Living in Philadelphia

This is one of our most fun sections on the site because it rounds up all the best things about living in Philadelphia—the city center, but also the surrounding suburbs. We also cover new laws and ordinances that might impact your life, upcoming events of note, and more.

Want to know the best parks in the city? We have you covered. A new street food festival or pop-up restaurant featuring a world-reknowned chef? We definitely have you covered there, too. Wondering about the latest developments on school zoning, new city taxes, and more? If the news impacts Philadelphia it will be found here!

We love our city and look forward to sharing with you the aspects of living in Philly, from food to culture to neighborhoods and more.

We hope you enjoy the information we offer! If we can help you in any way, please speak with one of our talented real estate agents, or directly contact the Center City Team office: 215.440.2093

June 10, 2019
sips

Cheers to the Return of Center City Sips!

A beloved Philadelphia summertime tradition is back again! (And no, I don’t mean dumpster pools.) Starting this past Wednesday, June 5th, and continuing through the whole sun-kissed extent of the season, Center City Sips will take to the streets of downtown every hump day between 5 and 7 in the evening, jazzing you up for the coming weekend and giving […]
June 6, 2019
orchestra

Philadelphia Orchestra Celebrates Huge Donation

In the past ten years or so, the Philadelphia Orchestra has unfortunately been just as known for its myriad financial woes as it has for the delicate beauty of its music. Back in 2011, the orchestra filed for bankruptcy, which lead to a hiring freeze that knocked staff from 105 musicians (the traditional amount) to 95, or ten less. That […]
June 5, 2019
classroom

Best Charter Schools in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s charter schools are an integral part of the education system in the City of Brotherly Love. The Charter School Office is a separate department within the School District of Philadelphia‘s Board of Education, and each charter school maintains their own charter (hence the name) that frees them from some of the requirements that public schools have to maintain. The […]
June 4, 2019
cream cheese

The Cheese is a Lie – The Truth About “Philadelphia” Cream Cheese

Just imagine that, every time you went to the grocery store in your adult life and bought your favorite bagel schmear, you’d been lied to. Okay, so that’s overdramatic. But we need to talk about Philadelphia Cream Cheese, a popular item from the dairy aisle that has been misleading consumers since 1880. The T is that this delicious, spreadable soft […]
June 3, 2019
carnation

A Popular Holiday Had a Philadelphia Beginning

Mother’s Day is now behind us, but while you were celebrating your mom and how awesome she is, did you ever consider who we have to thank for the special day? The answer is: a Philadelphian woman, Anna Jarvis. Jarvis coordinated the celebration of the first Mother’s Day in 1908. Congress made it an official holiday in 1914. Jarvis, being […]
May 30, 2019
eagles

Eagles Hype: 4 Things We’re Watching This Season

Football season is still a few months away, but with the draft being over and teams heading into training camp, the hype train is taking off. Promising rookies are already developing fans, the game of musical quarterbacks has everyone excited, and the Patriots just appeared in three back-to-back-to-back Superbowls, so surely it’s someone else’s turn, right? (Wishful thinking at its […]
May 29, 2019
thought

Sweeping Assessment of Philly Schools Will Take Four Years (Part 1 of 2)

In a struggling school system clawing its way out of mediocrity and unprecedented growth beyond the scope of its infrastructure, a major overhaul is long overdue. It was announced recently that the Philadelphia School District will be rolling out an extensive study of its current school buildings and programs, taking into account demographic trends and the future of the system. […]
May 28, 2019
dryers

Are You Ruining Your Appliances? (Part 2/2)

Continued from part one, available here. Your washing machine: the one you’re probably abusing I don’t know if you know this or not, but you are probably chronically overfilling your washing machine. I know I used to do it, and I recently had to buy a new washer because of it. I know firsthand how very tempting it is to […]
May 28, 2019
dishes

Are You Ruining Your Appliances? (Part 1/2)

Household appliances are not like phones or jeans – you don’t spend a lot of money on one thinking that you’ll be replacing it in a year or two. Good appliances cost big bucks, and come with the expectation that they should last for ten years or more. With the right maintenance and use, this can be a reality. On […]