Frances Hoover of Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse on All Her Favorite Philly Places and Things
From shopping in King of Prussia to visiting the Discovery Center.
Frances Hoover is the executive director of Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Frances Hoover — now executive director of Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse — has worked for corporations and schools and is as much an artist as she is a finance and marketing whiz. Here, all the things she loves around her hometown.
Favorite Things
Item I wear every day: A bracelet from MyIntent Project with the word “inches” inscribed. It’s a reminder of Al Pacino’s motivational speech in Any Given Sunday, where he says inch by inch, you’ll get to the bigger goal.
A bracelet from MyIntent Project. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Hobby: Drawing, photography, painting — anything art-related. I’ve recently been interested in assemblage. It’s when you transform found objects into something new.
Painting is one of Hoover’s hobbies. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Workout: Hot Yoga at Focus Fitness in Bryn Mawr. I like the 26-pose, 90-minute sequence. It’s slower and cleansing and requires concentration. I like the hot room, particularly in the winter. It feels good to come out into the cold air.
At Home
Personal Project: Researching my family’s history. After hating my first name for most of my life, I discovered that “Frances” has been in my family since 1890 and had a change of heart.
The last book Hoover read. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Last book I read: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives. It’s my son’s school-wide assignment, and I’m reading it alongside him.
New Podcast: GirlTrek’s Black History Bootcamp, a “walking meditation series to remember where we came from and to gather strength for the road ahead.”
SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus line. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Beauty essential: Anything from SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus line. It’s moisturizing, which is important because African American hair can tend to be dry.
Out and About
Go-to pandemic hang: East Fairmount Park: the mansions, the Cliffs, Boxer’s Trail, and the Discovery Center. Since working for Smith, I’ve learned a lot about the park.
Hoover loves the mansions in East Fairmount Park. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Big work project: Completing an $8.5 million renovation of the 120-year-old Smith Playhouse, which will pave the way for our new Urban Nature Preschool. We are fixing leaks, expanding rooms and upgrading bathrooms.
Smith Playhouse. Rendering by Mark B. Thompson Associates
Work-from-home tip: Make friends with the tech crew. I’ve had multiple computer mishaps during video meetings.
Favorite place to shop: The King of Prussia mall. I remember when it was outdoors. When I was young, my aunt would take me and my cousins there as a reward for good behavior. I feel like I grew up with it.
The brussels sprouts from Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft in Ardmore. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou
Best takeout dish: The brussels sprouts from Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft in Ardmore. It turns out the owner is married to my high-school classmate. We were cheerleaders together at Lower Merion.
Published as “Play It Cool” in the October 2020 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
