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Photographers: Show your stuff, win prizes.
The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) announces the 2008 Wissahickon Photography Contest. Deadline is: September 29, 2008 at 5 p.m. Photographers may submit work in five categories: people; wildlife; landscape; structures; and FOW activities. All winners will receive a Friends of the Wissahickon T-shirt.In the Adult Competition, prizes will be awarded as follows: Grand Prize (Best in Show), $100; First Prize in each category, $50; second prize in each category, a gift certificate.Aspiring young photographers are welcome to enter our Junior Competition. Submissions will be judged in two age categories: 12 years and under and 13 to 17 years. Best in each category will receive a prize of $25.Competitors may submit up to six photos in any category. There is no entrance fee. The Friends of the Wissahickon reserves the right to use photo submissions in FOW publications.An entry form with complete instructions can be obtained on FOW’s website at www.fow.org or at the FOW office, 8708 Germantown Avenue. For more information, contact Heather Davis Jones at davisjones@fow.org or 215-247-0417.
Free Summer Activities
It seems my economic stimulus payment has come and gone pretty easily. So, I’m looking for inexpensive (i.e. FREE) things to do lately. My good friend has sent me a list of things she’s come up with. Thanks, L!
We are deep into the free outdoor movie season. Here are some links to places you can see them!:
Headhouse Square
(This one has dance lessons, too!)
Music:
Free concerts, too!
Other parks in the city have various film/concert activities, as well!
If you have more to add, please do so! I know there’s gotta be more music events.
Storming the Bastille
My first post today, the storming of the ‘Bastille’ (Eastern State Penitentiary) is reflected in this costume contest winner’s sunglasses. Much merriment, Tastykake throwing, and watermelon beheading…
La Prise de la Bastille
The “storming of the Bastille” at Eastern State Penitentiary has become such a staple of mid-July Philadelphia, complete with “Let them eat Tastykake!”, but were you aware that this is a full four-day French extravaganza?
The Fairmount French Fling Weekend begins on Thursday, July 10, with a bar crawl starting at 7pm with Belgian Café, then moving on to other local drinkeries like Bishop’s Collar, London Grill, Rembrandt’s, St. Stephen’s Green, and Urban Saloon.
On Friday, Fairmount restaurants host food and wine tastings and dinner specials. Starting at 7:30pm, Ratatouille, Pepe Le Pew cartoons, and Paris Je T’aime screen outdoors on the lawn behind Eastern State.
Saturday brings the entire Bastille Day Street Festival, including tours at Eastern State, crafts and treats for kids, vendor tents and French foods, and live music. The storming of the Bastille begins in front of Eastern State at 5:30pm, followed by twilight tours of ESP and after-parties at participating Fairmount restaurants.
But then there’s still more food on Sunday! London Grill, Rembrandt’s, Trio, Belgian Café, and Urban Saloon offer French Champagne Brunch, featuring brunch specials with crêpes, beignets and other French delicacies.
Full information can be found on Eastern State’s website.
Back on My Feet 20in24 Runs
For those who are looking to have some fun and help a good cause, July 19-20 will contain for you a variety of foot races. 20in24 is a collection of three races benefiting Back on My Feet, “a nonprofit organization that uses running as a vehicle to promote the self-sufficiency within Philadelphia’s homeless population.” I’ve signed up for the Midnight Madness Run (that’s midnight on Saturday night, July 19), a glow-in-the-dark race! There are two other races: a relay and an ultra marathon option. This is Philadelphia’s first 24-hour running event, and 100% of the profits go directly to the charity. All events are nearing capacity, so sign up today! If you aren’t running, come out with your friends and cheer everyone on!
NBA draft tonight
NBA draft tonight- and the 76ers select….
I don’t know.
The draft doesn’t start until 8pm.
Go 76ers!
Punk Rock Flea Market - 6/28
Dear R5 Productions,
Why, oh why, is your Punk Rock Flea Market always held at the end of the month, right when I am dirt poor and waiting to get my paycheck? I would like to see you and support your cause, especially because you have all-new a/c at the Starlight Ballroom (460 N. 9th St.). (I remember being there 2 summers ago, when it was stanky!) Anyway, maybe I can dig up a few bucks to find some records or something. I seem to be very into my record player again. Thanks for having food and drinks, including alcohol, artists who make hand-made items, old clothes, furniture, books, and a very-interesting-looking crowd both buying and selling! I’ll see you Saturday, sometime between 10 and 5. Okay?
Love,
Robin
p.s. I’ll also see if I can find the $3 “donation” in my couch. Would you take it in pennies? I collect them!
Morning bike rant
Here we go! I got the beep today, while riding my bike to work. It wasn’t much, but is enough to set me off.
Yes, I was in the middle of the road. Yes, I am there so that drivers of motorized vehicles and non-motorized vehicles see me. No, I am not putting myself there to be an obstacle to you, rude car driver. I am following the rules and getting to work, just as you are. I’m trying to do it safely. Buzz off. Look out for other drivers. There are thousands of bikers in Philly! I wish I had statistics on them.
Last week, my friend with a beautiful smile was “doored.” She was wearing her helmet, as all bikers should be, and still suffered a concussion, and has a nasty scab on her chin and up the front of her face. She is lucky that it wasn’t worse. I’m so glad her teeth weren’t ruined! Perhaps the driver should have looked before opening the door. Shouldn’t he have been looking, in case a car was coming his way? What if it had been a car?
This is just my little plea for drivers in Philly to watch out for the bikers (and pedestrians, for that matter). I know, I know - it works both ways. Bikers - wear helmets. Follow the rules. Get off the sidewalks! Go the correct way on a one-way street. Make drivers aware that you are on the road, too. Here are some links: for prescribed “safer” routes in the city and the Pennsylvania Bicycle Driver’s Manual.
In a city that is trying to start a bike-share program, don’t you think we should make it safer for bikers? (I’m talking to you, city government and law enforcement officers!) On top of that, I recently heard that Philadelphia is number one for bike thefts. Let’s change this! My friend who just returned from Japan said that there is so much respect there, you don’t even have to lock your bike. How about implementing this?
Saturday Night Revival
Of course everyone knows about the Popped! Festival this weekend. They’ve got an excellent lineup and an excellent marketing plan. However, we have another item for your Saturday night. You know, it will be the summer solstice. Bree, who works at the excellent and secret (oops!) gem, For Pete’s Sake, handed me a flyer for Liquid Vinyl’s Saturday Night Revival, boasting music, summer love, and free beer! (Who doesn’t love that?) Drink it there, at Old Swede’s Church (Columbus & Christian St.), this Saturday.
Ladyfingers, Nervous Cabaret, & Dillon Minacci perform for you. There’s an afterparty at For Pete’s Sake, too. Tickets: $15 now/ $20 at the door.
Friday at the Transformers 2 Set
Not a whole lot to report today. I saw Megan Fox again, from much further away this time. She wore something red and very tight. The scene appeared to be “girls with bags walking down the path.” Security is way tighter, no photos and many more barricades.
A coworker of mine met Shia LaBeouf yesterday around 6:00 pm as he was leaving work. He said Shia was very nice and personable, signed autographs for everyone and even let people take pictures with him.
Earlier today I heard one of the security people in my building saying they needed to use our property for filming something involving a car. I doubt I’ll get to see it, which is sad because I really wanted to see untransformed transformers much more than the human celebrity types. Oh well!
According to rumor, filming ends this weekend, so that’s it from me!
Update from the Transformers 2 Set
The Transformers 2 set proved to be much more eventful today. This morning there were people with orange logo passes around their necks milling around. They also covered the mini love sign with something that may be meant to look like ivy but really looks more like ratty green cargo netting.
When I went to the library at lunch I walked through gaggles of waiting extras, more security and far more equipment. Many of the female extras appeared incredibly overdressed and heavily made up, while the males mostly wore long shorts and t-shirts.
Then, on my way back from the library I noticed a group of extras had been taken off to one side. I chose that particular path and ended up walking right past Megan Fox with a blonde actress I didn’t recognize. They both wore ridiculously tall shoes, more makeup than I think I’ve ever seen, are rail thin and looked fairly miserable.
On my other side: Michael Bay with his signature tucked in button down shirt open down the chest and feathered hair. I have no idea how he keeps his hair like that in this humidity. Must be Hollywood magic!
I think that’s about as good as it’s going to get for me. When I passed by later after eating lunch they had the area I walked through roped off and even more security. I have to pass through on the way to the train again in a few hours, if they let me.
