This is one of the many squirrels in Rittenhouse. This dude?/dudette? is just chilling. Probably looking for some nuts.

This is Megan Collier, 21 years old and a senior at Temple University studying Public Relations. She used to live close to Rittenhouse, but now lives in Fishtown. She is juggling before she goes to work at Ruby Tuesday. She has been juggling for 7 months, and was paid for it when she lived and studied abroad in London.


On the left is Tiffany Williams, of West Philadelphia. She comes to Rittenhouse with her friend, Janene Tomlin. They both work at City Year for the Americore Program helping teach kids from grade to high school. They allow the kids to do extracurricular activies, something the other teachers couldn't do without them.

This is Roosevelt, named after his Father, who had the same name, who was named after his Father, who gave that name because of President Roosevelt. "He {Grandfather} thought Roosevelt was a good president and would make a good name". Roosevelt visits Rittenhouse to sell and make his fine art, inspired by his Father's crafts. He sells his work to get him to New York City where his family lives.

This is Mel Popover. If you EVER see this man, greet him, he will shower you with many interesting things. He took me through Rittenhouse Square telling me things like how the algae on the tree faces only north and that there are all the zodiac symbols in statue form throughout the Square. Mel comes to the park to smoke his pipe, drink the coffee he buys from the Pakistanian man on 18th, bring donuts to the guards on duty, and to feed his "buddies", whom he meets with often as a part of the "Sparrow Manufacturing Company". Mel used to work as a photographer during "the war". He currently shoots a D70, so he is not completely caught back with film. Though, his favorite thing to shoot with are his Leica M3s and his Nikkor 2.8 105mm. He once shot a live murder in the city (which made front pages on several papers), a picture of a Mother and Daughter sharing a dandelion with their hands (printed and given to the Father), and of a young boy holding his Father's hands as thunder struck flashing a reflection Rittenhouse Square in his eyes. Mel's photography was influenced by Cartier-Bresson statement that a camear should be ready at any moment and JC's "Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set ye free". Mel graduated from Temple as an undergrad and as a graduated through Villanova, studying Psychology. So, if you ever see him, greet him.






One of the many business partners of Mel Popover. He comes to Rittenhouse for the meetings and pretzels.










This is Natalie Kim. She told me she is 2 years old. She than ran to her mother, Lena Kim, alumni of Temple and UPenn.

This is Michael. He is brought to Rittenhouse by his Mother, Shakira Clark. Rittenhouse is an open place to run, he loves to push a stroller. Michael doesn't like to be far from his Mother, though he easily gets caught up running his stroller throughout the park with everlasting energy.

This is Kerri, a student at UPENN studying English. She came to Rittenhouse to get out of the usual campus scene and to shoot her project for Photography 1 which she took as a "sorta bullshit senior course". I told her I am taking my photos for my course too, but it was relevant to my major. I told her I could only wish to take "English bullshit courses" as an elective. She stopped giggling. Then I said I can take a picture of you taking a picture of me, and we can hand that in. She started again with her absurd laugh. She's a nice girl, stupid major, though. Nobody reads. I mean, you didn't want to read this, the picture is much easier to look at.


Eluva, Monique, and Gerrie are here on break. It is Gerrie's first time at the park, though she thinks it is nice. Monique and Gerrie come because it is the only peaceful place in the city. All three work at Park Heights, a hotel up the street. The three seem to compose the personalities you might see 30 years from now, of the cast from SEX AND THE CITY.

This is Ron. He walks his dogs, Jasper and Deja, in Rittenhouse quite often. He is from Philly "unfortunately". He had a friend studying photography at Temple. He said photography is a hard thing to grasp. I believe managing two dogs is much more difficult to master, seeing that he struggled every which way with the opposing directions of Jasper and Deja.

This is Danny, with his dog Eli. Danny is a dog walker with Philapets. He often takes the dogs he walks into the Square.

This is Sadie. She is walked almost daily, rain or shine, with her owners, Tom and Anthony.

rittenhouse square

This is Doug Poland. He is almost 21, awaiting the day he is, which will be on Feb. 12th. He and his friend Andrew Garraway have been discussing how they will be going to bars together and how "sweet" it will be. He comes to Rittenhouse hardly ever. Doug is only there because Andrew dragged him there because he had a project to shoot. In fact, you are currently reading the project. Andrew Garraway is also cheating because this is his friend and they should be of people who aren't friends with the photographer. But, I am almost sure he will return to finish the project. Andrew Garraway deviates. Doug Poland is a Junior at Temple Univeristy, studying Film and minoring in Anthropology. He plans on writing and directing his own films. In fact, Doug just left the shoot from Center City. He was working as a grip for IMMACULATA RECEPTION, a film written and directed by Jon Poritsky.





These two young ladies are from Drexel University. Liz (left) and Amanda (right) are both Freshmen studying under the Engineering program. What brings them to Rittenhouse is the atmosphere. Venturing all the way from University City to Rittenhouse Square is where they find a nice place to sit and enjoy the "citys favorite sushi", from a store right around the corner from the Square.