When's This Gonna be On?

PHL17 stopped by Wash Cycle's Thompson Street facility last week to do a profile on Mildred, my wonderful laundry team leader, and myself. It aired this morning:

After spending the better part of the last 9 years working behind the camera (in varying capacities), it was very different to be in front of it for a change. Someone at HQ said I have a future as a spokesman. I think I'd shave first... At any rate, it's great that people are recognizing what we do, and more importantly why we do it.

Some sadness to report, sort of: Mildred is going on vacation for three weeks. I don't blog much about her, but she truly is the legend behind the scenes while I soak up all the sun (and occasional glory). I say this without hyperbole that my job would be IMPOSSIBLE without her, and I'm really going to miss her while she's gone.

Enough sappiness. Happy Thursday!

Water for the Win Win

Myself and Lindsay of W/N W/N Coffee Bar this morning

Humid, hazy, hot, soupy, sultry, summery...whatever adjective you choose, it's farking hawt in the City of Brotherly Love today. Thankfully I service some pretty cool clients like W/N W/N who were more than willing to help us cyclists stay hydrated. I felt I owed them an Instagram post at the very least. Friends helping friends, right?

It's been a bit of a running joke whenever I walk in to service them every Monday and Wednesday morning - they offer me a glass of water and I usually say "No" because I'm almost always well-hydrated (side note: eating your vegetables and avoiding hard baked food helps). But today, there's no such thing as well-hydrated, especially when you're moving hundreds of pounds of laundry on a bike. Sort of makes me miss those five-layer February days. Sort of...

The second-best advice on a day like today is to get your outdoor shit done early if at all possible. I knew I had to pick up pillows from Temple today, and that it would be a large load, but I was determined to get it all done in one trip to avoid more heat exposure (it didn't matter - it was still 90+ degrees by 11AM). I don't recommend trying this at home:

13 bags of pillows, each weighing over 20 pounds. You can call me Steve the Sweaty Cyclist.

Speaking of pillows, I think it's time for a nap. Stay hydrated, stay safe.

Bikes, Brews & Battered Food

Last Thursday, my friends over at Spoke Magazine hosted a happy hour (of sorts) at Win Win Coffee Bar. In addition to the great environment with like-minded folks and (of course) wonderfully local craft brews, the evening featured Philly bike attorney Joe Piscitello discussing what to do when involved in a cycling accident:

It was a small, but enthusiastic, group for sure, and I greatly enjoyed the "round table" feeling. Instead of being just a lecture and Q&A, it turned into much more of a discussion about cycling etiquette, bike laws and sharing of joys and concerns.

What I got most out of it was a great sense that there is a lot that can be done should the worst happen. I was also reminded once again that (unfortunately) a lot of the onus is on us as cyclists to take care of ourselves, because most of the motoring public doesn't. Sad but true, I suppose.

The evening ended a very positive note, as I hung out with the editors after the event and was coerced into trying dosa for the first time. If you've never tried it, imagine a crepe with spicy beans and veggies. Sounds strange, but it tastes delicious. Food always wins, especially of the fried batter variety.

All in all, a great evening, and it made me look forward to the Spoke issue 3 launch party sometime next month. See y'all there...

Nice Rack: 5th & Thompson

See what they did there? Cacti in front of a Mexican restaurant. How cute.

Gas Effect

I was on my way back from delivering to Win Win Coffee Bar on Wednesday when this sign on Spring Garden St. gave me a chuckle:

On a related note, they seem to have no issue with cars regularly blocking the bike lane just in front of this sign...

-- EVENT NOTICE --

At 6PM tonight at Win Win, Spoke Magazine is hosting a presentation on what cyclists should do if they're ever hit by a car while riding, a subject that has recently become much more important to me. If you're a cyclist and you're in the city this evening, I highly recommend you join us. There will be punch and pie...

I'll likely post a recap tomorrow or over the weekend. Enjoy another beautiful day!

Beer (Factory) Battered

Germantown Avenue is fast becoming my favorite detour when I have time between jobs. It's absolutely atrocious at certain spots, covered with potholes, vacant buildings and garbage - both literal and figurative. So why do I like it so damn much?

One reason, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC on most spots just north of Girard. As a cyclist, I live with traffic, but any time I can enjoy a ride without it, ya know...

Secondly, I always seem to find something interesting. For example, this old brewery:

Gretz Brewery. Doesn't look like much these days, but it's a truly unique building. It's still structurally sound after over 130 years (believe it or not) and, after a brief "Google," I found out it has quite a history. Read up if you like. On a side note: my friends over at The Spirit started a new column on old buildings, so check that out too if you're into that sort of thing.

Northward no more than a block away is this mural:

You can't really tell, but the brewery is actually across the street beyond the stop sign. I like the touch the mural adds to this area - there's still hope for a neighborhood that's been decimated by the loss of industry, something all too common in a lot of American cities. Did I go a little too metaphorical there? Mayhaps...

I'll definitely have more to share from Olde Kensington another time. In case you haven't had a chance, get outside to enjoy this gorgeous day.

Dirty Streets...

Philadelphia, like every city, has many faces, sides, neighborhoods, and the list goes on. Living in the south and working in the north, I'm fortunate that I get to see a variety of them on a daily basis.

Today, due to PGW digging yet another hole to ruin yet another street and block off three whole blocks a construction project, I detoured up 27th Street for a few blocks. Before today, I don't think I'd ever been on 27th Street at any part of the city. I mean, why would I?

Anywho, I was nearing Master Street when I saw this strange little street off to the left that kinda reminded me of the backroads back home:

That certainly looks like a dirt road...because it is. It's also apparently known as Kershaw Street. I have no idea (or indication) that this street was actually paved at any point. Well I mean, it's paved at other parts of the city, but not here.

Brewerytown is a changing neighborhood, but I won't dare to use the obligatory "up-and-coming" term that's thrown around by far too many real estate agents these days. What I will say is that I've been more pleasantly surprised than not-so-pleasantly surprised by the area in the 4 months I've been working there. Why? Because of things like this community garden:

That's the Brewerytown Garden (they actually have a website - this is serious), and apparently they're open for fruit and veggie sales every Saturday. If I lived in the area, that would be an excuse to come back to 27th Street.

These places are popping up everywhere in the city, and it's kinda nice. Who says Philly isn't progressive?