Writing Workshop, Spring 2023

The College Problem

This is a story about how a table – yes, really, a table – taught me hope, perseverance, and the importance of found family. It starts where most complicated stories start: at college. Moving to a big, bustling city, not knowing a soul there, and having to quickly determine my desired life-path within less than a year was like being thrown into the middle of the ocean with a single pool noodle to hold myself up while I attempt to swim to shore. Basically, I was drowning (figuratively, of course). Until I found Elyana, my suitemate who was having similar existential problems. I think the best thing we did together was go to Temple’s collaborative art mart organized on Carlisle Street, right behind our dorm.

The art mart was a splash of color. Chalk drawings covering the asphalt, local Philadelphia bands playing their niche indie tunes, vendors selling paintings, jewelry, hats, you name it. I felt like I had entered a new realm. It was like looking into the sun. People were laughing with friends, dancing on the street, and enjoying the fresh summer air. Finally, all of my worries and self-doubts about the past choices I’ve made vanished. I realized that I was in the right place.

A year later, here I was getting ready for the exact same art mart, helping Elyana set everything up. I knew I wanted to not only do her justice but also the art mart as a whole since it gave me immense comfort and optimism during such a distressing time. My four roommates and I scrambled all day doing everything, the last piece of the puzzle was the most important factor: a foldable table. Deep in the neighborhoods of South Philly, our prized item was waiting for us to collect it.

The Search

It must’ve just slipped our minds. We were so focused on the actual art at hand that we forgot about getting something to actually display it all. So, the five of us got to searching. We posted on all of our social media accounts looking for anyone who owned a plastic table. We were convinced if anyone would have a foldable table it would be college kids since we all know how much us twentysomethings love beer pong. It’s like a frat furniture staple to have a foldable table. But alas, all we got back in response were crickets. Either the tables we found online weren’t what we were looking for, too expensive, or too far away. We had less than a day until the art mart and no table to put the art on. We were out of options.

            Until Elyana had an incredible epiphany.

El is originally from Portland, Maine. Almost her whole family lives up in New England. Except her grandparents. For the winter and spring months, they live in a row house in South Philadelphia until they move back to Maine for summer and fall. She told us how she distantly remembered them having a foldable table in their guest room on the second floor, and according to her blurry memory, it was about the same size we needed for the art mart.

The Journey

So, we formulated a plan. Tomorrow, we would wake up bright and early to begin our trek over to South Philly. Take the Septa Broad Street Line down to Tasker-Morris and walk about fourteen blocks down Tasker to get to 5^th Street. Scramble around Elyana’s grandparents’ house in search of the table and then lug it all the way back fourteen blocks, onto the Septa, and down to Carlisle Street with all of the art and merchandise in hand. Pretty simple. The hardest part was actually doing it.

Of course, Mother Nature must not have heard about our long, expectant journey because it was a brutal eighty-five degrees out that day. Not a cloud in sight. Not a single chill of the wind. It was just dead, sticky heat. We became very sweaty, very fast.

When we finally arrived at the house, we all filed in. One at a time, we began our hunt for the table. Elyana found it tucked away on the second floor and trudged it down the stairs.

The table was around twenty pounds, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but on a hot summer day where you’re dragging it across the city, it can get a bit heavy. The size of it was the biggest battle. We decided to take shifts holding the table. One person at each corner lifting it into the air by resting it on our shoulders. Meanwhile, the fifth person would direct the table-wranglers around obstacles like trees and cars. It was pure teamwork at its finest.

The Art Mart

With all of the art and extra merchandise, it meant we could only have two people carrying the table which made walking those five blocks north feel even longer than the fourteen we had done twice over. When we finally arrived at the art mart, it was utter chaos. We had no idea where to set up and it was starting soon, so the five of us began assembling and laying things out as fast as we could. Elyana had a clothing rack for some of her clothes she was selling but the tool given in the box wouldn’t screw in the screw holes to assemble it. So, I had to run all the way back to the apartment and get our toolbox.

Sprinting down 15^th street with a blistering headache, absolutely soaked in my own sweat, no one could blame me for being frustrated. What if no one even showed up? What if this was all for nothing? I had put so much pressure on myself and the whole event to try and replicate the feelings I had at the last art mart that I had successfully ruined the day for myself.

Found Family

But I was wrong. So many of our friends we had made over the last year had come to show their support for Elyana’s art, and new faces – that would soon become regular faces – offered their appreciation too. I forgot all about my stress and fear. In that moment, I was the most present I’ve ever been. We had all built this event together and everyone’s contributions were noticed. I realized that there was no way this all could’ve been for nothing because I would have gained something out of this day no matter what happened. I bonded with my new best friends, toured, and traveled all around my new second home of Philadelphia, and got to participate in something I never expected I would be doing two, three years ago. Like usual, the Temple community reminded me of the importance of perseverance. I guess it’s our motto for a pretty good reason.

When people think of the city of Philadelphia, most people think of things like cheesesteaks, water ice, the Eagles, or Wawa. But, just as important as the cheesesteak are thrift shops around Philadelphia, which many people may not know about. Philly’s thrift stores offer non-traditional items, have interesting factors to them, and are dedicated to many great causes, which are all reasons that thrift stores help Philly thrive. Specifically, my favorite thrift stores around the city are the Philly AIDS Thrift, Urban Exchange Project, Retrospect Vintage, and Bulk Vintage.

1. Philly AIDS Thrift

The first thrift store on my list is Philly AIDS Thrift, located at 710 S 5th St. What caught my eye initially was the large carousel horse in the display window, which gives a hint about the atmosphere inside.  This store has everything from clothing to furniture, to decorations, to musical instruments. The prices here are very reasonable, and you will never find an overpriced item. But, what seems to be the best part about the shopping experience at Philly AIDS Thrift is that every purchase goes towards a great cause.

The thrift store is a non-profit that donates most of its revenue to The AIDS Fund, which is a fund that is based in Philadelphia that donates to AID agencies all around Philadelphia. Knowing that my unique purchase is going towards a good cause makes me enjoy shopping at this thrift store. Overall, I admire this thrift store a lot, and in my opinion, it is one of the best thrift stores in Philly, and is a Philly staple, as it is packed with culture and quirky items.

2. Urban Exchange Project

The next Philadelphia thrift store that contributes to the fabric of Philadelphia is Urban Exchange Project, which is located in Fishtown at 1868 Frankford Ave. In brotherly-love fashion, this thrift store is family-owned and has two floors full of clothes of all styles. The first floor, which is technically a basement, has $3-$5 bins of clothing and is also where shoppers can participate in the fill-a-bag sale and fill their bag up for a value of $30. The second floor is full of unique handmade and upcycled items. Having upcycled items shows the impact that thrifting can have on the environment, and to me, it shows that the Urban Exchange Project truly cares about the environment and is not just the profits that they’re making. The Urban Exchange project helps the city stand out by upcycling old clothes for a good cause, being affordable, and allowing customers to shop ethically while picking special pieces.

3. Retrospect Vintage

Another unique store in the city of Philadelphia that allows the city to stand out is Retrospect Vintage, which is located on South Street. Retrospect Vintage works directly with local Goodwill stores to source vintage clothing, furniture, and antiques to eliminate the hours that would have been spent digging for vintage at stores like Goodwill. When you walk in, you are welcomed by an array of clothing in rainbow order. Every item from shoes, to shirts, to jewelry is color-coordinated, to help shoppers easily browse the store. In addition, every single item on the floor is for sale, meaning even the display wall art and decorations are up for grabs. 

Retrospect Vintage also claims that profits from each purchase funds Goodwill’s mission of providing job training and career services that assist local residents with disabilities or disadvantages that make it difficult for them to get to work. This makes me feel very good about buying a product at their shop because I know it is going to a good cause and is helping people out. Overall, Retrospect Vintage is definitely a great thrift store to check out if you are looking for thrift stores that help Philadelphia prosper because it is greatly organized, has great vintage stock, and donates to a great cause. 

4. Bulk Vintage

The last thrift store mentioned is a one-of-a-kind warehouse-style thrift store called Bulk Vintage. Bulk Vintage is a women-owned thrift store located at 3843 D Street here in Philadelphia. This is a great place to shop for vintage clothing, as every piece sold is at least twenty years old. There are three floors in Bulk Vintage, all of which are full of inventory. Floor one is the by-the-pound thrift experience that lets you fill up a bag and pay per pound. The second floor consists of a massive warehouse-style room that is sold by the piece but for very cheap. The third floor is considered the special collection floor, as it has the rarest pieces that tend to be a little more on the pricier side, but only because they are usually more valuable items. No matter what type of clothing you are searching for, it can be found at Bulk Vintage. There is definitely not a thrift store as big as this anywhere else on the east coast, and I love the variety and organization of it as well. Because of this, Bulk Vintage is a great thrift store to check out in the Philadelphia area and definitely contributes to the flourishing of the city. 

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In my analysis of all of my favorite thrift stores here in Philadelphia, it is clear that all of these shops have one thing in common-they are all unique in their own ways, and contribute to the flourishing of Philly. Whether they donate to a good cause, upcycle items, have certain sales, or have three floors full of thousands of pounds of vintage, Philadelphia’s vintage scene surely has a lot to offer. Stores such as Philly AIDS Thrift, Urban Exchange, Retrospect Vintage, and Bulk Vintage are great examples of the diversity of types of thrift stores offered in Philadelphia and help prove the argument that thrift stores here in Philly help the city shine, with their uniqueness, prices, quality, and selection.

It often happens that a single moment in time changes the perspective and the trajectory of a life and a story. For me, that moment is encapsulated in a happy-go-lucky high school AP History class field trip to Philadelphia. Because of my passion for cooking which had defined the previous decade of my life, my stop in The Bourse became a representation of what my life would become three years later.

The Beginning

My introduction to Philadelphia kicked off with a less than exhilarating two-hour bus ride immediately followed by a tedious hour-long presentation at the Constitution Center. Little relief followed as we were ushered to the museum section where we were encouraged to appreciate the displays filled with images of and facts about political figures and activities presented with corresponding displays. I began to yearn to see beyond the walls of Constitution Hall. 

Philadelphia: National Constitution Center by Wally Gobetz

The Adventure

I attribute much of my introduction to Philadelphia to the scavenger hunt organized by my teacher whose objective was to expose us to as much of Old City as possible. I soon forgot this assigned task as I allowed my curiosity to guide me through the neighborhood. I was enchanted by the combination of cobblestone streets, the slow walkers, the clean parks, and the historic row houses which seemed to fit perfectly into the landscape as if painted into place. 

Discover Old City & Society Hill by Discover Philadelphia

The Gateway

Our hungry group ventured into the Bourse where my teacher struggled to impart the history of the building on us. I became mostly oblivious to this activity as I soaked in the essence of this place which was so clearly a microcosm for all that Philadelphia has to offer. I became rapt with attention to the expansive offerings of foods from all geographical locations and cultures under this single roof. 

Philadelphia – Old City: The Bourse by Wally Gobetz

At this moment, I realized that a compilation of foods from all corners of the globe is representative of a city that appreciates and nurtures its diversity. Without realizing it then, what I was experiencing would remain with me and become a critical element in deciding where my college years would be spent and where I was destined to make my home away from home.

Now

My visit to the Bourse encouraged me to immerse myself into Philadelphia’s food culture. Prior to my arrival in Philadelphia as a freshman at Temple, I educated myself about a variety of restaurants, especially those catering to non-dairy consumers like me. Typically, non-dairy options are tedious and repetitive, but this city offers a plethora of possibilities as represented at the Bourse. 

As a college freshman eager to be involved in some small way, I followed my passion for food and became a staff writer for TUTV’s cooking show, Feel Good Cooking. My thoughts went immediately to the notion that only in Philly could I be shoulder to shoulder with industry rock stars as a first-year college student writing for a television show for the first time. 

As I stepped onto the bus on that spring day in 2019, I was unaware of the mental seed that had been planted about the future that Philadelphia had in store for me. So, when I consider the opportunities that are at my fingertips in Philadelphia, I think fondly of my high school history teacher whose determination to expose us to this amazing city opened the door to my landing in my home away from home.

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