February 22–March 1, 2001

naked city

Border Lines: Rittenhouse Square

Another in an occasional series on the look and texture of Philadelphia neighborhoods.

by Kass Mencher

Where: The boundaries are debatable — this is a state of mind as much as a neighborhood — but can be loosely defined as 17th to 23rd, Chestnut to Pine.

Who: A hodgepodge of college students, young professionals, executives and retirees, including such notable residents as former City Planner Edmund Bacon, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office Sharon Pinkenson, Police Commissioner John Timoney and restaurant mogul Neil Stein.

What It Looks Like: A near 50-50 mix of residences and businesses. Contemporary structures like the Rittenhouse Hotel co-exist more or less happily with neo-Georgian and Beaux Arts beauties, with the much-cherished green space of Rittenhouse Square at the heart of it all.

The Church of the Holy Trinity (left) and the Rittenhouse, 19th and Walnut.			David James, doorman at the Chatham, 20th and Walnut.

Inside Bleu, 18th and Locust.			An excited dog and owner enjoy snow in the square.

On the edge of Rittenhouse Square, early on a Saturday morning.