Come for the Classes, Stay for the Building: The Story Behind The Weaving Circle's Home

The Weaving Circle didn't just appear out of thin air — we've been scheming, dreaming, and honestly, manifesting hard for years. 

If you know us, you may know by now that a beautiful mix of serendipity and sheer stubbornness brought this space to life. But the location itself? It's been so good to us that we struggle to put it into words. So naturally, we're going to try anyway.

A little history first:

Did you know that until 1988, a woman in the United States could not open a business without her husband's approval? Which also meant you had to have a husband. As a former business owner myself during that time period, I didn't even know this — and honestly, I don't think my ex-husband did either. Make of that what you will.

Fast forward 35 years, and here we are. On the most prominent street in Philadelphia. In the oldest, most historic building on that street. In a former university building, no less — opening a business where women are gloriously, unapologetically in charge.

It's a lot.

I still remember the days when men would call me "sweetie" or "honey" instead of, you know, my name. And when I'd correct them? Oh, that just opened the door to jokes about how I couldn't take a compliment. "What do you want us to call you — Shithead?" (An actual thing said to an actual me. Charming era!)

So you'll understand why this building hits different.

It's owned by women, run mostly by women, and filled with artists who are either women or humans who deeply understand what it means to be an underdog — which, in Philadelphia, is practically a love language.

Unless you've spent a significant chunk of your life navigating a world where men made all the calls, it can be hard to explain just how exhale it feels to be somewhere women are running the show. These things might seem unremarkable to some people. To us, they are nothing short of revolutionary:

1. No one mansplains to us. Not once. Not ever. We didn't know this was possible.
2. The work is collaborative, not competitive. Wild concept, thriving in practice.
3. We needed a saw. The building manager (a woman) had one. She handed it over with zero fanfare and a simple "here you go." No lecture. No production. Just a saw.
4. The building hosted a big event. The leasing agent personally walked the entire building to check in with every tenant about the noise. Every tenant.
5. Tenants are actually asked for input on functional building decisions. Input! That gets considered! By the people in charge!
6. Management hosts coffee hours, happy hours, and community events — because they want people to actually like each other. Novel.
7. They advertise our events for free. They want us to succeed. They actively root for us. Can you imagine?!
8. We receive grant information so we can find available funding. They share resources. On purpose.
9. The rent was negotiable — structured to help our new business succeed — from the initial offer. We're still not fully over this one.
10. When there's a problem, people solve it together. No one corners you to explain at length how things are going to be according to them. Just... collaborative problem-solving. Like adults.

It is so refreshing that I sometimes want to sit down on the floor and just feel feelings about it.

I wish I could have had this in my younger years. My creative life might have looked so different. But here we are now — and honestly? Better late than never.