Archive for the 'Philadelphia' Category
iSepta has landed
BlogKing May 20th, 2008
The cool developers at Umlatte have just released a SEPTA train schedule web app for the iPhone. The standard SEPTA site on left is nothing more than a reproduction of the paper schedule; no value added and hard to use from a mobile device. Jason Tremblay designed the fantastic improvement on the right. And it works with other mobile devices to boot. Access it at http://isepta.org
They are already working on a new feature to add real time info on trains running late.
This is the kind of innovative development that solves a distinct problem, has wide appeal, is free to the user and brands Philadelphia as a progressive, technologically hip area. Take note Innovation Philadelphia.
Philly is a growing area for creative companies
BlogKing February 26th, 2008
Ecomomic Impact of Region’s For-Profit Creative Industry
Innovation Philadelphia’s new study, Creative Footprint, is now available. The report measures the size, scope and impact of the for-profit, creative industry. Creative industry employment within the Philadelphia Region generated a total economic impact of nearly $60 billion, ranking the for-profit, creative industry among one of the top industries in the region.
Philadelphia has a history of leading innovation, generating new and progressive ideas, and turning these ideas into reality. This ability to be innovative is critical for a competitive advantage, not just for the private sector, but for regions as well. Innovation Philadelphia has developed an innovative strategy, comprised of three integrated initiatives to drive economic growth in the Philadelphia Region, which include:
Cultivating the For-Profit Creative Economy - provide business resources; entrepreneurial assistance; and marketing, networking, and educational opportunities to make Philadelphia’s for-profit creative economy a leading source of jobs and wealth in the Philadelphia Region.
Attracting and Retaining Young Professionals - facilitate career and network development; link young professionals to employment opportunities; and showcase Philadelphia to young professionals as a place to live, work and play. Young professionals are critical to fuel economic growth and fill the pipeline with innovative thinkers who will become future entrepreneurs and business and civic leaders in Philadelphia.
Fostering Entrepreneurism and New Ideas - host networking and educational events to link regional entrepreneurs with one another and with the purchasers of their goods and services; host interactive discussions, called Innovation Forums, to develop ideas that will enhance Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial environment and define Philadelphia’s future; and use technology and electronic mediums such as blogs, webinars and webcasts to seek and gather other ideas.
An interesting takeaway fact: 12% of the workforce in the Philadelphia Region’s for profit creative industry is comprised of self-employed individuals. Yet the city still has a business privilege tax with a gross receipts kicker. This makes no sense when selling services.
Philly on the mend with Mayor-Elect Nutter
BlogKing December 6th, 2007
Mayor-Elect Nutter spoke at the Great Expectation Convention on December 2. What an uplifting event. Nutter has already shifted the expectations of this city; to think highly of ourself and expect greatness.
Democracy is a participatory process. You active engagement is needed.
Listen to the video for more. He got much applauses and standing ovations.
Just say HELLO!
Why is LinkedIn more important than ever?
BlogKing December 6th, 2007
Last month I attended an event by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum of Greater Philadelphia held at Villanova University School of Business. The speaker was Adam Nash, Senior Director of Product at LinkedIn. As I always recommend clients set up a LinkedIn account and link to their new blog for the SEO benefits, I was eager to hear what was up at LinkedIn.
Your most valuable asset is your professional reputation and the people who know you. LinkedIn is design to facilitate sharing these factors. LinkedIn is used by executives at all the Fortune 500 and membership is over 16 million. In fact over 200,000 are from the Philadelphia area.
He announced that LinkedIn would be supporting OpenSocial, Google’s free and open source API that will make web widget application portable across other social media sites that support it. This is huge. Here is a video of the announcement at Google.
The latest Nielsen NetRating has LinkedIn growing faster (189%) than FaceBook (125%). So if you are waiting for a engraved invitation this is it. Send me your email and I will invite you in my network[2.3 million].
Independents Hall opened
BlogKing August 19th, 2007
Front page coverage in Inquirer Sunday business section today. Co-working concept is launched.
Alex Hillman, above, at Independents Hall, an Old City site he helped set up. Members pay up to $275 a month to work in a group setting there, where facilities include a kitchen and a conference room.
Way to go Alex. Putting Philly at the forfront. It’s not 1776 anymore, but the spirit of independence is alive.
Convention Center to double, Sherwood Forest gets Pine Sol treatment
BlogKing August 19th, 2007
Demolition started this week of old buildings in the path of the Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion. After years of wrangling the project to double the size got going and should be competed by 2010.
In unrelated news but perhaps more symbolic of the new optimistic mood in Philadelphia is this article about “Sherwood Forest“ in Philly. That is the term Philly police call the maze of underground plaza, concourses and walkways between Suburban Station, City Hall and Market and Broad St Subways and connections to several office buildings.
As a sensory experience, few things can match Philadelphia’s Sherwood Forest in August.
It’s a copse of concrete columns inhabited not by Robin’s “Merrie Men” but a band of homeless people seeking shelter from the elements. And in August, when Philly’s temperature and humidity soar, the pungent odor of urine-soaked concrete is unforgettable.
I often use 15th Street Station and am disgusted with the smell and heat. How can the 5th largest US city give such a bad impression at its most central civic location?
For the first time, at least in anyone’s memory, crews are cleaning the concourses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Center City District, the privately funded organization created to improve cleanliness, safety and the quality of life downtown, has begun tackling the quality of life below ground along 3-1/2 miles of corridors connecting the subways, Market East Station and the Gallery, Suburban Station and much of South Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts.
Levy, who has headed the district since its founding in 1990, was eager to take over the job. For all the praise he and the district have received for cleaning and promoting Center City, the concourse was literally the city’s seamy underbelly.
“It’s one of the largest parts of the city and it simply left a perception that the city doesn’t care,” Levy said.
Hallelujah, the city cares. I can’t wait for Nutter’s inauguration so that this good idea can be expanded to other areas in need of upkeep. It is the Disney World model! If areas are continually cleaned that sends a positive message and people are less likely to trash it.
Lets encourage more transit use by more great ideas like this that make everyday city life a little more pleasant and civilised. Then more people will perceive Philly as the classy city is is.
Blog Philadelphia was resounding success
BlogKing July 15th, 2007
Around 300 people attended the two day(and evening party) event at the really nice Raddison Warwick hotel in downtown Philly. I found it really wonderful that the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp was a major sponsor. They are the people behind the new hip focused tourism site UWISHUNU ;Philly from an insider perspective.
This proves that Philly is no longer your father’s Philly but is finally changing it’s self concept to compete among the best cities in the US. Rocky and cheese steaks are so 20th century. Philly can be know as a hip, leading edge place that is not resting on past glories. Blog Philadelphia is another step in that transformation. Already scheduled for September is the first Philly Podcamp to keep the momentum going.
A wonderful announcement was the formation of a new organization for supporting independent consultants called sure enough Independents Hall. This is the brainchild of Alex Hillman, an energetic web developer and true Philadelphia promoter. The concept is co-working. Instead of being isolated in your home office you hang out a communal office and share the energy.
Vertigo
Get out and see a Philadelphia mural today
BlogKing March 24th, 2007
Now that Spring weather has returned it is great to take a walk in this most walkable city. Now you can see the Comcast tower reaching for topping off soon. Here is a view looking up from the banks of the Schuylkill River.
The Philly skyline is busting out all over. And there is excitement and hope in the air with the mayor’s primary in May and Delaware River master planning in process.
For those of you afraid of heights (me included) do not look at this picture from the recently topped off 930 foot concrete core of Comcast.
I think I’m getting dizzy. Well, I warned you. If you can stomach more take the hard hat tour over at Philly Skyline.
If your neck gets sore from looking up to see the new members of the skyline then maybe something closer to the ground is in order. How about taking in a local mural. After all there are over 2,500! You read that right. There is no debate that Philadelphia is widely considered to be the “Mural Capital of the World“.
This is one of my favorite. Called Summer: The Meeting by David Guinn.
“There is no program anywhere that better realizes the potential and value of art to our culture. As much as these murals have contributed to the beautification and revitalization of the City, the Mural Arts Program must be congratulated even more for engaging the youth of Philadelphia.
Edward G. Rendell
Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP) started in 1984 as a component of the Anti-Graffiti Network (PAGN), a city-wide initiative to eradicate destructive graffiti and address neighborhood blight. As part of this effort, PAGN hired mural artist Jane Golden to reach out to graffiti writers and to redirect their energies to mural-making. Mural-making not only helped these young men and women develop their artistic skills, but also empowered them to beautify their neighborhoods. In 1996, the City of Philadelphia recognized MAP as a program distinct from the Anti-Graffiti Network. At the same time, MAP established a non profit organization, The Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates. The Advocates have a broad mission of youth development and neighborhood revitalization through the arts.
The Mural Arts Program has produced over 2,700 murals throughout Philadelphia–more murals than any other city in the world. These murals have become a cherished part of the civic landscape and a great source of pride and motivation to the millions of residents and visitors who encounter them each year. Currently, MAP is involved in mural-making and art education throughout the city of Philadelphia. MAP’s art education programs target under-served youth at neighborhood sites throughout Philadelphia, both after-school and during the summer. Art education classes use mural-making to teach art, promote self-confidence, and foster life and job skills. With professional artists serving as educators and role models, MAP’s art education programs serve more than 3,000 youth each year. Art education classes are offered at no fee, ensuring accessibility for all youth.
There is even a geo-coded database so you can find murals in your neighborhood. So get out there and enjoy a Philadelphia spring day.
I’ll leave you with this wonderful vision of A Moment in Spring by Guinn.
