When I’m not in class or studying in the law school library, I am enjoying time in my South Philadelphia neighborhood. My brother has lived in Passyunk Square in South Philadelphia for years and suggested I look for housing in the area. I quickly found my apartment on the real estate website, Zillow. I live on my own in a one-bedroom apartment and rent is around $1,600 per month.
I chose to live in Passyunk Square because it’s charming, safe, and an easy commute to school. Each morning I walk 5 minutes to the Ellsworth-Federal station and ride the Broad Street Line (BSL) to Temple’s Cecil B. Moore station. The entire commute is around 20 minutes. It was important to me to live in a neighborhood near the BSL so that I don’t have to transfer between subway lines or trolleys to get to school. Living near the BSL also makes it easy to get to shopping and dining in Center City, though I often walk. There is a lot within walking distance in Passyunk Square. It’s a 5-10 minute walk to two large grocery stores, multiple pharmacies, Target, the Italian Market, and entertainment on Passyunk Avenue.
Passyunk Avenue is one of my favorite parts of living in South Philadelphia. The avenue is lined with independently owned shops, bars, cafes, and unique restaurants. There are always events on Passyunk Avenue like weekly farmers markets and annual festivals including Italian National Day, Flavors of the Avenue, and Fall Fest. Passyunk Avenue’s centerpiece is the Singing Fountain, a beautiful fountain that plays music on and off throughout the day. It’s my favorite spot to sit with friends and eat ice cream from Good Moo’d Creamery during the warmer months.
The residential streets of Passyunk Square are charming as well. It’s a very family friendly area and I love to see my neighbors playing outside with their children or walking their dogs. If you stroll around you’ll notice that many households decorate their windows for every holiday, with large displays for Christmas and Halloween. In the summer, the neighborhood association will rope off a few streets for community block parties and BBQs.
Passyunk Square is a safe, welcoming community that I am proud to call home. I highly recommend you explore the neighborhood during your next visit to Philadelphia!
Fast Facts – The Best Place For:
- Grocery Shopping: Sprouts
- Coffee: Rival Bros Coffee
- Drinks: Cantina Los Caballitos
- Dinner: Sate Kampar
- Dessert: Termini Bros Bakery
- Studying: Black & Brew
- Fresh Air: Columbus Square Park
Editor’s Note: Since Philadelphia is known as a city of neighborhoods, we asked Temple Law students, faculty, and staff to talk about what they love, hate, and can’t live without in their neighborhood. See every neighborhood covered so far.
