Manayunk.com Magazine - Issue 5

ARTS FESTIVAL ISSUE

MANAYUNK.COM JUN-JUL-AUG 2012

LIVE • SHOP • DINE • PLAY

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Manayunk.com Magazine Table of Contents

12 15 18

4

Al Fresco: Dining adds charm to Manayunk

21

9

Manayunk Directory

The new faces of Manayunk: Women leading the pack

Tour the Schuylkill by Kayak

First Friday: Follow the Flags

The focus is on art in Manayunk:Past, Present, Future

Manayunk.com Magazine is published by the

Manayunk Development Corporation quarterly

Manayunk Development Corporation4312 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127

215.482.9565

Advertising Sales Cammy Joseph 610.642.4301 ext.204 • [email protected]

Editorial Editor, Caitlin Maloney

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You may have walked down the Manayunk Towpath or along the Schuylkill River on Kelly Drive, but there’s another way to experience one of Philadelphia’s major waterways, by kayak.

A joint venture between Destination Schuylkill River, Manayunk Brewery and Hidden River Kayak tours has allowed adventure seekers a new way to explore the Schuylkill River for over five years with guided kayak tours offered to the public.

Each session begins with a 30 minute full paddling instruction session so those riders first getting introduced to kayaking are prepared. Next it’s into the water with a guide to explore the hidden reach of the Schuylkill River, its history, flora and fauna.

After an hour on the water, all kayakers are invited back to the Manayunk Brewery for either brunch - for those going on the 10 a.m. tour, lunch – for those going on the 1 p.m. tour, or a happy hour drink for those going on the Thursday night tour.

All dates and times are scheduled and available online. Reservations are on a first come, first serve basis, with a 16 person maximum on each tour.

For more information and to reser ve a spot, visit www.destinationschuylkillr iver.org or www.manayunkkayaktours.com.

SchuylkillTour the

by kayak

Kayakers enjoy the close-up views of the river and greenery while paddling down the Schuylkill on a Hidden River Kayak Tour.

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Manayunk has always been known as a destination for art and creativity. It is not only home to the Annual Manayunk Arts Festival, but also a place where galleries line the street, where many artists live and work, and where public art is a central focus.

Galleries like Orbit who have called Main Street home for 16 years are flagship destinations in the district. Orbit mainly features contemporary American craft and fine art from renowned artists in the country. However, owner David Decca strives to support local artists by selling their work in his shop. He said at minimum 50 percent of the work in his shop is from local artists.

“There’s a great depth of local talent here between the seven major art schools in the area,” Decca said. “Why go outside when you have a lot of great talent right here.”

Although he makes an effort to attend crafts shows along the east coast, Decca said artists come into the gallery to approach him all day long, and that’s where the local aspect comes in.

“A lot of galleries don’t like walk-in’s, but I get a kick out of it when local artists come in,” Decca said. “If they are serious, we schedule an appointment and look at their work.”

The main benefit of working with local artists Decca said, is the personal symbiotic relationship they share with each other. If customers need specific custom orders or have problems with current pieces, they are easy for Orbit to solve. “I can pick up the phone and get every single artist we represent on the phone in five minutes,” Decca said. “They want to work hard for us because we want to work hard for them.”

Orbit offers everything from $5 items to $5,000 items and boasts a customer base of everyone from young professionals to older collectors. “We have a strong devoted customer base of repeat customers,” Decca said, “but we also know we need to keep continuing to grow, because otherwise that’s how you get into trouble.”

Decca’s gallery features everything from jewelry to glassware, but another Manayunk gallery, Artisano, prides themselves on mastering one thing and one thing only, iron.

Artisano Iron Works Gallery has been in Manayunk since 2000 and with new expansions on the way, they are looking towards a bright future. A new 6,000 sq. ft. expansion to connect Artisano’s original Cresson Street entrance to Main Street is already in the beginning construction stages, said Ivan Roa, the gallery manager.

The extra space will allow for additional room for events and gatherings which are often held in the gallery. As Roa said, to him, “events are just another form of art.” Artisano originally opened in Manayunk because it was the only other place in Philadelphia be-sides Old City that had a growing art scene. There were a couple of galleries in Manayunk back then, but Roa said they always knew there was potential for more.

All of the iron work in the gallery is made out of hand forged iron and designed by Artisano’s team of artists. They also offer custom pieces as well and do everything from simple sculptures to elaborate outdoor décor.

The Focus Is On ArtManayunkPast, Present, and Future

In

This table designed by Artisano is just one of the many custom pieces they have done.

David Decca, owner of Orbit, works to feature primarily local artists in his Manayunk gallery.

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“Art for us is not just about hanging something from a wall, it’s about railings, doors, balconies, sculptures, furniture and more,” Roa said.

Another hidden treasure in the Manayunk art scene is the Manayunk-Roxborough Art Center, which has been located on Green Lane for over 50 years. The art center’s main mission is to be an asset to the community and a place where people can meet and gather for events, said Eric Sauermelch, director of marketing at the art center.

“Our goal is to connect with the neighbors and have a place where people can go and learn and get to know each other with art being the central focus,” Sauermelch said.

Keeping connected to the community is one of the main reasons that the art center doesn’t charge admission for many of their gallery events, just voluntary donations which help run their educational workshops and gallery showings. “We are basically offering a community for artists to come join,” Sauermelch said. “Usually an artist is a pretty solitary line of work, usually you do it alone, so we are really offering a kind of community here.”

Any local artists or aspiring artists alike can join the art center by donating $60 a year for membership.

In general, “Manayunk is a really cultured area and is very inclined toward the arts and creativity,” Sauermelch said.

And that’s exactly what the Manayunk Special Services District (MSSD) wants people to think. MSSD is the non-profit organization responsible for the public artwork that is displayed around Manayunk.

The roving gallery “Look Long & Look Good” by artists Matt Tomezsko is seen spread out all along buildings on Main Street. His artwork features familiar faces of Manayunk, past and present, in a bright and eclectic way.

Many intersections on Main Street also feature “Street Medallions” by artists Peter Gibson, also known as Roadsworth.

“Gibson does street paintings all over the country, so to have his work featured in Manayunk is a great honor,” said Dan Neducsin, president of MSSD.

The newest public art in Manayunk is an art project called “Escaped Infrastructure”, by artists Lucy Begg and Robert Gay of Thought Barn. The project is expected to be installed by June 15 along the Towpath near Canal View Park and it will surely be a must see.

Other galleries in Manayunk include Soft Illusions Fine Art Gallery, White Stone Gallery, Latitudes Fine Craft Gallery, Susan Beard Photography, and Lynece Austin Photography. All of the gallery owners look forward to the annual arts festival – when the street is vibrant with over 200,000 art lovers.

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As a classic historic district, Manayunk evokes the ambience of a European town, with its unique architecture and Victorian feel. But, what adds even more to the European style of Manayunk is the robust al fresco dining scene throughout the district’s corridor.

When designing the streetscape for his restaurant, Rob Nydick, co-owner of Agaito, said one of their primary goals was to give it that European feel, and extending onto the sidewalk for al fresco dining was a major part of that.

“Having the outdoor space gives a great street presence to the restaurant and creates a very inviting scene for pedestrians strolling Main Street,” Nydick said. “It’s definitely also about the social aspect.”

Brendan McGrew, owner of Bourbon Blue, compared Manayunk to many of the small towns he visited while living in Europe for five years. For him, al fresco dining really sets a tone for the community and shows that Manayunk is a vibrant scene with a sense of life, he said.

“You get more of a suburban feel even though we are part of the city,” McGrew said, “that is one of the key things we have to offer than no other area has – we are a city within ourselves.”

Al fresco dining is such a major part of Manayunk that Nydick said he could barely think of any restaurant in the district that didn’t have some sort of outdoor dining.

Mike Rose, owner of Manayunk Brewery, estimated that between all of the restaurants and cafes there are close to 1,000 outdoor dining seats just in Manayunk and his restaurant alone has about 300.

“Manayunk’s got more al fresco dining than anywhere else in the city of Philadelphia,” Rose said. “We have more seats in a seven block area than anywhere else.”

Manayunk is also one of the only districts in Philadelphia that lies along the banks of the Schuylkill River, which is why Manayunk Brewery and Bourbon Blue directed their outdoor dining toward the river front.

Although it was an almost seven year process, Bourbon Blue’s outdoor deck officially opened just last spring, McGrew said. The deck features approximately 45 seats.

“It was important to add what we felt was the missing element as part of the dining experience,” McGrew said. “We have since added a lot of plant life and window boxes too, so you really get that terrace feel.”

Even from the beginning, McGrew said his main goal was to take advantage of the views of the river and of Venice Island, but with the new projects on the island and updates to the Towpath, McGrew said it has been an even better time to have the deck complete.

“It’s going to make it that much better and that much nicer and help draw attention to the Towpath and grab people’s attention and let them know it’s there and they can use it,” McGrew said. “It’s a very important part of Manayunk as a whole.”

Rose said marketing their outdoor space is often difficult for people that have never been to the restaurant and seen it. To him, it’s a place in Manayunk that everyone just has to come to see, whether it’s to eat or just to see the views of the river from the deck, he said.

“I think it’s a unique place to come,” Rose said, “a lot of people don’t even know this exists back here, they walk down the driveway, turn the corner, and are astonished.”

Al FrescoDining Adds Charm To Manayunk

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Manayunk’s active recreation scene also makes al fresco dining almost mandatory. Between cyclists riding down Main Street, walkers and runners on the Towpath and kayakers on the water, there are always active diners looking for somewhere to eat comfortably.

“We are seeing that now a lot of cyclists don’t want to sit inside, they want to sit outside, get lunch and get back on their bikes and go,” Rose said. “They don’t feel as comfortable inside.”

McGrew said he also works to create a welcoming atmosphere for recreationists. Under his outdoor deck, he has an area for cyclists to chain up their bikes so they can easily stop on the Towpath and walk upstairs to his restaurant.

“It’s such a big thing for people to realize the Towpath runs parallel to Main Street,” McGrew said, “and for them to realize there is a place along there that you can stop and grab a drink, bite to eat, or even water.”

Even more outdoor seating will be coming to Manayunk this summer through a new program run through the Mayor’s Office of Transportation. Through grants and private funding, Manayunk will transform two Main Street parking spaces into a raised outdoor public café.

This “parklet” as they are called, will house tables and chairs holding approximately 20 to 25 people and will sit just outside of Café Volo. Akos Racz, owner of Café Volo, said he is very excited to see the parklet created and is excited for the business he hopes it brings to the street.

“For my business it’s great because I have more space for people to sit,” Racz said. “But, I think it’s good for everyone and really great for the street, it kind of creates a totally different vibe.”

Although the parklet will be located in front of Volo, it is a completely free and public space that any visitors or residents can enjoy, regardless if they are dining at any Manayunk restaurants. The date for installation was not finalized while this article was being written, however a mid-summer installation is the goal.

Bourbon Blue’s outdoor deck, which just opened last spring, overlooks the Towpath, Venice Island, and the Schuylkill River.

Mike Rose, owner of Manayunk Brewery, brings his indoor dining scene outside during the warmer months with live music playing outside nightly on the weekends.


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There’s a new generation of business owners in Manayunk who are beginning to make their mark. Over the past two years, Manayunk has seen an influx of new women entrepreneurs looking to own and operate businesses in the district. These women are quickly becoming the new faces of Manayunk and are helping this district remain the owner-operated shopping district that is true to its history.

The economic downturn seems to be what led many of these women into finally finding their passion in owning a small business. For Molly Cygan Rossettie, owner of The Little Apple, a move to Philly left her searching for jobs for a few months until she decided to buy “Retail For Dummies” and made the leap into starting her own company, the doors to The Little Apple opened in February 2010.

A similar story was told by Ann Tetreault, who opened The Spiral Bookcase in July 2010. After relocating to Philly and purchasing a home in Manayunk with her husband, the towns charm and history made her realize that it was the perfect setting for a bookstore.

“A childhood dream and the perfect location coalesced and inspired the opening of the shop,” Tetreault said.

For newcomer Juliet Sabella, her concept for opening an indoor cycling studio came in a cycling class one day after having been laid off from her position as a retail buyer at a sporting goods company. She took the opportunity to turn her passion of cycling into a business and career, and The Wall Cycling studio is now open for business as of mid-May. Opening the doors is one thing, but sustaining a small business is another.

“I think women really do think about the 360 of everything and when they go into business they have thought it out,” Sabella said.

Stacy Jackson, owner of MeadowSweet Vintage began work-ing with other women business owners on the street before she even opened her storefront. After being in retail for over 15 years and selling on Etsy, Jackson partnered with RevivalSmith to have a small section in her store. This past winter, all the stars aligned and Jackson opened her storefront.

Many of these young business owners began their careers in the corporate world and quickly realized their true passion. As Tetreault noted, more women seem to be taking risks at following their passion and not just accepting the status quo.

“There is a sense of empowerment in making things happen on your own terms. At the end of the day, you only have yourself to answer to,” Tetreault said, “and your livelihood rides on your deci-sions, a very powerful and challenging feeling.”

And passion isn’t the only thing leading this movement. Jackson feels that many women want to work for themselves instead of putting so much energy into building other people’s businesses and following other people’s paths and dreams.

“Women have a tremendous amount of energy vitality and creativity, and I think that is reflected in their small businesses,” Jackson said. “Plus women are becoming much more business savvy and we are learning how to do this on our own.” Rossettie agreed that women also seem to be moving away from the nine to five schedule and are finding joy in having more odd hours and the ability to tap into their creative side. Owning your own business, as she said, is a moment of a real lifestyle change.

ManayunkThe New Faces of

Women Leading The Pack

Molly Cygan Rossettie, owner of The Little Apple, helps a customer with a purchase. Her shop features unique vintage and repurposed home goods, accessories and cards.

Molly Cygan Rossettie, owner of The Little Apple, Ann Tetreault, owner of The Spiral Bookcase, and Stacy Jackson, owner of MeadowSweet Vintage, are three of the women leading the pack in Manayunk.


“I think there’s this need for women to have a creative job innately, we are creative multi-taskers and it’s inherent in our DNA,” Rossettie said.

What also keeps these businesses booming is their belief that working together is better than working alone. They use cross promotion, word of mouth, and social media to help each other’s businesses to thrive.

“We are always recommending each other stores, and I think we just each have a high respect for how much work it takes to have your own shop,” Jackson said. “We really want to make sure each one of us has a great resource in promotion.”

For Rossettie, using Facebook and Twitter to help promote her fellow business owners is a simple and automatic thing.

“We all have a similar esthetic and mindset, so it’s easy to play off one person’s promotion,” she said.

Even though Sabella’s doors have just opened, she said she already feels welcomed by many of the other women business owners on the street. “They are very approachable and it’s nice to see that women are becoming the reason more and more people are coming here,” Sabella said.

Their hope is that their businesses are also an outlet to the community as well and a place that customers can consider home and have a familiar face. Tetreault said she loves that people know her in the neighborhood and stop by often to chat.

“Having so many women owned businesses definitely does bring a sense of home here,” Jackson said, “so it feels a little bit warmer and a little more quaint.”

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Angelo and Josephine’sAwakenings Pole FitnessChabaa Thai BistroChristie’s Nail & TanningClairvoyant MonicaConsignment MarketplaceDyanna’s NailsFedora Salon & SpaGoals FitnessGreene Street ConsignmentLattitudes GalleryLe’ Pink Champu’MeadowSweet VintageMom’s Bake At Home PizzaNicole MillerPaula Hian

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This past October, Manayunk launched the nationally known First Friday celebration with a Manayunk flair, highlighting all that Manayunk has to offer with art, shopping, and dining. With the advent of warmer weather, First Friday has continued to expand throughout the district with more featured retail events, dining specials, and local artist showcases, bringing more people to Manayunk the First Friday of each month. Strolling Main Street has been a favorite Philadelphia pastime since Manayunk’s restaurant scene began in the mid 80’s, but now the First Friday of every month gives more visitors a reason to take that stroll.

Chris Barnes, owner of Lucky’s Last Chance, has taken full advantage of First Friday by turning his upstairs space into an art gallery featuring local artists each First Friday. The upstairs is generally closed until later in the evening, so Barnes said it has been great to get more traffic upstairs earlier on Friday nights.

“We’ve done a great job in terms of getting new people through the doors that just haven’t been to Manayunk before,” Barnes said.

Most of the artists featured at Lucky’s on First Friday are young, local emerging artists that Barnes finds through his connections in the Philadelphia art community. After a few shows, Barnes said they have now been receiving hundreds of submissions online for artists that want to be featured at their First Friday events.

FollowThe FlagsF

irst

Fri

day

:

“It’s a great eclectic mix of events that can kind of cater to all different groups of people,”

- Chris Barnes Owner of Lucky’s Last Chance

A local artist poses with his work that was displayed on the second floor of Lucky’s Last Chance during First Friday. Visitors were able to speak to the artist to learn more about his techniques and style.

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Russ Garrow also features local emerging talent during First Friday at his retail store, Manayunk Greenworks. Part of Greenworks’ mission is to support local artists and musicians Garrow said, so through his friends and local connections, he has been able to bring in local bands to play live music outside of his store each month. “We have been giving them great exposure,” Garrow said, “and they have been really appreciative to be able to play out on Main Street.”

Although the focus is on music, Garrow also features free wine and pizza for all of the visitors that stop in his shop, which he feels helps draw in a new customer base. “We have had the best night of the month every First Friday in sales,” Garrow said. “We’ve attracted at least 30 to 40 new faces each First Friday and it has been great publicity to the store.”

Besides local artist showcases and live music, many Manayunk retailers host special events and demonstrations and many restaurants feature prix fixe First Friday menus.

“It’s a great eclectic mix of events that can kind of cater to all different groups of people,” Barnes said. “I like the fact that not everybody is doing the same thing, it really adds to the effect.”

As First Friday continues to grow, more First Friday flags will begin to line the street for visitors to follow the flags to shop, dine, and play in Manayunk. “My hope is that it turns into a positive event for all of the businesses on Main Street, especially the owner-operated ones,” Garrow said, “and that it can really bring more business into the local smaller stores and restaurants.”

For more information on First Fr iday visit Manayunk.com and the First Fr iday In Manayunk Facebook Page.

Follow The Flags

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Manayunk.com Magazine - Issue 5