Author: unexpectedphila

The Great Photo Album Adventure (Part 10A): John the Barber

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When I first shared Arthur Tavani’s fabulous mid-1960s photo album,  there were local faces that every South Philadelphian recognized:  Singers Bobby Rydell,  Fabian and Al Martino;  boxer Joey Giardello;  comedian Guy Marks.

“So who’s the guy in the white coat standing next to your brother and Jerry Vale?  A doctor?  A dentist?”  I asked Virginia Tavani Romano,  Art’s sister.

“That’s John the Barber!”  she immediately replied.

16_03_14 1 Jerry Vale John Valente Jack Baldschun(From left: South Philadelphia nightlife writer Art Tavani,  singer Jerry Vale,  John the
Barber,  and Phillies relief pitcher Jack Baldschun in John’s shop around 1964.)

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The Great Photo Album Adventure (Part 9): The Stars Shine on Philly

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Over the past 9 months,  we’ve introduced you to a magical 1960s photo album….and told you some of the stories behind it.

Back around 1964,  South Philadelphia nightlife columnist and photographer Arthur Tavani collected over 200 photos of himself with nationally and locally famous singers,  comedians,  athletes,  politicians,  judges,  business people and more.

16_02_28 1 Art Tavani Album(Art Tavani greets South Philadelphia’s Al Martino,  bottom right.  Not all the stars
were locally grown:  That’s Art with Tony Bennett,  top,  and Bob Hope,  bottom left.)

Many of the best-known entertainers – ranging from Bobby Rydell and Fabian,  to Al Martino and Guy Marks – were South Philly natives.  Today,  we’ll show you Art’s photos with famous out-of-towners… Continue reading →

In Memory of Dumpster Diver Randy Dalton: The Blue Grotto

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Last fall we introduced you to the art-filled home and fabulous gardens of Philadelphia Dumpster Diver Randy Dalton and his longtime partner Michael Martin Mills.

16_02_10 15 Michael & Randy 8560(Michael Martin Mills,  left,  and Randy Dalton in their always summery dining room.)

And,  yes,  you can still tour their house and garden on our website,  and read the blog post about them here.

RANDY’S  BLUE  GROTTO

But Randy had a magical surprise up his always blue sleeve – one we planned to interview him about later this year:   His Blue Grotto art environment.

16_02_10 1 Randy Dalton Blue Grotto CM_7495(Randy’s Blue Grotto contains hundreds of blue lights,  sculptures,  found objects, 
photos and more,  in support of his  “Do Blue!”  campaign for the arts)

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Ready for a fun new Dumpster Diver house tour? Meet Ellen Benson…

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It’s tour time again!

Over the past 8 months,  Unexpected Philadelphia has taken you to 8 inspiring, art-filled homes belonging to the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers – that warm and wacky band of artists and collectors who exhibit,  socialize and produce witty,  up-cycled art together.

Today we’re heading to the home and studio of Ellen Benson,  sister of Divers’ co-founder Neil Benson,  whose house we’ve already visited.

16_02_05 01 Ellen Benson Wall DC_2211(Ellen in her living room with what she modestly calls “The Wall”.
About a third of the work is hers; the rest hails from around the globe.)

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Dumpster Divers at Dupree Gallery Thru Jan. 30

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If you follow our Unexpected Philadelphia website,  you’ve toured eight wildly creative homes and studios belonging to members of the Philadelphia Dumpster Divers – that merry band of found-object artists who prove  (in the words of co-founder Neil Benson)  that “Trash is simply a failure of imagination.”

16_01_12 01 Diver Dupree Show DC_1152(Divers take to the walls of the Dupree Gallery.)

And now through January 30,  you can experience their work firsthand at Philadelphia’s Dupree Gallery in Queen Village.

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South Philly Celebrity Windows Are Up!

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Bobby Rydell,  Fabian,  Al Martino,  Buddy Greco….Ed Hurst,  Cozy Morley,  Len Barry….Phil Jaye,  Guy Marks,  Al Fisher and Lou Marks….Joey Giardello,  the Day Brothers….

16_01_04 1 Bobby Ryell_3632
(“Wildwood Days” and East Passyunk nights: It must be Bobby Rydell…)

Fifty years ago,  you couldn’t walk down a South Philadelphia street – or enter a club – without encountering one or several of them.

And now,  for the month of January,  they’ll be smiling back down on the neighborhood.

16_01_04 2 Al Martino & Fabian_3710(Native sons Al Martino & Fabian Forte)

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Light Up Your Life on Smedley & Colorado Streets

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The gifts have been opened and the leftover turkey is  (thankfully!)  gone,  but there’s still plenty of holiday magic in Philadelphia…

2015_12_28 1 Smedley DC_3672

(The 2700 block of Smedley Street in South Philadelphia is a stroller’s delight.)

In earlier posts,  we told you about South Philadelphia’s  Miracle on 13th Street  between Morris and Tasker Streets and  our own neighborhood window display  at E. Passyunk Avenue and Tasker.

But there’s more – way more – holiday fun a mile away,  in the area of Smedley and Colorado Streets…  Continue reading →

Take a photo tour – then visit “The Miracle on South 13th Street”

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They call it Philadelphia’s  “Miracle on South 13th Street”  and – when you see our website photo tour – we know you’ll agree….

15_12_09 Miracle on South 13th_3045(The view up South 13th Street, looking north between Morris and Tasker Streets.)

Every year –  from the Saturday after Thanksgiving,  until the first week of January –  the 1600 block of South 13th Street is transformed into a holiday wonderland that’s touted as one of the best places in town for Christmas lights.  Continue reading →

“Colonial Revival Meets Dumpster Diver” House Tour: Ann Keech

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First, take famed architect R. Brognard Okie,  who designed a Colonial Revival masterpiece for a young married couple in 1902.   (Paid for by the groom’s father, of course….)

15_12_01 1 Okie Inglenook_9287(This wonderfully inviting inglenook shows Okie’s love of woodwork and clever design.  With those big windows on the landing,  how did he hide the fireplace chimney?)

Next,  take Ann and Ev Keech,  who stumbled on the fixer-upper home just outside Philadelphia in 1977,  and began administering tender loving care while raising three children there.

15_12_01 2 Okie Dining Room_9305(Did we mention the elaborate woodwork?  And,  yes,  Okie carefully designed the fireplace columns to match those seen outside on the porch.)
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Neighborhood Holiday Windows Are Up!

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They’re back!  On Sunday,  we lit our 27 holiday windows with portraits of the many great neighbors,  shop owners, and dogs  (lots of dogs…)  we’ve met since moving to South Philadelphia in 2012.

So,  if you’re dining or playing near the  “Singing Fountain”  between now and New Year’s Day,  we hope you’ll check out our windows at East Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street.

15_11_23 1 Tasker Street Windows(Our first holiday window display in December, 2013.)
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