We’d imagine that at least a few of you are preparing to run in this weekend’s Broad Street Run. A Philly tradition, this race gives participants the opportunity to experience almost all of Broad Street, from Somerville Ave. all the way down to the Navy Yard. For some, however, the Broad Street Run will merely be a warmup for a slightly longer race coming up next month- the ODDyssey Half Marathon.

From last year

While the Broad Street Run had become an institution for serious runners in Philadelphia in its thirty-plus years of existence, the ODDyssey Half Marathon is a sillier take on things, with (optional) costumes, a post-race party with beer from Sly Fox, and secret (and again optional) challenges along the way. The course, by the way, runs through Fairmount Park, starting at Memorial…

As we told you about just last week, the newest OCF Cafe location is opening at 2100 Fairmount Avenue today, January 1st. The kitchen will be serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch until 4pm, to help you clear those post-party cobwebs. And some hair-of-the-dog (mixes) will be available, to boot, (if you byo stuff to put in them)

Outside

A peek within

So come on in and check it out. The place looks sweet, all that’s missing is you!

Full disclosure: OCF Realty is the parent company of Naked Philly and OCF Cafe

It’s been two and a half years, but it looks like it’s finally going to happen. We last checked in on the Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat 21st & South location about ten months ago, and from the outside, little has changed.

Current photo

But according to the wise and all-knowing Michael Klein, it appears that the long wait for a second Honey’s spot is finally nearing its conclusion. Klein suggests that the restaurant should be opening its doors sometime in January, which would seem to jive well with the increased construction activity we’ve noticed there in recent months.

Here’s hoping that this place finally opens up next month, presenting a new and eager neighborhood with the privilege of waiting on an excruciatingly long line for tasty brunch food. And providing us with an extremely convenient new lunch place!

Across the street from a somewhat controversial lot-turned-garden, fencing went up around another long-vacant lot a few weeks ago, ostensibly in preparation for new construction. As you may have supposed from the signs that are up on the fence, this project will come from OCF Holdings, a sister company of the new coffee shop across the street. And, uh, this blog, too.

Current shot

From the north

Developer Ori Feibush has purchased five lots on this corner- two from individual property owners and three from the City of Philadelphia. You may recall, these lots were originally on the City’s condemnation list, which was hilariously approved at the same PRA meeting that Feibush’s purchase of the three City lots was approved. With all five lots now under his ownership, Feibush intends to construct six…

This just in, from the shameless self-promotion department: OCF Realty is hosting a neighborhood cleanup in Point Breeze on Saturday, June 9th, at 11am, at Chew Park. But this will be no ordinary block cleanup. No, this one will feature (wait for it…) an educational component! Yes folks, before the sweeping and shoveling commence, Dottie Baumgarten from the Philadelphia Water Department will give a brief talk on the effect of improper waste disposal on drinking water.

Chew Park

After Ms. Baumgarten gives her spiel, folks from OCF, neighborhood volunteers, and maybe even you will fan out to tidy things up, and properly dispose of waste, as to hopefully improve the quality of our drinking water ever so slightly. Speaking of drinking, refreshments will be provided to volunteers, along with trash bags and gloves. Some shovels will be on hand, but…

The Philadelphia Housing Authority, the fourth largest public housing agency in the US, was sued for its two-story disabled-senior homes at 1003-1011 S. 20th Street. While the zoning board approved the construction in mid-2010, SOSNA (represented by Paul Toner) and David Orphanides (on behalf of a number of neighboring property owners) appealed the case on the basis of the building’s blatant aesthetic dissemblance to the area and the effect that would have on the growing neighborhood. The PHA lost this case today; the homes built with public money may now be torn down with public money after an appeal fought with public money.

This is one of the few times in Philadelphia history that a public agency, rather than a private investor, may have to raze a property. SOSNA and the Graduate Hospital community (with surprising support by Anna Verna) were standing up…