Wow - so it's been 2 years since my reading with Derrick. And while I was still overwhelmed by the…read moreexperience, everything he mentioned that was going to happen came true. Derrick is the real deal. 100% recommend.

Sorry, just a complete waste of money and time. Reviewing my notes from our session last year…read more.. Do you have a younger brother? No. Did your dad pass in x year? No. Does your sister have a son? No. Is your mom in Jersey? No. "T" name, who is that. No one. South Carolina connection to your dad? No. Do you have thyroid issues? No. New job by October 2023. No. He also didn't know where DC was.

Before I start my review, here is some info about me if you haven't yet read any of my other…read morereviews of psychics. In addition to being a scientific/engineering consultant, I'm a mystic, spiritual guide/healer and an intuitive. When I travel, I usually get readings from local psychics -- each a stranger to me before the reading -- wherever I visit. Since I'm a mystic and spiritual healer, my life is filled with Divine love and grace, and I'm happy and very much at peace. I want to stress the fact that when I make visits to psychics during my travels, I am not seeking help with any problems, nor answers to questions, nor am I seeking spiritual guidance. Rather, I visit them and ask for a general life reading simply because God asks me to do so, and to have a fun way of connecting with other practitioners in the realms of the metaphysical arts. So, when reading my reviews of psychics here, it may be VERY helpful for you to bear in mind that I did not visit them with any problems, serious questions, nor wishes in mind, nor with any "neediness". Due to this fact, your own experience with the same psychic might be very different from mine. In other words, your mileage may vary (from mine)! Further, my reviews of all psychics are for their psychic readings only, and never for any additional services that they might offer, such as healings, cleansings, or spiritual guidance. During a recent 7-day stay in Philadelphia, I did a search on Yelp and on Google for local psychics whom I had not yet visited, and who seemed interesting. The one possibility that emerged from my search was Helena; I called and made an appointment for a reading later the same day. Her shop is located in an office inside a small office building (located on a very tiny street) that normally keeps its front door locked, and so she told me that when I arrived at the front door, I should call her on my cell fone and she would unlock the front door and lead me to her office. So, it is obvious that Helena is not seeking to attract walk-in clients from the street, and rather, all of her client sessions must be by appointment only. Once I was seated in Helena's office, she told me that she offers both tarot and crystal ball readings, and that the price for each was $100, but since I was a first-time customer, I qualified for a half-price reading for just $50. I chose the tarot reading, but insisted upon paying the full price of $100, because I prefer to pay people a fair fee for their services. As I always do, I paid for the reading up front. As is always my practice when getting a reading, this was a totally cold reading: I told Helena, prior to the start of the reading, only my first name, date/place of birth, and that I was visiting Philly for a few days and staying in a hotel in Center City. I told her nothing more about myself until after the main body of the reading had ended. After I had shuffled the tarot deck, Helena threw quite a few cards for the reading. She told me immediately, and with perfect accuracy, that I was in very good health, that she could find no dramas or significant problems in my life in the past 20 years, nor in the future, and that my current life looked clear, and she proceeded to tell me (again correctly), that I was a scientist, an engineer, and an inventor, and that I seemed to write a lot, perhaps in the form of books or on the Internet/web (quite true in both cases). She also correctly reported that I was married, but that I had affectionate close relationships with other women as well, and I briefly confirmed that I was in an open marriage. Interestingly, Helena did not explicitly mention anything about my being a mystic or spiritual guide/healer, but did indirectly reference this fact with several of her observations, including the following comments: -- that I seem to be very healthy, happy and at peace -- that I seem to have no problems or dramas in my life -- my writing (much of it on spiritual topics) -- my frequent travels (all in connection with my spiritual work) -- (mentioning) that I am very intuitive (aka psychic) and would be extremely successful at investing if I were to ever wish to try my hand at it. As is always the case when I get a reading, I made clear at the start that I was not particularly interested in hearing predictions for the future (it is very hard to predict the future, for several reasons, including free will). Despite this warning, many psychics bravely proceed anyway to try to make lots of specific predictions for the future, but thankfully, Helena largely did not try to do so, beyond one or two statements about possibilities in my life in the next two years, and beyond the broad statement that my future seemed to be clear of problems, drama, and obstacles. Unlike many other psychics, Helena did not attempt any cons or upsells during the reading, and was very honest, clear and straightforward in all of her dealings with me. BTW, the reading lasted about 72 minutes.

After reading positive reviews of this psychic, I went for the first time, was extremely…read moredisappointed. $100 worth of services gets you a 20 minute reading - which was not related to my original question. The reading led to fear tactics to up-sell very expensive services. After paying for additional services, the additional services were never completed. Details below. Note: I've been to many wonderful psychics before who did not upsell, did not use fear tactics, and were very thorough and helpful. This was not one of those positive experiences. I went in with a specific question (she told me to think of a question, not say out loud) but the reading was about life in general - I will have career changes, move to a new city, meet my soul mate soon. It was very general and inaccurate, based on several statements that don't match my reality. She said I had spiritual blocks preventing me from achieving my dreams (noting that people find me needy and insufferable - and that's why I can't find love. (despite that I'm in a happy very long relationship) She recommended a (very expensive) spiritual cleansing. It was sales-y and fear-based, and didn't answer my original question at all. At the end I told her my question, but she said since she didn't see any of that in the cards, there must be a negative spirit attached to me, something evil that is following me. For more money, she could look into it and give me the answers I was looking for. I really wanted an answer, so I paid for more services and was told to call her the next day to follow up and complete it. I called but she wasn't ready, so she said call a few days later. I called, again she wasn't ready again - a few more days. A few more days later, I called - and she said I need to make an appointment to come in and pay MORE to get the answers I already paid for. She never took my number to follow up and provide the services I paid for - I had to keep calling over and over, only to be told to hand over more money. There are many reputable psychics out there who will help you and give you a full hour of their time - and deliver what they promise - without constant upselling and asking you to pay more. Don't bother here!

My friend and I both got readings from Helen. She immediately picked up on things we had not…read moredisclosed, and she would not have known. Her insight was both comforting and illuminating. We both felt more confident and able to move forward when we left.

Helen is very nice and sweet. She is very accurate and genuine. Unlike many other psychics out…read morethere trying to have you spend more money on spiritual cleansing and not telling you the truth and cause more confusion to you, Helen is right at the point and really trying to help people. She is the best!

One of Philly's many hidden gems!…read more After googling events happening this weekend I saw an exhibit for Rashaad Newsome - "To Be Real" was on display at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center... I'm always looking for something new, interesting and mentally stimulating so decided to check it out and was impressed. Let me start by saying this space is beautiful! My niece and I were greeted upon entering and were given a brief overview of the exhibit. The exhibit itself was rich in color and concept and very unique. There was no admission to see the exhibit but donations are welcome (tip: DONATE!) - donation is not mandatory but I'm a firm believer that arts and culture help expand and enrich our experiences and are also great for conversation. In addition to seeing the feature exhibit, there was a hallway with more art, which lead to another space with another exhibit "Fluid Women" (I think) was the name; this exhibit was captivating also. I had a wonderful experience visiting PPAC and will definitely return! I also recommend if you have an interest in visual arts and are looking for something unique. The space was quiet and it is not large but has a lot to offer.

This place is excellent. I'm an amateur photographer and I have come here for multiple workshops…read morebecause the education, the teachers, and the facilities are excellent. In terms of those workshops you can find them for about $30 on Groupon or LivingSocial and the classes are intimate enough with about seven people or less that you really can get the individual attention that really makes for an excellent experience. In fact you will get that personal attention because the teacher incorporates each student and politely requests that they offer their work for light critique. There are opportunities in every class for you to go outside and practice what you just learned by shooting on the surrounding streets. My only criticism regarding the workshops is that they are not as frequent as I would like as my weekend work schedule conflicts often times with their classes. This next section is about the print center and I've had nothing but a phenomenal experience there. I was completely new to Printing and Keith the master printer who runs the lab made an appointment and sat with me for about an hour to basically guide me through the entire process, give his suggestions, and work Photoshop to get the photos exactly as I want them. He has a profound amount of experience that he draws from and is completely understanding that I am a brand new printer. He even gave me recommendations for where to get my photos framed and was just a brilliant lead in the entire process of printing my photographs. I'll definitely come back and I will recommend it to you because they do have excellent facilities, friendly workers, and a wealth of experience. The actual building itself is quite large and I believe it's shared with some other organizations. Philadelphia photo Arts Center does have a classroom or two and a nice gallery to present whatever work they choose. Getting here is very convenient as I take the subway from Center City and walk about 10 minutes. If you were to drive there's plenty of parking and it does not seem packed the numerous times I've been there.

Have been attending the ceramics night class and it's been such a delight! Signed up for a second…read moresession and will check out more art classes in the future :)

I'm surprised this place doesn't have a review yet! I've been taking pottery classes here for about…read more2 years now and I highly recommend the arts league. It is on the cheaper side for pottery (unless you sign up early for classes at the Fleisher) and they have 3 days of open studio time. I have taken classes with three different teachers and I have enjoyed all of them, though I usually work pretty independently when I am there. Unfortunately I can't speak to the other classes that are offered here because I have never taken any classes other than pottery. However, they offer a wide variety of courses from dance to language to jewelry making (see their website for a full list of courses they offer). They also have some interesting shows in their gallery.

Jim gave an interesting, informative, and participatory glass blowing lesson for beginners! His…read moreexplanations and instruction are on point and he makes you feel successful- highly recommend!

Had an amazing time taking a lesson with Jim Loewer! He explained things so clearly so that when…read moreit was time for me to try things myself I felt confident enough that I would be successful. He stepped in only when needed and gave great instruction while I was working the glass. The items we made were perfect for being challenging but still doable for a first time experience. I would highly recommend him if you're looking for a great experience and want to make something beautiful while having a fun time!

During the First Friday Arts Crawl my crew and I stumbled upon a few brand spanking new galleries…read more Salt was the first and while it definitely offered a lot as far as the art and the party, It just felt that it didn't offer a lot professionally and that's why I'm curving middle ground. The perfect example and testament to that fact would be it's website. I was so immersed in and enamored by the art that it had that I genuinely wanted to get some information on who the artists were, and some general information on the gallery. So naturally when I picked up one of their cards and saw a website I figured that it would be the perfect place to get those facts. right? Not even close. If anything it was an exact copy of the business card. Same font, same logo, same color, same generic info. Really? If your going to go to the trouble to purchase the domain name and have a site, having one so basic for something which is filled with so much expression and detail just seems absolutely illogical. The only thing different was the fact that the website had a link to the gallery owners email address. I think I might be sending him a copy of this review. But extreme oversight aside the actual gallery was pretty fantastic. It had a prime location right by Race Street Cafe (although it was also hidden enough to the point that we wouldn't have noticed it if it was for the people walking out with wine glasses and the sound of music). And the art was pretty fantastic. they had supersized painting of semi familiar streets throughout Philadelphia and New York that I have walked through and cherished. they also had the work of an awesome illustrator/shirt designer that was pretty damn amazing. Think anime, meets sci fi, meets WoW, and you might be dead on. And his work was what inspired me to check out the website in the first place. Because McThrill was actually interested in spreading the word, getting the awesome name of his TShirt company again and it's interesting back story, and possibly making a purchase. Make it happen!

Very disappointed in this place! A friend from out of town came in to the city for a girls night…read moreand she was excited to go to this gallery. We checked the hours on-line and decided to meet there at 5, since it closed at 6. Got there at a few minutes after 5 and it was locked up tight. Even the hours posted outside said open to 6 on Saturdays. And there wasn't a sign on their door saying why they closed early (I would have understood if there was a sign stating some kind of explanation - kid is sick, on vacation, abducted by aliens). They are only open 4 days a week (according to the posted hours) so I am more than a bit miffed that they were closed. So for being closed when you were supposed to be open you get one star.

I went to Dr. Sketchy about a year ago. I think it was the first one for Philly. I wasn't quite…read moresure what to expect, I had seen photos from NY events, but what's to say they'd be the same in Philly? It seemed a bit awkward because it wasn't a large turnout and it was in the middle of the day (a steaming hot day). We had to wait for another event to dismantle before we could be seated so it was a bit delayed also. As for the actual drawing and the models... it was quite interesting. The theme was superheroes. I have never been to art school and I have a style all my own that doesn't really involve "sketching" I just draw straight up (very hit or miss). Most of the poses zipped by before I could really get anything down. As we got to the longer poses I enjoyed it more. The costumes were cool (most of them). Overall, I think the event was short lived and it wasn't quite as crazy as what I saw in the photos from NY. I'm not as passionate about drawing by hand as I used to be so maybe that had something to do with the vibe being off. The venue is pretty cool by the way. I think it would've been better at night. I may consider checking one out again someday.

I've only been to Dr. Sketchy's a few times and it's always a good experience. During my time in…read moreArt School, there were only 2 courses that utilized Life Drawing. After that, you were basically left out to dry. To be honest, the models in school were kinda boring anyway. Now picture a place that provides interesting models with different themes, ranging from Art Deco and Film Noir to characters from graphic novels. Picture models from all walks of the entertainment industry who actually have life in them. Music is arranged so you don't have to draw to dead silence. Heck, even booze is available, if you feel the need to have a drink or two. Dr. Sketchy's is Anti-Art School, but in the best way imaginable.