Volunteering: PAWS – Habitat – ESL

Between work and play I make time for help. This summer I chose to help by volunteering with three organizations: PAWS (Philadelpha Animal Welfare Society), Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, and Center for Learning and Literacy. PAWS has three shelters. Each one houses a number of dogs and cats which you as a volunteer help care for. I have only been in a few times…

4th of July in Philadelphia!!!

There are a few traditions which are a staple to the 4th of July: barbeques, beach/pool days, fireworks, and, in my case, a screening of 1776. Traditions in mind, Philadelphia has a few Independence Day Celebrations prepared for July 3rd and 4th. July 3rd: Free Museum Day at the National Liberty Museum: https://welcomeamerica.com/event/free-museum-day-at-the-national-liberty-museum/ Free Museum Day at the Rodin Museum: https://welcomeamerica.com/event/free-museum-day-at-the-rodin-museum/ Philadelphia Block Part at the…

Sitting Cool in the Pool

Philly Public Pools Map: https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2018/06/19/public-pools-philadelphia/ With the excessive heat warning the only safe places to have any summer fun are in AC or in the pool. When your AC isn’t working, anywhere else starts to look like paradise. Thankfully a friend, Zoe, has a pool in her apartment building which she kindly invited me and some other friends to sit and escape the heat in….

Constructive Conversations

So this morning, as I am headed to work, I passed by a construction site across from campus. I have photographed this site several times and love watching the progress. Well today I stopped to talk to one of the construction crew who was overseeing the pouring of a concrete sidewalk. He was really nice and very supportive of the design field. In discussing…

University City Summer Fun

https://www.universitycity.org/community-events-arts-and-culture If you are looking for a bit of fun after summer classes or work in the University City District then the link above is a great place to start. There are several recuring events, some of which I have written about before including University City Dining Days, 40th Street Summer Series (music), and some I haven’t written about but hope to experience, such…

Center City Sips

https://www.centercityphila.org/explore-center-city/ccdsips Center City Sips is a downtown Philadelphia summer happy hour hosted by select bars and restuarants on Wednesday nights. The happy hour runs from 5-7 pm. The happy hour consists of $6 cocktails, $5 wines, $4 beers, and half price appetizers. It is a lovely, and cheaper way to hang out with friends after work! However, make sure to get places early as…

National Doughnut Day!!!

A doughnut a day may not keep the doctor away but it will certainly put at bay any sad summer blues. If you haven’t already gotten a doughnut today, it isn’t to late. Several places are celebrating including Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, Walmart, and Papa Johns. Surprised? So was I. But who can argue with a little sugary delight and quirky history facts. While…

Weekend To Do’s

Not sure what to do this weekend? A colleague of mine introduced me to two fantastic sites that chronicle events in the city. UWISHUNU (https://www.uwishunu.com/) is a fun site with a wide variety of listings from festivals, music, museums, reaturants, basically a little bit of everything. Every entry is labeled for the week or for the weekend which is great for planning. Campus Philly…

Book Nook

This week I decided to run an errand which resulted in one of the most amazing accidental discoveries. On my way back from a closed UPS store I stumbled upon a home with only a single sign outside which read, “New and Used Books”. My first instinct suggested that the new and used books for sale must be those in boxes along the stairs…

MArch Mentors

Ever wish you could have known more before diving into something? MArch Mentors aims to help answer this question. The goal is to pair current MArch students at Penn with incoming students to help answer all those questions that, sometimes, come up well after having accepted and moved in. Zoe Cennami is leading the effort to pair mentors with mentees by the begining of…