FAQ for /r/Philadelphia - Updated March 2012
Please feel free to edit this!
r/Philadelphia Meta: Rules & Tips
r/philly etiquette
Don't be a dick.
How to get flair
Click the edit button next to your name on the side-bar. Message the Mods if you need help.
Sister Subreddits
Locations
Sports
Schools
Other Subreddits
- r/PhiladelphiaJobs
- r/phillyroommates
- Philly Climbers
- BarCraft! - for watching Starcraft matches
Outside Links
- r/Philadelphia on Steam
- r/Philadelphia on Facebook
- Our Google Group
- Links to our Google Calendar
- Our Meetup Spreadsheet
- An awesome aggregate of Philly news made by a Philly redditor.
VISITING Philadelphia: A Few Reddit Recommendations
There are lots of guides to visiting Philadelphia to be found online (some of us like this one, or try this one) which will help you plan your itinerary and probably has far more input from travelers than you are likely to find here. What we CAN provide you with is some time-tested Redditor favorites.
Tip: Many of the suggestions in this FAQ are drawn from a "best of" post, which can be found here, if you really want to sort through it on your own).
Logistics
Passing Through
To and From the PHL Airport
- From the Airport: SEPTA trains run regularly. Suburban Station and Market East are both in Center City. Expect a 30 minute ride.
- To the Airport: SEPTA Schedule Take the R1 from 30th Street, Suburban, or Market East stations right to the airport terminals. The last 4 stops on the train are for the airport's various terminals (A, B, C&D, E&F). Before getting on the train find out what airline & gate you will be departing from and that is the corresponding stop at which you'll need to get off.
Transportation to DC
Transportation to NY
Transportation to Atlantic City
- Take the regional rail from the Airport to 30th St Station. From there you can take NJ Transit right to AC for $10.
Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA)
Parking can be tough, but seriously, read the signs. Look at the arrows. Whatever direction it points is where it applies. Don't get caught doing stupid shit in Center City or you will be fined and have your car towed in the time it takes to buy coffee from Starbucks. If you DO have to park in Center City (or anywhere else in Philly, for that matter), find parking lots and their relative prices here.
SEPTA
Google Maps works well with SEPTA. Use it.
You might also want to print this out: Center City Bus Route Map
If you plan on flying into PHL, the best way to get into the city is using the SEPTA regional rail. The train runs every 30 minutes and costs $7 ONE-WAY to Center City. Generally you'll be getting off at Market East station, but a lot depends on where you want to end up. Otherwise...
- SEPTA in a nutshell:
- Broad Street Line (orange line, locals call it "the subway") goes North/South from Fern Rock/Olney down to the Pattison Ave arenas. If you don't live in North or South Philly, you're only using it to go see a game or a show. From 12:30 am to dawn there's a shuttle bus (the OWL) instead of train service.
- Market Frankford Line (blue line, locals call it "the el") goes from the northeast to west from Frankford Terminal in the heart of Northeast Philly through some lovely areas along 95, right across the city under Market Street and out to 69th street. Unless you live in the areas, are going to the Tower Theater, or just bar-hopping, you probably won't take it. From 12:30 am to dawn there's a shuttle bus (the OWL) instead of train service.
- Green Line (trolleys) run all night from 13th Street (Gallery/Reading Terminal) to all manner of West Philly locations. Seriously, unless you live in or are visiting one of those locations, you'll probably never take a trolley.
- Regional Rail (commuter trains) go to all manner of locations in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, are nicer and more expensive than any of the above modes of transport. Unless you're commuting into the city, going out to a 'burb, or taking the Airport line (at $7 still the cheapest way to get there, cabfare's a standard $28), you'll never see one of these bad boys. Unless, of course, you're coming into the city to take an Amtrak train from 30th Street Station.
- Buses. Center City has buses galore. 9, 12, 21, 38, and 42 will get you up and down Walnut and Chestnut Streets. The 40 goes up and down South Street. 32, 38 and 48 will take you toward the Parkway.
Buy tokens. Yeah, we know, laugh at our primitive fare system. They cost $1.55 each and are sold in packs of 2, 5, and 10. Without a token a SEPTA ride will cost you $2, and it's called the "sucker fare" for a reason.
SEPTA's customer service doesn't suck too bad, and if you have more specific questions (for example, how to get from point A to point B) we suggest you contact them via phone or email directly.
Where to Stay
Since we live here, we don't have too much experience with hotels, but a few of us have had good experiences with the Alexander Inn: "It's cheap as hell, perfect Center City location (12th + Spruce), clean, friendly and has free breakfast/snacks."
Food And Drink
We get lots of questions about our favorite food places. We've compiled some general favorites - if you don't see it on here, we recommend you head over to Yelp.
Philadelphia is known for its cheesesteaks. Stay away from Pat's and Geno's, collectively voted as the worst tourist activity in the city, and instead head over to our favorite place, John's Roast Pork on Snyder Avenue. As one redditor put it: "They are in a class by themselves. Get there early to keep the wait down to less than half an hour, and with the monster steak in hand, step outside to the fine dining area, where an old lady holds court and says, "go ahead sonny, take that table over the there."
If you're looking for a full meal, you're not alone. Philadelphia is a serious foodie city, and reddit isn't without die-hard loyalists. For breakfast, it's Honey's Sit 'n Eat, or Sabrina's (we recommend their french toast). Sadly, neither of these is a reddit secret, so be prepared for a long wait on any weekend.
For a quick caffeine fix, check out Spruce Street Espresso, or get in on the controversy and hit up a Wawa. Prefer a more mellow drink? Tea isn't as hot a topic in Philly, but some of us hit up Premium Steap, or the Melange Tea Cart near Drexel.
Lunchtime? In a rush, you say? Philly has some great food carts around - try Magic Carpet for some great vegetarian fare, or Don Memos at 38th and Chestnut, or the Crepe Truck at Temple University Main, at 13th and Norris. Need to rest those weary legs? Try to find a seat in Reading Terminal for DiNics's, or head a bit outside the madhouse to Lemongrass, on Lancaster and 38th.
Dinner: Philadelphia has some of the finest dining establishments in the country; and when redditors dine out, we dine out big. Burger? Village Whiskey. Vegetarian? Govinda's.
If you're just looking for a snack, Redditors voted "Philadelphia's bread" as one of our best-kept secrets. Check out bakeries including Sarcone's, Liscio's, and Le Bus bread as must-trys. Of course, you could always grab a pretzel, as well.
Thirsty? You've certainly come to the right place. Philly is a great town for drinkers, a fact that hasn't been overlooked by redditors. Dive bar? We recommend Bob & Barbaras, "cheap beer, jazz, and drag shows. What else could you want?" and suggest that you also try the mojito. As a second choice, check out Sugar Mom's in Old City. If you're looking for a serious good beer, or even just a good time, Monk's 300 varieties would hopefully satisfy any craving. If fancy is what you're going for, try out Farmer's Cabinet (but be prepared to drop some serious cash). Not sure what you want? Check out Good Dog - an r/Philadelphia standard.
A Quick Note About Money and Alcohol
Two big unanticipated obstacles an outsider may experience when visiting Philadelphia are that: (1) many (most?) shops, even in touristy areas, are cash-only and (2) many restaurants are BYOB. The former is due to tax breaks, vendor fees, and a general stubbornness of the population to switch from cash-on-hand to credit/debit. The latter is due to Pennsylvania and Philadelphia's odd laws concerning alcohol: it is often prohibitively expensive for a dining establishment to serve alcohol on premises. With that in mind, when visiting Philadelphia, you will probably want to bring your ATM card (or, as many locals call it, your MAC card) and find out before-hand whether or not a restaurant serves alcohol. If you need a good beer with your meal, a nearby bar will sell you a 6-pack to go; wine is sold at state stores.
Entertainment
Before we say anything else, redditors overwhelmingly suggest that you skip the Duck Tour. In fact, "fuck the duck", per r/philadelphia.
The one thing you CAN'T miss? Reading Terminal Market. Honestly, it was the only thing we wholeheartedly agreed on.
History
This is the birthplace of the United States of America, in several of its incarnations. Your first stop should be the Independence Hall Visitor Center (6th and Market) to get more information, brochures, and get a free timed ticket to see Indy Hall. While you're in the area, definitely visit the following:
- The Liberty Bell (you can just look in the window) & The President's Mansion - free, open to the public, and worth spending a half hour on.
- Congress Hall, The West Wing, Old City Hall (and Supreme Court Chambers), and Philosophical Hall - all are free, and (except for Old City Hall) are inside the Indy Hall secured zone (in other words, wait until just before/after your tour of Indy Hall to visit these). Two are obvious: the West Wing holds original documents from the founding of America, and Philosophical Hall is the administrative building and museum for the American Philosophical Society, America's oldest learned body (it's the US version of the Royal Society in the UK).
- Library Hall (aka the Library of the American Philosophical Society) - free, open during week days, usually has some cool documents (e.g. Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, the journals of Lewis & Clark) on display.
- Portrait Gallery in the Second National Bank - houses some of America's most recognizable portraits.
- Franklin Court - just some really cool Benjamin Franklin stuff and an excellent way to burn 2-3 hours.
Stay away from:
- The Constitution Center - unless you really feel patriotic, this place is an expensive tourist trap.
- The National Liberty Museum - Miss seeing Dick Cheney's face? Want to see creepy jelly bean children? Feel like paying money to see a museum on a block where everything else is free? No? Then stay away from here.
- The Bourse Building - UNLESS you are just going in to look around, everything is 2-3 times more expensive here than a block in any direction.
Prepare to be disappointed by pretty much everything else (e.g. the Mint, Carpenters' Hall).
Any travel guide can give accurate descriptions of the dozens of Museums in the area, but our hands down favorite is the Mutter Museum, a uniquely Philadelphia experience. Been there, done that? Try the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Eastern State Penitentiary, or the world famous Franklin Institute. We also like the Rosenbach Museum, one of Philadelphia's hidden gems.
Arts/Culture/Other
Looking for a more personalized tourist experience? Here are some more recommendations for good times in Philadelphia:
If you're into performing arts, check out the Kimmel Center or Wilma Theater.
Outdoors enthusiast? Walk off some of that cheesesteak along the Schuylkill River Walk (start behind the Art Museum and follow the river along Boathouse Row); or check out a Phillies game (this requires some planning, as most games sell out in advance).
Dancing's your thing? Looking for a good Club? Well, it's not our biggest thing, but fluxcapacit0r has told us: If you're looking for upscale, try G Lounge, Rumor, or Whisper. They all have around a $10 cover and are full of your typical club-goers. They all have good DJs though, and the dance floor gets going. If you're looking for fun, try Raven, where they have Jenga, Connect 4, and Trivial Pursuit lying around. They also have a stripper pole on the second level for when you feel feisty. Also of note are the Barbary and Medusa. Both are hipster havens, but can be fun if you're looking for a down-and-dirty night.
Under 21? First, we're sorry for the lack of love. Second, we recommend hitting up the Mutter Museum during the the day, and North Bowl at night.
Fun for the Whole Family
R/Philly doesn't really have a big family contingency, as evidenced by the lack of responses when noob visitors ask for travel planning assistance. Nothing that isn't immediately available through an elementary google search is ever suggested, but since people keep insisting on asking, here's what we (and the rest of the internet) have come up with: Summertime? Check out Smith Park, which has both indoor and outdoor (seasonal) activities for kids. Or consider taking the Ferry over to the Camden Aquarium. Then take those tots to the zoo. Indoor Activities due to Inclement weather?, the Please Touch Museum, or, the Franklin institute, if your mini-me is less tactily inclined. Other Ideas: Got a naughty bunch? Bring them to Eastern State Penn to remind them just why they should be behaving. After you've scarred them for life there, take them to one of Philly's excellent Ice Cream Shops to try and make up for it. If you'd like to see what we've said first hand, here's the most recent link to a poster asking for family planning assistance.
Special Occasions
Can't come up with your own ideas for date night? We've been asked this question a thousand times. Our best suggestions include Monday Movies at the Troc. Redditor dantu suggests, "Franklin Square. Grab food at Squareburger, split a shake. Play a round of minigolf. Finish up with a carousel ride. Bitches love carousel rides." Got a little more dough? Try the Mural Arts Tour, Magic Gardens, Max Brenner, or the Valley Green, a romantic little restaurant tucked away in Wicahisson Park. If none of these suggestions gets your S.O. hot, check out cheap date ideas for Philadelphia.
Is it your birthday? Head over to Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, "a great place (however, very smokey) - you get a shot and they ring a bell and people stare at you and it's awkward and fun. I recommend Fridays over Saturdays". For something a bit more...subtle.... and depending on your personal preference, try Tattooed Mom (grungy and "odd"), Yakatori Boy (Asian karaoke!) , Frankford Hall (nerdy and chill), or Silk City (kitschy-swank).
Party time? Weddings? We get a lot of "large venue" questions as well. We've recommended Ridley Creek State Park, the Hagley Museum, the Glen Foerd Mansion, the Constitution Center, Magic Gardens, Front and Palmer, and of course, RUBA Club.
Further Afield / Extended Visits
Got a few extra days? Check out these attractions outside of the city.
Atlantic City & the Jersey Shore
Guides and Calendars
Philadelphia is a city of ever-changing events, and the best way to keep up-to-the-minute is are these guides and calendars. They'll be able to give you a much better idea than we will!
super detailed events calendar
redditor Southpawswede's visit to Philly in Blog Form
The Reddit guide for Locals or soon-to-be Transplants
Tip: Many of the suggestions in this FAQ are drawn from a "best of" post, which can be found here, if you really want to sort through it on your own).
Neighborhoods & Housing
- Housing
- Unfamiliar with Philadelphia renters and buyers laws (we do some things a bit differently here)? Check out the State info portal for buyers and renters.
- Renting:
- Apartment Hunting: r/Philly recommends Padmapper for apartment hunting. There are also great apartment finding agencies, such as Philly City Space, who can help you find exactly what you're looking for without making you feel pressured. All apartment finding services should be FREE to the renter. Since Philadelphia is a big university town, there are more apartments available for rent in between July and September. On the flip side, you may do better bargaining October - June.
- Cost of Living - to be very, very general, rent prices go something like this. $300 will get you a room in a large house in a bad (i.e. dangerous) neighborhood, such as North or West Philly. This is best for Drexel or Temple students who can access school security escorts to/from campus. Figure on $500 for a shitty room in a great neighboorhood (like Center City), or a nicer room in a suburb (Manyunk). One bedrooms can be found for as low as $600 outside Center City, $1,000 for a crappy, small space in the city; add $200 to both of those for each additional bedroom.
- Philadelphia Wage Tax
Philadelphia wage tax: Philly residents pay 3.928% (even if you work outside the city); Non city residents pay 3.4985% (only if they work in the city).
- Trying to figure out which neighborhood to live in? Here's a handy map of the neighborhoods. And here's a photo tour of a lot of popular neighborhoods. Additionally, we've asked redditors to describe their neighborhood in a few sentences. Here's what we have to say about where we live.
- Center City - The main "down town" area. Tourists, go here. Residents, drink here. Perhaps live here if you are a 20 something, wage earning, outgoing, walking-friendly type.
- Rittenhouse Square - "(Rittenhouse Square) A ritzy, artistic hub of the city, but with a surprising number of affordable restaurants and apartments. Home to, in my opinion, the nicest park in the city." You're a yuppie? Yes, you should live here. Affluent family? Yes.
- Art Museum - Pretty neighborhood, relatively safe, good for yuppies and families. Expensive. Within walking distance of Fairmount park, scattered small restaurants/bars.
- Callowhill/Spring Garden/Loft District - "Not really much here beyond a few cool bars, it's fairly sketchy looking and there are quite a few homeless people, but it isn't actually dangerous, is starting to gentrify and is very conveniently located relative to other parts of the city for the price." "Easy access to CC, North Park, Art Museum, Chinatown, and Old City, with less traffic and lower rent. Oh, and less safe and more trash, too." Good for more frugal younger peeps.
- North Park - Full of hipsters. "Up and coming" but definitely has a false sense of security - there's been a relatively high amount of violent crime in the area. Lots of little bars and restaurants, has a nice "town center" of its own. Reasonable rent, can even find places with backyards if you're lucky.
- Queen Village - "Quiet residential area full of young families and younger single people. Good mix of affordable and expensive houses and apartments. Good neighborhood bars (New Wave, For Petes Sake) and restaurants (Dmitri's, Catahoula) and access to South St/Headhouse Square. Old City and the rest of Center City is also a short walk away." "Also good for children (lots of other kids, safe park) and dogs (Lots of other dogs, dog park.)"
- Pennsport- Disproportionately Caucasian, Pennsport is a predominately blue-collar residential neighborhood that houses a number of the NYAs (New Years' Associations, a/k/a Mummers) and boasts one of the lowest homicide rates in the city. Large riverfront commercial area is nice, but also has more adult-oriented businesses than decent restaurants.
- Whitman - When considered as a whole, a much more racially diverse neighborhood than Pennsport, even if that diversity is geographically fractured. Lots of families in both Mifflin Square and Burke Playground, two well-used playground/park spaces.
- Society Hill - Nice, quiet, full of families and churches. Within easy walking distance of South Street, Old City, and Washington Square. Low crime, gorgeous neighborhood with lots of trees and hidden alleys.
- Bella Vista Lots of kids, dogs, and bars. Great place to come for food, Sarcones, Ralph's, Little Fish, Fitzwater Cafe, Sabrina's, Hawthorne's, Morning Glory and so much more! It's also one of the most walkable locations in the city. BV is within walking distance to the South St. area, the Italian Market, the Asian/Latino corridor on Washington Ave., and three grocery stores: Superfresh, WholeFoods?, Essene.
- Graduate Hospital - "Very quiet, never felt unsafe walking." re: north: "Quiet, family inhabited, very diverse, walkable to Center City/ close to Kelly Drive. Not a huge bar/restaurant scene, but you can find just about anything in the neighborhood."
- South Philadelphia - "Cheese steaks and water ice. Finally, I'm not moving my car after 5 o clock." "South Philly is great. I would not recommend anywhere suburban as there isn't much "nice" suburban area in philadelphia that's reasonably priced AND close to the airport. The East side of Broad St near the italian market is a great area, as is the West side if you're north of washington or south of McKean?." (Calc3)
- Point Breeze - Has a bad rap as there is a lot of crime. However, it's a wonderful neighborhood with a lot of nice families. I've lived here for 4 years and I will most likely stay put. Gentrification is a big issue as many young white people have been moving in. There are a couple different opinions about this. It used to be a thriving center of shops and restaurants. Point Breeze Ave looks terrible now.
- West Philadelphia - An odd mix due to Drexel/Penn housing and poverty-stricken areas being side-by-side, with a good measure of hipsters on the hippie end of the scale. More tree-lined than other areas, with lots of beautiful victorian-era houses. Some violent crime, but comparable to other blue-collar neighborhoods, with the most dangerous sections being the north-west corner of west Philly. Incredibly low rent rates. Easy access to Center City. Good Indian and Ethiopian food.
- University City - Full of Penn and Drexel students. Landlords tend to jack up rents because of the high student population.
- Fishtown - Full of Hipsters. But it has Memphis Tap and PBC and Whipped Bake Shop and Kraftwork. "good area with lots of young people and cheap rent right now. Lots of small businesses popping up, and a very artsy community" (dirk558)
- Manayunk/Roxborough - "It's basically the only place I have lived in the city where I feel safe letting my girlfriend walk the dog in the evening." (ricardoryona)
- East Falls - "There's some good restaurants / bars in the area (four really to speak of), easy access to Kelly Drive and Conshohocken Park. There's a train stop that lets you jump up to Manayunk or down to the city in a few minutes. It's really quiet at night too, which is nice, and there's a university right there where you can go for walks on campus as well." (ell0bo)
- West Chester - The quaintness and quiet surroundings of the suburbs in a "small town" almost city-like setting. Far enough from Philadelphia to be considered part of the 'burbs but still a condensed enough to not be "country" like some of the other 'burbs. West Chester U is a large mainstay of the area and considered a centerpiece of the town. The crime rate around the college (petty theft, going through unlocked cars) is a bit higher than around the rest of town, but all in all, it's not life threatening.
- Conshohocken - "Moved here a year and a half ago. I honesty think it's the best place around. It has the small town feel without being small. 20-30 small bars and restaurants. Lower taxes than Philly. Two SEPTA stations, bike paths, seconds from all major highways, and close to KOP mall and most major retailers." (jeb_stuart)
- Holmesburg - A Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood that houses several large litter-strewn sections of Pennypack Park. Devoid of decent restaurants and shops. Very convenient to 95 and Center City (25min train ride), affordable housing, relatively safe.
- King of Prussia - It's an hour away from Philly itself and is basically just another suburb of the city. Run of the mill suburban town with a bit extra going for it. The King of Prussia Mall is one of the most "high end" and largest malls in the Philadelphia area, including all the typical mall stores as well as places like Gucci. The mall being the main attraction, there's some decent mom and pop restaurants situated around it as well as some cool sports bars and the like. The crime rate is low and the area rather high-end.
- West Mount Airy - Lots of trees, lots of hills, huge houses for those who can't quite make it into Chestnut Hill, but it's okay because we don't want to live with those yuppie bastards anyway. Lots of diversity, lesbians, the faint smell of marijuana permeating the air at any given time, and people hanging out with their dogs outside of the co-op.
- Narberth/Ardmore - "The schools...are wonderful, but, it is the main line and housing prices are very high. Also, the main line is full of many rather wealthy people and you may not like that atmosphere. Also, there are some worse areas of Ardmore but the more west and close to Lancaster Ave you get, the better it is. Definitely a lot safer than west philly...The high school I went to has been rated as #1 in Pennsylvania... a few years ago, and you can get an invaluable education." (danbrag)
- Media - also known as "everyone's home town" is a southern suburb only 15 minutes from the Sports Complex by car and 10 minutes to Delaware for tax free shopping. for non-driver the R3 runs frequently into the city. Media has multiple bars, restaurants, banks and local shops all within walking distant. there are two malls north and south with in a 5 minute drive or a bus ride, same with movie theaters. the school district is fairly good. depending on the area some places can be a bit overpriced. easy access to Rt 476 and Rt 1
- South Jersey - South Jersey is where people live when they want to visit Philly but not live there. It has houses that don't cost a life debt, and parking.
We can be a little opinionated, so if you don't want to take our word for it, check out this [http://planphilly.com/neighbor* South Jersey - South Jersey is where people live when they want to visit Philly but not live there. It has houses that don't cost a life debt, and parking.
We can be a little opinionated, so if you don't want to take our word for it, check out this other website that provides lots of info on more specific information. .
Transportation
Like most major cities, Philadelphia hasn't quite figured out the traffic issue. Getting in and out of Center City and navigating the highways at busy times (rush hour, weekend nights) can be the stuff of nightmares. There are some workarounds that can make living in this fine city MUCH more pleasant.
A Philly redditor has made us this Septa Real Time Map, which can come in handy for figuring out routes and time tables. However, in general: Center City has buses galore. 9, 12, 21, 38, and 42 will get you up and down Walnut and Chestnut Streets. The 40 goes up and down South Street. 32, 38 and 48 will take you toward the Parkway.
Philadelphia is an excellent city for cycling. Anyone living within a few miles of the Center City area should definitely consider buying a bicycle.
Parking: Anyone who lives in Philadelphia knows to not even attempt parking in Center City. This is what public transportation is for. Anyone who has a car should get the zone parking permit which will allow them to park in typically time-limited areas of their neighborhood. For visiting friends, find parking lots here.
Services & Utilities
- Philadelphia News Aggregate Created by a redditor.
- Credit Unions: credit unions that have been recommended by redditors include PSECU, Trumark, and American Heritage. All three of these are open to anyone living and/or working in the Philadelphia area. If you have a job related to a specific union (military, fire, police, university), you would be better off asking your employer about more specific credit unions available to you.
Entertainment
For day-to-day activities, especially for transplants from outside of the area, please check the "Entertainment" section of the "Visitors" FAQ.
Here's some more in-depth stuff to sustain you for the long haul:
Tips
On a budget? Check out these free attractions.
Local Craft Beers
Shopping
Our favorites: (Amalgamated info gathered from various threads over the history of r/Philadelphia)
Book Stores: Some of us like Book Corner behind the Free Library for cheap reads; Molly's for Tolkien books and rare Miles Davis records, and Robin's for discount porno. Joseph Fox Books has strong world history, history, architecture, arts, gardens, and other social studies and humanities collections. They can order stuff from almost anywhere in the world, too. Bookhaven in Fairmount is great for cheap, off the wall stuff, and Whodunit on 19th and Chestnut for more cheap stuff (less academic / nonfiction, more mysteries / sci-fi / fantasy with some literary stuff thrown in). Finally, Mostly Books looks like a tiny shop when you first step inside, but if you go through the back door of the main room there's an entire warehouse of books back there. Thrift Shops: Recommendations include: "The best cheap and warm stuff is downstairs at I. Goldberg at 13th and Chestnut. Military surplus and other type things — lasts forever, costs little, and keeps you warm, warm, warm." We also like: Philly AIDS Thrift (6th & Bainbridge), America Thrift (8th & Wolf), and Circle Thrift (Dauphin & Frankford). The Second Mile on 45th between Walnut and Locust has a good amount of stuff. Others like Retrospect over on South Street between 6th and 5th. "It's technically a consignment store, so it might be out of your price range, but they have a terrific selection."
Niche Shop- Brave New Worlds for comics, games, and the likes, and AKA Music for records.
An r/Philadelphia Guide to Hosting Meetups
Meetup Guide Purpose:
This is a guide for redditors who would like to organize a meetup, but are having trouble or would like advice/assistance. It is by no means the ONLY or "RIGHT" way to put together a meetup. We just hear a lot that, "I would organize, but I don't know where to begin." Well, now there's this handy guide.
What Constitutes a Reddit Meetup:
In order to avoid self-promotional posts, the following rules have been established. Any meetup that is strictly organized and attended by redditors can be promoted without exception on the front page. A meetup that is at or part of another event (meetup at a theater show, bar event, music event, etc) must have a reddit contact person, and must have a designated meeting time and space prior to the start of the other event. It would be nice if there were also plans for before/after the outside event, such as drinks after a concert, or dinner before a bar event.
Types of Meetups
We have four types of meetups.
1. Giant meetups (holiday, summer bbq) 2-3x/year.
2. Recurring meetups (certain bars we visit weekly, writers group, hiking club, Star Trek meetup, board game night, ladies night, etc.) that occur on a weekly or monthly basis.
3. Planned One-Time Events (Steak n' Shake Road Trip to VA, Barcade meetup, soup swap, etc).
4. Spontaneous One-Time Events (lunch meetups, Pho dinners, etc.)
Finding out About Meetups:
1. Read /r/philly. All meetups, planned and organized, should be posted there. Planned events should be in the top bar, spontaneous meetups will hopefully be on the front page.
2. For the first three types of meetups (all of the planned/organized events) check out the R/Philly Meetup Planning Spreadsheet, and if you see something you're interested, PM the organizer or sign up as an interested party/organizer if there is not one already. You can also write in a totally new event if there's something specific you are interested in that isn't already there. We need more people to organize events, so please consider doing that.
3. Many spontaneous events are discussed in our constantly occurring "virtual" hangout on the r/Philadlephia IRC channel. Go in there, meet some redditors that hang out on a daily basis in real life, and get lots of invites (if we know you, we'll think of you when putting things together).
If You Want To Plan A Meetup:
1. Make an initial post in /r/Philly
2. Notify the Mods (click "listings" on the top bar of r/philly)
3. Add it to the meetup spreadsheet, which is both good for organization and great for recording what has produced interest for later duplication.
4. If you want, log on to the IRC, so you can get real time feedback.
5. Optional: Add it to the google calendar
6. Optional: Post it on r/philly's FB group.
Organizing your Meetup:
In the end, only two things seem to really make a difference in how easy it is to plan a meetup. Does it really matter how many people show up? and Is it important that people show up on time?
- If the answer is “no” (i.e. for spontaneous dinner meetups, zoo trip, Barcade) then planning is easy. Make a post, perhaps PM people who state interest your cell #, and show up at the designated spot.
- If the answer to either is “yes” (i.e. volunteer groups, road trips, museum tours, dinners requiring reservations), it will be a slightly more complicated. What seems to work best is keeping track of RSVPers so you can confirm their attendance closer to the actual date of the planned event. Google Docs is a great way to do this, because it allows for collaboration on documents, saving you time collecting email addresses, etc. If you need assistance in using Google Tools to organize a meetup, PM bevatron.
If you would like to organize an event and need help, PM the Mods.
Call for Organizers
We need more organizers. If you have ANY motivation to help put something together, or if you have ideas about how to better organize meetups, please contact one of the Mods, who can help point you in the right direction.
To save you time, here’s a list of organizational tools we have tried and failed at:
- Hotline (not enough interest, too much coordination involved in upkeep)
- Google Groups (too general. There are some sub-groups (i.e. writers group) that use this tool with success.
- Google Calendar (not enough interest, reports that it was too complicated to use)
- Sub-sub-reddits (not enough interest, too dividing)