NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: It could have been our blurred vision

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: It could have been our blurred vision

POSTED: Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 9:39 PM

In this column's past, Critical Mass immersed itself in one neighborhood each week and found its most stylish inhabitants. We're switching things up. Now, this will be a space for us to find fashionable folk all across the city. But we're still keeping the hood theme — kinda, sorta — by taking note of where we found our subjects and trying to glean which trends are specific to which neighborhoods.

Photos | Josh Middleton and Julia West

Screw Disney World. We found the new happiest place on earth, and it's East Passyunk Avenue, where pretty people don't drip with disdain. Instead, they were happy to chat us up with a few dirty jokes and nonchalant style tips that are an accurate representation of this up-and-coming South Philly 'hood.

Behind the counter at B2 (1500 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-271-5520), baristas James U. (28) and Joanna Q. (25) were cleaning up. The messy duo was shocked that we wanted to feature them on Neighborhood Watch, but they were happy to indulge us with a quick pose and a little insight into their true-to-self styles. James called his look "working-class." "I'm a sloppy mess," he says. "I always have buttons missing." Joanna says she prefers to wear ugly colors and dresses. Despite their ragamuffin styles, we found James and Joanna relaxed and adorable.

Photos | Josh Middleton and Julia West

Jen Z. (27) poses with her glass pussy, which is one of the many great finds at her vintage shop Sweet Jane (1742 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-339-0882). We thought she looked smokin' in her Biba-gypsy fashion, influenced greatly by the ladies from Heart and the belladonna herself, Stevie Nicks. As a fashion boutique owner, Jen has a heads-up about how to keep it fresh. "People are always into accessories," she says. "You can make old looks seem brand-new."

Photos | Josh Middleton and Julia West

Brian W. (25), the self-proclaimed fashionable dork, had a laid-back style that was fitting for P'unk Square. He may have been in work clothes, but he admitted he doesn't dress any differently when he's not busing tables at Cantina (1651 E. Passyunk, 215-755-3550). He feels he lacks an accessory that all the other waiters rock, though: the beard. It's OK, Brian. You understand flesh-colored beards are a little odd. So, we give you our blessing for keeping it smooth.

Photos | Josh Middleton and Julia West

We spotted these two dude's dudes, Hammer W. (30) and Baby Chris (21), while carousing at P.O.P.E (1501 E. Passyunk Ave., 215-755-5125). It could have been our blurred vision, but at the time we were feeling their bike messenger/backwoods fashion sense. In the midst of a heated discussion about city biking, Chris threw open his jacket to reveal his opinionated purple tee. Hammer shared Chris' loathing of Councilmember Frank DiCicco, who proposed some fairly ridiculous, unfair bike enforcement laws in November (but who, as of late, may be an OK guy after all). "When Frank DiCicco dies," says Hammer, "bury him with his ass out of the ground — so I have a place to park my bike."

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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