Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

• Mitt Romney- has 6 homes! Lakeside compound $10 million – main house, boat house, and guest house.  “I have arrived and I’m important AND I’m tasteful” big family house.
• Ron Paul- Lake Jackson, Texas. 4 bedroom for sale for $325,000 (over priced)  “Look at me I’m just a regular guy” typical ranch, nothing fancy.  FSBO
• John Huntsman- Brownstone mansion in DC.  Lots of art and formality.  His parents compound in Utah has 12 beds 16 baths $50 million – 63 acres.
• Newt Gingrich- Virginia – Washington suburb.  Bought in 1995 for $995,000 – worth much more now.
• Rick Santorum- Great Falls, Virginia.  $2 million.  4 bed 5 bath.  “I am rich”
• Rick Perry- Moved into a 3 1/2 acre rental estate paying $9,900/month!

All are big wealthy homes and all candidates are very very rich!

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Zillow.com released a poll that reveals the most and least desirable celebrities that US adults would want to have as their neighbors.  Here are the results!

Most Desirable

Tim Tebow, 11%
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, 10%
Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux, 9%
Jennifer Lopez, 6%
Beyoncé & Jay-Z, 5%
Nancy Grace, 4%
Kim Kardashian, 4%
Other, 11%
None of the above, 42%

Least Desirable

Jersey Shore Cast, 28%
Charlie Sheen, 21%
Lindsay Lohan, 14%
Kim Kardashian, 13%
Nancy Grace, 3%
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, 3%
Anthony Weiner, 2%
Other, 2%
None of the above, 14%

See more on this story at the Zillow Blog

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

 

Looking for something different to do this New Year’s Eve?  How about a Toast with a Ghost! at the Powel House?

Ring in the New Year in a most unusual way with a candlelight Ghost Tour of a Society Hill mansion and a champagne “Toast with a Ghost.” Discover the enchantment of a bygone era with ghostly tales of merriment, mystery and resolutions gone awry!

The second annual New Year’s Eve Ghost Tour takes place at the magnificent  Powel House, the site of many of high society’s holiday parties from yesteryear.  Here you’ll find haunting tales of the wealthy and famous, of debutantes and dignitaries, whose ghosts return to dance and party the night away. Mark the passing of 2011 in a unique and memorable fashion, and celebrate the arrival of 2012 with a Philadelphia “Toast with a Ghost”!

-Via ghosttour.net

Tickets are $25.  The 8pm tour is already sold out! Don’t miss out on the rest of the times: ghosttour.net

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

A Russian billionaire bought his 22 year daughter, a college student, an $88 million dollar New York penthouse.   The 10 room penthouse is located at Fifteen Central Park West, one of the most expensive buildings in New York, and the penthouse is the most expensive in the city… but it’s only her part time home. Proceeds will apparently be donated to charity,  in case that makes you feel better.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

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Details for the complex being built where the Spectrum used to stand have finally been announced.  It will be called “XFINITY Live! Philadelphia”

Basically ‘XFINITY Live! Philadelphia‘ will be a 7 day a week entertainment district with a food court, shops, music, movies, outdoor seating and a football field.

Here are the features according to philly.com’s Philly Live!? No, Xfinity Live!

• An Xfinity On Demand Theater, an outdoor viewing experience that will feature everything from sports games to family movies.
• The NBC Sports Arena, featuring an indoor 32-foot diagonal, 6 mm, million-dollar Sony LED screen
• The NBC Sports Field, which will play host to numerous outdoor activities and sports leagues
• NBC Sports Fantasy Board with stats
• NBC Sports Game Experience, in the Broad Street Bullies Pub, featuring video games
• A 100-foot LED Comcast SportsNet Ticker inside a venue called the Philly MarketPlace, a gathering place with food vendors including the Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co., Chickie’s & Pete’s, and Nick’s Roast Beef; more will be announced.Other dining options:
• Spectrum Grille, an upscale restaurant
• Broad Street Bullies Pub
• PBR Bar & Grill, a country-western themer based on Professional Bull Riders; Tex-Mex cuisine served during the day and a country & southern rock party at night (featuring a mechanical bull)
• Victory Beer Hall, featuring beer hall-style tables, a stage for live indoor entertainment, and a 2,000 square-foot patio complete with a fire pit and a unique panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline.
• And free parking on nonevent nights!

Grand opening: April 5.

See much more on this at Crossingbroad.com’s Everything You Want To Know About “Philly Live!” Which Will Actually Be Called “XFINITY LIVE! Philadelphia”

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

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Want free passes to this year’s Philadelphia Home Show? Send me an email at marketing@atacangroup.com! These tickets are worth $13 face value and The Atacan Group is offering our loyal readers passes for FREE!  No catch, we have a bunch to give away.  First come, first served… limited supply – so act fast!

Meet Kimberly Lacy of HGTV’s Curb Appeal and Todd Davis of HGTV’s Room Crashers and tour the Celebrity Designer Rooms!

The Philadelphia Home Show is THE BEST place to find fresh ideas and smart advice for home improvement, decorating and more!

When & Where

Dates + Hours
Saturday, January 14	10:00 am	-	9:00 pm
Sunday, January 15	10:00 am	-	6:00 pm
Monday, January 16	10:00 am	-	7:00 pm
Tuesday, January 17	4:00 pm	-	9:00 pm
Wednesday, January 18	4:00 pm	-	9:00 pm
Thursday, January 19	4:00 pm	-	9:00 pm
Friday, January 20	10:00 am	-	9:00 pm
Saturday, January 21	10:00 am	-	9:00 pm
Sunday, January 22	10:00 am	-	6:00 pm

Location

Pennsylvania Convention Center
Exhibition Hall F
12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia PA 19107

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

The best Philadelphia Christmas Lights compiled by visitphilly.com

:

1. Christmas Light Show at Macy’s Center City

Through December 31, 2010

Location: 1300 Market Street – Macy’s Grand Court

An annual Philadelphia tradition, the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s Center City continues to entertain new generations of shoppers and visitors. Using over 100,000 LED lights and the sounds of the legendary Wanamaker organ, the Grand Court atrium becomes adorned with floating snowflakes, flying reindeer and many other familiar holiday images.

2. Comcast Holiday Spectacular

Through January 2, 2011

A holiday spectacle unlike any other returns for its third year. Shown on the state-of-the-art Comcast Experience Video Wall at The Comcast Center, the 15-minute Holiday Spectacular is filled with sights and sounds of the season. Shows run every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

3. The Holidays at Franklin Square

Location: 6th and Race Streets
Through December 31, 2010

All December-long Franklin Square will be lit with thousands of festive holiday lights! Beginning December 1st with the Holiday Lighting Ceremony through New Year’s Eve, the park will be aglow, setting the perfect mood for the season.

4. Christmas Tree Lighting in Rittenhouse Square

Location: 18th and Walnut Streets

Rittenhouse Square transforms into a holiday wonderland with the flip of a switch, as the park and Philadelphia’s largest Christmas tree (over 30 feet tall!) become illuminated with 5,000 brilliant, multi-colored globes and lights. Before enjoying the beautiful glow of the park, sneak in some holiday shopping at the shops and boutiques of Rittenhouse Row and enjoy a warm, delicious meal or a much-deserved drink at one of the many restaurants and bars in the area.

5. Christmas in Peddler’s Village

Light up your holiday season with a fantastic display of nearly one million holiday lights atPeddler’s Village in Bucks County. While your in a festive mood, explore more than 70 specialty shops — perfect for your holiday shopping — and eight restaurants.

6. Longwood Gardens Christmas

No holiday is complete without a visit to Longwood Gardens, where more than 400,000 twinkling lights and spectacular fountain shows compose a brilliant wonderland your family is sure to love. Gaze upon the large, starry snowflakes and icicles that sparkle throughout the Gardens before warming up in heated conservatory with twenty “rooms” featuring festive displays of floral garlands, sparkling trees and more.

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Picture Courtesy www.smh.com.au

Can you imagine traveling from New York to Philadelphia in 37 minutes?  A forum at the Down Town Club on November 30th brought an audience of 60+ professionals in transportation related industries together to speak about a high-speed rail line in the Northeast Corridor.

A high speed rail line connecting New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington would create integrated economies and Philadelphia would be geographically in the center of all of it.  The prize for Philadelphia is

“…access to a dramatically larger and better-educated workforce than regional employers can currently tap into… employers in Center City would find that their available talent pool would increase fourfold as a result of the improved access HSR would bring to the city center. Travel time from New York to Philadelphia would be sliced almost in half, to 37 minutes, and Washington would be less than an hour away… “the Philadelphia commutershed grows by 10 million people.” -WeeklyPress.com, High-speed rail puts Philly in center of NE ecomomy, planners predict

A major question is where to station these high speed rails.  Market-East station seems like a worthy candidate.  A plan such as this one would dramatically transform the business district around 11th and Market.  Others argue that 30th St Station would be the most appropriate spot considering the growth of University City as “the fastest growing population in the city and also more educated than the city as a whole.”

The project, no matter what, could not be completed before 2050 and would be extremely costly.  But imagine the possibilities! Check out the full article by WeeklyPress.com, High-speed rail puts Philly in center of NE ecomomy, planners predict.

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If you’re planning to string up lights this year for the holidays, be sure to check out these safety tips below via networkx.com

●  Before you string up a single strand of lights, carefully check them for cracked cords, frayed ends or loose connections.

●  The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be deadly.There are 250 Christmas tree fires and 14 related deaths each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. So keep your tree well-watered. Not only will it stay fresh and green, but it might also keep your house from burning down.

●  Modern lights have fused plugs, preventing sparks in case of a short circuit. Ditch old strands of lights that don’t have fuses and get a set of newer, safer lights.

●  If bulbs have burned out, replace them right away, but make sure you use the correct wattage bulbs.

●  Water and debris can get into outdoor sockets, so make sure outdoor lights are plugged into aground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of shorts and shocks.

●  Keep an eye on extension cords, as they can occasionally overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it.

●  Don’t use tacks, nails or screws to hang lights, which can pierce the cable and become electrified. Use insulated hooks instead.

●  When running extension cords along the ground, make sure to elevate plugs and connectors with a brick to keep snow, water and debris out of the connections.

●  Tape down any ground-level extensions cords to prevent people from tripping over them.

●  Check to make sure lights have been rated by a testing laboratory. You can see a list of federally recognized labs on the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website.

●  Not all lights are rated for outdoor use. Indoor lights often have thinner insulation, which which can become cracked and damaged when exposed to the elements outdoors. So make sure the ones you string up on the house belong out there.

●  Don’t leave Christmas lights running when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house.

●  When you put your lights back into storage after the holidays, make sure to put them in a well-sealed container to prevent possible water damage and to block hungry rodents looking to turn the cords into lunch. My final advice? Be careful with ladders.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Picture courtesy of Through Autumn’s Lens

TIS’ THE SEASON for festive activities and events in Philadelphia!  There are plenty of them coming up in and around the area to help get you and your family into the holiday spirit!  Our friends over at uwishunu always provide great insight into what’s going on in Philadelphia.  Here are a few of the events they have highlighted specifically for the holidays:

Franklin Square’s holiday celebration: November 25 – January 2 Meet Santa, enjoy holiday music, make holiday ornament crafts, and try a candy cane shake at the SquareBurger.

Santa Days at the Philadelphia Zoo: December 10-11 and December 17-18 9:30am-4pm Join Santa to celebrate the holiday season with all the animals! Click the link above for the daily schedules of activities.

Philadelphia’s Holiday Pops concert: December 9th-22nd Join two time Grammy Award winning pianist Peter Nero and the Philly Pops for their annual holiday concert at the Kimmel Center

Santa on Ice in Manayunk: Saturday, December 10th from 11am-2pm Watch a world-class ice sculptor carve a throne of ice for Santa Claus and sit and pose for photos with him!

City Hall Tree Lighting: December 8th at 5pm The annual ceremony which usually takes place at Dilworth Plaza will occur across the street at Love Park due to renovations.  The Christmas Village in Philadelphia is also located in Love Park this year due to the renovations.

Be sure to check out the entire holiday section at uwishunu.com for more upcoming events about Holiday and Christmas activities in Philadelphia.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

The Philadelphia Parking Authority announced that meter parking in Philadelphia will be free from 11am-midnight every Saturday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

There will also be discounted parking every Saturday for $8 from 11am-5pm at these parking authority parking facilities:

• AutoPark @ Olde City (2nd & Sansom)
• AutoPark @ Independence Mall (5th & Market)
• AutoPark @ 8th & Filbert
• AutoPark @ the Gallery (10th & Filbert)
• AutoPark @ Jefferson (10th & Ludlow)
• AutoPark @ JFK Plaza (underground garage 16th & Parkway)

Check out the Philadelphia Parking Authority facebook page for more information on this.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Picture Courtesy uwishunu.com

According to a survey done by Travel and Leisure Magazine, Philadelphia was named the most sports crazed city in the US.

Heartaches over the years may have only deepened the fans’ commitment. To mingle (or commiserate) with locals—who, alas, don’t rank well in the survey for being athletic themselves—check out a Chickie’s and Pete’s sports bar, and try the famous “crab fries.” Or, make like Rocky, and run up and down the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Philadelphia is also ranked number 1 in historical sites/monuments and #2 in classical music, street food, and hamburgers according to other surveys by Travel and Leisure.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Photo courtesy uwishunu.com

Today is National Sandwich Day! Go grab a Hoagie from your favorite restaurant for dinner tonight!  WHAT!? Don’t have a favorite hoagie restaurant??? Check out Visit Philly’s Authentic Hoagie Finder right now!

Enjoy!

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

45 S. Strawberry St. Philadelphia, PA 19106

Old City

Want to live like a celebrity? Danny Bonaduce is selling his Old City Loft. It just hit the market 6 days ago.  Here are some features:

• Completely renovated (on HGTV)
• 1st floor can work as an office, gallery, workshop etc.
• Open floor plan on second floor, currently used as a living/entertaining room
• Completely updated kitchen on 3rd floor – granite, island, custom cabinetry & stainless steel appliances as well as dining and living room
• 4th floor master suite with roof access and plenty of closet space

See all the listing details for Danny Bonaduce’s Loft at 45 S. Strawberry St. Philadelphia PA 19106

Also check out the article from Realtor.com: Danny Bonaduce Puts His Philadelphia Townhouse Up For Sale

Listing Courtesy of Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors-Walnut

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Tonight at 8:37pm  is Game 5 of the NLDS between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals.  It’s a do or die elimination game that will feature two former Cy Young award winning starting pitchers, Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter.

The Phillies Rally Trolley is making it’s rounds in Center City right now! Be sure to check it out if your in town, they are giving away signs and rally towels.

Ex-players Greg Luzinski, Tommy Greene and Ricky Bottalico, now a Comcast SportsNet analyst, will be aboard, along with broadcasters Scott Franzke and Gary Matthews. The trolley will avoid the City Hall-Love Park area because of concerns about traffic related to the Occupy Philadelphia demonstrations at Dilworth Plaza. -philly.com

Get hints about the trolley route by following @philaphillies on twitter.

GO PHILLIES!

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As everyone knows by now, the visionary and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, passed away on Wednesday.  The above photograph  was taken this morning outside the Apple Store at 16th & Walnut in Center City Philadelphia where people have left  personal mementos, flowers and post-it-notes honoring the late Jobs.

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The former home to Jacqueline Bouvier (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), wife of John F. Kennedy, is on the market for $3.199 million in Society Hill.  Check out this article from cbs philly and these features about one of the most prestigious pieces of Philadelphia Real Estate:

• 50ft. double living room
• 14’ ceilings
• Elevator
• Library
• Fitness center with sauna
• 4 bedroom suites with multiple rooms

Check out all the listing details for The Bouvier Mansion – 260 S. 3^rd St. Philadelphia PA 19106 - Courtesy of Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors-Center City.

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Talula’s Garden, located right on Washington Square, was ranked number 6 in the nation of the Top Ten New Restuarants of the Year by Bon Appetit.

“…the talent of someone like executive chef Michael Santoro, who cooked at the Fat Duck in the U.K., and the vision of someone like co-owner Aimee Olexy, whose tiny store-cum-restaurant, Talula’s Table in Kennett Square, PA, is considered the hardest reservation in America. If I made a list of my top-ten dishes of 2011, three would come from Olexy’s new big-city spot”

Read More from Bon Appetit.

Has anyone been there yet??? Leave your recommendations!

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Want to own your own town?

The 106 year old town Scenic, South Dakota is on the verge of becoming a ghost town and is for sale.  The township owner recently dropped the price to $799,000 from $3 million.  It consists of 46 acres, 2 jails, a dance hall that once doubled as a gym, a museum, bunkhouse, two stores, a train depot and saloon.

Make an offer today!

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

There is A LOT of fun family stuff going on this weekend! I found a very nice summary of the events at Philly Parent Circle, www.phillyparentcircle.com

Smith Turns 112! Join Smith Playground as they celebrate their birthday: Kids 10 and younger and their caregivers are invited to celebrate 112 years of play at SMITH! This free event includes games, crafts, a raffle to win a SMITH birthday party, and plenty of time to enjoy the Playground! Saturday, 7/23/11 10 am – 1:00 pm, Cost: Free!

WXPN’s XPoNential Music Festival Join friends, family and the XPN community at the 3-day XPoNential Music Festival. The festival includes over 30 performers like Ben Folds and Booker T.  On Saturday and Sunday, the Camden Children’s Garden will feature Kids Corner host Kathy O’Connell as she joins families in several make and take craft stations, rides, and activities. Kids Corner runs from noon to 6 pm.  July 22-24th, tickets vary in price.

Friday, July 22nd: Let your hair down and catch a performance of Rapunzel at The Little Theater on Germantown Ave. As part of a summer special, all tickets are $5. Performances begin at 10:15 am. Shakespeare comes to the Elmwood Park Zoo from 7-9:00 pm. Roll out a blanket as Theatre Horizon performs ‘As You Like It;” a story of love and betrayal in a setting much like the one Shakespeare performed in: an open air theatre. Tickets are $10 per person, $7 for members. Limited seating available. Join The Little Treehouse for their Friday Night Jazz series and celebrate Christmas in July with their 50% off sidewalk sale.  Saturday, July 23rd: Join the Philadelphia Museum of Art as they celebrate the Harry Potter series with a magical scavenger hunt around the museum. Suggested age for this event is 10 and older, with prices varying. The hunt begins at 2 pm. There’s another birthday in Philly this weekend: Franklin Square turns 5! Celebrate with a free birthday craftivity and more from noon to 3 pm. Sunday, July 24th:  Beginning today the National Constitution Center kicks off their Free Kids Summer where all children, 12 & under, are admited to the center for free. The Garden State Discovery Museum hosts their Fairy Tale Fun Day where children participate in crafts, stories, and are encouraged to arrive in costume. The fun is free with paid admission.  Monday, July 25th: It’s Christmas in July at Sesame Place. Visit the park for their take on a winter wonderland complete with snow! Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a new Christmas tree topiary, decorations, festive music and a “Get in the Spirit” costume contest. By arriving in costume you’ll be entered to win great prizes.   This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

The house used in the 2008 Hollywood movie, Marley & Me, is for sale in Chadds Ford, PA for $1.25 Million.  It was constructed in the 1830s and features 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths.  Here’s a link to see all of the listing details for the Marley & Me House on Zillow: 1175 Meetinghouse Road – ‘Marley & Me’ House

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

We’ve seen some ugly and violent flash mobs pop up in Philly recently consisting of stabbings, theft and vandalism.  The most recent one occurred last Saturday in Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut.  Thankfully it was of the good old fashioned happy variety.  It was a dance flash mob!

Well done Philly.

Check out the Philly.com article Philadelphia flash mob spreads cheer in Rittenhouse Square.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Well tomorrow is the first official day of summer and Rita’s Italian Ice apparently has some competition in Philadelphia. Five former Rita’s locations in Philly have been transformed into Rocco’s Italian Ice, which began operation in May.  The owner, Lori Reyes remembers authentic South Philly Italian ice from her childhood:

“When I was a little girl, my grandfather used to take me to South Philly, and we used to get Italian ice. So I’m trying to go back to the way flavors used to taste,” Philly.com

Rocco’s focuses on 22 natural old fashioned flavors rather than the eccentric ‘cotton candy’ type flavors carried by Rita’s.  A pint of Rocco’s is also slightly cheaper than the average Rita’s price (set by each individual franchise owner).

Rita’s currently has 550 stores in 18 states + DC compared to Rocco’s 6 stores.

According to Philly.com there are a lot of people who already prefer Rocco’s over Rita’s.

Have people tried it?

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Philly Loses On Brad Pitt Zombie Epic: MyFoxPHILLY.com

The movie titled “World War Z”, starring Brad Pitt, is a film about Zombies invading Philadelphia but it’s going to be shot in Glasgow, Scotland.  Crews have reportedly begun changing store fronts and various Glasgow landmarks as well as importing American cars to make it look like Philly.

The reason why they decided to film elsewhere has to do with speculation that Pennsylvania was going to stop giving tax incentives for film and TV show makers in Pennsylvania.

The movie is reportedly expected to bring about $5 million in revenue to Glascow.

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Scientists from Cornell University sifted through data from 35 million Flickr Photos to determine the most photographed cities in the world as well as the most captured landmark and the most common angles for shooting that landmark in each city.

Philadelphia was ranked number 22 on the list. Independence Hall is the most commonly shot landmark in Philly with “a side perspective” according to the data.

Check out the article from Budget Travel Magazine.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Check out this ridiculously tiny 78 sq ft apartment in NYC courtesy of AOL Real Estate.  The owner describes it as “simple, efficient, convertible, and zen enough to be completely habitable.”

To each his own.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Check out this replica of the White House in Virginia for sale for $4.6 million.  It was a stand in for the real thing in the movie “Independence Day”.

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

“There’s no better place for lunch on a roll than Philly” -Saveur Magazine

Places mentioned in Saveur Magazine:

J&G Lunchmeat Villa – Ardmore

Chickies Italian Deli – South Philly

Chink’s Steaks – Tacony

Jim’s Steaks – West Philly, South Street, Northeast, Springfield

DiNic’s - Reading Terminal Market

John’s Roast Pork – Whitman

Johnny Hots – Fishtown

Pat’s King of Steaks – Passyunk Square

Shank’s Original – Center City

Check out the articles on Saveur.com – The Sandwich City & Philly Tastes

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Antonio Atacan’s top 10 recommended dishes in Philadelphia!

1. Octopus at Dimitris – Queen’s Village
2. Shrimp Scampi at Dimitris – Queen’s Village
3. Roasted Chicken with reduction sauce at Parc – Rittenhouse Square
4. Classic Burger at Village Whiskey Bar – Rittenhouse Square
5. Abel Sushi roll at Hikaru – Manayunk & Society Hill
6. Sashimi Lunch Combo at Morimoto – Washington Square
7. Gnocchi with Gargonzola Souce at Positano – Old City
8. Porter House Steak at Capital Grill – Avenue of the Arts
9. Macroni and Cheese at Latest Dish – Bella Vista
10. Barbeque Platter at Vietnam – Chinatown & University City

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Happy St. Patty’s Day! Why not celebrate by checking out some of Philly’s famous BYOB’s? We love our BYOB’s here at The Atacan group and we decided to take some time to ask ourselves which BYOB’s are OUR personal favorites around the city. Here is the top ten list of Philadelphia BYOB’s from The Atacan Group:

1. Melograno- This Rittenhouse Square Italian restaurant sits blocks away from the park at 20th and Sansom. Melograno was recognized with three bells by Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig Laban. They have also been featured in the New York Times and Bon Appetit Top Tables.

2. Lolita- Located at 13th and Chestnut in Washington Square West, is a Mexican BYOT (T-for tequila…) Lolita has been praised by Philadelphia Magazine and Where to go next by Food and Wine Magazine. They have very reasonable prices and they constantly draw large crowds. It is a very cool lounge-y atmosphere with incredibly authentic Northern Mexican cuisine.

3. Matyson- Another Rittenhouse Square spot on S. 19th between Chestnut and Market. This BYOB has great fresh food, only using local produce and livestock. They have very cool weakly tasting menus showcasing whatever is fresh and in season. No corkage fee and there is a Wine and Spirits located right around the corner at 19th and Chestnut.

4. Mercato- This BYOB focuses on “market-fresh, Italian-inspired food” and is located at Carmac and Spruce Streets, just East of Broad St in the old Camac Food Market building in Washington Square. Entrees change very often, reflecting seasons. They also offer three, four, or five course menus with wine recommendations. Mercato is a cash only establishment.

5. Sonata- Sonata resides in the heart of liberties walk in Northern Liberties. They are a very contemporary American style BYOB. Their dishes are always served using high-quality ingredients from local suppliers and they are presented in an imaginative style.

6. Fond- Is another contemporary American BYOB. It’s in the heart of South Philly in East Passyunk on E Passyunk Ave off Tasker St. They have received great reviews. Check out this short clip from the Today Show to hear the critic from Zaggat surveys praise the chef who is a former Le Bec Fin Chef. Fond was considered one of the “Top up and coming restaurants in America” by Zaggat.

7. Umai Umai- is a BYOB for you sushi connoisseurs. It’s considered the best sushi restaurants in the city by many. It’s located in the Art Museum Area at Brandywine and 22nd St.

8. Chloe- A cozy store front dining room with a 40 seat capacity that is almost always filled to the max. This quaint BYOB is located in the heart of Old City near 2nd and Arch. It has a homey feel and a new American style of cuisine.

9. Dmitris- is a tiny Greek Restaurant BYOB that has been around for years. This neighborhood favorite is cash only and located at 3rd and Catharine in Queen’s Village. Many consider it to be one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Philly. Be sure to try the Octopus and Shrimp Scampi, which is their specialty!

10. La Viola- Another tiny BYOB located on 16th St. Between Latimer & Spruce in Rittenhouse Square. Its an Italian restaurant and is often crowded. They have great seafood. Be sure to ask about the fish of the day!

BON APPETIT!

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Local Philly radio station, Wired 96.5, flew a plane over Charlie Sheen’s house with a banner that read “CHARLIE SHEEN PHILLY’S WIRED 96.5 <3 U – CALL US 4 UR NEXT ROLE”

Sure enough Charlie Sheen called into Wired 96.5 … two days in a row! He even got up at 6am west coast time to be on the Chio in the Morning show.

“I am flattered. I am honored. I will make it a pit stop along the journey, along the odyssey, for sure.” -Charlie Sheen, on coming to Philly for a Job.

And just like that Philadelphia is ‘Bi-Winning’!

Check out these links to RadarOnline.com to hear the whole clip of the first call and the second call.

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The Arrow Swim Club designed by Bart Blatstein will be opening May 1^st.  It will be a private membership costing $1,000 to join.   A cool thing about this swim club will be that it will be opened until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.  There will be DJ sets everyday, monthly member only parties, movie nights, movie screenings, yoga on the side deck, cocktail parties, private cabanas with cable and video game consoles, snack bar, on-site restaurant, and a fire-pit lounge.  The minimum age for the club is 21.

Check out the blog on PhillyChitChat for more.

Will this concept work at $1,000 membership costs?!

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There is a very nice article in today’s Inquirer that highlights the history of Keller Williams Realty’s new building at 1619 Walnut St.  Our building was in fact once home to KYW’s radio and television operations.  America’s first televised soap opera was performed here by comedian Ernie Kovacs.  The basement studio is where Mike Douglas honed his craft as a celebrity talk-show host on The Mike Douglas Show, helping to boost the careers of artists like Barbara Streisand, Aretha Franklin, and the Rolling Stones during the 60′s.  KYW was traded from NBC to CBS and they moved out of the building in 1972.

Check out the article for more!

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According to this philly.com article, “Philly’s nightclub landscape stands to become as vibrant as its restaurant scene”.  This is due to so many people moving back into Center City and the liveliness of the Rittenhouse Square area at night.  People want something to do after dining at these fine establishments and drinking at the lounge bars, making way for an upgraded club scene.

Some clubs set to pioneer this trend are Whisper, Rumor (opening in spring) and smaller venues like Social, and an “edgy, large-scale hangout in the Rittenhouse West area”.

Check out the full article at Philly.com

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The house used to film The Godfather is on the market for $2.9 million.  The sellers are only the second owners of this 12 room, 6,250 sq. ft. house that was the set of one of the greatest movies of all time.  They are also the same owners who let them film the movie.

Pretty funny timing for The Today Show to air this segment the same morning that the FBI was out making 130 arrests of members in mob families throughout New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island on charges including murder, racketeering, and extortion.

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According to an article on Philly.com by Al Heavens about the Philadelphia Condo Market, Cliff Lee of the Philadelphia Phillies settled on a condo in Center City at 1706 Rittenhouse in Rittenhouse Square.

1706 Rittenhouse is a brand new building, which opened last May, and is considered by many to be the most exclusive residence in all of Center City. The gem of Rittenhouse Square with 29 full floor units; virtually column free space, floor to ceiling windows open to expansive views, 10 to 20 ft. ceilings, two terraces for each unit and the top of the line finishes make this the most desirable address in Philadelphia. Each unit has over 4100 square feet of customizable space. Common amenities include state of the art fitness center with sauna, massage rooms, endless pool, private boardroom and garden. Architecture was done by Cope Linder and Interior Designs are by Karen Daroff of Daroff Design, two of Philadelphia’s best. Included in each unit price is an on-site parking space in the fully automated, state of the art, underground garage.

“It feels great to land back here in Philadelphia. . . . Here I am, I never wanted to leave this place in the first place… It’s exciting. It’s a historic town. I didn’t realize until I got here how interesting the city is.  My family really liked it.” -Cliff Lee philly.com

It’s great to see Philly athletes moving into Center City and calling Philadelphia home rather than moving out to the suburbs or over the river to Jersey.  That says a lot about how great a place it is to live.  Phillies’ second basemen Chase Utley and Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick both own condos in town as well.  Other Phillies such as Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, and Ryan Howard are often dining at the fine establishments in Rittenhouse Square.

So check out our Exclusive Center City Listings and our extensive Philadelphia Condo Directory and become neighbors with your favorite Philly athletes!

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U.S. Airways Magazine named Philadelphia number 1 on their list of the top 15 best cities for holiday spirit in the December issue.  They cite Macy’s department store’s light show at the old Wanamaker building as the main attraction for the Philadelphia holiday tradition.  Every hour from Black Friday until New Year’s Eve, families will gather around in the Grand Court to hear the Wanamaker pipe organ and watch the Santa Express train arrive.

Check out the 15 Best Cities for Getting That Holiday Spirit from U.S. Airways Magazine.

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The newest proposal for Foxwoods Casino is the possibility of centering the project around the SS United States on the Delaware River.  The idea includes plans for a 10-story parking garage with gaming space on the first two floors.  Renovating and refitting the vessel to have gaming on board would consist of a plan costing between $150 and $200 million.

“We can place the SS United States into the Foxwoods property in a way that showcases a national treasure and makes it a tourist draw” – Ken Smukler, advisor to the SS United States Conservancy.  Mayor Nutter’s thought the idea to be “certainly one of the most unique, dynamic, and exciting plans for a casino anywhere in the United States of America.”

The ship has been out of service since 1969 and has been docked at pier 82 on the Delaware River near the Whitman Section between Oregon Ave and Jackson St. since 1996.  The SS United States is on the National Register of Historic Places.

See the full article at Philly.com

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Your House As Seen By:

Yourself…

Your Buyer…

Your Lender…

Your Appraiser…

And….
Your Tax  Assessor…

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According to PlanPhilly.com, transit planners from the Cycling for Cities program were in town last week to promote bicycle transportation policies.  The planners work to create more space for bikers on the street in order to reduce the tensions between bikers and drivers/pedestrians.  Illegal behavior such as riding on sidewalks is likely a result of bicyclists feeling unsafe by biking on the road.  Many people feel bike lanes create more order on the streets and reduce chaos.

The Nutter administration is working to expand Philadelphia’s bike network by trying to secure grant money that will go towards education outreach programs aimed at bicyclists through the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.  The coalition would use the money to distribute blue lights for evening riders and further explain the city’s bike laws to bicyclists.  Bike lanes have recently been added on South and Lombard Streets. A bike share service in Philadelphia was also talked about at the meeting.

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According to PlanPhilly, Foxwoods attempts at opening a casino in South Philadelphia are not looking promising.  Attorneys for the state gaming board said at yesterday’s meeting that Foxwoods Casino “has made so little progress towards its spring 2011 opening that its license should be immediately revoked.”  They don’t have the finances or backers to be able to build within the time frame allotted.

Foxwoods attorneys fault the extraordinary economic, political, and other circumstances for the struggles and claim that evidence shows Foxwoods has made great efforts including bringing on Harrah’s and Steve Wynn despite these factors.

The board continued listening to both sides and will make an announcement at a public board meeting on November 18^th.  Foxwoods will be filing for a change in ownership and may ask for an extension to December 2012.

If they can get their act together, a  casino in South Philly could really boost the local economy.  Sugarhouse Casino took in 4.7 million in their first week! Check out the clip from FOX 29.

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The Atacan Group’s favorite Phillies fan club, Doc’s Patients, were interviewed by Jennaphr Frederick on the FOX 29 Good Day show yesterday morning down at Citizens Bank Park.

The Patients will be in attendance tomorrow night for Game 1 of the NLCS to witness Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies take on Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants in what is hyped up to be an epic pitching matchup.

Make sure to look up to the Bud Light Rooftop Deck after each Halladay strike out to see the Patients revive each other with their defibrillators.  The Patients will also be selling T-Shirts in the parking lot before the game in order to fund possible World Series tickets.  Check out the T-Shirt below and check out the Doc’s Patients Facebook Page and the Doc’s Patients Website!

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Phillies fans have a new fan group called Doc’s Patients!  Roy Halladay threw the second no hitter in MLB postseason history in Game 1 of the NLDS last night and his “Patients” were in the house to cheer on their favorite pitcher and watch him make history.  In fact, they have been to every home Halladay start since July 5^th and even made the trip down I-95 to watch the NL East clincher in Washington, D.C.!

The Patients can be found at Citizens Bank Park wearing hospital gowns and standing up in the Bud Light Rooftop Deck whenever Roy Halladay is scheduled to start.  They hang a large white bed sheet over the railing that says “Doc’s Patients” in red paint.  The Patients even have a strikeout dance that consists of rubbing their fists like defibrillator paddles and shocking one another down the line.  After the dance they proceed to hang up “K” signs next to the bed sheet in order to tally up the number of strikeouts that Doc Halladay racks up throughout the game.

Phillies fans are truly the best in baseball!

They even have a Doc’s Patients Facebook Fan Page! And a Doc’s Patients Website!

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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is deciding whether to give Foxwoods another chance on their proposed South Philly casino project.  The Foxwoods investors are about to sign a deal with Harrah’s Entertainment for casino operation, and Apollo Management for financing.

The largest obstacle with this new deal is settling the amount that Citizens Bank will get back from a $60 million credit it extended back in 2007.

Another problem is that under state gaming law, if a deal is approved the casino would have to have 1,500 slots up and running by December of 2012.  This would likely be a difficult task.  They still need state and federal approvals regarding riparian rights and water/sewer systems before it can even apply for city building permits.

More on this story at philly.com

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David Grasso’s idea for a music venue in Fishtown did not go over well with residents of the North Philly neighborhood when he addressed the Fishtown Neighbors Association Zoning Committee. Grasso insisted that there would be no such thing as DJ only nights, that concerts would almost always end by 11 pm, drinking would be confined to one area, and parking would be next door to the venue.  He asserted that his venue was not a nightclub, he thinks of the venue more like a theater for an eclectic genre of music aimed at all age groups.

Many residents were specifically uneasy about inebriated people leaving the premises of this music venue and wandering around the neighborhood like the old days in Fishtown when nightclubs were everywhere up and down Delaware ave.  Others were completely for the idea and hoped that it could revitalize that section of the city with a new and exciting atmosphere.

Grasso and First District Councilman Frank DiCicco say they don’t want to give up on the project and will now work to include the resident’s specific concerns in an amended ordinance.

The residents voted 57 to 38 against the proposal.

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According to the latest Center City Reports, sidewalk cafés in Philadelphia have expanded rapidly over the past decade.  In 2001 the survey recorded only 69 outdoor cafes.  The latest survey recorded 213 in the same area and found an additional 35 after they expanded the boundaries of the study to include Pine to South Streets and the Delaware River to 24^th St. for a total of 248 outdoor cafes.

Read the rest of this entry »

David Grasso, owner of Grasso Holdings Development Company, has tried to bring two separate House of Blues locations to Philadelphia over the last few years with no success.  But now he thinks he found the right location.

House of Blues was founded by Isaac Tigrett (co-founder of Hard Rock Café) and actor Dan Aykroyd.  They have 12 live music concert halls and restaurants throughout the United States in major markets like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Boston, and Chicago.  Since its opening in 1992 in Harvard Square, it has become a premier live music club for touring bands across the US as well as a popular spot for southern dining.

Grasso has his sights on the 27,000 square foot Richmond Street building in Fishtown for the proposed site, which would require zoning changes on the property which currently bans nightclubs.  Grasso’s tentative plans for the venue predict the capacity of 3,500 people during concerts and onsite and nearby parking for 1,250 vehicles.  Grasso envisions a project that will help drive positive development on the waterfront, create jobs for the community, and generate tax revenue for Philadelphia.

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Breweries of Brotherly Love

By Betsy Andrews, The New York Times, January 18, 2009

ONE of William Penn’s first tasks was to build a brewhouse. Following a trend of the time, the founder of Philadelphia opened a private brewery in the 1680s at his nearby Pennsbury Manor. By the 1880s, there were almost 100 commercial breweries, but Prohibition shut most of them down, and the city’s beer scene never fully recovered.

But Philadelphia is starting to brew anew. From historically minded breweries that pay homage to our founding fathers, to bohemian pubs that craft unusal ales, the city is undergoing a kind of beer renaissance.

The city even held its first Philly Beer Week last year, a 10-day festival organized by a group of local bar owners, brewers and beer writers, including Mr. Russell, to promote the region’s beer culture. It attracted 15,000 attendees thirsty for craft brews.

Emblematic of the new local, organically oriented breweries are places like Earth Bread & Brewery (7136 Germantown Avenue; 215-242-6666; www.earthbreadbrewery.com), a brewpub and largely organic restaurant dominated by a dome-shaped, wood-burning oven that opened last October in Mount Airy, an eco-minded neighborhood west of Center City. Started by a longtime brewer, Tom Baker, and his wife, Peggy, the brewpub is making a name for itself with small-batch drafts like The Bradley Effect, a gruit ale brewed in a medieval style with five medicinal herbs.

“Our whole approach is to try to do it green and sustainable,” said Mr. Baker. “We try to buy organic, but keeping money in the community, or at least nearby, is more important.”

Local flavor is also the drive behind Dock Street Brewery and Restaurant (701 South 50th Street; 215-726-2337; www.dockstreetbeer.com). Once a multimillion-dollar company that sold beer in 26 states, it closed in 2000 after being bought by investors, only to resurface in 2007 — this time, as a small artisanal brewery. Downsized to a former firehouse, it draws counterculture types and students from the University of Pennsylvania with esoteric drafts like Man Full of Trouble Porter, named for the city’s only extant colonial tavern.

Some breweries are setting their sights on the future. The 14-year-old Yards Brewing Company (901 North Delaware Avenue; 215-634-2600; www.yardsbrewing.com) recently moved to a former ironworks factory in Northern Liberties, an artsy neighborhood in northern Philadelphia, where the brewery runs on purchased wind power.

Unlike the new batch of brewpubs, Yards is thinking big. By next year, it hopes to produce 40,000 barrels of beer, including its calcium-enriched Love Stout. But first, it plans to limit distribution to Philadelphia. “We came up through the neighborhoods,” said Tom Kehoe, one of the brewery’s founders. “We want to be Philly’s hometown beer.”

Philadelphia’s Brew Scene

According to the real estate business portal Globaledge the most searched country in Europe for real estate is Spain! It is a buyer’s market there too.

Position Country/Region Sept. Volume % of Total

1 Spain 393,617 27.9%

2 France 184,102 13.1%

3 Italy 129,396 9.2%

4 Middle East 121,835 8.6%

5 Central & South America 113,434 8.0%

6 Bulgaria 103,516 7.3%

7 Cyprus 101,121 7.2%

8 Caribbean 79,195 5.6%

9 Eastern Europe (no Bulgaria) 75,636 5.4%

10 Turkey 65,297 4.6%

11 Portugal 42,465 3.0%