As the final days of this past year come to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many challenges brought on by its life changing events and how they have made me value our strengths and resilience.  How far we’ve come in a short time that in some ways feels like an eternity.  To some, our endless isolation has seriously deprived us from living, loving and enjoying our lives, When the fact is, the way I see it, is that 2020 has been a very rare and beautiful gift.  The recent loud consensus coming from friends and colleagues has been an overwhelming disdain for what our previous twelve months have brought to all of us.  More than ever I believe it is not about what has happened to us it is how we respond to it.  I risk coming off as having a Pollyanna attitude seeing the world through rose colored glasses.  The choice is ours to take these experiences and be grateful for how we have learned from them.  My new year wish for all of you is to accept future challenges as opportunities for your own personal growth and not as set backs to how you want it to play out.  

“Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”   -John Lennon

Photography by Ann Tetreault, Friend and Neighbor

WOW!!!  Another holiday season is upon us.  In spite of it being a very trying year for all of us, it flew by incredibly fast.  As you may be aware of, due to Covid-19 we have decided to close our doors until Spring 2021 for everyone’s safety.  This has allowed more time for me to venture into other interests that I have never had the opportunity to explore. 

Normally, this time of year keeps me quite busy at 168 Gay Street.  However, this year I volunteered to takeover an available storefront to decorate for the holidays, as my own.  Linda Westphal who owns “Rowhouse“, a charming resale store in Manayunk specializing in vintage house wares and many other items.  Linda also owns one of the most beautiful storefronts at 4320 Main Street where she was so generous to allow me to help spread some holiday magic by lighting this gorgeous building during the month of December.  This was my opportunity to bring Manayunk Chambers Guest House to everyone visiting Main Street in Manayunk who are busy helping to support small businesses that are working so hard to stay afloat during such a difficult and unprecedented time.

Not only has this allowed for me to showcase our award winning bed and breakfast, I was able to introduce our second location “QUARTERS” in Manayunk that will also be opening next Spring.  Fortunately, the storefront located on the corner of Main and Cotton Streets allowed for me to take advantage of two equally large display windows where I am showcasing both of our BnBs.  You may be interested to know that the property is for sale and would make a beautiful shoppe for the right business.

As if it wasn’t opportunity enough, the MDC, Manayunk Development Corporation has made it an even sweeter deal by creating a contest called “Manayunk Gets Lit” worth over $10,000 in prizes for the most voted storefronts by you, our customers and guests.  You just need to go to the website by way of the link and vote for your favorite.  I will be very grateful for you to keep me in mind as your favorite when voting and please share with family and friends.

Please remember that you may purchase gift certificates in any denomination that can be used at both properties “Manayunk Chambers Guest House” and our newest modern lodging experience “QUARTERS”.  Please look for further information on QUARTERS in future blog posts and on our social media pages.

Thank you so much for being such loyal guests of ours,  We are grateful that you have given us the opportunity to have served you in the past and very much look forward to having you, your friends and family stay with us in the future.

Many blessings to you for a wonderful holiday and a brilliant and healthy new year!

Another “EX-DRAG-VAGANZA” this year at the second annual “Out & About in MNYK“.  Celebrating the wonderful diversity in our beloved Manayunk.  October is holds “National COMING OUT DAY” and is “National LGBTQ+ History Month” , a perfect time to highlight who Manayunk is as a community with an exciting event as “Out & About”. 

The month-long celebration was kicked off with the unveiling of a beautiful “Under the Rainbow” art installment sponsored by the MDC, Manayunk Development Corporation on October 1st for the final summertime series in Manayunk called “Stroll the Street”, which is held every Thursday night on Main Street in the Summer.  It is a wonderful way to get your weekend started with Live Music & Entertainment, and specials at the local shops and restaurants.     

The temporary interactive art piece consists of nearly one hundred multicolored opened umbrellas suspended thirty feet above the only “GAY STREET” in the city of Philadelphia. The street is currently open to only pedestrian traffic to allow the visitors to immerse themselves in the colorful experience of being on Gay Street in Manayunk to take selfies to be shared on Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter. The Installation has been quite a hit with our visitors and will be there for just a few more weeks. Be sure to make the time to enjoy the temporary art experience on Gay Street between Main and Cresson Streets in Manayunk.

“Out & About in MNYK” was held the first weekend in October and was sponsored by Manayunk Chambers Guest House.  It featured many area non profit LGBTQ+ organizations along with Gay vendors who offered various items to promote the celebration of diversity and pride in our area.  We were honored to showcase Philly’s own Brittany Lynn of The Drag Mafia who conducted our first roving drag show along Main Street stopping to entertain the patrons of the many quaint shops and interesting restaurants along Main Street. 

Highlighted by a “Double Finale” to help promote room for comfortable social distancing, the Queens finished their set naturally, on Gay Street, literally “Under the Rainbow”.  They were met by a very enthusiastic crowd of neighbors and supporters of Manayunk and the LGBTQ+ community.  

This event is so very important to both me and my husband Neal.  We are ecstatic that we were able to help make this a reality this year and look forward to it taking place annually for many years to come.

Welcome to our newest addition to Manayunk Accommodations, “QUARTERS”.  We are diligently working on offering a highly hands off Bed and Breakfast to the wonderful neighborhood of Manayunk.  QUARTERS is touted as a High Tech Touchless Property for increased safety from Covid-19.  Guests will have the luxury of remote check-in; keyless entry and Homemade Delicious Breakfasts and Baked Goods available 24/7 from our Custom Refrigerated Vending Machine

Opening day is sighted for late Winter or Early Spring.  So keep checking back on our website and tell your friends to subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram to know the latest.  I am SO EXCITED!!!

“The Guest Who Started It All”

It is amazes me that Manayunk Chambers Guest House has now been serving the community for over five years.  We opened our doors to our very first guest on June 15, 2015.  A lovely young woman who is an experienced “Mindfulness Yoga and Enneagram Instructor named Kessuda Chataya.  She moved in to the area with her very artistically talented high school age daughter.  She was referred to us by a mutual friend and neighbor, Chef Moon Krapagthon who owns both “Yanako” sushi restaurant and “Chabaa Thai Bistro” restaurant right here in Manayunk on Main Street.  Kess has developed quite a following with “Yosuda“.  She has earned herself a 5-Star Rating is is very well respected in her craft.

That was just the beginning of what has become a true passion for us to serve guests who come here to stay for a huge variety of reasons.  Each guest is so interesting and bring with them their own history of experiences that truly delight us in conversation as much as they enjoy our sharing of our knowledge of the area and the best places for them to see and experience while they are here in Philly.

“Rest Assured” that the slowing of business due to the Covid-19 Pandemic has not caused us concern.  My husband Neal and I have used this time to thoroughly clean and sanitize the Guest House and hit some areas with a fresh coat of paint.  My biggest project that I have been working on during these past few months has been our second location in Manayunk.  I am so excited that it is coming together most beautifully and it appears that we will be open for the Fall this year.  Regardless of whether the corona virus will keep our guests away, you can count on us being here for you when you are ready to visit us. 

As we cautiously approach our next steps of the Pennsylvania Plan is scheduled to move into the “Green Phase”, this week.  I will do my best to keep you all informed of what is happening here in Manayunk and our lodging accommodations that we plan to remain here for you when you need us for years to come.  With that in mind you may feel confident in purchasing our electronic gift certificates for a loved one as a promise of a visit with them for the future.

Until next time!!!

Best Wishes Always, Mark

Dear Friends,

Happy June and Happy PRIDE!!!!

Looking ahead as our wonderful city begins to take steps in re-opening I want to give you an understanding of what you can expect as we do so in Manayunk.  All of our amazing restaurants and shops are anxiously awaiting our opportunity and honor to serve you, our loyal guests once again, this Summer season 2020.  We look forward to doing it in a safe and methodical way to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Philadelphia will enter the “Yellow Phase” of Governor Wolf’s reopening plan. If overall risk remains mitigated for 14 days, the city will be able to enter the “Green Phase”.

Below is some helpful information that may be of use to you as Manayunk prepares to reopen. For all state-mandated guidance for reopening, please refer to the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health websites as well as Governor Wolf’s Plan for Pennsylvania.

Yellow Phase (Beginning Friday, 6/5):
In-person retail is permitted in this phase (although curbside pickup and delivery is still encouraged).
Governor Wolf announced this week that restaurants are permitted to add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas, provided they adhere to guidelines from the state. However, Mayor Kenney has since told Philadelphia restaurants not to launch outdoor dining until the city has announced their protocols for outdoor dining. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Gyms, fitness studios, salons & barbershops are still restricted from opening their doors to the public.
Large gatherings of 25 or more people are prohibited.

Green Phase (Start Date TBD):
Bars & restaurants, gyms & fitness studios, salons & barbershops and entertainment venues will be able to operate at 50% capacity.

At Manayunk Chambers Guest House you can “Rest Assured” that we are taking every precaution by going above and beyond our usual immaculate cleaning practices ensuring the health and safety of all of our guests.  We have added hand sanitizing stations in both of our properties and have alcohol wipes readily available in all common areas.

To comply with the newly imposed Pennsylvania state safety requirements all of our guests must wear a face mask while in any public areas of the Guest House.  Food and Beverage service will be suspended in the Bed and breakfast until the state begins to move into the “Green Phase” of health requirements as it pertains to the Governor’s reopening plan.

We are so looking forward to serving you again while you visit my favorite Philadelphia town of Manayunk.

Missing you dearly,

Mark

WELCOME to a brand new month I like like referring to as the very merry month of May.

These past two weeks I have been spending my time working on our extension of Manayunk Chambers Guest House that is located lees than three blocks from us that will be offering a completely different type of accommodations to our guests who may be looking for something in a bit more of a contemporary style.  Neal and I have been working on it when we have the time to devote to it for nearly two years, now.  The Covid-19 Pandemic that the world is currently experiencing has allowed for me to focus on the finishing of this project and I am completely psyched with it.  I want to continue to work through the weekend on it, but all work and no play makes for an unhappy spouse.  I’ve learned to make a “win-win” situation by asking Neal to join me in a nice leisurely ride to Lowe’s or Home Depot with me.  Not his idea of a proper date, but during Quarantine we are very limited with our choices.

The priming and painting are completed on the second and third floors and I am currently installing the flooring on both of those floors and hope to have it completed by the end of this week.  We chose a light honey oak to continue the brightness that is throughout the house. I ordered a deep soaking tub for the third floor bathroom that will be a great addition to the modern style of the place.  Once those floors are completed, I will begin furnishing and decorating.  

We are so excited having received our first reservation since the beginning of the quarantine and after having received so many cancellations during a time that has always been our busiest time of year.  The reservation was made by a return guest for June and they are interested in staying at the newest location.  This is a great motivator for me to get the place completed by then or at least one room that will satisfy their needs.

Your guess will be as good as mine as to whether the shops and restaurants along Main Street in Manayunk will be open to having customers enter their establishments, or not.  They have done their best in accommodating the demand for all who have grown accustom to enjoying in Manayunk by offering curb side pick up and delivery.  If you do decide to join us for an overnight stay you can count on me to do my best to be sure that you will enjoy your stay.

I want you to know that we are very much looking forward to your return.

Please check out our FaceBook Page or Instagram for more photos of the continued progress. Also follow us on Twitter.

Thank you for your continued support.  Until next time enjoy your Spring!!!

Mark