This multi-virtual takes you on a short walking tour of Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood. Not far from Elfreth's Alley (the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the U.S.) are three other back-alley gems. They may not be quite as old but are no less charming: if you know exactly which corner to duck around, the big city suddenly vanishes, centuries fall away, and you're plunged into a more contemplative time before motorcars ruled the streets.
To claim this cache, you need to visit three locations and record some features at each one, to be emailed to me.
Start at N39 56.903 W75 09.678. Note the pavement on the street. As you walk south along Camac for the next couple of blocks, you will pass a number of Inns and Clubs. Note the names of at least three of them.
This is currently paved over by the city so feel free to ignore it for the moment. They plan to restore it.
Proceed to N39 56.733 W75 09.739 (corner of Iseminger and Panama) and observe the flag overhead.
Then make your way over to N39 56.818 W75 09.605 (corner of Quince and Irving) and find a plaque naming the architect in 1924. This is the highlight of the tour: stop, slowly turn in a full circle, and take in the scene.
Log your visit here, and email me:
What paving material is the roadway made of? (Cobblestone is NOT the answer!)- What are some of the clubs along Camac?
- What is the text on the flag? (May be missing/down at times, if it is, just say that.)
- Who was the architect in 1924?
The micro-block around Quince and Irving is super charming --- explore Jessup and come back via Latimer.
Enjoy your walk and remember to stop to take in the spirit of each place --- don't just rush from one to the next looking for the answers. Needless to say, a detailed city map will come in handy when your GPS can't see the sky. Mark the locations in advance so you know where you're going.
The 802.11b crowd should be able to get on "fsnet" along Camac at the first waypoint above, and also at the parking lot at Camac and Sansom.
(If you have time, the above mentioned Elfreth's Alley can be found at N39 57.161 W75 08.531. On the first Friday of every month the galleries near it are open late so be prepared to navigate a tide of yuppies and art lovers.)
11/01/05: Adopted from Freeside.