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03-15-2008, 03:48 PM
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Considering a Move to West Philadelphia? Read this.
Let me put it into a nutshell for you, as I am a long-time University City resident, and in fact, am friends with the Powelton Village 'pioneer families', that is the families that were instrumental into turning Powelton Village into a residential neighborhood for teachers, professionals and artists back in the 50's & 60's (the Byes, Lazorkos/Biddles, Marshalls, Funderbirks etc.)...University City is overpriced in housing stock, subject to big property taxes and, for a community so closely related to universities such as Penn, Drexel etc. is wasteland as far as the arts & entertainment go...some of this is due to the insular attitute of the white residents, who although they support every 'liberal' cause conceivable, are very conservative & isolationist in their personal lives...they are 'stay at homes' and don't want anything the least bit 'exciting or different' in their neighborhood...especially now, as the later generations of the families I mentioned have moved...the University City area has become an area of 'parasite' industry for students attending the universities...and U of PA/Drexel themselves are merely 'hi-tech' trade schools for future employees of global multi-national corporations...in fact, the majority of U of PA students appear to be foreigners, who are transients and won't stay in Philadelphia...except for the Supermarket at 40th & Walnut, there are no supers or big groceries anywhere in University City...so shopping is a problem...there is an influx of African and Asian immigrants, but their stores don't really serve American needs well...crime is a bit of a problem, but by taking reasonable precautions, you can protect yourself...it depends what you are looking for: there are a lot of nice homes, but they are expensive to purchase/maintain/heat...if you are white, you may have problems with the largely black population that lives west of 49th street, as these folks are poorer and less well educated, and there might be a cultural clash...as for me, I live there without any problems, but I feel the main problem is a 'Philadelphia' problem: we are a city of folks who cn't see the bigger picture about many issues, and cling to cliched things that are 'identified' with Philadelphia. 
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03-15-2008, 05:47 PM
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With the long tradition of basement house parties, alternative performance venues like the Rotunda and Danger Danger Gallery, formerly active spots like the CODE space and the Fakehouse, weekly accoustic music venues like Fiume, I think UCity/West Philly is a pretty lively part of town. Everytime I go past the bulletin board at the Satellite Cafe I'm overwhelmed at the number of concerts and alternative entertainment events i could go to every week without leaving the neighborhood. I doubt any neighborhood in the city can claim to have as many funky DIY entertainment venues - although outside of the World Cafe Live and the Mill Creek Tavern, I will agree there is something of a lack of officially sanctioned ones. Then there are the various festivals, concerts, and theatre events that happen in Clark Park (like the Clark Park Fest and Best Fest) and in Calvary Church (including the Crossroads World Music Concerts and Curio Theatre Company). And sometimes arts venues that have classes like the CEC and UC Arts League I think its possible the problem is more that you have sort of drifted out of the demographic of folks who organize DIY cultural events in West Philly and you are blaming the neighborhood. There is also the free weekly Friday Night Jazz in Cedar Park that Denis King sets up, as well as the Summer Heritage Jazz in Malcolm X Park every other Thursday in the summer time. For what its worth there was an old PB thread about West Philly's tradition of many alternative music and arts venues here. Also a thread about the Fringe/Live Arts Festival moving an increasing number of its performance to venues in West Philly. There are also stores featuring local handicrafts and the occasional accoustic music performance like VIX Emporium and contemporary and cutting edge art venues like the ICA and the Slought Foundation.
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The Obama speech everyone is talking about. Watch it and decide for yourself. Last edited by seand : 03-15-2008 at 07:04 PM.
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03-17-2008, 04:12 PM
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and by the way, I've had 'professional' dealings with all these joints, and the bullshit you must go through to get a show or concert is mind-spinning for what are, in a sense, 'nickle & dime' galleries/spaces...Hey, I was rejected for a part-time teaching jon once at the U City Arts League because I wasn't gay or a woman!...but, whatever rings your bell.
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03-17-2008, 04:12 PM
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and by the way, I've had 'professional' dealings with all these joints, and the bullshit you must go through to get a show or concert is mind-spinning for what are, in a sense, 'nickle & dime' galleries/spaces...Hey, I was rejected for a part-time teaching job once at the U City Arts League because I wasn't gay or a woman!...but, whatever rings your bell.
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03-19-2008, 02:36 PM
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__________________
 "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - Martin Luther King Jr.
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03-19-2008, 09:37 PM
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__________________
Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are. Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.
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03-24-2008, 03:43 PM
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issues goes is 'narrow-minded', I stand convicted...if 'broad-minded' means that you will accept anything without question, then I am innocent...although it is a book you probably have never read, the Bible says, and I paraphrase here, that 'to a people who beleive lies, God will send an even greater deception.' Last edited by frankdialogue : 03-24-2008 at 03:45 PM.
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03-24-2008, 05:58 PM
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Funny, my friend got a gig teaching there, and he's a straight, white 30-something.
I'm SURE the problem isn't you. They just didn't pick you because you're a straight, white male, right? Poor bitter unsuccessful musician. I'm sure you thought you'd be playing the Wachovia center by now. 
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03-24-2008, 08:40 PM
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Ok, enough of this. This is a thread about helping people who are considering a move to West Philly/University City.
__________________
Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are. Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.
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