Fishtown shooting

So as you may know (especially if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram,) I do some freelance work around the Philly blog-o-sphere in addition to curating this blog. One of those jobs is with Philadelphia Magazine, where I do a monthly house-tour series in which I explore creative Philadelphian’s inspiring homes.This month, I had the amazing pleasure of shooting famed Philly photographer, Dominic Episcopo‘s, home: a converted church in Fishtown! ()I found this house tour especially interesting, because…well, the house was jaw-dropping, for one. But also because I do focus so much on ‘urban exploration’ on this blog. Almost the entire time I was shooting this home, I thought about all the abandoned spaces I’ve seen around Philly and wondered how close this space might have been to being just another forgotten cavity, if Dominic hadn’t found such a fantastic new use for it.Seems like a lot of old churches are being torn down in Philly right now. Some, I have no doubt, for structural reasons. But for the ones that are otherwise sound, I wonder if we’re not missing a HUGE opportunity to discover more creative uses for them. And that goes for all of Philly’s older/abandoned spaces. If they don’t need to be torn down, can’t we use them in new ways?

NOT YOUR AVERAGE BUILDThe Rally is a collection of 88 studio to three bedroom apartments in Philadelphia, set around communal spaces that are made for good times—each a reflection of Fishtown’s history, with an updated edit.Apartment AmenitiesRoof deck, ready for grillingResident lounge with cafe vibesPrivate patios & garden terraceDog run & washGym & yoga roomSecure parking & bike storageFOR THE FUN OF ITThe Rally exists as an inspiring home to come back to, on the edge of everything Fishtown has to offer. Born out of the creative drive and detail you find in beloved neighborhood bars, restaurants, and cafes, The Rally brings together intentionally designed spaces with a spirit of hospitality.From Stokes—the designers who brought you(& more greats)Devil in the DetailsWorking with the designers of Stokes Architecture for our interiors, who did some of the best in the business, we didn't stop until the details were as devilish as those favorite spots.Historic quality factory sash windowsOak & shou sugi ban millworkEuropean oak flooring finished in BrooklynSee MoreAlong for the RideWe’re bringing the good-to-come-home-to features to each space. Want in?Fishtown’s FinestOn the edge of Philadelphia’s Fishtown, The Rally is a meeting point between locally loved spots—wake up with your favorite coffee order, settle in for a hi-fi DJ set, and take home a pocket-sized piece of art—all in a matter of blocks. We developed a zine that captures all of our favorites to share with you.Read The Lineup

Northern LibertiesSimilar to Silver Lake and Echo Park in Los Angeles, and Williamsburg and Buschwick in New York, Fishtown and Northern Liberties are side-by-side cousins that your bar hopping and mural hunting will have you winding in and out of them, even if you don’t know where you are.Like Silver Lake and Williamsburg, Norther Liberties was the first of the two to get an influx of artists looking for inspiration and less cost per square foot. Fishtown has now followed as a strong second. You can get to either easily from our shop on the SEPTA, which is like the LA and NYC subway.The nightlife is like Ybor City in Tampa. It’s condensed, walkable, and there’s plenty of it. Your main music venue choices are Kung Fu Necktie and Johnny Brenda’s, which are both two floors and good enough to walk into even if you don’t know who’s playing. When it comes to having the absolute best music venue down the street from the studio, Tower Theater has us covered.Tower Theatre - Hosting Van Gogh Immersive The ‘Fillmore of Philadelphia” started out with artists like David Bowie and Lou Reed, and right now is home to Philadelphia’s Vincent Van Gogh Immersive Experience! Talk about inspiration! We’re not saying you should cut off your ear to go there, yet this is an amazing experience to dive into and take in one of the most profound artists of all time. It’s not just the art, yet his journals and letters are wonderfully