15 Things You Need to Know When Living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -Local Secrets Revealed
Are you ready to uncover the local secrets about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Hold on tight to your cheesesteaks, because I am about to give you the 15 insider tips that will make life in the Philly Metro even better! From hidden parks to hoagie heaven. After this article you will be blending in with the locals. And if you are thinking about moving here, check my digits at the end of this blog!
Get ready to dive headfirst into the 15 things you absolutely need to know when living in the land of cheesesteaks and brotherly love. It is time to uncover the local secrets that will have you screaming, “Philly, here I come!”
Let’s get down to the 15 Things You Need To Know When Living In Philadelphia Pennsylvania — Local Secrets Revealed!
#1 BYOB Culture
The city of Philadelphia has its own unique “Bring Your Own Bottle” culture, particularly in our restaurant scene. This boozy dining culture arose from a combination of Pennsylvania’s strict liquor control laws and our history of Quaker influences that discouraged the sale and consumption of booze.
Over time, the BYOB culture in Philadelphia and its suburbs has become ingrained in the fabric of our dining establishments creating a boozy adventure that attracts locals and tourists alike. It has contributed to Philly’s reputation as a food destination creating a dining experience that sets Philadelphia apart from other cities in the US. Just make sure you download those rideshare apps before you go out!
#2 Wawa
Let me tell you something about Wawa… if Wawa did not exist the people of the Philly metro would starve to death! … or maybe we would not have a 30% obesity rate! I’m not sure which..
Wawa is the favorite convenience store in the Philadelphia Metro. It will become your one stop shop for gas, coffee, sandwiches, snacks, drinks, last minute dinner take out and anything else you could need or want and many of them are open 24 hours a day.
Seriously, Wawa is life here in the Philly Metro. The hell with Dunkin, Starbucks, and any other bougie coffee shop you wanna throw at me. Philly locals will tell you — what’s up — Wawa’s coffee is hands down the BEST.
#3 City of Firsts
Philadelphia is a hotbed of firsts. It is like Philadelphia was born with an “I’m first’’ mentality. We have America’s first library. Philadelphia had the first hospital. Philadelphia’s forward thinkers were so eager to fix people up, they did not even wait for the invention of medicine. Just imagine a bunch of dudes in powdered wigs playing “doctor” with leeches and snake oil remedies.
We also boast the first stock exchange. Forget about Wall Street with it’s hookers and cocaine. Philly was like, “Hold my cheesesteak! We are turning capitalism into a sport!” Can you picture a bunch of Philadelphians yelling and trading stocks like its an Eagles football game. “Buy low, sell high! E-A-G-L-E-S- EAGLES!” So when you come for a visit, be sure to explore the numerous historical landmarks and museums to learn more about Philadelphia’s colorful past.
#4 The Mummers Parade
The original drag queen performers! The Mummers! Just kidding, folks. The mummers do dress in sequence, feathers, make up, and fancy costumes but most are married men with kids and they are not grinding on each other’s backsides! BUT You might find them grinding on a hoagie and a Lager down on two street after the parade, especially if they were part of a winning brigade.
The Mummers Parade, held on New Year’s Day, is a Philadelphia tradition like no other. Not only do these troops feature elaborate costumes but there is music and performances too. So skip the binge drinking on New Years Eve so you can get up early on New years Day, drag your ass down to Broad Street and join us locals for the type of celebration that only happens in Philadelphia
#5 The Italian Market
The oldest and largest continuously operating outdoor market in the United States is right here in Philadelphia and it is The Italian Market in South Philly. Locals love the Italian Market! If you are not from around here you might not know about it because we are greedy when it comes to keeping the best meats, fish, cheeses, fresh produce and baked bread all to ourselves! But since you are lucky enough to be reading this blog now you know!
The bustling stalls are a sight to see, let me tell you. It is like a chaotic maze of vendors, each one looking for a little ka-ching with their sales pitches vying for your attention with all their tasty goodies! So, grab your stretchy pants, unleash your inner foodie, and venture into the Italian Market.
Prepare to be seduced by the flavors, and overwhelmed by the choices. It is the kind of place where you will come for the food but stay for the show. Do nit be surprised if you walk out of there with enough delicious treats to feed a small army. Because let’s face it, when it comes to food, moderation is highly overrated. Mangia, my friend!
#6 SEPTA
SEPTA, which stands for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is the primary public transportation system in the Philly Metro. If you decide you want to live downtown and go car free then you will want to get familiar with SEPTA’s routes and schedules to navigate the city.
SEPTA connects with commuter rails in New Jersey and has an extensive network into the suburbs too with its regional rail and bus lines. If you suck at driving, do us all a favor and let someone else handle it. There are plenty of places here where you can live without a car, even in the suburbs! We will explore those options in future videos.
There have been many times throughout my life where I have relied on SEPTA to take my ass where I needed to go. Buses, trains, elevated trains, Regional Rail Trains. The Subway. I have been on them all. Embarking on a journey via SEPTA will be entertaining to say the least!
#7 The Philly Taco
The Philly Taco, also known as the “South Street Challenge,” is a Philly food challenge that involves wrapping a Jim’s Steaks cheesesteak with a giant slice of pizza from Lorenzo’s on South Street.
Neither eatery serves this “dish” so you’ll need to hit up Jim’s and Lorenzo’s separately to make this franken food mashup, if you can stomach all this Philly food goodness. I have eaten a Jim’s Cheesesteak and a Lorenzo’s slice but I do not think I have got what it takes to try and eat them both together.
And on a side note Jim’s Steaks on South blows away Gino’s and Pat’s all day every day. Fight me…
#8 Foodie Heaven
Philadelphia is heaven on Earth for foodies! We are a city of immigrants so whatever your cravings are, you will satisfy them in Philadelphia. But you do not wanna miss out on trying the local dishes Philly itself has become known for. I am talking about cheesesteaks, hoagies, soft pretzels, and scrapple. Of course, the steak and hoagie sandwiches originated in South Philly where Italian immigrants made it their mission to serve up the best sandwiches and always trying to put a creative mix of meats, cheeses, and veggies between their buns!
Soft pretzels and scrapple find their roots from German immigrants in the 17th and 18th century who brought with them their local food traditions. If you never had soft pretzels, well, I can tell you they are amazing. And these days we dip them in cheese, mustard, Nutella, anything your heart desires. That is why locals love soft pretzels because they are so versatile. As for scrapple, well folks, it is a meat product, mostly served with breakfast, that some locals love and I will let the name “scrapple” speak for itself.
#9 Underground Tunnels
Creepy underground tunnels are not unique to the city of Philadelphia but not many other cities have tunnels of such historical significance like Philly does. There are tunnels beneath City Hall, where you can imagine the politicians of the past scheming about how they will screw over their constituents! A secret lair where politicians and city officials held clandestine meetings.
Lying beneath the oldest residential street in America, Elfreth’s Alley, there is an underground museum that showcases what remains of previous buildings and gives us a glimpse into Philly’s history and the lives of its early inhabitants.
Let’s not forget about Eastern State Penitentiary, a historic prison located in Philadelphia with an extensive network of tunnels beneath it. The prison’s tunnels were not only used to transport food and supplies but also the bodies of deceased inmates. The prison itself is considered a remarkable architectural and historical landmark that is a very popular tourist destination around halloween with its spooky ghost tours.
#10 Spruce Street Harbor Park
Another local Philly secret is the magical atmosphere created at our seasonal pop-up park located on the Delaware River called Spruce Street Harbor Park. This unique urban park on the waterfront features hammocks, floating gardens, food vendors, colorful lights, a Beer Garden and so much more. Embrace your inner sloth as you swing gently in the breeze sipping a local beer feeling the knots of stress slowly unravel. And all throughout the summer months community events at Spruce Street Harbor Park allow you to engage with other locals and meet new friends.
#11 Philly Art Scene
More vibrant than the gayest of gays at a Philly pride fest is Philly’s Art Scene. If you live here you will never run out of galleries and museums to visit. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Barnes Foundation, and Rodin Museum are must-visit destinations for art enthusiasts. For the kids, we have the Please Touch Museum and Franklin Institute. And for all you real weirdos out there there is the Mutter museum with its collection of anatomical and pathological specimens.
#12 Sports Fervor
I am pretty sure the whole world is aware that Philadelphia is a sports-loving city, with fans who are extremely passionate about supporting their teams. Get caught up in the excitement by attending a Philadelphia football game with the Eagles, a baseball game with the Phillies, or a 76ers basketball game. Attend a game and join in a city-wide therapy session where everyone gathers to yell, cry, laugh, scream and celebrate. Even if you are not big into sports like me, you will still find yourself cheering for the home team.
#13 Hidden Parks
Philadelphia has many beautiful parks beyond the well-known ones like Fairmount Park and Rittenhouse Square. Philly is hiding some seriously awesome parks that are like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Forget about the well-known ones; we are talking about the parks that make you feel like you are in on the city’s best-kept secrets. Wissahickon Valley Park, where Mother Nature decided to show off her landscaping skills. Then we have Cira Green, Philadelphia’s secret rooftop oasis with panoramic views of the city. It is a secret garden perched on top of the world, where you can bask in the sun, have a picnic, and pretend you are the king or queen of the skyscrapers. And let us not forget Schuylkill Banks, the hidden gem along the river that offers stunning views and a tranquil escape from the chaos of city life.
#14 Mural Arts
Sure, you may find a lot of graffiti in Philly on walls, fences, buildings, and maybe even all over your very own vehicle! What we are really renowned for is our vibrant street art scene. The Mural Arts Program is here to prove that “bigger is better” is not just a saying. They have taken the notion of “go big or go home” to heart and slapped massive murals on every available surface. Walls, buildings, even fire hydrants — they have all become part of the artistic vision of Philadelphia’s muralists.
The Mural Arts Program has transformed many neighborhoods with stunning murals. All you need to do to admire these incredible works of art is take a stroll through the streets of Philly. Get some exercise and get cultured all in one shot!
#15 The Elfreth’s Alley Museum
This place is so secretive most Philadelphians never even heard of it! Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest residential street in the US, dating back to the early 18th century. The museum showcases the history and preserved interiors of some of these historic houses along the alley, giving you a glimpse into Philadelphia’s colonial past. It is like stepping into a time machine and being transported back to a time when powdered wigs and petticoats were all the rage. This museum is your portal to the past, you will be amazed by the wonders of 18th-century living, like cramped rooms, low ceilings and tiny furniture that will make even Danny DeVito feel like a giant!
Despite my smartass sense of humor, I absolutely LOVE helping people find the right place for them right here in the Philly Area.
I’m Dawn D’Amico and I’m a licensed agent in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you have decided that your heart is set on living somewhere in the Philly Metro, reach out to me below. I LOVE hearing from people who want to live in one of the best metros in the country.
Dawn D’Amico: 215.962.9307
damico.dawn@gmail.com
