Center City Magazine Turns 1

Those of you who have been with us for a while will no doubt notice some changes with this issue. We now transi-tion from Advertorial to full magazine. Moving forward, it will be our goal to cover Center City life and lifestyles like no one else. In the future, you will see expanded coverage of City Life, such as interviews with local people who are making news and icons of City Life. Events will both be covered and sponsored. In June, we will be adding addi-tional distribution via electronic media and so much more is being planned. We’re inviting you to our party. We’ve only really just begun and recognize that there is a long way yet to go. We try to the look at each issue with a criti-cal eye and move forward with something better for the next one. Recently, I was asked how I started this magazine. I said, “I went out and sold 20 ads. Then I sold more and then more. I added people who actually knew what they were doing and then sold more.” The individual asking the question just stared at me and said, “you know, typically it takes a quarter million dollars to start a maga-zine”. Ooopps. Sorry, I guess? The point is this. I have always had a vision of what CCM should be. A magazine of Philly, about Philly. By the people, for the people. Fun, tough, resilient and pulling no punches. Relentlessly pursuing our goals, no matter what the odds or obstacles. I’ve always believed that anybody can achieve whatever they want, as long as they are willing to work hard enough, smart enough and sacrifice enough to do it. And for-tunately, I’ve been able to convince a few people around me that my crazy vision for a magazine just might work. As we continue to grow and expand our reach, I want to be reminded of that, always. And should I forget, I invite you to remind me as well. Our advertisers, staff, and I thank you for your support, thus far. More good things are coming. Lots of great parties too! Stay tuned... -Ron Hatfield

Welcome spring! Sure, we got off easy this winter (sorry my snow-loving friends) but despite the mild winter it’s still great to usher in the warmer months and all the sensual delights of spring. The perinnials are popping up from the ground, the tables line the sidewalks throughout the city and we get to people watch over our lunch once again. Speaking, of which I love this time of year for all the great people watching it brings. We shed our heavy overcoats and we sport colors again. Boots are traded in for sandals and sunglasses come back into vogue. Fash-ion just becomes a lot more fun. And speaking of fun fashion, get inspired to shop with our fashion piece on hot spring trends. This issue we welcome our new fitness columnist, celebrity trainer Lauren Pappas. Check out her first piece in this issue where she shows us how to shed that winter weight we packed on. And when you are done your workout, head to our Food Section to find an array of tasty bites like Karen Adams’s new column, Dishing it Out, where this month she tells us all about the exciting ways to get in on the Farm to Table trend. Jorge is back from the clubs with an in-depth report from the trenches on um, the female form and my dating column tackles the dicey issue of ending it with an ex. That’s only a sampling of what’s inside, so go on and dive in. We had a great time putting together this latest issue of Center City Magazine. In a sense the magazine is blossoming this spring and we are hoping you enjoy. Cheers! -jackie rupp

From the Publisher’s Desk...

...to the Editor’s Notebook

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March 17 13th Annual Black-Tie GayBINGO Come to this uber-glam evening of bingo, auction, cocktails and entertainment. This HIV/AIDS benefit is hosted by the Bingo Verifying Divas and begins at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20-150. aidsfundphilly.org

18First Annual Garces Bridal ShowcaseGarces Catering hosts its inaugural Bridal Event at the new Cira Centre. Enjoy the twilight skyscape, sumptuous samples and meet an array of wedding vendors. 4 to 7pm. Free. Cira Centre, 2929 Arch St. www.garcescatering.com

25American Swedish Historical Museum’s First Ever Waffle Day The ASHM dusts off its waffle irons to welcome the public to indulge in freshly baked waffles with jam and whipped cream and saft (ligonberry juice) on the side. $10, 11am-3pm1900 Pattison Ave. www.americanswedish.org

AprilThrough April 21Subaru Cherry Blossom FestivalThis huge month-long event features near-daily activities. Sakura Sunday on April 15, is the centerpiece event featuring Tamagawa Taiko drum, dance performances and hands-on family fun (plus anime cosplay AND Harajuku fashion shows!). Ages 14+: $5. Fairmount Park Horticulture Center,Montgomery Drive & Belmont Ave. sakura.japanphilly.org

29Fairmount Arts CrawlArt lovers come out for this stroll where art comes to the Fairmount business dis-trict. There will be music, dancing, kids activities, live demonstrations and more.

2-6pm. West of Broad St., between Girard Ave. and Spring Garden St. fairmountcdc.org/events/arts-crawl

20-29The Philadelphia Science FestivalGet your science nerd on! Restaurants, bars, and cafes will come alive again with science speak, but don’t be intimidated! Learn about the scientific wonders of beer, chocolate, cheese, and other gastronomic delights at multiple events. The Science Carnival on the Ben Franklin Parkway, April 21 from 11am-4pm is a fun-filled fam-ily science event. And check out the numerous astronomy nights, like the one on April 27 at Laurel Hill Cemetery. It’s BYO! www.philasciencefestival.org

April 27 to May 1Philadelphia Antiques ShowThe place to be for antiques in the city. The show features an abundance of Americana pieces, fine and folk art, as well as English pieces and Chinese porcelain. Check out the Antiques in Bloom displays that combine the beauty of florals with antiques. General Admission is $17. Held at the PA Convention Centerwww.philaantiques.com

EvEnts CalEndar

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Healthy You

Spring in bloom might be a beautiful sight, but if you’re one of the 54 million allergy sufferers in the U.S., the spring can mean welcoming back some unwanted guests, like inflammed sinuses, irritated eyes and runny noses. Aside from having the over the coun-ter antihistamines at the ready, there are other things you can do to minimize your exposure to pesky pollen, mold and other seasonal allergens and their allergic effects.

Make sure it is an allergy. Your doctor can you give you a simple test to find out, but generally allergy symptoms don’t include a fever. Itching however is a major symptom of allergies. Avoid allergy triggers. If you have a pollen allergy, curb your outdoor morning activities. However, if mold is the culprit, stay inside in the late afternoon, when mold spore counts are at their peak.

For more allergy tips visit the asthma and allergy Foundation oF america at www.aaFa.org

Spring AllergiesOvercoming

Other ways to avoid pollen and mold: Keep your windows closed and wear a dust mask when doing yard work. Al-ways remember to change clothing and shower after extended time outside. Saline nose sprays work well at ridding the nose of allergens and eye drops can soothe watery irritated eyes.

Now we all know avoidance can only go so far. And with several medication options on the market, it’s easier than ever to find relief. Many allergy suf-ferers have found success with using their antihistimines proactively before they are exposed to triggers and suf-fering symptoms.

It may also be helpful to consider al-lergy shots for severe cases. These shots work to desensitize the body from the allergic triggers, but work over time, unlike over-the-counter meds.

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Spring is definitely in the air Philly and summer is quickly approaching. Are you ready? Maybe you want to lose those extra pounds you gained this winter or just tone up for the beach. I’m going to give the best tips to help you get in shape for the summer.

Have Goals and Write Them Down

I always tell my clients to write down their goals. When you put goals in writing they become more tangible. Try making a plan. If you want to lose weight, you need to keep track of what you eat. Decide how many days a week you’re going to work out and when, work it into your schedule. If you want to lose weight, you need to make exercise and eating healthy a habit.

Find a Workout You Love

You don’t have to go to the gym to get in shape. Try a dance class, go biking or sign up for a 5K. Or workout with a positive friend and help keep each other motivated. In LA, I love going hiking on Runyon Canyon. Find a fitness routine you love. You may even forget you’re working out.

Be Consistent

The fastest way to get results is through consistency. Be true to your workout plan. Make working out and eat-ing healthy a priority. You owe it to yourself and your body. If you didn’t put gas in your car, and ignored your check engine light your car would stop run-ning. Your body is the same way. Unfortunately, many people treat their cars better than their bodies. Respect your body and it will reward you.

Use Your Own Body Weight

These exercises are a great thing to incorporate into your day. You can do them anywhere, anytime, with no equipment necessary.

Squats: The most effective exercise for your legs and your glutes. Place your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, pull your navel toward your spine. Keep your shoulders back and bring your bottom toward the floor like your sitting down, making sure your knees don’t go past your toes. Come back up and repeat.

Push-Ups: A great way to tone your arms. Lie on the ground with your hands placed slightly wider then shoulder-width. Keeping your core tight and your body straight, lower your body to the ground, bending

arms at the elbows. Raise your body up off the ground by extending your arms and repeat. To mod-ify this exercise try it on your knees. If you find knee pushups still too challenging try the “wall” push up. It dramatically re-duces the pressure on the arms, upper back and abs. The closer you stand to the wall the easier it is.

Crunches: Stick with basic crunches for

your core. Start and end each crunch with your shoul-ders blades off the floor, keeping your navel tight, chin off the chest and your eyes focused on the ceiling.For more fitness tips, follow Lau-ren on Twitter: @LaurenAPappas

Lauren Pappas is a celebrity trainer, group instructor and fitness model. When not at the gym, she acts and competes in beauty pageants. As a Bucks County native, she grew up with healthy living in her blood. Her father, nutritionist Dr. Philip Pappas, is the owner of Earth Foods, a health food store in Holicong PA, specializing in supplements, health foods and natural beauty prod-ucts. Now living in sunny Los Angeles, she helps some of Hollywood’s finest stay in shape. Look for Lauren on her many visits back to the city!

LaurenAshley Fitness

GET YOUR BEACH BODY ON BY LAUREN A. PAPPAS

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INTERIOR INTUITIONJoseph Matthews is the founder and owner of Matthews Interior Design, a Philadelphia-based design firm offer-ing a wide range of interior-design and decorating services. Matthew launches this month a “do it yourself ” online store that focuses on designer items and features a 3D floor plan tool to help visitor’s plan out their design ideas. Visit his blog at: www.matthewsinteriordesign.com/blog

This issue we’re focusing on an item from the Spring International Furniture Market in HighPoint, NC. The metallic trend is alive and well with this sexy dining table. Not for the bland of taste, this table serves you up a double dose of drama for any home interior. When your appetite for bold and beautiful is there, you get it with this stunning dining table design. The metallic base boasts a ribbon wound around, supporting the circular glass top, finished in dramatic black on the outside and a glitzy gold peeking through from the interior. Stunning and delicious!

This Season’s Home EventsGreater Philadelphia Spring Home & Hot Tub Show: March 23, 24 & 25. Philadelphia’s Premier Spring Home and Land-scape Show, where homeowners are able to view and compare the latest in remodeling, landscape and design. Come see merchan-dise displays and sample interior and exterior vignettes from ex-perts that specialize in unique home products and services. Held at the PA Convention Center. www.acshomeshow.com/

Bucks Count Designer House & Gardens: May 6 through June 3. A fund-raiser for Doylestown Hospital, this designer home tour is a Bucks County tradition. This year the featured home will be Spring Val-ley Farm. at 3864 Spring Valley Road, Furlong, PA. Tickets are $25 at the door, $20 in advance. bucks-countydesignerhouse.org

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Art & the City

ART

COMES

OUT

The 3rd Annual Art in the Open Brings Art into the Great Philadelphia Outdoors: Art in the Open (AiO) hits the streets again May 18th through the 20th. This citywide event celebrates art in an approachable way, demon-strating the relationship between artists and their environments.

Only in its third year, the event began on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Here a group of artists focused on rexaming the River, from the historic Water Works section to the natural expanse of Bartram’s Gardens.Once again this May the artists will take to the river’s edge. But this event isn’t just for those doing the plein air painting (or constructing, or molding, etc). The public is welcome to come interact with the artists. In conjuction with the outdoor art, there are several related art events scheduled during the weekend.

Art in the Open Events

Art in the Open PhiladelphiaMay 18 - May 20: Along the banks of

the tidal Schuylkill River, from the his-toric Fairmont Park Water Works and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, south

to landmark Bartram’s Garden.

May 17Guided Tours of the Sculpture Garden

The Park House Guides of the Philadel-phia Museum of Art give outdoor walk-

ing tours of the Anne d’Harnoncourt Memorial Sculpture Garden.

May 19Guided Tours of the Impressionist

Galleries-Manet’s Gang: French Im-pressionism

Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby a design competition and parade of hu-

man powered vehicle floats, Trenton and Norris Streets in the Kens-

ington Section.

Guided Tours of the Sculpture Garden

May 20Drawing Together in the Sculpture

GardenDraw outdoors in the Philadelphia

Museum of Art’s sculpture garden! An art teacher will be on hand to provide

materials and guidance.

“Art in the Garden” Family Gallery Tour

Children ages 6-10 and their families will explore the Philadelphia Mu-seum of Art’s sculpture garden on

an interactive tour led by a Museum Educator.

please note Philadelphia Museum of Art activities are free after museum

admission. 52

J’Eat Yet?Our Favorite Interpretations of Classic Philly Foods

Plate2Palate

Re-making some of our hometown classics has become a sport for local chefs and we love what they create, There’s something special about a city’s classic comfort food landing amidst a lavish dinner that puts a smile on our face. Here’s some that inspire a super-sized grin.

The Soft PretzelUnion Trust Steakhouse717 Chestnut StreetIt’s not that there’s anything exotic about the soft pretzel bites served right along side proper pum-pernikel and traditional dinner rolls in the bread course. We appreciate the nod to Philly foods, but these soft preztels are worth mentioning because of just how good they are. Soft and warm in the middle with a salty crunch on the exterior, they’re served with a zesty mustard that perfectly compli-ments. The setting is much better than a highway median as well.

The CheeseteakKing’s Oak1001 N 2nd StYes, we know some sort of cheesesteak hybrid is now an essential at any catered event in Philly. But King’s Oak sets there bite-sized steak sandwiches apart with a cheesesteak dumpling that balances the cheese, the steak and the onion perfectly. The seriously spiced ketchup sauce that’s paired with them gives these little appts personality. Our only issue? Craving just one more.

ScrappleSheppard Inn117 Frederick Street Hanover, PAIt might not be in the middle of town but Chef Andrew Little of Sheppard Mansion in Ha-nover, PA has been gaining national attention for his reinterpretations of classic PA Dutch cuisine. One of his signature dishes? Scrapple! But it’s not served all mushy with eggs on the side and maybe some maple syrup if you’re feeling frisky. No this scrapple is delicately prepared with a savory mix of baby arugala, strawberries and almonds. No shame in that dish!

The TastykakeAdsumWhen Adsum Chef Matt Levin made the leap of putting Kandy Kakes into a sandwich, it just seemed too inspired. There’s something about the right mix of sweet and savory and add a Philly icon like Tastykake to the mix and you know you have a hit. With the Kandy Kake Sliders, brisket was mar-ried with the chocolate and peanut butter we all know and love. Top that with American cheese and jam and we see a world of possibilities for the humble kake.

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Why Don’t You....If you have 15 minutes...check out the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym (1834 E. Frankford Ave) that’s sort of like a co-op/Planet Fitness for artists. There’s all sorts of heavy equipment to admire as well.

If you have an hour to burn... drop in on a First Person Arts StorySlam and get a laugh out of improve. Scheduled for ever second Monday at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St) and fourth Tuesday at L’Etage (6th & Bainbridge Sts) the stories start slamming at 8:30. We promise you’ll stay longer than 60 mins.

If you have a Sunday free... sure you could do brunch or a museum tour, but on April 8 it’s so much cooler to be a zombie and join the 7th Annual Philly Zombie Crawl down South Street. Who knew zombies frequented good bars. Living dead make-up supplied for only $10! (it won’t fool the real zombies!)

Need to occupy the kids...head to the Insectarium on 8046 Frankford Ave in Northeast Philly. It doesn’t cost a whole lot and live speciments of black widows and millipedes provide the high ick factor nearly every gradeschooler will love.

Want to impress a date... then you can’t go wrong with singing waiters. At the Walnut Street Supper Club, the retro ‘40’s chic Midtown Restaurant, there’s unpretentious Italian dinners served up by performers who take the stage nightly. 1227 Walnut St.

don’t know what to do on Friday night, try mixing chocolate and alcohol together for some fun. La Golosa Chocolate Bar and Dessert Lounge’s (806 South 6th) BYO menu has a chocolate mix to match your rum, vodka, tequila or wine. Yes, you will need to workout this weekend.