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Hipsters and Hoodlums: A Philly Neighborhood Guide to East Passyunk

By darlingnikki
updated 3 months ago

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The still-yet-up-and-coming East Passyunk (pronounced pass-eeee-yunk or pash-yunk) district of Philadelphia (which does not lend itself to a clever acronym) is home to many different types of Philly-ites. From the enclaves of Vietnamese and Mexicans to the old school Italian Americans to the tattooed hipsters, bar rats and artists, it is an extremely colorful neighborhood saturated in culture and intercultural animosity.

Mummer Youth

mummer youth

You can’t get more South Philadelphia than hoodlums in dresses and makeup. And they disparage the hipsters’ sexuality!!!

East Passyunk: Wild Life

There are two types of wild life in East Passyunk: hipsters and hoodlums.   Sometimes the overlap of these worlds results in cacophony, fistfights or a lot of disparaging remarks about sexual preference.

Hipster jeans

Hipster, Check

A classic hipster stance:

jeans so tight they cut off circulation? check!
bicycle? check!

Hipster and Hoodlum Dudes: It's in the Jeans

The easiest way to discern between the male hipsters and hoodlums is the cut and/or wash of the jean.  If the subject in question has wide-legged stone washed Levis paired with a T-shirt referencing a sports team, chances are you have a hoodlum.  If the jean looks like it has to be pried from its wearer’s body with a crowbar, you are most likely dealing with a hipster. 

Hoodlum Chick: The Super Tan

super super tanned

With women, this model changes slightly. If the color on her skin comes from a 10000 watt tanning bed, chances are she is a hoodlum, if it comes from a tattoo artist’s gun, most likely she is a hipster.

Hipster Chick: Lots o' ink

Tattooed

Tattooed

Singing Fountain: Only in South Philly

South Philadelphia fountain

South Philadelphia fountain

Coffee Shops: The Hipster's Natural Habitat

Storm in the coffee cup...

Storm in the coffee cup…

Benna's Cafe

1236 S 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

also try Benna’s sister cafe, B2 on 1500 E Passyunk Ave for awesome smoothies.

also try Benna’s sister cafe, B2 on 1500 E Passyunk Ave for awesome smoothies.

Rosalena's

1623 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19148

Black n Brew, Hipster Wi-Fi Hotspot

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Black & Brew

1523 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19148

 

East Passyunk Map

Bars in East Passyunk

The best bars in  usually host a cross-section of the area’s wild life.  There are also some excellent beer bars, which usually rate a bit higher on the hipster scale (even though hipsters usually partake of the Pabst Blue Ribbon).  The following bars are rated on the hipster scale: 1 pair of skinny jeans = few hipsters, mainly hoodlums.  10 pairs of skinny jeans = hipster hell, hoodlums beware, you might be subjected to indie rock.

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Dive

947 E Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147

8 pairs of skinny jeans. The Dive hosts a high concentration of hipster lesbians. They have a reasonable selection of beer, a second floor with DJs, open mic and other events (Rock Paper Scissors anyone?)

8 pairs of skinny jeans. The Dive hosts a high concentration of hipster lesbians. They have a reasonable selection of beer, a second floor with DJs, open mic and other events (Rock Paper Scissors anyone?)

Pub On Passyunk East

1501 E Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147

9 pairs of skinny jeans.

9 pairs of skinny jeans.

South Philadelphia Tap Room

1509 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145

6 pairs of skinny jeans.

6 pairs of skinny jeans.

Bella Rosa II

1712 S 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

This bar gets NO skinny jeans—all hoodlums, no hipsters.

This bar gets NO skinny jeans—all hoodlums, no hipsters.

FishHeads, FishHeads, roley, poley FishHeads

FishHeads, FishHeads, roley, poley FishHeads

Restaurants in East Passyunk

South Philly is internationally flavored with tastes of Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, Laotian, Mexican, Mexican and more Mexican.  Many of the little restaurants, taquerias and tratorias are pretty damn authentic.

Ojo Tacos

Santa Barbara, Lilly's Taqueria, ojo (eye)

Acapulco 1144 S. Ninth St, Philadelphia.

OK so my friend George heard about Ojo Tacos (eyeball tacos) and had to have one. That’s the kind of guy he is. So we headed to Acapulco Cafe and he ordered himself a tasty and delicious taco. I politely declined…it took me enough time to get used to the texture of sushi. No windows to the soul for dinner for me, thanks.

Le Virtu

1927 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Good beer selection and awesome Northern Italian cuisine. Go late night for a bar atmosphere.

Good beer selection and awesome Northern Italian cuisine. Go late night for a bar atmosphere.

Mr Martino's Trattoria

1646 E Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148

When I asked my friend Steph what Italian Restaurant in East Passyunk that was absolutely not to miss, she said “Mr. Martino’s” without hesitation. Authentic food, BYOB.

When I asked my friend Steph what Italian Restaurant in East Passyunk that was absolutely not to miss, she said “Mr. Martino’s” without hesitation. Authentic food, BYOB.

NAM Phuong

1100 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147

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