New Hotel Planned for 15th and Locust

A friend tells me that the building on the northwest corner of 15th and Locust in Center City - the one with the Bassett's Turkey on the first floor - will be torn down to make way for the Hotel XV/L. Demolition is slated to begin by the end of the year, and the new 18-floor, 144-room hotel will open in early 2010. The name is, of course, a play on its location, as my friend gleefully pointed out.

I'm not wild about the font they're using over the entrance in the rendering, but renderings are just make-believe anyway. All in all, it seems like this could be a swanky little place, and I also think it's a smart location for a new hotel.

Image: Real Estate Forum

Good Morning: Jane Child, "Don't Want to Fall in Love"

'Staycation' Needs To Take A Permanent Vacation

I'm not usually one to shy away from neologisms. I love coined terms, spoonerisms, portmanteaus, and the like. But there is a word entering common usage - especially in the context of our recent insane gas prices - that I cannot stand:

staycation.

I had not learned of 'staycation', my new bête noire, until I had a recent instant message chat with a friend regarding my recent vacation at home. He informed me that people were calling such stationary getaways 'staycations', to my horror and disgust. Apparently it has been around since at least 2006, if its entry on Urban Dictionary is reasonably reliable, but it hasn't found its proper moment in the cultural spotlight until now.

"What's so wrong with it?" you may be wondering. It is an abomination. Overly cutesy, orthographically clumsy with that wretched "yc" trainwreck in the middle, and downright insipid. And this is coming from someone whose own blog's name is of similar construction! 'Staycation' is forced fun in word form. It is designed to make you feel better about the fact that you can't afford to go vacation anywhere more interesting or exotic than home. It does not make me feel better. It makes me want to hurt someone. And I will do everything in my power to keep its popularity from growing.

Will you join me?

Good Morning: Go Home Productions, "Supreme Evil"

A mash-up by the excellent Mark Vidler of ELO's "Evil Woman" and The Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love", with a dash of Michael Jackson's "Bad".

And Here I Thought NPR Was Classier Than Other Radio

WHYY's Brenda Jorett just asked, "When was the last time you had a tour guide dressed as an enema?" Wow.

Tell Them How You Really Feel

I am a regular reader of missed connections on craigslist, and even though my gay chauvinism means I pretty much read only the m4m listings, I must say, they really are usually the best. To wit, one I saw today titled "To the three boys that I am dating." It's a long post, and it's so good that it's hard to pick just one part to quote. But here's a choice snippet:

Bachelor Number 1- you're a nice guy. a bit of a nerd. but that's okay because I'm a dork. but I think the contrasting difference between the two is that at least when I'm dorking out, it's interesting and endearing. whereas you tend to nerd out about really boring things.
...
p.s., again, I'm really sorry for coming on your bible. but you really shouldn't have left it on the nightstand table, open to the verses about man laying with another man. I wish you would let it go.

You really should read the whole thing (language NSFW).

(t/y Joey)

Good Morning: "Eleven Twelve"

"My Very Moral Fiber"

I don't normally post on the weekend, but Rich, the mastermind of fourfour, posted this and I wanted to share it.



I will say this: in spite of the fact that these asshats have tried everything in the last 20-some-odd years to scapegoat us and limit our rights, they are on the losing end of this battle in the long run. Gay marriage is now legal in two states. Surveys indicate that opposition to gay rights is growing weaker over time across all age groups. But sometimes it's good to have a reminder of the fight that remains.

These Jawns, Them Jawns - June 27, 2008

The Supreme Court upholds individual gun rights by a vote of 5-4.

Show of Unity: Obama's campaign announces that he, along with his wife Michelle and several top campaign staffers, have each contributed the maximum amount to Clinton's campaign in order to help retire her debt. The news comes just before Clinton and Obama make their first joint campaign appearance in Unity, NH, where they each received the same number of votes during the primary.

Looks like Madge and Guy Ritchie are divorcing.

VH1’s I Love the New Millennium premiered this week. I guess even their clever writers haven’t figured out what to call this decade.

Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson installs huge waterfalls throughout New York City.

The conservative Orange County Register comes out in favor of gay marriage in an editorial.

Beating the system: Two guys in Virginia, one of them dressed as a woman, get married. I wonder what the OC Register would say about that.

Advantage Obama: MTV has changed its policy and will now accept political ads.

And in local news...

Philly tries optical illusions to slow down drivers. Somehow I don't think it's going to take people too long to figure these jawns out.

Penn President Amy Gutmann makes a lot of money. $1.1 million last year, to be precise.

Shameless plug for a good friend: WILBUR, my favorite vintage clothier in Philadelphia, is open during the afternoon and evening each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Antiquarian’s Delight, 615 S. 6th St. Parker Posey’s been there!

Image: on221.com

Good Morning: Deee-Lite, "Power of Love"

One of my absolute favorite groups ever.