Hey all,

I am moving back to the Philadelphia-area after four years of college. I am thinking of moving to either Mt. Airy or Center City. I was wondering if anyone on this site could shed a little light on the social scene in Mt. Airy.

I want to move to an area that has a lot of young people and my impression is that Mt. Airy is mostly families. Young families, but still not people in their early to mid twenties.

Is this true? What's the bar/social scene like for young folks in Mt. Airy?

Thanks a million!

-Ben

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http://benwaxman.com

About two years ago there was a PB user by the name of igor who was looking to move to Philly right out of college, but he was completely new to Philly, and he was considering W Philly and Mt. Airy, and decided on Mt. Airy, based on access to Carpenters Woods and the Wissahickon, really pretty much against the advice of everyone on Phillyblog who'd commented. He moved into the very apartment complex where I live, in fact. After a year, he did not renew his lease and moved to W Philly.

In short, your perception of Mt. Airy is pretty much correct. I think your situation is pretty different from igor's - being from Philly, and being who you are, you've got a lot of connections that would probably make Mt. Airy workable for you, but still, this is not a neighborhood with a young bar (or other social) scene. Not that I necessarily know well, being in one of those young families and not going out very much. But when I've been in places like McMenamins, or NXNW, or Chestnut Hill pubs, it's not really a single twenty-somethings kind of scene. As pleased as certain Erdenheim residents might be to have you in Mt. Airy, if you want to be living among people your own age, Center City it is.

-tt

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Thomas Taylor

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there are young or youngish people in this area (like me) but there is not much night life here. I used to organize some shows (music festivals) at the Sedgwick or one at Allen's Lane, and pretty all of the audience was NOT from Mt Airy/chestnut hill/germantown. I eventually gave up trying do shows in this area because there is not an audiece for it, and most poeple from center city or nearby dont' want to go to Mt Airy to see a show. West Philly is good for younger people and a social scene though, and Center City obviously.

however Mt AIry does have it's good points for young people too.I personally don't care too much about going out to a bar every night (though we do have them here). If you are active, we have really great parks here. I chose this area (I used to live in Mt Airy but currently am in Gtown) because the prices are much more reasonable than center city, and I like the architecture and the green spaces.

I agree with TT. The younger folks are usually married with kids...and into the quiet-ish life. What are you looking for?

Yes, Mt Airy is full of familes and childless couples. I'd imagine that the best place for you might be University City....if you are young 20s. Or, center city, if you can afford it.

I've been to some of the night spots in mt airy and I do find singles there (I am late 30s)...but everyone is my age or older.

This is a really wonderful palce to raise a family or live with a spouse.

South Philly. Good neighborhoods, great eats, + the northern reaches are a very short walk from CC nightlife.

Standard qualifiers,
-Z

I agree with folks who have said you should move to West Philly. Center City is expensive unless you were smarter about your college major than I was. You'll probably end up spending a lot of time in West Philly anyway based on who your friends will probably be. You can still find cheap, decent housing, and Center City is an easy trolley ride away (or even a walk if you're into that). South Philly would also be good.

Move to Mt. Airy in five years, but not straight out of college.

(I'm another of those young parent types. Bars? What are those? I collapse by about 11PM).

Thanks for all the input.

To clarify, I'm not really looking to hit the bars every night or trying to find the singles scene. If I want that, I'll go to Center City. I was more curious about concerts, parks, and all that stuff.

Anyway, it does look like I'll be moving to the Northwest in a few months. I'm pretty pumped. I grew up in Erdenheim (right across the Philly border) and couldn't imagine living somewhere without a lot of trees. Plus, my Mom is happy that I'll be living less than 5 miles away.

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http://benwaxman.com

In the summer there are lots of concerts in Mt. Airy. And live music at the Mermaid Inn (if one likes folk or blues or Irish or . . .) & NXNW. Of course, the Wissahickon park is a gem. And Mt. Airy has Weavers Way Co-op, where many young people work and shop.

Good deal Ben. Where in NW did you choose?