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Emily Sweeney co-directs Perpetual Mvmt<>Snd, an interdisciplinary performance collective in residence at the Mascher Space Coop in Philadelphia, which she also helps administer. A member of Susan Sgorbati’s Emergent Improvisation Ensemble, she has presented her own improvised and choreographed works as part of PARAPHRASE/NEXUS, the bowerbird performance series, and in the Soundfield Festival. Her work will be presented at the CEC during the 2007-08 New Edge Mix series. Emily has danced in the work of Dana Reitz, Susan Rethorst, Doug Elkins, and Nia Love at such venues as the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, and the White Wave Dance Festival. Emily holds her B.A. in Dance and Literature from Bennington College.

1. What brought you to Philly?
I moved to Philly from Vermont three years ago, I admit largely because I could afford to as a recent and slightly aimless college graduate with no job and no savings. Weirdly, first and foremost, I was really drawn to the decaying industrial architecture on the outskirts of Center City. I find something comforting about empty buildings.

I’ve remained here because Philly has been truly generous to me, and my artistic life here has emerged from one serendipitous turn after another. I met my collaborator Bilwa, a musician, visual artist, and Philadelphia native, and we began to work with Mikronesia (of Gemini Wolf) and a number of other dancers and musicians as the dance and music collective Perpetual Mvmt<>Snd. The first performance we gave was in the 10th Street Laundromat in South Philly, and I was so happy that folks came to watch improvised dance in a laundromat! Then the collective joined the Mascher Space Cooperative, which provided us with space to work in. All of this has made for an inspiring year “” it’s like Philadelphia has handed me one gift after another. I am ever in awe of all the exciting people who surround me with hopeful, creative energy here.

2. Is there a place in Philly that inspires you?
I like to sit by the banks of the Schuylkill at Bartram’s Garden.

3. Do you have a favorite performance venue in Philly?
It’s becoming increasingly true that space is an active collaborator in the performing arts, so in a sense the whole city has become a potential performance venue. Philadelphia is really wonderful that way “” there are lots of inviting spaces. The Sanctuary at the Rotunda and the Eastern State Penitentiary are two of my favorites.

4. Tell us about your art.
I make time-based art using human bodies, which is a geeky way of saying I make dances. Sometimes they are choreographed, and sometimes improvised “” often both.

For the Fringe I am fortunate to be collaborating with some extremely talented movers, composers, and video artists, all members of Perpetual Mvmt<>Snd, to make gasp. The piece creates a feedback loop in which the various elements in the space interact and intersect “” sort of an intentional synesthesia. The dancers’ breath, the sounds of their bodies moving across the floor, and their movements will be recorded live and manipulated, providing the point of genesis for the music and video. I’m really excited about this because it’s a simple, clear illustration of how the sound and movement impact one another in space. And the sound of one’s own breath is really powerful to move to.

Learn more about Emily on the web…

www.perpetualmvmtsnd.org
Perpetual Mvmt Snd on Myspace
Mascher Dance

With all the coffee shop/cafés opening up around the East Passyunk area, how are you supposed to decide where to get your coffee and shmear?  Well, Black & Brew, at the corner of Passyunk and Cross, serves it up something fierce.  The quaint yet modern café area seats about 30 people, and the outdoor seating is perfect for people watching during Sunday brunch.  A weekly rotation of specials, in addition to Black & Brew’s classic-with-a-twist regular menu, offers a number of choices, including vegetarian, for the discerning snacker. Homemade goodies pack the antiqued pastry case and a large selection of La Colombe based coffee beverages, smoothies and specialty teas fill the chalkboard-covered walls. 

The breakfast choices vary from classic to unique-including the standard eggs, homefries and toast to breakfast burritos and pancakes with butterscotch syrup.  The food is delicious and the unobtrusive and friendly staff help make the atmosphere inviting, plus the flatware, dishes and special attention make it feel like more than your average Starbucks.  For the most part, the crowd is a mix between hipsters and true South Philly locals, but everyone seems to get along fine.

Doubling as a gallery space, Black & Brew has an ever-changing art collection that keeps you guessing.  Black & Brew is open from 7am to 7pm and the entire menu is always up for grabs.  Another perk of Blac k& Brew: they accept all major credit cards.  No more getting stuck for cash when you need your caffeine fix, just make sure you get some grub to go with that grande!
 
Black & Brew
1523 E. Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 764-5582

When I told my husband I wanted to attempt natural childbirth he blamed my nuttiness on the raging hormones of pregnancy. So I dragged him down to the Birthworks class at the Maternal Wellness Center in that hippie crunchville pocket of Philly known as Mount Airy. After the first class with our incredible instructor Kathy, who also runs the place, he was convinced I should go drug free. I ended up taking countless prenatal yoga classes as well as other seminars there-”"”How to Wear a Baby” or “Alexander Technique for the Pregnant Body,” anyone?

Lots of the workshops are free and the place is run as a non-profit. There are also tons of interesting groups that meet there, from a new moms’ group to a new dads’ group (gender parity, of course) to VBAC (that’s a support group for women who want to attempt a vaginal birth after undergoing a C-section last time around). The moms who run the place are super-chill and the organic clothing in the shop part is super-cute. The only prob is the megaschlep up Lincoln Drive for all us South Philly gals.

Maternal Wellness Center
606 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119
(215) 713-2666
www.maternalwellness.org

Ah, the Wissahickon, emerald of Philadelphia, fresh air, roaring waters, three-eyed fish. Ok, so I’ve never personally seen any deranged aquatic life, but if you accompany Sidney Goldstein on one of his weekly hikes or monthly work parties, you just might get your chance. The hikes take place on the weekends and explore different areas of the park each time. That’s a thrill for me, since I always revert to parking at Rittenhouse Town if I head up Lincoln Drive on my own. Plus, there are so many weird things to see in the park (uh, has anyone ever run into the weird cave of the people who were waiting for doomsday? Freaky, no?) and Sidney’s an expert on its nature and culture.

The work parties are not for the lazy, and usually involve rehabbing a small area of the park. The Saturday I showed up with my husband and 10-year-old stepson we chopped down invasive plants that had allowed flooding to strip the soil in hopes of making way for native vegetation to take over. This involved handsaws, chainsaws (no, we didn’t let the 10-year-old near the deadly power tools), work gloves and loads of sweat. But it was fun and satisfying to know I was helping keep three-eyed fish at bay.

Wissahickon Hiking
201 West Evergreen Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Info & sign up: mrbasketball.net/hike/hike.html

Philly’s first all-girl rock camp kicked off this past week, bringing in a new revolution of girl-driven initiatives. Taking the lead from Portland and Brooklyn’s Girls Rock Camp, Philly’s camp is sure to grow into a staple for young guitar sliding, afro punk, Chuck Taylor wearing, high hat tapping teens for many summers to come!

Located on the tucked away campus of Girard College (who graciously gave the use of their space in-kind as long as a few scholarships were set aside for girls at Girard), 20 girls, half of whom were given scholarships, filled a small auditorium for the Morning Assembly. I walked in on a skit of the “how to’s” in dealing with the press. I being the only “press,” sat down and took it all in. I cooed with excitement, as if I too was about to embark on a rock “Ëœn’ roll summer fling that would surely shape my life going forward. I smiled as they eagerly walked off with their counselors, leading them to their perspective instrument practice spaces.

I checked in with Beth Warshaw, Girls Rock Philly creator and director. She was fresh from acting in the skit, giving fake photo op poses, and responding to the operative question ” How is it being a girl?” I was curious how all the girls got here, and Beth said the word was put out in newspaper editorials, event listings, and word of mouth. A few of the girls knew each other, but most are bound into new friendships and collaborations.

On the first day the girls filled out a kind of compatibility questionnaire. They could answer what kind of music they like, and what kind of band they would like to be in, and if there is anyone they would like to play with. From that, five bands were formed! Each day instruments are practiced, and there are workshops that cover band basics; topics include: band art, effects and pedals, broadcasting, setup and sound check. In the afternoons the bands practice, prepping for their highly anticipated showcase this Saturday, ending their week long camp with a performance.

I stayed in the auditorium for a brief singing sessions, then scooted around the hallways to check out instrument practice. I viewed drum class from the window of the door, then found Guitar 1. Three girls sat tuning their guitars. They perked up when I entered the room, a young spritely girl, with a pink sweep of dyed hair asked, “Are you press?” I said yes, and she postured herself, posing with her tiny guitar. They talked amongst themselves while their teacher got snacks and amps ready. I was impressed with the girls’ tenacity and passion for learning their instruments and know that this Saturday is sure to be a treat!

For more information about Girls Rock Philly check out
www.girlsrockphilly.org

Somehow, my room in the anarchy house is always on the third or fourth floor with a single south-facing window that sometimes doesn’t even open. I can hear loud dub music coming from my rooms even when it isn’t playing. In this particular one, I am panting it out and pining for the days when my sweaty room was around the corner from the public pool at 17th and Fitz. Nothing beat pedaling home, ditching my bike and doing cannonballs.

Fortunately, it doesn’t matter where you or your anarchy house are situated – you might not live around the block from one of Philly’s 81 public pools, but you’re probably not more than a trolley stop away.

Here’s the master list. They’re all as free as an open hydrant and even the shallow ones are considerably less dangerous to dive into.

Philadelphia’s Public Pools
http://www.phila.gov/recreation/sports/Pool_Locations.html

You know, there are a lot of bloggers here in Philadelphia. A lot. And in case you haven’t heard, Philadelphia was ranked the second-most “bloggiest” city in the country in an “Outside.In” study released in yesterday’s USA Today. Boston is first and Pittsburgh was third.

While most people immediately think of whiny Livejournals and Xangas when it comes to online journals, many of these Philadelphia bloggers are doing new and creative things with this form of online media. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a bunch of these bloggers at BlogPhiladelphia, and figured hey, why not showcase what we’ve got? So I’ll be highlighting some of Philadelphia’s awesome bloggers, and first up, is Marissa and Scott with ForkYou. Here’s a bit of the history.

ForkYou was conceived at a Philadelphia blogger meetup sometime in the spring of 2006. Scott had posted a video of himself cooking dinner one night on his personal blog and it became talk of the meetup. Conversation turned to the idea of doing a regular food video podcast and Marisa said, “I would love to do something like that.” They started exchanging emails about the idea and spent four months working on the name, before finally settling on Fork You (the podcast was nearly called Peaing Soup, but at the last minute, Marisa decided she couldn’t go for it. Scott still loves the name). They filmed half the first episode in the summer of 2006 and then didn’t finish it until October. However, further episodes moved a little more smoothly, they got friends involved and it became the wacky cooking show you see today.

Yet to catch an episode? Well, visit their official website over at ForkYou.Tv. My personal favorites are Episode 10: Sassy Salsa, Groovy Guac and the episode on Presto Pesto, a recipe that I actually tried at home.

ForkYou: Food With Philadelphia Charm
ForkYou.Tv

Philadelphians enjoy a vast amount and variety of parklands within city limits, but people aren’t the only ones who benefit from all this green space. Dogs and dog lovers have plenty to choose from”"so much, in fact, it can be difficult to pick just one park. Here’s a quick survey of some of the city’s most popular dog runs”¦

Rittenhouse Square may be a controversial place to launch your busking career these days, but for dog walkers, it’s still a place in the sun. With a history dating back to William Penn’s original design, the park and its adjacent homes enjoy a sterling reputation of prestige. Still, down in the grass, families, suburban commuters, lunch-hour sunbathers and American Idol hopefuls all share the public space with egalitarian umph. With this wide cross-section of culture, you might expect a vibrant menagerie of dogs. If it’s variety you’re looking for, you may be sorely disappointed.

After careful scientific observation, the homogeny of Rittenhouse Square’s dog traffic offers a tiresome cast of usual suspects. Rittenhouse is a small dog’s world. Toys and terriers are a constant anchor, with the shitzu and the maltese maintaining a tight rotation. When the occasional big guns do roll around, rest assured they will short haired and exotic (read: not fun to pet).
Scientists (namely, my girlfriend) speculate this is due to the scarcity of large homes in the area. Properties closest to the park are, for the most part, apartments, suites and penthouses offering limited room to freak out and run around. Sandwiched between the Schuylkill river and the city’s commercial district, the area is saturated with elevators and doormen but low on backyards.

Rittenhouse Square
222 W Rittenhouse Sq, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Remember when you were in first grade and your art-teacher gave you a paper plate and some raw pasta and you glued it to the plate to try to make a face? Remember in sixth grade you made like 20 model airplanes because you had nothing better to do and were going through puberty and nobody liked you? Remember in high school when you got your first car and you tried to tweak out the engine with your dad? Remember in college when you joined a rock band and tried to make your own guitar effects pedals to sound all indie and stuff?

If this sounds familiar you might want to check out Make Philly. Some of us still like to do these kinds of things apparently, only now we’re adults and have much better tactile skills, family and friends, and better ideas for ways to entertain each other while making something slightly nerdy though still cool. One example: shooting off home-made water rockets MacGyvered using 2-liter bottles, some PVC pipe, a bicycle pump and a Direct TV satellite dish for a stand, while eating burgers and drinking beer at the same time.

Make Philly is a community of super creative, smart, nerdy, crafty, techies/designers that like to have a good time with really cool Philadelphians and make something in the process. Loosely inspired by O’Reilly Media’s Make Magazine each meeting features a topic of interest and a maker’s challenge, though this BBQ seemed to offer more interest in beer and burgers and the challenge of just getting those bottled concoctions off the ground. Fortunately it wasn?t just about how high they went but having a little summer fun in the process.

MakePhilly
www.makephilly.com

Everyone knows a city mom is a hot mom, so Philly’s sexy post-partum set heads to Baby Boot Camp for a hefty dose of strollercize in the Square followed by backward squats using park benches and push ups over a baby on a Boppy. At $14 to $17 per class, you’ve got to be financially committed to getting back that six pack, but it’s a real workout and one of the few in town that involve baby “” a key element when there’s no babysitter in the picture. It’s also a great way to meet new moms, and the groups of Bjorn-wearing mommas are seen heading to local coffeeshops to refuel after the big sweat.

My only caveat to women with brand new infants “” wait until the baby is old enough to hang out happily in the stroller for at least 20 minutes before you attempt the class, or you may find yourself spending the hour and a half breastfeeding instead of butt crunching.

They meet in Fairmount Park, Schuylkill River Park, Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, and Marconi Plaza. For more information and locations, check out their official website.

Baby Boot Camp
http://www.babybootcamp.com/locale.aspx?qt=s&s=PA
(215) 715-4514
ann.liotino@babybootcamp.com