Lucy lookin’ good

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Lucy the Elephant stands her ground in Margate, N.J., where an expensive refurbishment put her into prime shape at the end of 2022. She was built in 1881 as a real-estate attraction, prospective property owners were taken to the cupola, about six stories high, so they could survey the landscape. She is about four miles from Atlantic City, which about then was emerging as a resort destination.

Asian street food market

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The Sunday Cambodian street food market was thriving on Labor Day weekend, including this vendor offering shrimp spring rolls, lobster balls, and a big variety of other fried items.
The street food market spreads among the trees near Picnic Area 11 at FDR Park.

Rittenhouse Square, looking bare

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Rittenhouse Square, late on an early August morning. Despite the bare benches in this photo, the park is a premier public space and bustles even in the time of covid. On weekends and evenings in particular, the lawns are filled with people getting outdoors and social distancing.

FDR skatepark

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Skatepark at FDR Park, Philadelphia
One of the city’s hidden gems is a skateboard park tucked beneath Interstate 95 on the edge of FDR park in far South Philly. It’s gritty, and renowned among boarders.
The highway noise can be intense, but the skateboarders tune it out. The highway provides a roof, which means you can skate even in foul weather. The road circling FDR was recently repaved and you no longer need a 4-wheeler to get past the skate area.