Results tagged “philadelphiafreelibrary”

It's been a while since we were able to introduce you to a new writer on Phillyist, but today, we have the pleasure of introducing you to Colleen Clemens. Colleen became a feminist on the marching band field, and an English professor on the Lehigh campus. We're thrilled to add her, and her Ph.D., to the mix.

I wanted to start this column with a reminder that First Friday is quickly approaching, and if you haven't ventured out into the fun and frivolity, you should give it a try. Now before you rush off to write me an angry email, lecturing me about all the problems parents with toddlers struggle, and how DARE I recommend taking an overactive two year old into a art gallery, let me say this: I understand my daughter is small enough to strap to my chest and cart around wherever I please, but I have friends. And those friends have older, and more... let's say, expressive, children. Many of them make it a point to venture out every month and check out their neighborhood's contribution to First Friday. While its true many First Friday events are clustered around Old City, with the explosion of small, hip little galleries around Northern Liberties and the Fairmount neighborhoods, most families should be able to find something in walking distance. For a comprehensive list of participating venues along with information about the artist(s) on display, check out this link. And remember! Its not all paintings and free wine samples, there are interactive welding demonstrations, multimedia displays, even movie screenings. First Friday is, as always, free for everyone, so give it a try!

Phillyist is fairly sure that everyone has heard about the city's money troubles...and the state's money troubles...and the country's money troubles. We are all fairly certain, unless you live in a bubble at the bottom of the sea, that everyone knows budgets are being cut and belts are being tightened everywhere.

Acclaimed author and Philly denizen Jennifer Weiner (pronounced "Winer," not "Weener"!), author of Good in Bed and In Her Shoes has a new novel, Best Friends Forever, coming out tomorrow (July 14).

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

The city budget crisis threatens the only domestic violence shelter in the city.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

You may or may not have heard that The Philadelphia Free Library is working with architect Moshe Safdie to renovate and expand the Beaux Arts building. (And if you hadn't heard it before, you've heard it now.) If you're curious about the plans (or just dig architecture), stop by the The Gershman Y (Broad and Pine Streets) between December 4th & January 29th, where they'll be exhibiting "Safdie’s models, photographs, renderings, and videos" so you can get an idea of what the Beaux Arts is in for. Personally, we don't care too much what they do with it so long as they put all those lovely, lovely books back when they're done. (Or, we could hold on to them if there's not enough room in the 160,000 square foot addition. Either way.)