PHILADELPHIA – This is a city famous for a fictional boxer who endures a huge defeat in his biggest fight.

Its most cherished mascots include a green, belly-shaking creature who showers popcorn on rival fans and a whimsical, orange character. After the Eagles, Philadelphia’s NFL team, won the Super Bowl, fans erupted in joy when one player joyfully proclaimed, “No one likes us / no one likes us / no one likes us / We don’t care!”

So, it’s curious that someone thought it was a good idea to create a portal showcasing the true Philadelphia in real-time!

How’s that going?

Actually, quite well!

The Portal, a circular video installation, part of a multi-city art project that links Philadelphia with Dublin; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Lublin, Poland, was recently set up in JFK Plaza, commonly known as LOVE Park, named after the iconic sculpture by Robert Indiana.

Much like the famous bell in the heart of Center City, The Portal has a crack that will soon be mended. On a recent Monday during lunchtime, the atmosphere in LOVE Park was all about camaraderie. Locals waved to the people on the other side of The Portal, who were experiencing nighttime in Poland and Lithuania, while it was still day in bustling Dublin.

Creating a ‘Good Energy’ for Philly

“It’s uniting everyone,” remarked Jontae Miles, a ranger with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. Along with fellow rangers and a few police officers, he monitored the park, “to ensure everyone is safe and friendly.”

And it appeared that everyone was indeed friendly.

“It adds a wonderful vibe to the park and the city,” Miles continued.

Crystal Finley brought Selma Cohen, who uses a wheelchair, to see The Portal and wave to those across the sea.

“Every morning, I read the paper to her,” said Finley, who cares for Cohen. “She loves to get some fresh air. Even if things get a bit silly, this is still a lovely expression of love.”

Dublin appeared to be the most lively spot, and as Caesar Thorne, a rapper known as Lambo, held a sign saying “Where are you?” on one side and “Hello from Philly!” on the other, a Dubliner opened her coat to display a Philadelphia Eagles shirt.

This led to a cheer from the Philly side.

“I paid some kids $3 each to grab a Sharpie for this sign,” Thorne, who humorously described himself as “genius-borderline-crazy,” stated. He mentioned that he’d been out there since 6 a.m., engaging in a unique exchange through The Portal.

‘We Are the City People Love to Hate!’

“We are the city everyone loves to despise!” Thorne exclaimed in his lively style. When asked why, the lifelong city resident explained it’s due to envy of Philadelphia’s greatness: “They hate us ’cause they ain’t us.”

Thorne frequently put down his sign to join in on a cross-continental game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, engaging with varying success. When a preteen from one of the cities made an unkind gesture toward Philadelphians, a ranger disapproved and encouraged the crowd, saying, “Let’s be better than that.”

Kate McCabe danced, trying unsuccessfully to get someone on the other side of The Portal to join her. Thorne, however, joined in, and the duo danced to a popular TikTok tune.

“It’s amazing that we can wave and be friendly from so far away,” she noted. “This is a chance to celebrate and dance.”

Regarding the city’s reputation for being tough, she brushed it aside. “I’ve heard all the stories, like the snowballs at Santa and everything. If someone is disliked, they clearly know why.”