St. John Barned-Smith
Recent articles
City, Scouts battle over discrimination policy
A battle between Philadelphia and it its local Boy Scouts council is likely to end this month, when the scouts' lease on their 80-year home at 22nd and Winter Streets runs out May 31. The building, built and maintained by the scouts over the last 80 years, sits on city property and has previously cost them $1 per year to occupy.
Marvelous switches from saving the world to playing the guitar
Five years ago, Mylan Marvelous opened his store to address what he saw as a glaring lack of places to buy music and comics in West Philadelphia. Now, music has become the sole priority for The Marvelous, his store located below Smokey Joe's near 40th and Walnut streets.
U. City says goodbye to Bucks on Sansom
An area caffeine staple will close its doors next month after more than 13 years on campus. Bucks County Coffee, located between 34th and 36th streets along Sansom Street will close on May 23. The store is one of three Buck's County Coffee shops in University City, along with a store at 40th and Locust streets and a kiosk at 30th Street Station.
In an economic slump, area retailers say things aren't too bad
Despite the shaky numbers from the U.S. Department of Commerce, area retailers say the ailing economy has not uniformly impacted business in University City. The data released Monday by the Department shows a tiny rise of 0.2 percent in consumer spending caused mostly by high fuel and food prices, a small jump after a 0.
Casinos possible - but some students already win big
Rick Heaslip clears between $500 and $1,000 an hour on a good day. Heaslip, a College junior, plays poker professionally when he's not studying Asian-American war literature or working toward his English major. Heaslip is a member of a community of Penn students who play professional or semi-professional poker in person and online.
News Brief: No word yet on new retailers after closings
Penn is looking for tenants to fill two empty area storefronts, but has not yet made a decision about any potential new businesses on campus. University Jewelers, located at 3401 Walnut Street, closed this past Monday. It is the second store to close or move this academic year.
Transsexuals and spies highlight student films
Films at this year's Greater Philadelphia Student Film Festival ranged from the frivolous and fun ballad of a hot air balloon spy to the weighty and grave story of a transsexual Drexel student switching genders. About 540 people attended the third-annual festival last Friday, where students from Penn, Drexel and University of the Arts took away the majority of the awards.
Lights, camera, Penn: Festival comes to Philly
There won't be a huge "Hollywood" sign or sun-kissed celebrities, but movie magic comes to Philadelphia tonight for the third annual Greater Philadelphia Student Film Festival. And when the silver screen flickers on at the University of the Arts at 7 p.m.
A ruling in plain English: Geno's sign OK
Geno's Steaks owner Joey Vento never thought eight words would cause such a fuss. But the ruckus, raised over a sign at his ordering window that reads, "This is America. When ordering, please speak English," has finally ended. Thirty-one months after Vento first put the sign up, and nearly two years after the City of Philadelphia filed a "complaint of bias" against him because of it, Philadelphia's Commission for Human Relations ruled that the sign is not discriminatory.
After 70 years on campus, University Jewelers will close
When Lois Green closes the doors of University Jewelers on March 31, Penn and University City will lose a store that has been a fixture in the area for more than 70 years. Green is retiring after having owned the store, currently sandwiched in a tiny storefront between the GAP and Modern Eye near 34th and Walnut streets, since 1985.
For students, finding dollars for drinking not a problem
No surprise here - Penn students still love their booze. But despite sometimes costly bar tabs, students remain unfazed and uninhibited. Between financial assistance from parents, rationing of summer job money and school-year employment, students have found ways to keep their finances in check.
Penn hopes for U. City international high school
Penn and Drexel University will be waiting when University City High School closes its doors in 2010 for two years of renovations. The universities want to divide the school - one of the 70 lowest-performing schools in the city- and replace it with two co-existing themed high schools.
With Kahlo, a Mexican flavor comes to PMA
A new show featuring paintings and photography by Frida Kahlo at the Philadelphia Museum of Art has Philadelphia art buffs and Latin American art enthusiasts in a frenzy.
Staying in the States could get a bit easier
e discussed recommendations on streamlining the visa process for foreign students last week, a move that comes as the number of foreign scholars in the United States is rising. At Penn, the international-student population jumped by about 800 students last year compared to the year before, said Rodolfo Altamirano, Director of the Office of International Programs, and some foreign students said they welcomed efforts to ease the visa process.
Running to U. City, local retail finds support in Penn community
With the arrival of Philadelphia Runner, fans of locally owned businesses have a new place to turn to for their running needs. The store, located on Walnut Street between 36th and 37th streets, celebrated its grand opening last week. Philadelphia Runner's opening was the latest in a series of local businesses that have come to University City in the last several years, following student staples like The Last Word Bookshop, Pizza Rustica and Metropolitan Bakery.
License revoked for SugarHouse casino
Mayor Michael Nutter's decision last week to revoke SugarHouse's casino license for its proposed 5,500-slot parlor provided a new setback for casino developers interested in coming to Philadelphia. Nutter revoked the license in order to more completely evaluate whether the proposed casino is the best use for the land at the Fishtown site.
Philly attracts more foreign visitors
The weak U.S. economy and the low value of the dollar abroad mean increased tourism - and foreign money - for the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia experienced a dramatic increase in international tourism from 2000 to 2005 said Fritz Smith, director of international and domestic tourism at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Cha-ching: cab fares may rise again
Mechanical problems and rising gas prices might make that trip to Center City a little more expensive. According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, a potential price increase in cab fares could raise the cost of an average cab ride from $9.15 to $9.87, a 72-cent increase.
Delayed opening for Chilango
West Philadelphia is on its way to becoming a battleground for area residents' palettes - but not without a few delays. Chilango, a high-end Jose Garces restaurant that will be located in the Hub at 40th and Chestnut Streets, has delayed its planned spring opening until June.
More business on Baltimore Ave.
When deciding where to eat a dinner out, most students head east into Center City. Now there are a few reasons to head west instead. Several new establishments have opened between 47th and 50th Streets on Baltimore Avenue in the last few months, a movement that has brought new life and positive attention to the area.
