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Philadelphia

The Fashionable Ladies of the Mainline Enjoy the 15th Annual In Fashion Show

The Mainline Ladies Come out to Support Cancer Support Community

The Cancer Support Community (CSC) Greater Philadelphia held their 15th Annual “In Fashion!” Luncheon & Fashion Show in conjunction with Neiman Marcus. This year though they held the fundraiser on the Mainline at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford and not in the store at King of Prussia Mall as had been done the past few years.

Mainline  For this year’s fundraiser, CSC partnered with Neiman Marcus who carries fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli clothing. Brunello Cucinelli’s ready-to-wear, handbag and shoe collections represent an expression of everyday luxury and sophistication, where comfort and style come together in an inseparable combination.

Mainline
There was a pop up shopping area where guests could buy Brunello Cucinelli’s designs. 10% of the proceeds would go to the CSC. Cucinelli regularly donates 20% of his profits through the Brunello Cucinelli Foundation.

Kathy O’Mara, Development Director Cancer Support Community and Kelly Harris, CEO Cancer Support Community.

Cancer Support Community supports men, women, and children living with cancer by offering free counseling, music therapy, support groups, educational workshops, exercise classes, and specialized programs for children and teens.

Cancer survivor, Lisa Barsky, who also volunteers many of her free hours at CSC and Paige Stengel, Marketing Coordinator at LaHoda Natural Health Centre
Petra Halloran, Erika Gabriel and Amanda Burch
Donna Celentans, Lynn Charlton and Julie Schellenger
Sandy Edelstein, Shana Schwartz, Robin Lovett, Nicole Schaeffer and Andrea Alexanian
Ali Bristow and Samantha Anne
Noelle Wein, JoAnn Wurzak and Ginny Salaman


Tara Lessard reigning over the beautiful fundraiser luncheon

Jeff Kellmer, Evelyn Cintron and Joann Massengill. Jeff donated a $5,000 bracelet which was auction off during the luncheon.

Stephanie Stahl, CBS3Philly emceed the event, where two young ladies whose mother is a cancer survivor, were models in the fashion show

 

Auctioneer Jeff Hammond working his magic raising additional funds for the organization. Not only is Jeff a great fundraiser, but a great MC as well.
Hilarie Morgan and Babs Snyder enjoy the fashion show


Marjorie Honickman chats during lunch

Lunch


Many guests slid over to the other sides of the table to get the best view of the gorgeous clothes
There were audible ahhs for this beautiful outfit

It was a successful event. I loved the new venue. Please check out Cancer Support Community and all their wonderful services, and pass the word. There are so many wonderful organizations out there to help those in need. They need our support, but most of all they’re there if you need them. Many times people don’t realize these programs are available, unless they hear about them from their case worker.

Look for additional photos in the February issue of Philadelphia Magazine and in the next issue of Liberty City Press

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Philadelphia

Luxury 55+ Rental Community Comes to Cherry Hill – Plaza Grande

Luxury 55+ Rental Community Comes to Cherry Hill, and is located on one of the last free spaces on the former Garden State Racetrack properties. I used to work at the racetrack in the 80s, the new one, rebuilt after a devastating fire destroyed it April 14, 1977. By the time the new racetrack was built, in 1985, the times had changed and it was never really able to recapture the excitement again. Having grown up in Cherry Hill, I still have a nostalgic love for this property, and am excited for all the development that has happened to the land, especially the Wegman’s, the developments are great, but I really like this new one – Plaza Grande.

Community

I love the community, the social interaction which is key at 55-plus communities and which Plaza Grande has. I love that the PR company Jenna Communications brought back a former jockey who raced at Garden State Park, to the hard hat press day to showcase the property.

Community
The Plaza Grande at Garden State Park,

Photos from the private collection of record-holding jockey in North American Thoroughbred horse racing, Anthony S. “Tony” Black, were on display as a remembrance of Garden State Park Racetrack, where Tony Black, 66, has raced.

Tony Black himself also paid the Plaza Grande a visit and shared stories of his racing days during the tour!
Tony Black told us that this location was where the horse stables were, and where the jockeys slept. He told us about the day of the fire and how they saved a man asleep in one of the buildings, and they escaped with just their personal affects and their lives.

Afterwards developer John Fasciano, of Tristate Ventures, L.P.  gave us a tour of the property

The apartments are all named after horses

Amenities include: Attached Garage , Parking Lot , Air Conditioning , Valet Trash , Dry Cleaning Drop Off ,  Microwave Oven
Pets Allowed: Cats, Small dogs, Large dogs and there’s even a Pet Washing Station.

State of the art kitchens as well. There are 5 Floorplans and each unit is named after a kind of horse. Rents range from
$1,650 – $2,450/mo .
Check out the Floorplans here

The Clubhouse which includes 18,500 SF private clubhouse with TVs throughout, Indoor swimming pool & hot tub;

Luxury lounge area with fireplace & intimate seating
State-of-the-art health & fitness center with yoga studio, cardio equipment,

weight machines, saunas & massage room;


Wireless cafe & business center

Movie theater with 95″ screen & digital surround sound

Click here to read about Tony Black in Philly.com! You can also watch a recap below from 6 ABC!

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Philadelphia

GRIT: Secret Recipes of Successful Women Entrepreneurs

GRIT: Secret Recipes of Successful Women Entrepreneurs

On November 17th, Philadelphia celebrated its first annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) at Moore College of Art and Design.  Led by Philadelphia WED Ambassador Elissa Bloom, this inaugural observance of women leaders in tech, business, non-profit, and education will come together to celebrate, empower and support each other at this full day conference.

GRIT

On a global scale, WED was celebrated in 144 countries, and empowered, motivated 4 billion unique women and inspired 250 million girls living in poverty to achieve their dreams. By participating in this first time Philadelphia event, participants were part of a global movement that will change the lives of so many.


Elissa Bloom, WED Ambassador & Executive Director of Philadelphia Fashion Incubator and Marjorie Margolies, President of Women’s Campaign International

Bloom says “We are dedicated to creating more role models for Philadelphia women to enter into business and leadership positions, as well as to help strengthen their business networks.  With celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, we are also committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders in Philadelphia who can amplify our message of expanding businesses in the region.”

Nina Ahmad, Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement with City Representative Sheila Hess who delivered Women’s Entrepreneurship Day proclamation to WED Philadelphia Ambassador Elissa Bloom.


Rakia Reynolds, Owner, Skai Blue Media (Happy birthday a date late) was keynote speaker, who chatted about balancing a family while making positive impacts in the world of business.

Betsy Braun, Jennifer Lynn Robinson, Elissa Boom, Dafna Yachin , Lauren Raske, and Britt Killeen

About Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is the world’s largest entrepreneurial and financial empowerment initiative dedicated to celebrating, supporting and empowering women worldwide. WED encourages four billion women worldwide to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, with the goal of bringing hope and alleviating poverty.

For more information please visit www.wedphiladelphia.wordpress.com.

Thanks to Norma Velez for shooting this event

 

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Philadelphia

Philadelphia Fund Alliance Raises Over $65,000 for Cradles to Crayons

Philadelphia Fund Alliance Raises Over $65,000 for Cradles to Crayons

More than 200 Philadelphia-area asset management industry professionals gathered on Nov. 2 at The Logan Philadelphia to raise money for Cradles to Crayons and to celebrate Philadelphia’s deep roots in national financial markets and services.

Alliance
The evening started out with a book signing with New York Times contributing reporter and author Diana Henriques was the keynote speaker. The New York Times investigative reporter and author is the author of The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust.

AllianceDiane Henriques (author and New York Times contributing reporter) & John Alshefski (SEI Investments)
Her new book, A First-Class Catastrophe: The Road to Black Monday, the Worst Day in Wall Street History, was published on Sept. 19, 2017.

Philadelphia Fund Alliance Cocktail Reception

Alliance
String Quartet from Settlement Music School


Stradley Ronon Associates Paul Pan, Jennifer Hillman & Claire Olivar


Shawn Hendricks, Miranda Sturgis & Kevin Boyle (all with Stradley Ronon)


Michelle Lombardo (Hartford Funds), Bill Kingsbury (Montgomery McCracken), Ted Edwards (Pepper Hamilton LLP), Barbara Dugan & Terry Reilly (Montgomery McCracken)


Robert Tribuiani (Murray Devine & Company), Molly Borgese (Morgan Lewis) & Frank Devine (Murray Devine & Company)


Evan Busteed (Morgan Lewis) & Cassie Juste (Pepper Hamilton)


Speaker Bruce Leto (Stradley Ronon )


Philadelphia Fund Alliance Dinner

Michal Smith (Cradles to Crayons)
Cradles to Crayons provides children living in homeless or low income situations with the basic essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play.


Davis Lebisky (Lebisky Compliance Consulting) & Donna Rafa (Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.)


Michal Smith & Susan Hight (Cradles to Crayons) & Gillian Facher (Stradley Ronon)

 


Speaker Stephen Sypherd (FS Investments)


Brian McNally (Mill Creek Capital Advisors), Mark Sheehan (Stradley Ronon) & John Alshefski (SEI Investments)

$65,000 Check Presentation to Cradles to Crayons
From left: Bruce G. Leto, Partner and Investment Management Group Chair, Stradley Ronon; Michal Smith, Executive Director, Cradles to Crayons; Susan Hight, Director of Development, Cradles to Crayons; Stephen Sypherd, Managing Director and General Counsel, FS Investments; Tim Levin, Philadelphia Managing Partner, Morgan Lewis; John Alshefski, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Investment Manager Services division of SEI Investments.

 

Photo Credit: Mike Hirata

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Philadelphia

Camp Out For Hunger Starts, Carson Wentz Hosts

Hope you had an amazing holiday weekend. Let’s catch up with this weeks ChitChat.

Camp
Monday kicks off WMMR’s  at XFINITY Live.  Listen or stop by the event. Donation Details: Guests, After Dark Events & Parking http://wmmr.com/2016/11/16/camp-out-after-dark/
Years ago I met Erin Como via Preston & Steve’s Marisa Magnatta. Erin who used to do traffic on NBC10 is now doing traffic and general reporting for Fox5DC, was in town this weekend for her alma mater Bensalem High School reunion at Parx Casino’s Chickie & Pete’s

Sarah and Joe Maiellano announced in the most adorable way that they’re expecting a baby. Joe is Fox Chase Cancer’s Director of Development and Sarah is the PR for the Philly Pops

Philly Pops Christmas starts next week.INFO


Another great holiday tradition in our house is heading to Atlantic City to see the Holiday Musical Light Show at Tropicana AC, and it actually snows indoors. Mike and I also checked out the Holiday Jubilee, which was a great show hosted by two singers, and 9 talented dancers. Plus 2 illusionists which will have you scratching your head. It was entertaining and fun for the whole family.


Another great tradition is heading over to the Shops at Liberty Place with my gifts to get them wrapped at a nominal fee which supports Variety. It’s a win, win and I don’t get a paper cut.


Go Eagles!! Carson Wentz hosted Thanksgiving for some of his Eagles teammates including:
Nate Gerry, Caleb Sturgis, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton and Jordan Matthews

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Philadelphia

Scenes From Thanksgiving Manna and Parade

Happy Black Friday. I am about to head out and shop, which is my lifetime tradition. I love to get caught up in the frenzy of the holiday.  I love Christmas lights, I love the commercialism of the season, I love Christmas Village and Holiday Village, none of that makes me less of aware of why we celebrate the Christmas Day.


A Rob Saxon, Director of Marketing at MANNA, selfie with Moi

 

Yesterday I started off the day volunteering my photo services at Manna. I’ve been going there on Thanksgiving Day for 4 years. It means a lot to me as my best friend Shawn Conley was one of their first clients in 1991 – 1992, when he died of AIDS. He told me what a difference it made in his life to have a delicious, healthy meal when he could no longer provide for himself. Also it broke the loneliness he felt day after day when the MANNA volunteer stopped by to drop off the meals.


It was bring your husband to work today
Kathy Orr and her son. Her husband and daughter were delivering meals
Lucy Nolan, with Rob and Sue Daugherty, CEO of MANNA
The Manna Board
The Manna Meal
Then I headed to the parade. I stopped by the Logan Hotel to check out it out from their rooftop bar – The Assembly. Super view.


Then I saw Santa and realized the parade at that point, 11am, was almost over for photos

See you Sunday for ChitChat around town, and perhaps a few folks will have their Christmas Trees up and we can feature them.

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Philadelphia

Thankful For My Sister Janine DeFeo & Her Advocacy Work

Thankful For My Sister Janine DeFeo

Good Thanksgiving Eve. Thank you so much for supporting all my Social Channels, for putting up with my crazy schedule, for coming back day after day to see what my view of the world is. Thank you for 10 years of being my friend. Today I want to focus on my sister Janine DeFeo, you might recall that my sister Janine is my Admin/scheduler/organizer, which is an immearsuable help.

DeFeo

If she didn’t invoice the clients and keep the schedule for all 5 of the PhillyChitChat (PCC) photographers, there wouldn’t be a PCC company, and we’d have no money cause I just can’t run a business as well as she can. There’s so much more to the story than Janine my “assistant”, there’s Janine a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, entrepreneur, philanthropic Janine.


Janine was the first one in the family to have a selfie stick, but she never takes selfies without a posse in the picture

Many of you know that my Beloved sister Judy Wilkins died of Ovarian Cancer in 2009. Janine jump in action and began to get involved with several organizations to help spread awareness of the disease, as well as work to raise money for treatment and a cure. There wasn’t a lot of organizations like that in Charlotte, NC in 2010, so she started one, while also helping out with one that was there – Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund at Levine Cancer Institute. She also started working with Philly’s Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation here in Philadelphia in 2011, and became good friend with Robin Cohen, the founder.  Either Janine or my sister Margaret is a presence at the walk every April on the Parkway.


In 2015, Janine and her friend Amy Roberts, whose grandmother died from ovarian cancer, initiated the Teal Buttefly Challenge as a way to bring awareness to the disease that kills about 14,180 women each year. Every spring, on March 21, the “challenge” begins.  It’s simple to do.

*Paint your nails TEAL
*Make a butterfly symbol by interlocking your thumbs
*Take a photo or a video and post on social media (#tealbutterflychallenge #ovariancancerawareness) on Twitter or FB. .
*Challenge 10 of your friends to do the same 


Now in November, the month of my sister Judy’s birthday, Janine has started another initiative: “Men of Teal”. From Janine’s instagram:

janine_defeoTeal Butterfly Challenge is proud to introduce to you our very own MEN OF TEAL. Each day during the month of November we will feature men who have loved and supported us over the years. If you know someone who would like to be a part of this new awareness campaign please send us a message, we would love to hear from you. T-shirts are available now $15 includes s&h. And now to kick off the month, our very own and our personal favorite….
Tom DeFeo: I wear Teal to stand with those who are fighting right now.
I wear Teal to remember those who fought courageously to the end.
I wear Teal to honor those that survived.
I wear Teal to support those trying to do something about this horrible disease.
I wear Teal in hope for a cure for Ovarian Cancer #MenofTeal #tealbutterflychallenge #ovariancancerawareness tealbutterflychallenge.com @tomdefe

Thanks to the Men of Teal for their support this month. Thanks to my sister Janine for her tireless fight against Ovarian Cancer. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Janine and her family had a cancer fight of their own last year. In August 2016 her daughter Nicole was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After months chemo and radiation, Nicole is now in remission.

Nicole has returned to school, and Janine back to her advocacy work, now raising awareness for both diseases with time and money.


Thank you Janine DeFeo for everything you do for PhillyChitChat,

for raising awareness and money to combat cancer and for being an advocate for others.


Happy Birthday Judy Wilkins on Friday November 24, Black Friday indeed.

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Philadelphia

Deck The Hall at City Hall Holiday Sights Plus Show Times

 Deck The Hall at City Hall Holiday Sights Plus Show Times

Last night was the premiere of the Deck the Hall Light Show Presented by Independence Blue Cross, a dramatic light show, synchronized with music and projected onto the West Market Street portal of City Hall. Deck

 

Before the countdown to the kick off there was a small ceremony where speakers included

Deck Center City District President and CEO Paul R. Levy, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Independence Blue Cross President Executive Vice President and Chairman and CEO of AmeriHealth Caritas Paul A. Tufano, Esq., and 6abc President and General Manager Bernie Prazenica.


Shows will be presented during the evenings through January 1, every hour on the half-hour from Sunday to Thursday and more frequently on Friday and Saturday evenings. Weekdays (Sunday-Thursday) 5:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm Weekends (Friday-Saturday) 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm

Afterwards there was a party for the sponsors which included Independence Blue Cross in partnership with Center City District and 6abc,

Sheila Hess, City Representative and friends from Independence Blue Cross
oh heat lamps next to the ice skating rink

Just learning to skate, you can rent one of those penguins on the right for $10 an hour. They have nearly a dozen.
I’m going to need one. I saw adults use them as well. There’s no embarrassment especially cause they’re so cute
The City Hall Courtyard Merry Go Round is back
The amazing maze is back again, and thankfully it’s not completely surrounded by the white tents that hold the shops. You can gaze into it in case you don’t want to navigate the maze.

The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market opened last week. The stores featured are all based in the Philadelphia area, whereas the stores across the street at the Christmas Village (see white tent in center across the street at Love Park, that is where CV is and it opens on Thanksgiving) are from around the world. Open daily through Jan 1, 2018 (CV closes on Christmas Eve), Sun thru Thurs 11am to 7PM, and Friday and Sat 11AM to 8PM Closed on Christmas Say. Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve the shops close at 5PM

On the North Side of City Hall is where the Christmas Tree is this year. It looks amazing. Last night they were testing the lights and the colorful base. I’m so excited for the festivities officially lighting the tree on Black Friday at 5PM.
Craft Hall, a new venue by FCM opening in Northern Liberties in the fall of 2018, will be offering food and beverage service as a “pop-up restaurant” from Nov. 24 to Dec. 23 at City Hall at North Broad Street alongside the Philly Holiday Tree. The Craft Hall Pop-Up Restaurant, in partnership with Lost Bread Co. Bakery and Barefoot Wines, will include a beautifully decorated heated tent with indoor seating for over 100 people as well as tables outside the tent next to the tree.

The Deck the Halls lights at City Hall are a perfect compliment to the other light shows around town. Don’t forget to check out the Macy’s Christmas Light Show in the  Grand Court and the Comcast Light Show.

Macy’s Light Show  runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving through December 31.
Showtimes: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm. The Store is closed Christmas Day. (In the past, on occasion, additional unscheduled shows have been presented when the Store became too congested. Good times for viewing are Monday through Thursday.)

Comcast Light Show Times
Daily at the top of each hour, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (excluding weekdays at 5 p.m.) through December 31 and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day

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Philadelphia

Runner Fashion at 2017 AACR Philly Marathon

Runner Fashion at 2017 AACR Philly Marathon

I headed out to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. I love cheering people on as they reach the finish line, as well as checking out the fashion cause some of them are serious in what they wear. I captured a click of a guy running in a blue suit via video, which you can find on my Instagram. Let’s see who crossed my lens


lots of super heroes


I’m sensing the volunteers were encouraged to wear animal something

The AACR Foundation supports the groundbreaking work of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) – the first and largest cancer research organization in the world with a membership of more than 37,000 professionals residing in 108 countries and territories working on the front lines of the effort to eradicate cancer.

The Foundation backs every aspect of high-quality, innovative cancer research.

We invite you to join us in imagining a world without cancer. More important, we invite you to join us in making it happen.

  • Promoting Research: The ACCRA gives direct grants for basic, transnational, clinical, and population research, targeting innovative science that has the potential to have a major impact in the fight against cancer. Additionally, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that hold the promise of near-term patient benefit.
    • Promoting Research: The AACR gives direct grants for basic, transnational, clinical, and population research, targeting innovative science that has the potential to have a major impact in the fight against cancer. Additionally, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that hold the promise of near-term patient benefit.
    • Supporting Today’s and Tomorrow’s Researchers: The AACR marshals the vast expertise of the cancer research community to accelerate progress in the understanding of cancer and its prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment by convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops each year. Travel grants and other support for young researchers make it possible for them to meet and learn from more experienced cancer scientists. Programs for emerging researchers in college, and even high school, encourage the best young minds to envision the impact they can have by choosing careers in cancer research

 

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Philadelphia

Cherry Street Pier Will Be Transformed into a Destination

Cherry Street Pier Will Be Transformed into a Destination

If you build it, they will come: This has been proven on Penns Landing already, despite the super highway 95 not being capped. For years, and by years I mean decades, City leaders have tried to convince us that by capping the space above 95 it would spur growth at Penns Landing. Penns Landing over the years has always had great attractions like the waterfront stage, Tall Ships, the Moshulu, the Olympia, and the water, but

Transformed
I think visionaries at the Delaware River Waterfront expounded on the idea of creating amazing entertainment in the past decade from Spruce Street Harbor where you can hang around in a hammock, while eating delicious Garces fare or Federal Donuts, the Blue Cross River Rink (summer and winter use), now the lodges, so popular that even Nicki Minaj hung out there a few winters ago, and the amazing Race Street pier which was transformed a few years back and is a great place to go unwind, do yoga, or watch the most amazing fireworks July 4 and on New Year’s Eve.

NOW it’s next door neighbor pier is about to undergo a transformation as the officials are planning to transform Municipal Pier 9 into a beautiful destination, bringing the historic pier back to life.


You might have been in the Cherry Street pier, officially known as Municipal Pier 9 if you attended Feastival in 2011 & 2012 as that is where is was held before moving across the street to it’s permanent place at La Peg. It’s a fairly run down pier with

a gorgeous view of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge from the sidewalk in front and a few of the nooks and crannies in the wall if the building on the pier. Let’s see what’s in store for the pier.
According to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC)website “Development of the Pier will involve a range of carefully chosen interventions, including selectively removing a portion of the roof and repairing the stone headhouses, in order to preserve and celebrate the historic value of the structure”  Plans for the pier a market place, garden, local art gallery space, food and a DRIVE IN MOVIE, say what?


I love the shops set in a container. THIS is an exciting project. All done without the cap, but I do know the DRWC is excited about that as well, the funding is in place and work seems to be underway which will connect Old City, Society Hill and Philadelphia to the waterfront seamlessly.

The DRWC assures me that the buildings on the left side of this graphic were just speculative, I mean seriously why would anyone block the view of the Ben Franklin Bridge from the multi million dollar park they just built. Check out Philly Curb for more info on this fantastic park.

Also check out Visit Philly as they have a great recap of the wonderful attractions along the Delaware River

All photos courtesy of DRWC, except the two Festival Shots which were by me.

Transformed