What was Philadelphia like during America’s Bicentennial in 1976, and what does the nation’s 250th Anniversary mean today? For many Philadelphians, the Bicentennial was more than a national celebration. It was a time of neighborhood pride, strong community ties, championship sports teams, and family traditions that stretched from South Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore. As […]
Why Millie’s Ice Cream South Philadelphia Became a Neighborhood Landmark Millie’s Ice Cream in South Philadelphia was one of the neighborhood’s most beloved gathering places, located at the corner of 15th and Shunk Streets. Known for giant ice cream cones, friendly service, and generations of neighborhood memories, Millie’s became a destination where families, children, police
Millie’s Ice Cream at 15th & Shunk: South Philly Memories & Traditions Read More »
Answer Block Growing up in South Philadelphia in the 1960s and 1970s meant street summers — homemade fireplug wrenches, half-ball games with broomstick bats and pimple balls cut in half, water ice from Pop’s on Oregon Avenue, pretzels from the cart, and worn-out Converse sneakers slung over telephone wires. There’s something unique about growing up
Growing Up in South Philly: Fireplugs, Half Ball & Street Summers Read More »
A South Philly Memory What do longtime South Philadelphians remember about soft pretzels and the pretzel man?For generations of South Philly kids, Saturday mornings meant the pretzel man pushing his cart down narrow rowhouse streets, selling classic Philly-style soft pretzels — the traditional twisted, braided-loop shape Philadelphians grew up with, not pretzel sticks or knots.
South Philly Soft Pretzels: Federal Pretzel & The School Recess Brown Bags Read More »
When I was a kid in South Philadelphia, pizza wasn’t an endless scroll of choices. It was a short list, and you knew exactly where your family went. For us, South Philly pizza memories always started with Cacia’s—Friday pizza and tomato pies, especially during Lent, were a real neighborhood routine you could set your week
South Philly Pizza, Home-Phone Orders, and August Shore Summers Read More »
How Neighborhood Bars Shaped Friendship, Identity, and a Way of Life South Philly bars in the 1960s and 1970s weren’t just places to drink.They were neighborhood anchors — quietly divided by age, work schedules, and life stage — where friendships formed, reputations mattered, and bonds were forged that lasted a lifetime. In many ways, the
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Some memories don’t fade. They stay sharp—the cold air, the music echoing off rowhouses, and the sense that everyone you knew was exactly where they were supposed to be. Such is the feeling of New Year’s Day in South Philly. For me, New Year’s Day in South Philadelphia wasn’t something you watched on television. It
New Year’s Day in South Philly: Memories of the Mummers When I Was a Kid Read More »
A week ago, our granddaughter Verona gave us something we’ll never throw away: a handwritten letter. It wasn’t a holiday card. It wasn’t a thank-you note. It was a school assignment — and it turned into a keepsake. As part of a class project, Verona was asked to write a letter to her grandparents asking
Dear Verona: A South Philly Christmas Letter Between Generations Read More »
In South Philly, there are a lot of ways to measure the holidays—but my favorite has nothing to do with a calendar. Quick Answer: In South Philly, Christmas traditions often mean holiday bakery runs to Termini’s and Isgro’s, seafood and bread stops (including Ippolito’s), the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and Midnight
Growing up in South Philadelphia meant winter didn’t need mountains or fancy equipment. Experiencing sledding in South Philly was simply about having snow on the ground, a cardboard box, the lid from a metal trash can, or anything slick enough to slide — and you had a sled. Before the Stadium District, or now it