One of Philly's many hidden gems!…read more After googling events happening this weekend I saw an exhibit for Rashaad Newsome - "To Be Real" was on display at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center... I'm always looking for something new, interesting and mentally stimulating so decided to check it out and was impressed. Let me start by saying this space is beautiful! My niece and I were greeted upon entering and were given a brief overview of the exhibit. The exhibit itself was rich in color and concept and very unique. There was no admission to see the exhibit but donations are welcome (tip: DONATE!) - donation is not mandatory but I'm a firm believer that arts and culture help expand and enrich our experiences and are also great for conversation. In addition to seeing the feature exhibit, there was a hallway with more art, which lead to another space with another exhibit "Fluid Women" (I think) was the name; this exhibit was captivating also. I had a wonderful experience visiting PPAC and will definitely return! I also recommend if you have an interest in visual arts and are looking for something unique. The space was quiet and it is not large but has a lot to offer.

This place is excellent. I'm an amateur photographer and I have come here for multiple workshops…read morebecause the education, the teachers, and the facilities are excellent. In terms of those workshops you can find them for about $30 on Groupon or LivingSocial and the classes are intimate enough with about seven people or less that you really can get the individual attention that really makes for an excellent experience. In fact you will get that personal attention because the teacher incorporates each student and politely requests that they offer their work for light critique. There are opportunities in every class for you to go outside and practice what you just learned by shooting on the surrounding streets. My only criticism regarding the workshops is that they are not as frequent as I would like as my weekend work schedule conflicts often times with their classes. This next section is about the print center and I've had nothing but a phenomenal experience there. I was completely new to Printing and Keith the master printer who runs the lab made an appointment and sat with me for about an hour to basically guide me through the entire process, give his suggestions, and work Photoshop to get the photos exactly as I want them. He has a profound amount of experience that he draws from and is completely understanding that I am a brand new printer. He even gave me recommendations for where to get my photos framed and was just a brilliant lead in the entire process of printing my photographs. I'll definitely come back and I will recommend it to you because they do have excellent facilities, friendly workers, and a wealth of experience. The actual building itself is quite large and I believe it's shared with some other organizations. Philadelphia photo Arts Center does have a classroom or two and a nice gallery to present whatever work they choose. Getting here is very convenient as I take the subway from Center City and walk about 10 minutes. If you were to drive there's plenty of parking and it does not seem packed the numerous times I've been there.

Riva did our ketubah and it was absolutely stunning. In addition, she made the most beautiful…read moreessay on the "history" of our ketubah and how it came to be. It moved everyone to tears who read it. She patiently talked to both of the rabbis who will officiate our ceremony, making sure every base was covered and all the text was done according to their wishes. Overall, it was an amazing experience, she guided us and listened to what we wanted. She had tons of ideas and helped us figure out what we liked. Thanks, Riva!

From the owner: Calligraphy and Custom Picture Framingread more