Christmas at Wanamaker's (Macy's) in Philadelphia

by Emily Steinberg

It was bustling and festive in Macy's today as last minute shoppers packed the old Wanamaker Department store at 13th & Market. Wanamaker's was built in 1896 in grand Italianate style with a large, three story central atrium. It was the first department store in Philadelphia and one of the first in the United States. In 1956, the Christmas Holiday light show was introduced and it had been a favorite of Philadelphians old and young for generations. Even though the business was sold in 1995, it still remains the Wanamaker Building in the imagination of the city.

Not To Beat A Dead Duck.....

Tony Auth Philadelphia Inquirer 12/20/2010

by Emily Steinberg

Yes, PhillyPOV is a bit obsessed about the Duck Boats, but there was such a great editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer today about the ongoing controversy, I just had to share. It called on the Nutter Administration to listen to Philadelphian residents and just say no to inflicting the Duck Boat insanity on the Schuylkill River. It appears they are still mulling over the situation. Mayor Nutter, this is a no brainer...let it go! Read the editorial, I hope the Mayor will.

Ducks Plan Doesn't Fly

Alex Katz at PMA

Alex Katz

Red Smile

1963

by Emily Steinberg

There is a great little show at the Philadelphia Museum of art right now. Five paintings by Alex Katz, contemporary American figure painter, are on view on the first floor of the museum. I was very surprised and happy to see them. My favorite one is called Summer Tales from 2007. It is very large, approx. 8' x 16', and contains figures on a sea of red. (The painting above is not in the show, but is an example of the artist's work.) Katz was painting from life in the 1950's when the art world was consumed with abstraction. His work is minimal, elegant and arresting. Go see it!

Time For LCB To Go Down

photo/ 1 Serious Wine Dude

by Emily Steinberg

In yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer there was a great article on The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Governor-elect Tom Corbett's desire to get rid of it. Yes, I know, Philly:POV is supposed to be just about Philly, but this issue affects our city and so I'm focusing on it. It is time for this relic of the prohibition era, instituted in 1933, to go the way of all outdated laws. Yes I know there are issues about state workers losing their jobs, and yes I know the state makes a lot of money from this juggernaut, but come on.....it's time to join the modern age. Our fellow Americans, when visiting Philadelphia, are bemused by the faint odor of priggishness, not to mention Soviet era shopping flashbacks, upon entering our state stores. Do we really want to share the dubious distinction with Utah to be the only states who "completely control - no exceptions - both the distribution and the retail end of wine and spirits."

Read The Inquirer article: LCB's Epic Run Might Be Near End.

Action on the Parkway

(Parkway Webcam) Barnes Foundation

Rodin Museum Rejuvenation Project - OLIN landscape architects

by Emily Steinberg

More good news for Philly! The new home of The Barnes foundation is rising fast on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It is a bustling site and it's remarkable how fast it is taking shape. The Museum should be open to visitors by January 2012.

Happening across the street from the Barnes, on the Parkway, is the The Rodin Museum: Rejuvenation Project. The venerable museum is undergoing a thorough refurbishment of it's gardens and exterior landscaping by Olin Landscape Architects. Both projects will add enormously to the elegant profile of Philadelphia's most Parisian thoroughfare.

Race Street Pier

The new park will turn a vacant, one-acre pier just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge into a vibrant public space with trees, a promenade, a lawn, and a terrace — all with spectacular river views. (Images courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

by Emily Steinberg

In the cold dim light of December it's hard to visualize but, coming soon, in Spring 2011, The Race Street Pier will make it's reimagined debut as a park on Philadelphia's Delaware Waterfront. The new green space being built on the vacant Pier 11 and located at the base of Race Street just south of the Ben Franklin Bridge, is being designed by James Corner Field Operations, the firm who created the luscious High Line Park in New York City. The new pier park fits in nicely with the City's Parks and Recreation Department plan Green 2015.

The redesigned Race Street Pier is an early action project that is part of the Penn Praxis Plan Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Waterfront and the first public space to be built by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. It will be a hugely welcome addition to the rebirth of Philadelphia's Delaware Waterfront.

Related Articles:

Race Street Pier

Delaware River Waterfront Corporation Breaks Ground for the Race Street Pier

A Gorgeous New Riverfront Park Is Coming Soon to the Race Street Pier Along the Delaware Waterfront

Cliff and the Ducks

Photos/Wikipedia

by Emily Steinberg

Philly:POV usually doesn't cover sports....but this was way too big to pass on and great news for Philly! Cliff Lee is back and suiting up with the Phillies again. He turned down the Yanks for a chance to play and live here and we are ecstatic! Duck boats on the Schuylkill? Not so much. Last night 100 stalwart citizens braved the cold to attend a meeting hosted by The Schuylkill Park Alliance to voice their disapproval of Duck Boats coming to the Schuylkill. City Managing Director Richard Negrin listened to statements from the crowd. One woman asked, "Why are we being asked to absorb this with no benefit to our community?" Negrin responded, "People like the ducks." Really? I think you need to take another look at this Mr. Negrin.

Cliff Lee, good for Philly, Duck Boats.........come on guys.

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