When the inauguration schedule was rolled out last week, I was very pleased to see that the transition team had come up with this loud fun noisy open light-filled extravaganza. It looks great!

Most especially though - since I am still chair of Pirates for Nutter - I should note that I was very happy to see the inaugural party Monday night scheduled to be held at the Navy Yard.

The Navy Yard!

First...to back up and explain.
'Pirates for Nutter' was actually a real Meetup group I started last year that was supposed to meet one Friday a month at the New Wave Cafe at 3rd and Catherine in Queen Village. It was going to be my contribution to the Nutter campaign while I worked on council races, and also an excuse to buy a pirate hat and a bunch of other stupid pirate schwag and drink beer.

It never quite worked - I got busy with other campaigns, and had to cancel meetings.
We were finally, however, in April, forced to hold a meeting when the Philadelphia Weekly ran a really funny event listing for us, written in piratese.

The meetup consisted of two people - myself, and a very nice historical re-enactor who lived in Ambler, and who had never heard of Michael Nutter, and didn't know that there was a Philadelphia mayor's race going on.

I was standing there trying to think of something to talk to him about when one of the employees of the New Wave ran up to us in a rage, tore a Nutter palm card out of my hand, ripped it in half, flung it on the floor, waved an arm around his totally packed bar, and shouted, "Look at this place!! Michael Nutter DESTROYED MY BUSINESS with the smoking ban!! Now you take your pirates and you get out of here!!" End of meeting.

Despite this, to this day, pirates for Nutter continue to drift in and out of the New Wave, whether they are flying the flag or not. Wise Old Abraham. Little Annie Dicker, who declared for state rep there, in 2006. A great crew, really. A great bar. I'd recommend it.

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All silliness aside, I think the choice of the Navy Yard for Monday night is quite important.

For newer folks (yes, there are folks that have been here for even less time than me, so forgive me when I state the obvious), the Philadelphia Naval Yard was once one of the greatest shipyards in the world. For over one hundred years, we built and repaired hundreds of great ships - we even figured out how to make a ship disappear once! (Although the technology turned out to be too dangerous.)

Its closure in 1996 was one of the city's great tragedies, depriving thousands of families of income, and killing a great source of awe and pride.

There is still a functioning shipyard there, and new assorted industries. But most of the vast acreage of the yard is still slumbering, and dreaming of battleships. There have been whisperings about bringing new companies in, but nothing loud enough to wake it up.

But next Monday, the Nutter inauguration party will be held down there...at some building called the Cruise Ship Terminal. And you know how loud parties can get!

The party is supposed to feature the "sounds of our neighborhoods," according to the press release. (Someone will be bringing a bunch of PGW jackhammers, apparently.) And I bet if maybe, just maybe, if the band is really good and loud and brassy and we dance really hard and whoop and holler and carry on, we might just make too much noise for the Navy Yard to keep sleeping.

I bet we could wake it up, if we tried hard enough.

It's up to us. I know it's been closed eleven years now, but you have to remember, some prayers take longer to be answered than others.

I, for one, would like to get it working again.

I mean come on!

You could build an entire FLEET of pirate ships there!!!

Happy Inauguration and peace to all,
Hannah

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Nutter Inaugural Committee Announces Event Details

Philadelphia Realized Celebration highlights flavors of the City

Philadelphia - Today the Nutter Inaugural Committee announced the details of Mayor-Elect Nutter's Inaugural events. The events include the Interfaith Prayer Service at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Swearing-In Ceremony at the Academy of Music, the Cabinet Swearing-In Ceremony at City Hall, the Mentorship Luncheon at the Bellevue Hotel, the Inaugural Celebration - Philadelphia Realized - at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, and the Open House Reception at City Hall.

"This is a new day for Philadelphia, and the events we have planned reflect that sentiment," said Nutter. "The Mentorship Luncheon, the Open House in City Hall, and the Interfaith Prayer Service are all designed to include the citizens of Philadelphia in this Inaugural Celebration. Over the course of the campaign I promised that there would be a new way of doing things in City Hall if I was elected. I am happy to say that I look forward to fulfilling that promise beginning on January 7th."

Interfaith Prayer Service

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street & The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

January 3, 2008

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Mayor-Elect Nutter will participate in the processional prior to the prayer service with the members of the Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia (RLCP), and he will lead a pledge for peace. The prayer service will be lead by the three co-conveners of the RLCP: Imam Anwar Muhaimin of the International Muslim Brotherhood, Inc.; Cardinal Justin Rigali of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and Rabbi David Straus of the VAAD: Board of Rabbis. The RLCP also includes over twenty clergy members from different neighborhoods and religious denominations in Philadelphia. The prayer service will be open to members of the public.

Swearing-In Ceremony

The Academy of Music

Broad & Locust Streets

January 7, 2008

10:00 a.m.

The Swearing-In Ceremony will be hosted by Philadelphia City Council. Mayor-Elect Nutter will deliver his inaugural address after taking the oath of office. The ceremony will also include the investiture of members of City Council, members of the Judiciary, City Commissioners, Judge of Traffic Court, Sheriff, Register of Wills, and Clerk of the Court of Quarter-Sessions.

Cabinet Swearing-In Ceremony

Mayor's Reception Room

City Hall

January 7, 2008

12:30 p.m. (roughly)

Immediately following the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony, Mayor Nutter will join newly appointed Senior Administration Officials who will swear an oath to serve the City of Philadelphia.

Mentorship Luncheon

Rose Room, Bellevue Hotel

200 South Broad Street

January 7, 2008

1:30 p.m. (roughly)

Immediately following the Cabinet Swearing-In, Mayor Nutter will welcome Philadelphia students and mentors from the business community to a Mentorship Luncheon emceed by NBC 10's sports anchor Vai Sikahema.

Philadelphia Realized

Cruise Ship Terminal

Philadelphia Naval Yard

5100 South Broad Street

January 7, 2008

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Philadelphia Realized will commemorate the Inauguration of Mayor Nutter and celebrate the tastes, sounds and experiences that make Philadelphia neighborhoods truly unique. Tickets are on sale through Upstages ticketing agency, located at the Prince Music Theatre at 1412 Chestnut Street, for $50 each, limit four per household or company. To purchase tickets, contact Upstages at 215-569-9700.

City Hall Open House

Courtyard, Conversation Hall & The Mayor's Reception Room

City Hall

January 8, 2007

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, Mayor Nutter will open City Hall to the public. Visitors can join the receiving line in the north portal and travel up the stairwell into Conversation Hall to shake hands with Mayor Nutter. Student performers will entertain in each of the four portals and refreshments will be provided under the event tent in the Courtyard.

The Inaugural Committee is lead by Erica Atwood, President, and co-chaired by Leslie Anne Miller, Vice President & Secretary, John Saler, Treasurer & Finance Chairman, future First Lady Lisa J. Nutter, Mary Austen, Ken Balin, Jerry Batoff, Kenny Gamble, Jay Goldstein, Dick Hayden, Dan Neduscin, Bill Sasso, Doris Smith and Harold Yaffe.

Net proceeds from the events will support local non-profit arts education organizations determined by the Inaugural Committee.