From the outside, the Bok Building looks like an old trade school. From the inside — well, it still looks like an old trade school, but one filled with the city’s coolest makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Join FitC members with brunch, shopping, and a tour as we see what’s there.
We’ll start with brunch at Miles Table. Offering simple neighborhood favorites, Miles Table focuses on serving guests uncomplicated dishes that are both flavorful and freshly made. Come in to enjoy simple delicious eats prepared with local ingredients. More here.
Or you can join early at 10:30 with others, to sit and chat with a coffee or tea from Two Persons Coffee or get in line to buy freshly make baked goods (pastries and/or bread) at the Machine Shop Bakery.
After an enjoyable meal, we’ll see the building with FitC member Darlene Olsen, who lives near the BOK building and is a regular shopper and investigator there. Click here to learn more about what shops will be open and their room numbers.
After our tour, you can stay and visit any or all of these shops on your own, maybe have a coffee/tea at Two Persons Coffee and/or a pastry from the Machine Shop Bakery.
We will begin our exploration in the basement at noon with a 30-minute tour at Remark Glass, a glass-making shop, whose owners will demonstrate how they take donated bottles and jars and make them it into products for sale, keeping glass out of landfills.
Following that, we will visit FABSCRAP where Saida Burns-Moore will tell us what they do to repurpose unworn excess fabrics sent to them by manufacturers.
Now on to the 4th floor to visit Second Daughter Bakery where there is a treat awaiting – an award-winning freshly baked brownie from Second Daughter Bakery
Then on to the 5th floor where Jordan, Owner & CEO of LoBo Mau, will give us a live printing demonstration and talk about their supply chain, their design process, manufacturing process, and in general what it means to be a slow fashion business. While on the 5th floor, we will visit a few other shops.
On your own, you can visit other businesses scattered throughout the building. Amazulu Collections (custom-designed jewelry and clothing), Greenly Plant Co, Stover Ceramics (handmade ceramic homewares), Minimal Chaos (Middle Eastern artisanship rugs/slippers/handbags), all on the 1st floor. Others are Sabbatical Beauty(skincare) (Room 308). Weaver House, a yarn shop and textile studio (Room 203), and Queens Vintage Guitars (Room 503).
Come prepared to buy things for yourself or for gifts for friends and family.
Event Limit: Up to 10 FitC members who have time for brunch and a tour.
Event Cost: Event Cost: $35 ($34 to cover our pre-paid group tours and a brownie plus $1 FitC fee). No refunds after May 2. ($1.50 refund charge)
Brunch: Order and pay for your food at the counter before sitting at a table. Pay by credit card or cash.
Accessibility: Steps to enter the building but an elevator for accessing all the shops.
Directions: Use the entrance in the middle of Dudley Street (up the steps, you will enter through 2 doors).
Darlene, our guide, will be at the front of the bike repair shop, in the center between 10:30 and 11 am. She’ll have a FitC sign and will be wearing an Amazulu jacket. Miles Table will be on the right, and Two Persons Coffee on the left. Confused? Late? Call her at 202-550-5128.
Since there is 2 hour limited street parking (it is a rowhouse neighborhood) and no parking garages, you must come by subway, bus, cab, Lyft/Uber, or bike.
Closest subway station: Tasker-Morris Station - BroadStreet Line.
Nearby bus routes: 45, 47, 47M, 79 (Check SEPTA). There is plenty of bike parking available,along with an Indego Bike Share Station onsite!
For questions about the tour and event, please contact volunteer Darlene Olsen at 202-550-5128 (prefer text) or email olsen.darlene@gmail.com.
FitC Contact/Registration Questions: mignon.adams@gmail.com
Please let us know if you cannot make it.
