Check them out folks. Pictures from the Midtown Village Fall Festival Launch Party were posted in the Metro today. Set you calendars for the upcoming festival on the 4th of October.

Lucky on the Loose: Midtown Village

Shedding its formerly seedy vibe, this up-and-coming cluster of new and relocated stores is one of Center City's best retail hubs.

Center City's 13th Street is transformed into "Midtown Village"

When James McManaman decided to switch careers from hotel industry executive to 13th Street art gallery owner, he didn't just want to be another retailer. He wanted to help change the face of the entire community.

"I didn't want to just open a store - I wanted to bring new business to the area," he said.

McManaman moved to the neighborhood from Washington D.C., about two years ago. He and partner David white own Absolute Abstract Art, which opened in March at 141 S. 13th Street. They are one of around 30 new businesses which have opened in the last ten months alone in this neighborhood.

13th Street District Brands Itself as "Midtown Village"

Back when we were all tiny tots, the area around 13th and Chestnut was not pretty! Scary is more like it...enter Tony Goldman of Goldman Properties. The NY firm had already turned around SOHO and South Beach and figured Philadelphia would be the next perfect spot to spruce up. Goldman bought up properties in the area that were empty, rundown and needed a new lease on life. With a healthy infusion of cold hard cash, quality businesses started to rent.