Philadelphia Culture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I came back to check, and this thread got less fun.

I posted earlier - lots of family in Philly and I’m from Wilmington. One set of grandparents was in Conshohocken - it was pretty working class back then, but looks to be fancier now. I have great memories of walking to “the peanut factory” - which google tells me is still there! I loved that place.
https://edwardsfreeman.com/

Also the poster who said that Wilmington, Delaware is sort of in-bred was right-on. Every time I run into someone who turns out to be from Delaware we immediately and simultaneously ask each other “where did you go to high school?” It tells you A LOT about the person. I went to a lousy public school and you can almost see the tower hill/archmere/tatnall/Sanford school crew recoil (despite the fact that I turned out ok). My husband is from the west coast, and is fascinated by the weird and persistent tribalism exhibited by a bunch of 40-50 year olds. And most of my friends growing up stayed there - I live “far away”, by which I mean 2-3 hours away.

Thank you for confirming what I have long suspected, which is that every person in Delaware knows each other. Also explains why when I asked someone who lived in elkton, MD, “oh so you’re basically from Delaware?” She said “no,” in this horrified whisper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it very hard to tell of people are mad at each other or just having a friendly conversation. Philly people pride themselves on being blunt but to me it often sounds like someone is just being super nasty and rude.

This strange Philadelphian way of communication is extra stressful if you are communicating via zoom bc it’s like “what is happening…are they mad at me? Did I insult them somehow?” While the philly person is happy, unperturbed on the inside thinking like “yeah I’m keepin it real up in this jawn, should I wear my eagles jersey to get my hoagie at the fancy Wawa or will that jinx the game this Sunday?”

I can tell you that not every Philly person talks like this, for example I grew up in Chestnut Hill and we could speak properly thank you very much! We all aren't Rocky.

Even the bougiest philly person loves Wawa and lets their philly flag fly when the Iggles won the Super Bowl.

Maybe but I don't say Iggles!!!

[Anonymous]

Sheetz > Wawa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheetz > Wawa.

I like Sheetz but Wawa is OG

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Philly and you’ll be served the sane frozen pretzels you can get at Safeway. There’s nothing unique or interesting about the place anymore. DC must be such a cultural vacuum for some to think otherwise. Sorry, poseur[b]s.

Must be speaking from experience, eh pp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Kelly Drive was not named after Grace Kelly, it was named after her brother.

My late wife, Kelly, and I were were driving our kids to the tennis lessons in what used to be Arthur Ashe and now is called Legacy. Off the I-76, Kelly Drive exit... I always thought it's named for her.

To the OP, tell them that you are Steelers fan... no, on the other thought, don't...

It is, I was just kidding.

[Anonymous]

OMG you Philly haters. I am from suburban philly (what? we all call it that), it was a great place to grow up. Beautiful old houses - when I moved to the DC area, I was looking for all the big old stone houses only could find the boring split levels. Center City is awesome, there are good parts and like any city, there are the not so good parts. So much amazing history. Still have family in Center City and surrounding areas. Everyone had a beach house in NJ (LBI!!!), b/c the beach was only 2 hours away. Mom went to Temple and niece just graduated from there with an awesome job! After years of living in DC, I still say wooder and gaz. To the pp whose family can't wait to move - I will say most people are from there, go to college and move back, very unlike transient DC . I would think it would be hard to be an outsider there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Also the poster who said that Wilmington, Delaware is sort of in-bred was right-on. Every time I run into someone who turns out to be from Delaware we immediately and simultaneously ask each other “where did you go to high school?” It tells you A LOT about the person. I went to a lousy public school and you can almost see the tower hill/archmere/tatnall/Sanford school crew recoil (despite the fact that I turned out ok). My husband is from the west coast, and is fascinated by the weird and persistent tribalism exhibited by a bunch of 40-50 year olds. And most of my friends growing up stayed there - I live “far away”, by which I mean 2-3 hours away.

+1, Wilmington is even more parochial than Philly. So glad not to live there anymore.

Archemere '94

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I’m a Philly WASP and behind coded doors we admit that the Italians, the Irish, etc. are just interlopers.

Ridiculous. They far outnumber you. You’re a dying breed. Bye!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son and DIL live just outside Philly. They hate everything about it and are counting the days until they move. We have visited them several times and I have to say, I totally understand why they want to leave. It’s a pretty awful place.

which town?

Havertown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Philadelphians are very proud of their city. Do not call it Philly!

Do you know the city well? You might check out the incredible museums there. The historic parts of the city are gorgeous and there are cool little towns adjacent as well.

My father is from there as are my half siblings. They all call it Philly….as did my Grandparents who are from there.

[Anonymous]

That article is pure poetry. I loved it.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here tell me about Temple and UPenn?

One sucks and one is an Ivy.

Protip: Anyone referring to Penn as "UPenn", isn't from Philadelphia.

- Philadelphian, Central and Temple grad

pro tip: op is not from Philadelphia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My toddler has this ABC print in their room just to keep it real!

https://www.philadelphiaindependents.com/shop/philly-abcs-print

Wow, some canned list — that’s keeping’ it real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG you Philly haters. I am from suburban philly (what? we all call it that), it was a great place to grow up. Beautiful old houses - when I moved to the DC area, I was looking for all the big old stone houses only could find the boring split levels. Center City is awesome, there are good parts and like any city, there are the not so good parts. So much amazing history. Still have family in Center City and surrounding areas. Everyone had a beach house in NJ (LBI!!!), b/c the beach was only 2 hours away. Mom went to Temple and niece just graduated from there with an awesome job! After years of living in DC, I still say wooder and gaz. To the pp whose family can't wait to move - I will say most people are from there, go to college and move back, very unlike transient DC . I would think it would be hard to be an outsider there.

If all you found were “boring old split levels”, where in DC were you actually looking? Were you actually IN DC?
I guess you haven’t gotten to know many people from families who’ve lived here for generations. With family beach houses in MD.