I was riding my bike through Kensington late this summer. It was unbearably hot and it seemed that each corner was brandishing a gushing fire hydrant. None of them made me stop until I saw this scene; beautiful evening light highlighting the splashes of water, kids on bikes and roller skates, kids laughing. Not to sound like a grandmother but usually kids in Kensington aren’t laughing, they’re cursing.

Kensington is an interesting neighborhood. I should know, I live in East Kensington, just on the border of Fishtown. It is mostly Puerto Rican residents, and there is always cause for a block party. Every morning on my daily bike ride, I see the same flock of roosters on 2nd and Berks just hanging out in front of an auto garage. My nextdoor neighbor waters my plants and takes in my mail when I’m out of town. My neighbors on the other side have children that love to come in and play with my cats, Steven and Zissou.

But there’s always the other hand. On the other hand, my neighborhood can still be dangerous. 19122 and all points North have the highest crime rates in the city. But it was the beauty that was blossoming from these streets, not the desolation, that inspired me to start this blog. Kids laughing and being kind to one another is not something I normally see. But these kids were friends, and they were carefree – at least for the moment.

This blog will undoubtedly publish more serious stories as it grows. But always try to keep this initial post in the back of your thoughts to remind you North Philly isn’t all bad.