After many years of walking around Philadelphia with my camera, meeting people and talking about the city and how I approach it as a photographic subject, I am now offering Photography tours of Philadelphia.

join me in one of my many Photography Tours of Philadelphia. Whether you favor cityscapes, people or architecture you will find it during one of my tours.

Some of the sites we will photograph are Elfreth’s Alley, Independence Hall, Rittenhouse Square, and City Hall, just to name a few.

There are many tour sites to choose from. Whether you choose the Historic area of Philadelphia or the Italian Market tour you will have eye catching images to photograph.

I look forward to walking with you, helping you take better photographs, and talking about the many aspects of Philadelphia.

I welcome individual workshops and group tours.

For more information just click on the link below:

Photography Tours Of Philadelphia

The title of this photograph of Rittenhouse Square is Midnight Walk. I post it as a prelude to my comments on the film Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen.

I have been a Woody Allen fan from his days as a stand up comedian; and I like almost all of his films. Some I consider masterworks. But Midnight in Paris is my favorite.

Aside from the wonderful story filled with literary characters and references, what could be better than a film that visually relates to his audience an artist’s love affair with a city . It is apparent that Woody Allen loves Paris. From the opening frame the beauty and elegance of that great city is witnessed time and again through the artist’s eye.

Oddly enough, even though I have been photographing Philadelphia for a long time, It wasn’t until I saw Midnight in Paris that I had a clearer understanding of my approach to photographing Philadelphia: I too visually express my love affair with a great city through an artist’s eye.
Philadelphia:Through an artist’s Eye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R44Ionf7jBM

This Morning I heard the most remarkable interview titled the “Inner Workings of Democracy. Krista Tippet interviewed Jacob Needleman, a philosophy professor who wrote “The Soul of America”.

“As young democracies emerge around the world, we take a long view of the ingredients that formed this democracy well beyond July 4, 1776. The philosopher Jacob Needleman reminds us of the inward work of conscience behind institutions and political values that Americans now take for granted.”

This is the link to the audio. I can’t express strongly enough how refreshing and important it is to me to understand the conscience and intention of the founding fathers and the unique consequence their actions had on mankind.
I hope listening to this interview will effect you as it did me.

Audio:
The inner working of Democracy

Website

I am so happy to have been exhibiting at the “Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts” closing day Street Fair with my Philadelphia collection.

The PIFA Street Fair was one of the most exceptional days of performance art I could have imagined. The music, mimes, contortionists, sword swallowers, high wire acts, and the Ferris wheel were reminiscent of the french films I have seen over the years especially “Children of Paradise”. Philadelphia was old world Europe for the day.

Because Of the photographs of Philadelphia I was exhibiting I had countless conversations with visitors about the history, architecture

and beauty of our City of Brotherly Love. First time visitors from Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, the far East and from all over the U.S. asked questions and talked about the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, The historic area, and Swann Fountain. They were truly impressed by the sculptures around the city, and especially by what they referred to as our “Town Hall”. Of course they meant City Hall.

But most notably, to the person, was their appreciation for the feel and friendliness of Philadelphia, and its obvious European Influences. Many thought that my “Lamp Light and Boat House Row” was take somewhere in Europe. Of course I suggested a visit to Philadelphia’s historic gem; The Fairmount Water Works”.

The “Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts” was the most ambitious outreach and contribution by Philadelphia to the international cultural community. It was a resounding success. Philadelphia is now an Indispensable historic and cultural destination for the world traveler.

I realize one of my photographs is successful, when it speaks back to me and tells me that I was at the right place; at the right time; doing exactly the right thing.

That is how I know that I should not have been any other place, doing any other thing, but what I was doing at that moment. And last Saturday night was one of those moments.

If you have driven on the expressway (route 76) past Philadelphia, or on the West River drive during early evening, you had to be taken back by the sight of Philadelphia’s Boat House Row and its wonderful lighting. I have seen it a thousand times and the beauty of that view always puts a smile on my face.

As a Philadelphia photographer I often thought about photographing Boat House Row, but knew it wasn’t an original idea; and God knows, it has been done before!!

But something happened last Saturday!!

The weather last Saturday was so beautiful and the sky so clear, that my little voice form deep inside whispered to me that this was going to be a special evening on the river. I took those whispers as an inspiration, so I packed my gear and headed out.

When I arrived at the fish ladder I saw the parking space empty, and I took that as another sign that I was in for something extraordinary.

I got there well before the magic hour, which gave me plenty of time to prepare and look around for my locations to photograph from. Little did I know what an evening it was to be.

With the passage of time the sky went from light blue to indigo; the boat houses got brighter and more beautiful; and the river stayed smooth and calm with its mirror image; creating what was to be for me One Enchanted Evening.

I know I was at the right place; at the right time; doing exactly the right thing.

I hope you enjoy my Boat House Row!!

Armond Scavo

I am sure we all have horror stories about our auto mechanics. And I have my share. But they all predate me going to 11st Auto. I have been going to 11st auto for at least 10 years and I can unequivocally say that If you want a hassle free, honest, and expert auto repair at a fair price it is the place to go. They have recognition from Philly mag and have earned the coveted Pink Penny Award. They are located at the intersection of 11th and Christian in Philadelphia.

Just ask for Frankie.

More later
Armond Scavo

I guess the best way to start is to begin with my family and neighborhood history. And even as I write this, at this very moment memories are flooding in that make me realize how special and precious they are.

Over the last several years my brothers and I realized that we are the last generation that had grand parents who came over from Italy and in our case also Sicily at the turn of the century. It is not only that our grand parents immigrated here, but they brought the old country with them. This included their culture, their friends, and their family. And through these conversations with my brothers I have realized what a blessing it was growing up on 10th and Tree with Italians who came to America. My parents generation were the first Italian Americans in our family. I think there is a vast difference.

The Street I grew up on:
10th and Tree has 52 houses in the block. I grew up at 1018 with my mom, Lena, my dad Rudy who’s real name was Armond, and my brothers Louis and Michael. My grandmother Santina, and my Aunts Sylvia and Rita, who we all called Tita, lived at 1014 Tree street; literally one house away.
All the children on my block that were my age or my brothers, had the same family arrangements: Grandparents, aunts and uncles either on the mother’s or father’s side; parents, siblings and often cousins.

Everyone on the block that was my grandparents age came over from Italy or Sicily.

Everybody on the block were friends, but you were closer to the families that lived closest to you; especially you next door neighbors.

I know I haven’t blogged in a while but hopefully it is better late than never.

The next preparation for the Saturday morning gravy is the Broccola. This is a flattened piece of beef that is seasoned and then rolled. It can be held together by toothpicks, or as my grandmother used to do, tie it together with sewing thread. Because the meat doesn’t have to be very tender many cuts of beef could be used such as flank steak. But my family preferred the top of the round. The favored the texture and flavor over flank steak or bottom of the round.

This cut of meat should be between one and two lbs, and should be split so that it is about 1/4 of an inch thick. Then it is  flattened between two pieces of wax paper.

The seasoning is as follows and to taste: salt, pepper, parsley, basil, uncooked chopped bacon, crushed fresh garlic made into a paste, grated Locatelli Romano cheese, and olive oil. Some people liked to add chopped hard boiled egg. We didn’t.

First, coat the side facing up with olive oil, and then spread all of the ingredients evenly over the whole surface. Tightly roll the beef and secure with toothpicks or thread.

The other cuts of meat used to make the gravy include several pieces of pork shoulder about 3/4 to one lb., Several pieces of veal shin bone (my Aunt Sylvia and I used to love the marrow), a small piece of beef, and 1 1/2 lb of hot and sweet Italian sausage with fennel. Sometimes we would add a stick of pepperoni for spice.

The next entry will be the browning of the meat.

Every Saturday morning until I was 10 years old, about 1 hour after my mom went over to my grandmother’s house to help make the gravy I would go over and my grandmother would have 2 fried meatballs put aside before they went into the gravy. They would be in a small bowl covered with foil.

My grandmother would take a break and sit down with me while I ate the meatballs. I think she did this because I loved the meatballs so much, and she enjoyed watching me enjoy her cooking.

A side note: during that time my family used rendered lard to fry the meat. Knowing now the health issues of using such a saturated fat, I must say that the flavors were incomparable. Though we are all healthier for it, when my family switched to corn oil the flavors changed.

When I turned ten I got a job in a butcher shop. This changed my Saturday meatball ritual. I would stop by on the way to making a delivery to our church and have my meatball treat then. I did this until I was 22. Meatballs are one of my favorite foods, and my grandmother’s were my favorite meatballs. I am fortunate that my mom duplicates my grandmother’s.

The Recipe:
ingredients; 1-1/2 lb. of twice ground meat; (1/2 lb. each of pork, beef and veal), I cup of chopped parsley, 6-8 cloves of garlic chopped fine, 2 eggs, 1 cup of Locatelli cheese, 1 cup of bread ( Italian bread chopped course in a blender), 1/2 cub or so of milk, salt and pepper.

- Put ground meat in an over sized bowl and make a depression in the center of it.
- add the bread and cheese and mix with your hands.
- after they are mixed add the garlic, parsley salt and pepper, eggs and milk. Blend thoroughly with your hands.
If you think the mix is too wet add more bread; too dry add more milk.
- roll into 2 inch meatballs. I now use an ice cream scoop to measure.
- heat the oil in a frying pan to medium high. There should be enough oil to cover a third of the meat ball.
- slowly add meatballs trying to avoid splashing, and brown. Turn frequently to brown them evenly.
- After they are browned remove them and put them aside in another bowl.
- after several minutes when they are a bit cooled off eat one you’ll love it.

the next entry will be preparing the broccolla, sausage and other meats and starting the tomato gravy.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

The other day I woke up wanting to make a pot of gravy (South Philly for tomato sauce). Every time I make gravy my childhood memories are front and center.
From as far back as I could remember, every Saturday morning my mother would get up early and go to my grandmother’s house to help her make the meat gravy for both our families for the week. My Aunt Sylvia lived with my grandmother so she was already there. My grandmother directed and my mom and aunt would follow. They would get started around 7:30.
My grandmother’s recipe for the meat gravy was almost always the same. When my family wanted a different gravy they would make it the day the wanted to use it.
The meat gravy included meatballs, beef brocolla, veal shin bone, pork shoulder, and a small piece of beef. Some times my grandmother would include a brocolla made with pig skin (this was a family treat and one of my favorite dishes), three cans of Tutto Rosa crushed tomatoes and three cans of Contadina tomato paste. I always loved this label.
The other ingredients (all approximate and use according to your own taste) were 1 bunch of parsley, oregano, Large leave basil, (summer time) 10 cloves of garlic, bay leaf, salt, pepper,Locatelli cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, clove, Mazola corn oil, and Bertolli olive oil. In the next blog I will describe how the gravy was made.
My family wasn’t the only one that made gravy on Saturdays. Some made it on Sunday mornings to.
One of the wonderful memories I have about this Saturday and Sunday morning neighborhood ritual was the aromas that would waft through the air from the different houses. I would walk up the street and sniff the fragrances from Margaret’s, and Sophie’s and Helen’s house on Saturdays; and on Sundays on the way to 9 o’clock mass I could smell Celies’s, and Maria’s and Carmella’s.

After mass I would rush with the rest of the kids to the New York Bakery on 11th and Daly streets to buy slices of my favorite tomato pie. They still make it every Sunday and every once in a while I go down to visit and sit with my mom and her friends and have pizza for Sunday breakfast.