Bad Cheesesteak....

A bad cheesesteak....errr…..wrap!? That’s what Philly gets (a bad wrap…). So it’s a city that poses itself a little rough on the edges. In all reality, it’s pretty cute and cuddly once you look past the (dropping) crime rate and homicides. Not to mention, it’s fabulously full of art, food and culture. It has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re a crazy ass sports fan or love to go to 1st Fridays to view the latest on the art scene they (ahem, WE) have it.

I’m not going to lie. When I first moved to Philly I didn’t know much beyond the Rocky movies and the two stops I made for cheesesteaks while I was on my way to Atlantic City. At that time I viewed it with simple pleasure of ‘another large city.’ In all reality, I didn’t think what I thought of the city would really matter, ever. Funny thing....just a few months after my 2nd pass-through I was visiting for another reason. A job. Again, I didn’t look into it much. And I pretty much took the job based on a two things 1) I needed to move on from ‘then’ current job and 2) I LOVEEEEEE the Rocky movies which had to equal to me loving the city. Made sense, no?

Luckily, it is true. I love this city. I love that it’s not preppy nor is it a slum. I love that it’s not full of crazies of one kind (e.g. political hacks or hippies or white trash). It’s pretty diverse place with it all (okay, there isn’t much for politics here). Yeah, you have your shady parts….but need I remind myself that just a few blocks from my highly esteemed Big 10 University and our very own U.S. Capitol are some of the most shady ‘hoods you can find out there. Plus, more homicides have occurred within a mile of where I lived in my previous two cities than they have in my new neighborhood. Nice.

So the next time you hear that there’s been another homicide or Philly was named the “City of Uglies” again, hop on a plane and visit me. I can prove it all wrong.