Reason #2 (Valerie Safran & Marcey Turney)

While you may think that two owners running almost all of the businesses south of Market to Locust on 13th street may be a bad thing, owners Valerie Safran and Marcey Turney are responsible for transforming my once-seedy neighborhood (before I lived there) into an almost-hip couple of blocks.

Yeah, it's a little weird when I spot a cool bag in Open House, then turn around and spot the same bag in Verde, but these two ladies' 3 restaurants on the block, Lolita, Bindi and Barbuzzo are all very different and equally delicious. But FYI advice from BJH and I: a BYO in which you pay $13 for the mixer is no longer a deal.

Check out the Barbuzzo website with links to all of their businesses and an article last fall about them on philly.com.

So, Valerie and Marcey, can't wait to see your next business idea take flight outside my window. I love Philly because of you.

Reason #1 (BJH)

While reading a blog all about BJH would only be interesting to me, his blog-savvy family, and possibly my blogging BFF, he does deserve Reason #1.

So, I love Philly because of BJH.

The Admission

Philly doesn't stink. Well, sometimes near the dumpster in the alley between my apartment and the gym. And sometimes while passing the above-ground vent of a fried-food restaurant. And also after rain. But...

It may have taken me 3 years to realize & 6 months to admit, or 3.5 years to slowly fall in love, but Philly doesn't stink--- it's actually wonderful.

This blog will (hopefully) explore many of the reasons that I love this city of brotherly love.

I'm worried about my writing being even somewhat interesting, so I think I'll focus on photos, and maybe a few guest posts. We'll see.