Accidental Tourist

Jonathan Adler

by Amanda McKenna

Book and pottery signing, Tue., Nov. 28, 6 p.m., free, Matthew Izzo Lifestyle, 1109 Walnut St., 215-829-0606

Born and raised in Bridgeton, N.J., Jonathan Adler is the prince of stylish, upbeat pottery. The interior designer spent his adolescence skulking around South Street galleries, and now owns boutiques in SoHo, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. (He's about to open his eighth in Greenwich Village.) Adler's a cheery guy who enjoys the snazzier things in life and finds that Philly fits right into his definition of style. On Tuesday, he returns to share his learnings at style beacon Matthew Izzo.

On his old haunts: "Certainly the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I logged a lot of hours in there. I used to hang out on South Street, the Works Gallery, Swan Gallery on 18th Street—I was sort of a teen potter and obsessed with pottery. I went to the Clay Studio."

On our bullshit inferiority complex: "I never really go to art galleries [in New York]. I always find them sort of pretentious. Whereas whenever I go to Philadelphia, I troll around the galleries on North Third Street. I find the art there a little more skilled, interesting and inspirational. There are the art schools that churn out talented people ... the artists that stay and work in Philly are probably more interested in what they actually do than they are in fame, and this leads to better stuff."

On our losing streak: "The Eagles are 100 percent responsible for my pessimism. I just watch the games and make a reservation for [my partner] Simon at the battered women's shelter in case they lose."

On us, generally speaking: "Philadelphians have this incredibly sweet, Avis-like vibe. You know, the cars? A 'with Avis, we try harder' kind of thing."