Relevant Commentary, all information Philly (real estate and otherwise), Open Houses, Listings, Happenings, and More — by Jeff “City” Block
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The Legend of
Salt Water Taffy
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Hey everyone and happy weekend!
I actually got my 2nd Covid Vaccine Booster (4th shot) last night, so I am feeling a little tired today. All good though, and I recommend you stay up to date with your boosters!
Anyway, a short and light-hearted piece this week. As a kid going down the shore, I always loved salt water taffy. Back in the early 70s when I was really little, my grandfather Herb Kramer had a restaurant on Tennessee Avenue (between Pacific and the Boardwalk) in Atlantic City. This was before casino gambling and it was obviously a totally different town. But one thing that has not changed? The recipe and ingredients for salt water taffy, and the three main companies I remember from my youth are the same as well—James, Fralinger’s, and Shriver’s.
When I was a child, my family gravitated towards AC, so James Salt Water Taffy was our family favorite by far. Now as a grown-up, with kids of my own, when we are down the shore (which is not too often), we head towards Ocean City, so Shriver’s is more in our wheelhouse.
As a kid, I was enamored by the story of how salt water taffy was invented. I thought that everyone knew the legend. A boardwalk candy maker was the victim of a storm where ocean water inundated his candy. He tried it and It was delicious… and there you have it. As a kid (and maybe also as an adult 😊), that is what I thought. Except that is not what really happened and salt water taffy does not even have any salt. (At some point I did think to actually read the ingredients.) But what a great marketing name, right?
The Philadelphia Inquirer did a recent piece on salt water taffy, which brought up all these memories. (The Shore’s Taffy Tradition by Kae Lani Palmisano.) Most interestingly to me, this piece discussed the history and the legend of salt water taffy:
“How salt water taffy got its name is another mystery. The apocryphal story goes that during the late 1800s, a storm surge flooded a boardwalk candy shop in Atlantic City. The next morning, the shop owner discovered to his dismay that his taffy had been soaked in seawater. A little girl who wanted to buy some of the taffy joked that it was now “salt water taffy” and the name has stuck.
Despite the name, there is no ocean water in the candy. Salt water taffy begins with cooking molasses, butter, sugar, and water in a large, copper kettle until it turns into a soft, sticky, and pliable mixture. Once it’s set, candy makers knead the taffy, a process that helps it cool and remove bubbles. Candy makers will then flip and fold the hulking slabs, which can weigh upward of 50 pounds.”
Now my favorite flavor has always been molasses. I also like black licorice, lemon, lime, grape, and a bunch of others. Not a huge fan of any mint flavors. Especially peppermint. My kids ask, “why do they make a toothpaste flavor?” Though I think the mint flavors are actually quite popular.
I grew up with salt water taffy, and it is obviously a staple candy of the South Jersey shore. What I don’t know is whether people from other parts of the country would even be familiar with the treat. Have they tried it? Even heard of it? If you are from somewhere else, let me know. And if you are from around here, let me know if this confection was a part of your childhood memories. And what are your favorite flavors?
I hope you all have a great weekend.
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130 & 134 Fitzwater Street
4 Bed | 4 Bath
$2,850,000
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4 Bed | 2 Bath
$1,050,000
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6 Bed | 3.5 Bath
$835,000
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3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$800,000
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5 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$795,500
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Here is a list of the 25 other properties the City Block Team sold in June:
*Represented Buyer and Seller
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1734 Addison Street
Brand New Listing
3 BD | Large Family Room | 2 BA | 1,800 SF | Semi-finished Lower Level | Nice Character | Rear Patio | $715,000
Spacious, inviting townhome on one of Rittenhouse Square’s most beautiful and desirable blocks. This is the premier location!
3 bedrooms, large family room, 2 updated baths, semi-finished lower level. Really nice character, superb light, and layout. Bright, renovated eat-in kitchen overlooking a cute rear patio. Big windows, high ceilings, exposed brick, exposed beams.
Plus updated systems throughout, including roof (2022), HVAC (2017), hot water heater (2017), sump pump (2017), basement renovation (2017).
This welcoming home is situated on a neighborly, quiet, tree-lined block in the Greenfield School Catchment. 99 WalkScore. Walk to the city’s best restaurants, cafes, shopping, markets, farmers’ market, parks, and more.
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2136 Tryon Street
Brand New Listing
2 BD | 1 BA | 750 SF | Substantial Character | Two Outdoor Spaces | A+ Location | $437,500
A lovely home in ideal Rittenhouse/Fitler Square location. Warm and welcoming space with significant character in a prime block in an A+ location.
This renovated, expanded trinity with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and two outdoor spaces offers substantial character — original pine floors, exposed brick, wood burning fireplace, high ceilings (cathedral ceiling on top floor), a small rear patio plus a nice-sized 2nd floor walk-out deck, new kitchen (2018), and an updated full bath. Nice, clean basement for storage, mechanicals, Washer and Dryer. Window units in 2nd and 3rd floor cool the entire home.
Situated in Rittenhouse Square and at the crossroads of Fitler and Graduate this location has a 99 WalkScore, 99 Transit Score, and 100 BikeScore. Within one block of Sabrina’s Cafe, Social House Eatery & Cafe, City Fitness, Starbucks, Wawa, CVS, Ant’s Pants Cafe, Southside Market, Ten Stone, Andy’s Chicken, Rim’s Dry Cleaner (awesome dry cleaner and get your packages delivered there), Rita’s, Doggie Style Pets, Pub & Kitchen, Lou Bird’s and more.
And that is just within a block. Imagine what is available if you walk just several blocks towards Rittenhouse or down South Street, including many of the city’s best restaurants, cafés, gourmet groceries, and shopping.
All this and the home is situated on a quiet, tree-lined block, just one street long, and with hardly any vehicular traffic. Really a perfect situation at the crossroads of three of the city’s best neighborhoods.
NOTE: Ring security system, doorbell, and security camera included. Beautiful brick face. Shared, secured alley between 2136 and 2138. Home does not have central air but two window units cool the entire home (very efficiently).
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Tiny Room for Elephants Festival
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Check out the unique Tiny Room for Elephants Festival at Cherry Street Pier starting this Friday. During this event, artists work together over a 10-day period painting and installing collaborative creations while local DJs and producers play music. The artwork will remain on display through the end of the festival. You can also purchase tickets to the premiere party on July 21st.
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On Tuesdays throughout the summer, visit the Delaware River waterfront for the weekly Philly River Stroll. From 4-7 pm there will be drink & dining deals and free entertainment along the waterfront. Some of the entertainment includes DJ and artist pop-up performances along the Delaware River Trail and Penn’s Landing. And other deals to catch include:
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Now open on Market Street in Old City is Vanderwende’s Ice Cream. Vanderwende’s first opened in Delaware and has been serving farm-fresh, critically acclaimed ice cream since 1954. There are 32 awesome flavors to try.
Photograph & content courtesy of uwishunu.
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City Block Team’s Fourth of July Weekend Fun
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Typically for the 4th Jamie Foster, her boyfriend Sean, and their dog, Henry would be hanging out in the backyard, grilling, but this year they headed to Quakertown instead to meet the new member of the family, Jamie’s niece, baby Penelope.
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Peter Sterling Watson spent time with his family. Pictured from left to right is Peter, his
nephews Jack and Henry and his brother John.
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Greg Zarro spent his weekend riding his bike all around Philly where he stopped to see the Liberty Bell twice.
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Missy Tewksbury spent time in Ocean City, NJ with her family.
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For the 4th of July Carrie Waterman and her family headed to Ireland to visit family. They are doing a house swap with another family from Dublin via SabbaticalHomes.com and the family has a 40-year-old pet tortoise named Obi that lives in the back garden (pictured above). Also pictured is Carrie’s daughter
Lilly (7) holding her youngest cousin, Dara (3). The last time she held him was 3 years ago before the pandemic hit.
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On the 4th, Megan Hoey visited historic Batsto in South Jersey and then enjoyed an awesome fireworks show.
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7111 Germantown Avenue
NEW PRICES
Mount Airy
New Construction
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3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$1,100,000
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3 Bed | 3 Bath
$1,029,000
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4623 Larchwood Avenue
NEW PRICE
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705-11 Pemberton Street #711
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$725,000
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1734 Addison Street
BRAND NEW LISTING
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3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$695,000
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26 University Mews
NEW PRICE
2 Bed | 1.5 Bath
$595,000
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2136 Tryon Street
BRAND NEW LISTING
Rittenhouse/Fitler Square
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334 N Preston Street
BRAND NEW LISTING
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610 Melanie Court
BRAND NEW LISTING
Monroe – Gloucester County
4 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$415,000
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As always, please know that I’m humbled by and appreciative of your introductions and referrals. If you have a friend, colleague, or family member that is in need of Expert Real Estate Representation, please have them contact me.
Be assured, I will do my best to exceed their expectations! Thanks for taking the time to read this issue of Around the Block.
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Some imagery in this e-newsletter was sourced via UWISHUNU and Canva.
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