Bok — Attraction in Philadelphia

My beloved BOK A.V.T. H.S. saddened to come to know your no more. Great times here. Performed in talent shows. Which I auditioned songs of Janet Jackson, CONTROL...Pattie Austin HEAT OF HEAT.... and became part of a singing group, performed prior to assembles IS THIS THE END by NEW EDITION. Which, I even knew those gentlemen @ 18th & Catherine St. @ a friend's birthday party. Memories. Also, was granted the opportunity as a Commercial Art student, to study at PA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS Broad & Cherry St. & later awarded the chance to venture to NY NY ART MUSEUMS!!! Great times. I miss my beloved BOK! must visit to see all the goings on there. WwwwwwwwowwwW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking at those pictures....auditorium my commercial articles the corridors & walls where I hung my Poster running for President 1987'........ I just wanna cry.....i now reside in ILLINOIS & I tell you, when your away from home (a stranger) people will not be afraid to +@#!%? with you. But I love my city! FOR LIFE NO DOUBT! Be well all. One more thing...i was going through my things & came across a pic taken of me & a guy I found interesting/ we study Commercial Art same time. Pic taken in the gym. I even recalled coming to school perhaps in shocK after finding out my mom went away (in her sleep @ the hospital) few hours after we finished visiting her. I shared it with my gym teacher. She was friends with my mom sort of. Well, my mom would check in on me (because I was being bullied, and mom straightened it alllllllllllll out. Trust. Sweet Pie didn't play. Everybody knew my mom. & she loved the kids, and they loved her aswell. Trust Well, I guess that's all. Miss my...

I enjoyed my experience here. It started to drizzle out and there were people walking around offering patrons ponchos. I thought that was amazing. I do wish, though, that all of their tables had the overhead draping to keep light rain out. The food was good, but I wasn't thrilled with the presentation; my warp fell apart within seconds of lifting it. I wound up having to eat it so much more quickly since I didn't have a fork. The non-alcoholic drinks, I felt, were severely overpriced. I ordered a ginger ale which cost several dollars and was handed a 12oz can. I felt that was a complete joke. The service itself, however, was great. We were there for a birthday party. I'd read on their website about their "bring your own cake" fee; however, since I hadn't planned this party, I'd figured the organizer had taken care of it and didn't mention it. When the host saw there was a homemade dessert on the table, he did charge the group, and rightfully so. In regards to the remaining dining atmosphere unrelated to the weather, obviously the view is spectacular. I chose not to be a sheep and take photos with the view considering everyone and their mother was already doing so. I thought the location looked incomplete, however, without viewfinders situated on the roof. I'm unsure if they used to be there or if there was some ordinance that indicated they needed to come down, but I think they would have been a great addition to the...

I attended the Open Studios tour at Bok and was thoroughly impressed. The Art Deco pile of a building itself is impressive, but the community being created inside is even more so. It is a mecca for makers. And what a diverse group of makers!

I met artists of every stripe - young, older, newly-minted, accomplished. Printers, leather makers, potters and bakers. (Hey I might have the makings of a poem here.) There were interior designers, jewelers, sculptors, a maestro of musical instrument repair, and even a maker of wood eyeglasses (who sadly wasn't there but left out a sample of his work).

Everyone I spoke with talked about how much they enjoyed being in the building and how friendly their fellow tenants were. Some came from other parts of the city (and region) and some live just a few blocks away.

Remake Glass in the basement made an impression with demonstrations of how they turn recycled glass into all manner of drinking glasses, vases, pictchers, and more.

I've lived nearby in South Philly for more than 15 years. I knew there were creative people all around me, but most of them worked outside the area. Finding workspaces full of creative folks meant going to Old City or Northern Liberties or elsewhere. I'm thrilled to know that now there's a home for them right here in the neighborhood!

I look forward to the imminent opening of "Two Persons Coffee" so I can spend more time in...