Tell Me About Philadelphia, Please

[girl]

Ok. I'm requesting the weekend off. Don't let me down!

 

[elpollodiablo]

I'm kinda confused: is this business going down in Philly or NYC?

[girl]

Philadelphia to welcome Whit to the east coast. We're shooting for the weekend of September 13-14. Brunch, keynote speaker, orgy. You're in, right?

[girl]

Also, do you have any hotel connections in Philadelphia?

[auto-da-fey]

I thought it was here, but I don't even know. I'm not even sure how it became two days. But it's all good with me.

Are you near any hotels?  Also, can you tell us who you lined up for the keynote address, or is it a surprise?

wait, I don't get to the keynote speaker? Shit, I was all prepared to read my 550-page manuscript to your rapt attention.

I don't think I'm in the most hotel-friendly of neighborhoods, but it's close to Center City, where I think there are clean and safe ones.

ack, x-posted, but whatever.

[girl]

wait, I don't get to the keynote speaker? Shit, I was all prepared to read my 550-page manuscript to your rapt attention.

That would be great! I'll make up for when I missed seeing you speak last time.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Sorry if this is confusing, but peeps going to hang out with Whit when he moves to Philly is happening in Philly and is a separate event from blucas's girl getting naked, which is happening in NYC.

[dumbfish]

"... in my pants," TSKS, " in my pants." C'mon, that one was too easy leave out there.

[ieatrats]

but hey, on topic, Philly tonight:

I'm pretty sure you had some shots left in your camera from Australia or Iceland or something.  What Metro is that?  30th St?  I'm a biker so I've seen like 4 metro stations, but that one doesn't trigger smelling both fresh and stale urine in the least.

[dieblucasdie]

Sorry if this is confusing, but peeps going to hang out with Whit when he moves to Philly is happening in Philly and is a separate event from blucas's girl getting naked, which is happening in NYC.

Yeah, 13th-14th in Philly to welcome whit, 18th-21st in NYC 'cause I'll be in town and pollo will just be getting settled there.

[auto-da-fey]

I'm pretty sure you had some shots left in your camera from Australia or Iceland or something.  What Metro is that?  30th St?  I'm a biker so I've seen like 4 metro stations, but that one doesn't trigger smelling both fresh and stale urine in the least.

This was, I think, the stop at Market and . . . 2nd? Right by the Khyber and the 2-story Book Trader. Definitely a step up from most of the stops I've seen so far, to be sure. I'm no photo ace, but I liked its glimmering surfaces.

Hey ieatrats, if you see this, any thoughts on Mike's Bikes in South Philly? I was there today, and while their beaters aren't as cheap as I'd've liked, what ever is? Unless Craigslist really delivers tomorrow, I might head back there and buy whatever clunker they have sitting around just to get myself on wheels.

[elpollodiablo]

Oh shit, I'm sorry. I thought we were just planning like a big ol symposium in NYC. Gotta say it's highly doubtful I'll be in a position to take a weekend trip to Philly two weeks after we've moved; money's a concern, as is maybe prior obligations as far as job hunting, going insane, etc.

Apologies, again; I dunno why but I'd conflated the two events in my mind as one big NYC brouhaha on the weekend blucas was in town.

[elpollodiablo]

Also, do you have any hotel connections in Philadelphia?

Also my company owns no hotels in PA, so that's another big

And also another reason why this would be cost-prohibitive for me. Much as I appreciate Whit's offer of a floor to sack out on, I'd definitely wanna set up alternate accommodations and the money's just not gonna be there.

Same offer extended to you, Whit, vis-a-vis floor space, if you ever want to do the weekend up here and do up some grotesque cinematic business.

[auto-da-fey]

Apologies, again; I dunno why but I'd conflated the two events in my mind as one big NYC brouhaha on the weekend blucas was in town.

It's all good; the burlesque show is still my favorite part, so far. I'm down with people coming to Philly, and the floorspace is a more or less standing offer to one and all, minus the month of October and whenever else Gaby'll be here, but if it would be easier to just collapse this into a NYC venture centered on pollo/blucas, I'd definitely make the trip.

[elpollodiablo]

Plus I think I can safely speak for both myself and blucas when I say that we both like having things centered on us

Also as far as accommodations are concerned, there are plenty of cheap ass hostels in Manhattan. Sayin

FURTHERMORE you guy's'll have to excuse my drunkeness of a Wednesday evening but the prospect of meeting so many of you good folks all at once is extremely exciting to me.

[girl]

if it would be easier to just collapse this into a NYC venture centered on pollo/blucas, I'd definitely make the trip.

Yeah, fine by me. I don't want to cancel the Philly get-together, but it sounds like the timing's bad for a lot of people. (Honestly, money's a little tight for me, too. I would've financed PA by not paying something else.)

[silentsigh89]

whatever works for everyone! Gary, Andrew, if you guys swing through my area on the way to an LPTJ convention, I would happily split gas in return for a seat. But I give this warning: I cannot stay awake in a moving car for more than an hour or two unless there is loud music or someone needs help with directions.

[ieatrats]

Hey ieatrats, if you see this, any thoughts on Mike's Bikes in South Philly? I was there today, and while their beaters aren't as cheap as I'd've liked, what ever is? Unless Craigslist really delivers tomorrow, I might head back there and buy whatever clunker they have sitting around just to get myself on wheels.

I don't have a positive estimation of them because they gave me a mini fleecing on some cheap small stuff when they've never seen me before - never saw me again either.  But I have no idea what kind of prices you're talking about, what's reasonable to you, and as you say, what ever does turn out to be that place that sells quality safe used bicycles extremely inexpensively?  There's also Via at 9th and South that sells tuned up used bikes, but I have a feeling you're not going to find a deal, but you may find one just your size, since any given time they've got 40 old 3 and ten speeds out on the sidewalk and another 30 inside.  But if I wanted a cheap used bike I'd say that's under 25 bucks and that you could find that on CL within a couple weeks, thought maybe I'm still thinking of the olden days.

[Andrew_TSKS]

if it would be easier to just collapse this into a NYC venture centered on pollo/blucas, I'd definitely make the trip.

Yeah, fine by me. I don't want to cancel the Philly get-together, but it sounds like the timing's bad for a lot of people. (Honestly, money's a little tight for me, too. I would've financed PA by not paying something else.)

Maybe we should do that. I've never been to NYC in my goddamn life, and I guess I could take the Chinatown bus up there for a few days or something. Again, would involve rescheduling some work stuff, but it would be the weekend AFTER I get paid, which would work a lot better.

[auto-da-fey]

There's also Via at 9th and South that sells tuned up used bikes, but I have a feeling you're not going to find a deal, but you may find one just your size, since any given time they've got 40 old 3 and ten speeds out on the sidewalk and another 30 inside.

went there too, and the cheapest was $165. Mike's had a decent-looking hybrid for $125; could do better on CL, but Mike's also has a 4-month warranty, which is kinda nice safeguard.

and yeah, under $25 might be a little optimistic these days, based on my perusal.

[girl]

if it would be easier to just collapse this into a NYC venture centered on pollo/blucas, I'd definitely make the trip.

Yeah, fine by me. I don't want to cancel the Philly get-together, but it sounds like the timing's bad for a lot of people. (Honestly, money's a little tight for me, too. I would've financed PA by not paying something else.)

Maybe we should do that. I've never been to NYC in my goddamn life, and I guess I could take the Chinatown bus up there for a few days or something. Again, would involve rescheduling some work stuff, but it would be the weekend AFTER I get paid, which would work a lot better.

Well that would be excellent. 

[auto-da-fey]

Hey Philly people, can you recommend me some good bike routes through and around the city at night?

I got one today--Fuji Crosstown 4.0 with allegedly nice new tires for $120 at Mike's, which may or may not be a good deal but was better than playing Hamlet of the Craigslist bike list for another week--and my first trek out pretty much led me into a euphoric state: out on Girard into Fishtown, then down the eerie Front Street to Callowhill, past the somewhat disappointing Callowhill East Industrial District, down around Chinatown a bit, up Pennsylvnia to the Washington Monument, where I sat on the stairs and looked at the Art Museum to my left, downtown skyline to my right, and commenced entry into said euphoric state. I was so into it that I couldn't bring myself to go home and wheeled around Fairmount and Spring Garden a little more, even deep-sixing my planned Jess Franco double feature to keep pedaling.

I plan to cover some serious ground in the weeks to come, but if there's anything that should truly take precedence, let me know and I will HTS ASAP. ieatrats, I'm feeling your love for this city.

[ieatrats]

Philadelphia is a bike route, full stop.  It's pretty and you can get anywhere on a bike.  I've been told to avoid some neighborhoods, but that was after I was already used to riding in them anyway, so I generally don't give that kind of advice; it's usually wrong and usually bad.  As for good routes, well, you'll figure that out as well - I like taking Broad St if it's not between 9 and 6pm, but I don't know anyone else who does; just avoid 11th and 12th street because they've got (not used for years) trolley tracks that will fuck you up if you're not a great cyclist, and will get you fucked up trying to avoid them if you are.  There are generally respected and somewhat useful bike lanes on Spring Garden, 22nd St... I can't remember what else around you, but you'll figure it out.

Also, don't be one of those idiots who rides on the left hand side of the street or talks on a cell phone while riding or you'll get pushed into the parked cars by this crazy self-righteous guy who makes threats of violence on message boards when telling you how to ride your bicycle.

[silentsigh89]

I dropped you a PM about grabbing lunch this week, Whit, if you're still interested!

[elpollodiablo]

Blucas what the DUCK you comin up this weekend or what