It's funny you say that. I lived in Philly for like... 6 years. I ran away from home to there when I was 16. Lived everywhere from Broad and Snyder to 40th & Lancaster (well before gentrification hit) to Front and Montgomery to friggin' 15th and Spruce. And lots of different spots in between.

It seems to me that everybody I knew has one of two experiences in Philly.

A: Philly is great to them, and everybody is smiley and happy and every day is an adventure with a positive ending.

B: Philly makes them afraid to leave their own house after dark or when school is letting out.


My good friend and I are both about 140 lbs soaking wet. He's from the San Francisco 'burbs, I'm from the Adirondacks. Not "hard" places at ALL. We look very similar. We both sport unusual thick framed glasses. We both dress about the same, Dickies, hoodie, sneakers, pretty normal.

He walks EVERYWHERE. In every neighborhood. At every time of night.

He's never once been mugged, followed, jumped, or even ever really called out or picked on.

Me, I ride EVERYWHERE. I became too afraid to walk around anymore. Every time I poked my head out of the front door I'm called a "f*g". I could barely walk to the store on the corner 1/4 of a block away without incident. I've had sticks jammed in my spokes, I've had bricks whizz by my face, I've been tackled off my bike, I've been followed for blocks walking late at night many times, until I had to start sprinting. Yes I was being followed, cause I'd start walking erratically (crossing streets, crossing again) and it would continue.

Once I was walking home from a medical study at TJU and had an $1100 check in my pocket. It was snowing bad. I had on a red Ortlieb messenger bag, was wearing a Flyers jacket and had my hands in my pocket. I was heading back to 6th & Reed. It was noon-ish. At 11th & Fitzwater this group of about five 14-16 year old boys started throwing snowballs and insults from across the street. Then they crossed to my side of the street and got closer and were now throwing recyclables, glass and cans.

Next thing I know I'm on my back in front of the Rite Aid at 11th & Catherine and I'm being stomped to a pulp. A big guy came running of of the pharmacy and yelled for them to leave me alone, they turned their heads and I jumped up and never stopped running until Washington Ave. They never checked my pockets or tried to mug me. They just wanted to see blood.

This was 11th & Catherine at noon. I challenge you to find a "safer" neighborhood in Philly outside of Center City.



Long story short, I find that for no calculable reason, Philly either works for you or it doesn't. Sadly for me it is a dismal and scary place that unfortunately all my best friends live in. They keep me coming back.

Personally, I think of Philly as an abusive spouse. You know it's bad for you, you know it doesn't really love you back, but it's so convenient, and God, the good time's sure are great. But the bad times are very very bad. Somehow you convince yourself it's your fault, and you just need to "carry yourself" better. Besides, you'd never be able to make it in a city like Portland or SF. I guess I should go back...


My best wishes to everyone in this thread who's thinking about moving there, and like I said, if it'll work for you, you'll love it.