Results tagged “schuylkillriver”

So you may have heard: New Jersey has kidnapped the 2010 Dad Vail Regatta. Well, more like bought. Why Rumson, NJ has an extra $250,000 to throw around, we don't know. But what we do know is the Dad Vail has been raced on the Schuylkill River every year since 1953. Over those 50+ years it has become an integral part of Philly sports culture. To take it off the Schuylkill and move it into New Jersey is like taking the Bike Race out of Manayunk. Like defacing the Rocky Statue. Like imploding the Spectrum. Oh wait. We're actually going to do that.

Schuylkill River Park may just be my new favorite park. I remember when I first heard about it, years ago, when I was telling someone how much I liked to sit and relax in parks. I was told I simply must check this one out. It's by the river, there's a playground, and even late at night people are there with their kids. Great I thought, but she didn't mention the large community garden that makes up one part of the park or the tennis courts or the bike polo, or, alas, the train tracks. Although waiting trains on the tracks don't block access to Schuylkill River Park the way they do the Schuylkill Banks, they do create quite the eyesore. Really, it kinda sucks to traipse through the gardens at the park and look up to see a giant train full of Waste Management cars.

Good mid-morning, Philadelphia. It's getting hot in here and we're not sure we can take the heat much longer.

Doesn't get dirtier than the Schuylkill, boat or no.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Geese heading south over the Schuylkill River.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

A few lucky trees are spared destruction during some clearing work near the Schuylkill River Path.

Looking for some outdoor fun this weekend? If AccuWeather is to be believed, it won't be raining, so you'll be able to join the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for their Freedom Valley Ride. There will be five routes to choose from, all incorporating stretches of the Schuylkill River Trail, which proceeds from previous Rides helped build. Those routes range from an eight-mile "easy" ride to a 68-mile journey that will take you all the way through Valley Forge and back.

Philly's favorite shapeshifting skyscraper, the Cira Centre, from the north on the Schuylkill River Path.

Skyline and Schuylkill River from the Spring Garden Street Bridge on a hazy summer day.

*The Schuylkill was originally used for recreation...a use they hope to renew. (It's nice enough to cruise on, but you won't catch this Phillyist kayaking in it. It's a bit too murky for us to chance falling in.)

It's probably usually a relatively good idea to avoid the Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon Creek, but it's currently even more important, due to the fact that there was a "toxic discharge" of some kind - or at least, that's the graphic way they put it on XPN this morning - which killed a bunch of fish in Montgomery County, and might poison you or your pets as well. To be safe, the city has issued a health advisory and they're telling everybody to avoid swimming, splashing, fishing, boating, rowing, or generally doing anything at all "in the Wissahickon and in the Schuylkill in the area below where it meets the Wissahickon" until further notice. Drinking and bathing in the city water is still safe (or at least as safe as it always was), but the fate of tomorrow's Schuylkill Navy Regatta and next weekend's triathlon (which includes a swimming portion, obviously) are in question. Check for updates at Philly RiverCast, or call the city Water Department at 215-685-6300 if you have questions.

Mother's Day has Philadelphia origins, having been conceived by resident Anna May Jarvis, as well as recognized here first as an official holiday. We only feel the need to share these facts because this Sunday is Mother's Day (and if you're just realizing this now, Phillyist has to warn you that all the good Mother's Day cards are already taken), and we wanted to let you know there are some things happening around town to help keep you in Mom's good graces:

-Fatal shootings by Philadelphia police are on the rise. (via)

On October 22nd, you can attend the Grave Digger's Ball - a black-tie fundraiser being held on the cemetery grounds from 7PM till the witching hour. Ball festivities will include a seated dinner, an open bar, a silent auction, and - for the braver among you - dancing in the dark.