I’m In Love: A Philadelphia Story

Yeah, Another Blogger

In 1974, while floundering in life, I moved from a town in New York State to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for employment reasons. I knew almost nothing about the city when I started my new job as a caseworker with the Pennsylvania Department Of Public Welfare. Well, I lucked out. The job became the first section of a PDPW career that lasted well over 30 years. And, right from the start, I felt at ease and at home in The City Of Brotherly Love.

I was wowed by Philly’s music scene and museums, its art galleries, bookstores and record stores, its beautiful parks and plethora of houses and other structures erected in the 1700s and 1800s. I had landed in a place loaded with history and culture and, as it turned out, poised to embrace the future. For, Philadelphia has gotten better during the subsequent years. A world-class restaurant scene has developed, for instance, something almost nobody would have predicted back then. And the looks of downtown Philadelphia improved, taking on a modernistic slant when a crop of skyscrapers, as sleek as can be, began to rise in the 1980s.

To this day, Philadelphia’s assets have resonated with me quite perfectly. Which is why I’ve never tired of Philadelphia. There’s zero chance my love for this city will end before I bid farewell to Planet Earth.

In 2005, for reasons too banal to go into, my wife Sandy and I moved from Philadelphia to a nearby suburb, where we still reside. However, the relocation didn’t mean that my need to absorb Philadelphia’s vibes had lessened. On the contrary. For the next four years I continued to get my Philadelphia fix regularly, because I worked in an interesting section of the city and also because I frequently indulged, during non-work hours, in good stuff the city had to offer. And, since retiring from PDPW in 2009, I’ve journeyed to and immersed myself in Philly two to five times each month, often with Sandy. I just can’t stay away.

During the last decade or more, one of the activities I’ve most enjoyed is taking long walks, with no agenda in mind, through different Philadelphia neighborhoods. Nearly every block contains one thing or another that grabs my attention, and the rhythms of my legs in motion make me feel free. My latest expedition took place on the final Tuesday of July. That’s when I drove sleep-deprived Sandy, who was too groggy to be behind the wheel safely, to her hair salon appointment in Philadelphia’s Queen Village section. After I parked the car, Sandy entered the shop where magic occurs, and I ventured off to see what was up in Queen Village.

Over the next hour and a quarter I walked along many of Queen Village’s blocks, some of which I’d never been on before. This neighborhood, which is a bit south of Philly’s far-better known Old City section (Old City contains Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and other famed American landmarks), has a fair number of green spaces and a few funky commercial corridors. On those corridors, one finds taverns, fabric stores, a Jewish-style deli and other eateries, a bookstore, tattoo joints, craft shops, and on and on.

Most of the blocks, though, are primarily residential. They are calm, partially shaded by trees, and just plain lovely. The majority of houses, I’d guess, date from the 1800s. There are plenty from the 1900s and aughts too, and some that remain from the 1700s during Philadelphia’s early years of development. If Sandy and I ever seriously contemplate moving back to Philadelphia, Queen Village might be a neighborhood for us to consider landing in.

Before heading back to the hair salon to retrieve Sandy, I popped into Three Graces Coffee, in the heart of Queen Village, to rehydrate and have a bite to eat, as the outside temperature (85°F/29°C) had begun to drain my aged bod of energy and had put me on the verge of sweating like a frigging pig. Three Graces saved the day. A glass of iced peppermint tea went down swimmingly. And a blueberry muffin, as good as any I’ve ever eaten, put a smile on my inner face. I was content, and already looking forward to my next round of exploration, whenever that might occur, in the city I know best.

173 thoughts on “I’m In Love: A Philadelphia Story”

  1. andrewcferguson's avatar andrewcferguson August 22, 2024 / 12:07 pm

    I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – you’re the greatest asset Philadelphia Tourist Board has! You never know, we might even visit the city in person some day…!

    Liked by 3 people

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  5. Unknown's avatar Anonymous August 23, 2024 / 10:38 am

    Beautiful photos, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Robert Parker's avatar Robert Parker August 23, 2024 / 11:09 am

    Hi Neil, I’ve only spent one summer in Philly, an internship when I was in college, but I’d move there in a heartbeat. A ramble through an old neighborhood and a glass of iced mint tea sounds pretty great.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Dave Ply's avatar Dave Ply August 23, 2024 / 6:41 pm

    I’m a little embarrassed to admit that while I’ve seen a bunch of countries, I’ve seen relatively little east of the Mississippi in my own. Philadelphia is a mystery to me. I suspect a visit there, along with some of the other colonial era sites would be quite interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. alhenry's avatar alhenry August 24, 2024 / 6:00 pm

    Your Philly love story reminded me of how I felt when I turned in my resignation at my editing job and headed east from Michigan to Boston. I had never been to the East Coast but knew it was exactly where I belonged. And 41 years later, like you, I am still in love with my “new” home (though I’ve moved a bit further inland than your drift to the Philly burbs, I’m still 90 minutes from Beantown). And for all the same reasons. I remember in 1983 how the Harvard “Coop” knocked me out. Thousands and thousands of books, plus a lovely cafe to grab a coffee and winnow down my endless TBR choices to something I maybe could afford. When you find the right place, your soul knows it: You are HOME. Wishing you and Sandy many, many more happy years in your paradise.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 25, 2024 / 12:07 am

      You and I are fortunate to have landed where we were “meant to be.” A lot of people, I think, never find a place that meshes with them meaningfully. And some folks are dissatisfied types who wouldn’t be particularly happy anywhere. Thanks a lot for adding your thoughts, Amy. See ya!

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  11. The Blogging Blogger Bloggist's avatar The Blogging Blogger Bloggist August 25, 2024 / 11:13 am

    This is really lovely. Your eternal love for the city of Philly & the tour you gave us while we were reading. It’s such a beautiful story. Thank you! BBB

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  12. D. Wallace Peach's avatar D. Wallace Peach August 25, 2024 / 1:26 pm

    What a lovely tribute to Philadelphia, Neil. When I lived in New England as a kid, my mom took me there at least once a year to take in the history and visit museums, and I remember many of those trips. I consider myself a country girl, but I love cities that have a vibrant feel to them, with lots of character and beauty and things to do. It’s been a long time since I was in Philly and hope to get back some day. Enjoy!

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  13. Ilsa Rey's avatar ParentingIsFunny August 25, 2024 / 4:37 pm

    Super sweet. Great way to pass the time. Your refreshment sounds like it was just right too. Glad Sandy was too sleepy to drive herself. This: “Sandy entered the shop where magic occurs” is hilarious. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 25, 2024 / 9:04 pm

      Hey there, Betsy. Sandy and I were in Philly today. Ate at a place called Wm. Mulherin’s. Among other things, we had a margherita pizza there. It was as good as any pizza I’ve ever eaten, maybe the best. And I’m a tough judge of pizza!

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  14. ckennedy's avatar ckennedy August 25, 2024 / 6:52 pm

    A few years ago, I visited Philadelphia for a conference, and I took Nate and Alex with me–and it was so much fun. We loved taking in the sights.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 26, 2024 / 5:18 pm

      If Philadelphia’s city government or tourist agency offers me a part-time job that pays handsomely — I’ll take it!

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  16. snakesinthegrass2014's avatar snakesinthegrass2014 August 26, 2024 / 1:42 pm

    I’m very jealous of your proximity to Philadelphia. I lived there for a few months after college and loved it. Should have stayed! Great pics. – Marty

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 26, 2024 / 5:24 pm

      Hey there, Marty. Over the last quite a few months, I’ve really gotten into eating at Philadelphia restaurants I’ve never been to before. The restaurant scene in the city is amazingly vibrant, and not only in the downtown areas.

      Liked by 1 person

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  19. Pam Lazos's avatar Pam Lazos August 27, 2024 / 3:12 pm

    Hooray for Philly! The mayor’s office should hire you, Neil. ;0)

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. Image Earth Travel's avatar Image Earth Travel August 28, 2024 / 12:08 pm

    A great tribute and wish you would have published this before my trip to Philly! 😉

    It’s great to see you’re still in love with Philly after all these decades – you’ve found home.

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. annieasksyou's avatar annieasksyou August 28, 2024 / 4:15 pm

    A delightful ode to your urban home. I hope the heat hasn’t become so oppressive that it inhibits your soul-satisfying journeys.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 28, 2024 / 8:03 pm

      Howdy, Annie. Heat has kept me from going on as many long walks as I’d have liked. The high today for instance was 95 degrees F.

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  22. roughwighting's avatar roughwighting August 29, 2024 / 5:17 pm

    You make me wish I had gotten to know “Philly” (as everyone I knew named the city) when I lived in Southern NJ (25 minutes from Philadelphia) and no one spoke up about the beauty of the place. My dad worked there for years, and growing up, I never once heard him wax poetic about Philly. In fact, as a teenager when I wanted to take a bus and walk around there, he forbade me! Since then, I’ve lived in PA and Wilmington DE and then SF and now Boston, but I’ve never been back to my NJ suburb nor Philadelphia. The photos of Queen Village remind me, though, of the brick-endowed townhomes in Wilmington’s similar neighborhoods.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 29, 2024 / 9:42 pm

      Hi. My father was similar to yours in that he worked in Manhattan for years, and, as far as I can recall, never exclaimed about it. I guess that was because he spent most of his time there in his workplace on Lexington Avenue. (We lived on Long Island, and he drove back and forth to Manhattan each workday.)

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger August 31, 2024 / 4:08 pm

      Hi. If you visit Philadelphia, I’m sure you’ll have a good time. There is a whole lot of interesting sights to see and things to do.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • slfinnell's avatar slfinnell August 31, 2024 / 4:17 pm

        Thankfully my husband has been there for a short visit which kinda helps to know the ‘lay of the land’ as they say. Looking forward to it someday!

        Liked by 1 person

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  24. tanjabrittonwriter's avatar tanjabrittonwriter August 31, 2024 / 9:10 pm

    It’s really nice to know that you haven’t grown tired of Philadelphia after all these years. I’m sure there is always something new to discover during your jaunts in the city. I hope you keep finding fun places and people.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger September 1, 2024 / 6:53 am

      Morning, Tanja. I landed in the right place all those years ago. I was lucky. I won’t run out of interesting things to see and do in Philly. Have a good week. It’s hard to believe, but there are only four months left in 2024.

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      • tanjabrittonwriter's avatar tanjabrittonwriter September 1, 2024 / 7:16 pm

        I’m glad you found your forever home, Neil. At least for this life, which is, indeed, flying by far too fast.

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  26. The Mindful Migraine Blog's avatar The Mindful Migraine Blog September 2, 2024 / 8:19 pm

    The world seems pretty glum at the moment, so it is so refreshing to read someone’s joy at being right where they are at! Lovely! Linda xx

    Liked by 2 people

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  27. rkrontheroad's avatar rkrontheroad September 8, 2024 / 11:15 am

    Looks like such a great city, and your love for it shines. I grew up near New York and wandered Manhattan regularly, exploring different areas. Always something interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

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  28. AmericaOnCoffee's avatar Americaoncoffee October 13, 2024 / 9:10 am

    Philly is special with the history of America’s beginnings and all, but you Neil, have a special docent charisma. Hope you’re enjoying the new month and season. ☀️😎

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      • AmericaOnCoffee's avatar Americaoncoffee October 14, 2024 / 6:20 am

        Will try. Many thanks Neil. Have a good week too.

        Liked by 1 person

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  29. Shawnerly's avatar Shawnerly October 13, 2024 / 4:50 pm

    Old City used to be home! Thanks for appreciating the city! 🥰

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