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