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Most people confuse Belgium block with cobblestone.
Very little cobblestone exists in America. Philly has some cobble, but it's over in Society Hill. There's a little bit in Old City as well. Germantown Avenue has a lot of Belgium block.
I think a lot of people tend to forget what the first post was looking for; it's easy to do so because this thread is so old. But based off the original post, Chicago. It has the dense neighborhoods, transit, and more to offer than Philadelphia. Chicago has a much better waterfront than Philadelphia, and you have the Great Lakes right at your doorstep. Philly is still about an hour from the ocean, and if I am going to the ocean, it's not going to be New Jersey. I think Chicago just has a better big city atmosphere to in which Philadelphia in most respects can't touch.
Phili and Chicago are 2 very great cities and I was born and raised in the Chicago area.
Phili and Chicago probably compare a little more equally than Chi and NYC, which is a difficult comparison to make due to enormous size differences. Phili is noticeably smaller than Chi but still compares better.
I love both but Chicago wins. Easily. Not necessarily by a "mile," but easily nonetheless.
Phili wins for:
1. Weather. Summers probably slightly hotter and a little more humid, but really not that bad compared to florida (where I have lived for a little while now). People from non-florida states think their summer heat is so bad and it's kinda funny. Winters are warmer but also get less snow and more rain, and you are unlikely to have consistent snow cover, which could be a plus or minus.
2. Proximity to other large cities and even to Europe.
3. History
Chicago:
Chicago is larger with a more scenic and amazing downtown with world-renowned architecture. There is more culture in chicago with a better classical music scene (phili has good music too but it's just less). Bands and orchestras and choirs and what have you. Chicago is noticeably cleaner and has slightly cooler summers and an at least somewhat more comprehensive transit. Price is comparable. Overall Chicago has a very very cool vibe and aesthetic that's kind of like "the city is rough but cool." Lots of great bars, amazing neighborhoods that are incredibly distinct and flavorful, more urban feeling to me as it's just larger and has bigger shoulders if you know what I mean. Less proximity to beautiful nature (altho surrounding forest preserves are nice, they're not as cool as mountains) but probably more scenic in the immediate area because a lake that is an inland sea beats out 2 rivers. It's kind of nice that we basically have at least a few weeks of snow cover in chicago also.
I can't wait to move back north though, which I'm doing in may. To the NYC area, not Chicago, but still thrilled.
Chicago's churches are phenomenal and the slavic influence shows in them and throughout the city
Last edited by ibarne242; 12-07-2017 at 05:53 PM..
Reason: Wanted to add something
Philly is still about an hour from the ocean, and if I am going to the ocean, it's not going to be New Jersey.
Hey Big Guy admit it you've never actually been to the beaches in South Jersey have you?
If you had you would have known its some of the most expensive real estate in the USA. Median home prices range from $ 700 K in the more modest beach towns to $1.5 M in Stone Harbor.
Two cities I've never been to but really want see. Based on what I've heard, it seems like Philadelphia is really starting to give Chicago a run for its money in terms of being one of "the" urban big cities. A huge city like Chicago in a Midwestern setting is very intriguing though-I've been watching that show "Easy" on Netflix to get a little Chicago indoctrination.
I don't think it's fair to play the "look what other cities are nearby" card, but man imagine getting bored in Philly-90 minutes you're in NYC, then go back the same day. Very hard to exclude that feature.
Hey Big Guy admit it you've never actually been to the beaches in South Jersey have you?
If you had you would have known its some of the most expensive real estate in the USA. Median home prices range from $ 700 K in the more modest beach towns to $1.5 M in Stone Harbor.
I still wouldn't ever go out of my way to go to New Jersey beaches, although they seem like a great local amenity if they happen to be near by.
The fact that beach homes are more expensive in an expensive state doesn't mean the beaches are objectively better than a less expensive beach home, it just means people from high wealth cities are willing to pay that much for a beach they can drive to from NY or Philly or whatever.
I still wouldn't ever go out of my way to go to New Jersey beaches, although they seem like a great local amenity if they happen to be near by.
The fact that beach homes are more expensive in an expensive state doesn't mean the beaches are objectively better than a less expensive beach home, it just means people from high wealth cities are willing to pay that much for a beach they can drive to from NY or Philly or whatever.
Yeah, it's certainly a nice convenience, and Jersey beaches can be great. Ocean Grove is a good example.
All in all, not my favorite beach experience though. Much prefer NC beach front to the south and MA beach front to the north. I genuinely just don't love the feel of the NJ coastal towns. I mean, Spring Lake is nice, but i prefer Nantucket or the Outer banks.
I am biased because I was born and raised in Philly, and the Philly burbs. I have lived all over the U.S. but when I had the chance a few years ago, I moved back to Philly. I think Philly has a wider range of educational opportunities, good restaurant culture, history, and the arts. Plus it has access to the shore areas, and the mountains (albeit little ones) for recreation. I don't value access to NYC, Balt, and DC that much, but some people do.
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