April 4, 2008
Phillyist VIP: Natalia Smirnov
This week's Very Important Philadelphian is Natalia Smirnov. She dwells in South Philly and works with the Temple Youth VOICES Project.
How long have you lived in Philadelphia and what brought you here?
About two and a half years. I chose to come here to finish school, because every time I visited, it was a magical adventure. I've met so many amazing creative people! This is where I'd want to be if the world was ending.
What is your favorite place in the city?
South Philly! It's so beautiful and diverse. I live in the heart of the Italian Market, surrounded by Mexican bodegas, Vietnamese supermarkets and traditional Philadelphian cuisine (Pretzels & Cheesesteaks!). There's lots of young artsy people too and everyone gets along pretty well.
What is the strangest thing that has happened to you in Philadelphia?
Not once, but on two separate occasions, I've been stopped on the street by foreign men demanding to hug me. Feeling obligated to represent the city of brotherly love, I've complied with the request.
If you could change one thing about the City of Philadelphia, what would it be?
More trashcans = less trash on the streets!
Pick one: Rocky Balboa or Benjamin Franklin?
BFF!! (Benjamin Franklin Forever!) He said wine was proof that god loved us and also apparently wrote a book about farts. He had some good ideas about education, too.
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"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Ben Franklin
That's a common mis-quotation that has been circulating among beer enthusiasts. I actually used to work at a microbrewery and that quote, with the beer on it, was on our t-shirts. Then some scholar did some research and it turned out that Ben Franklin wasn't actually a huge fan of beer at all, but really liked wine.
Natalia Smirnov, you're brilliant. I've been plugging the "more garbage cans will equal less garbage on the streets" plan for the entire time I've lived here.