Editor's Note: It's time

OPINION

By Cynthia Marone

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Mar. 18, 2010

The wicked winter weather has finally left us. Spring begins Saturday and those other two bellwethers of the season — St. Patrick’s Day and Daylight Savings Time — are now in the past.

It’s about time.

This spring, possibly more than any other in recent memory, will be greeted with open arms, budding trees, sunshine and jam-packed playgrounds. There will be no worrying about allergies, pollen, stem to stern house cleaning and the like.

Push the windows open, hear the noise outside and feel the breeze.

When there is so much to be had in the world, it can be easy to overlook what’s in the backyard. Our Readers’ Choice voters took the time to tell us what the best is out there on their streets, in their schools and everywhere in between.

There were hundreds upon hundreds of responses and the stifling winter gave people plenty of time to think.

What was the best Spectrum event of the long-time stadium’s final year?

What is the best place for a bachelor or bachelorette party?

The ballot also gave all who participated a chance to look at they way we are living. Eating at home is up and money is an ongoing concern for just about everyone. Yet, people still love going out and being seen and making the scene, but dollars in the pocket are nice, too. Who says you can’t have it all? We tackled money-savers and places to go for (sometimes free) fun this year with categories like Best Dollar Menu (who hasn’t indulged?) at a chain eatery, favorite student/senior discount and best place to people watch or grab a cup of coffee. If you didn’t know who had the best bang for your buck before, this is a pretty good primer from the people who use them religiously.

There is much out there this spring and there is plenty of time to take advantage of it. Our readers have done the hard work, which can be found on the following pages: Of putting together the blueprint for a pretty good spring day in South Philly.