I Love Old City!
I love Old City. And fyi…it is not Olde City….the area located in the eastern part of downtown Philadelphia is spelled Old City. Now there may be Olde city dry cleaners, but that spelling is generally for private businesses.
Anyway, it is a gorgeously sunny fall Sunday afternoon, and we had brunch with our friends at the Continental Restaurant at 2nd and Market Streets. Now mid afternoon, and I decide to take a stroll. I first head to Fosters, where I shop in their new store for kitchen gadgets. Then I stop at Gianfranco pizza for a slice and a coke. Cost me $2.50. They had Italian Soccer on the TV. Not that I am a big fan of soccer. And the two words I know in Italian are Rigatoni and ziti. But the place is clean, and kinda’ has a European feel. It was great! Then I stopped by Starbucks on the corner of 3rd and Arch Streets to buy two Black Bottom brownies. The ones that are calorie free, and much like eating celery. Right. Then down Arch Street to cute little Mulberry Market which is across from the Betsy Ross House for a half gallon of cranberry juice. I see a billboard for a Michael Yaron development, and get excited to see what kind of condominiums he is going to plant in our neighborhood. I think he does fabulous work, and that the area can only benefit by one of his additions. And I gaze into the windows of a few art dealers on 2nd Street in Old City, and try to grasp the ideas being expressed. I walk away feeling like this art is somehow smarter than me.
I did all this today, and have yet to drive my car.
And that is what I love about living in Old City here in downtown urban Philadelphia. You can walk around the block, stop two or three times, check out a new condominium open house, pick up all the items you need for that day, and walk home. Maybe bump into someone I recognize. I don’t need to say hello. A quick nod assures both parties that there is some recognition of Old City tenancy. I stop to read yet another “stop work order” that has been posted by L&I because some goof thinks they can do work to their buildings without permits. They must be new around these parts. Like Betsy Ross, I have been around Old City section of Center City Philadelphia for quite some time, and I love every minute of it!
(I have never been to Topeka, but I am sure it is not this bad. Props to Hallmark.com)
If you are interested in living an “Old City” lifestyle give me a call at 215-521-1523 or send me an email at Mark@CenterCity.com. I would love to take a stroll together in my favorite neighborhoods and take a look at some new Philadelphia condominiums and lofts.
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106