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Once again Beth Kephart enlightens her readers about her love affair with Philadelphia in her new book Love. She explores the everyday and historical aspects of the City of Brotherly Love and brings them to life. Simplistic, beautifully chosen words engage the reader, painting a picture of the ordinary and making it extraordinary – and truly authentic. Well done and well worth the read.”
— Jack Ferguson, President and CEO, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
“Love is a lovely literary tour of places and spaces in and around Philadelphia. Kephart does a wonderful job of drawing you into her emotional connections to neighborhoods, to transportation routes, to some of the truly fascinating and iconic buildings around this ever-changing city, and to places that draw you outside Philadelphia—but not so far that you cannot return quickly. Her lyrical prose instantly unites you with streets you’ve walked down before—but now with a bit more attention to details than you ever considered before. Seen through Kephart’s eyes and words, Philadelphia is a place of new beginnings.”
— Siobhan A. Reardon, President and Director, Free Library of Philadelphia
“In her new book Love, Beth Kephart has beautifully captured the heart and soul of our city. She captures its complexity by writing eloquently about its beauty, the respect for the past, the resilience of its citizens and an embrace of creativity and innovation unfolding at the speed of light. Set against an extraordinary backdrop of some of our city and region’s most beloved sites, Kephart paints a picture of an area where the past, present and future come together to create a unique and wonderful place that is exciting for those of us who live here and a great treat for those who travel here from across the county and the globe.”
— Jane Golden, Executive Director, Mural Arts Program
Not as if I haven't been saying that myself (well, sort of), right here, and in the
Inquirer, and in my books. But huzzah. This is the
New York Times speaking, not just some homegrown booster.
I am taking particular pleasure in this because I have had the privilege of working with some of the people who are making the radical difference. Let's put Brandywine Realty Trust high on that radical difference list, and Brandywine CEO Jerry Sweeney himself, who has quietly and collaboratively helped engineer a renaissance along the Schuylkill River Banks (through the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, which he chairs), in University City, and in the downtown nexus. Let's talk about outdoor artists like Jane Golden and Isaiah Zagar. Let's look at my alma mater and employer, the University of Pennsylvania, which keeps the greening coming.
In naming Philadelphia right after Milan and Cuba on its list, the
New York Times, in its J
anuary 9, 2015 story, said this:
The making of an urban outdoor oasis.
A series of projects has transformed Philadelphia into a hive of outdoor urban activity. Dilworth Park, formerly a hideous slab of concrete adjoining City Hall, reopened this past autumn as a green, pedestrian-friendly public space with a winter ice-skating rink (and a cafe by the indefatigable chef Jose Garces). Public art installations, mini "parklets" and open-air beer gardens have become common sights. The Delaware River waterfront was reworked for summer 2014 with the Spruce Street Harbor Park (complete with hammocks, lanterns and floating bar) becoming a new fixture, following the renovation of the Race Street Pier, completed in 2011, and offers free yoga classes on a bi-level strip of high-design decking and grass. The city’s other river, the Schuylkill, has its own new boardwalk. To top it off, this spring, Philadelphia will get its first bike share program, making this mostly flat city even more friendly for those on two wheels. Nell McShane Wulfhart
Today, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, some thoughts about "Psychylustro," the Mural Arts installation that has redefined how SEPTA and AMTRAK passengers see—and perhaps think about—Philadelphia's industrial past.
The entire story can be found
here.http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20141012_Art_among_the_ruins.html