This week, we strongly advise you to meet your nightmare neighbor.

Meet your neighbor, Eastern State Penitentiary, in the Fairmount section of the Art Museum. This historic attraction/museum is a frequented spot for tourists and local Philadelphians. Being an admitted glutton for the macabre, my tour proved to be a very stimulating experience. If you are a history buff, this place provides plenty of it and apparently Eastern State Penitentiary is believed to be haunted by the very prisoners that once walked the halls and sat in the prison cells you will see in my V-blog.  Visit Eastern State Penitentiary...if you dare, of course.

For more info about Eastern State Penitentiary, visit their website.

Don't let the modest facade of this newly rehabbed Fairmount home fool you - it's got lots of character and plenty of space inside! Original details combine with modern flair, from the refinished original hardwood floors and classic stair rails to the crown moldings and exposed brick. Huge living/dining room has fireplace and lots of space for entertaining, with more in the spacious new kitchen with stone countertops, mosaic tile backsplashes, chocolate cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Upstairs, find four roomy bedrooms equipped with ceiling fans and walk-in closets plus bathrooms with granite vanity countertops and tile tubs/showers. 2d bath has Jacuzzi tub. 3rd floor has 2d kitchen and bedroom with incredible view. Finished basement space can function as 6th bedroom or rec room. Central air; gas cooking and heat. 1.5 blocks to rec center. Short walk to Fairmount subway station for quick access to Center City. Currently occupied by college students for $2100/mo rent; lease expires at end of April 2012.

YouTube video of 1621 Swain St.
1621 Swain St. blog

Noah Ostroff
Coldwell Banker Preferred
Realtor ®
Noah@PhillyLiving.com
215-609-3305
http://www.phillyliving.com/

"We have YOUR best interest in mind"

Just in from the Fairmount Art Center...there's more to do this Halloween than get scared out of your mind at the Eastern State Penitentiary. Here's something a little more kid-friendly.

Halloween Arts Fest

The 4th Annual! Join us October 31 from 11:30am-1:30pm. Come in costume, craft, create, and creep!

Fall Session II: Starts the week of November 1st

School-Closed Camps: Oct. 29-Nov. 5 & beyond

Friday Night Workshops: Upcoming-Papermaking, Collage, & Book Arts

Classes fill fast so be sure to reserve your spot! Click for details & online registration!

Fairmount Art Center

2501 Olive Street

With a name like Rybread Cafe, you can practically taste the dark strong bread. The 23rd and Fairmount sandwich shop is new to the Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods and it comes with a story that has some backbone to it. Owner Ryan has a background in architecture, a set of skills that we like to think is closely related to how well you can build a sandwich. That would make sense, right? After losing his job during the changing economy, Ryan set off for a road trip across the country for 7 weeks.

He ate quite a few sandwiches and then it hit him. With the cities he visited as sandwich creations on his menu, he developed Rybread Cafe. Which locations inspired his sandwiches?

The NOLA with shrimp salad and greens

The Hollywood with hummus, cucumber, red onion, and shaved carrot

The Philadelphia with genoa salami, hot cappi, prosciutto, sharp provolone, greens, tomato, onions, and vinaigrette.

The bread is such an important base that Rybread stocks the right breads for every occasion, with specific sandwiches calling for a soft sandwich bun, a thoughtful sourdough or a wholesome multigrain, or even a crisp baguette to carry the flavors. There are soups, salads, and breakfast sandwiches to round out the offerings. Then there's the panini menu, that tributes such cities as San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, New York, and the Alexandria. The latter two are both pressed on rye bread.

So next time you're biking through and lunch time is swiftly approaching, brake for some rye bread to bolster your afternoon ride.

Rybread Cafe

2319 Fairmount Ave.

215-769-0603

Explore more about Life in Brewerytown.

Related:

Things to Do in Brewerytown: Bike Fairmount Park

Bastille Day is one of our favorite events to celebrate in Philadelphia - who hasn't wanted to run away to France at one point or another? Luckily, the Bastille Day celebration in Fairmount indulges us on these whims each year.

We did say indulge. The neighborhood whips up French dinner and wine specials at participating Fairmount restaurants and bars, French film screenings, and the Bastille Day Street Festival, which culminates in the annual Storming of the Bastille.

From July 8 to July 11, it's like a mini fling in France.

July 8 - Fairmount French Fling Bar Crawl

The Belgian Café – 21st & Green

Bishop’s Collar – 24th and Fairmount

Bridgid’s Bar and Restuarant – 24th and Meredith Street

Jack’s Firehouse – 21st and Fairmount

London Grill – 23rd and Fairmount

Rembrandt’s – 23rd andAspen

Urban Saloon – 2120 Fairmount Avenue

July 9 - Fairmount Goes French!

Have a French dinner and then prepare for an evening of cinema with the kids. Mugshots will be showing Beauty and the Beast at 7 pm and giving out free mini cupcakes with every French soda sold. The Eastern State Penitentiary will show Pepe Le Pew cartoons and the Hunchback of Notre Dame from 8 pm on.

July 10 - Bastille Day Street Festival

Tour the Bastille, watch the Fairmount Pet Shoppe Parade at 2 pm and the Tricycle Tour de France at 3 pm, and check out the many exhibits on Fairmount - including a selection of French books and wine and cheese tips. At 5:15 pm, there will be a Costume Contest. Then, at 5:30 pm, it's time for the Storming of the Bastille. This year's Marie Antoinette will be played by Terry McNally, co-owner of London Grill. She'll declare "Let them eat Tastykake!" as thousands of Butterscotch Krimpet Tastykakes are sent flying into the crowd. Ah, a little bit of Philadelphia influence at last.

July 11 - French Champagne Brunch

Don't miss the French Champagne Brunch, an ode to all of your French-inspired favorites that you regularly brunch on, and try a bloody "Marie" at London Grill.

[photo credit: Eastern State Penitentiary]

For one day only, you can find a Tuscan Sunset in Fairmount. OK, so maybe that Tuscan Sunset is the name of a cocktail with ROOT liquor that Rembrandts will be serving during the Fairmount Arts Crawl. Who isn't a sucker for a good sunset? It's the perfect start to an art-themed crawl.

Over 70 local artists will convene in Fairmount for the annual arts fair on Sunday, April 25. Each artist will present at a different venue, which encourages you to tour the businesses of Fairmount and see some really cool work in the process. We went through the list and found quite a few interesting pairings:

• Urban wildlife photography from Christian Hunold at Flying Saucer Cafe
• Wood-based scenes of Fairmount from Ryan Penn at the Belgian Cafe
• Topography photos of Iceland from Clem Da Vinci at the Wine School of Philadelphia

There will also be live music, dancing, and fun things for the kids to do - check out the website for the complete rundown.

Fairmount Arts Crawl

Sunday April 25th, 2010

2 pm-6 pm

Explore more about Life in Art Museum/Fairmount. Ready to search for Art Museum properties?

Related: A Sunday in Fairmount Starts at Mugshots