shops there. So what’s the problem?

A few weeks ago the official partnership between Vino and Sundae ended.

The business that Sundae brought to Vino’s after party helped keep the venue free and fun. Unfortunately that has ended, either from complaints from the other bars/restaurants losing Sunday business to Vino or just cause Sundae had done it's job of bringing the people into the Piazza and management now felt it was time to dump them. Whether it was for those reasons or for some unknown ones we feel it's a greedy mentality that has forced Sundae to the new club/restaurant on Delaware Ave. known as Octo. The vast open bar with a tropical feel is a great place for Sundae to switch to, it's not as easily convenient to get to, and is considerably smaller than the Piazza courtyard, but it's fun non the less and always crowded on Sunday.
So we feel as we did before; The Piazza management is only concerned with making money. Canceling Sundae before the agreement they had along with it's questionable half occupied commercial spaces can only lead us to believe that the Piazza will be a barren desert when cold weather arrives. This is much like Liberties Walk is and has been for years now. Liberties Walk started off the same way, and due to extremely high rent and lack of foot traffic in cold weather and daytime hours, 6 independent businesses closed up shop within a year in and half. We feel many of the small shops will do the same once their free monthly rent deals expire (especially since the Piazza and Liberties walk are run by the same people).

Only time will tell, but the recent addition of Tony Danza living at the Piazza apartments just seems like another gimmick to draw attention and will soon end much like Sundae. We really hope all the negative points we brought up don't occur, but if managed correctly, the Piazza and Liberties Walk can boost the neighborhood appearance, and business, along with bringing the much needed cleanup of Girard between 2nd and Front. Rumor has it that high-rise condos, a dog park, and a Wholefoods Market will soon appear on that corner of 2nd but we can only cross our fingers...

Hide your Sundae

2009-08-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Like most Sundays we hit up Sundae. This Sunday at the Piazza Del, Lonely, and Sean Thomas will be spinning starting at 4:30pm. Don't forget to bring your adult carbonated beverages either! Just an FYI the Piazza Gestapo are cracking down on open bottles, so David Blaine your drinks in coffee cups or waterbottles. Get there early and you can watch the Phils vs. Mets at 1:10 on the big screen. If the weather holds up WhizWit will be making an appearance at the artists tables selling some hot T's. See you Sundae!

Comic Art?

2009-08-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

The YoCoPros have always been big fans of art, especially comics, which unfortunately don't get that great of a wrap, or somehow get overlooked as an art-form. Check out this great article about 21 Great Comic Artists that changed the game. If you are unfamiliar with them or comics in general, we suggest you hit up your local store or Brave New World on 45 North Second Street and learn more about them. Also check out the yearly gathering of comic nerds at ComicCon.

In an Art Slump, Graffiti is Free

2009-08-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

When times are tough, you don't spend when you don't have to. There's sufficient graffiti in London to keep art collectors entertained, which is causing them to shy away from works by Banksy. Larger auction houses have cut down on the Banksy works they are carrying, and some of the regional auction houses are canceling their urban art specialist sales.

It's hard to tell if Banksy is disappointed. The artist, who was born in Bristol (west England) keeps his (her?) identity a secret. So, if you see some weirdo crying in a corner over the next few weeks at a pub in Bristol (or, maybe, London), ask if it's Banksy. It could be cooler than finding Waldo.

Prices for pieces by Banksy have plunged this year, with failure rates on the rise. Auction houses are now sufficiently nervous to hedge their bets, carrying little (or no) inventory by the artist and canceling auctions that may not deliver.

In general, contemporary art auction selling points are down 30 percent to 50 percent – about as much as your 401(k). The top houses – Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams and Phillips de Pury – didn't carrying any of Banksy's work in their June or early July auctions. This year, 76 Banksy paintings and prints have come under the gavel, with 30 of them (almost half) not selling. The highest price reached was $230,500 at a New York Sotheby's event. Last year, the top price for a Banksy piece was $1.9 million at Sotheby's RED charity auction in February.

New Antiquarians of Our Generation

2009-08-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

"It was probably inevitable. Consider the example of new-vintage merchants like J. Crew Liquor, the men’s wear store housed in an old TriBeCa bar. Or Freemans Sporting Club, the “gentleman’s” clothing store created by Taavo Somer, the architect and restaurateur responsible for Freemans, the taxidermy-bedecked hot spot on the Lower East Side. The recently opened bar at the Jane hotel, created by Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson, is a mash-up of an English country estate, the set of “The Royal Tenenbaums” and an interior landscape imagined by Joris-Karl Huysmans, the author of “Against Nature,” the 19th-century decadent’s manifesto.

Valerie Steele, the director of the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, offered a different explanation. “It’s way more than anti-modernism, this sort of deep spelunking into the past,” she said. “It’s not aspirational and it’s not nostalgic. It’s a fantasy world that is almost entirely a visual collage. It’s a stitched-together, bricolage world, an alternative world.”

“Authenticity is such a fed-up idea,” she continued. “But collecting these old things, it’s like there is an aura attached to them. It’s not some prepackaged product being foisted on you by a big corporation. Too bad it’s going to be commodified. Everything in the fashion world gets hoovered up.”

Marketers, in fact, are already paying attention. Steven Grasse, chief executive of the advertising and branding agency Quaker City Mercantile in Philadelphia, said he recently sent a sample of a new product, a vintage-styled liquor called Root, to a few retro-loving bloggers like Hollister Hovey. " - PENELOPE GREEN

Get yourself some vintage finds:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp
http://www.etsy.com/category/vintage

Indie Craft Documentary - Meet the Director here in Philly!!

2009-07-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

We YoCos LOVE a good book...and this book really shows the great "Rise of DIY!!" The whole book is a collection of essays that other YoCoPro's in the business of making and promoting Handmade Crafts, share their stories of how they got started in the handmade world.

Our good friends at Art Star (located at 623 N. Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123) are working together with Buyers Market of American Craft,www.americancraft.com.

Come meet Faythe Levine, director of the indie craft documentary, “Handmade Nation.” There will be a Q&A following the screening, moderated by Kris Stewart, editor of NICHE, the magazine for independent art retailers.

Saturday, August 1st, 6-8pm
@ Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 103, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia

Purchase Tickets @ Art Star for $5
or buy tickets at the door (seating is limited so we recommend getting them now)

Working Potters Series: Using the Internet as a Marketing and Sales Tool for Your Pottery Business

2009-07-13T08:52:00.001-07:00

This months Ceramics Monthly magazine has a great feature on "Working Potters..." One if these Potters is living and working right here in Philadelphia!!

Naomi Cleary is the Gallery Assistant and NCECA Coordinator for The Clay Studio which is located in Old City. She also teaches Ceramics there, and sells her work in the shop.

The article featured in the magazine is a great piece written by the artist who is down to earth and real about living as an artist and being successful!! Naomi's witty character and valuable knowledge makes her a great resource in the young craft community here in Philly.

Here's what I mean:

"I have had varying experiences at craft fairs. Some have been great, with crowds that understand craft and the handmade object. One in particular still haunts me. I was placed next to a woman selling hand painted signs that read “Welcome to Margaritaville” and “Jersey girls don’t pump gas.” I did not return for the second day of selling."

To read more of the article pick up your copy today - or follow this link:

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-art-and-artists/naomi-cleary-working-potter/

Come out and Support Non-Profit!!

2009-07-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

>Click here to view an online preview of the exhibition

BRIDGETTE MAYER GALLERY CELEBRATES EIGHT YEARS IN PHILADELPHIA WITH BENEFIT EXHIBITION SUPPORTING NON-PROFIT, BACK ON MY FEET

BENEFIT: JUNE 5, 2009 6:00 - 8:30PM
Exhibition will run through July, 2009

Philadelphia, PA, May, 2009- In celebration of eight years in Philadelphia, the Bridgette Mayer Gallery is holding a Benefit Exhibition to honor the non-profit group Back on My Feet. Back on My Feet promotes the self-sufficiency of Philadelphia’s homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. The benefit will feature 100 10" x 10" panels by gallery artists, Philadelphia artists and Back on My Feet artists, ranging in price from $500-$1,000. Proceeds from the event will go directly to the non-profit.

The Benefit opening will be held on June 5th, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at the Gallery, located at 709 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.

The 4th in Philly

2009-07-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

The annual Sunoco Welcome America! festival, is happening this Saturday July 4th!! Expect some brilliant fireworks displays, delicious dishes, cultural events and the largest free concert in America!!

Starting July 2-5 the City of Brotherly love hosts millions of residents and visitors for a celebration of the nation’s birthday. The morning of July 4 begins with traditional ceremonies on historic Independence Mall, followed by a parade through Historic Philadelphia (new route!) with bands, flags and pageantry reminiscent of an old-fashioned Main Street, USA parade. The YoCo's will be there!! Then in the afternoon, the “Party on the Parkway” will feature activities, games, food and entertainment for the whole family, set in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Ben Franklin Parkway. The original headliner announced was Sheryl Crow...but now we've been told that The Legendary Roots Crew will be there too!!!! You KNOW that will be amazing!!

The music and fun will be followed by an amazing fireworks grand finale set against the dramatic Art Museum.

Join the YoCo's in celebrating what every Philadelphian already knows – that the best place to celebrate America’s birthday is here, in Philly aka America’s birthplace.

Michael Martin, Subway Graffiti Artist Iz the Wiz

2009-07-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

In the 1970s and ’80s, chances were good that anyone traveling the New York subways rode at least once in a car emblazoned with “Iz the Wiz.” Cryptic but euphonious, often abbreviated to the ultraminimal Iz, the signature could be seen all over the subway system: fat capital letters spray-painted on a door, below a window, across an entire car or even along the full length of a train.

Iz the Wiz was a legend among graffiti artists, by almost all accounts “the longest-reigning all-city king in N.Y.C. history,” as the graffiti Web site at149st.com puts it. In other words, Iz put his name, or tag, on subway cars running on every line in the system more times than any other artist.

In August of 2003 he self-curated a solo gallery exhibition in New York City showcasing his legal artwork.

Michael Martin — Iz the Wiz — died on June 17 in Spring Hill, Fla., where he had moved a few years ago. He was 50. The cause was a heart attack, said Ed Walker, who is working on a biography and documentary of Iz the Wiz. The YoCo's will keep you posted on when they are expected to be released.

Buy Some Vintage

2009-06-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

So there is this GREAT vintage shop here in Philly, that also happens to have a great website to shop on too - which is just a bonus, because instead of you hunting all the vintage shops, flea markets and thrift shops Plaid Pony Vintage does all of that for you, and puts all their great finds into categories that are easy to search through. Categories include: men and womens clothing, housewares and accessories.

Check out the website!!

Their ETSY page: www.plaidponyvintage.etsy.com

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/plaidpony

The Weekend

2009-06-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

Other than the Wheat Beer Extravaganza we mentioned yesterday, a lot more is going on as we near the 4th of July (Which by the way the Roots are playing at for free at Penn's Landing!) This weekend is the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (PIFF) in NoLibs and at 941 Theater, also the Bicycle Film Festival which is taking place at the Moore College of Art and Design along with a special Bicycle Exhibit. Also taking place on Saturday is the Big Art Show #11 at the 941 Theater, unfortunatly it was canceled due to the PIFF but they are having the Philadelphia Independent Craft Market on July 12th. Penns Landing is having a ton of events this weekend which include Taste of Philly all weekend, Angie Stone Concert tomorrow at 7:30 and fireworks later that night. Sunday as usual will feature the Sundae Concert at the Piazza, featuring Medina but since the recent death of MJ they will be spinning MJ tunes all night and day.

Should be Fun, and very hot!

Beer das Boot

2009-06-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

Beer amongst other things are going on this weekend for one check out South Philly Taproom (SPTR) for the 4th Annual Wheat Beer Fest and Block Party. They are having live music and over 30 Wheat Beers on Tap for $3 all day long starting at 2pm. This Saturday the 27th. Check out the science behind beer video above.

Bolt me to NYC

2009-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today we are dabbling with commuting and a little bit with the Sixth borough (aka Philly.) For the past 5-6 years the housing market skyrocketed making the cost of living very expensive in cities such as New York, that along with long commutes into the city from Brooklyn, Queens, and the other boroughs Philadelphia has become a sort of Sixth borough. Artists, hipsters, and YoCoPros have been able to transition easily with a short trip down 95 with little problems. Many have even been able to do the commute as well.

The estimated commute in New York is around an hour, the commute via train or bus from Philadelphia is between 1.5 and 2 hours. As the market increased so did the people moving to Philadelphia, and now that the market has sunk over the past year it hasn’t stopped. People are still able to find a lower cost of living with similar if not better benefits right here in Philadelphia. This allows for many to work from home part of the week and commute into NYC only part time and even for those that have done it five days a week the overall cost savings have been significant. There is only on small problem, making the commute smoother. As more commuters and a travelers take the adventure from PHL to NYC little has been done to accommodate them. For years there have been just a few ways to make this venture.

The first is via Amtrak, unfortunately the prices are outrageous, with a round trip costing around $150, not viable for the dailies. Amtrak also has their business Acela trains, which are even more out of reach at almost $300 for a round trip. Both are ridiculous, which leaves us with two other choices. Septa/NJ Transit, or the often-dreaded China Town Bus.

Ok, so lets start out at 30th street station and hop on the Regional Rail, R7 Trenton Line, this will obviously take you to Trenton but you need to get off buy a ticket and wait for New Jersey Transit to take you the rest of the way into the city. This is a cheap round trip costing around $30, but you have to deal with limited Septa Service and having to transfer both ways. This leaves us with the last alternative of the China Town Bus, which has been a popular due to its $24 round trip fairs. Unfortunately the buses are busted, they are older buses that are closer to the graveyard than to New York, but the company has been well prepared with buses readily available for when buses break down on the commute.
In 2008 that all changed, a company called Bolt Bus magically arrived out of nowhere and has been gaining huge popularity between college students, and commuting professionals. It has even taken away a lot of business from Amtrak. Bolt bus costs around $20-$25 round trip and you can even catch cheaper rates of a $1-$7 depending on how early you book. Bolt Bus entered the Philadelphia market as a joint venture between Peter Pan buses and Greyhound. They are able to provide great amenities with very low prices. They can do so by not picking up at the Bus Stations but at designated pickup spots throughout Philadelphia, DC, NY, and Boston. The buses are brand spanking new, with wider leg room, free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets in the seats, bathrooms, and even some buses have leather seats. We can’t say enough about Bolt Bus. Our weekly commute starts at 30th Street to catch the 6:30 bus, one stop over the bridge at Cherry Hill (Right outside the mall) and then straight to NYC (34th and 8th to be exact which is right outside Madison Square Garden.) Total travel time just barely under 2 hours, getting us to the city at 8:30am, and the trip back usually takes 1.5 hours. A recent competitor has entered the market as well, Mega Bus, also offering very cheap fairs that are similar in price but don’t offer the amenities of Bolt Bus, they have also recently bought out the China Town Buses.

In our opinion there is no better alternative for basic visits or daily commuting!

Piece of duh Piazza

2009-06-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

So were had some time to venture out this weekend and visit all the festivities going on in the NoLibs and Port Fishington spots. But we are going to concentrate on one thing.

The Piazza Revue:

We have seen these Piazza being worked on for months now finally we get to see it up-close and personal. The best way to describe it is: if you force-fed Liberties Walk those funny little pills that baseball players take and BAM its the Piazza! Anyway we couldn't believe all of the stores: 13 Galleries, 22 Retail shops and more, including and humungo courtyard with a big screen. Daily events are planned and bands play almost every night, and Phillies games on the big screen. The Piazza can hopefully bring a lot more fun to the area and hopefully it can maintain the traffic flow that Liberties walk was hurting for during the cold month or weekday work hours. A major goal to sustain traffic has to be creating awareness of the Piazza to people outside of our general area.

Weekends have been great at the Piazza, Sundae Philadelphia has been playing there religiously for the past few Sundays. Its a ton a fun and alot of people come out, they spin some awesome jams and guest DJ's stop by like Questlove and King Britt.

The Swift Half, a new venture from the people at the Good Dog has great food and a good selection of Tap and Bottled beer, with outdoor seating near the stage. Vino has some great specials on Sundays/Sundaes, which are 5 dollar flatbread pizzas (which are bangin) and great Sangria specials. Don't look for beer here though, none on tap and a very limited bottle selection.

We also wonder with so many galleries and boutiques why they would all group them together, at some point they will be competing and can all of these boutiques and galleries stay in business? We do think a lot of the places will do very well including the bars, Fabric Horse, and Bambi Gallery. We are also excited that this huge addition to the neighborhood can hopefully propel more businesses to venture further down East Girard into Fishtown. But will the business currently there go the way of the small business in Liberties Walk and close due to high rents and lack of traffic during the cold months? So far the Piazza has been a success but can it maintain its allure when the mercury drops and the DJ's go away and the people stay home? Deep down we want it to succeed and flourish, but in the back of our heads we always have the reality of the economy and how many T-Shirts or Handmade Prints do you have to sell to maintain the rent in the thousands when no one is around. Time will tell, for now Viva La Piazza!

Funemployment

2009-06-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Hopefully none of you Young Cosmopolitan Professionals have been slighted in this bad economy and have lost your job. Most people would panic or feel down and out, which is completely understandable, but take a look at it this way: Is this the best possible outcome that could have come out of getting laid off? This is the topic of a recent article in the SF Weekly. Read about how YoCoPros took advantage of unemployment to do the things they been wanting to do, like go back to school, start a business or travel. Read it here!

I love your shadow

2009-06-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have seen all kinds of art but this is a first, and we must say its pretty amazing. Sculptures made from found items that look seemingly uninteresting, but add a light to them and bam! You have crazy realistic shadows that are unbelievable. Check out the shadow art.

What’s Your Backup Plan?

2009-06-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great article from the NY Times about career changes......

By ALEX WILLIAMS

Published: June 5, 2009

IN more than a few circles — publishing, finance, automotive design — small talk at cocktail parties has shifted from real estate (too depressing) to the Plan B career (a fatalistic, yet somehow sunnier topic).

How about chocolatier? Organic farmer? Therapist?

Plan B typically offers less money and prestige than Plan A, but promises a more hands-on, stress-free and fulfilling existence.

That’s the fantasy anyway. After a few days spent test-driving a few new careers, however, I started to suspect that Plan B should really be called Plan G.

For grind.

It Won’t Hurt, Really

The economy had barely started to tank when hollow-eyed financial executives started talking about dropping out to take up a second career in the wellness field — acupuncture, massage, Reiki. It made sense that stressed-out professionals would want to spend their second act working toward a remedy, like asthma sufferers might volunteer for their local Clean Air Coalition.

I decided to try my hand at massage therapy. But, really, who wants to caress freckled strangers all day to a zither soundtrack? I decided to massage dogs instead. With them, back hair is a good thing. Also, I, as a complete amateur, thought they would be less likely to call the state health authorities.

Daniel Rubenstein, an owner of the Paw Stop, a dog-training and pet day care center in TriBeCa that offers pet-massage workshops, put me in touch with the resident therapist, Melissa Belkin, for a lesson. Ms. Belkin, 30 and tattooed, bounds up to you with the friendly enthusiasm of a border terrier. She trained at the Swedish Institute, which is interested only in humans, but has expanded her business to dogs in recent years. Massaging dogs, she said, involves unique challenges.

“With people, you don’t have to take them for a run for 20 minutes beforehand to settle them down,” she explained.

She led me downstairs, where a massage table sat covered in a white towel. My first client was a chocolate Labrador retriever, Boomer. As Bach wafted overhead and three tiny jasmine-scented aromatherapy candles flickered nearby, I laid hands on.

Or tried.

As I strained at Boomer’s collar and tried to pin his 60 muscular pounds to the towel with one hand, I tried some effleurage (stroking) techniques, down his spine, to the tip of the tail, as Ms. Belkin instructed. But Boomer would not respect me as a therapist. I knew massage therapists must deal with boundary issues — especially because their clients are half-clothed. But how often do their clients lick them on the lips during treatment? On second thought, don’t answer that.

My next client, J. J., made me feel like a mere bellman cadging for tips at the Delano Hotel in South Beach.

J. J. is a purebred Jack Russell.

J. J. is owned by Mariah Carey.

J. J. is working on his own TV pilot.

J. J. was going to be a challenge.

To J .J., the massage table was a stage, and he used it to perform. He spun, he bounded, he danced. He paused only long enough to cock his head in pose (you could almost hear him yelling, “Makeup!”).

I tried to calm him with series of petrissage (kneading) strokes on the scruff of the neck. To many dogs, this move is pure Vicodin. To J. J., it was Ritalin. I could barely tame him, even when I pulled out every dog masseuse’s secret weapon — a delicate, circular rubbing of the tips of his ears.

But J .J. was a model client next to Macy, a golden retriever. Macy was sweet, but New York had gotten to her. At Ms. Belkin’s urging, I tried tapotement (gentle tapping) on her chest to get her to settle in. She writhed like a marlin caught on a line, then scooted backward on the towel like a lobster. The session finally ended — with Macy in the corner of the room, her tail between her legs.

But the experience was not a total failure. I felt great. Multiple hours with my fingers in fur had resulted in some unexpected therapy, and I felt at peace, ready for a bone and a late afternoon nap.

Green, Bloody Acres

I knew I wasn’t cut out for country life within 30 minutes of arriving at Northwind Farms, a 197-acre poultry, pork and beef farm in picturesque Tivoli, N.Y., about two hours up the Hudson River by car.

On the way to feed the hogs early in the morning, I paused and circled back toward my rented Mini Cooper, Starbucks venti in hand. “Sun block,” I said, pointing to the sun breaking through the clouds, and reaching into the hatch to grab a tube of Aveeno SPF 55.

Richie Biezynski, who along with his wife, Jane, bailed out of Queens 30 years ago to farm this land, looked at me as if I had said I just needed a second to slip into my leotard.

I’m not alone in idealizing the rural life. It’s become common to the point of cliché for harried New Yorkers, Michael Pollan books in hand, to attempt their own “Green Acres” fantasy in this region. The lush landscape seems safely distant from city pressures, but is still dotted with enough antiques shops and stylish bistros so that they don’t feel like, well, hicks.

That vision ended for me 30 minutes into my new agrarian life, with my right hand buried up to the wrist in a still-warm chicken’s hind end.

Follow this link to read the rest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/fashion/07planb.html?pagewanted=2&ref=style

You have a beautiful Manhole

2009-06-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

I wish this would spread outside of Europe and Asia but sadly it hasn't. Check out these crazy manhole covers!

Computer Porn

2009-06-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

Im a big computer nerd, and these are some sweet pics of computers from back in the day. Check em out!

Jaeatyet?

2009-06-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

The battle is over, Paesano's 152 W. Girard in Fishtown/Nolibs, has one the honor of "Best Italian Hoagie in the Philadelphia Area."

New "six-stool, mostly takeout eatery" that just opened after Thanksgiving. "Delectable mix of mortadella, prosciutto and ham ... perfect amount of sharp provolone ... a dark green lettuce ... on a crispy seeded roll," Macnow writes. "Folks, we have ourselves a winner."

I do have to agree, Paesano's has been open for almost a year now and has amazing Italian food and sandwhiches. Paesano's was opened by Peter McAndrews owner and Chef of Modo Mio, (located right across the street from Paesano's.) Everything on the menu is amazing, upon entering you are always greeted with a friendly face, but you may have a hard time finding a stool, they have limited seating but I would sit anywhere to get a Paesano's sandwhich. They have daily specials up on the board and always find a minute to strike up a conversation with you while they are cooking in front of you and running around with orders. Most items on the menu are under $9, but dont forget to bring your wallet cause they are cash only. Paesano's is a must eat for anyone!

Duh Weekend

2009-06-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Another week has gone by and hopefully the weather will stay nice again (we found the most ridiculous graphic above), lets start off with:

Art for the Cash Poor: Sat and Sunday at the Crane Arts building in Fishtown. 1-6pm at 1400 North American Street. Cheap Art, Free Music, and good food and drink. It was fun last year and hopefully even more fun this year.

Art + Soul Food June 13th! Art Plus Soul Food is a celebration of Food and Art taking place this Saturday between 6-9pm in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. This all takes place between the 2600-2900 block of West Girard and is a quick bike ride or Green Line trolley ride down Girard.

The Piazza, a follow up to last weeks amazingness with Questlove of the Roots and a huge free concert that took place, Sundae is bringing it back this weekend! Sunday 12pm-2am Tons of fun and to much to describe, just get your ass their.

Always Sunny!

2009-06-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

The YoCoPros are huge fans of "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia," for those of you you haven't seen it it based on five characters Rob McElhenney (originally from philly), Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, and Kaitlin Olsen whom all work or are partners in Paddy's Pub which is very unsuccessful bar is South Philadelphia (not real.) Anyway, the show follows the characters, whom are all self absorbed and selfish, in there ridiculous exploits. Basically its a show about nothing but its funny as hell. Its also great to see local neighborhoods and landmarks within the show, and local references too like Logan Circle, Bon Jovi, Wawa, Delaware Ave, and Kensington was even mentioned last season when Dennis (Glenn Howerton) was admitted to the Kensington Rehabilitation Center (He meets Rob Thomas and Sinbad their).

Around this time of year the crew comes back into town to film local shots and they are here this week! Check out where they will be and when, and watch the show (its free)!

Trustafarians?

2009-06-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how your hipster or artsy friend can work a minimum wage job for 4 hours a week but still be able to go out and party and buy that new Iphone or Mac? The answer is mommy and daddy. As areas in major metropolitan cities like New York (Willamsburg), and Philadelphia (Fishtown), have see huge gentrification efforts over the past 10 years, many of the Gen Y hipsters are finding financial troubles in the current market situation. Parents are no longer able to float their kids the money they need to sustain a seemingly carefree life. This great NYT article goes into detail about the issues these up and coming areas are facing along with what is happening to the 20 something YoCoPros that reside their.

Running, Beer, Friends and Fun in Fishtown

2009-06-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

The YoCo's good friend and colleague Annette Monnier, fellow artist and Outreach Coodinator at The Clay Studio is a member of The Fishtown Beer Runners!! And we think this is an amazing concept....why didn't we think of it?!

The Concept
The Fishtown Beer Runners combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science. They gather once a week to run three to five miles, and conclude each run at a pub for a beer or two.

Their Goals are as follows:

1) To encourage people to exercise by running (or walking)

2) To provide friendly camaraderie for all who hate to exercise

3) To promote the responsible enjoyment of QUALITY beer

4) To support local tavern owners and breweries

5) To promote a ban on spandex

Runs are Thursdays @ 7:00 PM sharp and Saturdays @ 11:30 AM sharp. Start location is 2346 E. Susquehanna Avenue in beautiful Fishtown.

The Homeless Stay Wired

2009-06-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

In the US there are about 3.5 million US residents (about 1% of the population), including 1.35 million children that are homeless. It's an alarming number to fathom, and there are 4,000 persons who are homeless on any given day in Philadelphia. I recently found this WSJ article that absolutely amazing, it spoke about how homeless people are adapting and incorporating computers and technology into there lives. We can see how it was just a matter of time before more and more middle income people become homeless, but are able to salvage the very least to stay connected to "Reality". Check out the article here, and lend a hand!

The Next Areefa

2009-06-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

We are sure most of you have seen the new Cricket Wireless commercials, if you haven't its a newer cell phone company to this area and there slogan is Respect (Along with Aretha's song). One particular ad has Youtube vids of people singing "Respect," one girl in particular is ridiculously good, and apparently she's only 10 years old. Her name is Lukeja Poland and she is sick! I couldn't believe it after hearing the respect song and then I listened to "I Will Always Love You," and "Take a Bow" and they are even better. This girl is gonna have a long and successful career ahead of her.

A New Eye for Design in Budapest

2009-06-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Looks familiar... Northern Liberties??

Article from the NY Times:

By EVAN RAIL

Published: June 7, 2009

ON sunny afternoons, Budapest’s central square, Erzsebet ter, is bustling with skateboarders, tourists in open-top buses, guests from the high-end hotels nearby and visitors to the Godor Club, a cool cafe and performance space.

But even considering the square’s normally busy standards, I was surprised by the number of people when I arrived there one Sunday this spring. More to the point, I was surprised by what had brought them in: WAMP, which stands for Hungarian Design Market in Hungarian). The monthly design market features more than 100 vendors who sell local clothing, furniture and accessories in the shade of the square’s former bus depot.

“Every month we choose a topic,” said Bori Mester, one of the market’s organizers. “And it’s all different kinds of Hungarian design: toy designers, furniture designers, industrial, jewelry and fashion designers.”

Although cultured travelers have long had many reasons to visit Budapest — outstanding wine, glorious music, hip night life — it is probably safe to say the local sense of style was not among them. And yet the city has an emerging design scene unlike almost anything I’ve found in the former Eastern bloc. Beyond each monthly WAMP (www.wamp.hu), Budapest Design Week takes place in October and Budapest Fashion Week each April.

The city is also the base for The Room, an inch-thick international fashion and art magazine with texts in English and Hungarian, and up-and-coming clothing labels like Nanushka, which regularly pick up praise on English-language style blogs. There are creative industrial designers as well, like Ivanka, which just showed off its remarkably expressive and fluid home furnishings made from concrete at the Milan international design fair.

Read the rest of the article:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/travel/07journeys.html

2 Legit to Stop!

2009-06-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Flash mobs have been around for a while now, if you dont know what it is this is what Wwwwiki says: A flash mob (or flashmob^[1]) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via social media or viral emails, rather than those organized by public relations firms or for a publicity stunt.

Anyway some are funny, some are for protests, and awareness some violent (like this week in PHL), others are just plain Hammer-Licious.

Handmade in Brooklyn

2009-06-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

"The Renegade Craft Fair is a unique DIY event held annually in Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco. RCF has gained a reputation over the last six years as being the biggest, best and the most well-known of all the DIY craft fairs out there. Each individual fair draws hundreds of applicants and tens of thousands of shoppers from all over the country and abroad! At RCF you’ll find all sorts of cool handmade stuff - including plush items, jewelry, posters + prints, craft kits, clothing, stationery + more.

The Renegade Craft Fair is organized by Sue Daly, whose a crafter herself, and designs jewelry under the name Timber! Her husband Mat Daly makes all of the posters for the events, always being sure to include the beloved owl mascot! The inspiration for RCF came when Sue wanted to take her jewelry-making hobby to the next level, and try selling her stuff at local art fairs. After looking into it a little, it quickly became apparent that there were no shows representing the DIY craft community, which already had a huge presence online. So, with a childhood friend the Renegade Craft Fair was started and provided an exciting, fresh venue for artists and shoppers alike."

The 5th Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn is THIS WEEKEND!! This year’s event is taking place June 6 + 7 from 11am - 7pm, at McCarren Park. The Artist list is up, so check it out and get a sneak peak at who will be there! Please spread the word, and grab a web banner below for your site, blog, etc.

Over 300 indie crafters are participating in the fair, so there’s sure to be something for everyone! Be sure to stop by our Info booth near the corner of Bedford + N. 12th St. to sign up for Raffles provided by Sublime Stitching, Stencil 1 and Craftside. And grab some delicious grub from Urban Rustic, Lefty’s & The Treats Truck!

The Renegade Craft Fair is FREE to attend, and open to the public. Take public transportation to the Fair by hopping on either the G or L trains to Brooklyn. Hop off at Bedford Ave. and walk north to McCarren park if you’re riding the L Train or, if you’re riding the G Train, get off at Nassau and walk two blocks south!

Melissa Mytty: Pickles & Pop

2009-06-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Melissa Mytty, is a Resident Artist at The Clay Studio in Old City, Philadelphia, PA. Melissa makes super detailed cups and saucers in her studio space, and has her solo show now at the Gallery.

The Resident Artist Program offers individuals the opportunity to further develop their work, to establish professional contacts and standards, and to work within a community of like-minded individuals in an urban environment. Once chosen as a resident artist, one is entitled to retain their residency for up to five years.

A residency at The Clay Studio includes:

studio space (approximately 185-195 sq. ft.)
use of four electric and two gas kilns
collective buying of materials
a glaze mixing area
teaching opportunities and the right to exhibit in our galleries

The monthly rent of $250.00 is waived through August of 2011. There is a $250.00 refundable security deposit and a yearly Clay Studio membership fee of $50.00. Firing costs are based on individual usage. Residents share common housekeeping work and contribute time to The Clay Studio as well.

Melissa's Artist Statement:

"Form Function Fantasy and Fashion. The cup as an object has been the focus of my investigation as a maker. My work draws from the rich history of ceramics while injections of contemporary culture such as haute couture, tattoos, automotive design, ground effects, and licking tongues are critical and keep my work pushing the boundaries of the material and the format of the cup. I am intrigued by the timeless design of teacups and the clean aesthetic of mass-produced dinnerware; It is however critical that my work come from between my fingers and under my nails. I live for the sense of touch and am forever altering my cup designs as they come to life in the palms of my hands."

Come out to The Clay Studio on N.2nd Street between Arch and Race Streets and check out Melissa's hot show!!
CHECK OUT images of all the work in the show!!!

Weekend Updated with the YoCoPros

2009-06-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

The weather has finally broke and it will be a fun filled weekend. The weekend started off last night with a ton of shows going on in the city. As usual we hit up Silk City, not only cause we love it but because I won free tix to Tigerbeat. Tigerbeat is F$%king sick, he was mixing oldies, with 80's and dance music it was an incredible mix, unfortunately I was a little distracted from all of the Fistpumping from all the Jersey's that somehow found their way their.

Today starts off with The Piazza at Schmitts, in NoLibs, The Marketplace with local vendors and artists goes all day long, and is accompanied by Music and bands and the Phillies game on the Jumbo screen at 4pm. PBC: Philadelphia Brewing Company has their weekly tours and tasting starting at 12pm.

Renegade Craft Fair is also going on today and on Sunday in the BK (Brooklyn, Ny) even though its not a Philly event we are sure lots of YoCoPros will hit it up since its like an even bigger version of last weeks Art Star Craft Bazaar.

The Roots are hosting the Roots Picnic 2009, which is gonna be awesome and it looks like it might be better than last year. It's taking place at Festival Pier at Penns Landing all day!

And finally Sunday Philly is hosting Bike races in Manayunk, which bring the annual 300,000 spectators and lots of fun. Check it out and get their early!

Your Mutter

2009-06-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Mutter Museum is #9 in Radar Online's top 12 Strangest Museums! The Mutter is a medical museum located at 22nd and Market, the museum originated with donations from Thomas Dent Mütter in 1858. The museum displays anatomical specimens, and medical oddities medical research and education.

Check it out:

Street address
19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103.

Hours of operation
Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm

First Frizzy

2009-06-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

This Friday, which happens to be First Friday, the YoCoPros will be venturing out to Old City for the usual festivities and art, followed by a trip back to Fishtown to stop by V Groove Studios. Groove is located at 306 W Girard Ave, and this first friday they are hosting with a variety of art by local artists which include Carly Herman, Victor Perez, Nina Capellono, Aaron Klingensith and our good friend Kim Arata! Check it out and then head over to Frankford Ave for the later version of First Friday.

Viva Mexico

2009-06-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Finally after living in Fishtown for a few years now we finally remembered to stop by Las Cazuelas when we had some hunger pangs. Las Cazuelas has been around since November 1999, and has been quite successful at its NoLibs location on 426 W Girard Ave. This is a perfect place for authentic Mexican food, we were very impressed by the food and we had flashbacks of a vacation to Ecuador while eating the delicious ceviche. This was the first place we were able to find ceviche made the authentic way in Philly. Las Cazuelas is a cozy BYOB wtih moderate prices, great authentic cuisine, with a relaxed cozy atmosphere.

New Happenings Portfishington

2009-06-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Lots of stuff going on in the neighborhood, and here we go:

Canvas Coffee shop found at the corner of Girard and Colombia has been closed for almost a year now. The former owners moved on to create the greatest burgers around in a little place called Sketch. If you couldn't tell, we love it. Great burgers, anything from your basic American beef to Kobe and Veggie. They have awesome fresh cut fries and shakes too, and they have recently expanded the menu with salads and other sandwiches. Anyway my point was the location of the former Canvas Coffee will soon open up as a Coffee/Record shop. I think this will be a great addition to the area and we kind of miss a coffee shop on this side of the El (besides RocketCat).

We have also heard word of a possible ice cream/soda shop opening on the same side of the street, the outside is painted in green and pink pastels. If this opens up and the rumors are true it has huge potential to be a hit. Not only does it attract the YoCoPros of the Fishtown area but will hopefully bring people in from NoLibs and other areas as well. We can only hope for the span of Girard from the El to Girard Gas to one day look like Second Street in NoLibs.

Third on our list is the construction going on on Front Street, under the El near the Berks stop. Apparently this is going to be home to the new Kensington High School, and their are plans to connect Berks Street with Front. The construction is great and will hopefully help cleanup this strip under the El and allow people to safely walk to and from the El via Berks.

Inagardenofbeera

2009-06-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

We are huge fans of Silk City, as we've mentioned many times before, but when we thought it couldn't get any better they throw us the finally completed Beer Garden. We have watched the construction go on all winter and now it is open for business. Upon entering, you feel like you have traveled to a place that is no longer Philly, but with the good old traits of the Silk. Huge decorated walls and metal sculptures adorn the garden and make it a fun place to eat, drink and hangout. I can definitely see Mark's, influence in the design and it reminds me of his other place North 3rd. The garden has a full wooden bar, tons of beach influenced tables and huge chairs that make you feel like your the life guard on duty of Bay Watch.

What A Great Ikea

2009-06-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well we all know Ikea a pretty f&#cking cool, but often times we have found ourselves modifying Ikea products to use them in a different way then they were intended. We ran across a great blog with tons of Ikea Hacked submissions, great for ideas and even inspiration. We couldn't stop playing around on the site and admiring how creative people been with their Ikea stuff. Not to mention many of the the submissions mention getting the items via the amazing As-is room, in the garbage or on the Craigs. Hope this inspires you to do something cool next time you find yourself with a bit of a Trondheim on your hands. Check out Ikea Hacker!

"Can you pull me into town?"

2009-05-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

To go along with my last post of Freakish Bikes, apparently cargo bikes are going to be the next big thing. I have slowly seen the increase of bikes in Philadelphia and I'm sure ill see more and more as the weather gets nicer. I have seen cargo style bikes in Philly and New York but they are a rarity, I know in Europe its pretty common, Ikea has even jumped onboard with rental bikes and cargo trailers for you bike. The idea is pretty sweet and of course green, I just wish Philly along with so many other major cities would get their sh!t straight and make more bike lanes and just increase awareness of and for bicyclists, and prevent horrible things like this.

Freakish Bike

2009-05-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

I love bicycles, but no where near the way these people do. Some crazy, crazy stuff going on here.

Free TV!!!

2009-05-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who aren't as ~~nerdy~~ tech-savvy as we are, yes you can watch free tv online. For a long time we have been hardcore downloaders of music and movies and recently I had an epiphany and almost dropped my crappy Comcast cable. If you don't watch TV all that much Boxee and Hulu are both completely free and you should go get them now! All you need is a Mac or PC and if you want to you can hook that up to your 150" plasma and bam! free high def tv when and where you want it. Check it out now, Hulu has a desktop application that you can download for free and check out their full library. Anything thats free is good, and when its legal TV and Movies its even better.

Keep Your Camera in a Camera!

2009-05-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

A Japanese illustrator/puppet stop-motion video artist / crafter who lives in Vancouver, Canada:

Hine [hee-neh] Mizushima. She is an Illustrator, a handmade crafter and a puppet-based stop-motion animation video artist. Hine was born and raised in Japan, she majored in traditional Japanese painting at a University there and worked as a paper product designer/Illustrator in Tokyo. After she met her husband (who is Canadian), they decided to move to Rome, then Paris, then Brooklyn. Two and a half years ago they moved to Vancouver, Canada, with their son. Then they discovered Etsy! At first they just bought things from the site but, Etsy inspired them to create handmade things and she became a seller as well, and have been for a year and a half. Her camera cases are great! It gets the YoCoPros stamp of appoval.

www.hine.etsy.com

Get to the Bazaar this Weekend!!!!

2009-05-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

Come out to Penn's Landing this weekend, and support HANDMADE!! Some of the YoCoPros pals will be in attendence: Yasha Butler Ceramics, Naomi Cleary Ceramics, Amy Santoferraro, Ryan Kelly and Nate Prouty!!!! Come out and get into the Indie Craft Movement, handmade, reused and recycled, orignal affordable artwork and awsome live music will all be there down at Penn's Landing this weekend in Philadelphia!!

Saturday Music Line-up
11am: Pairdown
12pm: The Josh Olmstead Band
1pm: The Documents
2pm: Gildon Works
3pm: Padre Pio
4pm: Toy Soldiers
5pm: Folklore

Sunday Music Line-up:
12pm: Perkasie
1pm: Photon Band
2pm: Like A Fox
3pm: North Lawrence Midnight Singers
4pm: The Mural & The Mint
5pm: Oh!Pears

The Great Plaza @ Penn's Landing
(on Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut Street & Walnut Street)

click here for 2009 press release.

Wednesday Is the New Friday

2009-05-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, from June 3 through August 26, 5-7 pm!!!

Enjoy $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beers and half-priced appetizers at the participating bars and restaurants listed below. Individual bars and restaurants will determine which drinks and appetizers are on special.

Download a map of Center City District Sips Participants | PDF (334 KB)

**Also a little insider tip, every Wednesday after 5pm meter parking is free in OLD CITY!!**

Not Your Typical Teacups By DARYL EVANS

2009-05-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Check out this article!

"It’s Friday night and summer is upon us (most days), so where will you be? If you’re smart, you’ll be in Old City at First Friday. If you’re even smarter, you’ll be at the Clay Studio for the opening reception of local artist Melissa Mytty.

To say that Mytty makes teacups is simply inadequate. Perched atop highly designed wall-mounted platforms, and nestled on elaborate saucers, these pieces are more high fashion than functional kitchenware. Mytty's evocative titles including Sweet Cheeks, Tog, and Delicious, suggests that her work be seen as individual vignettes offering a different mix of fashion, design, and abundance.

Mytty describes her current body of work as "Drawing from the rich history of ceramics while injections of contemporary culture, such as haute couture, tattoos, automotive design, ground effects, and licking tongues, are critical and keep my work pushing the boundaries of the material and the format of the cup".

We could of course, go on and on about Melissa Mytty, but your hip and with it, so we’ll see you at The Clay Studio for First Friday!"

June 5, 2009 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

139 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

We Love I Love Grey Skys....

2009-05-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Featured Seller on Etsy!!

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

Well most of my ideas and planning of projects happen at night time, as I put my son to sleep. After reading him a story I lay next to him while he unwinds and gets cozied up. It's then, in that silence that I really focus on the imagery I want my next or current project to take. Sometimes I come out of his room and write it down before I finally get some time to hang out and talk to my husband, but mostly I remember the ideas.

Luckily my son still naps for a couple hours each day and it is then (and only then) that I get the time to actually bring my ideas to form. I usually put on some music, go into my studio and approach whatever I happen to be working on. With the sculptures I make for the shop, there is always many steps and processes that are being worked on simultaneously. For instance, I may start by sanding some wood for the bases and take them out into my shop in the garage for staining. While the first coat absorbs into the wood, I'll then come in and sculpt with clay. Then back to the garage to wipe the first coat of stain off and perhaps start a paper mache mask . I think it's this variety of task that keeps me so interested. I'm also a painter but after painting and concentrating for 2 hours straight I can get a bit drained, but the sculptures are less serious, more fun." - Etsy Featured Seller Interview.

EM Freestyle

2009-05-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ive always been a big fan of Eminem, unfortunately I find his freestyles to be so much more amazing than anything he has ever put on an LP. Check out this recent freestyle, amazing skills, witty, funny and dirty, Im glad he's back but I could only wish his new album was this good.

Ouch

2009-05-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Check out this vid and some awesome recycles chairs at: http://www.home-designing.com/2009/03/recycled-chairs

Beatbox Followup

2009-05-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well last week we told you about the amazing Julia Dales beatboxing vid. She was entered into the Beatboxing Championship coming up next week as a wildcard. Another Wildcard named Primativ was also selected for the men, and he can beatbox some stuff we have never heard before. From his videos it sounds like he has really good technique and can incorporate some amazing club/trance type sounds into his beatboxing which make for something that is truly unique.

Silk City: Sick show last night

2009-05-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of winning free tix last night, to a show filled with Philly acts, at Silk City .

The show started out with DJ Cramske, spinning beats from Philly artists. He was followed up by local MC Rok Bottom and his band the Burndown All-Stars. This was the first time I heard of the group and I was very much suprised. The band kept it upbeat mixing Jazz, Funk and Reggae with Rok's storytelling. It was an awesome set and I cant wait to see them play again, check out his free mixtape too.

Next on stage was the Last Emporer, an amazing Philly MC with unbelivably clear and witty rhymes, hes a legend that has performed with the best in the business. He's a must listen to all lovers of hip-hop. To end the night Black Landlord performed and tore it down, crazy energy and a huge band and fun lyrics. I've been trying to see Black Landlord for about a year now, but it was well worth the wait.

Silk was packed last night and for good reason, this was by far the best tickets I have ever won and one of the best shows I've been too. Check out the bands and mc's and most importantly my second home: Thanks Silk!

Awesome Album Covers

2009-05-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Check out Smashing Mags list of obscure and remarkable album covers!

Oh Snap! I mean Stinger

2009-05-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Why would so many US car companies be in trouble if they come up with amazing cars that can do this?

The sickest girl beatboxer I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Watch Amazing Beat Box Girl on CollegeHumor

We YoCos are huge fans of hip-hop and DJing!! One of our favorite things to watch is beat boxing. All time fav? Rahzel. We've seen a lot of the ladies dabble in the beat boxing, (you can check out this past years championship 1, 2, 3, 4) and some are really good, others mediocre, this girl is ridiculous!!! Hands down best female beat boxer IMO.

Saturday, Saturday, SATURDAY!

2009-05-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Some awesome stuff going on this weekend. Hopefully the weather will stay nice and everyone can enjoy the festivities going on. First on the list is the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, and they've gotten a ton of attention this year too which is great!

Second on the list is the craziness going on in NoLibs, at the Piaza. A trunk show, art, dj's, jumbo screen and a ton more.

Saturday, May 16
11 am - 4 pm Philly's Largest Trunk Show presented by City Paper
11am - 4 pm Illvibe Collective on the Wheels of Steel
5:30 pm Kufe Knotz & The Hustle
7 pm Bodega
9 pm Black Landlord

plus special surprise guests, face painting, magicians and more.

Sunday, May 17
Noon DJSkip Modestarts spinning at Noon for a family dance
1pm Phillies Vs. Nationals, live on the jumbo-tron.
4pm The Piazza Funk Experiment
6 pm & 8 pm Sunday Night movie - special

For more information on The Piazza at Schmidts, go to ATTHEPIAZZA.COM

Back in my day we used to Robot Messenger

2009-05-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

For all you tweeters out their, not to be confused with tweekers, this is one thing the seniors beat us on, ~~Twitter~~ Robot Messenger Notification.

Ballin

2009-05-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

Im so getting one of these

Def, Mos Def

2009-05-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

Mos Def - "Casa Bey" - The Ecstatic - 6.9.09

Mos Def's new album drops next month, and judging by this song it should be a good one.