Month: October 2011

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Philadelphia Open Studio Tours coming to Frankford October 15th and 16th

The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is presenting Philadelphia Open Studio Tours.  It’s the largest tour of artist studios and creative spaces in the Philadelphia region and will feature Globe Dye Works artists and artisans.  The tour for studios east of Broad Street will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 15th and 16th.

Several artists with studios in the Globe Dye Works will open their studios for display.  Along with them, the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Company, which according to their website:

Operating out of a newly renovated light industrial site in the heart of Frankford, our boatbuilding and sailing programs – which include school day, afterschool, and summer sessions — help middle and high school age students develop self-esteem, improve academically, and learn valuable real life lessons.

 

Research shows that kids learn best by doing. When they have meaningful opportunities to make vital connections between what they learn in the classroom and what happens in the real world, they become more engaged and successful students.

Also included will be metalworker Jason Robert‘s new digs down at Duncan and Melrose inside the Bermuda Triangle that I call Frankford Valley.  His work includes Silk City’s Beer Garden and Northern Liberties’ Community Center.  His work is second to none and he’s settled his trade in Frankford.  It’s a must see.

The one downer is that the studio tour’s website calls both Jason Robert’s shop and the Dye Works Port Richmond.  boo.

[link] Post Studio Tours

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Butch Ballard

Butch Ballard at the Historical Society of Frankford in 2008

We just learned of the passing of George Edward”Butch” Ballard one of Frankford’s most noted residents.  He was 92 years old.  His funeral is tentatively set for next Monday, October 10th at the Second Baptist Church, 1801 Meadow Street.

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the Bar, the Bar, the Bar, the Bar, the Bar

Lt. Casselli of the 15th District PSA 1

I attended the PSA1 meeting on Wednesday night.  I was a little surprised that there were so many people there.  In the past on a few occasions there were just a small number of folks.  Wednesday there were 20 give or take.

Lt. Casselli and Officer Gorman were present.  So as usual Casselli went around the room asking what each person had on their mind, the answer was the bar.  Well not everyone but about 10 people were there with that issue.

So what bar are we talking about.  It’s the old Irish Kitchen now resurrected as Elran’s Place at Pratt and Oakland.  New name but the same old problems seem to be continuing.

You may remember the murder at the Irish Kitchen back in June of 2009.  Then in May of this year there was another shooting.

The residents say that it is more of a night club than a bar with crowds taking their drinks out onto the sidewalks and partying keeping people up all night.  The naturally leave their trash all over.  This harkens back the the T&T bar on Margaret Street that had all of this going on until a young man was killed and the community had reached the end of its tolerance.

Casselli is a practical guy.  As I type this I am sure he has been or is going over to Elran’s tonight to discuss the issue with whoever is on duty.  But he is forthright in saying that it is more realistic to have the owner change how this place is run rather than having it shut down.  So its going to be one or the other but the neighbors have had it.

At some point, the neighbors on the block may ask for community support in a march or some kind of peaceful action to focus attention of this problem.  When they do, come out and support them.  The next time it could be your block that needs help.  We’ll keep you informed.

 

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Passing Sheriff Sale would clear the way to a new Future for Former Y building

With news that the New Frankford Community Y building has been listed for sheriff sale set for October 4th, I found myself unsure of what that meant.  It’s been no secret that the Y was in serious financial troubles for some time before it closed it’s doors permanently, including at one point, the Northwood Civic voting to file a suit in Orphan’s Court to the past financials of the center.  So I reached out to Northwood Realtor Mike Galdi to see if he could shed some insight.  Mr Galdi noted “a sheriff sale would clear title and allow for the sale of the building”.

Without knowing the specifics of the building, Mr Galdi noted several possible reasons for the property to hit sheriff sale now.  The first mortgager of the property most likely instigated the process out of the belief that the property was of value to someone.  Either they were approached by an outfit interested in the property or they believe that once it clears all liens and taxes, that they’d be able to put the property up for sale and find a buyer.