southphillyreview.com
TICKETS
■ The South Philly Review is in the giving mood with a pair of tickets to the Merriam Theatre’s Dec. 29 presentation of “I Love Lucy.” Visit southphillyreview. com/contests.
NO RESERVATIONS
■ Tap Room on 19th chef Jennifer Choplin used a recently purchased, locally produced order of greens as inspiration for her Broccoli Three Ways special. See page 27.
SPORTS
■ A Point Breeze dweller helped his high school football squad to capture three championships.
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Vol. 66 NO. 51 ■ December 19, 2013
Merry Christmas
Honoring Mandela on Fitzwater
A South of South resident commissioned a London artist to portray the human rights champion. ■ By Bill Chenevert R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
A
lthough Ram Krishnan got the ball really rolling on the Nelson Mandela mural that graces the side of his 1600 block of Fitzwater Street home last summer, he had been thinking of and planning the execution for years. Krishnan is an information technology consultant with a history of international business traveling who spent nearly two years in South Africa. Since Mandela’s Dec. 5 passing, the mural he commissioned by artist Ben Slowe, aka Slow Mo, has gotten quite a bit of attention. While in Johannesburg, Krishnan was inspired by the country’s rich history and how the modern notion of interracial harmony achieved in the African nation has been so heartily shaped by Mandela. “W “What I loved about South Africa is that Homeowner th they’ve kind of embraced their past and and art enthusiast m moved on with their future,” Krishnan said. Ram Krishnan stands before “They’re optimistic, they believe they can the commissioned work of art do anything in the world, especially the that has proven doubly meaningful kids over there; whatever race they may since human rights activist Nelson be, they were just happy to see coexistence Mandela’s Dec. 5 passing between two rival races. And it’s all bein South Africa. cause this man worked hard to get [aparthheid] out.” S ta f f P h o t o b y Krishnan’s house is full of art, but for the Bill Chenevert outdoor exhibit, the South of South resident outd was working w with a pretty short list of subjects: Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and Mandela. He had hopes tha that the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts ProSee MANDELA page 10 >>
Especially fancy Mummers
An LGBT “Miss Fancy” Brigade will return to the parade for a second year.
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