In Case You Haven't Heard; Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee

Original Image: Associated Press 

Even if you do not follow sports, it would be difficult to ignore the fact that Cliff Lee has returned to the Phillies. Since the announcement late Monday night, the city has been buzzing as fans drool over the now best pitching rotation in baseball. Philadelphia has not been this excited since the Phillies won the world series in 2008.

The former Cy Young award winner has pitched for four different teams over the past two seasons, but it seems that he has found a home in Philadelphia when he signed the five-year $120 contract. Lee received offers for more coin from the New York Yankees and his most recent team the Texas Rangers. Ultimately, it came down to the fact that Lee and his wife love the city of Philadelphia and is where they want to settle down.

City Hall Christmas tree is lit...with a side note

The Christmas tree on the doorstep of City Hall was lit with help from Mayor Nutter and his wife Lisa. The annual lighting of the tree puts the finishing touches on the city to celebrate the holidays. This years 28 foot tree overlooks Christmas Village which is in its third year.

The Village is an array of gift shops and crafts. In the days leading up to the tree-lighting, much debate went on when the "Christmas Village" was changed to "Holiday Village." A private company runs the Village which sits on Dilworth Plaza, and made the name change after a complaint was received. There was an enormous outcry to reverse the name and Nutter did so the night before he illuminated the Christmas tree.

I think we are at a point in our diverse society that it is acceptable to share the simple pleasures of one another's religious celebrations, whether we practice that religion or not.

Spectrum Coming Down Tomorrow, Philly Live! to Go Up

Statues being lifted out [Image Source]

A seat-less Spectrum  [Image Source]

Tuesday, November 23rd will officially mark the end of the 43-year-old arena which was once home to the Flyers and Sixers up until the opening of, what now is the Wells Fargo Center, in 1996. "America's Showplace" came at a cost of $7 million back when being built from 1966-67. Unlike Veterans Stadium, the Spectrum will be demolished, not imploded. A couple weeks back people stood in line outside the arena, paid a $25 fee to enter, and got to leave with whatever they could carry with their hands with no reentry. With state of the art buildings like the Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park, and Lincoln Financial Field towering over in South Philadelphia, the once celebrated Spectrum will meet with a wrecking ball at noon to make room for a new kind of entertainment venue.

The orginal Philly Live! plan [Image Source]

Once the debris is cleared and the hole in the ground filled, construction for Philly Live! will be begin. Philly Live! plans to be full with retail shops, restaurants, a hotel, and a place for fans to come together while being a part of the game without actually being at the game. Although the Spectrum still stands as I write this, Philly Live! has hit a speed bump.  The once 350,000-square-foot entertainment mecca has shrunk to 40,000 to 45,000 square feet overnight and just include a bar full of Philadelphia sports memorabilia, for now. The main cause for this modification, which I'm sure is no surprise to anyone, is the downward spiral the economy took since the plan was first announced in 2008. With completion set around 2012, who knows what another two years will hold for this project. Nevertheless, Philadelphia's sports complex has already been revived from what was a cluster of rundown warehouses to one of the countries single most premier sporting centers in just a decade and a half.

New Museum Adds More History to the City

This weekend was the grand opening ceremony's for the new National Museum of American Jewish History. The five story 100,000 square foot building is located at 5th and Market, looking over Independence Mall. The festivities this weekend included a black tie gala on Saturday night which included guests like Jerry Seinfeld and Barbra Streisand. On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden was on hand to help open the museum with an introductory speech. The museum follows the migration of Jews to American and the influence on the country.

While the building itself costs a total of $150 million, the stories that it tells inside are priceless. The museum is not just for the Jewish people, but all Americans. As Americans we have ancestors who emigrated from all different parts of the world, or maybe you have had this experience of coming to America personally. Either way, the museum tells a similar story of the history of most American families.

The NMAJH opens to the public Friday November, 26.

Could Philadelphia Become #1?

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Philadelphia is without question one of the best cities in America, but like any other it has its issues. Here is an interesting article that lays on the line some changes to be made in order to give Philly a brighter future in 10 years. One of the ideas is to close public libraries and another is to build a ferris wheel at Penn's Landing...yeah. Take a read and let me know what YOU think.

Parents Carry Forward Daughter's Generosity

Jillian A. Siegel was just 20 years of age when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. While the Pennsylvannia State University sophomore was at the peak of her battle at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Jillian continued to help organize Thon. Thon is Penn State's annual charity dance marathon to help fight childhood cancer. A few months later Jillian Siegel passed away.

While their daughter was in treatment, Phil and Nancy Siegel  of Blue Bell saw many families that struggled to be there for loved ones because of financial reasons. At the most crucial times in these peoples lives, when they need loved ones by their side the most; it is sad money comes in the way. That is why the Siegel's decided to start a nonprofit organization to help families like this. Jill Just Wants 2 Help gives financial help and a place to stay for families with young adults who are being treated for sickness' like Jillian was. The nonprofit is working with Penn Medicine and hopes to begin handing out grants at the end of next year. In the future the Siegel's would like to build a Jill's House which would give families a place to stay and easy accessibility to their loved ones during treatment.

It says a lot about Jillian that in the midst of her own fight with cancer, she still had the will to help others and the Siegel's look to continue her selflessness.

Read the Full Article Here

South Street Bridge is Back in Business

It's About Time!
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If you drive on the dreadful Schuylkill Expressway this may have felt like an eternity, but the South Street Bridge has finally reopened after nearly two years. Planning for the $67.4 million project began back in 2006 to make the bridge that links Center City to West Philadelphia more pedestrian friendly. The number of automobile lanes have been reduced from five to four. However, bicycle lanes and wider sidewalks have been added to make areas like Pennsylvania University more accessible to non-motorists. Architecturally, the new South Street Bridge may not be the next Ponte Vecchio. This now completed project shows the city is willing to invest in everyday Philadelphians and create an adequate urban environment.