There are many reasons I love my childhood hometown of Philadelphia. It has wonderful distinct urban neighborhoods. Society Hill, Rittenhouse Square, Fairmount, South Philly, West Philly, University City, West Oak Lane, Mount Airy, Old City, Chestnut Hill and Queen Village are just a few of the dozens of true communities each with individual heritage, history, and flavor. It's a local town - not filled transplants and transients. When someone asks you where you went to school, they mean high school.
And my high school, in particular, elicits quite a response, if you're a local. Central High School, founded in 1837, is the nation's second oldest public high school (after Boston Latin). An all-boys school until 1983 when the elder sisters of some of my best friends took the school district to court, and won the case that the single sex admission policy was unconstitutional. While Girls High (how's that for two lackluster high school names?), a college preparatory magnet school located down the street was considered Central's peer, Central's facilities, alumni old-boys' networks of Philadelphia's finest judges, lawyers, and doctors, and its alumni fund and college scholarships were far superior. Central became co-ed, and I was in the second co-ed class in Central's history. "2-4-7 Ho!" - as we used to say, for at Central you were not known as Class of '88, but as Central's 247th graduating class (a carry-over from when there were two graduating classes per year in January an June).
But I digress....
Philadelphia is also fantastic because of its vibrant arts scene. It boasts a world-class orchestra, which now plays at the gorgeous Kimmel Center for the Arts (and once played at the Academy of Music, where Central held its graduation ceremonies). It has wonderful ballet and opera companies, and several renowned theater groups. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a magnificent structure perched at the top of a wide, Parisian-type Avenue, with a priceless art collection. The Rodin museum is on the same Avenue, and the private, and formidable collection, worth about $25 billion or so, of the eclectic late Albert C. Barnes will soon be relocated from its more pastoral and cramped manse in a residential neighborhood (BTW: there is controversy here).
Not just for traditionalists, there is also an awesome indie arts scene. First Friday gallery openings are lively evenings on 2nd Street in Old City. The Northern Liberties neighborhood is sometimes referred to as New York City's "sixth borough" because of all the artists who moved here for bigger spaces and cheaper rent.
But among my favorite things about Philadelphia, is its fantastic public art through the Mural Arts Program. Every time I visit Philadelphia these days, I'm in awe of the expansive murals at the turn of every corner, in every neighborhood central and sprawled out. The program has produced over 3000 murals, many with themes of heritage and civic pride. There are mural tours (note to self -check this out soon!), including one by a chartered elevated train (on the city's public transit system, Septa) the Love Letter tour (for the romantic in you (in me). But if you can't make it anytime soon, or just want to be inspired to plan your next trip to Philly (as we say back home) with the Mural Mile Walking Tour (just 17 murals of hundreds), then check out one of the web slideshows.
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