Where should an RN in her 40's move in Philly (Washington: high crime, home)

[rdugirl]

Thanks for all the suggestions! There are SO many options that it is a bit overwhelming I will be in town the last week of June and will be checking out all of your suggestions. You guys have all be SO helpful! I will keep you posted and will no doubt have more questions along the way. Excited to get there and be on the other side of this forum

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by rdugirl

Thanks for all the suggestions! There are SO many options that it is a bit overwhelming I will be in town the last week of June and will be checking out all of your suggestions. You guys have all be SO helpful! I will keep you posted and will no doubt have more questions along the way. Excited to get there and be on the other side of this forum

Let us know what you decide.

[rdugirl]

Coming to town end of June and I'm going to check out WSW, West Mt. Airy, Art Museum and Filter Square. WSW has some pretty decent rentals and from what I can tell it is walkable, good restaurants/shops, etc. Chestnut Hill was an option, but it seems a little to 'fancy' if that makes any sense. It has great shops, etc. but not many that I would shop in ($$$$). I'm pretty down to earth and not impressed by labels. The perfect "hood" for me would have the following..

Good coffee shop(s) where I can grab cup of coffee in the morning and read the paper (NOT Starbucks). Outdoor seating a plus
Good restaurants with local favorites
A great bakery
Grocer/butcher
Farmers Market (Reading Terminal Market)
Vibrant but not overrun with college kids/frat scene-I like to have a good time, but prefer to have more people my age (45) than the 20 yr old crowd. I like a good mix of cultures/lifestyles.
Trees/Park close by for walking dog

Not to much to ask for, is it?

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by rdugirl

Coming to town end of June and I'm going to check out WSW, West Mt. Airy, Art Museum and Filter Square. WSW has some pretty decent rentals and from what I can tell it is walkable, good restaurants/shops, etc. Chestnut Hill was an option, but it seems a little to 'fancy' if that makes any sense. It has great shops, etc. but not many that I would shop in ($$$$). I'm pretty down to earth and not impressed by labels. The perfect "hood" for me would have the following..

Good coffee shop(s) where I can grab cup of coffee in the morning and read the paper (NOT Starbucks). Outdoor seating a plus
Good restaurants with local favorites
A great bakery
Grocer/butcher
Farmers Market (Reading Terminal Market)
Vibrant but not overrun with college kids/frat scene-I like to have a good time, but prefer to have more people my age (45) than the 20 yr old crowd. I like a good mix of cultures/lifestyles.
Trees/Park close by for walking dog

Not to much to ask for, is it?

I honestly think that WSW would be perfect. you're about a 10 minute walk to both the Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market, two of the great farmers markets in the country, with great butchers, produce, seafood, cheese shops, specialty stores, etc. in terms of grocery stores, there is a whole foods and a superfresh at 10th and south. there is a dog park in seger park (with off-leash dog run) on 10th and lombard, and of course you have washington square and independence park as well. lots of restaurants all over the place. not a frat/party scene at all as long as you're not on south street. it's as walkable a neighborhood as you will find anywhere in the country - tons of stuff in the neighborhood and short walk to anywhere else in center city and northern south philly because it is so centrally located.

[Aimewitue]

Yeah Washington Square West would be perfect for a RN working at any of the center city Hospitals. ie Jefferson, HUP, and Temple, Hannehman.

It really all depends on which hospital and how far you willing to commute to.

[nosyneighbors]

I agree, although I posted that I thought Media was (is) an excellent choice, Washington Square West is also a winner.
Since you are an experienced RN, rdugirl, you should be able to find a job. It is the glut of graduate nurses that cannot find jobs; they are too expensive to train.

[rdugirl]

Thanks again to EVERYONE who gave me such great advice. I spent the last several days in the city and wanted to give you all an update.

Job in CC...check

Apt in Washington Square West...check

Learning my way around the city..a work in progress, but it is pretty easy, very walkable and everyone helpful!

Love the area I'll be living in and looking forward to meeting new people! If any of my city data friends will be in CC, please let me know and I will buy you a drink for helping out.

[Pine to Vine]

^^^ rdugirl - Earlier in the thread I implied you might have been insincere about where you want to live. Mea culpa! - hope you'll forgive me. Congratulations on your new job and apartment. I hope you enjoy your new city as much as we have. As a newcomer myself, i will do my best to answer any questions you might post here.

Welcome!

[FindingZen]

Congrats...and thanks for checking in with an update!

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by rdugirl

Job in CC...check

Apt in Washington Square West...check

Yay! Thanks for the update.