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The Incredible 2nd Annual Philadelphia
River to River, Vine to Pine, Rain or Shine
★ GREAT 12 HOUR TOUR ★
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Many thanks to all of you who made the 2011 Great Tour an overwhelming success! Thanks to excellent P.R. work by Anita McKelvey, Ed Mauger and Richard Frey, we were lucky to have this event listed in the City Paper and in the weekend section of the Inquirer. The week before had been spent blanketing the Center City area with Del's perfect Great Tour brochures. It all paid off during the day when local residents and tourists filled about 150 spots in the four phases, with about 7 or 8 people actually making it through all 12 hours!
THE MORNING
The day began with overcast skies at 7:00 am as Del Conner, Judy Shulman and I drove from the Physick House to the WHYY studios in a car crammed with balloons, brochures and books. Throughout the day APT Treasurer Del hauled balloons and materials for each phase between the staging areas and the Physick House.
We quickly unloaded and set up at WHYY and by 7:30 registrants began streaming in. Here's APT Secretary Judy Shulman at the registration table:
PHASE 1
The first phase of the tour was led by former APT President Ed Mauger and Nina Hardenbergh. Jim Cicalese showed up in beautiful 18th century clothing to add atmosphere, Joe Becton entertained the groups at the African American Museum and Harry Kyriakodis gave them his own special insights into the history of the Philly waterfront.
Here's Ed leading off the first group in front of the WHYY studio on 6th St.:
PHASE 2
By 11:00 am, when the second phase began at the Bourse, the skies had cleared dramatically. It had turned into a perfect fall day, bright and cool, perfect for touring! Nearly 50 people jammed the entrance to the Bourse for this phase, led by Ed Mauger, Josh Silver and Abe Chapelle. Here's the youngest Great Tour taker, more enthralled with his APT balloon than with Del's beautifully designed brochures and the prospect of learning about our city:
PHASE 3
The third phase began at the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent. The PHM graciously provided water and snacks for the groups, which were led by Sara Richardson and myself. The groups taking this phase were treated to the sounds, sights and smells of the Midtown Village Festival, which mobbed 13th St. all day.
PHASE 4
By 4:30, when we arrived at the City Hall staging area, which was hosted by Greta Greenberger, the skies had begun clouding up again. Even so, guides Ken Hinde and Richard Frey each led of groups of about 20 from City Hall through Rittenhouse then up the Parkway to the Art Museum and the Water Works.
THE END
The responses I got during the day were tremendously positive. City residents who took the tour were so pleased and grateful to learn the incredible stories and history behind sites they passed by every day on their way to work, shopping or home. As Greta and I packed up the last table, we both felt proud of the great job APT and its members had done to make the day a success. Bravo to everyone!
- Bob Skiba
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