PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� Couples who look awkward on skates 鈥� and on dates 鈥� had a chance to celebrate their cute clumsiness in a Rocky and Adrian look-alike contest at Philadelphia鈥檚 on Friday.
The evening event at the University of Pennsylvania鈥檚 1923 Ice Rink was meant to echo the pair鈥檚 first date in 鈥淩ocky.鈥� In the classic 1976 film, the eponymous boxer never actually dons ice skates in the scene, but instead shuffles alongside his best friend Paulie鈥檚 sister as she tries to stay upright.
The contest's winning prize was a dinner at South Philadelphia鈥檚 iconic Victor Caf茅, where the servers also sing opera, along with a hotel stay and a $250 certificate for a Rocky-themed gift shop.
New York City firefighter Jason Carrion and his wife, Roxanne Carrion, took first place.
鈥淚 wanted to do something because we鈥檙e the biggest 鈥楻ocky鈥� fans, I think, ever. I mean, just look at us,鈥� said Jason Carrion, dressed in a leather jacket and hat identical to Rocky's street wear in the movie.
Roxanne Carrion called the event her dream date. 鈥淚鈥檓 going ice skating, going to the 鈥楻ocky鈥� steps dressing up, and now we鈥檙e going to see 鈥楻ocky鈥� film at the movie theater. So this has been the perfect date for us,鈥� she said.
She said the film has garnered such widespread appeal because of the 鈥渦nderdog鈥� theme: "It鈥檚 an inspirational story that transcends any age or a person, doesn鈥檛 it?鈥�
Philadelphia served as a backdrop to the popular 鈥淩ocky鈥� franchise, something the city is celebrating nearly 50 years later with a five-day that grew out of the inaugural Rocky Day in 2023.
The events this week have included a mural unveiling, movie marathons, talks on the enduring appeal of the Sylvester Stallone character and a bus tour of favorite scenes.
Meanwhile, a second cast of the was unveiled at the top of the Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art 鈥� the original was featured in 鈥淩ocky III鈥� 鈥� and will remain there through Dec. 31.
鈥淭his statue represents everything that the Rocky films stand for: resilience, heart, and the unbreakable bond between Rocky and the people of Philadelphia,鈥� Stallone said in a statement.
The Associated Press
