On Sunday I took a drive to visit what will be my new neighborhood (Northwood in Frankford) just to poke around and see what is around the area. Someone told me that the closest supermarket to my new home is the Acme on the Blvd, right up from Large Street. So, I drove to go check it out. I have never driven on the Roosevelt Blvd before. I was amazed and terrified-- it seemed about 10 lanes wide and with express/local lanes!!! People were not very patient with me as I tried to navigate my way around, which I understand. Nothing is worse than a pokey driver. Still- the experience on Sunday made me want to run for cover under the El. I suspect I'll get used to it as the Blvd. seems unavoidable for groceries and other shopping. Unless anyone has any alternative local routes.

Can't say I blame you for not wanting to drive on the Blvd. I'll defer to Geno or one of the other NE veterans if/when he finds this topic, but here are my suggestions:

- Not sure where, exactly in Northwood you're talking about, but you could take Large->Cheltenham->Frankford->Harbison->Acme if that's the one you're going to.
- There's a Save-A-Lot at M and Erie in Juniata that you can get to by taking Castor away from the Blvd and then making a right onto Erie, but Save-A-Lot is a bit of a ghetto grocery store.
- There's a grocery store (I forget which... Superfresh?) near Aramingo and Lehigh, but that's a bit far from Northwood.

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I don't like The Boulevard either. There's always Frankford Avenue on the east and Castor Avenue on the west if you want to avoid the speedway feeling.

Are you kidding? I love Save-A-Lot! I'm in S. Philly now.. have one right down the street. 39 cent/pound bananas. Can't beat it. Lovely cash register women (and men), too. Beats the hell out of fancy Superfresh on Delaware Ave. (Ooops, I mean Columbus Blvd)

Anyway, thanks for the tips. They will help. Also thanks for thinking I'm not crazy for being a Roosevelt Blvd. scaredy cat.

I hate the Blvd. too. I avoid it whenever possible. Also a good place to grocery shop is the ShopRite at Levick and Oxford. The only time you would have to spend on the Blvd. is going around the Oxford Circle. I hate that too, it's a giant free for all on the circle. People are impatient, and just plain rude.

So, how far up on the Roosevelt Blvd. from Large St. is Oxford Circle? Does it merge at some point? (I suppose I should just go look at a map, but this is easier.) I'm into Shoprite.

Oxford Circle is south of Large & the Blvd. Go up Oxford or Castor from your neighborhood. They both merge onto the circle. Or, to avoid the Blvd. completely, just take Large to Levick and turn left on Levick. All you have to do is cross the blvd. on Large.

Thanks, Gene, for your help. I'll try this next Sunday. In the meantime, you (or anyone) have the scoop on that very small looking place called (I think) "Patty's" on Oxford Ave?

No, I don't. I have driven past and wondered about it myself though. It looks nice from the outside.

Where would I find the closest shopping area for say, clothes (adult as well as kids) and house appliances like paint and hardware and stuff from the Blvd and Large St? Downtown I'm used to Target and Home Depot, Lowes and Old navy, etc.

Anything like that up there? Or is that place Franklin Mills the closest for stuff like that? I got lost there once.