In another year your boy will be married. Chocolate Snowflake and I have considered where we will live and raise our family. Will we stay in Brooklyn? PrA’li not. For us to remain working class in Brooklyn you have to be pretty wealthy. We are considering relocating to Washington D.C. or possibly Philadelphia.
I can fux with D.C. and Philly. Both cities have the ‘big city’ appeal that I need. I have to be around people and I have to be around art. I would also like to live somewhere I felt like the social culture was unique and not homogenized. New York City itself is beginning to have that pasteurized feel. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m in NYC. Washington D.C. can be like that too.
I thought Philly was the last place that kept it really real. Maybe I got it wrong on this account also. Philadelphia has a concentration of colleges sited within the city. Penn State, Temple, Drexel, Lehigh, Villanova and St. Joe’s to name a few. But then why is this town so depressed and politically deactivated?
How do you let this beautiful building become dilapidated?
The building is called the Divine Lorraine Hotel. When it was purchased by Father Divine of the Universal Peace Mission Movement in 1948 it was the first of its class in Philadelphia, ne, the United States, to be fully racially integrated.
Believing that all people were equal in the sight of God, Father Divine was involved in many social welfare activities as well. For example, after purchasing the hotel, several parts of it were transformed for public use. The hotel’s first floor kitchen was opened as a public dining room where persons from the North Philadelphia community were able to purchase and eat low-cost meals for 25 cents.
The building was closed in 1999 and sold in 2000 by the International Peace Mission. In May 2006 it was resold to Philadelphia developer Michael Treacy, Jr. to be converted into condominiums. Treacy, instead of redeveloping the building gutted the Divine Lorraine of all the classic interior’s fixtures and architectural ornaments. Treacy then left the building in tatters to the squatters and the vandals.
I’d like to believe that Philadelphia can once again be as great as it was when the Divine Lorraine Hotel was a beacon for the best in man, but if Philly can’t put itself back together again this humpty dumpty is gonna have to consider moving to New Hampshire.
he gutted it and left it the guy is a fucking fool. i would want to be in a penthouse condo of that joint. it looks like you would get three levels out of it to. pulling up to the spot yeah bitches i live at the top of this majestic palace.
Congrats to you and CS on the engagement. Philly or DC would be gald to have you. Then, whenever you get the itch for the NYC….you head to the Bolt, back to the Mecca in two hours. Salute.
Also, great post on the architecture in Philly. There are some ill buildings out there. They have buildings that are majestic and grand. D.C. and Chicago have the same type of buildings. I always feel like I’m in the “Dark Knight” when I walk past these buildings.
As a Temple Owl I would see this building on the regulack during my days on North Broad Street, Its a true shame to see such a building stand idle. Its less than a mile from Center City, is right next to the Fairmount SEPTA stop, its just prime real estate. But Philly is always a little slow on the uptake sometimes. If that building was in NYC they’d already be charging $3000 a month for a first floor studio. Another damn abandoned shame on North Broad Street is the Met Theater that has stood empty since I got to Philly in ’92…
I got plenty of family there. I would consider a move back, but wifey is a SouthernBelle so them winters are out of the question….but I definitely have my aggression and creativity ingrained from PHILLLAdelf.
GrilchyCity but a hop skip from NY and DC. Also a lot of culture.
Having lived all over the country, a city flat with SPACE is the move. Unless you’re making well into the 7 figures, NY/NJ/CT simply doesn’t have it. Chicago has huge homes, my Southside spot there was def plush for my miniscule budget, with a view of downtown and a bike ride to lake shore drive, but those winters can be a brutal and a dealbreaker. My fiance wants to move back…thats where her folks are, but nah. Somebody gotta really pay like they weigh to get me back.
Philly, however would be a good move. I lived there for school for 2 years in Center City….so many great neighborhoods west, north, south.
as a former D.C. area resident (emphasis on “area” since I was only born in DC, but always lived in VA) and as a current holder of an address with a Brooklyn zip code, I can wholeheartedly say that I think you’ll miss a lot of the nightlife that NYC has to offer…don’t know what you got til its gone kinda thing. That being said I don’t think NYC is a place to grow old and have a family, unless as you mention, you’re on the wealthier side of things. And even then…eh. just imagine life without events at the BK museum, a di fara’s slice (Even if it is five bucks, smh), drunken trips to white castle, and the ability to buy beer (or booze if you’re my peoples and you know what’s good) at 5am.
but if you insist on leaving BK, I totally vote for DC. Between the sneaker fiends residing in this diamond shaped district, the cultural history (especially musically speaking) that the city has to offer, and very very good food options, it’s a great place to call home. If you or CS drives it’s also VERY much worth living in northern VA (some of the nation’s best public school systems, esp fairfax co.) where you can easily commute to the city. consider MD and VA the outer boroughs of DC. Plus we got rent for cheap(er). And even moreso than that, lots of property for SALE lol.
Philly…I don’t know, it never really did it for me. Maybe I never gave it a fair chance. But as someone who has read your work and worked with you for a few years now, I really think you’d be happy in the nation’s capital, and I know the DMV would be happy to have ya. Plus there are just so many more Korean BBQ spots, live jazz bars, and low key gear acquisition spots I’d still like to introduce you to!
Philly >>>>> D.C. all day every day.
And Ambassador, why don’t you tell DP about the fucking horrible traffic Va. has nearly all day every day? And all the political assholes one can’t help but come in contact with?
Also, besides Duke Ellington, what is this musical legacy you speak of? Fucking “go-go”? That’s fine, whatever, but Philly is one the handful of all-time genius musical cities. It’s possible you mean bluegrass but I doubt it and please don’t bullshit me about “punk” nonsense, not even the Bad Brains two good records– I’ll take George Duke and change!
p/s @40– I didn’t know you were an Owl! Was ‘Nova still good when you were there? ’80s Big East was my game, especially when Trent Tucker was on a cold streak.
FUCK THAT SHIT MOVE 2 FOREIGN MY YOUTH
AND GWAN 2 DE MARKET AND GET A CAN O SARDINE ANNA BREAD
So…. if you leave BK, NYC, does that mean the end of the Combat Jack Show?
Wassup DP. Been an avid reader for some time. Being that I’m from Philly and have spent a lot of time in NY and still do, I’ll throw my 2 cents in. If you were to choose Philly, it’s probably the closest thing you’ll find to NY people wise. We carry the “big city f you looking at attitude” We move at a fast pace also. I’m sure you already know, but we’re very passionate(especially sports) and proud, with a blue collar attitude. Almost like Mets and Jets fans. I’d just be careful being a Mets fan lol. We have an extensive public transportation system also. Housing is much cheaper and it’s not as congested. Also you’re never far from NY. There’s various ways to get to NY also. Dc and Bmore are easy to get to also. Not to forget the Jersey Shore also. There’s a big arts community and various festivals too. Plus this is one of the last cities too retain it’s character. We welcome others, but we’ll tell you about yourself too lol
Combat Jack,
The ONLY person the CJS needs is Combat Jack. Everyone else should just be happy to be in the booth.
@ Lamar Debussy…wow, angry much? What did DC do to you?
Our jazz scene is incredible. Yes, we have go-go, and hate on it if you wish, but its closely intertwined with Hip Hop’s history…remember pioneers such as Bambaataa were quite involved and still make frequent trips to D.C. to this day. The Kennedy Center stays getting AMAZING free shows, and yes, we can claim Duke Ellington but please don’t also forget about people like Roberta Flack, Bo Diddley, The Blackbyrds, Parliament, MARVIN GAYE, and the list goes on. Funk, Soul, R&B, Jazz, yes BLUEGRASS, punk, and more, are significant parts of D.C.’s cultural landscape.
Political assholes are TOTALLY avoidable, and not all of them are douches. I know the traffic sucks, but guess what, it’s just as bad as somewhere like Boston. People deal with it. If you live within reasonable distance of a metro stop, who cares. Sure NYC traffic is better (some will argue with me on this) and so is their public transportation, but their public transportation is better than any other US city I’ve been to.
But really, bad traffic and your inability to avoid people you consider assholes is a good reason to deny future seeds a high quality education in a moderately safe environment with a high per capita income and one of the fastest growing technological corridors (aka opportunity galore) in the country? (Dulles Technology Corridor, also the same place I worked for a Fortune 500 before I was even twenty years old and still in college). Come on. Not saying DC is any better than Philly, and though I had my PERSONAL reasons for leaving, it’s not a bad place. At all.
But I’m not trying to convince YOU to move there, I want Dallas to know that it is indeed a good locale to consider. So eff yo misconceptions. Still had to set that straight though.
Good answer, Ambassador– no wonder you have diplomatic immunity! I don’t buy all your points but that’s me. I’m all for jazz scenes and consider contemporary hip-hop’s nearly complete ignorance of same one of the great failures of the culture, so I feel you. (Tho’ Philly jazz history is insane and New York’s is the best, albeit not so much for musicians who can’t get enough $$$ gigs to live even in BK without great struggle.)
I’ll tell you what about DiFara’s, as a regular from the mid-’90s through 2003 or so: it’s not worth it anymore. Totonno’s, L&B and Lucali all rock harder albeit different; if Dom hadn’t became a superstar I’d still be going (and I used to get killer meatball heros and linguini & baby clams too) but…
Flyphilly: Preach!
DP, speaking of Hall & Oates, you ever hear this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NeO6tbtRKc
cosign L&B, their square slices are no joke. That’s one of the few summertime traditions I miss from living in Midwood…trekking out to L&B with the roommate for slices and hazelnut gelato. I think it happened weekly. Need to do that this summer. Dom is getting old and slices get burned and it shows but there’s still something about Di Fara’s…the sausage they use is heavenly.
That’s one thing DC doesn’t have – NY pizza. Even the 99 cent slice spots shit on DC’s “Jumbo Slice.”
Hello Dallas-
I know I am really late to comment on this post, but f**k it! Being an ex-New York transplant (I go way back to when Ed Koch was mayor), Philly can’t touch the NYC culturally. That said, it is a good substitute. You can live in Philly (with it’s wack school system, but also with all of the accouterments of a big city); Or, you can live in the suburbs of Philly (with typically good schools systems, but you will have to drive EVERYWHERE). I, myself, chose the latter. I commute about an hour via train into Center City and walk 6 blocks to the J-O-B.
I am quite sure that whatever you and the wifey chose, it will be the best choice for YOU- just make sure you do your homework/research.
-After Hours
No comment is ever late when its real. I love Philly and I also love D.C. Chocolate Snowflake wanted to stay close to her fam in NYC so that was why she considered those cities. Recently she has warmed up to moving out to the southwest (New Mexico, AZ of possibly California).
We’ll see…