I live in the Italian Market neighborhood myself. Having found a broken mirror while doing the project, I took a self-portrait. I love the neighborhood because of its diversity and I love the people who live here because they are not pretentious. Another great thing about the market is fresh produce and an amazing cheese selection!
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Barney McKenna has been living in the Italian Market area since he can remember himself. "Must be...like 18 or 19 years," he says. Barney is getting a coffee and an egg sandwich for a homeless person whom he noticed around the corner. "This guy has been sitting there since morning. Damn! He must be really cold." Barney likes getting fresh produce in the Italian Market. "Better than Whole Foods!" he notices with a smile. The only think Barney dislikes is the smell of fish in the market.
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An Italian Market employee is warming his hands over the fire. Unfortunately, he was unwilling to talk, but we understand that working outside in winter is no joke.
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Joe (right) is on his way to "Pat's," one of Philadelphia's signature cheesesteak restaurants. Eating cheesesteaks is what he likes to do in the Italian Market on weekends.
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Blake is a regular at "The Gleaners," a cozy neighborhood coffee shop, where he hangs out with his friends. Blake thinks that South Philadelphia, and the Italian Market area in particular, is a great place to live. "It's not as pretentious as Old City, but has lots of character and is affordable," he says. "A lot of musicians and artists live here. I love it." Blake has been living in the neighborhood for 7 years and does not plan to move anywhere in the near future.
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Joe (left) proudly says that he has spent all his life in Philadelphia. He loves the Italian Market. Joe's two sons have recently opened "Connie's Rick Rack," a new South Philly alternative music venue on 9th and Ellsworth St. Joe is proud that he lives in the neighborhood. "It's very distinctive. It has character," he says.
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Zeke, a DiBruno Brothers long-time employee, is coming back from "The Gleaners," a small neighborhood coffee shop across the street. Zeke has been living in Philadelphia for over 15 years. He likes the Italian Market area because of the diversity of people one can meet. "There are young hipsters at "The Gleaners," older couples walking around on Saturdays, cheese-lovers, musicians, bums, all sorts of people," he says.
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Raul has been working at DiBruno Brothers for over 4 years. He likes the Italian Market "because the food is good and the people are nice around here."
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Mike enjoys working at the Italian Market, mostly because he interacts with all sorts of people.
"I'd rather do this than work at an office from 9 to 5," he says.
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Cindo Gonzalez enjoys an Italian hoagie at a small cafe at 900 Christian Street. He speaks almost no English, but seemed to enjoy spending time at the Italian Market.
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11th and Sansom St., 1925.
11th and Sansom St., 2007.
12th and Market St., 1922.
12th and Market St., 2007.
2101-2117 Walnut St., 1925.
2101-2117 Walnut St., 2007.
Academy of Music, Broad and Sansom St., 1910.
Academy of Music, Broad and Sansom St., 2007.
The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut St., 1937.
The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut St., 2007.
Market St. from City Hall, 1911.
Market St. from City Hall, 2007.
Entrance to Rittenhouse Park, 1978.
Entrance to Rittenhouse Park, 2007.
Italian Market, 1950s.
Italian Market, 2007.
Rittenhouse Park, 1978.
Rittenhouse Park, 2007.
15th and Sansom St., 1953.
15th and Sansom St., 2007.
