RITTENHOUSE SQUARE

Yesterday I went down to Philadelphia to visit with a friend from Harrisburg, who had just moved to Philly. He had lived in Harrisburg since the late 80's, and decided to take the leap and move. Quite frankly I was surprised he hadn't years ago, since he was always in Philly or NYC. He's been there three weeks already and happier than I'd seen him. While I know my return to Harrisburg won't be permeant...I too wonder if Philly will be a good move, or if I return to Bucks County? We shall see. We spent the overcast day mostly just wondering around and hopping from pub to pub, and just enjoying the sights. Rittenhouse Square and neighborhood was always a favorite spot of mine in the city. The park is one of the five open spaces planned by William Penn during the late 17th century, and the city still prides itself of these open spaces used as parks. The neighborhood is currently among the highest-income urban neighborhoods in the country. Some of the condo high-rises are insane. The park itself was named in 1825 after David Rittenhouse, a descendant of the first papermaker in Philadelphia, the German immigrant, William Rittenhouse. Many parts of the park resemble parts of Paris and French gardens, with pools, railings and fountains. The neighborhood has some of the neatest townhomes, and high-rises in the Italianate and Art Deco styles, and the neighborhood over the years was home to Alexander Cassatt, William Weightman, John Wanamaker and Philadelphia planning commission director Edmund Bacon and his sons, the Bacon Brothers. Yes, those Bacon Brothers!! It was a lovely time and were even treated to a peaking of the sun.

My friend's new apartment building. That entrance is lovely.

A little ovenbird.

We happened upon this lovely coffee shop, C'est La Vie, this AM before I departed.

Today, I'm tired. It's been a good day watching cult SyFy and horror movies. I did go out and clip some of the lilac that has finally opened. Smells heavenly.