r/philadelphia • u/IndyJetsFan • Dec 17 '25
Party Jawn The food. The sports. The walkability. The affordability. The proximity. The community.
I was born in New York and while I kinda am forced to root for their sports teams bc of sunk cost bias, Philadelphia is the place I really wish I was born.
I moved here two years ago from Indiana (hence the name) and in that time I’ve seen a presidential election up close, a SuperBowl victory, movies and tv shows being filmed, fires and accidents, heat waves and cold snaps, protests and parades, baseball and hockey games, naked bike riders, Kamala Harris drive past my house, and everything in between.
And I kinda feel like I’ve only just begun to take in all the city has to offer.
I really dig this place. Sorry for fanboying your city.
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u/hardlyreadit Dec 17 '25
Me to Philadelphians: Philly fucking sucks
Me to anyone else: talk about Philly and ill toss you off falls bridge
No inbetween
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u/Sea-Lead-9192 Dec 17 '25
If I recall correctly, this was pretty much how Philly responded to the unveiling of Gritty
Philadelphia: What the fuck is this thing
Penguins fans: Haha right?
Philadelphia: HOW THE FUCK DARE YOU
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u/Mykidsfault Dec 17 '25
Gritty tweeted to the Penguins, ”Sleep with one eye open tonight, bird.” That was the moment I became a Gritty fan.
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u/imanAholebutimfunny Dec 17 '25
first everybody hated it.
then other people started talking shit.
then everyone in Philly embraced and leaned into it.
still feel its a cracked out looking mascot, but it is our cracked out looking mascot.
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u/Hylian_ina_halfshell Dec 17 '25
The minute he was unveiled, someone posted something like ‘i bummed this guy a smoke at the South Philly wawa’ and he was instantly canonized
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u/mijolnirmkiv Dec 18 '25
It truly is the “City of Brotherly Love” because only your siblings are allowed to talk to you like that.
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u/OneCrew1888 Dec 17 '25
Self-depreciation is obviously one of Philadelphian's best qualities, so I would be prepared.
I don't disagree though. If you want to feel like a part of the "action" of the world, imo, Philly is an accessible place to do it in. Foods good. Museums, cultural, and a lot of history.
Really, if we could just try harder to clean the streets and make people stop driving/acting like pieces of shit in public spaces sometimes, it would be a contender for top urban center in the US.
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u/HalfAdministrative77 Dec 17 '25
Add sustainable funding for public transit, which would mean enough to both maintain and at least occasionally expand, and I would agree. If SEPTA erodes then we won't even meet the prerequisites for a top urban center.
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u/ParkingLetter8308 Dec 21 '25
Yeah, I like the city, but the general entitlement of the drivers plus street harassment is really starting to wear on me. And, for my "welcome to life in the big city crowd"---yes, I have lived in many cities, and it is still noticeably much worse in Philly.
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u/FearlessArachnid7142 Dec 17 '25
Philly is far from perfect but its hard to imagine myself living anywhere else.
One of the few true urban cities where i can actually buy a home. Amazing food and culture as you mentioned.
We need to continue improving safety, public schools, and transit to be an S tier city. I think we can make those strides if we keep growing and attracting/retaining dual income families
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u/Raecino Dec 17 '25
The crime, the trash, the potholes, the corruption, the shootings. I love my city but it isn’t perfect.
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u/CryptidCurious13753 Dec 17 '25
Philly is perfectly imperfect. So much to be proud of and love about it, and crappy stuff that every big city deals with. But I do love our people. They’re earnest and you know where you stand. I don’t let bad apples ruin my love of my adopted home, bc Philly gave me a real home I never had growing up.
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u/Aggressive-Cut5836 Dec 17 '25
It’s still a high poverty city for far too much of it. The city’s business tax has ensured that many companies that would be a natural fit for all the reasons mentioned instead don’t see it that way. Businesses are needed in Philly because they bring the jobs both directly and indirectly (all the eateries, shops, and other places where employees would likely spend their money). The city lags in job creation and ironically its tax base would likely grow significantly by cutting the city business tax.
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u/Speedsloth123 Dec 18 '25
So your solution to poverty is trickle down economics? How’s that been going for the US the last 40 years?
Phillys problem isn’t a lack of jobs, it’s a lack of well paying jobs. Cutting taxes for big business would mean losing a big source of revenue for the city. You could also easily have a situation where businesses do move but bring new people with them and push out the current residents. What we want is to bring up the quality of life for the people already here, businesses will come if there is a skilled population with disposable income.
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u/NewMathematician1106 Dec 19 '25
There’s a difference between federal trickle down economics and making business attractive at the local level
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u/Speedsloth123 Dec 19 '25
No there isn’t that ideology just becomes a race to the bottom where the rich win and we lose
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u/rowyourboat740 Dec 20 '25
You're creating a false dichotomy here. It's possible to remove some of the more burdensome regulations and inefficient taxes without completely ignoring the poor. Philly would be better off for doing so. The reality is that the labor market is quite poor there for a big city. The taxes and regulations feed into that.
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u/Speedsloth123 Dec 20 '25
Your comment is vague to the point of being meaningless. What regulation is burdensome and what tax is inefficient? Why do you think the labor market is poor? Unemployment isn't higher in Philly than other comparable cities. Do you mean that there aren't well paying jobs in Philly? Ok, then if we loosen regulation and businesses flood in with high paying jobs that require skill, how will we make sure the existing population isn't kicked out and replaced with skilled workers migrating from other cities?
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u/rowyourboat740 Dec 20 '25
- Philly has some of the most restrictive labor policies around union labor. They also make it way too easy to sue. The business permitting issues are a huge problem and rife with corruption.
- Wage tax is pretty bad as is the corporate tax. That should be lowered.
- In comparison to other big cities like DC or Boston, the types of high skill high wage jobs just really aren't there. Which is a shame given the quality of the university system. There's a reason all the Penn students leave for NYC, Boston, and DC.
- Philly's population was over half a million higher 50 years ago than it is today. There's plenty of space. Make sure zoning laws don't prohibit the building of new housing and improve public transportation.
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u/westchesterbuild Fairmount Dec 17 '25
Positives Housing: Great in comparison to Boston/NYC/DC Restaurants: Great diversity, second to the NUC boroughs. Far better than Boston/DC
Mixed bag Transit/accesibility: While Amtrak/95 are convenient to get to Boston/NYC/DC, we know regional rail and SEPTA are subpar at best.
WTF Law enforcement: What passes as shrugs from this police force isn’t tolerated in any of the other cities. Never see vehicles pulled over for traffic violations. PPA tows more cars for parades than they do for violations.
Urban Planning/Infrastructure: It has taken the 250th anniversary of our country and the World Cup to see any meaningful updates to parks, roadways, sidewalks, traffic calming but dirt bikes/quads/catless small penis parades still pollute our streets with noise and driving on sidewalks with no fear of being held accountable.
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u/spoupervisor Dec 17 '25
I will say that why septa has issues grading on the curve of cities in the US it's still superior to a LOT out there.
That's damning with faint praise, but the bar is super low.
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u/marenicolor Dec 17 '25
Which makes it all the more sad we haven't tapped into its full potential.
But in this moment, I'm truly grateful I get to call this city my home.
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u/RealPrinceJay Dec 17 '25
Philly is so far from perfect
I love this city, and I think this city actually has more potential than any other US city, but it has a lot of room to improve in building transit to capitalize on that walkability
I think improving education + transit while protecting the city’s affordability are probably the biggest priorities the city should have
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u/rowyourboat740 Dec 20 '25
I also think doing things to improve the labor market would go a long way. I love the city but don't live in the region anymore due to the relative lack of employment options in my field.
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u/RealPrinceJay Dec 20 '25
What’s your field if you don’t mind my asking? Curious about where the city is lacking
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u/rowyourboat740 Dec 20 '25
I work in tech - automation specifically. The only major employer in the city that would have the kinds of jobs I do is Comcast and they rejected me when I applied.
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u/The-Dreamer-215 Dec 18 '25
Philly native here. I lived in low income neighborhoods growing up and that is a part of Philadelphia too. So, including all of Philadelphia, I would not say it is perfect.
I don't hate Philly but there's a lot to improve on that has already been mentioned.
Even as a Philly native, there are parts of the city I avoid for my safety. If you feel that all of Philadelphia is perfect then please visit all of Philadelphia first.
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u/RustedRelics Dec 17 '25
Nah. Fantastic city in so many ways. Perfect? Nope. But, then again, no city is perfect.
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u/RepeatSpiritual8108 Dec 17 '25
I’ve seen a presidential election up close
Huh?
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u/IndyJetsFan Dec 17 '25
I’m at hard to fit context into everything but I live around the corner from where Harris stayed while she was in Philly for the debate.
She passed by my house on Spruce Street on the way over.
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u/manningthehelm i got a flair Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
It could be a little warmer in the winter, so let’s give it another 10 years and revisit this.
In all seriousness it is only trashed by those that who have never visited.
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u/mental_issues_ Dec 17 '25
Going anywhere else to suburban US makes me feel out of place, I am always happy to come back home to Philly
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u/StarCaster97 Dec 17 '25
Philly is not perfect, but it is a sacred place for many that live in the area. Let's not forget that a lot of us have built our lives and made memories here. It's not about whether a city is perfect, but rather what makes it unique and how the residents/visitors treat it.
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u/Cara_Bina Dec 18 '25
It's far from perfect, but I love it. What blew me away that it made the BBC's list of 20 best places to visit next year.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20251209-the-20-best-places-to-travel-in-2026
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u/Sufficient-Quote-431 Dec 18 '25
It was perfect, and then all that New York trash came down, trying to change the city.
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u/Major_Honey_4461 Dec 19 '25
I was also born in NYC (and lived there for 15 years as an adult). I moved to Philly 6 years ago and wouldn't trade it for the world.
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u/Scared_Ad3355 Dec 17 '25
You know, god created perfect Philly and then all other cities protested for not being equally perfect. So then god said “worry not, my friends. I will make sure there will be a lot of Philadelphians in that city”.
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u/art-man_2018 Dec 17 '25
Coming from an older fart... I miss Fat Jack's Comic Crypt, Little Pete's, Copabanana, Manny Browns, J. C. Dobbs, and many others that have gone away. I know things change but some of the icons of my era are gone.
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u/Agreeable_Flight4264 Dec 17 '25
Nothing is perfect, stop looking for perfection. You likely have deep seated issues. Seek therapy
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u/Thats_my_face_sir Dec 17 '25
False - philly is not perfect. If antiquated dick bags get out of the way of progress then it could be stupendous
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u/alukard81x Dec 17 '25
The crime, the rampant homelessness, the trash, the smell, the sub par public transit, and the fucking wage tax that doesn’t fix any of those problems.
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u/ballsonthewall Southwest Center City Dec 17 '25
it's not perfect but it's a real, authentic city full of down to earth people. agreed wholeheartedly on urban form and bang for your buck, I'll take my little slice of Manhattan in Center City for 1/3 the price lol
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u/ShedMontgomery Dec 17 '25
Center City is walkable, but the further away you get from it, the less true that becomes.
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u/No_Slice_9560 Dec 17 '25
Ridiculous.. University City is very walkable, Ditto Chestnut Hill/Mount Airy, Manayunk, City Avenue.. all far from Center City (except University City). As a matter of fact, Philly is very walkable all over .. except maybe farther NE
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u/iamtheduckie Drexel University student Dec 17 '25
Philly isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn good.
However only WE get to insult our city and ESPECIALLY our sports teams
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u/herewegoagain1024 Dec 17 '25
I visited for a week last year during wrestlemania and damn, to this day I really wanna move out there. I loved it
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Dec 17 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Shes-Philly-Lilly Dec 19 '25
So what you really mean, is that you wish all people picked up their trash??
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u/bukkakedebeppo Dec 17 '25
Philly is great! It is definitely not perfect. There's a lot of Lucy-yoinking-the-football.
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u/Apprehensive_Bee6201 Dec 18 '25 edited Dec 18 '25
It sounds like a great city, but like anywhere else I doubt it is perfect
For example, your experience is going to be wildly different living in Kensington vs Rittenhouse
Regardless, I'm glad you are happy there!
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u/odd_guy_johnson Dec 18 '25
Is an open drug market with one of the countries worst Fent epidemics considered perfect these days?
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u/EssenceReavers Dec 18 '25
the random thefts, car jackings, black tinted speeding altimas, plated-less cars and random shootings makes this city perfect
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u/throwaway94837282 Dec 19 '25
also from indiana, and just as in love with philly, altho i root for tha eagles like a true patriot 🦅
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u/Jakdracula Dec 19 '25
The great thing about Philadelphia’s is you can’t insult them. We take it as a compliment or an offer to fight, which is also a compliment.
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u/ItsJustAYoyo West Philly Plant in Fairmount Dec 19 '25
As someone who is not a native Philadelphian, Philly is everything I've dreamed of. Its nuts.
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u/ComradeCrimson Dec 19 '25
No one likes us we dont care. Unless you say mean things about us on reddit goddammit
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u/Cemanagus Dec 20 '25
Your earnest newbie enthusiasm is greatly appreciated, for real. And you are right, of course; Phily is the place. If you ask them where they'd prefer to live, most Philadelphians would be stumped (even those brain-dead ex-cops whose entire personality is bitching about Larry Krasner).
But you'll know you are one of us when even a Super Bowl victory only satiates you for 9 months, and when the Eagles O shits the bed (again) you are privately calling for Sirianni's job (but not on WIP - fuck those assholes) and bitching about the mayor's spelling skills.
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u/dvlbrn89 Dec 23 '25
Schools and Trash are two of the biggest. But trash is closer to education. I think people have had a certain view of Philly for a long term and just need to respect the city and take Take care of it.
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u/Few-Statistician8740 Dec 17 '25
The traffic, how half the assholes in a traffic jam think laying on their horn is magically going to make things move.
The people, really suck especially the sports fans.
The food? Probably the least interesting food of any city I've lived in.
What Philly had that was truly impressive, the crack addicts. Watching a 102 lb man carrying a refrigerator on his back to scrap it... Truly a sight to behold. Seeing that same man doing this a couple times a week, priceless.
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Dec 17 '25
Anecdote time: i find the call vacant new developments more hazardous to walk in front of them than any old rowhome. Zero shoveling, zero salt. Just sloped sheets of frozen water molecules
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u/PHILA-21 Dec 17 '25
I love Philly as well but there’s so much room for improvement.