Saving the Boyd Theater

This exciting news comes from Howard B. Haas, President of Friends of the Boyd. . .

"Philadelphia developer HAL WHEELER has signed an agreement to purchase the historic Boyd Theatre in a few months from Live Nation. He is one of the developers that Friends of the Boyd met with this past year. He would build the MONACO brand of KIMPTON, a four star hotel, on the Sansom Street former parking lot. This location is where the stage house expansion had previously been planned. The Boyd would not host Touring Broadway musicals, which will continue to be presented at the Academy of Music. The Boyd must be fully restored to its original Art Deco beauty. Wheeler would reopen the closed movie palace for a variety of entertainment and hotel events. He would like to accommodate movie premieres and a film series. Inga Saffron's article in
the Philadelphia Inquirer appears here: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/28043324.html

Friends of the Boyd are eager to hear more of the details for authentic and complete restoration. The reopening of the Boyd Theatre would revitalize the neighborhood including Chestnut West, but nothing is conclusive yet. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia would need to help fund restoration, as cities and states nationwide have done with their movie
palaces.

After the Boyd Theatre closed and appeared headed for demolition in 2002, the FRIENDS OF THE BOYD, INC. organized as a nonprofit organization of community volunteers, . For 6 years and working with three successive owners of the theater and many allies, we are expecting the authentic restoration of the Boyd and its reopening for entertainment. After a false start in 2006, when the Boyd was left at the altar by a prior owner, we have been seeking other solutions.

This year has been quite exciting! The NATIONAL TRUST included the Boyd on their national list of 11 endangered properties. The PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION legally protected the movie palace's exterior. Councilman BILL GREEN introduced his bill to allow for protection of landmark interiors such as the Boyd. Friends of the Boyd are excited with these milestones, but funding support is needed from the City and
Commonwealth, so the public can once again enjoy the Boyd Theatre!"

Concerts in the Park!

Philadelphia Weekly's "Concerts in the Park" series is coming to a close and this Wednesday, from 7pm - 9pm, The Hustle and Black Landlord will be playing in the middle of the square. If you haven't been out to a show yet, they are a lot of fun so pack a picnic and enjoy the show!

New Website!

Woah, sorry I haven't kept up with the blog. Summer is officially over and I promise I'll be more attentive. We have a new website! It's pretty basic but all of our articles are finally online and there is a lot of information about upcoming events in the Rittenhouse Square area.

www.RittenhouseMagazine.com

Happy One Year Anniversary to Philly Chit Chat!

Happy One-Year Anniversary to my friend HughE Dillon and his website, Philly Chit Chat! HughE has taken many many photos for Rittenhouse Magazine and we absolutely love him. Check out his website at www.PhillyChitChat.com

New! Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse

Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse opened this week in the former Graduate Hospital building, on the corner of 18th and South Street. It is a joint venture by Good Shepherd Penn Partners (GSPP) and once the medical center is up and running, GSPP estimates there will 414 full-time positions, including the addition of 115 new employees.

The facility, formerly owned by Tenet Healthcare, underwent $70 million in renovations which took over 16 months to complete. The new medical center will be home to a 38-bed, long-term, acute care, hospital called Good Shepherd Specialty Hospital at Rittenhouse and a 58-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility called Penn Institute for Rehabilitative Medicine for patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries and other illnesses requiring continued care.

Attack on Pine Street - 40 Year Old Woman Fights Off Sexual Predator

"Police are investigating the sexual assault of a woman attacked in the lobby of her Center City apartment over the weekend.

The 40-year-old victim told police she was in the foyer of her building in the 1600 block of Pine Street about 1:40 a.m. Saturday when the assailant forced her to the ground, choked her and threatened to kill her as he attempted to rape her.

The woman said she was able to fight off the assailant, whom she did not recognize, before he fled on foot. Sgt. Ray Evers of the public affairs unit said authorities obtained DNA evidence that is being processed.

The assailant is described as a black male in his mid-20s to early-30s, about 6-feet-3, thin build, medium to dark complexion, clean shaven, and wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. If you know any information involving this incident, please call the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477 (TIPS)."

- Today's Philadelphia Inquirer

Ball on the Square!

Today, The Friends of Rittenhouse Square will host the 25th Annual Ball on the Square. So if you were wondering what the large white tent has been doing in the park all week, it's not a Transformers 2 shoot, it is just party-prep for one of Philadelphia's hottest events.

Tickets started at $1000 and this year's Ball is unfortunately sold out but it is definitely a good time, so be sure to save the date for next year's bash.

Transformers 2 to shoot in Rittenhouse Square

'Transformers 2' is scheduled to shoot later this week in Rittenhouse Square. Portions of the film take place in France, so Philadelphia will double as Paris.

Bloomsday!

Each year on June 16th, the Rosenbach Museum celebrates Bloomsday, or the day Leopold Bloom walked the streets of Dublin. Come celebrate with the Rosenbach Museum, today, between noon and 7pm on Delancy and 21st.

Click here for more information about the Rosenbach Museum's Bloomsday Celebration and today's featured readers.

Hot Fun in the Summertime!!

Center City Sips:

Over 30 restaurants in the Rittenhouse Square area are participating in this year's Center City Sips. Every Wednesday, starting June 4th, they will be offering half-price appetizers as well as $2 beers, $3 glasses of wine, and $4 cocktails. So beat the heat and come support your community!

Click the link below for more information and a list of participating restaurants.

http://www.centercityphila.org/life/Sips.php

Center City District Lunchtime Concert Series:

Every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 pm, Center City District will offer free concerts at select locations.

Click the link below for more information.

http://www.centercityphila.org/life/LunchtimeConcerts.php

New Blog for Rittenhouse Magazine!

Welcome to Rittenhouse Magazine's new blog! Here, you can get the inside scoop as to what we are up to and plans for future issues. Feel free to drop us a line at info@rittenhousemagazine.com if you have any questions or comments.