Stephen Starr’s Best of Philly
STEPHEN STARR
Best Philly discovery: Smith playground in Fairmount Park.
Best block: Delancey between 3rd and 4th.
Best concert ever seen in Philly: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars at the Tower Theater.
Best food trend of 2011: Aimee Olexy and Talula’s Garden.
Best sandwich: The turkey sandwich at Top of the Hill Cafe [in Chestnut Hill].
Best hairstylist: Whoever can see me in five minutes.
Best Shore town: Stone Harbor.
Best Phillie: Chase.
Best place to take out-of-towners: Reading Terminal Market.
Best Philly legend: Mario Lanza.
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INGA SAFFRON
Best Philly discovery: The Secret Cinema.
Best Philly song: Susan Werner’s “Shackamaxon Street.”
Best Philly movie: Nathaniel Kahn’s My Architect.
Best new building: The Piazza at Schmidts.
Best old building: PSFS.
Best snack: Tomato pie fresh out of the oven at Sarcone’s bakery.
Best Shore town: Cape May.
Best Phillie: Roy Halladay, for his record.
Best thing to happen here in 2011: The park on Race Street Pier.
Best thing in local media that isn’t written by Inga Saffron: I’ll get in trouble for this one—the Daily News editorials.
Best suburban town: Doylestown.
Best city neighborhood: For the next 15 minutes, East Passyunk.
Best place to take out-of-towners: Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Garden on South Street.
Best thing we have to look forward to in Philly: The possibility of a neighborhood emerging on the Central Delaware.
Best Philadelphia icon: The view of the Boathouse Row lights as the train pulls into 30th Street Station—even though they’ve lost their old twinkle.
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SHANE VICTORINO
Best restaurant: BlueFin.
Best athlete who’s not a Phillie: Michael Vick.
Best Philly discovery: Tastykakes.
Best block in the city: Pattison Avenue and Citizens Bank Way.
Best Philly song: “Eye of the Tiger.”
Best sandwich: A Geno’s cheesesteak.
Best place to take out-of-towners: The Liberty Bell.
Best Philly legend: Julius Erving. •
Best Philly movie: Rocky.
Best place to shop: Saks Fifth Avenue.
Best place to watch a game: Citizens Bank Park.
Best place for a date: Don’t know … married.
Best Shore town: Margate.
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SABRINA TAMBURINO THORNE
Best Philly discovery: Electricity. What would we do without it?
Best place for a party: Franklin Hall at the Franklin Institute.
Best Philly song: “Summertime” by Will Smith.
Best after-hours spot: Zee Bar.
Best snack: Sweet Ending frozen yogurt.
Best event: Ball on the Square.
Best Shore town: Margate.
Best athlete: Shane Victorino.
Best restaurant: Buddakan. It’s an oldie, but still my favorite.
Best new restaurant: Serafina … and it could not be more convenient for me.
Best place to drink a glass of wine: Rouge.
Best thing to happen here in 2011: PIFA.
Best thing we have to look forward to in Philly: A Red October.
Best date spot: Barclay Prime.
Best place to dance: Table 31 on Thursday nights. My girlfriends and I call it “Dance Party Night”!
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JOAN SHEPP
Best Philly discovery: Benjamin Franklin discovering electricity right here in our city.
Best restaurant: Wow! There are so many, but a one close one [to my shop] is Zama. And Little Pete’s.
Best suburb: I’d have to say it’s a toss-up between Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.
Best tailor: That’s a no-brainer. Irina Sigal.
Best shop that’s not Joan Shepp: The Paper Source. We love to buy our birthday cards and ribbon there.
Best place to take out-of-towners: All of the historic sites, especially the Constitution Center.
Best snack: A Philly pretzel, water ice … and of course, anything Tastykake.
Best park: There are two that I love: Rittenhouse Square and Franklin Square, for the carousel ride.
Best Philly movie: How can I narrow that down to just one? I would have to say Mannequin and Philadelphia.
Best Philly song: “Motown Philly” by Boyz II Men and “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John.
Best Philly icon: Ed Rendell.
Best Shore town: When I go to the seashore, I love to visit my sister in Margate.
Best thing to happen to Philly in 2011: Small and large businesses supporting relief for Japan and Alex’s Lemonade. As we supported these two charities—with the help of the Philadelphia community—we were able to raise a lot of money. Helping others is key!
