Philadelphia to Catskills

This morning I made two quick stops in Philadelphia before departing. I stopped at the Keith Haring mural, We the Youth , and at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens . We the Youth is painted on the side of a building in a neighborhood in South Philadelphia. It is difficult to even see the whole thing, never mind take a photo of it just because of the physical location, and also foliage growing up around it. Still, it is an important piece of historical pop art. The mural was originally created in 19877 in collaboration with CityKids of New York and Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia. It is the only Keith Haring collaborative public mural remaining intact and in its original site.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens was not yet open at the time I arrived, but I was still able to get a good view of the outside, and also see through the fence to the inside. PMG is an immersive mixed media art environment that is completely covered with mosaics. The creator, Isaiah Zagar, used handmade tiles, bottles, bicycle wheels, mirrors, and international folk art to chronicle his life and influences. The space is made up of two indoor galleries and a bi-level outdoor sculpture garden.

I then departed Pennsylvania to drive to the Catskills area of New York State. I was careful to completely avoid anything near the I-95 collapse just North of Philly. I chose a route that took me well West of the area. It was estimated to take an additional hour, but the odds of even more delays using the bypasses near I-95 was great enough that I thought this was the correct choice. Other than taking me back through New Jersey for a portion, which gave me a bit of PTSD, it turned out to be a good decision. I drove through some small towns and rural areas then hopped back o the freeway for the rest of the trip. I had plenty of time and it worked out well.

I am staying at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge , one of my indulgences, and a break from Marriott properties. This is a lovely property up in the mountains. And the staff is great, which is always a litmus test for me. My room has a balcony that looks out over the mountains, which tonight are covered in clouds. Down at the bar, I had a nice conversation with Robert. Robert grew up in NYC and gave me some tips on surviving the city once I arrive in a couple of days. E.J and Michael were my bartenders and they both gave me good information about hiking in the area.

Tomorrow I will explore the Catskills as much as I can in a day.