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January 31, 2008
10th & Spruce Sts: New Restaurants
As a local you may have seen that Logan’s has closed down, the owners has finally taken a well deserved retirement and sold the business. Also, for quite a while now, S
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auce across the street has been shut down waiting for a new owner. The Inquirer broke the story a few days ago that we will now be walking by a new casual Mexican restau-bar (George Markakis – owner of Old City’s GiGi) and a Greek-style Cypriot BYOB (Konstantions Pitsillides – Meze in South Philly). Look for grand openings in the near future.
P.S. If anyone knows anything about the new Chinese restaurant opening next to the Locust Bar, in the old Creative Characters building drop me a line.
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January 29, 2008
Kitchenette: A New Culinary Shop on Walnut St.
Below Black Tie Formal Wear on the 1100 block of Walnut, there is a basement business you may have seen but not stopped in. Being below the Formal Wear shop I had assumed it was a costume or uniform shop, but after reading the last East of Broad Newsletter I realized my error. Kitchenette, is a kitchen boutique that sells cookware,
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serve ware, kitchen gadgets and everything that has to do with coffee and tea (including the raw leaves and beans). Keep an eye out for gourmet foods down there as well as organic teas and chutneys. I’ll be stopping by this week to check things out!
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Get To Know Your City Government
Committee of the Whole Council Meeting
02-04-2008; 10AM
City Hall
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January 29, 2008
Signatures Will Be Remade Into Evolve
The former strip-club that sits like a black tile monolith at 13th and Locust is finally being leased again to John David Coleates, the owner and manager of Triumph Brewery in Old City. His goal is to renovate the property, putting large glass windows into the solid façade of the building, and creating a dinner theater space inside. Judy Applebaum, President of the Washington Square West Civic Association said that she believed the new restaurant would be “only a positive” for the neighborhood. The WSWCA has long fought to clean up this corner of 13th Street and has seriously reviewed Evolve’s liquor license and intent for this new project. Mr. Coleates has also joined in to the new Business Roundtable discussions that the WSWCA is holding every six weeks.
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However KYW reports that the East of Broad business association stands against Mr. Coleates wish to open Evolve, because of the fact he has served time in prison for siphoning 2.7 million from a drag show in Honolulu called Boy-lesque. The landlord of the property, Judge Frank Palumbo, was not aware of Mr. Coleates history but is impressed with what he’s done with Triumph and would like to see a similar enterprise in Washington Square West. The remodeled 15,000 square foot restaurant will cover three floors, a stage will be put in and used for dinner theater, movie screenings or as a ballroom.
It’s this writers opinion that you have to realize that people can reform from past mistakes. Mr. Coleates has served his time and is now entering into a project that will help clean up one of the worst blocks in our neighborhood.
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January 28, 2008 |
Voting: It’s Not Just For Parents Any More.
Julia Hazlet and Fox Chapel Area High School, near Pittsburgh, want to get PA lawmakers attention. They propose to lower the voting age to 17 to help get younger people involved in the political process before the November General Election. It’s an idea that has been tried before, twice in fact but each time it can’t seem to muster enough votes.
What Do You Think: Should the Voting Age Be Lowered & How Far?
(two entries will be chosen for publication in a future article)
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MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION for NEW PARISHIONERS
February 1, 2008 at 6:30 PM, Parish Center.Please join us as we welcome the newest members of our Parish Family at the Third Annual St. John the Evangelist Mardi Gras Celebration. Join us for fine food and good cheer on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center. Please call Gert Anthony at 215 925 3511 or email her at ganthony@palmnet.org. Please respond by January 30th.
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January 28, 2008 |
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January 28, 2008 |
Guiliani Hypocrite. El Ningún Embromar.
The Philadelphia Weekly points out some inconsistencies in Rudy’s ideologies on their blog this week. Remember when Mr. Guliani came to town to support Geno’s “Speak English” sign? Well he was in Florida recently giving a speech in… you guessed it, Spanish.
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St. Stephens Hosts Talk Dharma
On February 15, 2008, we'll be providing the venue for Talk Dharma, a Buddhist lecture by Master Thich Thien Son along with some Zen Workshops. The session will be from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.
For more information visit www.phathue.com. 19 South Tenth Street
(Tenth Street below Market Street) |
January 28, 2008
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ChatNoir
An addicting puzzle game, where the objective is to fence in the cat before he escapes off the board. Everytime you click a spot and turn it dark the cat gets to move a space.
Click Here to Play. |
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January 25th, 2008
Septa has put in an order for 400 brand new hybrid buses for the city. The new vehicles claim to improve fuel economy by 75%, run much quieter and have lower maintenance costs. Tired of sucking on black smoke after a bus rolls through? Well the new hybrids will reduce the emissions on those smoke stacks so that you don’t have to wash your face after walking down the street. Look for the first 100 buses this year and the rest by 2011.
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Hybrid Buses: Septa Goes a Shade Green
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January 25th, 2008
Pig Iron presents: |
A “FOR THE LOVE OF PIG IRON” EVENT
THE SWINING PIG IRON’S FIRST INTENTIONALLY SCARY
BENEFIT CABARET AND AUCTION
January 25, 2008 * The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.
DOORS @ 7PM/SHOW @ 8PM
$20 General Admission/$25 Day-of
$50 VIP Preferred seating and recpetions sold out.
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Technology Confused: Google “Street View” Maps |
January 25th, 2008
There seems to be a theme running through major news outlets and that is, “If it has something to do with the internet, it will confuse and harm you.” To be honest it’s no different than the usual news reported, murders, blood, bombs and violent teenagers. So I really shouldn’t have been surprised by John McDevvitt’s article this week on KYW1060.com. |
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Google Maps gained notoriety from it’s Satellite, top down, views of the world which allow you to see all over the world as well as your back yard. The news media and people who have never even used the web application went on and on about how it was an invasion of privacy. How dare Google let people see their back yards in a completely blurry and non-detailed way. What I mean to say is, you couldn’t tell a lawn chair from a sandbox and people worried about Russians scouting their Elementary Schools for bomb targets. This is what I call “Web Scare Tactics” and it goes on and on and on…
So “Street View” is exactly what it sounds like, Google hired some guys to drive a truck with 360 degree mounted cameras all over it. The truck stopped every 20-30 feet and took a picture, which was then taken and compiled with thousands of other photos and put into the “Street View” maps. Google has only done it once and is still missing many streets in the city but you can get a pretty good view of most of the homes and storefronts along the truck’s route.
Can you see license plates, people’s faces, window locks or which streets have litter on them? Sure can. Should people be worried about their privacy being threatened by this? Not at all. So what if you can see your face in the highly unlikely case that your photo was taken by the truck? What is someone going to do with a photo of you on the street? Photoshop you so that your wearing a Tutu and email it to your family? Was your license plate photographed inadvertently? Do you really think someone is going to run down your plate and show up at your house saying, “Ah HA! You were on Google Street View!!! I have you now!” This is just silly and the media tries to make a revolutionary tool like Google Maps out to be some sort of Big Brother conspiracy. Come on people, how is one photograph in any way like Big Brother, it’s not like there are cameras posted on every street corner.
What is vastly overlooked is the incredible potential of this technology to the shop owner and resident of the city. You can now send people to Google Maps for directions and be able to give them photo quality landmarks right to your stoop. Antique Row could create a link on their website to take a Google Street View Walking Tour, actually see the shops and store fronts instead of a block of text with addresses. Google even allows you to make your own maps, if you have a Google account and login, go to the Maps page and click on the My Maps option, the video tutorial will walk you through the process.
So to recap: Google Street View (Good), Slanted News (Bad).
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Restaurant Week is Upon Us
The next Center City District Restaurant Week will take place January 27 - February 1, 2008. Participating Center City restaurants will offer a minimum of 3 courses for only $35† per person. And participating parking facilities offer diners discounted rates.
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January 24th, 2008
Absolute Abstract Video Tour
David White and James McManaman (co-owners of Absolute Abstract) have put together a video tour of their business, explaining a little bit about what they do.
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January 24th, 2008 |
Review of TRIA on
"The Great Cheese Quest"
Local Blogger and Cheese connoisseur KWest was at last night's "Neighborhood Nights with Washington Square West Civic Association" and has written a clever article about... you guessed it, cheese.
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Remembering Bill Way
It’s the 20th Anniversary of Bill Ways death and the center will be holding a remembrance get together this Thursday. A discussion of Bill’s role in the development of Philly’s LGBT community and his activism efforts will be presented and a panel of people who knew Bill will be present. This is a FREE reception and all are welcome to attend.
William Way Center
1315 Spruce St.
January 24th
6.30PM
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January 23rd, 2008  |
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January 23rd, 2008
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – PLAYLIST
Click the link to go to a playlist of Dr. King’s greatest hits.
Link. |
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Greater Philadelphia Professional Network
Monthly Meeting will be held at Knock on Wednesday. Complimentary appetizers, door prizes and lots of Networking in the LGBT friendly Community. Bring a Business card.
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January 23rd, 2008  |
ABOUT GPPN:
GPPN's mission is to provide a social, career and business development channel for the gay and lesbian professional community. |
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January 23rd, 2008
House
Defense budget. Members approved, 369-46, a $649 billion defense budget for fiscal 2008. The bill replaces a version vetoed by President Bush over language subjecting today's Iraqi government to lawsuits based on acts by Saddam Hussein.
A yes vote was to send HR 4986 to the Senate.
Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.),
Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.),
Michael N. Castle (R., Del.),
Charles W. Dent (R., Pa.)
Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.),
Tim Holden (D., Pa.),
Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.),
Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.),
Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.),
Jim Saxton (R., N.J.),
Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.),
Joe Sestak (D., Pa.),
Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.).
Voting no: Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.). |
How Did Your Candidate Vote?
By THOMAS VOTING REPORTS
House
Mine safety. Members passed, 214-199, a bill to impose new health and safety rules on U.S. mine operators. The bill also would launch a study into whether to begin federal licensing of mines and set the stage for the possible drug and alcohol testing of miners.
A yes vote backed HR 2768.
Voting yes: Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.),
Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.),
Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.),
Tim Holden (D., Pa.),
Frank A. LoBiondo (R., N.J.),
Patrick Murphy (D., Pa.),
Allyson Y. Schwartz (D., Pa.),
Joe Sestak (D., Pa.)
Christopher H. Smith (R., N.J.
Voting no: Michael N. Castle (R., Del.),
Charles W. Dent,
Jim Gerlach (R., Pa.),
Joseph R. Pitts (R., Pa.)
Jim Saxton (R., N.J.)
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January 21st, 2008
Amtrak Avoids Strike
Thankfuly Amtrak reached a deal with it's employees over back wages that were owed them. The deal spanned over nine unions and is seen as breath of releaf for commuters all over the area. Let's hear it for trains with bathrooms and a pleasing atmosphere, hip hip...
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January 18th, 2008
Register to Vote!
Pennsylvania: Click here for application
(must be postmarked by March 22d for April 22, 2008 primary)
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KYW NEWS
Public Meetings On Philadelphia's Future
Pennsylvania Convention Center: January 22nd
Philadelphia's Planning Commission hosted its second of five
community meetings aimed at creating a blueprint for a better
city.
The meetings are dubbed "Imagine Philadelphia," and they're
being held in neighborhoods across the city to get feedback from
residents. Acting Executive Director of the City Planning
Commission Gary Jastrzab:
For more information. |
January 18th, 2008
"We'll be using the information from these meetings along with
our own research to prepare a series of technical, we've been
calling them 'white papers', identifying issues and concerns and
opportunities for the city."
The most recent meeting was held in Port Richmond. Three other
meetings are planned for this month.
They'll be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on the
22nd, Germantown on the 29th, and Roxborough on January 31st. |
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WsquareW.com believes weekends are for fun, a time to
decompress, so you won’t find any news or annoucments
on Saturdays or Sundays. Instead play some games and
if you really are jonesing for serious stuff scroll down or
look in the News Archive. |
What is the perimeter of the 5 circles? |
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The diameter of the big circle is 40 inches. What is the total circumferences of all 5 circles? Assume the line segment passes through all the center of the circles.> |
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Sodoku
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What is the perimeter of the 5 Circles?
A: The circumference of the big circle is 2 x 3.14159 x 20 = 125.6636.
The total of all small radiuses is equal to the big radius. The sum is 125.6636 x 2 = 251.3272
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January 18th, 2008
MakePhilly will feature guest speaker Don
Miller (also known as NO CARRIER)
Date: *THIS* Sunday, January 20th
Time: ** 3PM SHARP **
Location:
University of the Arts,
333 S. Broad Street, Anderson
Hall, 4th Floor [MAP]
Cost: $5 donation suggested
RSVP: Required for this meeting (email first & last name to
makephilly@gmail)
The next meeting of MakePhilly will feature guest speaker Don
Miller (also known as NO CARRIER) who creates fast paced,
colorful visuals for live music events and interactive art
installations by hacking 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System
(NES) consoles with custom programmed cartridges.
What We're Going To Make
This meeting's challenge will be to create original graphics on
a PC (windows) computer using software that will emulate the
graphics on a real NES. Challengers will also have the chance to
use software to hack an NES ROM to view and alter graphics. If
you have a PC laptop please bring it to the challenge. The
software will be provided to you at the meeting.
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January 18th, 2008
Register to Vote!
Pennsylvania: Click here for application
(must be postmarked by March 22d for April 22, 2008 primary)
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KYW NEWS
Public Meetings On Philadelphia's Future
Pennsylvania Convention Center: January 22nd
Philadelphia's Planning Commission hosted its second of five
community meetings aimed at creating a blueprint for a better
city.
The meetings are dubbed "Imagine Philadelphia," and they're
being held in neighborhoods across the city to get feedback from
residents. Acting Executive Director of the City Planning
Commission Gary Jastrzab:
For more information. |
January 18th, 2008
"We'll be using the information from these meetings along with
our own research to prepare a series of technical, we've been
calling them 'white papers', identifying issues and concerns and
opportunities for the city."
The most recent meeting was held in Port Richmond. Three other
meetings are planned for this month.
They'll be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on the
22nd, Germantown on the 29th, and Roxborough on January 31st. |
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January 18th, 2008
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Residents Beware: "Locked Out" Scam
There have been several reports of a con man in the area. He
knocks at the door claiming that he has locked himself out of
the house and needs to use a phone to call his wife who is at
work. He has said his name is Dennis, he is in his mid/late
fifties, African-American with greying hair. He then requests
cab fare to get to where his wife works. If this individual
should knock at your door, please offer to call 911 or a
locksmith, but do not give him money. Call 911 as soon as he
leaves, with a description of what he is wearing.
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People’s Plaza:
Protesters Now Have a Place to Call Home
If you ever had the hankering to go and protest something, anything at all, now you have a public forum to do it. Independence Park has just opened up the People’s Plaza, between 5th and 6th Streets on the south side of Market Street, a granite and marble slab with the First Amendment carved into its surface.
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January 17th, 2008
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You still need a permit to protest here, just like any other mass gathering in Philadelphia. So if you don’t mind paying $50 for your basic constitutional freedom, go for it!
Obtain A Permit |
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Street Cleaning Continues Throughout Neighborhood
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January 17th, 2008
Washington Square West Civic and Center City District have arranged, for the past 4 months for a clean-up service to sweep sidewalks the day after trash pick-up.
This service has been wildly popular and so has been extended until July, when current funding will dry up. The WSWCA is currently seeking more funding to continue this great service.
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January 17th, 2008
Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Sundays
Rainbow Buddhist Meditation Sundays, 5 pm For Buddhists and those interested in Buddhism. Meditation & discussion. Free.
William Way Center
1315 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Rainbow Buddhist Meditation
Starting Time: 5pm
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Washington Square West: Town Watch
Looking for Patrol Coordinator
Tim Bosworth is looking for someone to become patrol coordinator for the local Town Watch Program
. Anyone who wishes for more information about what’s required can get in touch with him via phone at 215-219-5825.
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January 16th, 2008
Taxi Fare Hike is Coming Into Effect
Yet again the city taxis are increasing their Per-Mile Rate because of the rising cost of gasoline. Though it’s been quoted as a ‘nominal’ increase riders will start feeling it in their pocket books, over time. The Parking Authority has scheduled a Public Hearing on this plan for Thursday Morning (9am) at the PA Convention Center (Room # 108-B).
Rate Increase:
Charges per mile will go from $2.10 to $2.30
A ride to the Airport will go from $26.25 to $28.50
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| January 16th, 2008
Help Bring Public Use Bicycles to the Streets of Philadelphia.
Bike Share Philadelphia Public Forum
Thursday, January 17th at 6:30PM
The Academy of Natural Sciences
The Urban Sustainability Forum Series.
The forum features speakers from Lyon France’s Vélov, Pittsburgh’s Dasani Blue Bikes and Humana Hospitals’ Freewheelin’ programs. |
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Fire Commissioner
Lloyd Ayers
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January 16th, 2008
Interview With Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers
KYW 1060AM has done an interview with one of the few higher placed officials in the city that survived Nutter’s re-organization. Get to know more about what the Fire Commissioner is charged to do and his future plans for the city.
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January 14th, 2008
 Zoning & Governmental Affairs Meeting Date Changed New Date for Public Meeting:
January 22nd, 7PM
Agenda
1) 1319 South Street
2) 910-932 Chestnut Street- Subway Sandwiches
3) 910-932 Chestnut Street- Kinkos w/ FedEx
4) 513 S. 9th Street
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January 14th, 2008
Take A Video Tour of Seger Playground
A great place to bring your kids to play, Seger Playground has swings, slides, tennis, basketball and a dog park. WSW is happy to bring you these videos of the Neighborhood as a window into our community.
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Interactive Map:
Coffee & Book Walk
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WsquareW.com is in Need of:
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Dear Visitor,
With great pride I bring to you the labor of many months of thought, care and cups of coffee, WsquareW.com a Community Website for the Washington Square West Neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Contained within this website are handy Moving Guides, Living & Entertainment Guides, Interactive Maps (containing walks and points of interest), Local Business Listings & Profiles, Local Resources, Classifieds and Featured Neighborhood News. This is not just any old website however; this is a fully functioning and interactive online location. Your ideas and suggestions help craft the shape and direction that this website will take; it exists to fulfill the gap between community groups and residents.
Above all, the goal of WsquareW.com is to improve the Washington Square West Community, supporting this website helps support the neighborhood as a whole. Expect to see events, announcements, round-table discussions and more in the weeks to come. I hope you're as excited as I am.
~Alex Seigfried, Founder |
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Year: 2008
Month: January | Febuary | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
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