Category Archives: Neighborhood

South Philly neighborhood community news, developments, and local interest.

Neighborhoods: Bella VistaEast PassyunkLower MoyamensingPennsportPoint BreezeWhitman

Irish Pub & VMCO Fundraising Social Event

Vietnamese Medical Charity Organization hosts their annual Fundraising Social at Irish Pub to raise money for the Vietnam Medical/Pharmacy Mission, a healthcare mission led by Philadelphia’s Temple University School of Pharmacy students and staff. 100% of proceeds from the social admission and raffle goes to buying medical and medical supplies. You can read more about the mission or donate at vietmeds.com.

VMCO Fundraising Social
When: April 14, 2016 from 7PM-10PM
Where: Irish Pub @ 2007 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
RSVP: $5 wristband @ door or RSVP on the event page.
Complimentary Appetizers, Drink Specials, Raffles, Prizes, Games

VMCO Fundraising Raffle

Fundraising Social

Rebuild Philadelphia Parks & Infrastructure – and Free Trees

Mayor Kenney recently announced his proposal for a potential bond issue which would provide updates to our Philadelphia’s park, recreation, and library infrastructure. The Philadelphia Parks Alliance is gathering petitions for their campaign to support the improvement the parks and recreation facilities. Local communities, groups, and individuals can support the efforts by getting or signing a Rebuilding Community Infrastructure petition.

Free Yard Trees
Free Yard Trees (via Tree Philly Facebook)

On the topic of green Philly, Tree Philly’s Spring 2016 Free Tree giveaway is now open. Each resident can sign up to reserve 2 free trees. This year, pick up sites will take place at four different TD Bank locations in April. Act quickly if you are interested in reserving a tree or two. Trees run out fast, especially in the easily accessible South Philly location.

Registrants will be able to pick up their yard trees at one of the following location:

  • 2201 S. Broad St., 19148
  • 2267 E Butler St., 19137
  • 6635 Frankford Ave., 19135
  • 3930 Woodhaven Rd., 19154

Philadelphia Neighborhood Map

The most common question we get is concerning the different Philly neighborhoods. From the boundaries of civic groups to where am I right now, the confusion seems endless. We had our team put together a map of all the different Philadelphia neighborhoods, primarily South Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Neighborhood Map
Map of the neighborhoods in Philadelphia, a work in progress.

There are way too many overlapping boundaries and ‘mini-neighborhoods’ to break it all down in a simple image, but that is about the gist of it.

Oregon ave median strip becomes dumpsite; utility poles to fall

Our editors received this neighborhood complaint from a concerned South Philadelphian last night. We are still trying to follow up and verify the issues brought up in this email. If anyone has any updates or information regarding the issue, please share.

The source reports that Oregon ave, neglected by the city, has succumb to becoming a literal dumpsite. Utility poles and infrastructures are dangerously unstable and are currently being held up by wires to help support the weight.

The source reports:

“Our neighborhood has many problems that is not being addressed by local law enforcers. We’ve made multiple reports to 311, the police department, and councilman. No parking authority or personnel even comes by or responds. Trash cans and trash bags are being placed right in the center of Oregon Ave weekly. Literally on the median of 10th and Oregon Ave, the middle of the street where cars are illegally parked. Cars parking on the median and left turn lane without getting fined is one thing, but having trash bags left on the median is another story. This is highly unsafe and illegal. We can ignore the trucks and seafood mobiles double parking, auto repair shops taking up the public sidewalk with tires, cars, signs, and chairs. At this point, a little something has to be said so that we don’t officially become the dumpsite and trashcan of South Philly. Poles are going to fall soon and some buildings are bound to collapse.

Oregon Ave is not a rich area and we don’t have a lot of representation like the more active neighborhoods, but we pay our taxes. We may not be rich enough, not vocal enough, not urban enough, and not young enough for media attention, but we don’t deserve to be completely neglected either. If you go down the lower streets or Oregon, the utility poles are literally being held up by strings because the poles are getting too old to stand on their own. Live wires are hanging dangerously right in front of Oregon Diner, even though they have been reported many months before. Please help us get heard.”

Oregon Ave
Oregon Ave streets have been use for public dumping for a long time now, a reader reports. Photo at the intersection of 10th st and Oregon ave from last August. Conditions are reportedly the same today, as it occurs throughout many poorer South Philly neighborhoods.

Update 02/22/16 Passyunk Post reports on the issue of trash storage on Oregon ave. Some readers believe the trash cans belong to the truck that sells seafood on Oregon, possibly Phil’s Live Crabs.

High value homes near stadiums / Southport development

Curbed Philly cites a Trulia report that reveals that homes within a 2-mile radius of Lincoln Financial Field receive significantly boosts in value by 44.3 percent. This radius includes a large area of South Philadelphia neighborhoods, including Lower Moyamensing, Whitman, Passyunk, New Bold, etc.

South Philly Home Increase
South Philadelphia homes around the stadium district have increased in value (via Trulia)

Port Authority board continues to seek final proposals for Southport development One of the seven original proposals was dismissed and the six remaining groups will now be asked to submit financial and development plans.

5 Best Brunch Cafes in Philadelphia 2016

Brunching is one of the fasting growing hobby in Philadelphia. With dozens of brunch cafes and restaurants opening annually, it can be difficult not to overlook the best brunch spots.

Here is our list of the best must-try brunch places for your brunching adventures, boozy or not.

Cafe La Maude
Northern Liberties
816 N 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(267) 318-7869
This French-Lebanese cafe serves breakfast, brunch, lunch & pastries in Euro-style digs with sidewalk tables. They’ll serve your coffee in the most adorable mugs.

Cafe Lift
Avenue of the Arts
428 N 13th St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 922-3031
This popular American brunch and lunch cafe offers a chill vibe, featuring art on the walls in an industrial space.

Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat
Northern Liberties
800 North 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 925-1150
Honey’s is a Cash-only, BYOB diner offering a menu of Jewish & Southern comfort eats in a basic space.

Oregon Diner
Whitman
302 W Oregon Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 462-5566
Oregon Diner is an old school, traditional diner that has kept up with modern times. It has been a South Philly staple since the ’60s for filling diner fare served 24/7 in a booth-lined setting. It keeps intact that close neighborhood, old diner feel but has implemented new menu items to serve Philadelphia’s growing brunch needs. They also serve all the alcohol you can possibly consume on a Sunday morning, which is a lot.

Sabrina’s Cafe
Bella Vista
910 Christian St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 574-1599
Sabrina’s has three locations in Philadelphia, including locations in the Art Museum and University City, but the Italian Market location takes the number 1 spot for brunch. It’s original, BYOB, and gives you the real unique experience of city brunching.

Bring Philly Street Cleaning Back, says Councilman Squilla & Mayor Kenney

Councilman Mark Squilla wants to make Philadelphia a cleaner and safer place. He wants to reintroduce a street-cleaning program and  plastic bag fee bill again.  “I still think we need a street-cleaning program,” said Squilla. “Now, my South Philly brethren will probably freak out about it. But I would be a proponent.” It wouldn’t have to be the exact same program that failed years back; but a discussion about what might work to keep our city cleaner and safer is due.

Mayor Jim Ken­ney told philly.com last June that he would support the street-cleaning program if he got elected as mayor. His support of the program is to be expected.

Some opponents of the street-cleaning program claim that it is too inconvenient to move cars during the few street cleaning hours. Every major city, including heavily populated and overcrowded New York city, has a street-cleaning program.

Philadelphia is rated the dirtiest city in America again and again. Tourists are turned away by the filth, which in turn hurt local businesses. Perhaps it is time to discuss a change for a better, cleaner Philadelphia.

Neon Lobster opens in South Philly

Neon Lobster, a gourmet Seafood takeout restaurant, opens at 2101 S. 3rd St, on the corner of 3rd St and Snyder. Neon Lobster stands at the boundary of the Pennsport and Whitman neighborhoods, technically belonging in the latter.

Neon Lobster
Neon Lobster sign via Neon Lobster Facebook

Last we heard, Neon Lobster was finalizing renovations and serving a limited menu of breakfast and La Colombe coffee. The full menu has not yet been made available, but they are accepting orders for holiday platters.

Neon Lobster Philly Platter
Neon Lobster announced order availability via Facebook