The Mummers Parade, the oldest continual folk parade, takes place every New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This 120 year old tradition features nearly 10,000 men, women and children. The parading troupes compete in elaborate costumes to win one of five division awards. Lucky for us, several authors have taken literary inspiration from this annual event. Read on to find the perfect book to bring the Mummers Parade to life.
[Read more…] about Mummers Parade: Fiction to inspire attending Philadelphia’s unique New Year’s Day traditionA Hike to the “Indian” Statue in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Park: Inspired by “The Light in the Forest”
The Indian Statue of “Chief” Tedyuscung
I was inspired to hike to the Indian statue in the Wissahickon park in Philadelphia after re-reading The Light in the Forest. This classic young adult novel by Conrad Richter is the story of a white boy who was raised by the Lenni-Lenape Indians and then at age fifteen forced against his will to return to his white family. The Lenape were the first known settlers to the area that is now Philadelphia. Fittingly, about a half mile from the entrance to the Wissahickon park at Chestnut Hill Avenue there is [Read more…] about A Hike to the “Indian” Statue in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Park: Inspired by “The Light in the Forest”
Philadelphia’s Newest Book Store and Coffee House: Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
Uncle Bobbie’s is a welcome addition to Philadelphia’s Northwest section
Book Lovers! Coffee addicts! Rejoice! If you find yourself in Germantown, a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, you absolutely must stop by Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books. Yesterday was opening day and some friends, my daughter, and I popped in for a look-see. I am in love!! The atmosphere, the decor, the books! Oh my! The only sad part for me was [Read more…] about Philadelphia’s Newest Book Store and Coffee House: Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
Walking through Philly: The Many Murals in Germantown
Inspired by “Loving Day”
Today was one of those gorgeous fall days in the city that feel more like Summer’s last ditch effort to hang in there – minus the humidity and with the added bonus of the delightful smell of Fall. You know days like this, right? The air carries a wood-smoked scent mingled with just a scattered trace of freshly mowed grass, the sun is shining and a gentle breeze ever so softly tricks an early autumn leaf into a downward spiral. Dare I say it? It was simply too nice of a day to have my head in a book! So, I decided to ditch the fiction, throw on my knapsack and go for a stroll. As luck would have it, there was a Germantown mural walking tour hosted by Walk Germantown and led by Robert Seely that caught my eye. I had just recently finished Mat Johnson’s Loving Day, a semi-autobiographical novel based in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood, Germantown, and I was eager to explore more of this city I now called home. [Read more…] about Walking through Philly: The Many Murals in Germantown
Hood Cemetery: Strolling through an Ancient Graveyard in Northwest Philadelphia
Post updated Oct. 2019
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Inspired by “The Graveyard Book“
Hello October! It’s time to read scary books and visit scary places! Is there a better way to celebrate this spooky month than by visiting a cemetery!? My book club’s book this month is, appropriately, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. The book is set in a very old graveyard. So, I set out to find a real life ancient graveyard to explore. As luck would have it, Philadelphia – being one of the United States’ most historic cities – has plenty of those! It’s a tapophiliac’s dream city! Today’s adventure was to investigate Hood Cemetery in Germantown, a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[Read more…] about Hood Cemetery: Strolling through an Ancient Graveyard in Northwest Philadelphia