Is anyone else seeing these reflector-tape words on city streets? I’ve seen a few already, but have been in transit and thus unable to snap them. This “was” is outside our office at Second and Chestnut.

Is there a route that forms, say, a sentence? And are these in any way tied to the reflector-tape Stickman outbreak of 2007?

Photo | Brian Howard’s android

this is where was was.

Send me your photos (bhoward [at] citypaper [dot] net), or post links, and we’ll try to solve this puzzle.

	Photos | Jesse Delaney

CP contributor Jesse Delaney sends these images of a couple of the shirts for sale ($10, proceeds above cost go to PAWS) at the Crafts for a Cause sale going on today till 6 p.m. at the Rotunda, put on by Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia.

gnome, wit’ whiz

Before Sunday, I thought the historic Battle of the Cheesesteak between Philly’s most iconic South Philly eateries would forever split the city.

And then that Roaming Gnome came to town. Surely if he were spotted visiting the Philadelphia Zoo, Art Museum, Boat House Row, Reading Terminal and many other tourist spots around the city during his stay, then he would a) have to gobble down a cheesesteak and b) choose between Pat’s or Geno’s.

But he didn’t. I mean, he ate a South Philly cheesesteak — two, in fact. But not from Pat’s or Geno’s.

Instead, the Gnome ate at Cosmi’s Deli (Eighth and Dickinson streets), which had been recommended to him while he visited South Street’s Magic Gardens. While most places know beforehand that the Gnome and his entourage of two are coming for a visit, the folks at Cosmi’s had no idea. Luckily, owner Michael Seccia happened to be in the shop to welcome the lawn embellishment. He gave the Gnome and his posse some brief history about Philly, snapped some pictures, and even admitted, “I feel like I’m in greatness more so than with the President of the United States.

Seccia believes that his cheesesteaks won over Pat’s and Geno’s because “everything is fresh, on the spot. You know, we don’t have things pre-cooked or waiting for you. Everything is made to order for you.�

His customers agree. Logan Britt, 20, was visiting Philly with a group of friends from Greenville, N.C., and saw the Gnome stuffing his face outside Cosmi’s. Ecstatic, she ran toward him, camera in hand. “ Y’all picked the right place for a cheesesteak!â€� she told the Gnome and his crew. “I’ve been here for two days and I can really tell why Philly won — I wish the Gnome would come to Greeneville!â€�

Aside from Cosmi’s, the Gnome’s favorite place may well have been the Art Museum. After running up the steps like Rocky, he shouted, “I love this city!â€� Us, too.

Now, watch an audio slideshow showcasing all the places the Gnome has roamed (also on the list: Eastern State Penitentiary, McGillin’s Old Ale House and the National Constitution Center):

Thanks for visiting Philly, Travelocity Gnome! Have fun in Cancun/Hawaii/Jamaica.

He’s so elusive…

I wasn’t especially confident about my quest, because I have never met a person who successfully caught a gnome. But still I set out on Thursday, whizzing around the city on my bicycle, looking for signs of an 18-inch bearded man.

The Travelocity statue has been visiting Philadelphia the past few days after residents used social media sites Facebook and Twitter to beckon the him to the City of Brotherly Love. Since his arrival, he has been posting tweets about his whereabouts. It was all the encouragement I needed to go on a wild goose (er, gnome) chase.

Armed with a camera, I biked down a rain-slicked Walnut St towards City Hall, where the Roaming Gnome had said he was chilling with William Penn. I was disappointed to find that my arrival was too late. I sat on the steps of City Hall, instead, staring off down Market Street. But I was determined not to give up too soon. When another tweet was posted, I was again hot on his trail.

The gnome’s post had a GPS location attached that placed him on Latimer and 17th. Even with an exact location, though, I couldn’t find him anywhere. Forlorn and defeated, I sat down on a bench in Rittenhouse. A homeless man was nice enough to keep me company for a short time, and we silently people-watched together.

I spent the better part of my day trying to find that tiny man who came to our enormous city. I’m still unsure where my search whent awry — Matt, a fellow intern here at City Paper, managed to find him. Maybe I’m just not gnome-hunting material.

Meredith Edlow, GPTMC

Although he’s quiet, reserved, and stands just under 2 feet tall, the audacious creature-person brought to Philadelphia by Travelocity is tackling our city one lawn at a time, and he’s doing it like a star. Roaming Gnome landed in Philly yesterday as part of Travelocity’s Summer of Possibilities national six-week tour.

The travel agent company has the nation vote among three cities every week for the Gnome to visit.  The contest drew in roughly 50,000 votes among Washington D.C., Boston and Philly, with our city nailing a whopping 21,000 votes — just a grand more than runner-up Boston.

“If you truly look at history, Boston is important. But Philadelphia is quintessential,” says Cara Schneider, media relations director of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. (GPTMC). “If you look at Philly’s neighborhood fabric, life in the city, food and culture and history, you couldn’t have America without Philadelphia.”

Meredith Edlow, GPTMC

Schneider met with the iconic traveling lawn piece yesterday to schedule events for his stay in Philadelphia. Although the Gnome’s crew is not aware of their next destination until the day before take-off, Schneider says that since his arrival in Philly, the Gnome has been making a lot of friends. “He was kissed, hugged, bitten and cooed about by the whole staff,” she says. “And let’s remember, he’s the spirit of travel. He, and his handlers, are on the road to inspire wanderlust.”

Some stops: the steps of the Art Museum, Saturday’s Phillies game (at which the Gnome is rumored to meet the Phanatic) and other destinations around the city. Today at 10:30 a.m., you can catch Gnomey at the Comcast Building. Afterward, he’s heading for Boat House Row and then Reading Terminal.  For happy hour this evening, he’ll be drinking at McGillin’s.

If you see the Roaming Gnome, take a snapshot and send it our way (e-mail carolyn.huckabay@citypaper.net); and remember, even if you don’t want a picture with him, according to his Twitter, Roaming Gnome is giving away ”Free hugs for everyone! Come here so I can plant a smackeroo on your cheek.”

Make out with a gnome? I’m game!

My good-looking-dude-in-a-summer-suit radar went off about a half-block before I realized I was not-so-surreptitiously staring at none other than Terrence Howard. Oops.

Howard, who has a home in nearby Lafayette Hill, and another handsome gentleman were shaking fans’ hands outside the U.S. Customs House this morning at 10 a.m. (Fellow stalker Molly Eichel reports overhearing an older lady telling Howard how much she enjoyed him in Pride. Me, I’m a Crash girl.)

They took a seat on one of the benches on the southwest corner of Second and Chestnut to chat — maybe about the movie that’s filming (and disrupting traffic) on Chestnut between our Old City HQ and Broad Street?

Since the older lady and I have chimed in, it’s your turn: What’s your favorite Terrence Howard movie?

In the meantime, sorry for the ogle, Terrence. Also, you should never let anyone photograph you (see right) while your fingernails are that long.

Photo | Sean Collins

Clog reader Sean shares this photo of a FUBAR payphone near the corner of Broad and Montgomery on  Temple’s campus. How did anyone manage to rip this thing out of the ground so cleanly?

I don’t have an opinion on the infamous Snuggie product that’s got me wondering why people aren’t just wearing their bath robes backwards. A blanket with sleeves? Does it have pee holes?

There’s been increasing hype surrounding potential Snuggie bar crawls in Philadelphia, in which a bunch of crazy-ass folks wearing them get crazy-ass drunk.

Local Fox 29 television even gave Snuggie Crawlers in Chicago some coverage:

I don’t know which image of douche-snuggerie makes me more angry: the chick with the belt over her Snuggie or the Snuggie-d chick wearing the tiara and sunglasses.

(more…)

I spent Saturday morning as part of a troupe of rebel volunteers trying to tidy up FDR Park. I spent the first part of my morning picking bottles, cans and so so many plastic bags from the reeds that grow around the rim of  “the lakes.” The photo below displays some of my handiwork. But gale force winds conspired to create a disturbance in The Force.

Photo | Brian Howard

Choppy Seas!

Then Darth Vader and a bunch of storm troopers showed up at the marble pavilion on the northeast edge of Meadow Lake.

Photo | Brian Howard

It’s a trap.

I was detained, of course, but after a daring escape found myself forced to try to escape from the trash compactor unit below. You don’t want to know what’s swimming around down there.

Photo | Brian Howard

The Walls are Closing In!

Please share your Spring Cleanup stories in the comments section.

Thousands welcomed the arrival of spring yesterday at Fairmount Park’s Horticulture Center for Sakura Sunday 2009. Here are some photos of the event, which featured performances, live music, and Japanese crafts and calligraphy.

Photo | Drew Lazor

I wonder how many times the scientists have been interrupted by people who really need to go.

Photo | Drew Lazor

Saw this perfectly fine-looking HP printer sitting on a stoop around 17th and South the other day, complete with user’s guide and a bag full of ink cartridges. Guess this guy or girl gives up pretty easily. Not sure if it’s still there, but it’s worth a walk-by.

Should we take someone tossing out this expensive device as a sign that the recession ain’t quite as bad as we make it out to be?

Photo | Jesse Delaney

Friend of the Clog/CP contributor Jesse Delaney sends this photo. We don’t agree with the sentiment. Can you name th elocation?

Top: The image we used inside and outside Ashlea Halpern’s quite memorable cover story on people who castrate themselves. (Battle of the Sexless, April 6, 2006)

Bottom: The flier for a rock show at Danger Danger, found stuffed in the window of a City Paper honor box at Third and Chestnut this morning.

Does that take balls or what?