o hand in hand

a walk through west philly at night is different than that of my familiar fishtown. everything is a bit wider. you notice facades and signs rather than storefronts. fishtown feels cramped, and an intimacy emerges from the compact spatial situation. for example, the hundreds of little holiday window displays set up by neighborhood families. west philly, on the other hand, seems handsome despite its wear and tear. its presence is larger, and its structures more lyrical. the houses curve and wind and porches appear in surprising places. west philly at night is like an abandoned story book. fishtown is more like an aquarium.