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Over 3,800 Collages Decorate ‘City of Murals’ Thanks to Mural Arts Program
Photos, story by Jill Beckel It was a beautiful city morning when Explore Philly got the chance to go on a Mural Arts tour. Mural Arts tours are perfect for year-round social gatherings, business outings or fundraising events. We took a walking tour, but there are train and trolley tours offered as well. Our lovely tour guide of the day, Elise, gave us some background about the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. It began in 1984 when the mayor of Philadelphia opened an anti-graffiti network for kids and young adults. He hoped that this would dissuade kids from vandalizing Philly buildings with spray paint graffiti, which was becoming a huge problem…
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Bartram’s Garden: Philly’s Only 19th Century Flower Oasis
Photos, story by Lou Perri Bartram’s Garden welcomed Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Senator Anthony H. Williams, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, and other friends and partners to a special unveiling of the transformed Ann Bartram Carr Garden on Thursday, July 14th. The event include a speaking program, picnic lunch, open house and tours and Bartram and Eastwick families reunion. The Ann Bartram Carr Garden, which is the only 19th-century flower garden in Philadelphia, is the result of a transformative $2.7-million project and marks the first major garden restoration at Bartram’s Garden in nearly a century. The Ann Bartram Carr Garden creates a welcoming new entrance as Bartram’s Garden takes its place as…
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Philly Style Magazine Hosts Sweaty, Packed and Fabulous Fashion Soiree at Kimmel Center
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler It was the hottest party in Philadelphia this summer. No, literally. It was tipping 100 degrees outside and when you pack over 1,200 people into the Kimmel Center, everyone was glistening. Philadelphia Style Magazine‘s “Style on Broadway” best of style bash brought out Philly’s fashionable, Philly’s finest and Philly’s medley of women with bad (and a few good) boob jobs. Joining Publisher John Colabelli and Editor-in-Chief Kristin Detterline for the magazine’s 12th Annual Best of Style Party, guests stopped and sweated outside the glass doors for the red carpet step and repeat photograph outside before being engulfed in the wonderfully chilly air conditioning inside. Smartly dubbed…
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Embracing the Contemporary: The Keith L. and Katherine Sachs Collection
Photos, story by Lou Perri Embracing the Contemporary exhibition celebrates one of the nation’s leading collections of contemporary art. Assembled by Philadelphians Keith and Katherine Sachs, this collection features some of the most prominent European and American artists of the past 50 years. Many of the works have been generously donated or pledged as promised gifts to the museum, marking a pivotal moment for the city as a premier destination for contemporary art. From sculpture and painting to large-scale photography and video art, this exhibition presents a selection of works from the Sachs Collection. In addition to a concentration of works by American artists Robert Gober, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, and…
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Bart Blatstein Reopens Showboat Hotel to Make a Statement
Photos, story by Lou Perri Bart Blatstein, the President and CEO of Philadelphia-based Tower Investments, a leading developer of retail, entertainment, mixed use, residential and commercial properties, announced the reopening of Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, the largest non-casino hotel in New Jersey. On Atlantic City’s storied Boardwalk, the iconic full-service hotel began its first phase of reopening with 852 oceanfront room and suites, including 38 1,100–square-foot oceanfront balcony suites. The balcony suites include 1.5 bathrooms, a living and dining area, wet bar with fridge and Jacuzzi tubs. The hotel also includes two 1,900-square-foot oceanfront Super Suites that offer the same plush amenities as the balcony suites, as well as…
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Progression of a Model and Actress: How I Got Into Modeling and Acting
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler This is by far one of the most frequent questions I get from models, photographers, strangers, coworkers… pretty much everyone. So I wanted to share my story which may help inspire others to chase their dreams. I was sitting at a corner cafe in Paris enjoying my beer blanche de bruxelles when someone stopped me on the street and said, wow you should be a model/actress! Just kidding! That’s the cliche and not the norm (although that’s usually how runway models seem to tell the tale). My story is a more DIY tale much like me. I was attending college at Penn State University, obtaining my…
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The Great Chefs Event Combines Food, Fashion and Charity Deliciously
Photos, story by Deja Cromartie The Vetri Family restaurants and Vetri Community Partnership brought together more than 40 chefs from around the world to the city of Philadelphia for an amazing dining experience that benefited Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and Vetri Community Partnership. There were also a few surprises such as the burger king, chef Bobby Flay serving his delicious burgers to guests and a custom gin drinking station that provided a show to guests that waited for their beverage. The food was amazing and there was something to try for everyone. There were so many options it was hard to make it around to each table. However, it was…
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Museum’s Art Splash Opens in Unison with Creative Africa Exhibit
Photos, story by Lou Perri Returning for its fourth year, Art Splash, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s popular summer family program, opened on July 1 in conjunction with Creative Africa, a season of five exhibitions of African art, both historic and contemporary, currently on view in the Perelman Building. Spanning 10 weeks, Art Splash offers a dynamic set of programs focused on engaging families, including gallery explorations, hands-on workshops, guided tours, performances and family festivals. A special family friendly menu offered in the Perelman Café and a complimentary shuttle to bring visitors to and from the main building will be available through Labor Day, offering visitors of all ages a memorable…
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Decibel Wines Bringing Kiwi Style to the States at McCrossen’s Tavern
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler We like people who travel. Why? Because it broadens and expands your mind through culture, experience and breaking through fear of the unknown. We also like wine. And rock and roll. So it only makes sense that we would write about this totally American former band tour manager who picked up and moved to New Zealand, studied wine making, now has his own label and comes home annually to share his wines. His name is Daniel Brennan of Decibel Wines (see what he did there?) and here is an exclusive Q&A session with him. We caught up with him at a wine sampling/release party at…
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Positively Pink: A Masquerade Ball at West Laurel Hill to Beat Breast Cancer
Story by Elizabeth Coffey, photos by Cassie Hepler Whether it’s your mother, your sister, your aunt, or your friend, everyone’s life has been touched in some way or another by breast cancer. This deadly disease not only takes a toll on the physical well-being of those battling it, but their emotional well-being as well. This is where the charity, Unite For Her comes into play to help save the day. They’re dedicated to supporting these female warriors with complimentary therapies that bridge the gap between the medical and wellness communities. It was an honor to go to the Positively Pink Masquerade Ball to support this generous non-profit in their mission to help those…