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| Broad & Snyder in south Philly |
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| Levis hot dogs on Fifth St. long gone |
Showing posts with label south Philly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label south Philly. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2014
THE DAILY URBAN LANDSCAPE #50 PHILADELPHIA
It's time to leave Cape May and head back to Philly, looking at two paintings from the mid 1980s.
Monday, June 6, 2011
FAMILY & FRIENDS…the Philadelphia connection
Yesterday I left Maryland and headed to Philadelphia, stopping in Wilmington to pick up friend Obie. We arrived in south Philly about 1 o’clock, found a rare parking place on 12th street and made our way to Danny and Linda’s.
Danny and Linda's house
Danny and Me
Danny and Obie
As expected, we found the results of Linda’s efforts on the kitchen table …bread, olives, cheese, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and a bowl of fresh blueberries. About an hour later we were being led to our table at Café Beau Monde, a creperie at 6th and Bainbridge streets. My cousins, Obie, and I have been coming here on our Sunday visits for the last 5-6 years; the crepes are delicious and the martinis even better.
After a most delightful lunch we walked a bit on the very funky South street, past the condom shop, the tattoo parlors, and cafes, eventually finding the Delhi street, where my mother, and Danny’s father were born (mom in 1917 and uncle Alfred in 1910). We all agreed that it is very unlikely that their were condom shops at that time.
Mom and Uncle Al's birth place.
Delhi st. looking south
Delhi street looking norht...yes, that is a Whole Foods store. Delhi street is one block long.
Today...south Jersey, more cousins, and pasta. Life is good.
Danny and Linda's house
Danny and Me
Danny and Obie
As expected, we found the results of Linda’s efforts on the kitchen table …bread, olives, cheese, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and a bowl of fresh blueberries. About an hour later we were being led to our table at Café Beau Monde, a creperie at 6th and Bainbridge streets. My cousins, Obie, and I have been coming here on our Sunday visits for the last 5-6 years; the crepes are delicious and the martinis even better.
After a most delightful lunch we walked a bit on the very funky South street, past the condom shop, the tattoo parlors, and cafes, eventually finding the Delhi street, where my mother, and Danny’s father were born (mom in 1917 and uncle Alfred in 1910). We all agreed that it is very unlikely that their were condom shops at that time.
Mom and Uncle Al's birth place.
Delhi st. looking south
Delhi street looking norht...yes, that is a Whole Foods store. Delhi street is one block long.
Today...south Jersey, more cousins, and pasta. Life is good.
Monday, January 10, 2011
IN MY MOTHER’S HOME
I have been in south Philly many times before,. Not Philadelphia or south Philadelphia, but south Philly; that is what it has always been, and always will be. I am visiting my cousin Danny who lives on S. 12th st., just blocks away from his childhood home. Usually when I visit we sit around the kitchen table and drink red wine and eat cheese, peppers, bread, and other goodies until it’s time for dinner, which is always pasta, salad, and a variety of “side dishes”. (As far as I’m concerned, with pasta, there is no need for anything else, except some sausage, meatballs, or other gravy meat.)
But tonight I wanted to take Danny & Linda out to dinner, preferably to one of the restaurants with singing waiters, and so we walked the two blocks to Franco & Luigi’s place. There, in the intimacy of their dinning room, we enjoyed both the mouth watering food and the joyful sound of Italian songs...and for all of the times I have been here, tonight was a special evening for me. I was aware, as never before, that this was the place where my mother was born and raised, this neighborhood was her “hometown”. I was in my mother’s home, and my experience here was to pay homage to her.
My mother was born in this city in December of 1917. We always celebrated her birthday on Christmas eve, and it wasn’t until after her death that we learned it was actually on the 16th of the month. Her father, who she never knew, died when she was 2 years old, leaving her mother with 5 children. My grandmother soon remarried to a widower with 5 children, and shortly thereafter they had 2 more of their own. Because of the lack of space and resources, my mother, at age 12, and three older brothers moved into an apartment of their own where she assumed the role of cook and housekeeper for her siblings. she spoke little of this time in her life, and much of what I have learned came to me second hand from family stories told by others. When I learned enough to ask her questions about her early years she would reflect on that time with an obvious fondness for a life that was as good as it was difficult. (I am mindful of her tendency to protect me from life’s unpleasantries.) I saw the smiles, not the tears, when she would talk about uncle Sammy and uncle Alfred with a filial affection that I will never know.
That apartment is within one block of where Danny and Linda live...I pass it many times in my visits to them. Also within one block is uncle Sammy’s house and the houses where uncle Alfred, uncle Tommy, and grand mom and aunt Eleanor lived. I remember clearly the childhood visits to the city, the sights, the sounds, and especially the smells of grand mom’s kitchen.
Tonight, more than any other time here, I feel surrounded by my mother, her history and her stories connecting me to this place as never before. Oh how I long to honor her; to acknowledge all that she has given to me. Tonight is one small celebration of her. I want my life to be a celebration of her. (7-18-04)
Graduation from Medical school...1965
Before she was my mom
But tonight I wanted to take Danny & Linda out to dinner, preferably to one of the restaurants with singing waiters, and so we walked the two blocks to Franco & Luigi’s place. There, in the intimacy of their dinning room, we enjoyed both the mouth watering food and the joyful sound of Italian songs...and for all of the times I have been here, tonight was a special evening for me. I was aware, as never before, that this was the place where my mother was born and raised, this neighborhood was her “hometown”. I was in my mother’s home, and my experience here was to pay homage to her.
My mother was born in this city in December of 1917. We always celebrated her birthday on Christmas eve, and it wasn’t until after her death that we learned it was actually on the 16th of the month. Her father, who she never knew, died when she was 2 years old, leaving her mother with 5 children. My grandmother soon remarried to a widower with 5 children, and shortly thereafter they had 2 more of their own. Because of the lack of space and resources, my mother, at age 12, and three older brothers moved into an apartment of their own where she assumed the role of cook and housekeeper for her siblings. she spoke little of this time in her life, and much of what I have learned came to me second hand from family stories told by others. When I learned enough to ask her questions about her early years she would reflect on that time with an obvious fondness for a life that was as good as it was difficult. (I am mindful of her tendency to protect me from life’s unpleasantries.) I saw the smiles, not the tears, when she would talk about uncle Sammy and uncle Alfred with a filial affection that I will never know.
That apartment is within one block of where Danny and Linda live...I pass it many times in my visits to them. Also within one block is uncle Sammy’s house and the houses where uncle Alfred, uncle Tommy, and grand mom and aunt Eleanor lived. I remember clearly the childhood visits to the city, the sights, the sounds, and especially the smells of grand mom’s kitchen.
Tonight, more than any other time here, I feel surrounded by my mother, her history and her stories connecting me to this place as never before. Oh how I long to honor her; to acknowledge all that she has given to me. Tonight is one small celebration of her. I want my life to be a celebration of her. (7-18-04)
Graduation from Medical school...1965Before she was my mom
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