Things That Matter To People Who Matter

David Kessler | Ween | Storefront signs | Green hat

David Kessler

Lately, I have really been into the video art of local artist David Kessler. He has been working on a series of short videos that all take place under the Front Street El, titled "Shadow World." These videos are a yearlong project, and he posts a new video weekly. If you don't know the area, let me tell you about it, briefly: This area of Kensington is impoverished, houses are dilapidated, crack whores hang out on stoops calling out to johns, junkies walk around like zombies ... the forgotten and unloved living under the shadow and the constant noise of the El train. What I find fascinating is how David has a real sensibility that gives these people back some of the humanity that life, for whatever reason, has taken away.

Ween

Next time you're looking for a rock band that can make a song about HIV and AIDS sound happy, turn to the eclectic, quirky and warped sounds of Ween. Hailing out of nearby New Hope, this is a band that flirts with national notoriety that just seems to elude its grasp. You may not know it, but you've heard their music on Honda commercials, SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, Dude, Where's My Car?, Road Trip and more. Ween is fronted by Mickey Melchiondo and Aaron Freeman with the pseudonyms Dean and Gene Ween, self-named in the spirit of musical brotherhood.

I like signs. The storefront sign for Levy-Lynch & Co. (2311 Pennsylvania Ave.) is a pretty sight, all done up in pink old Hollywood glamour, with a cursive font for the main part of the lettering and then a little Futura-esque font for the REAL ESTATE part. I don't know much about their business, but I do know that they know a thing or two about marketing. My old friend just moved into a house down the street from this sign and the first time I saw the sign I thought: Now there is a place that I could buy a house from! Narrow pink salmon door, black crisp lines — this sign could take me anywhere.

Green hat

I like reading the "Missed Connections" on Craigslist and seeing missed connections unfold and blossom into steamy Craigslist hanky-panky. But I'll admit part of me is scanning the pages to one day stumble upon some admirer who noticed me in the corner stuffing my face at Dunkin' Donuts or something. Which brings me to my new bright green hat. Not only is it a great hat, but I'm hoping its bright green awkwardness will be a given should I miss a connection somewhere down the line. So I'm always on the lookout for things like "grumpy bastard at SP Taproom Friday, GREEN HAT, UR HOT w4m" or "GREEN HAT guy shopping for black-light posters at Wonderland, your hemp sandles are HAWT, let's chat!" I'm going to go check right now. Wish me luck!