Monday night, while cruising around South Philly, Luigi and I happened by 2nd & Jackson to check out the newly renovated Burke Playground. While there, we met Mark Squilla who, as head of the Burke Playground advisory board, has transformed the park from an antiquated playground into a state-of-the-art hockey, basketball and community meeting place. After watching a couple games, Mark invited us to McDaniels Saloon at 2nd & Snyder where he moonlights as the Monday-night bartender. There I met his wife Brigid Squilla, who was eager to share her favorite car story.

As is often the case when you graduate college, money is tight, so you look for the best deal. When Brigid graduated from West Chester University in 1985, her first car, a 1969 baby blue Volkswagen Beetle, cost her $500. Like many of us, she immediately gave her “new” car a pet name, Baby. As you might have guessed, Mark and Brigid met at a bar, the old “Harry the Hat’s” in North Wildwood, where Mark DROVE her crazy while trying to get her attention. Since he didn’t have a car and was doing enough drinking for both of them, Brigid offered to drive him home. While Mark was smitten with her, he mistakenly accepted the offer for a ride as an invitation to further their relationship and once in the car didn’t wait long to “make his move.”

Unbeknownst to Mark, Baby was very protective of her “mommy.” The passenger door, while secure for most passengers, was more than willing to let Mark know when he was attempting to move too fast. Every time Mark would try to steal a kiss, the door would spontaneously open and Mark would need to focus all his energies on trying to prevent himself from falling out of the car, and thus abandon his amorous pursuits. Not until Mark “slowed down” did Baby let him stay in the car without incident.

Fast forward to 2008, Mark is still DRIVING Brigid crazy; but now their four real babies, ranging in ages from 12-17 years of age, are there to help steer him in the right direction! So if you are driving around near 2nd & Jackson Streets, be sure to check out the new Burke Playground. Maybe you could start a community group in your neighborhood and spearhead a similar transformation of your local park. Until next week, ciao for now!

Last week, Luigi celebrated our nation’s independence by crossing the Walt Whitman Bridge and heading east to the SHORE. Whether it was a tractor trailer driver honking his horn while giving me the thumbs-up sign, or a teenager reaching outside her parent’s minivan to snap a cell phone photo, Luigi cruising on the expressway was quite a site! We shared Pacific Avenue with the famous jitneys in Atlantic City and Watched the Tramcar in Wildwood.

Along the way we met many former and current South Philadelphian residents, but of course Luigi was busy “checking out” the other cars. He spotted a 1972 Lincoln Continental in the parking lot of the Sandbox Motel in Wildwood and before I knew it, we were talking to the motel’s owners Joe and Rita D’Urso. As it turns out, Joe and his wife Rita grew up in South Philly near 15th & Dickinson. While Joe explained the Lincoln belonged to a guest of the motel, soon I found myself sitting by the pool listening to his “car that got away” story.

It turns out Joe served nine years in the United States Army and while stationed in Ethiopia between 1963 and 1965, he also had a little car that was a “blast to drive and real attention getter!” a 1959 Fiat 500! When I asked him what he remembers most about the car, he shot back, “I never forgot that car. It was green and white, had suicide doors and was just a really fun car! I still regret not bringing it back home with me “especially now with the price of gas these days!”

So, if you are in Wildwood during the summer months, stop by to see Joe and Rita at the Sandbox Motel on the corner of Park Boulevard & Cresse Avenue. Expect free coffee and donuts and ask for the Fiat Discount! You can also pickup the latest South Philadelphia Public Record there! Ciao for now!

The Philadelphia Phillies have sponsored several Cultural Heritage days this year, from Irish Heritage Night where fans were treated to hundreds of step dancers, to Asian Heritage Night when fans were mesmerized by a yoga instructor in the middle of center field.

However, this past Saturday, Luigi got to celebrate his hometown culture when the Phillies celebrated Italian Heritage day at Citizens Bank Ballpark.

The festivities began with local 10-year-old, James Gatto, a student at Fifth Stone Music School 18th & Bigler Streets, singing the traditional Italian favorite “O Sole Mio”. Fellow South Philadelphian Frank Tenaglia, a nationally-known Italian tenor, was next with his inspiring rendition of our national anthem.

The first pitch was then thrown out by a well-known local guy, originally named Robert Louis Ridarelli, but who is better known to many of you as Bobby Rydell. After the 5th inning, Janine Massi had her Super Star Dance Studio team from 20th & Hartranft Streets perform the Tarantella with the Phillies Phanatic, who actually was able to stay in step.

All these festivities were preceded by a sight that you needed to see to believe. Of course, it being Italian Heritage night, Luigi attended the game and allowed his Italian (and Phillies) pride to be known as he adorned himself in classic Italian colors and Phillies regalia. When Luigi was spotted by the Phillie Phanatic, he immediately ditched his four-wheeler, ran over to Luigi and in classic Italian style used his hands to say, “I gotta get inna thata car.” After some creative maneuvering, he squeezed all 7 feet and 300 pounds into Luigi and popped out through the roll-top roof. The red, white and green Phanatic waved an Italian flag as Luigi drove him around the entire ballpark, while the crowd cheered, ”LUIGI, LUIGI, LUIGI!” As one Phillies employee replied when asked about the festivities. “Everything was great, however, Luigi was the biggest HIT of the day.”

Check out the Phillies’ website to see when your Heritage is being celebrated. Until then, “Ciao for now!”

See the video here!