CLOSE UP Video Interviews

"I’ll play anywhere. I’ll play literally anywhere where there’s people walking around. I’ll just play because people don’t normally hear a flute. you know. They tend to hear anything other than a flute and I tend to think I play differently…” Your correspondent, early for a pickle ball lesson at the Water Tower Recreation center courts heard sweet, jazzy flute sounds from the other side of a tall dividing fence and walked over to find Jordan Quinton at the far end tennis court improvising on the flute -yes, differently. “It’s very important to be able to find your voice.” Quinton  had been working out at the Water Tower and had her flute on her and thought she would just take it out. “If I have my flute on me, I’ll take it out anywhere. I’ll play it on a bus if they let me.”

Quinton, who now works as a line chef baker, studied at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She plays flute, all kinds of march and percussion-snare, base drums, tenors, hand drums, bongos, claves, congas, xylophone, marimba and likely more! ”I was born into music so I guess I’m lucky. I sing. I do all the arts. Music is my strong suit.”

“It was very hard going to school but I’m glad I stuck with it as long as I did.” And passers by who may happen upon Quinton jamming on her flute are likely to be glad, also, that she stuck with the music. Watch flutist, a street musician, improvise on tennis court here.

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"Welcome to the Northwestern stables Haunted Horses Event 2017. Today we're inside because it's raining but it's still a lot of fun. As you can see we have pumpkin decorating here, we have cupcake decorating and then the feature of our event is always the horse and rider costume contest which I believe is starting soon! Northwestern Stables is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. We do a lot of equine-focused programs for children and adults. We have a riding program. We have summer camp. We have two 4-H programs for young kids and big kids and invite people to come and tour the barns and learn to be friends with and not be afraid of our large equine friends." Kristen Kavanagh, Stables Board VP and leader, pumpkin decorating

Costumed horses, riders parade for Halloween

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Participating in Renaissance fairs is what brought teacher Ken Nichols and student Ann Nicholson together in Nichols' current class through the Mount Airy Learning Tree, "Swashbuckling for Stage and Screen." At fairs around the country, Nichols would focus on swordplay, jousting and choreographing. He eventually earned certification in stage-fighting and now teaches the art at colleges and choreographs fights for theater productions. At the medieval fairs, Nicholson, alternatively focused on the dramatic portrayals and now hopes to add combat skills to her repertoire. Your correspondent signed up for the course fancying it might be fun to flourish a sabre like Errol Flynn. In class, we are learning and practicing an array of thrusts, slashes and parries with our blunt edged and tipped swords along with some footwork. We are working our way toward performing a convincing sword-fight scene and, with proper cuing, not getting hurt! Video of class stage-fighting with swords for theater and movies

​Weighing in a hefty 12 pounds at birth Darren Fenice's right shoulder was damaged by forceps during delivery. Erb's palsy resulted from the injury that stunted his arm and significantly impairs his range of motion. In school, he lashed out at the kids who were tormenting him him and was once expelled. When he grew up he began to practice martial arts as a means of self-defense, focusing on American Kenpo. A back injury sustained in competition has now sidelined him. Based on his experience being picked on growing up, he remains a strong advocate against any form of bullying. He is currently pursuing a career in science education and he pursues another of his passions - cooking dishes from his Austro-Italian heritage. Watch video interview here.

​Driving down Henry Avenue from Norristown, Carlos from Colombia saw the horses of the Saul Agricultural School grouped together near the pasture fence. He stopped to admire them as had I. He also thought of inquiring if they might be available for rent. He showed me a photo and video of his Paso Fino, a breed of horse known for its natural lateral gait Sadly, the horse died two months ago at age 16. A longtime horse lover, he doesn't know why more people don't ride. Watch video here.

"You bring a plant or garden-related item and you get an item that you like" explains Diane Olesik who has been coming to the Northwest (Philadelphia) Gardeners Association plant swap for several years. After attendees get a paper ticket for each plant they've brought and stage their plants at the designated tables - annuals, sun perennials, shade perennials etc - they hover by the plants they want to take home. Then they spring into some elbowy action when the countdown teaches "...zero- Go!" Cathedral Village, Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pa. Watch video here

Dustin Beck gives your correspondent's wife her first accordion lesson at the Liberty Bellows Accordion Shop in South Philadelphia. We used a Groupon coupon. Watch video here.