Are there any Philadelphia neighborhoods similar to Hampden in Baltimore? (Washington: houses, university)

[DownSouth88]

Hampden is one of my favorite neighborhoods anywhere in the country; I just love the mixture of good eats, demographics, weird shops, interesting houses, etc. etc. I was wondering if Philadelphia had anything similar. Thanks!

[kidphilly]

Maybe No Libs or the South Street area - not sure there is an exact one but maybe a few with elements which also could include Old City and Wash West or even Manyunk/Roxbourough (though to me Manyunk has become to over run by national chains these days

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Maybe No Libs or the South Street area - not sure there is an exact one but maybe a few with elements which also could include Old City and Wash West or even Manyunk/Roxbourough (though to me Manyunk has become to over run by national chains these days

Yep, that sounds like the Northern Liberties/Old City/South Street corridor to me too. The OP should be able to find everything they're looking for within that quarter-mile wide/one-mile long stretch.

When I think about it, I'm with you on Washington Square West too. Seems like the "shorthand" answer would be to stay east of Broad Street - the closer to the river, the better - to find what they're looking for.

[PennKid]

Having been to Hampden only a few times, and being very charmed by its strong sense of neighborhood identity, brisk small business activity, and young, civic-minded people, I would actually compare the neighborhood more to parts of West Philly, like Powelton, south of spring garden, east of maybe 41st or 42nd, or east of 50th, south of about chestnut. There are a couple vibrant commercial strips in this area, but the most vibrant is Baltimore Avenues, with small organic markets like Milk and Honey, brunch places like Rx, Gold Standard, and Marigold, coffee shops like the Green Line and the Satellite, and a never-ending series of house parties and art shows.

But if it's the Christmas lights display that draw you to Hampden, you can find Philadelphia's equivalent deep in South Philly, in some of the blocks just south of Oregon, although you can see some lights in Lower Moyamensing and the St. Monica's area (south of Snyder east of Broad, south of Jackson west of Broad, west of about 7th St. Although these neighborhoods are pretty ungentrified, unlike Hampden, they have a strong white working-class identity, much like Hampden. That being said, both neighborhoods have seen a trickle of young gentrifyin' types trickling south and west form the East Passyunk Area/

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by movinginjune2010

Hampden is one of my favorite neighborhoods anywhere in the country; I just love the mixture of good eats, demographics, weird shops, interesting houses, etc. etc. I was wondering if Philadelphia had anything similar. Thanks!

This post is a few years old. I'm curious where you ended up settling in Philadelphia. And if it was better or worse or just plain agreeable for you, comparative to Hampden, Baltimore.

[Clark Park]

Parts of University City has that vibe.