I've been noticing this meme, or slogan, or piece of astroturfing -- "Public Square", being tossed around a lot frequently on this list, along with the related "Town Square." And I just wanted to let all you snarky people out there know that I realize you're talking about ME.
Actually, the last time I heard Penn sociologist Elijah Anderson speak, a few years ago, he was discussing his research into the Reading Terminal Market as a "cosmopolitan canopy", which is probably just a more sophisticated way of saying "public square". The concept of course being of a place where all sorts of ethnic groups, merchants, freaks, tourists, losers, hippies and Amish folk rub shoulders rather than some sort of gated enclave such as Rittenhouse Square has been attempting to become over lo these many years. Clark Park of course is just such a cosmopolitan canopy, or at least it will be when it gets its gazebo. As Tony noted some time ago, it has its own unique sort of "spirit", and I believe he meant that to be in part supernatural. Abbraccio, in its short life in the hood, has become another such cosmopolitan canopy, IMHO. Of course, it is a decidedly more commercial enterprise than the Park -- if you wanna sit at the bar and waste time watching the Golf Channel, you have to spring for at least a ginger ale -- but in the last year as I have been frequenting the place more frequently, its cosmopolitan nature has been more and more impressed upon me. Where else could you find Cardinal Rigali and Kyle Cassidy in the same room? Well, maybe not at the same moment, but you get my drift. But if you wanna see multicultural diversity in all its glory, this is THE venue in the hood to experience it. Last Sunday after church my son, wife and I showed up for Mothers Day brunch. To my chagrin, I had come without a reservation, not realizing DUH that Mothers Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year. Nevertheless Roger graciously shepherded us to a quiet table in a back corner, telling me "We don't want the Russians to see you, Ross." But I felt like the most complete farmer and town square at my gaucherie. You can take the Mennonite out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the Mennonite. -- Ross Bender http://rossbender.org/mqrtoc.html
