Gollum: or the Frank Sinatra mural

A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Location: S Broad Street and Wharton
Artist: Diane Keller (She's to blame for several other murals in the city)
Part of the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia.
Completed: 11/1/99

Thanks to Matchstick Girl for pinning down that this is Gollum.

King of Prussia Mall - only a bus ride with a junkie hooker away

I've been extremely lax in my blog - and I apologize. But I have a new job starting this Monday and it requires effort to be back in the 9-5 working world. Effort such as buying new clothes. And to buy new clothes I made the sacrifice and went on a pilgrimage to mecca (no disrespect intended it's just that if you prayed to the god of consumerism then this is your temple) - or as others may know it "King of Prussia Mall."

Facts:

• King of Prussia Mall is the largest mall on the East Coast.
• The Mall is divided into two sections: the Plaza and the Court.
• The Plaza side opened in 1963.
• There are over 400 stores and restaurants. Most of them upscale ie Betsy Johnson, Stuart Weitzman, chick-fil-a...
• It is a real pain in the ass to get there from the city.
• There actually was a King of Prussia. Many of them, I imagine. However, the name originates from an 18th century local tavern called "The King of Prussia Inn" named after Frederick II, King of Prussia.

Location:
King of Prussia Mall is located at 160 North Gulf Road. You can take a bus (but DON'T). If you do (DON'T) you can catch the 124 or the 125 from Market Street. There is no train that takes you there directly.

Do:

• Try their iphone app. Because shopping can never be too pretentious.

Don't:

• Take the bus. No, really, please - DON'T DO IT.  Ask a friend for a ride because taking the local bus is:
• a) long 
• b) not always on time 
• c) awkward when you are trying to avoid the junkie hooker's eyes.

PS. In an effort to be honest - that bus ride described above was actually taken this summer. Today I drove.

Mario Lanza Institue and Museum - or a place so small you've probably missed it

Facts:

Fancy!

• Mario Lanza was born in 1921 at 636 Christian Street.
• His birth name was Alfredo Arnold Cocozza.
• As a young boy he listened to opera records and trained with a local music teacher, Irene Williams.
• He was discovered by a famous conductor, drafted into the Army, and then later worked with MGM in Hollywood showcasing his amazing operatic tenor.
• His film, "The Great Caruso", was the top grossing film in the world in 1951.
• He left Hollywood to move to Italy and died in Rome in 1959 of a heart attack.
• The Mario Lanza museum is next to St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church. 

St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church

Do:

• Visit the museum at 712 Montrose Street on the first floor of Columbus House.
• Call before visiting - they might be closed. Their hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Visit their website.

Entrance to  the museum

Don't:

• Worry about admission. It's free, though donations are accepted.
• Know what to expect? The museum houses Mario Lanza memorabilia and has items for sale. 
• Miss his mural at the corner of Broad and Reed.
• Worry. I had no idea who he was either.

Pennsylvania Hospital - or the oldest hospital in the United States

Facts:

• I haven't posted as much recently because I have been interviewing and looking for jobs. 
• You probably don't care about that.
• Another unrelated fact? The woman in the apartment next door thinks that we live in a slum and that it's okay for her to leave her trash in the hall.

• This is the first hospital in the United States and founded by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond in 1751.
• The building below is still in use.

• The hospital was, and still is, a teaching hospital.
• It held the first Medical Library and in 1847 was designated the largest medical library in the country by the American Medical Association.

Do:

• Come for a tour. Guided tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays, at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. You can also take a self-guided tour, Monday through Friday, during normal business hours. Pennsylvania Hospital recommends a $4.00 donation for the guided tours; $2.00 for the self-guided tour brochures. To register for a guided tour, call 215.829.3370. 
• Look at the hospital in the spring time. The blooms make the garden gorgeous.

Don't:

• Wait too long in the spring. The garden blooms for only a few short weeks. 
• Know where to go? The hospital is located at 800 Spruce Street.