November 21, 2008. Delaware County, Pennsylvania

I Likey

Hops.

The West Coast and the mountain states are still killin’ us here on the East Coast when it comes to quality of strong IPAs. I try to stay local, but how can I with this work of art?

Green Flash Brewery, a relative newcomer outta San Diego doesn’t even consider their West Coast IPA a double, but it packs a whopping 95 IBUs (international bitterness units). It’s mix of Simcoe, Centennial, Cascade and Columbus hops gives my tastebuds a thrashing- after just one my mouth tastes like I ate an entire grapefruit and chased it with a pinecone. It may not sound like it but that’s almost a good thing, at least to me, but I have to limit it to two a night- if I don’t I can’t even taste my coffee in the morning.

Green Flash also makes a less-hoppy but stronger/maltier Imperial IPA in 24 oz bottles which clocks in at 101 IBUs. I stashed a few of these in my crawlspace almost a year ago and have been itching to dig ‘em out.

…and Italian steel road bikes.

I’m building up this Guerciotti steel frame into a singlespeed slowly but surely. Should have it done by 2015. And it’s costing me a LOT, even using used parts.
Maybe if I wait long enough I can forego the totally archaic chain and gear drive and get this new system.

I’ll post pics when it’s done… if I’m still around by then.

#1 Soul Man

Anthony Hamilton

I just can’t explain how much I love this man’s music. His sound is straight up early-70s soul. No pretenses, no guest rappers (at least not until the new album), no gaudy jewelry, no machismo. Just an amazing voice.

His fourth album hits next month and he’s playing Philly tomorrow, November 14.

NOTE: The show has been moved from the Electric Factory to the more intimate Luxe Lounge on Arch street.

I know most of you dear readers aren’t into the whole R’nB thing unless it’s a Motown standard, but you gotta give this man a listen. Here’s a smattering of his videos and music which’ll surely get you hooked.

Here’s his newest single from his new LP Point of it all released December 4.

I can’t embed the next two videos, so click the links to check out

Charlene

Sista Big Bones (featuring Mo ‘Nique)

Without exaggeration, this is my favorite song in the last 5 years:

MP3: Anthony Hamilton- Everybody

MP3: Anthony Hamilton- Can’t Let Go

Philly’s best-kept secret

Now gone.

Mayor Nutter announced sweeping city budget cuts and the library closings are getting all the press at the moment. With this cold weather the public pool closings are easy to overlook, but to me it’s much more sad.

I know most of you probably aren’t too worried about public pools because, well, you haven’t, nor did you plan to, dip a toe in one. Ever. But as I ranted to anyone who would listen this summer, Philly’s public pools are were frickin’ awesome.

The above pictures were taken this summer at the Francisville swimming pool located at 19th and Winter Streets in the Francisville neighborhood of North Philly. My ‘hood. And it’s nothin like all you chickens think it is. These pictures reveal a typical day at the pool. No crowds (hell- barely 15 people on a given afternoon), well-behaved kids, and very clean. Now it, along with 68 (out of 81!) other pools in the city, are getting the ax.

Taney swimming pool near 25th and South Street is also closing. It was used extensively by children from Markwood Playground which lies in a now-gentrified area of south Center City.

The pool in my old neighborhood in the Pennsport section of South Philly had much earlier death. I walked by it this Spring and noticed that it had been concreted over. I really hope the rest of them don’t meet a similar fate. It was so nice to walk the kids there on a sweltering summer day. Yeah, the hours sucked, but it was free. No memberships, No fees, no pretenses. A lot of summer camps used the pools daily too.

This is a huge loss for the children of Philadelphia.

Here is a map of all public library and pool closings.

Wknd

Baltimore Avenue at around 42nd Street

My favorite house just west of Penn’s campus on Spruce Street

New bulldog pup

Homemade Petshop hotel

Obama Wins it!

Yes, I’m calling it now at a quarter to ten Tuesday night. The lines were long and the polls showed a inarguable lead for months. Most people I talked to all day were worried that it was going to be close, but I always knew it was gonna be a big win for Obama. The news channels want to make it seem close just to keep us from turning off the TV.

I remember being worried when Clinton ran against the first Bush and that wasn’t even as big a win for the Dems and this is. It’s a new day, for reasons far too numerous to list here. So head over to Frank’s site- no one can say it more eloquently than he has.

Ahhhhhhh. We can all breath easier. The Dark Ages are finally over.

I’ll see you at the inauguration party in D.C. in January.