Toto, I don't think we're in Philly anymore.
In an article straight out of an Urban Studies class, Money Magazine has compiled its annual list of “America’s Best Places to Live.” The mag assembles a list based on a quaint list of criteria: “strong local economies… great schools, affordable homes, low crime, and much more.” After reading about some of Money’s favorite places — Louisville, CO is blessedly lacking in “pretentious eco-hipsters” and Chanhassen, MN boasts “a carnival, ice-fishing contests on Lake Ann, and skating and hockey everywhere” — we’re less than surprised that only two of Pennsylvania’s towns have made the list. Props to West Goshen and Emmanus, but we’re not buying this whole list. Perhaps we’d be less annoyed with this whole thing if Money had straight-up called it “America’s Best Small Towns,” as they did in a cleverly-buried subhead; Philly has plenty to offer — burgers! Urban Outfitters! Helen Cheung! — as a large city. Philly didn’t even make it onto the list of the “25 Best Places for the Rich and Single.” The nerve! Clearly Money has never been to an Owls party. Ardmore just ain’t cutting it.
Gotham glory days
Once upon a time, a super-cool New York-y little bookshop had to close and everyone was wistful and sad about it. No, we’re not talking about our favorite movie, You’ve Got Mail–NYC literary landmark Gotham Book Mart shut its doors in 2007. The Inquirer and the New York Times are now reporting that the store’s enviable book collection has been donated to Penn. Highlights of the collection include Truman Capote’s and Anais Nin’s personal libraries; Allen Ginsburg worked there and Jackie O. shopped there. Which is to say, it sounds like it was a very cool little shop.
The donation was anonymous, but the collection is reportedly valued at several million dollars. The NYT seems to think the gift came from Leonard A. Lauder, Penn alum and Gotham fairy godmother. Whoever it came from, the collection will fit in nicely with our library’s existing rareties, which include two of Shakespeare’s First Folios and several volumes bound in human skin.
A friendly tipster e-mailed us the other day with a note about the male restrooms in Rosengarten. Most Street editors are female, so it was news to us that Penn’s fundraising efforts even extend to sponsoring individual urinals. Yep, some of the urinals have plaques above them–one reads “The relief you are now experiencing is made possible by a gift from Michael Zinman.”
Another picture, and some speculation, after the jump.
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