And the rest … – 2011 Readers’ Choice

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Police protection

Listening to and addressing residents’ safety concerns east of Broad Street day in and day out may seem like a tedious task, but Officer Juan “Ace” Delgado absolutely enjoys working in South Philly. Its residents returned the love by naming Delgado top police officer .

“The readers voted for me? That is so cool,” he said upon learning of the award.

The 47-year-old has worked in South Philly’s 3rd District, which runs Lombard to I-95 east of Broad, during his entire tenure in the department. His 17-year career started on South Street before moving to 11th and Wharton streets where he has remained in the role of community relations officer for the past 12 years.

“I think a lot of times it’s how you communicate with people,” Delgado, a father of three, who has been married to wife Mirta for 11 years, said. “Service — not just that I give them, but the service the district gives them, I think they’re happy with how the service with the police department is.”

Delgado was formerly a jeweler, but prior to joining the force in 1994, he and some buddies decided took the test to become an officer. He was the only one to pass.

“That was the funny part,” Delgado said. “They all wanted the job. I had my jewelry job.”

As the community relations officer, he is a 3rd District point of contact — a job he now shares with Officer Gary Harkins, who previously served in the role for the 4th District prior to a merge a year ago — handling resident’s concerns and complaints, as well as working with area civics and schools to solve any problems. He and Harkins, who primarily deals with the south side while Delgado sticks with his familiar grounds north of Tasker Street, organize the district’s annual Christmas party, children’s finger printing events and summer movie nights.

While he’s had the option to transfer out many times before, the Northeast resident wouldn’t trade the South Philly residents or his 3rd District colleagues.

“They keep me smiling, so I think that’s always a good thing,” he said.

1st District Officer Michael Baker and 3rd District Officer Owen McGuire tied for secondary honors.

A Philadelphia institution

As anyone in the Delaware Valley knows, the Mummers Parade is synonymous with not only New Year’s Day, but Philadelphia, so it’s no wonder the readers awarded it as best South Philadelphia tradition .

What started more than 100 years ago and is now one of the longest-running parades in the country, the Mummers’ performances each year embody everything Philadelphia.

“We’re all Philadelphia at heart,” Bob Shannon Jr., New Years Shooters and Mummers Association president, said. “We have a good time together and always go the extra mile to be part of South Philadelphia.”

Impacting generations, several clubs have been taking their acts on the road and across continents for years, Shannon said. This year alone, Quaker City String Band will travel to Spain, Woodland to Ireland and Fralinger to Asia.

“We do a lot of jobs throughout the country and the world and are pleased to take the sound of Philadelphia all over,” the former Quaker City String band captain and member of the board of directors said.

No matter where they travel, Shannon said, the welcoming audience is eager to learn more about their different cultures and styles. Dressed from head to toe, the five divisions, consisting of thousands of Mummers, practice hard for months to put on a unique performance each year. The unrivaled form of entertainment ushering in the New Year — that spans the length of South Broad Street and the inside of the Convention Center — is one facet children and adults alike always remember.

“We work hard on it and are really pleased that everyone feels that way,” he said about the honor. “That’s great, that’s absolutely super.”

The Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival marched in for a tie at second.

A berry-good honor

One of many now appearing locally in a growing trend throughout the city, the Fountain Farmers Market has certainly kept customers happy as purchasing produce locally in their neighborhood has never been easier. Thus, they voted it as the best farmers market .

“We’re thrilled,” East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District’s main street manager Renee Gilinger said of the recognition. “The market really hit its stride [last] year. We received over 250 shoppers each week.”

The Center City-based group Farm To City lines up the farmers whose goods have appeared at the fountain, East Passyunk at 11th and Tasker streets, 3 to 7 p.m. each Wednesday from about May through October since 2006.

“It all depends” Gilinger said on the seasonal market’s duration. “It’s based around the strawberries. When the strawberries come up, the market starts. We usually know a few weeks ahead of time.”

Aside from the fresh berries, the three participating farmers surrounding the intersection’s aesthetically-pleasing “singing” fountain offer other fruits, vegetables, Amish cheese, meat, bread, honey, baked goods and cut flowers.

“You actually have the opportunity to compare produce between farmers,” Gilinger said of the multiple 20-foot stands bursting with fresh products.

This summer, the avenue also will offer free, metered parking for patrons after 3 p.m. on the day of the market whose variety allows residents the opportunity for one-stop shopping and even the appeal of perusing the nearby avenue’s shops and enjoying dinner at one of its many restaurants.

“I think it being close to all the other great, great businesses around it is very helpful to its popularity,” Gilinger said. “The fact that it’s close to other things — folks don’t have to go out of their way.”

Some still prefer the Italian Market placing it second while Lower Moyamensing’s market at Fels Community Center nabbed third.

Knock out

When one thinks of Philly he or she thinks of cheesesteaks, Benjamin Franklin, the Phillies and last, but certainly not least, “The Italian Stallion.” So it comes as no surprise Sylvester Stallone’s “ Rocky ” films were voted best movie/TV show shot in South Philadelphia .

Although some may not like that a fictional character has become synonymous with the area, Rocky Balboa put Philadelphia on the map for people who have never come to the City of Brotherly Love. People from out of the state or even the country flock to infamous sites where Rocky roamed. The Italian Market and the Art Museum’s famous steps, where Rocky ran alongside droves of kids, are the most recognizable sites in the flick and became tourist sites. But let’s not forget of course the Philadelphia Zoo where he proposed to the lovely Adrian, Mighty Mick’s Gym where they took away his locker or his beaten down rowhome apartment where he housed Cuff, Link, Moby Dick and Butkis.

Not only did the Rocky character personify the city of Philadelphia with a story of redemption, but the infamous soundtracks including Survivor‘s “Eye of the Tiger” gave a distinguishable feel to the city as he unorthodoxly trained to them.

The movie itself grossed more than $225 million — the highest in 1976, and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards — winning three — including Best Picture. It ranks 78th in American Film Institute’s 100 Years … 100 Movies list and lands No. 2 for best sports film.

Whether it was Apollo Creed patronizing fans, Clubber Lang‘s ridiculous earrings, the steroid head Ivan Drago, the scrub Tommy Gunn or the overrated Mason Dixon, Rocky represented Philly, well, beating everybody and leaving an everlasting impression on the streets of South Philadelphia.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” was the runner-up while the “Invincible” received third-place recognition.

Follicles and cuticles

South Philadelphia has so much to offer that not everything can receive kudos at once. Mindful that cleanliness is next to godliness, voters have named hair/nail salon as the top category not on this list .

Spring makes people want to look and feel sharp, and this winner proves that ballot-fillers have beauty on their brains. Seeking to pair their bodies’ renewal with the season’s, they gave this selection more than one-third of the vote.

The area’s numerous facilities ensure that any urge to spruce up one’s follicles or cuticles will meet someone’s willing and skillful hands. This choice signifies that economic difficulties can do little to thwart a desire for hygienic improvements and means that lovely ladies soon will be even more irresistible.

Preferences abound when seeking a location for a snip and/or a clip, with little distance between shops meaning even a last-minute request will not go in vain. Thanks to their numbers, hair/nail salons can claim a huge role in making the area a prettier place.

Dentist and pharmacy finished tied for second. SPR

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