New blog will cover arts and entertainment in NW Philly

Growing up in the Poconos, I had the hills of Appalachia and Delaware Water Gap in my backyard. So visiting Northwest Philadelphia reminds me a bit of home, with its lush flora and the Schuylkill River carved into the hills.

It’s a disservice to these neighborhoods that up until recently, I’ve rarely visited them. I blame it on a thought process I call Occam’s railroad. Whenever I am faced with the possibility of two events of equal value, accessibility becomes the deciding factor. So I have often dismissed outings to Northwest Philadelphia for the convenience of Center City, or the neighborhood haunts in South Philly where I live.

Well, those days are gone. I have the distinct privilege of expanding my knowledge of Northwest Philly by blogging about its arts and entertainment. It’s a topic I enjoy reporting on because it gives me a reason to venture to new places and see things I often would not consider checking out on my own.

I’m amused and also a bit horrified to recall my first year living in Philly as a freshmen at Temple University, where I lived in the dorms on campus and considered visiting South Street to be a big trip. Luckily, I got involved with my college newspaper, and it marked the start of both my reporting career and my real understanding of the people and places that constitute this city. Now, I’m excited to kick off the next chapter of my adventures in Philadelphia with this new blog, NW Playlist.  I’ll be covering art exhibits, concerts, festivals, book readings, restaurant openings and much more. If you have an idea for something we should cover, email me at jviola@whyy.org.  

Check back tomorrow for Jimmy’s first blog post on The Grape Room’s open mic night in Manayunk.