Wow, been so hard for me to keep the newsletter on any kind of schedule, let alone a regular schedule.  I need to get out a life update as there are lots of good stuff happening - many of you might have some interest in getting involved investmenting wise ($25k and up).  I could use the help to maintain growth in my business.  A little foreshadowing - here is an article on the US rental market.

So....even though I do not get the emails out, I still am always adding thigs to my calendar and keep a running listof items that I think could be of interest to the list.  Hopefully you will see some good stuff for you below. 

Some things going on with me:

• Saw the show of the year for the third time (2 at Wells Fago, 1 at CBP) and it still exceeded expectations. - clear here for a review of the Roger Waters concert.
• Helped my buddy Sean buy a new building for his orthodontist office in Haverford - big congrats to him.  Next to the middle school - could there be a better location for an ortho?
• Sold one of my personal projects (5521 Ardleigh - $69,000) for the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority - part of the Obama federal stimulus dollars.
• Been spending a good amount of my weekdays working from Avalon, NJ.  Please let me know if in the area this summer.

 Hope all is well. - Mark

1)  MANAYUNK ROOMIE NEEDED (my buddy John)

2) ARTICLES

A)  More US teens smoke marijuana than cigarettes  

B)  Philly listed in The 15 Hottest American Cities Of The Future

C)  Wall Street Journal: Insider's Guide to Philadelphia

D) ) NY governor: Change marijuana law

E)   25 Douchiest Bars in Philadelphia

F) PHILLY DID YOU KNOW ::  America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant Is Now Ralph’s

G) US MINT TOUR UPDATED (and free)

2) FREE ORCHESTRA CONCERTS

4) Maya 2012: Lords of Time
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will answer questions surrounding the time-ordered universe of the ancient Mayan civilization during Maya 2012: Lords of Time, an interactive exhibition featuring full-sized replicas of major monuments and more than 100 remarkable objects and artifacts.  Thru 1/13/13

5) Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times
The largest and most comprehensive display of the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls ever displayed in the United States comes to The Franklin Institute. Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times features 20 ancient scrolls containing the books of Genesis, Leviticus, Exodus and others.

6) NEW CITY PARK:  Sister Cities Park
One of the newest spots for a picnic, Sister Cities Park on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway features a contemporary, eco-forward pavilion with cafe and visitor center, brand new outdoor children’s garden, a boat pond and an interactive fountain that pays tribute to Philadelphia’s 10 sister cities around the world.  

7) SAVE THE DATE : Hair O' The Dog

Only six more months remain until the 19th annual Hair O’ the Dog black tie affair presented by Chorus Communications, to be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at the Lowes Hotel Philadelphia. If you would like to play a larger role in the annual event, three lucky partygoers will be selected as part of the HOD 2013 committee and will receive an inclusive VIP package to the event on January 19. The HOD 2013 Event committee will meet weekly on iMeet, the browser based collaboration tool, beginning this fall. Click here for more details on iMeet. To enter, please contact Buffy Morgan, director of marketing, at 215-600-0009 or at buffy@hairothedog.com

8)  VIDEO OF THE WEEK: CABBIE CRAPS IN PHILLY STREET VIDEO (90 second mark)

9) Lunch With a Side of Music
Take your lunch outside every Wednesday this summer and enjoy free concerts at the Center City District Lunchtime Concert Series presented by TD Bank. Eat to the beat from noon to 1:30pm, June 6 through August 29 at locations throughout Center City.  CenterCityPhila.org/life/LunchtimeConcerts.php

10) INTRAMURALS

A) Philadelphia Sports Network: INTRAMURAL SPORTS

B) FALL INTRAMURALS NOW OPEN : Manayunk Sports Leagues

11) University City Dining Days

UCD's annual University City Dining Days returns from July 12-26 with a record-setting 34 restaurants. Hear more about Dining Days from Iron Chef Jose Garces.

12)  Volunteer with the National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center is dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance. Making its beautiful home on Independence Mall, the NCC helps “We the People” learn about the “history of us” in an interactive and interpretive way!   Volunteers are needed in two areas: gallery hosts and visitor services hosts. Volunteers are asked to help at least one day a week for at least a four-hour shift for a minimum of 50 hours. Some programming takes places on weekends and weeknights.   For more information and full descriptions of these volunteer positions, please visit constitutioncenter.org or e-mail Leonard Qualtiere at lqualtiere@constitutioncenter.org.

15) National Hot Dog Week Events in Philly (718 - 7/23)

16) THE GREEN LEGION GOES TO TRAINING CAMP (WITH KEGS'N'EGGS) ON JULY 28TH!!

$65 includes food, beer, bus, etc....

17) Philadelphia Zoo's Summer Ale Festival 2012

The Summer Ale Festival at the Philadelphia Zoo is an unique fundraising event which combines great seasonal ales, local cuisine and animals from all over the world! This is an event NOT TO MISS. 2012 Festival Highlights  Year of the Orangutan—Join us as we embark on The Year of the Orangutan throughout 2012 and help make a significant impact on saving wild orangutans from extinction. By creating a demand for the use of sustainable palm oil in the U.S. and around the globe, we can save this magnificent species Philly’s Favorite Summer Beer—The competition is back! Vote for your favorite summer beer, then cheer on the winning brewery as they receive the coveted trophy. Favorite Summer Bites—Participating restaurants will also have the opportunity to win awards for the top three summer nibbles that delight the crowd. More, more, more! -- More tasting areas, enhanced event space, electrifying entertainment and even more fun will be added to this year’s event! Award winning breweries—Check out this year’s list of participating breweries here! Keep checking our list for more participating brewery additions.

18) Argentina vs USA at Brandywine Polo - Special Picnic & BBQ

7/22/12 :: Sunday

19) CONCERTS

A) WXPN Welcomes Counting Crows, 7/22/12, Camden, NJ

B) Jackson Browne, July 25,  Academy of Music, KimmelCenter.org

20) FREE CITY HALL SERIES (7/25 - 9/5/12)

City Hall Presents is a new series of free events that welcomes the full spectrum of Philadelphia’s performing arts into the spaces of City Hall.

Organized by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, these events will bring a new vibrancy to the historic building and inspire citizens to become more active in the arts.

21) FRIDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS

FREE fireworks on six consecutive Fridays debuting Friday, July 27^th through Friday, August 31st. The fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. and be launched landside from the quay in the Penn’s Landing Marina, near the new RiverStage at Penn’s Landing.  The Friday Light Lights displays will be a chance to experience fireworks in a more intimate way, providing a perfect end (or start) to a summer evening on the waterfront.

The Sun Ra Arkestra returns for their third Summer Series appearance with another very rare hometown performance which is sure to have audiences either dancing feverishly or contemplatively traversing the spaceways. Founded in 1958 under the leadership of Sun Ra, the Arkestra pioneered a unique brand of afro-futurism, forging intersecting musical pathways that explore outer space and Egyptian mythology. Drawing on the work of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson, the Arkestra are pioneers of the bop-derived avant-garde and collective improvisation. Their work has had tremendous impact on scores of musicians including MC5, Sonic Youth and George Clinton. Following the Arkestra's influential tenures in Chicago and New York City, Sun Ra and the Arkestra relocated to Philadelphia in 1968, where they continue their commitment to the study, research and development of Sun Ra's musical precepts. Following the ascension of Sun Ra in 1993 and John Gilmore in 1995, Maestro Marshall Allen (b. 1924) has launched the Sun Ra Arkestra into a dimension beyond that of mere "ghost" band by writing fresh arrangements of Sun Ra's music, as well as composing new music and arrangements for the Arkestra.

24) CENTER CITY SIPS

Nearly 90 Center City bars and restaurants will host the summer's happiest hour every Wednesday, from June 6 through August 29, 5-7pm. Take advantage of $5 cocktails, $4 wine, $3 beers and half-priced appetizers. Some places even offer a 15% dinner discount after 7pm. Get the full list of bars & specials & enter our contest by visiting CCDSips.com, or m.centercityphila.org on your mobile device. You can also follow Sips on Twitter: @CCDSips

25) LOCAL HOUSING MARKET STATS  (Montgomery County)

 Single-Family YTD