I can't help but feel badly for the people organizing Philly's annual Welcome America events. With all the Live 8 hoopla, these events have been pushed down into nothing more than background noise.
All week, movies are being shown on the Art Museum steps, last night was Rocky II. Thursday, there's an arts festival on the Avenue of the Arts section of Broad Street. Ruben Studdard was supposed to play a show at Penn's Landing Saturday. Has Studdard been cancelled? It all culminates with an Elton John concert, and fireworks on the 4th.
If nothing else, this year's Live 8 competition might motivate the Welcome America crew to liven up next year's festivities a bit. And maybe even add blogging to their marketing plan.
Don't feel bad
From all I can tell, Welcome America is a poorly run, joke of a non-profit. Think of a tourist non-profit version of PGW, PHA or RDA.
It was supposed to save the City money. Instead, it is just another spot for cronies to collect checks.
Check this out, from Hallwatch.
An old PW article
There's also this PW article from last September with some more info.
An organization that could be
An organization that could be used to better the city is really just a mismanaged money pit? Who could have guessed that would happen in Philly?
Thanks for the links guys, very interesting.
Nice Fireworks
A mismanaged money pit? - Yes. But they do put on a nice fireworks show.
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