The 20 | NBC Philadelphia
  • Sat May 19th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 3
    permalink »
    Study: Philly a Top 10 Global Destination for Shopping. Philly as a shopping destination? That’s what it sounds like, at least in a study conducted by CNBC in conjunction with the editors at Tobe Report, a trend forecasting firm that analyzes the retail industry. “To choose the world’s best cities for shopping, the analysts at Tobe compared a variety of city characteristics, as well as what the location had to offer in terms of the ultimate shopping experience.” And listed right there alongside Paris, Hong Kong, Austin (Tex.), Los Angeles, Melbourne (Aust.), London, New York, Copenhagen and Milan (Italy) is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More from the study: “Tobe Report assistant editor Alyssa Ciranni says the City of Brotherly Love offers everything from high end merchandise to locally produced products. There’s also an added bonus - no sales tax on clothing and shoes. Check out: Center City is home to a mix of national retailers like Urban Outfitters, local retailers and trendy boutiques.Rittenhouse Row claims to be one of the most exclusive shopping areas in the country, with specialty shops, spas, haute couture boutiques and national retailers. There are carefully curated collections at Boyds, and innovative women’s wear at Joan Schepp. Ciranni also likes Knit Wit, which is “urban chic,” and Arcada Boutique, which sells up and coming labels.Old City is not only home to Independence Hall and the Betsy Ross House, it also has a wide array of stores. There are art galleries, hip boutiques, new-age designs stores and vintage shops. Ciranni suggests paying a visit to Sugarcube, which sells designer goods and vintage frocks.Chestnut Hill is where the “city meets the suburbs,” Ciranni said. Pedestrians can stroll along the cobbled streets and visit any number of specialty stores, antique shops, art galleries or chain stores.” Rittenhouse Row’s annual spring festival takes place on Saturday, so you’ll have plenty of chances to get out and shop. But no mention of King of Prussia Mall? What do you think? Is Philly a great shopping town? -LD CNBC, Tobe Report, Visit Philly (h/t @PhiladelphiaGov and Philly.com) Photo: Getty Images

    Study: Philly a Top 10 Global Destination for Shopping. Philly as a shopping destination? That’s what it sounds like, at least in a study conducted by CNBC in conjunction with the editors at Tobe Report, a trend forecasting firm that analyzes the retail industry.

    “To choose the world’s best cities for shopping, the analysts at Tobe compared a variety of city characteristics, as well as what the location had to offer in terms of the ultimate shopping experience.”

    And listed right there alongside Paris, Hong Kong, Austin (Tex.), Los Angeles, Melbourne (Aust.), London, New York, Copenhagen and Milan (Italy) is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    More from the study:

    “Tobe Report assistant editor Alyssa Ciranni says the City of Brotherly Love offers everything from high end merchandise to locally produced products. There’s also an added bonus - no sales tax on clothing and shoes. Check out: Center City is home to a mix of national retailers like Urban Outfitters, local retailers and trendy boutiques.

    Rittenhouse Row claims to be one of the most exclusive shopping areas in the country, with specialty shops, spas, haute couture boutiques and national retailers. There are carefully curated collections at Boyds, and innovative women’s wear at Joan Schepp. Ciranni also likes Knit Wit, which is “urban chic,” and Arcada Boutique, which sells up and coming labels.

    Old City is not only home to Independence Hall and the Betsy Ross House, it also has a wide array of stores. There are art galleries, hip boutiques, new-age designs stores and vintage shops. Ciranni suggests paying a visit to Sugarcube, which sells designer goods and vintage frocks.

    Chestnut Hill is where the “city meets the suburbs,” Ciranni said. Pedestrians can stroll along the cobbled streets and visit any number of specialty stores, antique shops, art galleries or chain stores.”

    Rittenhouse Row’s annual spring festival takes place on Saturday, so you’ll have plenty of chances to get out and shop. But no mention of King of Prussia Mall?

    What do you think? Is Philly a great shopping town?

    -LD

    CNBC, Tobe Report, Visit Philly (h/t @PhiladelphiaGov and Philly.com)

    Photo: Getty Images

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  • Fri May 18th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 2
    permalink »
    Why White Migration to Center City is Unlikely to Save Philadelphia. For the first time in 60 years, Philadelphia is adding white residents more quickly than it is losing them: 3,980, to be exact, as reported in Thursday’s Philadelphia Daily News. But as The20’s @pkerkstra writes Friday, that may not save the city. “For every rowhouse Rocky who leaves, there’s a white empty-nester or young college graduate who moves in, usually to Center City or one of its bordering neighborhoods. The white residents swelling Center City tend to be reasonably well-off and highly educated. That means they pay a lot in taxes while requiring relatively little in the way of city services, a combination that makes them a welcome addition to the poorest big city in the country. Of course, there are some drawbacks to their increase in Philadelphia. Gentrification tensions are common along many of Center City’s bleeding edges. And one wonders what will happen to Philadelphia’s very identity - so closely linked to the city’s white ethnic neighborhoods - once the white population is dominated not by Joey and Stacey from the block, but by Jacob and Sophia from Swarthmore.” Kerkstra also mentions urbanist Alan Ehrenhalt’s new book The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City, which covers the demographic inversion taking place in America, where central cities increasingly are where the affluent want to live, while suburbs are becoming home to poorer people and those who come to America from other parts of the world.  In talking about Philadelphia, Ehrenhalt shows that it takes more than a few - or even a bunch of - rich white people moving downtown to save a city. At its core, Philadelphia is, as Ehrenhalt says, “a fashionable city center surrounded on two of its four sides by a periphery of seemingly endless poverty.” More from Kerkstra: In Ehrenhalt’s view, Philadelphia’s liabilities - namely the blight, violence, and taxes - are so extreme they will ultimately put a halt to Center City’s growth. In other words, instead of the engine that powers the redevelopment of all of Philadelphia, Center City is more likely to stay an affluent island amid mass poverty. -LD @pkerkstra, Philly.com, Amazon

    Why White Migration to Center City is Unlikely to Save Philadelphia. For the first time in 60 years, Philadelphia is adding white residents more quickly than it is losing them: 3,980, to be exact, as reported in Thursday’s Philadelphia Daily News. But as The20’s @pkerkstra writes Friday, that may not save the city.

    “For every rowhouse Rocky who leaves, there’s a white empty-nester or young college graduate who moves in, usually to Center City or one of its bordering neighborhoods.

    The white residents swelling Center City tend to be reasonably well-off and highly educated. That means they pay a lot in taxes while requiring relatively little in the way of city services, a combination that makes them a welcome addition to the poorest big city in the country.

    Of course, there are some drawbacks to their increase in Philadelphia. Gentrification tensions are common along many of Center City’s bleeding edges. And one wonders what will happen to Philadelphia’s very identity - so closely linked to the city’s white ethnic neighborhoods - once the white population is dominated not by Joey and Stacey from the block, but by Jacob and Sophia from Swarthmore.”

    Kerkstra also mentions urbanist Alan Ehrenhalt’s new book The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City, which covers the demographic inversion taking place in America, where central cities increasingly are where the affluent want to live, while suburbs are becoming home to poorer people and those who come to America from other parts of the world. 

    In talking about Philadelphia, Ehrenhalt shows that it takes more than a few - or even a bunch of - rich white people moving downtown to save a city. At its core, Philadelphia is, as Ehrenhalt says, “a fashionable city center surrounded on two of its four sides by a periphery of seemingly endless poverty.”

    More from Kerkstra:

    In Ehrenhalt’s view, Philadelphia’s liabilities - namely the blight, violence, and taxes - are so extreme they will ultimately put a halt to Center City’s growth. In other words, instead of the engine that powers the redevelopment of all of Philadelphia, Center City is more likely to stay an affluent island amid mass poverty.

    -LD

    @pkerkstra, Philly.com, Amazon

    Tags: 
  • Mon May 7th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 8
    permalink »
    Does Claude Giroux Deserve A Suspension? There were only four seconds remaining in the second period of Game 4, in which the Flyers were being dominated by the New Jersey Devils. Yet despite the lopsided nature of the game to that point, the Flyers only trailed 3-2. It was then that Claude Giroux, considered one of the top players in the entire NHL, was penalized for a hit to the head of Dainius Zubrus, who had just put the Devils in the lead. Giroux was visibly upset about a play that Devils goalie Martin Brodeur had just made that G thought should have been a penalty. “I was just trying to finish my hit and he kind of leaned in and kind of tried to chip the puck in,” Giroux told CSNPhilly’s Sarah Baicker after the Game 4 loss. “I didn’t see the replay, so I don’t know. Obviously I’m not a dirty player. I don’t want to hit guys on the head. I was just trying to finish my hit there.” Zubrus was not seriously injured (he even returned to the game and scored the empty net goal to make it 4-2 Devils). And Giroux is correct in that he really isn’t a dirty player. But Devils coach Peter DeBoer thinks the hit may well be suspension-worthy (Peter Laviolette disagrees). “For me it looks textbook, like the hits they’re trying to get out of the game,” DeBoer said. “But I understand (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman and (deputy commissioner) Bill Daly were here, and I’m sure they’ll look at that.” Giroux is scheduled to meet with the league at 11 a.m. Monday to discuss a potential suspension. For what it’s worth, TSN’s Bob McKenzie says Giroux’s hit was a textbook Rule 48 violation. We’ll keep you updated on Giroux’s status for Game 5 as soon as we learn about it. Weigh in: does Giroux deserve to be suspended for this hit? UPDATED (3:05 p.m., Monday, May 7): Giroux was suspended for one game by the NHL for his hit to Zubrus and will miss Game 5 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. -LD [CSNPhilly, ESPNNewYork, ProHockeyTalk] Photo: Getty Images

    Does Claude Giroux Deserve A Suspension? There were only four seconds remaining in the second period of Game 4, in which the Flyers were being dominated by the New Jersey Devils. Yet despite the lopsided nature of the game to that point, the Flyers only trailed 3-2. It was then that Claude Giroux, considered one of the top players in the entire NHL, was penalized for a hit to the head of Dainius Zubrus, who had just put the Devils in the lead. Giroux was visibly upset about a play that Devils goalie Martin Brodeur had just made that G thought should have been a penalty.

    “I was just trying to finish my hit and he kind of leaned in and kind of tried to chip the puck in,” Giroux told CSNPhilly’s Sarah Baicker after the Game 4 loss. “I didn’t see the replay, so I don’t know. Obviously I’m not a dirty player. I don’t want to hit guys on the head. I was just trying to finish my hit there.”

    Zubrus was not seriously injured (he even returned to the game and scored the empty net goal to make it 4-2 Devils). And Giroux is correct in that he really isn’t a dirty player. But Devils coach Peter DeBoer thinks the hit may well be suspension-worthy (Peter Laviolette disagrees).

    “For me it looks textbook, like the hits they’re trying to get out of the game,” DeBoer said. “But I understand (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman and (deputy commissioner) Bill Daly were here, and I’m sure they’ll look at that.”

    Giroux is scheduled to meet with the league at 11 a.m. Monday to discuss a potential suspension. For what it’s worth, TSN’s Bob McKenzie says Giroux’s hit was a textbook Rule 48 violation. We’ll keep you updated on Giroux’s status for Game 5 as soon as we learn about it.

    Weigh in: does Giroux deserve to be suspended for this hit?

    UPDATED (3:05 p.m., Monday, May 7): Giroux was suspended for one game by the NHL for his hit to Zubrus and will miss Game 5 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

    -LD

    [CSNPhilly, ESPNNewYork, ProHockeyTalk]

    Photo: Getty Images

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  • Fri Apr 27th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 0
    permalink »
    Turnpike Rivalry Renewed in Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the second time in three years, the Flyers are set to play the Devils in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After falling to the Devils in the 1995 and 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, the Flyers have beaten New Jersey in their last two playoff matchups (2004 and 2010). What do you need to know about the Devils? Well, Martin Brodeur (above) is still in net and still playing well (he made 43 saves on 45 shots in last night’s Game 7 double-overtime win over Florida). The winningest goaltender of all-time will turn 40 on May 6. As for their season showdowns, the Flyers held a slight edge in the six games the teams played this year, going 3-2-1. Will the week off hurt the Flyers? Can they handle the Devils? We’ll find out starting at 3pm Sunday, right here on NBC10. -LD NBC10, CSNPhilly Photo: Getty Images

    Turnpike Rivalry Renewed in Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the second time in three years, the Flyers are set to play the Devils in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After falling to the Devils in the 1995 and 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, the Flyers have beaten New Jersey in their last two playoff matchups (2004 and 2010).

    What do you need to know about the Devils? Well, Martin Brodeur (above) is still in net and still playing well (he made 43 saves on 45 shots in last night’s Game 7 double-overtime win over Florida). The winningest goaltender of all-time will turn 40 on May 6. As for their season showdowns, the Flyers held a slight edge in the six games the teams played this year, going 3-2-1.

    Will the week off hurt the Flyers? Can they handle the Devils? We’ll find out starting at 3pm Sunday, right here on NBC10.

    -LD

    NBC10, CSNPhilly

    Photo: Getty Images

    Tags: 
  • Thu Apr 26th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 8
    permalink »
    Rejoice: Thursday is National Pretzel Day. It’s a holiday made for Philadelphia. According to a press release, National Pretzel Day was created in 1983 when Rep. Robert S. Walker determined his favorite food needed a holiday. Twenty years later, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell joined the bandwagon by re-declaring the unofficial national holiday. And today is the day, everyone. How much do we love pretzels in this region?  According to Wikipedia, “Southeastern Pennsylvania is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry. In fact, Pa. produces 80% of the nation’s pretzels and the average Philadelphian consumes about twelve times more pretzels than the national average.” To celebrate the holiday, the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory is giving away one free pretzel to anyone who walks in the door today. Free pretzels, need we say anything more? To find locations near you, check here. How do you enjoy your soft pretzels? -LD Wikipedia, Philly Soft Pretzel Factory Photo: NBC10

    Rejoice: Thursday is National Pretzel Day. It’s a holiday made for Philadelphia. According to a press release, National Pretzel Day was created in 1983 when Rep. Robert S. Walker determined his favorite food needed a holiday. Twenty years later, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell joined the bandwagon by re-declaring the unofficial national holiday. And today is the day, everyone. How much do we love pretzels in this region? 

    According to Wikipedia, “Southeastern Pennsylvania is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry. In fact, Pa. produces 80% of the nation’s pretzels and the average Philadelphian consumes about twelve times more pretzels than the national average.”

    To celebrate the holiday, the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory is giving away one free pretzel to anyone who walks in the door today. Free pretzels, need we say anything more? To find locations near you, check here.

    How do you enjoy your soft pretzels?

    -LD

    Wikipedia, Philly Soft Pretzel Factory

    Photo: NBC10

    Tags: 
  • Sun Apr 15th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 5
    permalink »
    Is Claude Giroux Philly’s Best Athlete in 2012? Yes, it’s only April. And yes, the Phillies (despite two masterful performances from Doc Halladay) are off to a bit of a slow start. But since we all have Flyers fever as they battle our cross-state rivals in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (how does 3-0 feel, Pittsburgh?), it’s a question worth asking. The folks at Philadelphia Magazine are conducting a poll for some of their annual “Best of Philly” categories, and one of them is “Best Athlete.” On the list are Giroux, the Philadelphia Union’s Freddy Adu, DeSean Jackson of the Eagles, Evan Turner of the Sixers and Hunter Pence of the Phillies (we hear you, Phillies fans…no sign of Halladay, Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels). Giroux made all of Philadelphia proud in the 1st period of today’s game by engaging in a little scuffle with one Sidney Crosby (not to mention an assist and a goal today to go along with 28 goals and 65 assists in the regular season, and Friday night’s 3-goal, 3-assist performance in Pittsburgh). But beyond that, it got us to wondering…is Giroux in fact the best Philly athlete in 2012? (note: because the magazine is published in August, the voting closes in May.) Quick aside: The Hockey News named Giroux the 3rd best player in the NHL back in March (behind Crosby and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk) and in January, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSW) named Giroux their pro athlete of the year. Weigh in below… -LD [PhillyMag, CSNPhilly, Philly.com h/t The20’s @VictorFiorillo] Photo: Getty Images

    Is Claude Giroux Philly’s Best Athlete in 2012? Yes, it’s only April. And yes, the Phillies (despite two masterful performances from Doc Halladay) are off to a bit of a slow start. But since we all have Flyers fever as they battle our cross-state rivals in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (how does 3-0 feel, Pittsburgh?), it’s a question worth asking.

    The folks at Philadelphia Magazine are conducting a poll for some of their annual “Best of Philly” categories, and one of them is “Best Athlete.” On the list are Giroux, the Philadelphia Union’s Freddy Adu, DeSean Jackson of the Eagles, Evan Turner of the Sixers and Hunter Pence of the Phillies (we hear you, Phillies fans…no sign of Halladay, Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels).

    Giroux made all of Philadelphia proud in the 1st period of today’s game by engaging in a little scuffle with one Sidney Crosby (not to mention an assist and a goal today to go along with 28 goals and 65 assists in the regular season, and Friday night’s 3-goal, 3-assist performance in Pittsburgh). But beyond that, it got us to wondering…is Giroux in fact the best Philly athlete in 2012? (note: because the magazine is published in August, the voting closes in May.)

    Quick aside: The Hockey News named Giroux the 3rd best player in the NHL back in March (behind Crosby and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk) and in January, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association (PSW) named Giroux their pro athlete of the year.

    Weigh in below…

    -LD

    [PhillyMag, CSNPhilly, Philly.com h/t The20’s @VictorFiorillo]

    Photo: Getty Images

    Tags: 
  • Fri Apr 6th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 2
    permalink »
    DJ Jazzy Jeff Added to Phillies Already Jam-Packed Home Opener Schedule. As if the Phillies home opener wasn’t big enough already, the team announced on Friday that the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff would be joining the festivities as well (outdoors at the block party beginning at 10:30). It is just a part of the scheduled events, which the Phillies officially laid out today. So if you want a minute-by-minute detail of the events, they include: 8 a.m.: Majestic Clubhouse Store opens 10:35 a.m.: All Gates Open (all fans will receive a 2’x3’ replica of the 2011 NL East Champions Pennant 10:35 a.m.: Phillies batting practice 11:34 a.m.: Marlins batting practice 12:15 p.m.: Line up on 10th Street as the Phillies make their “Leadoff Walk” into the ballpark 12:26 p.m.: The Phillies make their grand entrance from a 10th Street Leadoff Walk 12:39 p.m.: “America the Beautiful” will be sung by the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale 12:42 p.m.: Marlins introductions 12:46 p.m.: Phillies introductions 12:52 p.m.: Moment of silence in memory of Jerry Clotheir, Phillies Senior Vice President, Business and Finance, and Andy Musser, Phillies broadcast 12:53 p.m.: National anthem sung by the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale Flyover 12:56 p.m.: The U.S. Navy Leap Frogs will parachute onto the field, bringing the first ball 1:03 p.m.: Ceremonial First Pitch: University of Delaware basketball star Elena Delle Donne 1:09 p.m.: Play Ball! -LD Phillies.com, h/t @meechone

    DJ Jazzy Jeff Added to Phillies Already Jam-Packed Home Opener Schedule. As if the Phillies home opener wasn’t big enough already, the team announced on Friday that the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff would be joining the festivities as well (outdoors at the block party beginning at 10:30). It is just a part of the scheduled events, which the Phillies officially laid out today. So if you want a minute-by-minute detail of the events, they include:

    • 8 a.m.: Majestic Clubhouse Store opens
    • 10:35 a.m.: All Gates Open (all fans will receive a 2’x3’ replica of the 2011 NL East Champions Pennant
    • 10:35 a.m.: Phillies batting practice
    • 11:34 a.m.: Marlins batting practice
    • 12:15 p.m.: Line up on 10th Street as the Phillies make their “Leadoff Walk” into the ballpark
    • 12:26 p.m.: The Phillies make their grand entrance from a 10th Street Leadoff Walk
    • 12:39 p.m.: “America the Beautiful” will be sung by the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale
    • 12:42 p.m.: Marlins introductions
    • 12:46 p.m.: Phillies introductions
    • 12:52 p.m.: Moment of silence in memory of Jerry Clotheir, Phillies Senior Vice President, Business and Finance, and Andy Musser, Phillies broadcast
    • 12:53 p.m.: National anthem sung by the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale
    • Flyover
    • 12:56 p.m.: The U.S. Navy Leap Frogs will parachute onto the field, bringing the first ball
    • 1:03 p.m.: Ceremonial First Pitch: University of Delaware basketball star Elena Delle Donne
    • 1:09 p.m.: Play Ball!
    -LD
    Tags: 
  • Thu Mar 29th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 2
    permalink »
    Philly City Hall Recognized for Social Media Savvy. Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter is fairly well-known for utilizing social media to get his message across (as he did to combat city violence in September), and even participated in a social media town hall last fall here at NBC10. Now, Philadelphia City Hall is getting some national recognition for its open data initiatives and social media savvy. A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago ranked the 75 largest cities in America on social media savvy. They based their findings on “opportunities for citizen participation and information,” according to a release, and Philadelphia ranked No. 9 overall. The categories they monitored included: Hosting of open data portals; Comments allowed on blogs and social networks; The extent to which online discussions concerned policy as well as city services; Information on officials, budgets, city council meetings and neighborhood issues The rest of the top 10 (some of the cities tied, according to the scoring system): New York/Seattle Virginia Beach Portland San Francisco Kansas City Denver Mesa, Ariz. Louisville Philadelphia/Long Beach, CA/Sacramento San Jose Toledo, Ohio was ranked last in the survey. -LD [NBC10, PRDaily, h/t The20’s @DPBell and @RichNegrin] Photo: Getty Images

    Philly City Hall Recognized for Social Media Savvy. Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter is fairly well-known for utilizing social media to get his message across (as he did to combat city violence in September), and even participated in a social media town hall last fall here at NBC10. Now, Philadelphia City Hall is getting some national recognition for its open data initiatives and social media savvy.

    A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago ranked the 75 largest cities in America on social media savvy. They based their findings on “opportunities for citizen participation and information,” according to a release, and Philadelphia ranked No. 9 overall. The categories they monitored included:

    • Hosting of open data portals;
    • Comments allowed on blogs and social networks;
    • The extent to which online discussions concerned policy as well as city services;
    • Information on officials, budgets, city council meetings and neighborhood issues

    The rest of the top 10 (some of the cities tied, according to the scoring system):

    1. New York/Seattle
    2. Virginia Beach
    3. Portland
    4. San Francisco
    5. Kansas City
    6. Denver
    7. Mesa, Ariz.
    8. Louisville
    9. Philadelphia/Long Beach, CA/Sacramento
    10. San Jose

    Toledo, Ohio was ranked last in the survey.

    -LD

    [NBC10, PRDaily, h/t The20’s @DPBell and @RichNegrin]

    Photo: Getty Images

    Tags: 
  • Wed Mar 28th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 19
    permalink »
    Hate It or Love It? Springsteen In Philly. The Boss is back in Philadelphia, at least for two nights. The singer-songwriter-performer is playing the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia both tonight and tomorrow, and both shows are sold out (unless you turn to Stubhub, where tickets start at $115). Everyone most certainly knows someone going to the shows, and if you don’t, there are plenty of folks around town talking about it. Interestingly, Springsteen’s return to Philadelphia was met with two separate “Bruce Springsteen sucks” arguments, one from The20’s @VictorFiorillo at Philadelphia Magazine called “Why I Hate Bruce Springsteen,” and the other from John Sharkey at Philadelphia Weekly, titled “A Dissenting View on the Mythicization of Bruce Springsteen.” In Fiorillo’s piece, he lists ten reasons, along with videos, describing why he hates Springsteen. Among them, Bruce’s earring, Max Weinberg, the fans and more. “My friends, knowing I’m a music lover, keep asking me if I’m going. No. I’m not. I’d rather watch the entire first season of Cupcake Wars while being trapped on an elevator with a diarrhetic mule. (No offense to diarrhetic mules.) Yes, I am one of those (apparently few) Bruce Springsteen haters.” Sharkey’s cover story is very clearly a dig at Springsteen’s working class mystique. In it, he compares Springsteen to Tim Tebow and says: “Springsteen isn’t terrible enough to demonize, but he isn’t great enough to canonize, either. He’s the Tim Tebow of music: not very good, but different enough from the rest to stand out. He’s a piece of toilet paper clinging to the bottom of American culture’s shoe. And because he’s remained stuck there so long, we’ve attached undeserved meaning to him. He’s a rock musician, not The Boss.” These opinions both appear to be unpopular, as there are plenty of Springsteen lovers in our area. So hate it or love: Bruce Springsteen? -LD [@VictorFiorillo, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Weekly] Photo: Getty Images

    Hate It or Love It? Springsteen In Philly. The Boss is back in Philadelphia, at least for two nights. The singer-songwriter-performer is playing the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia both tonight and tomorrow, and both shows are sold out (unless you turn to Stubhub, where tickets start at $115). Everyone most certainly knows someone going to the shows, and if you don’t, there are plenty of folks around town talking about it.

    Interestingly, Springsteen’s return to Philadelphia was met with two separate “Bruce Springsteen sucks” arguments, one from The20’s @VictorFiorillo at Philadelphia Magazine called “Why I Hate Bruce Springsteen,” and the other from John Sharkey at Philadelphia Weekly, titled “A Dissenting View on the Mythicization of Bruce Springsteen.”

    In Fiorillo’s piece, he lists ten reasons, along with videos, describing why he hates Springsteen. Among them, Bruce’s earring, Max Weinberg, the fans and more.

    “My friends, knowing I’m a music lover, keep asking me if I’m going. No. I’m not. I’d rather watch the entire first season of Cupcake Wars while being trapped on an elevator with a diarrhetic mule. (No offense to diarrhetic mules.) Yes, I am one of those (apparently few) Bruce Springsteen haters.”

    Sharkey’s cover story is very clearly a dig at Springsteen’s working class mystique. In it, he compares Springsteen to Tim Tebow and says:

    “Springsteen isn’t terrible enough to demonize, but he isn’t great enough to canonize, either. He’s the Tim Tebow of music: not very good, but different enough from the rest to stand out. He’s a piece of toilet paper clinging to the bottom of American culture’s shoe. And because he’s remained stuck there so long, we’ve attached undeserved meaning to him. He’s a rock musician, not The Boss.”

    These opinions both appear to be unpopular, as there are plenty of Springsteen lovers in our area. So hate it or love: Bruce Springsteen?

    -LD

    [@VictorFiorillo, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Weekly]

    Photo: Getty Images

    Tags: 
  • Tue Mar 27th
    1 year ago
    Notes: 0
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    The Guide to Modern Elevator Etiquette. Can you imagine the skyline of Philadelphia or any other modern city if elevators did not exist? The Comcast Center, our city’s tallest structure, has 58 floors. Would you walk up 58 flights of steps to get to your office? Unlikely. But as much as we all ride elevators, we rarely see a standard behavioral code around the trip. That’s where The20’s @VictorFiorillo, a writer for Philadelphia Magazine and The Philly Post, comes in. What if there were behavioral rules around riding the elevator? With brief detail, here are the six rules Fiorillo lists for being in and around elevators: Just Shut Up. “No one wants to hear your stupid conversations.” Chivalry Is Not Allowed. “I’m a big fan of chivalry and gentlemanly behavior, but generally speaking, an elevator is not the place for this, save for escapes from trapped elevators, for which the old ‘women and children first’ protocol is still applicable.” Don’t Talk on Your Cell Phone.  ”I am, of course, talking about the basic tenet of elevator cell phone etiquette, which is, quite simply, that your cell phone should not be in use on an elevator, other than for silent purposes, like texting or browsing.  ” It’s OK to Say Hello. ” It seems that when someone we don’t know makes eye contact with us or greets us on an elevator, even if they’re a comely California girl like Susie, we treat them like a serial killer or at least a potential leftover Occupy Philly member. If you see Susie on your elevator and she says “hello,” it’s perfectly OK (and proper) to say “hello” in return. Anything else would be rude. “ No Eating. “Again, we’re talking about maybe 45 seconds of your life here.” Beware the DOOR CLOSE Button. “Elevator riders, you have the choice of using the DOOR OPEN button or not when you see a body moving toward the closing door, though if you are on the elevator with others, it’s important to take their feelings into account as well. Sure, you may get a “thank you” out of the person for whom you pressed DOOR OPEN, but the other passengers will secretly hate you.” So that’s it. Any other rules to riding the elevator that you would add? To read Fiorillo’s full post, click here. -LD [@VictorFiorillo, The Philly Post] Photo: Getty Images

    The Guide to Modern Elevator Etiquette. Can you imagine the skyline of Philadelphia or any other modern city if elevators did not exist? The Comcast Center, our city’s tallest structure, has 58 floors. Would you walk up 58 flights of steps to get to your office? Unlikely.

    But as much as we all ride elevators, we rarely see a standard behavioral code around the trip. That’s where The20’s @VictorFiorillo, a writer for Philadelphia Magazine and The Philly Post, comes in. What if there were behavioral rules around riding the elevator? With brief detail, here are the six rules Fiorillo lists for being in and around elevators:

    1. Just Shut Up. “No one wants to hear your stupid conversations.”
    2. Chivalry Is Not Allowed. “I’m a big fan of chivalry and gentlemanly behavior, but generally speaking, an elevator is not the place for this, save for escapes from trapped elevators, for which the old ‘women and children first’ protocol is still applicable.”
    3. Don’t Talk on Your Cell Phone.  ”I am, of course, talking about the basic tenet of elevator cell phone etiquette, which is, quite simply, that your cell phone should not be in use on an elevator, other than for silent purposes, like texting or browsing.  ”
    4. It’s OK to Say Hello. ” It seems that when someone we don’t know makes eye contact with us or greets us on an elevator, even if they’re a comely California girl like Susie, we treat them like a serial killer or at least a potential leftover Occupy Philly member. If you see Susie on your elevator and she says “hello,” it’s perfectly OK (and proper) to say “hello” in return. Anything else would be rude. “
    5. No Eating. “Again, we’re talking about maybe 45 seconds of your life here.”
    6. Beware the DOOR CLOSE Button. “Elevator riders, you have the choice of using the DOOR OPEN button or not when you see a body moving toward the closing door, though if you are on the elevator with others, it’s important to take their feelings into account as well. Sure, you may get a “thank you” out of the person for whom you pressed DOOR OPEN, but the other passengers will secretly hate you.”

    So that’s it. Any other rules to riding the elevator that you would add? To read Fiorillo’s full post, click here.

    -LD

    [@VictorFiorillo, The Philly Post]

    Photo: Getty Images

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