Dave Wileyby Amy Gassen
sports editor
Where do all the hippies meet? South Street.
This hot spot for hippies in the times of peace, love, and war, is now a hot spot for many walks of life. Stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, tattoo parlors and piercing parlors, populate the street targeted to serve a spectrum of social classes and cultures.
The heart of South Street, that beats rapidly with eager shoppers and sight-seers, runs from First Street through Seventh Street The Delaware River, which is decorated with many nightclubs, runs perpendicular to the famous strip.
There is an array of posh boutiques and fancy restaurants splattered throughout the area that attracts pop-cultures yuppie crowd. Balancing a college budget, however, requires shopping at the more wallet friendly stores offered.
Beyond the Wall, a cheap decorator’s dream, sells posters of all sizes, colors, genres, and prices. A black and white large-sized Rocky poster can be bought for under $20, while a framed imitation Monet can be purchased for over $200. The store also sells an eclectic mix of post cards for those who like to frequently mail home. All posters and other items are dorm room friendly.
Music lovers have many stores to choose from while taking a stroll up and down South Street Tower Records, a music giant, houses a three story store in the middle of the shopping district. This store, however, is very pricey with CDs ranging around $18. Repo records, a much smaller music store, sells used CDs for $6.99. The store will also buy old CDs. Disco Round, another cheaper music store, sells used CDs for $5.99. Repo has a very impressive rock selection.
Aspiring DJs and fans of vinyl can find a plethora of records at 611 Records. Hidden a half a block off of Fourth Street, this store contains a nice selection of hip-hop and drum and bass. Across the street from 611 Records, there is 611 Records clothing store. Sanrio accessories and UFO clothing are often on sale at this store.
American Pie Contemporary Crafts is by far the best store on the street. Each item sold in the store is both a common day appliance and a piece of art. For example, a colorful hand crafted table and chair set is for sale covered in inspirational quotes and pictures of people. A lampshade made out of spoons rests on top of a lamp. Dirty girl soap, handmade from vegetable glycerine, can be purchased for $6.95.
Quakerhead brings out the inner-child in every shopper. A huge selection of Anime movies and action figures in addition with Sanrio knick-knacks sits on the shelves closest to the front door. Deep into the store, however, Simpsons and Star Wars action figures are displayed, at a very reasonable price. Twinkie the kid, Toucan Sam, The Beatles, and other nostalgic items are also sold at this store.
If you have a hot date and are too cheap to splurge for flowers, a dozen roses can be bought on the weekends for around $6. Other exotic and common day flowers also go on sale during the weekend rush.
If you get homesick for Cabrini, WAWA nestles nicely between Eckerds and Xando a half block off of South St. on Second Street.
Hippies can still be found in abundance. Imagine, a thrift store combined with new merchandise such as peasant blouses and corduroy dresses, contains attire and accessories that speak to the inner-hippie in all of us.
