A Friendly Visitor...

Friendly Neighborhood City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. stops by for a visit at The Review Office. A interview of the his 200 days will appear in the forthcoming edition.

A Taste of Europe...

Saw this little baby today in the parking lot at Ivyridge Shopping Center. A number of befuddled old men got out of their Buicks and stared at it. Personally I was waiting for Eureka Deputy Sheriff Jo Lupo to hop in at some time.

Other Bike Race Photos...

LIVE FROM THE TOP OF THE WALL...

Philadelphia's 24th Annual bicycle race, now known as the Philadelphia International Championship, kicks off in a few minutes at the Art Museum. People here in Manayunk have been drinking since Memorial Day. In its long tradition, it has never rained during the event. It has been cloudy, cool, or sunny and hot. This year is one of the hot ones. Temperatures are predicted to reach into the 90s. Hopefully, this will have lessen the obnoxiousness of some people this year.
The race has seen plenty of changes in that time; but one tradition for lifelong residents is having good friends over for a good time. This year, we start our great trek with the tourists on Main St. Winnie Clowry, owner of Winnie's Le Bus, has always invited us for breakfast. We always declined in favor of getting to the starting line. This year, we take her up on the offer.

Check back here regularly today for more on this year's crowd.

UPDATED!!! - 11 a.m. - "Only in Philly, Only in the Fourth", says Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. to his Chief of Staff, Al Spivey. Like many, this was the councilman's first real bike race experience.
"He's like a kid in a candy store," said Josh Cohen, Jones' Deputy Chief of Staff and President of the Wissahickon Interested Citizens Association.
Jones, along with many patrons at LeBus, would run out to the street to see the men and women speed by on nothing but a light-weight bicycle.
"They move as fast as the cars," said Jones.
In Winnie's the televisions are set to 6ABC the official carrier of the race. I was able to tell an amusing story of how I almost whacked Sportscaster Gary Papa in the face with a pot-o-potty door.
"That could have been a claim to fame," said Jones.
The race, now in its 24th year, was underway. The men will face the Manayunk Wall 10 times in a total of 156 miles peddled today. The women will do 4 laps. As of this post, the women are almost done. So far, the crowd has been thin and subdued probably due to the 90-degree heat. Even police are finding shade where they can.
"The women are dogging it this year," said Michelle Moscicki, a race marshal stationed at Lyceum and Fleming, near O'Brien's Water Hole.
"I got wet over there earlier, but now I'm already dry," said Moscicki.
The sound of approaching helicopters herald the men.

The Race continues...

UPDATE - 11:45 a.m. - Chantal Beltman of the Netherlands wins the Women's Liberty Classic. The temperature is 90 degrees.
The Race goes on...

UPDATE - 1.30 p.m. - The shade continues to shrink for some people along the top of the wall. With the Women's Race over, Channel 6's coverage just kicked into full gear with helicopter pass overs getting more frequent.
"I thought the crowd would be a little more subdued," said Derek Davis, chef-owner of the Eponymous Derek's, located on Main St.
The crowd, which is not as large as in years past, seems more well-behaved. Children play with their sprinkler on the sidewalk; an near-impossibility in former years. Speaking of the wet, this year, O'Brien's Water Hole is under new leadership. According to Mr. O'Brien last year, his nephew took over the spot. To celebrate, a pipe and drum duo perform. Their neighbors, cheer "Bike Race". A sign held up read: "You Wave, We Drink". Of course, it was a member of the press, riding on the back of a motorcycle that did them honor.
One of many observations by readers is that the original families that lived on the wall have moved out. But there are some who have remained; keeping the tradition of family get-togethers alive.
"Isn't this great," asked John Boyce of Roxborough.
Boyce house overlooks the race course at Fleming St and Lyceum Ave. One doesn't even have the leave the shade to see the Peleton (the Pack) follow the Leaders. Many of John's family and friends enjoy the sun or shade in the fine garden including Devon Persico, Bruce Hoffman and his wife and many others. Soda, water in beer have their own buckets in ice in the shade. Tomato Pie gets passes around.
"Is there any end pieces left," asked Persico.
But with the afternoon sun, people must remember to keep hydrated.
"As mailman, you learn the sun is the enemy in the summertime," said Boyce.

UPDATE - 1:50 p.m. - Final Lap flew by Manayunk. Looking to break time record. Cyclists finish the wall section and take on the technical course of Lemon Hill which many race veterans such as Canada's Brian Walton, who is now a VP at Cadence Cycling in Manayunk, believe that the technical course is the hardest part of the race. So now we come into the final stretch...Fire Up that Grill!

UPDATE - 3:05 p.m. - THE FINALE - It was an exciting finish to a hot race this year. With temperatures reaching into the mid-90s, the riders changed places multiple times around the technical course around Lemon Hill. But in the end, Matti Breschel of Team CSC takes the win. It is the second year in a row that Team CSC has won the race. For more on the play-by-play check out The Review's Sport Page.