The Space 1026 Mummers collective, the Vaudevillains, are this week’s City Paper cover story. Ryan Creed looks into how a bunch of art school kids invaded the ranks of the Mummers brigades.

“They’re going to laugh at us! We’re the Bad News Bears of the Mummers!”

The New Year’s Day Mummers Parade is one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most popular traditions, second only to Independence Day. Despite its size, familiarity with the parade is still largely confined to the Delaware Valley. Having roots dating before the Civil War, the parade was officially recognized by the city government in 1901, and its present-day incarnation still shares much with the past: Members of Mummers brigades (largely South Philadelphia men of European descent) wear flamboyant costumes and perform choreographed dances with a rowdy, public drunkenness akin to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The Vaudevillains will be marching 4th in line, starting at 8:45 from Broad and Washington and will be performing in front of City Hall. Be sure to catch them in person or on TV.

Citypaper: Never Mind the Sequins, What the Hell Are the Space 1026 Kids Doing in the Mummers Parade?

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Space 1026,recent Citypaper Choice Award winner, is celebrating their 10 year anniversary with their opening of “Never Forget!: Do It Yourself With Others”. The gallery looks back at their 10 year anniversary and their over 40 members who have participated at one time or another. From Citypaper Art Picks:

What places like 1026 and Spector (RIP) did was loosen everybody up, throw open the doors to young talent and set the precedent for the new independent gallery. Now Philly’s scene is thriving on that philosophy. (Just don’t tell 1026 they’re any kind of institution.) This show gives us all a chance to catch up, surveying the work of the more than 40 members they’ve had over the years as well as their spontaneous collaborations and inspirations. Given this group’s past, it would be foolish to predict what this show will be like beyond that.

If you don’t recognize the graphic above its from the book Big Kids Little Kids a wonderful book explaining the philosophy and history of Space 1026 in their first 8 years. Pick it up from their website or at various Urban Outfitters.

Citypaper First Friday Focus, Space 1026, Big Kids Little Kids

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• Philebrity.TV relaunched today. Its snazzy and the player at the top of the page plays episodes consecutively like a real TV would. They also have commercials like real TV does too. Woohoo!
• Citypaper Choice Awards have been announced. You can read all about them, preferably in print cause I’m hoping they make more sense there. I personally linked these two together to highlight the ongoing tiff between Brian Hickey and Joey Sweeney. See Phileb’s side here and Brian Hickey’s stab here. Oh I think I get it now, there is the clever make up awards for people narrative section then there is the actual listing where the awards make sense.
• Citypaper Choice winner Damon Abnormal deserves his own section and link. Follow him along on Flickr as he dominates street art popping up everywhere, most notably in recent months with the pink soldiers and the stickmen on the street. See a sticker and want to know the name? Damon knows and saw it two weeks ago.

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Its that time again to vote in the Citypaper Choice Awards. There are 7 different categories and you can vote as many times as you want. Write ins are acceptable as well. Vote now here.

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Read the Citypaper article from the Music issue, Download the EP now for only $2

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Tonite from 7 - 9 check out Citypaper’s Independent Style fashion show at the Penthouse Grill. See the latest spring fashion from local Philly designers now available at Delicious Boutique, Topstitch, Sugarcube, Conspiracy, Tony on Third, Lost + Found, Bonejour, Deborah Finn Rittenhouse and Esque Eyewear. Admission is only $10 which includes one drink, hors d’oeuvres & 20% off one dinner item. Proceeds benefit non profit Career Wardrobe.

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This week the Citypaper published their annual style issue. Be sure to check it out online because half of the pages in the actual paper are black and white.

you won’t find a more diverse crop of curiously clothed cityfolk than the amateur fashionistas who strut our crosswalks and subway platforms. Which is why we took our Style Issue straight to the streets.

We stopped strangers to chat about what they’re wearing, and what their style says about them.

We pounded the pavement in Philly neighborhoods — some obvious (Old City, South Street), some not so obvious (the Great Northeast, West Philly) — for the best spring and summer finds.

We shopped for girl sneakers, funky hats, T-shirts, sharp specs and wacky nails.

We even asked local makeup artists to use faces like canvas to represent the ‘hoods that most inspire them.

Here’s hoping they inspire you.

Link, For more street fashion be sure to check out Broad&Market.

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