My fiancee and I are starting to look at places to live once we get married in October. We've started discussing the Brewerytown area as a possible place to live, but we're starting to encounter some questions that we're unsure of.

First, what are the true definitions of Brewerytown? Just how far north does it extend to?

Second, are there parts that are safer than others in the area? If so, where?

Any hidden gems in the area, either restaurant or cultural wise?

Thanks for any help.

Oh, man, I'm not even touching that can of worms (But I'm sure someone else on PB will be happy to do just that for you.)

In terms of safety--yes, there are definitely some spots that are better than others. I'll leave it to those who still live there (I'm in Spring Garden now) to define them specifically. But I would say that overall, Brewerytown is fairly safe if you use common sense, and much better than it was even five years ago.

As for hidden gems... hmm. Nothing's coming to me off the top of my head. Flying Saucer (nee Crooked Frame) is a decent little coffee shop. Everyone seems to love Trio, and several of the other restaurants in/around the area. But I don't think any of them can be called "hidden." So I guess I'm not going to be much help in that regard.

Are you thinking about renting or buying? I'm sure others on PB can give you more specific advice either way, but it might help to know which you're leaning toward.

Thinking of buying. There seem to be some decent places that are in our price range (I'm a first year teacher, she's just finished grad school and will be doing non-profit {non-money-making} work}.

Sorry for the definition question, I should know better as my dad is from Nicetown and constantly yells at the local news when they call someplace Nicetown and its in Hunting Park or Germantown. I guess I was really asking where the general northern boundary is with Strawberry Mansion/Temple, and where the southern boundary is with Fairmount.

First, what are the true definitions of Brewerytown? Just how far north does it extend to?

b-town is kinda between north of girard to cecil b more. from 31st/gleenwood to 24th


Second, are there parts that are safer than others in the area? If so, where?

you really have to feel it out block by block. i always tell people to get to know the people on the block, get to know the block captain. they wwill tell you whats up.

Any hidden gems in the area, either restaurant or cultural wise?

the biggest gem is fairmount park. we go there every day with either our dog or on a bike ride.

ritsa's is opening on girard.

north star bar happy hour is great!

the aabra you could say is a hidden cultural gem.

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i think your thinking of fairmount. although these are things that we frequent on foot from where we live.

to the original poster, are you looking at places north of girard or south of girard? if so which ones are you looking at. we just recently bought another house and are fimiliar with housing up here right now. if you ave any questions feel free to ask.\


i just had a brilliant idea. what if we turn this into a sticky that is called "what is the brewerytown area". what do you think mods???

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n4100: There's no need to apologize. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad There are just a lot of rants/raves around here when people try to define the boundaries of different areas. Everyone seems to have different opinions about them all.

merkin: I know the places I mentioned aren't really Brewerytown per se, but a lot of people from B-town do seem to frequent them, as you said, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

Also, since you just bought another house up there--what are the places along Girard going for these days? I used to live at 29th & Ogden and wonder how much the prices have gone up over the last few years. Just curious.

actually Proudest M- is referring to what used to be called Brewerytown. I'm not sure when the name changed but it probably had a lot to do with Fairmount real estate prices. Upon talking to some people who lived in the nieghborhood for quite some time- I think as late as the early-90's people were still thinking- you don't go west of 28th street or north of Brown.

For Brewerytown, there are the historic boundaries or the ones created by civic associations. They both do not match.

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That's the question. I'm not sure about the area too much other than general reviews and a quick drive through. That plus knowing it borders the park. Is one direction more desirable than the other? What's the impact of the townhomes that were built around Master on that area? What's the main street like that borders the park? That's another question.

Sorry, I know these are kinda broad, its just we're trying to figure things out and Brewerytown is my idea, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible.

another thing that i would suggest is that you come to the community meeting on monday. you will get to meet people like gorilla, adam and myself along with many other residents of this area.

the townhomes have a had a huge impact on the neighborhood. it has cleaned up much of the drug traffic west of 29th st, although it has really just put it underground really.

if you mean 33rd street, that is a very very wonderful street. we had been looking over there for the last year and finally gave up cause we could not rationalize buying a shell for 80-100K.

most of the hub bub is around the developement and girard. girard hhas turned around 180 degrees in the 3 yearss we have been here. many of the crack houses have been bought up and either renovated or have been boarded up for future sale or renovation.

it is really block by block. you need to pick a house and go there all times of the day. get to know the block captain or someone on the block and ask them questions and concerns you have.

as for an example. we just bought a house on the 2800 blk of oxforc street. we like the house cause it is 3 stories, has a front porch and most of the original details of the house is intact. the price was right 40K for a shell.

the block i like cause it is wide and has a wide side walk. there are no buildings that have been taken down. there are old trees that flank both sides. there seems to be a lot of home owners.

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