Bella Hondros
Favorite Spot: Andorra’s Port Royal Road
Neighborhood: Andorra
I Am: A student who likes back roads
Years in Philly: 14
Current Home: Andorra
Bella Hondros
Favorite Spot: Andorra’s Port Royal Road
Neighborhood: Andorra
I Am: A student who likes back roads
Years in Philly: 14
Current Home: Andorra
Shannon MacDonald
Favorite Spot: Wissinoming Park
Neighborhood: Northeast
Sarah Ricks
Favorite Spot: Bell’s Market
Neighborhood: Northeast
Address: 8330 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19152
I am: A law professor and lifelong travel junkie, with a special love for exploring cities.
Years in Philly: 24
Current Home: West Mt. Airy, Philadelphia.
Last March, I published a love note from George Matysik and Doug Moak to Pete’s Clown House in the Frankford/Juniata section of Philly (I’m not choosing one, as tensions about neighborhood boundaries run way too high up there). Though George and Doug couldn’t make it that day, I asked around on Twitter and managed to round up three friends for a breakfast feast. And I do mean feast. We had four He-Man platters, which basically means we had everything, all for about six bucks each. To this day, Pete’s Clown House remains one of those gems that I take friends to who’ve had it with the lines at Sabrina’s or Honey’s.
To my surprise, after publishing the note, I got some emails from some of the descendants of the owners. As far as I can piece together, Sam McKay opened up a restaurant there called Chatterbox in the 50s. He and his family lived above the store (as people continue to do today). In the 60s, the store changed hands to Pete, his wife Helen, and their 3 daughters. Pete’s loyal customers knew his love for clowns, and gave him pictures to decorate with. Today, a neon clown sign hangs in the main dining area. Ronnie (a long time employee) took ownership of the restaurant after Pete, and the legacy lives on at 3878 Frankford Avenue. Read more
George Reutter
Favorite Place: Ryerss Museum and Library
Neighborhood: Fox Chase
Address: 7370 Central Ave Philadelphia, PA 19111
I am: A Poet in Fox Chase
Years in Philly: 23 years in Wissinoming, Tacony and currently in Fox Chase.
Current Home: Fox Chase
Lauren Quitmeyer
Favorite Place: Lots of them – Linden Avenue Hatcheries, The Love Letter Project, Independence Mall, Ben Franklin Bridge, Open House, Central High School, ArtStar Craft Bazaar, Please Touch Museum, but I’ll be writing about the Trenton Regional Rail
Neighborhood: Northeast
I am: A legal assistant in Center City
Years in Philly: My whole life (30.5 years). My husband and I swore we’d only have a 191 zip code.
Current Home: Walton Park, by way of Olney and Frankford
The Great Northeast and the Riverwards are a huge section of the city full of distinct neighborhoods, great food, and expanses of parks.
1. Pre-breakfast in the Port Richmond Polish District (submitted by Jonathan Levin)
Start your day off right with donuts, specifically, plum jelly-filled Paczki from Krakus Market, a Polish market in Port Richmond which also contains within its walls the delicious Staropolska restaurant.
George Matysik and Doug Moak
Favorite Spot: Pete’s Clown House
Neighborhood: Frankford/Juniata
Address: 3878 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124
George Matysik:
I am: A scrapple enthusiast born and raised in the Lower Northeast. Part of the Daily News People’s Editorial Board
Years in Philly: All of them!
Current Home: East Falls
Doug Moak:
I am: An accumulator of used books
Years in Philly: 11
Current Home: Graduate Hospital
Michelle Feldman
Favorite Spot: Frankford, it’s institutions and its commercial corridor
Neighborhood: Frankford
I Am: Commercial Corridor Manager, Frankford CDC
Years In Philly: Almost My Whole Life
Current Home: Fairmount
Brian Shumsky
Favorite Spot: Northeast Philly
I am: Jewish (non-practicing), biker and member of the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, Phillies fan, active member of the Northeast community. I hope my love letter will inspire everyone in Philadelphia and outside Philly to have a much appreciation of our city’s culture & history like myself.
Years in Philly: I am a born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia (25 years)
Current Home: Fox Chase