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Setting the tone
After the hectic holiday season winds down, just about everyone sets out to bronze their skin just in time for the onset of the warmer weather. Equipped with 11 tanning booths, a new state-of-the-art Sun Gate lay-down bed with the strongest lamps in the area and the recent addition of spray-tanning, Beach Tanning, 2525 S. Broad St., has become the reader favorite.
For the past 14 years, owner Tom Baker has prided himself on delivering an excellent product with a smile. This dedication has proved successful, earning his team of five a nod for best tanning salon.
Baker attributes it all to the overall quality he delivers, from maintenance to choosing affable people as his staffers.
“I stay on top of my lamps and try to keep everyone behind the counter as nice as possible,” he said. “Some salons make the mistake of getting too much life out of their lamps.”
Replacing tanning bulbs frequently allows for a quick tan, while maintaining color for a longer period of time. It’s a win-win.
In keeping up with recent trends, Baker and two staffers practiced for months to become certified in individualized spray-tanning.
“We’ve been busy with it,” he said since its December start. “Regular tanning draws a lot of people in from the neighborhood, while I noticed people will make a trip into the city for spray tanning.”
One reason behind its popularity is the process takes just 15 minutes and lasts almost two weeks compared to standard tanning, which requires constant upkeep. Customers must be happy because they keep coming back.
“The only slow months we have are August and September,” he said.
But once tans start to fade, the pace picks up all over again.
Hollywood Tans lit up second, while Express-o-tan took third.
Good references
For some, libraries are no more than a stop in the train of research for school projects or book reports. For others, they remain meeting places for events and after-school programs. There is even a set for whom the library is a home away from home — where the smell of old books and studious silence are synonymous with comfort and sanctuary.
No matter the reasons, locals reserve a special place in their hearts for the Fumo Branch, 2437 S. Broad St.
“It’s because of our patrons,” Manager Renee Pokorny said. “They’re the ones who voted for us and they’re so wonderful. They really were so supportive when the library was supposed to close, and the whole community really supported us.”
The library, once at Broad and Ritner streets and known as the Ritner dren’s Branch, reopened at its new location in 1999. Now more than a decade old, the familiar yellow-brick building is a haven for readers of all ages.
“We have a lot of kids from our after-school program. We get a lot of seniors here, as well as parents coming in with toddlers,” Pokorny said.
Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m., Fumo hosts LEAP After-School Enrichment Programs, in which grades one to eight are encouraged to take part in a variety of engaging, artistic activities.
When asked to define what separates the Fumo Branch from other libraries, Pokorny is quick to say, “We really try to go out of our way and do whatever we can for our patrons. We have a really committed staff.”
The Donatucci Branch carded second, and the South Philadelphia Branch checked in at third.
The full Spectrum
Soon the legendary Spectrum will be demolished and with it goes walls that could speak of the countless athletes, musicians and performers that have enthralled hundreds of thousands since the Quaker City Jazz Festival opened the arena Sept. 30, 1967. The last year of the stadiums use (roughly Oct. 31 2008 to Oct. 31, ’09) saw some of those great past performers return.
The reader’s choice for the best final Spectrum event goes to the Oct. 27 to Oct. 31, ’09, shows by rock legends Pearl Jam. Before the epic 41-song, three-hour-35-minute final set a video montage celebrating the Spectrum screened and, as the band walked onstage, the theme from “Rocky” played to uproarious applause. At the beginning of the first encore that last night Oct. 31, lead singer Eddie Vedder told the audience “there’s a reason why bands like to play in this room,” adding it was an “honor” to perform the last concerts at the venue, and was something the band “takes very seriously and as a responsibility.”
In a distant second was Bruce Springsteen, who played the venue Oct. 19. Though the team has called the Wachovia Center home since 1996, in third place is the one off-home game the Sixers played at the Spectrum March 13, ’09, beating the Chicago Bulls, 104-101.
Past perfect
Veterans Stadium, often simply known as “The Vet,” seems to be the bearer of an overwhelming amount of affection, taking home favorite stadium, past or present, though it has been a memory for six years.
Though the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue now is a parking lot, the site was once home to The Vet. While the stadium was imploded in a record-setting 62 seconds March 21, 2004, the place it holds in citizens’ hearts has not demolished.
The stadium was built in 1971, 10 years after the first so-called “cookie-cutter” stadium — RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. — was built.
In addition to being the home of the Eagles and the Phillies, the Vet hosted the two Major League Baseball All-Star games; 17 Army-Navy football games; and concerts ranging from The Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd.
While the last game at the stadium was a devastating 27-10 NFC championship loss by the Eagles to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jan. 19, ’03, there are clearly no hard feelings when it comes to this legendary structure.
Citizens Bank Park took second, and Lincoln Financial Field came in third.
And the award goes to …
Maybe it’s that buttery popcorn, or maybe it’s a night of fun, laughter, fears and tears while sitting with friends or movie-goers with the same purpose. But for some, it’s definitely the perks that bring them back to United Artists Riverview Stadium 17.
We opened the envelopes and the multiplex at 1400 S. Columbus Blvd. took the top prize for best senior/student discount. Seniors can purchase tickets to any movie for only $7.50 and students receive a dollar off full admission weekdays after 6 p.m.
Tina Niglio only had good things to say about the pennies in her pocket after a trip to the theater.
“Movies are kind of expensive. The discount is especially good for seniors, because they hardly get to get out, and when they do there’s not much for them to do in South Philly, so they should be able to see a movie at a reasonable price,” the resident of the 2300 block of South Lee Street said.
Runners-up for second and third were SEPTA, and ShopRite, respectively.
Lift a glass
Although this year’s Readers’ Choice featured more than 40 categories, the most imaginative voters still were able to point out that the area has so much more to offer. While bars won hands-down for category not on this list, the most knowledgeable (and at times humorous) were quick to note the absence of everything from hair salons to No. 1 gangster.
Nevertheless, as the spring slides in, residents of the City of Brotherly Love cannot help but have bars on their minds as Beer Week approaches in June. In what is nationally hailed as one of the greatest beer-drinking cities in America, it should come as no surprise South Philadelphians, in particular, show a fond appreciation towards the fine array of bars and clubs their community offers.
“I’m young and I’m single, so I like to go out a lot. I couldn’t help but notice there was no nightlife,” voter Dana Savage said when asked why she felt the local bar scene deserved mention.
The neighborhood even has bar cred in the fictional realm thanks to “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” the popular FX series in which characters own locally based Paddy’s Irish Pub.
“It’s the people from South Philly that make the bars special — everyone treats you like family,” the resident of the 500 block of Christian Street said.
Readers were hungry to see Best Wings, which took second place, while Best Pastries, took a sugary third, step up. SPR
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