How great is Philadelphia?

[Digits]

My life sucks, I stopped playing mmos and realized I fucking hate where I live, my job and that my friends are boring fucks who won't do anything adventurous to make our lives interesting (Go out to the bars, two nights in a row? I don't know, I better not and keep living with my parents for the next 3 years. I want a change of faces, scenery and workload. I'm trying to figure out how living would work there. I used to live in State College, and that's a fucking awesome town. Dozens and dozens of unique bars, restaurants and hang outs with every type of atmosphere you could want and drink specials everywhere. I'd love a repeat of that experience without going back to State College.

My big question is this: Is Philly going to give me what I'm after? Is the public transportation quality? How much would I pay to live in an area where I won't get chain shanked, and still get access to bars and restaurants, all of them not the worthless chains like Fridays or Applebees, where I can meet new people? Ideally I wouldn't have to drive everywhere. I know it has great cultural events that I'd enjoy attending, so that isn't much of an issue.

The job isn't too important, as long as it lets me break even, and I have enough credentials and experience to land a decent position. I have zero debt, hate monetary possessions, get drunk easy and can make a good meal for a buck or two thanks to the economy putting me in a kitchen job. Right now I just want to enjoy my life, and I'm trying to figure out where the best place for that would be. So, yea, any advice would be great.

I'd prefer to live in King of Prussia because that is the best area for the jobs I'm looking for plus I have two friends who live in or just outside that city but it seems that KoP is just a sprawling suburb. Does that sound right? I'd prefer to live just outside Philly, but I'm not going to trade good night life for cheaper rent and proximity to old friends when I'm out to make new ones.

[Kaxmax]

Try to find something in the Old City area & you'll love it. I lived down at Penn's Landing for 2 years and had a blast, tons of nightlife in that area. Really diverse selection of restaurants and bars, nice areas to walk around, close to a decent shopping area with the Gallery.

I still work in the city a few days a week, but actually live at the Jersey shore now. I don't miss it, but I definitely had fun living there when I was younger.

Coincidentally I also went to Penn State, all 4 years at State College. My younger brother is still there, I try to get out there at least once or twice a year for a game. Awesome town.

[tikkus]

You could always move in with kegkilla.

[GrobbeeTrull2.0]

I miss State College, thanks for bringing it up, asshole

[Lithose]

The public transport system isn't bad, actually fairly good. You do have quite a few great places to eat, not large chains and a ton of mom and pop shops (If you like Pizza, I recommend Vincents Pizza on Grant, right off Roosevelt. Best I have ever eaten, by far.). Bars are ok, nothing great, comfortable ones and fancy ones.

Only massive problems with the city is that its dying a slow, painful death from high taxes and economic flight. Also, its a very "zone oriented" city..Like around the college campuses (Temple, Penn ect) its wonderful, plenty of things to do, well maintained or around "tourist/development" spots, south street, Italian market, landing and even center city. However, learn the neighborhoods well, because you are not fucking welcome in a lot of them and if you stumble into the wrong one at the wrong time, it can be an experience to say the least. At all costs avoid Kensington, what a worthless shit hole that place is, only superseded in shittiness by some parts of Baltimore and Detroit.

[Thorpe]

King of Prussia is a bit far away from the city. I would suggest Old City, Northern Liberties, or Manayunk. Living costs decrease in that order as well.

I've lived in Manayunk for the last two years since I graduated college. I live with three of my old college roommates and pay $500 in rent plus utilities. We are walking distance from main street, which has plenty of bars to choose from. Every so often we will take the train, a station is only a few blocks away from our house, into Old City. Twice as many bars and plenty of types to choose from. Main street also has it's fair share of unique restaurants, and the train allows you to access the numerous offers through out the city.

I've never lived in Norther Liberties but a few old friends of mine have/do. It's become a new hot spot and is really starting to turn itself around. New bars/restaurants are going in and the housing is still fairly cheap. In some places it may even be cheaper than Manayunk.

Old City is more expensive but you are right in the middle of the city so it comes with the territory.

With my job I get to expense parking when I work in the city but when I have taken the train I haven't run into any problems. It gets crowded during rush hour but I doubt any cities are different. It's also easy to catch a train from 30th street station to most points north and south of the city. I've traveled to NYC and Boston for work, as well as DC and Baltimore.

I'm a bit biased because I've lived just outside the city for my entire life and went to college at St. Joseph's, but I really love the city. There is a lot of history downtown and plenty of things to do in and just outside of center city. If you have any other question just let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

[Digits]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I'm relieved that there seem to be a good amount of places that offer what I'm after. Thorpe, your setup with the walking distance bars and train station to Old City sounds fantastic. My sister actually lives two blocks from the Italian market so I'll ask her about the city zones and what she recommends. She'd be the one I stay with while I figure out where to live in Philly, presuming I got a job before I found a good place to live.

The bar mix sounds good. I like dives and fancy bars, albeit my preference is basically entirely bent on happy hour and beers on tap.

Originally Posted by tikkus

You could always move in with kegkilla.

I have no idea who this is, but honestly I'm all for living with complete strangers. It's a potential and likely disaster, but the one time I did it I had a fantastic experience. I get along with anyone who doesn't smell, keeps a clean bathroom and jerks off in a private room, and this is mostly because I grew up with brothers who only respected the last.

[w166um]

If you want to work in King of Prussia, I suggest finding a place in that area. Avoid 76 for your commute at all costs- I can only describe it as a waste of life.

[Convo]

Originally Posted by Lithose

(If you like Pizza, I recommend Vincents Pizza on Grant, right off Roosevelt. Best I have ever eaten, by far.).

I keep hearing that but man I just don't see it. I tried it a few times and it was kinda blah to me. Maybe b/c I like thicker pizza tho.

To the OP. I have lived in Philly my whole life and am guilty of not taking advantage of everything it has to offer. I think Manayunk is def a good choice. Pretty chill area. I have never spent any time in King of Prussia so can't comment on it. If you do move to Philly you should adopt our hate everyone attitude. You also have to learn the Philly anthem.

YouTube - Fly Eagles Fly

[OhSeven]

Careful moving to Philly. You may soon find yourself in Bel-Air.

[Lithose]

Originally Posted by Convo

I keep hearing that but man I just don't see it. I tried it a few times and it was kinda blah to me. Maybe b/c I like thicker pizza tho.

To the OP. I have lived in Philly my whole life and am guilty of not taking advantage of everything it has to offer. I think Manayunk is def a good choice. Pretty chill area. I have never spent any time in King of Prussia so can't comment on it. If you do move to Philly you should adopt our hate everyone attitude. You also have to learn the Philly anthem.

YouTube - Fly Eagles Fly

I have eaten there whenever I get pizza, if the grandmother or pop is there, they make the sauce its really good, if not, it can be a little bland.

Thing is..ask for extra sauce, and tell them to make it well done. When they burn it a little it toughens up the crust and gives it a little more texture, which makes it great..The younger sons though don't do that unless you tell them.

[column]

[pemulis]

if you move to philly (or the surrounding suburbs), you have to take the pledge to hate everything and anything to do with NYC (especially the sports teams)

[prescient63]

night man, sneaky and mean
Creeping inside my dreams
i think i love you
you make me wanna cry, you make me wanna die
i love you i love you i love you i love you i love you night man

every night you come into my room and pin me down with your strong arms you pin me down and i try to fight you you come inside me you fill me up and i become the night man

Just two men sharing the night
It might seem wrong but it's just right
It's just two men sharing each other
It's just two men like loving brothers
One on top, and one on bottom
One inside, and one is out
One is screaming he's so happy
The other's screaming a passionate shout
It's the Night Man
The feeling so wrong it's right man
the feeling so wrong...
I can't fight you man when you come inside me and pin me down your strong hands and I'll become the Night....the passionate, passionate Night Man.

They took you Night Man
and you don't belong to them
They left me in a world of darkness
without your sexy hands
and I miss you Night Man
so bad.

[spronk]

From exhaustive research I have learned that its always sunny there.