Last night, I was in Philly for a friend's birthday party and we decided to go to Old City around 11 PM. I couldn't believe what I saw. For the sake of being politically correct, I'm just going to say that a specific demographic seems to have taken over the neighborhood. All these places that I used to frequent when I lived here were overrun with with hoodrats and hoodlums. There were fights, trash all over the street, people driving their tinted-out cars up on crowded sidewalks, and grossly overweight women wearing almost nothing, screaming and cursing at each other. I'm assuming this demographical shift is closely related to the fact that so many businesses have closed down recently as the rest of us have started avoiding Old City like the plague.

I remember when Old City was one of the few neighborhoods in the city that was actually respectable. There was a healthy nightlife scene of all types of people. And most importantly, it was safe.

What can be done to save one of the few remaining good neighborhoods in the city before it turns into another South Street?

It's too late to save it, it is the new South Street.

It's really sad because this was one of the city's few success stories.

Has it really gone down hill that fast? Usually make a couple trips per year to Old City. Two years ago I noticed a slight change in patronage,a year ago a much more pronounced change, thats unfortunate if its gotten that bad.As Foodie said it was a ray of light for a few years.

Cant say I'm surprised.

Not being a night-crawling person I never see much of what the OP was
talking about. If/when I go there it's much earlier in the evening way
before said demographic shows up

Oh yes, yes. Another south street. Yep. I was eating in Supper listening to hip hop djs. Went to Core de roma to listen to an "urban" poetry slam. Went to Bridget Foy's for some 40's. Stopped by T-Moms for some gangsta ho's and to check out the 26" dubs on their hoopties. Over to Souvlaki where they know how to thump the chicken wings.

I really don't know who's more immature-Old City's crowd or those who keep wishing to induce south street into its woeful conversations. We're doing quite alright with our "respectable" neighborhood. I know we don't have glam or anything like that-but I guess we'll just have to make due with 3bell restaurants like southwark, beau monde, gayle, ansill, and supper-and then some lowly two bells like ava, django, xochitl, las bugalambitos(sp), etc.. I know-we're so behind the times compared to "respectable" old city, which-by 6th district's statistics-has more incidents in one weekend night than the south street district has in an entire summer month.

South St is actually turning into the old Old City. In 3 years it'll be all Belgian bars and whatnot. That being said, I don't think Old City is too bad, you just can't go to certain places on Friday and Saturday night. If you're a professional drinker over 25(like myself), you never go to Old City on Fridays or Saturdays anyway.

For the record, I like black people. Bars are ruined by these people....

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"Power does what it wants." - George Carlin

True dat, and just to update, Craig Laban just recently awarded a 3rd bell to Xochitl. So how can we get Franklin Fountain to move to South St.? Oh wait, we don't like beautiful ice cream parlors with homemade ice cream...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I didn't know that xochitl got a third bell! That's amazing-guess I'll have to go over for some congratulatory margaritas.

Why do I feel like Rodney King, only minus the aches and pains, reading this thread?

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Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
“Basically I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them.” --Theresa Neilson Hayden