“Good evening, M’am.” The gentleman startled me, as I did not hear him approach as I stood on the darkened street, outside a lovely Victorian era house. “Good evening,” I replied, “I was just admiring your home.” Thank you,” he responded, “but my wife deserves the credit. She did all the work.”

A rather pedestrian conversation, if not for the fact that the “gentleman” I was chatting with was actually an adorable little teddy bear wearing flannel pajamas and a wizard’s hat. (I didn’t dare ask the species of his wife.)

Have I neglected to mention that this chat was in text form, and taking place on my computer screen? Yep, it was just another evening in Second Life, the online 3-D virtual reality world that I have been visiting with all too much regularity.

Oh wait – how rude of me! I haven’t properly introduced myself. I am “Cyn Peccable,” a steampunk Victorian woman of little means but great reserve (or at least that’s how my Second Life profile reads.)

Um…yeah…seriously…I’m waaaay too into this.

But let he who is without a time-wasting hobby cast the first stone…keeping in mind that in Second Life, you could throw that stone haphazardly about in a glass house without breaking a single window -- cool!

Mixed imagery aside, my attraction to Second Life can be summed up in two words: no cellulite.

So, what’s a person to do with their nice cellulite-free avatar? Explore! Shop! Make friends while shopping! Shop! Try on the stuff you bought shopping!

And find a place to live.

While I’ve mastered shopping, and even have a “partner” (my real life husband, who signed on to Second Life just long enough to take me off the market) so far I’ve resisted the urge to settle down.

Not that I’m unfamiliar with others’ residences. While Cyn is a proper Victorian lady, it seems she is also quite the peeping Tom. I’ve peered into houses ranging from haunted to Architectural-Digest-ready.

I’ve seen clam shells for mermaids, post-apocalyptic sheds for those surviving an imaginary blast, and double-wide trailers for wannabe trash.

Not to mention a gigantic undersea rusted-metal seahorse/house that would set Jules Verne’s heart a-racing (if he weren’t dead, that is.)

And plain old normal stuff too. Sometimes a house is just a house.

With all this in mind, I set off to educate myself about the cost of Second Life housing. A quick search gave me the location of a sales area, appropriately named “Home Sweet Homes.” One mouse click later, I had teleported there. (Teleporting = fun!)

Materializing in the center of an expanse of neatly-trimmed grass (that never needs mowing), I found the landscape dotted with model houses of different sizes and styles. And each lot had a large sign stuck in the front yard; if you didn’t fancy the model sitting there, a click on the sign would materialize another in its place.

In a blink of an eye, I conjured up a large 3-story Victorian mansion, complete with wrap-around porch and turret…and an asking price of 6,000 Linden Dollars (the currency of Second Life.)

Oh, did I forget to mention that the exchange of (real) money is a very real part of this virtual world?

The 6,000 Linden price tag of my Victorian dream house translates to about $23 U.S. dollars. A bargain in real life, but pricey for the SL world. And I’m not sure if I’m ready to make that kind of commitment.

I mean, it’s lovely…but why be tasteful, when you can be tacky? Methinks a castle might be more suited to my flights of fancy. As a point of reference, I decide to check out Victoriana Castle, which bills itself as “The Most Beautiful Castle in SL.”

Holy Ice Princess, Batman! Blindingly white and overdone in every way imaginable – Victoriana Castle has more spires than I can count. Its curlicues have curlicues! My blood sugar level rises to a dangerous level, forcing a quick teleportation escape…

…to “Elite Estates” -- where one can buy a castle of more modest proportions. In fact 1,500 Lindens (about $6) will get me my very own a starter castle!

Unfortunately, “Dakota Castle” is unimaginatively rectangular –and its façade bears a strong resemblance to cinder block. I half-expected to find medieval-themed dinner theater going on inside. Instead, the interior was empty, if slightly dungeon-esque (which could be a positive, depending on what one is into.)

Still…hmmm…even cinderblock could be made cozy with the right furnishings. After all, isn’t décor what makes a house (or castle) a home?

So, a new mission – furniture shopping. To that end, I enlisted the companionship of my sister, AKA “Angelique Nightfire.”

We meet in the small but elegant showroom of “Capalini Fine Furnishings.” There we playfully threw our avatar-selves onto an extremely tasteful Federal style sofa; then each chose a side of a four-poster bed (and just as when we were children on family vacations, I threatened her with a karate chop if she strayed over to my side.)

Then somehow, we veered off course. The next thing I knew, we were wearing diver’s suits outside a pirate bar. Once inside said bar, Cyn put on a kimono and served Angelique a gin and tonic.

Such is the waking-dream semi-hallucinatory Second Life experience.

Leaving Angelique to nurse her virtual hangover, my next stop was the vast showroom of “Prim Goddess Creations,” which seemed prepared to fulfill my every interior decorating need…as well as needs I never knew I had. Like – what exactly is a “cuddle rug”?

(Leading to the philosophical question: Why do avatars feel a need to cuddle anyway?)

In the bedroom section, I spy a mahogany sleigh bed just like the one in my real life bedroom (except in SL, the bed is made.)

And over there -- toilets! I can’t resist the urge to walk into a bathroom display and touch the handle. It flushes! (Or more accurately, the picture of water in the bowl rotates in a clockwise fashion for a few seconds.)

Very amusing, but does it sell? In all my spying into virtual houses, I have never encountered one with a bathroom – for good reason. A virtual bathroom would only prove a rude reminder of the real life bathroom that one should be cleaning instead trying on that dreamy flowing gown.

So…bye-bye Prim Goddess!

But then I find myself in a store called “Dust Bunny”…

...prompting a glance towards the real life dust creatures forming at my feet. Seems no matter how hard one tries, some things (like housework and Britney Spears) are inescapable. Sigh.

After all my “research,” I conclude it’s easier (and cheaper) to keep my avatar homeless.

Thus resigned, I fly off to a small deserted island I’d scoped out on an earlier expedition; where a creative somebody-I’ve-never-met has turned a lighthouse into their home, complete with a life-sized (and very cuddle-able) stuffed bunny sitting by the bed.

By afternoon’s end, my avatar lies stretched out on a pillow-laden hammock by the water’s edge. All alone, save a small squirrel darting around the base of a nearby tree. It eyes Cyn suspiciously, but I don’t care.

Ah, yes…(virtual) life is good.

(If you made it here, to the end of the article, first of all, congratulations on your perseverance! Secondly, if you look closely in the last snapshot, you'll see the "squirrel" of the article was really a tiny rabbit. But I thought I had just one too many bunnies in my tale, and there is a SL squirrel that I'm fairly certain has been stalking me...so...

Hey, it's all pretend anyway!)

(To learn more about Second Life: http://www.secondlife.com/)

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities
May 1 – December 31, 2008

Philadelphia, PA – Cliveden of the National Trust presents Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities, an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the construction the Walnut Lane Bridge. The exhibition, open from May 1st to December 31, 2008, will present monthly programming documenting the arduous effort to construct and preserve the bridge.

Finished in 1908, the Walnut Lane Bridge was the longest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time. Connecting the Roxborough and Germantown communities in Northwest Philadelphia, many drivers pass across the bridge too quickly too even notice its beauty. The view from underneath the bridge, however, has inspired many artists and writers, such as Christopher Morley and Troy Sayers.

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities will feature highlights from a newly discovered collection of lantern slides which document the construction of the bridge from 1906 -1908. Designed by area artist Keith Ragone, the exhibit will feature drawings from the City of Philadelphia Department of Bridges, contemporary newspaper accounts, and rare photographs from descendants of bridge construction workers. In addition, modern photographs and works of art will be on display, including original work by Sayers which highlights the bridge’s enduring beauty.

The exhibition is free to the general public. Visitors are encouraged to join the Walnut Lane Bridge Club, which will allow them to get into all of the year’s bridge programs at a single, one-time $10 fee. Bridge Club funds will be used to support ongoing efforts to clean up around the bridge and preserve its history

An exclusive exhibition preview and reception event will take place at Cliveden on Sunday, April 27th at 3:00PM. The preview event is available to the general public as a cost of $25, RSVP only.

For further exhibition information, visit the Walnut Lane Bridge Blog at www.waluntlanebridge.org or call Cliveden at 215-848-1777.

Cliveden is located at 6401 Germantown Avenue and is open for tours April to December, Thursday – Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Regular tour admission rates apply for Cliveden house tours.

For us, this is breaking news. The citizens of Ardmore and Lower Merion have been at this seemingly forever....that being said:

The Save Ardmore Coaltion is shocked at the following press release just discovered on the Lower Merion Township Website! What is even more interesting? We are wondering as a group who sends representatives to the Ardmore Ad Hoc Meetings, why it is we weren't notified (a)prior to the press release going up on the township website www.lowermerion.org (b) at the same time the press release was posted and sent out.

What is going on in Ardmore? What does this mean for our town? What developer will we get now? First ArcWheeler pulls out of that Daylesford/Paoli project a couple few weeks back, now EBL&S pulls out of Ardmore? We will note the press release cites downturn in credit markets, which is a no brainer, as our economy is in the toilet...but is there something more to this story?

Sign us waiting and watching very closely. And very curious. Also note this developer has bailed during the negotiate the contract phase.

Lower Merion Township: EBL & S Withdraws from Negotiations for Ardmore Transit Center and Business District Revitalization
Next Steps to be Discussed at March 5th Committee Meeting
Posted Date: 3/4/2008 8:38 AM

The EBL & S development team, which had been chosen in January by the Board of Commissioners to enter into negotiations with the Township for the Ardmore Transit Center and Business District Revitalization Project, has withdrawn from the negotiation process. The recent downturn in the credit markets was cited by EBL&S as the reason to discontinue talks with the Township.

Honestly, what is up with the Historic Landmark that is the Philadelphia Inquirer Building?

Read what Inga Saffron has to say on February 25th

Patriot Equities may not have fully sewn up the deal to buy the Inquirer Building, as Publisher Brian Tierney says in today's Daily News, but I'd wager a year's subscription to the Inquirer (what can I say, I'm partisan) that the building's two newsrooms aren't going to be packing up and leaving anytime soon. Philadelphia Media Holdings, which bought the Inquirer and Daily News in 2006, put the landmark white tower on the block last August. While no official price was disclosed, developers said the original number was upwards of $60 million.

It's not clear how much Patriot, a Wayne company that was assembled by alumni from Mike O'Neill's Preferred Real Estate, is offering now, but many suspect the sale price will be much less. The big question now is what will Patriot do for PMH. We know that Patriot specializes in lease-back deals. For all Tierney's broad hints about being courted by New Jersey Gov. Corzine for a a high-profile spot on the Camden waterfront, one suspects the talks are nothing more than a strategic flirtation. Why else would architects from H2L2 be prowling the newsroom here all last week, with clipboards and blueprints in hand? They're getting ready to renovate.

Now see this thing from the Daily News:

Deal or no deal? Tierney disputes report of newspaper building's sale
By STEPHANIE FARR
Philadelphia Daily News
farrs@phillynews.com 215-854-4225

A Delaware County real-estate investment and development firm has emerged as the leading suitor for the venerable Daily News and Inquirer building, at Broad and Callowhill streets.

Two officers of Patriot Equities LP, of Wayne, said yesterday that a deal had been reached, under which both newspapers would remain in the building and share it with other tenants.

But Philadelphia Media Holdings chief executive Brian Tierney cautioned that negotiations were just beginning.

"We're negotiating, but until a deal's a deal, it's not a deal," Tierney said. "We're not negotiating with anyone else, and we're not soliciting any other offers, but there's no definitive agreement."

Patriot Equities, which specializes in underutilized corporate real estate, was among 300 developers nationwide that had expressed interest after the building was put on the market last year, Tierney said.

And we'll throw this out there: what's up with what we saw on the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia website?

From where in the world is that photo taken you ask? Well, the man, the myth, the legend B Love from PhillySkyline took a tour of the restoration efforts atop City Hall.

Inside the gigantic sculpture he went. Out of the hat he shot. Touched the hand of the Penn behind Pennsylvania he did. He's got an amazing photo essay with 72 shots from the top.

Incredible work as usual.

Photo: Brad Maule - PhillySkyline.com

Yo! I live in Fairmount. The home I have originally had two doors. I believe these were called Philadelphia Doors. The old doors were replaced by a single steel door. I want to replace the steel door with an original looking set of doors.
The big box stores do not carry them.
I have seen on 24th, 25th, Brown and Aspen etc. New wood double doors. Where were they purchased?

Thanks for the information.

Joe

I had the pleasure of climbing up to the 55th floor of the not yet finished Comcast Center on Tuesday August 7, 2007. I went on a tour with Liberty Property Trust and I had my camera and all my goodies in tote for the journey. We were about 900' up at the highest point and as low as the concourse which will eventually join up with Suburban Station.

The 55th floor is right above the cutout when looking at the southern face of the Comcast Center. Windows have yet to be installed on that floor giving photographers [me!] an unobstructed view of the city as never seen before. It was surprisingly calm up there. I was expecting it to be breezy, but the air was almost as calm and dead as it was at ground level on that 95°F day.

Above is a 180° panorama from the 55th floor facing south. You can see the two I-beams at either end of the photo covered with fireproofing (I'm pretty sure that's what it is). From left to right, you can see the Delaware River, City Hall, Liberty Towers, Mellon Bank Center, IBX building and the Schuylkill River. My photos from the tour start here. Enjoy!

"Stories From Reading Terminal Market" is a project by Marisa McClellan to "to collect stories, memories, recipes and fond recollections from the experiences of individuals at Reading Terminal Market". It's off to a terrific start.

The Last Brick: How Architecture Critics Shape America’s Buildings and Places
Friday, May 4th at 6 pm at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Inquirer Architecture Critic and blogger Inga Saffron offers a rare public lecture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday evening, May 4th, to talk about her profession and why she feels it is her job to advocate for good buildings and places, and maintaining quality of life in urban areas - particularly here in Philadelphia. Saffron will discuss and share images of projects she deems worthy of being called “good” - and some she doesn’t. Saffron's popular 'Changing Skyline' column, and her 'Skyline Online' blog trace current news and developments in Philly architecture. (http://changingskyline.blogspot.com/). Her talk is presented by Collab, the Group for Modern and Contemporary Design at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Tickets are $20 adults/$11 students/$5 for museum members. For more info. or to purchase tickets call at 215-235-SHOW (7469), or visit: www.philamuseum.org

If you've read her stuff you'll know that she's got some great insights into city planning, what makes 'great' buildings and cities, and just overall urban quality of life. Especially these days, with all the talk of casinos and the role that planning can and should play in Philadelphia's future, I think she'll have a lot to say. Inga's talk is being presented by Collab, the group for modern and contemporary design here at the art museum.

On Monday the 9th at the Free Library, the Design Advocacy Group held a forum on Design for Community and Quality of Life. It was a well attended forum with a packed house of I'd say 250 - 300 people. Dwight Evans, Chaka Fattah and Michael Nutter were the only ones there. Bob Brady and Tom Knox were not there and neither of them have an events section on their site to see why they were not present. Republican candidate Al Taubenberger was supposed to be there too, but was a no show.

News Item:
Group files suit to stop 9-11 memorial

Liberty State Park, along the Hudson River, in New Jersey, is where the memorial is to be built. The site for the memorial [called Empty Sky] is opposite lower Manhatten, where the World Trade Center once stood, and aligns itself across the river with that location. The 'Friends of Liberty State Park' claim construction of the memorial will block their view of the New York City skyline, which means their gripe is most likely about property value.

Looking at the layout of the project on the FSA website [linked below], I just don't see it. Overall height of the memorial tops out at 30 feet, and it sits on the water's edge in the park, quite a distance from any residential dwelling, far enough from the nearest hi-rise that seeing beyond it is no problem. Makes one wonder what is really behind the complaint.

Full Story: CNS News
Architects Renderings: FSA

Cartoon from Sid in the City

Well, perhaps this tests the definition of a "blog entry", but I figured it might be of interest.

I have recently started a new webpage:

photophilly.com

Essentially, we have divided the city into 234 1 square mile gridcells, and the plan is to visit each gridpoint and take a bunch of pictures, giving us a real chance to explore all of Philadelphia. In addition, we're including some of our favorite restaurants, "extras", some philly "green" options, neighborhood boundaries, and the like. Comments and suggestions are appreciated, but please remember that it's a work in progress. We use the googlemap api, so I think you'll find it very slick and fancy.

Thus far, we've gotten 51 of the points, predominantly in center city and the manyunk/roxborough area. Don't worry, we'll soon be coming to your neighborhood! (Come to think of it, that sounds rather ominous).

Sincerely,

Dave

Never Before Seen Images Tell the Story of Philadelphia and its Industry, Culture, People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2007

PHILADELPHIA – From the building of City Hall, to the oldest church in Pennsylvania, to American’s most historic penitentiary, the Philadelphia Department of Records holds the country’s largest municipal archive of historic photographs, totaling over 2 million images.

Here we are again...talking about 254 Righters Mill Road.

From our friends in Gladwyne yesterday, we had an update:

The proposed development of 254 Righters Mill Rd., Gladwyne will be heard by the HARB on FEB 6 at 8 AM.

The developer has submitted a Historic Resources Impact Study to HARB, dated January 2007, that was prepared by Mr. George E. Thomas Ph.D.

In part the report refers to the applicant's need for the income that would be generated by the construction of the three new rear houses to restore the front house. Is this what they call a self-inflicted economic hardship?

The HARB will have to sift through the report to determine the impact of any alteration of this Class 1 property on the Gladwyne Historic District.

Are we surprised in the least by the tone of the report of the compensated expert? No not really. After all, a hired gun is a hired gun.

Are we surprised that a man as renowned as Dr. Thomas would do this? (and we assume this is the same gent) Depends.

Main Line Life has published a very well written letter from the residents of Rugby Road in Bryn Mawr:

Main Line Life: Our neighborhood doesn't need to be developed

12/22/2006
To the Editor:

There's something about walking down a street looking at Christmas lights on the houses and realizing that it is the last time you will see them displayed this way.

Our small "Brynford" neighborhood along Rugby Road, in the hidden corner of Haverford Township is about to be changed permanently.

Four beautiful homes, a stone colonial, a stucco tudor home, a brick colonial, and a smaller brick home are about to become a "Levittown" of at least eight cookie cutter homes. Our hidden gem, which many of you pass through on the way to Main Line Nautilus, is about to get an unwelcome facelift.