A Phestive Philadelphia Tradition

You can’t miss it. Garlands of pine spotted with brilliant red bows twist up street lamps; festive window displays are adorned with scarves, snowflakes, and sweaters; songs of the season echo throughout restaurants and retailers; and is it just me, or do we all have an extra bounce in our step, a wider smile on our face? The holidays are here, and with them come traditions, both old and new.

The annual holiday light show at Macy’s has been a Philadelphia tradition since 1955— and a Wertz/Sibley family tradition since 1981, when my grandparents and parents first bundled up my older sister for a three generation trip into the big city for the holiday light-and-sound spectacular in the historic Wanamaker building.

A tradition I was born into is still a tradition I look forward to each year. Our group has grown from two toddlers dressed in identical smocked dresses to herds of strollers as cousins joined, to awkward teens “forced” to attend, and now to young professionals and adults. With it, the wonder, magic, and appreciation have also grown as the ballerinas, toy soldiers, and reindeer dance to classic carols across the four-story screen boasting more than 100,000 LED lights.

Last year, a new Philadelphia, and Wertz/Sibley family, tradition emerged— the impressive and innovative Comcast Holiday Spectacular, a vivid holiday LED light show on one of the largest HDTVs in the world, located in the lobby of Philadelphia’s Comcast Center. The Nutcracker comes to life, ice skaters sweep across the screen, a children’s choir performs holiday favorites, and you embark on a souring journey over Philadelphia at night and through a snow-covered forest. The word on the street is this year’s show has even managed to top last year’s, as the spectacular is now in 3-D.

Establish your own tradition this year. Start at the Comcast Center with the futuristic Holiday Spectacular, then walk down JFK Boulevard, pass through City Hall— you can even stop at Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall for the first Christmas Village—and for the finale, gaze in awe at the Macy’s Holiday Light Show that dates back half a century.

The two light shows combine to create a truly magical holiday experience and Philadelphia tradition, one that I hope to pass from generation to generation. Each season, as Santa arrives to hear wish lists, twinkling holiday lights are switched on, and the first snow begins to fall, I know it is time for another year, another light show, another memory.                                       -Meredith Wertz

Wonder Behind the Walls

Sean Kelly was one of my best employees ever: creative, engaged, articulate and energetic. So when he left the Prince Music Theater to make the Eastern State Penitentiary a tourist attraction, I knew that this forgotten Philadelphia landmark was in good hands.

Years later, I saw Sean on the History Channel and wondered what had become of America’s first prison designed specifically for penitence. This weekend I discovered the wonders of religion, architecture, sports and legend that are held behind those massive stone walls.

Envisioned by a group of Quakers who believed that jail was a place to inspire true regret, Eastern State’s legendary spoke and wheel design started with a design contest, with a $100 prize for the winning architect. The excellent audio tour, included with admission, offers 40 minutes of fascinating details like that one. You’ll also hear how prison guards wore socks over their shoes to maintain the atmosphere of total silence and that the single circular skylight in each cell was called the ‘eye of God.’

Venture through the maze of cellblocks and you discover stories of notable inmates. Sure, there’s Al Capone, whose cell sported a wood desk, silk lampshade and red bedspread.

There’s Slick Willie Sutton, the notorious bank robber. My personal favorite? Pep the Dog who was incarcerated for killing the Governor of Pennsylvania’s cat (no one could make up that one up!)

An avid baseball fan, I was intrigued with the story of how drugs were smuggled into the prison during the 1960s in baseballs hit over the stone wall and then thrown back by fans—or was it drug dealers?

Is Eastern State haunted? A stop on the audio tour whispers details that send a shiver down your back, even if it isn’t Halloween.

Open almost every day of the year, Eastern State Penitentiary is a fortress of discovery that will leave you wondering ‘how soon can we come back?’    -Bev Volpe

Talkin’ Turkey

There’s nothing quite like Thanksgiving. The family get-togethers, the giant turkey and enough overeating to put an elephant in a coma. It’s also time for another one of Philadelphia’s great traditions: The Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Dating back to 1920, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade is the nation's oldest. That’s right – it all started here in the City of Brotherly Love. Beautiful floats and giant balloons are escorted down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with dance teams and musical performances kicking-off the official start of the holiday season in grand style. And what Thanksgiving Day Parade would be complete without Santa!

The parade starts at 8:30 tomorrow and lasts until Noon. It’s a great event to watch from the comfort of home, but there’s nothing quite like being there. And with temperatures reaching the 60’s tomorrow, there’s no excuse! And the Boy Scouts will be collecting food for the needy during the parade, so make sure to bring a non-perishable food item too.

As a one-time participant in the Mummers Parade, I know the importance of these great events to Philadelphia. They’re part of our identity and a wonderful opportunity to get together and celebrate as a community. To be truly thankful for what we have, and to strive for better days ahead. The parade route may be shorter, but the outpouring of goodwill and caring are just as big.

- Frank Sinatra

Penang Packs a Philly Punch of Flavor

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, a City that’s known for its chain restaurants. In fact, Columbus may be the birth place of the most chain restaurants. I even grew up with a red-headed Wendy whose Dad, Dave Thomas, started the eponymous food chain.

In high school I worked at two chains; Ponderosa Steak House, where I rotated the salad bar and Friendly’s, where I was a grill cook.

Formulaic food can be tasty if it’s prepared exactly according to the manual but it’s usually a little pricey and what’s good about it is bad about it, it’s predictable and rarely spicy or served hot!

Philadelphia is a bottomless pit of exciting, inexpensive eateries to discover. I love how you can eat on the cheap and there’s always a new place to try. Anyone who knows me knows I love to stuff my face and for me it’s often all about the food.

Penang on 10th in between Arch and Race Streets in the heart of Philadelphia’s China Town is one of my favorites. It’s Malaysian. The dishes are delectable and the combination of Asian and Indian flavors is over-the-top fabulous. My husband and I had lunch there last Friday. For $28.30, including the tip, we enjoyed Roti Toleur, ($5.50,) which we always order. It’s a “traditional Indian pancake with egg and onion served with curry chicken dipping sauce.” We also had Spicy Crispy Squid ($9.50,) tentacles in chef’s special sauce – which is sort of black and gooey sweet and sour coating – and, Chow Kueh Teow ($7.50,) Malaysian Stir Fry Flat Rice Noodle with Shrimp, Bean Sprouts and Eggs. Everything is served fresh and piping hot.

For years Penang only took cash, but now you can pay with a Credit Card. Unfortunately, our waiter wouldn’t let me take his picture! We were so stuffed after lunch we had to waddle over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Convention Center. There’s no better food base to put down before the Show, any Show. – Lisa Simon

‘Tis the Season for The Nutcracker

The Mouse King was in his full glory this week. Standing in front of the Academy of Music, the Pennsylvania Ballet’s most storied character supervised new Nutcracker banners being installed on the Avenue of the Arts.

It was an exciting moment, one that heralded the beginning of the holiday theater season.

Philadelphia is chock full of entertainment in November and December, but the Nutcracker stands out as a not-to-be-missed holiday event. Its breathtaking beauty, sense of tradition and focus on family make it a treat that can be enjoyed time after time after time. I’ve seen the Nutcracker with various friends and relatives, and believe me, there’s something for everyone.

For my friend the violinist, it’s all about the music. Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, played by the Pennsylvania Ballet’s 45-piece live orchestra and accentuated by the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir  at the end of Act I is simply heavenly. For little girls, the magical, growing Christmas tree is a highlight, as are the tiny, angelic ballerinas who crisscross onstage in the Land of the Sweets. Even jocks like my husband appreciate the dancers’ athleticism, the way they work as a team, their precision and the endurance they need for those unbelievable leaps and turns.

For me, it’s all about the visual splendor, and this production, with new sets and costumes thanks to the generous support of our client, PNC Bank, is magnificent.

Even this pup and baby were excited to meet the Mouse King, proving, that yes Virginia, The Nutcracker really is for everyone.          -Bev Volpe

What a Phight!

Game 6 has ended. The Yankees’ Mariano Rivera has gotten the 27th out and the whirlwind ride that was the Phillies’ 2009 season is officially over. Like so many of my red pin-stripped brothers and sisters, I am disappointed and exhausted. It’s a tough day to walk around Philadelphia. However, there’s also a sense of extreme satisfaction that the Phillies represented our city well.

After the magically 2008 season, the Phillies won the opportunity not many championship teams get to do: defend their title. Throughout the year, our Phightin’s were beset by injuries, slumps, the loss of Harry. They came into the playoffs with a pitching rotation in question and a patchwork bullpen. But the team took these things all in stride and always played hard, always swung for the fences. If Ryan Howard was slumping, Chase Utley stepped in. Senõr Octobre, our “Chooch,” found another gear in the postseason. And Cliff Lee was simply masterful on the mound.

And the buzz around the city was electric. From banners on Broad Street to school pep rallies, this town embraced its team, through all the blown saves and poor starts. The heart of Philadelphia and that of the Phillies were shared beat for beat. Another town will have a parade in a few days, but it was one heck of a ride.

The numbness we feel will fade. After a back-alley beating of the Giants, the Eagles will have an opportunity to grab the spotlight again, hopefully by putting a slobber knocker on the hated Dallas Cowboys. But we shouldn’t forget all the things our boys of summer have done for us and our city. The hope and cheers and late inning comebacks (albeit one or two few).

Thank you, Philadelphia Phillies for treating us to a wonderful year of baseball, one so often absent in our past. Here’s to the hope of April, and another season where the entire region takes notice of our Phightin’ Phils.

- Frank Sinatra

Boo!

Jem, of Jem and the Holograms, complete with the pink wig and glittery guitar; a Penn State cheerleader with pom-poms— and a baby bottle; a velvet, pink bunny; a witch; a miniature bride. These are just a few of the homemade costumes, and characters, I have been for Halloween over the years. After all, Halloween is a chance to be anyone you want to be. It’s also a chance to eat lots of candy, carve pumpkins, and get scared silly- one of my favorite parts, and Philadelphia has several thrilling opportunities for all ages.

For years I have wanted to go to Philadelphia’s frightfully famous Eastern State Penitentiary, for its “Terror Behind the Walls” Haunted House; I finally had the chance this year, as a group of friends and I decided to give ourselves a scare. Voted the “Number One Haunted House in the Country” by AOL City Guide, “Terror Behind the Walls” is exactly what it names itself to be— a scary, creepy, and spooky experience in a 179-year old prison with castle-like walls, daunting dark corners, and a rich forbidding history. The disturbing factor that runs chills down your spine is that the Eastern State Penitentiary is rumored to be truly haunted, with officers and inmates reporting eerie sightings and mysterious experiences as early as the 1940’s.

And talk about elaborate costumes. Fourteen make-up artists take hours to transform 150 actors into tortured, traumatized, and terrifying prisoners and guards as they patrol, jump, grab, scream, and scare throughout the five feature attractions within the massive 11-acre complex. The Infirmary, new in 2009, is set in the prison’s long-abandoned medical wing, and in Lock Down, you reluctantly shuffle with eyes half-closed through one of the most haunted locations in the prison, Cellblock 12.

While “Terror Behind the Walls” is a great Halloween experience for the brave, there are also events in the Philadelphia area for children. Several of Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust’s (PREIT) Greater Philadelphia malls, Simon PR’s clients, are hosting Halloween events for families and shoppers.

On Friday, 10/30, Willow Grove Park’s Morning Club for tiny tots is having a Halloween Spooktacular with arts-and-crafts, games, and music, while The Gallery at Market East in Center City has Halloween-themed street entertainment for the busy lunchtime crowd. Springfield Mall is also having a Halloween celebration on Saturday, 10/31, with Halloween fun for young kids.

So break out your best Halloween costume, a big bag of candy corn, and get ready for another Halloween in Philadelphia.
-Meredith Wertz

Eureka! Discovering Science Philly Style

Thankfully, Brad Lidge is back in rare form. Watching the Phillies’ NLCS win over the Dodgers, I wondered how he hurls that nasty slider. My son, a pitcher, explained that it’s all about grip, arm angle and release point.

Every pitch is a lesson in science, which plays a key role in my teenager’s life—even if he denies it vehemently.

So today, I’m excited. Not only because our beloved Phillies have won it again, but because my child is finally accepting the importance of science. And because I get to tell that story for our great client, PNC, which just launched Grow Up Great with Science.

In another show of incredible corporate citizenship, the PNC Foundation is giving more than $500,000 to the Academy of Natural Sciences and The Franklin Institute for preschool science education. The money will send their experts into classrooms to aid teachers with preschool science lessons, and the kids’ families will get free admission to the science centers.

PNC is also funding the first planetarium show for preschoolers. Called One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure, it made its Philadelphia debut yesterday at the Fels Planetarium.

My older sister’s chemistry set was strictly off limits, but that never stopped me from sneaking her microscope, and asking why & how—questions I use every day as a PR pro. I might have grown up to be a creative type, but I’ve never lost the sense of wonder about the world around us.

After all, science is everywhere, from the Phightin’ Phils to a preschoolers’ classroom.
-Bev Volpe

Phightin’ Back

Swagger. That is what our Phabulous Phightin Phillies have had since the beginning of the postseason. Say the word. Let it roll off the tongue. SWAGGER.

The reigning World Series champs delegated to afternoon starts? Pundits doubting the team’s ability to get out of the first round? Snow days and baseball at 32 degrees? The Rockies coming from behind on the verge of forcing a Game 5? All wiped by a team with that strut synonymous with swagger.

Swagger comes from confidence. That you’ve been there before and you’ll move heaven and earth to get there again. That naysayers can talk about the bullpen, the past, the fans, snowballs and Santa. It won’t mean a thing. Swagger cures a variety of ills.

It’s a lot like Philadelphia itself. The city we work and play in. Like a cheesesteak hot off the griddle, it oozes swagger. The confidence to know that no matter what lies ahead, the city and the people who love it will pick themselves up, dust themselves off and find a way to win.

So with Game 1 of the NLCS in the win column and just seven more games to go before another parade, let’s look past another afternoon start. Move beyond the love affair with LA and Mannywood. Let’s root for our team that lives, eats and breathes the tough, confident spirit of our city. Let’s enjoy the swagger.

- Frank Sinatra

The Great Food Hall Endures

Today I was invited by my clients at Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) to tour the building at 801 Market Street. With camera, pad and pen in hand, I learned all about how the behemoth space is being redeveloped.

The US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation is pending with emphasis on historic preservation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and environmental quality.

When completed, the rehabilitation project will be certified by the Department of the Interior for its conformance with the federal “Standards for Rehabilitation.”

The majestic shell, with its original 1920s era windows, still has many remnants of what the building once was; Philadelphia’s flagship Strawbridge & Clothier department store. PREIT is actively looking for hot retail and restaurant tenants for the beautiful ground floor shell.

Being inside the Great Food Hall brought back a lot of sweet memories for me. Many moons ago when I lived on the corner of 7th and Addison Streets in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia, Strawbridge & Clothier was my department store.

I used to go there often in the fall of 1992 with my son Max, who just turned 17. The September that he was born was stunning with near perfect weather. Every day there was warm sunshine with a fallsy nip in the air. I bought much of his first clothing in the gargantuan layette department. It looked so cute on his fat little body!

People who know me know that I think I was a housewares buyer in another life. I love to switch out bedding seasonally and to be well stocked with cloth napkins, tablecloths and monogrammed towels, which I also like to update according to the seasons. My love of the category was advanced in the very building I visited today. Armed with coupons on the way in, on the way out I had to layer my trophy finds on top of the baby and cart them home through the City in the carriage.

But the great Strawbridge & Clothier Food Hall was my favorite. There were four types of chocolate covered pretzels at the candy counter. How delightful to have a box filled before your very eyes with fresh ones, often 30 % off. That’s so much better than taking off plastic packaging. You could also buy fresh breads, sandwiches, imported pasta, gourmet vinegars and oil and salads, even dining in at the quaint wrought iron-legged tables.

These memories all came back to me this morning. The space is still so grand. My imagination was running wild. I truly can’t wait to see what it becomes! Knowing PREIT, the result will be extraordinary.

-Lisa Simon

Musicopia: Giving Philadelphia Students the Gift of Music

Heading home from work last week, I heard the familiar sounds of the violin (I used to play in fourth grade) and looked up to find talented thirteen-year-old Sean Bennett diligently practicing his violin on the corner of Walnut and 15th street.

I recognized Sean from Musicopia; he is a member of the Musicopia String Orchestra and a student at McCall School here in Philadelphia. He also recently performed at Moorestown Mall.

PREIT’s eight Greater Philadelphia malls, clients of Simon PR, have partnered with local non-profit Musicopia to collect new and used musical instruments, music books, music stands, strings, and musical supplies for children in the Delaware Valley through the Gift of Music Instrument Donation Drive. The recycled musical instruments are donated to students who have the talent to study music but do not have the means to rent or purchase the necessary tools. Local students are also performing at PREIT malls in celebration of the partnership.

Sean reminded me of my first musical instrument experience, which began with the recorder in second grade. It was part of my elementary school’s music program, and an opportunity to learn to read sheet music, experience the magic of music, and grasp responsibility. I even had a solo performance- after convincing my Sunday School teacher to let me perform in my church’s annual Christmas play. In fourth grade, our music program gave us yet another chance to discover music, and I graduated to the violin.

Did you know that studies have shown music education has a positive effect on children’s emotional and intellectual growth? Musicopia calls it the “Power of Music.”

With the goal of inspiring a deep love and knowledge of great music, Musicopia reaches over 75,000 children each year through educational music enrichment programs in schools and communities throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Sean has been playing the violin for three years and is the concert masters assistant. He is also a member of the schools drama club and currently has the lead role in the school play. He is one of many of Musicopia’s success stories and will perform again, this time at Cherry Hill Mall on October 10 alongside nine-year old Eliana Yang on cello and eleventh grader Nakeya Simone Spence on violin.

Working with the School District of Philadelphia, Musicopia designed the Musicopia String Orchestra for students who lack cultural opportunities and constructive outlets. Musicopia also joined with The Clay Studio and Philadelphia Young Playwrights to create a comprehensive arts program in North Philadelphia schools.

Philadelphia schools Meade, Edmunds, and Duckrey participate in Musicopia’s Bridge to Music Program, where in-school, after school, and summer music programs are revitalized or implemented. Meade School Principal Frank Murphy is a strong supporter; he believes that music has the power to change the face of the school and its community.

Overall, Musicopia has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children, many of whom reside in Philadelphia, including Sean Bennett. This organization has given them a chance to learn, to grow, to succeed, and to hope.

(Donations for the Gift of Music Instrument Donation Drive are accepted now through October 31 at PREIT’s eight Philadelphia-area malls customer service centers during mall hours. For more information on Musicopia visit http://www.musicopia.net/.   -Meredith Wertz

“If you build it, they will come"

One of the best lines from one of my favorite movies—definitely rings true in Philadelphia.

Take Avenue of the Arts for example. Envisioned in 1993, the Avenue today is a magnificent destination dubbed one of America’s “Great Streets” by the American Planning Association. It’s also a huge economic driver, generating $500 million a year and supporting 6,000 jobs.

I’m proud to walk out of our offices in the Bellevue and onto the Avenue—to admire the the Kimmel’s dome, watch tractor trailers load in sets at the Academy and glimpse dance rehearsals at UArts. And I’m proud that Simon PR represents Avenue of the Arts, Inc.

Next week, Carl Dranoff and Jeffrey McFadden will convene the Avenue Council. It’s a group of business leaders who will use their clout to bring further commercial development and beauty to Broad Street—both South and North.

On a smaller, but no less important Philadelphia corridor, a group of business owners are joining forces to breathe new life into their Avenue—Germantown Avenue. This week, Simon PR client Mt. Airy, USA kicked off a major business renaissance with “Rock the Blocks” a $4 million streetscape improvement plan.

The pride of place runs deep in our City of Neighborhoods. It’s small but powerful non-profits such as AAI and Mt. Airy, USA that are energizing business people to keep building. The crowds are sure to come. - Bev Volpe

Old City Artist Finds the “Hidden Philadelphia”

I was on my way to work last week when I bumped into a very familiar face, my old boss Charles Domsky. Charles gave me my first shot at being a PR Account Executive. But this isn’t a story about that (although that story isn’t turning out too badly).

In addition to Charles’ advertising/public relations acumen and business savvy, he’s an amazing painter. What makes it even more impressive is the fact that he actively paints while battling Parkinson’s disease for the past 25 years. He retired several years ago to focus on his art. In his own words, “At age 70, I decided to slow down. I wanted to go out on top.” Charles has good days and bad days with his disease, but when you put a paint brush in his hand, the tremors stop.

I had the opportunity this week to stop by the “office” in Old City, which has now been converted into Charles’ studio. His passion is abstract art, inspired by de Koonings, Twombly and Diebenkorn, as well as his memories of trips to Greece, Italy and France.

Charles is focused on finding the hidden energy and emotion of the places he’s visited. He explained, “Someone once told me, ‘Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible.’ I interpret this into the impossible dream.” Charles has painted inventive aerial landscapes of many Philadelphia locales, the Ben Franklin Bridge, Broad and Walnut, Washington Square, Kelly Drive and Rittenhouse Square. He feels the vibration of the history that was made on the cobblestone streets hundreds of years ago. He lets the feelings and emotions he experiences flow onto the canvas.

Charles’ work can be found on the walls of public and private collections throughout the Delaware Valley. He is also one of four Pennsylvania artists with a disability whose work will on display in a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

His artwork and his accomplishments are very inspiring. You can view his work here. And if you’re interested in his work, give him a call. He’ll give you a tour.

-Frank Sinatra

With Michael Vick the Media Faucet is Stuck in the “On” Position

I have just been loving the hoopla associated with the Philadelphia Eagles’ hiring of Michael Vick. How often does someone who’s still alive receive that much coverage? Or, have that much power to inspire so much conversation in the media? It almost seemed like it was the only story in town in August.

When the announcement was made on Thursday, August 13, I was far away in a State that doesn’t even have professional football (New Hampshire.) We listened to a Phillies game in the car on Satellite radio but we didn’t tune in to any sports news or watch any TV all weekend. We did pick up the Valley News, but the only sports story they ran was about the recent Manchester Fisher Cats game. When we returned home on Saturday night, the story was gaining steam fast.

By Monday the radio air waves were jammed with commentary and TV news was clogged with shots of Vick in the red quarterback jersey at training camp at Lehigh University.

Of course the sports pages were drowning in the Vick story but it also seemed like every type of Philadelphia Inquirer columnist wrote about him too. Annette John Hall wrote two columns. Daniel Rubin wrote a column. So did Elizabeth Wellington the fashion reporter. Even Dr. Daniel Gottlieb wrote about him in his Monday column on relationships. I can honestly say that I feel like I know just about everything about this guy. And, as stories go, his is pretty interesting.

As a PR pro who’s under constant pressure to deliver media results, I’m so impressed by a breaking story that has multiple legs. This one’s a centipede. The Vick story kept going and going and now, a month later, it’s still going and going.

While I think he looks very good in Eagles green, as usual I’m not really taking a stand on any of the issues.

Was it a good idea for the Eagles to hire Vick? Can the Humane Society benefit from a celebrity spokesperson speaking out against dogfighting? Is dogfighting horrible? Does Coach Andy Reid want people to give his two wayward sons the second chance Vick is getting?

I don’t really have an opinion on these matters. I haven’t taken the time to study those issues. I’m just reveling in all the media coverage! -Lisa Simon

Fall Fashion in Philly

Walking to work Monday morning in the brisk morning air, it hit me. Fall is poking its head around the corner, and with it comes football games, golden leaves, warm apple cider, and my favorite— shopping for the latest fall-fashion trends.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust’s (PREIT) nine East Region malls, Simon PR’s clients, embody shopping in Greater Philadelphia and are only a short commute from Center City, perfect for the fall must-have shopping experience. PREIT’s headquarters are also located in the heart of the city, in the Bellevue building.

With the brand new Nordstrom and seven retailers opening just this past summer alone, Cherry Hill Mall has a long list of designer and luxury stores. Located just over the Ben Franklin Bridge, the 15-minute drive is simple, and trust me, the new mix of specialty retailers is well worth the $4 toll. Not to mention what’s already on the books for the fall and winter – American Apparel and a massive Forever 21, nearly 26,000-square feet.

For my girlfriends that live in Philly, but work on the outskirts, Plymouth Meeting Mall is usually a stop on the drive home, and then there is my younger sister, Kiersten. At twenty-two, she has quite a bit of sophistication and style, although half the time I am still trying to figure out what exactly she is wearing. She always manages to be ready for the runway- and her office hallway. Her new favorite find? Willow Grove Park.

Shopping is everywhere you turn in Philly. The Gallery at Market East features the latest in urban wear, and did you fashionistas out there know the first Philadelphia Fashion Week is slated for October 8 – 10 at the 23rd Street Armory?

With endless racks of fall clothing, accessories, and shoes, decisions may be challenging. Can you really pull off the biker jacket? Don’t have a younger sister to consult for the ideal first-date outfit? My favorite Philly reads are Elizabeth Wellington’s weekly column in The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Style Advice on Examiner.com by Eileen Smith, retail reporter for the Courier-Post. -Meredith Wertz

Philly 101

With my daughter leaving for college today, I’ve got students on the mind. That must be why I’ve been noticing so many young people in town lately.

They’re sporting jeans, t-shirts and eager smiles. And they should be happy. They’re Philadelphia’s newest residents, the freshmen at Drexel, UArts, Temple and more. What a great decision they’ve made to study here: Philly, the college town.

The City has more than 20 colleges and universities, and regionally, there are more than 80. There’s something for everyone to study, and enjoy—including the night life.

According to the website onebigcampus.com, among the 12 most popular hangouts for students is the Avenue of the Arts, which Simon PR is proud to represent. And several Avenue organizations have specials just for students.

The Philadelphia Orchestra for example has ezSeatsU, a $25 membership that gives college kids unlimited access to more than 100 concerts. The Wilma, too has student rush tickets, subscriptions and single tickets. Both programs are supported by another wonderful client, PNC and its PNC Arts Alive initiative. It’s a five-year, $5 million investment to make the arts more accessible to diverse audiences in the region.

How great to start with college students—Philadelphia’s future audiences, arts patrons and leaders.

- Bev Volpe

Green Cities, Clean Water

Now that the weather finally feels like summer – nice and hot with that wonderful humidity – there’s no better treat to beat the heat like water ice. The origin of the water ice begins in China. During his trip to Asia, Macro Polo brings the treat back to Italy and Europe. Long story short – it winds up in South Philly and the whole town loves it.

Good water ice is not hard to find in the city as many people eat it daily during the summer months. It’s also a great treat for special occasions. And for the past few days, water ice from Rita’s has been used for the latter, thanking attendees at a series of important public meetings.

One of Simon PR’s clients, the Philadelphia Water Department, is submitting a 20-year plan to the Environmental Protection Agency that outlines how to improve our waters and green our city. With a commitment of $1.6 billion, it’s one of the largest public works initiatives the city will undertake in the near future.

The Green Cities, Clean Waters program has been developed to capture 80 percent of the sewage and storm water that flows into the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers and the Tacony and Cobbs creeks. A major part of the solution focuses on greening Philly’s streets, schools and public facilities. The Philadelphia Water Department wants to “test the waters” with the public and has encouraged citizens to attend public meetings throughout the city to provide important feedback before they present the plan to the EPA on September 1st.

There have already been public meetings in Germantown and Northern Liberties. Another meeting is scheduled tonight in South Philly. The final meeting is at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia on the 25th.

And while the water ice is tasty, it’s the plan designed to keep our city greener and cleaner that’s truly “sweet.” You can find out more about it by clicking here.

- Frank Sinatra

KYW – AM, Always a Warm Welcome Home

We usually drive to the Philadelphia Airport when we go on a trip and park in Economy Parking. The first thing I do when we get back to the car is turn on KYW-AM radio. The familiar sounds of the editor’s desk are like a comfortable old sweater and they scream Philadelphia to me. Any one who knows me will tell you I’m a newshound.

Last Monday was no different. After a whirlwind long weekend in Paris, we seamlessly landed at Terminal A West just after 2 pm. We grabbed our bags, breezed through customs and were on the Economy Lot bus within 10 minutes. Back in the car, it was “1060 on your am dial.”

It happened to be 2:32 pm so we got an instant traffic report. Dr. Marciene Mattelman did a story on the new and growing field of Nursing Forensics. News of the City councilman aide’s four year sentence was the big story. There was an explanation of why the heat index was 102 degrees. And pleas to check on your elderly friends and family. More weather down the Shore and in the Poconos. It’s always great to be back home. . .– Lisa Simon

Some Kids Love Summer School...Really

I’ve been fortunate enough never to have to go to summer school. Sister Mary de Angelus and the teaching Filippini Sisters saw to that early enough in my academic career. But a group of young people entering high school couldn’t wait to hit the classroom… in July.

District 1199C and Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions (a Simon PR client for over seven years) have partnered together to expose students to healthcare careers and build their academic skills. Inner city teens from disadvantaged families throughout the City are learning what it takes to be successful in high school, in life and in the healthcare industry. It’s a six-week program, and the kids, aged 13- and 14-years old, get to visit Drexel on Fridays.

This is not some boring hum-drum class. These kids get to do some pretty cool stuff! Like interacting with animated manikins that mimic human behavior and medical conditions (think Transformers without the giant robots or the Michael Bay-type explosions) that nursing students use to hone their skills. Or shadowing nursing students in a teaching lab. They’ll even get to speak one-on-one with Drexel professors to learn about in-demand careers.

The program is funded by Federal Stimulus money, so you can thank President Obama for giving these kids this special opportunity. And with all the talk about the impending nursing shortage, it’s reassuring to see young people excited to learn about careers in health care.

So kudos to Drexel and District 1199C for putting together a summer school that kids are excited to attend. Here’s hoping this will inspire the next generation of health care innovators.

- Frank Sinatra

Painting a Fabulous Philadelphia

I love painting on walls. Just check out the faux painting all around the Volpe home. Raised by my grandfather—a painting contractor and amateur artist—I expressed myself with a paintbrush from the age of six or seven.

So I’m enthralled with Philadelphia’s murals—the visually striking, super-sized artwork on walls in every corner of the City. They’re images of famous Philadelphians and neighborhood children, inspirational leaders and grandmothers from the community. There are 3,000 of them and they’ve earned us an international reputation as “the City of Murals.”

This week, I boarded a trolley at the Independence Visitor’s Center for an official Mural Arts Tour http://www.muralarts.org/. Ours was to West Philadelphia where among the abandoned buildings were massive displays of public art that told stories of community, of culture, of tradition. Among my favorites is Patti Labelle at the corner of 34th and Mantua, recently redone to bring Philadelphia’s native diva into the new millennium and show her support of breast cancer.

Philadelphia’s murals are the brainchild of Jane Golden, who redirected graffiti writers into positive creativity during the 1980s. Since then, hundreds of artists have turned Philly into an outdoor gallery. Each mural is the expression of a neighborhood to create pride, to engender hope and to pass on history.

A baseball fan, I was excited to see the Philadelphia Stars Negro baseball league http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Stars_(baseball) commemorated at 44th and Parkside, site of their ballpark.

There’s the Song of Hope which shimmers with a message of a bright future for children.

And on a dilapidated block of Aspen Street is a tiny oasis—a lush garden bordered by two matching murals called “Holding Grandmother’s Quilt.” Its message: wisdom will always be passed from generation to generation.

Next year, two new audio tours will be created: one on Center City and one on African American murals. They’re made possible with the support of PNC Arts Alive, a five-year, $5 million initiative to make the arts more accessible here. (I'm happy to say that we enjoy a 10-year relationship with PNC, as their local public relations agency of record.) http://www.pncartsalive.com/

If you’re like me, you won’t want to wait until then. So hop a trolley at the Visitor’s Center, or set out in your car or on foot to explore Philadelphia’s great outdoor art museum. For tour information and downloadable maps visit the Mural Arts Program website, http://www.muralarts.org/getinvolved/tours/. -Bev Volpe

All Roads Lead to Philly

After four years in Hawaii, an island with only two “highways” in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Philadelphia, the second-largest city on the East Coast, is a welcomed change. In terms of accessibility and travel, the City is truly in an ideal position, nestled amongst a vast network of well-connected streets and public transportation lines. Whether Washington D.C, the Shore, or the corner bar, it is easy to go from point A to point B.

Philly is in the top five of America’s best walking cities, behind New York, Boston, and San Francisco. We have city founder William Penn to thank for this. In 1682, Penn helped design a system of wide streets intersecting at right angles between the Schuylkill River to the west and the Delaware River to the east, making Philadelphia one of the first cities in North America to use the grid system.

His initial intent was to create an orderly design to prevent issues affecting European cities such as overcrowding, fire, and disease. Although, I like to think he had someone like me in mind—a young professional traveling by foot, most likely in heels, from the subway stop to my office building, and from here to a local lunch deli, Happy Hour favorite, or trendy boutique. The network of relatively short blocks and four-way intersections makes walking an efficient (and healthy) mode of transportation, with several direct routes, which I often decide depending on the color of the traffic signal.

When I am in the mood to trade skyscrapers for trees, Fairmont Park’s 63 neighborhood parks are always within walking distance. In just a few minutes, I can be on a hiking trail smack in the middle of nature.

The public transportation system is another plus of Philadelphia. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the nation’s fifth largest public transportation system, providing transit services for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.

Going to a Phillies game or the Bruce Springsteen concert? Take the Broad Street Line. Time to visit the parents in the suburbs? Hop on the Market-Frankford Line to 69th Street Station, and from here, the trolley’s Route 100 heads up the Main Line. Bachelorette party in New York City? Simple. 30th Street Station is the hub, with Amtrak train service to almost anywhere in the country.

Now, living in Philadelphia, walking or riding in any direction leads to more city secrets to explore, opposed to my time in Hawaii, where I always seemed to hit a dead end. -Meredith Wertz