Writing the Power of Place | People Live Here, You Know: Tourists, Locals, and the Mixed Blessing of Lily Park
Writing instructor David Amadio leads a three-hour workshop for fiction and nonfiction writers examining how tourism changes the places people call home. Framed around Philadelphia’s popularity as a destination during 2026, the course considers the longstanding tensions between visitors and local residents, including both the benefits and drawbacks of tourism.
Participants will use creative prompts to explore how a sudden influx of visitors can alter their sense of place, transform relationships with familiar neighborhoods, and affect access to beloved local spaces. Amadio will also discuss recent anti-tourism movements in parts of Europe and share the story of Lily Park in Ventnor, New Jersey, which changed from an overlooked stretch of sand and weeds into a popular destination for amateur sunset photographers.
When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Showtimes: 11:00 AM
Run time: Three hours
Tickets: Athenaeum members: $60; Young Friend members: $30; student members: $30; non-members: $90
Instructor: David Amadio
Audience: The workshop is intended for both fiction and nonfiction writers.
Instructor background: Amadio earned an MFA in Fiction from Bowling Green State University and has taught Creative Writing and Composition at Lincoln University since 2004. His writing has appeared in several publications, including Talking River, Nerve Cowboy, Cleaver, Packingtown Review, Adaptation, and The San Francisco Examiner. He is also the head writer of The Minor Prophets, a three-person comedy troupe with more than 30 award-winning short films. A TEDx speaker, he wrote the novel *Rug Man*, which received the 2024 Athenaeum Literary Award.
Venue: The Athenæum of Philadelphia
Address: 219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3794
Registration note: All registration purchases are final. Registering also authorizes the organizer to share your email address.
Accessibility: No accessibility information is provided.