Round Museum

Springtime always brings a flurry of activity. The Philadelphia Flower Show that happens annually in March sets the stage for April showers and May flowers. The show displays a dizzying array of horticultural marvels from grand architectural plantings to the tiniest of arrangements. This miniature design is not bigger than five inches and incorporates a minimum of plant material, emphasizing line, color, texture... and Round.

04.21.17

Muskets and cannons and Redcoats, oh my! Today in the very heart of Old City, Philadelphia debuts a brand new museum dedicated to the dramatic history of the American Revolution. From the capped cannon Round on the plaza out front to the tiny pieces of flint from the first shots heard 'round the world, the museum is packed full with the struggles, the stories, the people and places that forged American independence.

Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia, PA

04.19.17

Don't follow too closely. There are a number of warning signs to help you out -- square break lights, Round reflectors -- some extra attention getting devices so you're not causing a rear-end collision. And for god's sake stop texting!

04.14.17

A heliocentric model of the solar system was first presented in 1704 to Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery, giving the orrery its name. Say the word three times fast. This orrery is a featured object in the Franklin Institute's Space Command exhibit.

04.13.17

The view through a Round can reveal some things while others remain unclear. Look at this dude -- could be a local ripper or he could slam at any second. Is he stoked by a Tail Grab or a Hurricane Grind? Everybody has their thing. Though he's definitely not pushing mongo, he could still be a poser. Whatever. Just hope he doesn't sack it on the funbox is all.

04.11.17

How many bras does it take to make a 5-foot ball? Well, 18,085, of course! Artist Emily Duffy spent three years building this 1,800 pound sphere of undergarments contributed from women all over the U.S. and the world. The sculpture is intended to challenge our assumptions about women's bodies -- that they are "solid and strong like the sculpture, not wispy and frail" like the material of which bras are made. Hidden in the central core is a capsule containing items relating to breasts and bras.

Hermit crabs are known for their incredible climbing abilities and for inhabiting empty shells that they find around the beach. Less known is that they are avid collectors and will gather other desirable shells that they hope to move into later, stacking and balancing each carefully atop their shells to transport them. jk

04.01.17

The remnants of conflict are startling, sometimes more so in close-up. Outside Mosul, Iraq, the battle to retake the city from ISIS forces began in October 2016 with the Iraq Army, international allies, and militias moving street to street, house to house in the ongoing offensive. This three inch hole is the damage from a .50 caliber bullet piercing a house that had been occupied for three years by ISIS but is now a forward operating base used by the U.S. Army.

03.30.17

So, Mr. Jefferson, you need a quiet space to get a little writing done? A Declaration, you say? For the Continental Congress? We have a nice space for you nearby at 7th & High Streets in Philadelphia. Fully furnished. Writing table. Quill pen. Plenty of parchment. A boot scrape out front. See Mr. Graff about accommodations.

Declaration (Graff) House
Philadelphia, PA

03.28.17

Celebrating four years of the raising of the wrist in the heart of South Philadelphia, An Sibin continues the long Irish tradition of providing a warm and friendly spot for friends to meet and drinks to be enjoyed. A Gaelic term originating in the late 1700s in Ireland, sibin -- pronounced “shebeen” -- referred to home brewed whiskey and then later to the unlicensed “speakeasy” establishments selling it.