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Mummering
"It looked like a jailbreak at Willy Wonka's Factory" -- Inafunk at Philly Blog
Akkams Razor on the origin of Mummering, from cakewalks to the Carnival of Horns.
Metroblogging's Marisa noted how many floats doubled as day-care facilities.
The 700 Level saw green everywhere.
The Publications Office channeled a 30-something sax player from Bustleton Gardens -- no woman, no car, no kids, but lots of ma's chicken parm.
Finally, thanks to reader Christopher H. Paquette, who shared this tasty shot from an unseasonal Saturday.
For those of us who live around Second Street, it's the worst day of the year -- after the Mummers are done, they take their drunk asses back through our neighborhood, loudly, pissing and vomiting all over, breaking stuff, and doing it loudly. This year was even worse because of the warm weather, and reminded me of the 2001 Mardi Gras awfulness -- all night long, drunk partiers heading from South Street to the 2 Street clubs, loudly. Rear view mirror of the minivan outside our house was broken off, with a guy yelling "[Expletive] happens!" at 12:30a to commemorate his feat, while other rowdies ripped out everything from our flowerpots and threw them around. I finally called the police at 1am to ask them to send someone to the neighborhood, and after that, things finally started to quiet down by 1:30 or so. But it was awful, awful.
A. That photo is awesome. B. I am sorry to hear about the damage your stuff, Adam. I have often wondered what people who live on 2nd St. do when they can't stand to seeing some fat guy urinating on their front steps. While the 2st. celebration is an important part of Philadelphia culture, and I attend every year, I am shocked that so many people don't seem to realize that 2nd St. is a RESIDENTIAL STREET.
Zoe, thanks -- 2nd Street between South Street and Washington Avenue (before you get to the clubs) is, other than the WaWa and the copy store across the street, 100% residential. And there was no police presence at all, no enforcement of open container laws anywhere during the day or night, etc.