What's It REALLY Like To Live In Philly?

After reading countless lists about life in Philly written by 30-something *white* residents of either South Philly or Northern Liberties, I'd gotten pretty fed up. This is a look into what it's like to be a person of color in The City of Brotherly Love (*snort*).

1. Let's Have An Honest Conversation About Cheesteaks

Via blogger.com

Listen here. Any Philadelphian with half a mind knows that Geno's & Pat's are tourist traps and don't make very good cheesesteaks. HOWEVER, these lists always fail to mention that Max's on Germantown & Erie HAVE THE GREATEST CHEESESTEAKS OF ALL TIME. This is not up for debate. A close second is Larry's Steaks on Girard Ave.

2. WOW...Jamz....Rolling Thunder?

Via philly.happeningmag.com

Ah...a fixture of many young Philadelphians' adolescence. Notorious for its Late Night parties on the weekends, kids came here to give/receive wallies and Wu-Tang to the death.

3. Hoagies

Via woodfiredkitchen.com

For one: they're hoagies. Not subs. Anyone who tells you different is a damned liar and deserves to be banished to Delaware tbh. A staple of Philly food and field trip lunches, the best ones come from "papi stores"/corner stores/delis. NOT WAWA.

4. "Papi Stores"

Via newsworks.org

Corner stores or "papi stores" are fixtures of just about every Black/Latino neighborhood in the city (except if you live in the Northeast, sigh). They stock all the junk food you could possibly want, and double as delis. Residents often share a tight bond with the families who run these stores, as evidenced by walls plastered with neighbors' graduation, prom, and baby pictures.

5. ......Mummers.............

Via uwishunu.com

I've never seen a black Mummer. That is all.

6. Driving on trolley tracks.....

Via phillytrolley.org

NO. It's the worst. Your car is pulling to the right. Now the left. Ah screw it, do like everyone else and drive uncomfortably close to any cars that may be parked on the street so your wheels don't touch the tracks.

7. "Youngbulls" and "Oldheads"

Via blackfatherhoodtoday.com

Pictured above: a youngbull with his oldhead. You may have guessed that youngbull refers to a young person, while oldhead refers to an elder. "Youngbull" can also be a verb; as in, close friends and family treating you like a child. Note: you do not have to be related to a person for them to be your youngbull/oldhead...it's a term of endearment.

8. *Sigh*

Via geekadelphia.com

You may have heard (ad nauseam) that "jawn" is a noun here in Philly. Literally. Jawn has been a thing and part of Philadelphia vernacular FOR YEARS. But, you know...Columbusing.

9. Urban Cowboys

Via Twitter: @A2daO

It's really not uncommon to see random horses trotting along in North Philly. Same for roosters.

10. WATER ("wooder") ICE

Via tonyskingofsteaks.com

Rita's will do in a pinch but we all know that Tranzilli's (Germantown) and Morrone's (West Philly) are where you need to go for quality water ice and cheese pretzels. Corner stores usually sell Philadelphia Water Ice, which is also yummy.

11. Philadelphia: A Park Within A City Within A Park?!

Via pps.org

Fairmount Park is huge. And it's like a time warp portal, since you can enter it in North Philly and come out in West Philly. Or Germantown. Parkception.

12. Planning Your Transit To Avoid Rowdy Phillies/Eagles Fans

Via i598.photobucket.com

There have been times when I've purposely avoided taking "the sub" before/after games so I wouldn't be subjected to drunk white dudes. *Shrug*

13. Chinatown!

Via michaelangelina.com

It's busy. The street signs are also written in Mandarin Chinese. It's also a place where you can get e x c e l l e n t Asian food: buffets, sit-in restaurants, bubble tea, bakeries. It's all there.

14. So. Many. Beautiful. Murals.

Via urban-artgallery.com

Thanks to the Mural Arts program, we get to marvel at art like this all over the city. Chances are, you know someone who has worked on one of these.

15. Car Clubs

Via Twitter: @Crownvicboys

The Crown Vic Boys are everywhere. You'll never go too far without seeing one of their distinctive, souped-up cars.

16. South Street

Via blogger.com

The site of the infamous "flash mobs" back in 2007-2009ish, South Street is always good for a looooooooong walk (and getting chose, if you're like 17). In fact, I don't remember the last time I actually went to a store there.

17. Cultural Festivals

Via fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net

Philly is an extremely diverse city. In addition to the festivals curated by the Delaware River Waterfront (ACANA African Festival, Caribbean Festival, Festival of India), we have ODUNDE (!!!), the Puerto Rican Day Parade and many more. Treat. Yo. Self.

18. We Win At Independence Day

Via prlog.org

Thanks to the Welcome America event, all the other July 4th celebrations can go home. Although deciding to actually *go* to the Parkway on July 4th is a horrible decision, The Roots put on a stellar FREE performance along with other amazing artists year after year. You also have your pick of other related street festivals, giveaways, discounted museum admission, and fireworks shows during the week leading up to Independence Day.