parks: Philadelphia Metropolis

Tales of the Freegan Dumpster Divers

Why pay for food when so much of it is free -- if you are willing to go diving for it. Meet John and Samantha, the Philadelphia couple who get most of their food from the dumpsters of area markets It's not easy. And it can be slimy. The couple say they are doing it for a higher cause. Reporter Ada Kulesza reports on a night in the life of dumpster divers. (Comments)

Answer to No. 7: City Government

The needle has barely moved on city government spending. The general fund, which pays for most government operations, was $3.452 billion 2008, the mayor's first year in office.  This year, it is $3.473 billion, an increase of less than one-half... (Comments)

In Love With the Distance

By Latrice Y. Melbourne» We actually started out in the same state. Twenty years old, both finishing up college, we were head-over-heels for each other. When he graduated and moved back to "The Big Apple," that is when the distance began. I stayed in Philly and finished up college. I can remember writing papers and text messaging paragraphs just as long as my assignments. We spoke every day, never missing a beat. Oh! Did I love him. I graduated and moved in with him over the summer, in hopes of finding work. He was a school teacher so we spent our summer strolling through the parks in Brooklyn, hopping on the 3 to 34th street, and just walking together. We were in utopia. We never really fought or argued. As summer ended he prepared for work and I prepared to head back to Philly. I decided to go back to school to be a nurse, so that meant I would be in Philly for another two-years. (Comments)

The Blacksmith Revival

By Stuart Geisler» I make a living buying and selling anvils, as well as being a professional blacksmith. The craft movement in America is making a come-back because of these tough economic times. People are fashioning their own hand-made goods to economize. Recycling old iron into functional objects is gaining popularity and profitability as people seek new and unique ways to increase their income. I used to show many pictures of myself blacksmithing in my shop 25 years ago, and people were always curious about the craft, so I started working again in my shop and studying the history of what I thought was a dying craft. Suddenly, people started asking me for lessons in this ancient craft, and how to acquire tools of the trade. (Comments)

Skateboard Outlaws

By Dan Dorr» I've been skateboarding in Philadelphia my entire life - from City Hall and Love Park, to the grittiest of North Philly blocks, jumping from the foundations of demolished buildings. To be a good skateboarder in Philadelphia you need nerves of steel, whether your dealing with cracks in the sidewalks the size of small canyons or over-zealous security guards throwing you on the ground. This is also why there are so many skater-built spots in this city. (Comments)