Here ya go! I re-posted my entire rant! Hope this helps
Education: Philly (the city) has a pretty bad school district, I will be honest. However, there are still good public schools in Center City, South Philly, Northwest Philly, and Northeast Philly. It is strange. There are A TON of good Catholic schools in the city and private schools. There are also charter schools. Then there is Penn Alexander. Penn Alexander is a public school in University City in West Philly run by UPenn... need I say more? There are plenty of good schooling options however... If these options don't work out, then Montgomery County and Bucks County in the PA side of the Philly Burbs will offer some of the best schooling options in the country. As for higher education well Philly is certainly no slouch and draws in crowds from all over the country. Philly is one of the best cities in the country (maybe the world?) for a higher education right up there with Boston and NY. University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Villanova, Temple University, Swarthmore, Jefferson University, St. Joseph's, La Salle, Penn State (several satellite campuses in the metro). Also, Princeton and Rutgers are close by. Then there are a ton of community colleges plus some very prestigious art schools like University of the Arts and the Curtis Institute. There are a ton of schools in Philly. Here is a full list:
List of colleges and universities in Philadelphia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diversity: Very diverse. Philadelphia is a city of 1.5 million but a metro of 5.8 million and growing. Let the demographic numbers speak for itself.
Demographics of Philadelphia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Culture/Things to do: Well it's Philadelphia. There is tons of shopping, from South Street to Walnut Street (upscale shopping) to the Gallery Mall and Market East which is improving more and more every year. To Franklin Mills Mall in the Far Northeast. There is also Willow Grove Mall, Cherry Hill Mall and plenty of other malls... but let's not forget King of Prussia Mall. I think you probably know about KOP. Here is a link incase you don't
King of Prussia Mall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are parks. Fairmount Park (one of the largest urban parks in the world).
Then there is the Wissahickon, which is another large park in the Northwest. There is also FDR park in South Philly. There is Pennypack Park in Northeast Philly. There is the new Penn Park.
Right across the river from this park is the Schuylkill Banks park... and the gorgeous Schuylkill River trail. Philadelphia is creating many parks and trails that will all connect to each other throughout the city.
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Let's not forget the five squares. Only four are parks now. The fifth square had City Hall built on top of it.
City Hall (Central Square)
Which will soon have a newly renovated Dilworth Plaza.
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Old Dilworth Plaza
New Dilworth Plaza
In the foreground is a grass plot... this grass plot will be converted into an ice skating rink in the winter. There is another ice skating rink at Penn's Landing.
http://www.realville.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/RiverRink.jpg (broken link)
Rittenhouse Square
Franklin Square
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Washington Square
And Logan Square... which will soon have the new Sister cities Park (a park within a park?
)
Up and Coming Sister Cities Park
Let's not forget LOVE Park... which is also soon to get a renovation
There are also hundreds of small parks all throughout the city and plenty more being built every year. Like this. The beautiful new Race Street Pier.
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Okay.. enough of parks. Philadelphia offers some world class museums and theaters as well.
The Ben Franklin Parkway... lined with Residential highrises, libraries and Museums. From the Philadelphia Museum of Art (still one of the best in the country... Rocky Stairs anyone?) to the Franklin Institute (great for kids), to the Academy of Natural Sciences where you can see dinosaur bones and other such things. To the newly built Rodin Museum to the nearly finished Barnes Foundation. Plus there are hundreds of galleries throughout the city. The Please Touch Museum is also great for kids. Also let's not forget about Independence Mall and Independence Park in Old City. Where you can learn a ton of History. Learn where and how the country and city were created.
Independence Hall
The Liberty Bell
There is also the Philadelphia Zoo. The first Zoo in America. There is also the Camden aquarium right across the river. Don't worry, this is the only good part of Camden... lol.
There are also casinos. The one in the city is Sugarhouse Casino. More will be on their way. There are several in the Metro. A big one is Parx Casino right outside of the city in Bensalem in Bucks County. There is also Atlantic City in NJ. And oh! Let's not forget all of the Jersey Shore and Delaware Beaches.
There is also the Sports! Philadelphian's sure love their sports. From the Phillies (baseball) to the Eagles (football) to the Sixers (basketball) to the Flyers (hockey) to the Union (soccer). Yes we have a team for every major sport.
If you don't like sports then there are always plenty of concerts coming through the areas. From the Roots Picnic and other large concerts at Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, to the Concerts at the Sports Complex, Concerts at the Susquehanna Banks Center on the Camden Water, Concerts at the Naval Yard, Concerts at the Kimmel Center, Concerts at UPenn and Drexel and Concerts at Liacouras Center at Temple U.
There are also plenty of Amusement Parks in the area. Six Flags (freehold NJ). Sesame Place in Langhorne in Bucks County is a huge one for a family trip. There is also Dorney Park in the Lehigh Valley and Hershey Park in Hersehy Pa. Not to mention all the amusement parks at the shore.
There is also Eastern State Penitentiary
It's a pretty spectacular tourist attraction.
Philadelphia also has a LARGE convention center which always has things going on like Car Shows etc etc etc.
There is so much more to do that I am not listing as well. Here is a website for attractions in Philly
Museums & Attractions in Philadelphia — visitphilly.com
The food is great... obviously. It's Philly. We are known for our amazing eats and are constantly labeled as the best eat east of the Mississippi. From Reading Terminal Market to Franklin Fountain to of course.... cheesesteaks. No talk about Philly food would be complete without them. The city is also littered with 4 and 5 star restaurants.
You can also plan a day trip to small towns throughout the metro like New Hope Pa which is a great place.
Also there are great places to go in the city outside of Center City like the Northwest. Main Street Manayunk and Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill are pretty awesome. So is Northern Liberties in North Philadelphia and East Passyunk Crossing in South Philadelphia. Oh and the Italian Market in South Philadelphia of course. Oh and University City in West Philadelphia. Need I mention more? There is so much to do outside of Center City.
Nightlife activity... I'm sure you want me to mention it. Philly has some of the best Nightlife activity in the US. In Center City, Old City is probably the best place. It is always jam packed wednesday through saturday night. There are tons of bars and clubs throughout the neighborhood. Other great places are Washington Square West, South Street, Penn's Landing and the Waterfront and Rittenhouse Square. There are also tons of other places to go in the city for nightlife activity. From Templetown to University City to East Passyunk Crossing to Manayunk.
Here is some nightlife activity at some clubs and bars in the city.
Roxxy (nightclub) on Columbus Blvd on the Waterfront
HALLOWEEN @ THE ROXXY PHILLY - YouTube
Kinky Friday's @ the ROXXY - Philly - YouTube
Valentine's Day 2010 at Roxxy - YouTube
Kinky Fridays @ The Roxxy Philly 3.27.09 Pt.2 - YouTube
College Mansion at The Roxxy in Philly - YouTube
Bamboo (nightclub) right next to Roxxy and is only open in the summer. Bamboo has a pool... it's pretty awesome.
LMFAO LIve in Philadelphia at the Bamboo Club with Q102 Part 3 of 4 Concert - YouTube
Bamboo Bar - YouTube
Pitbull 093 - YouTube
Rumor (nightclub) in Rittenhouse Square
Rumor Night Club - Philadelphia Aurora Sound & Light - YouTube
Rumor Night Club - Philadelphia Aurora Sound & Light 5 - Mobile 1 1.m4v - YouTube
McFadden's Northern Liberties
McFadden's Philadelphia - YouTube
Mad River Manayunk
Mad River Manayunk presents the Philly 52 Launch Party - YouTube
Barstool Blackout Tour - Philly - YouTube
There are also chill bars of course. There are also bars and clubs that are not this chaotic. Plus the hundreds of college parties always going on. Philly has a HUGE college presence... obviously.
If you don't like parties, clubs or bars, there are always plays, shows and concerts going on of some sort. Plus the usual sports games that run late.
Did that cover it for cultural amenities? Of course there is a TON more that I didn't list.
Economy: It is good in Philly. Held up well for the recession and we're still holding up well. There are a lot of great jobs in Philly. Comcast pretty much runs the show but there is a ton of diversity in the job field.
Cost of Living: Relatively cheap compared to the rest of the North East. You can live well off renting a nice apartment in a highrise in Old City or Washington Square west in Center City for $1,000-2,000 a month. If you wanna spend the big bucks head over to Rittenhouse Square and get a place for $3,000-6,000 a month. If you wanna buy, houses will run you in any price range. Obviously anything over 200,000 thousand will get you in a decent area. If you wanna live in the hotspots, it's gonna cost you $800,000 for a house. There are also some after grad places like Manayunk and Old City that tend to run cheaper. Then you have Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Fitler Square and Chestnut Hill that will run you anywhere from $1 mill and up.
Bars can get pricey depending. Usually a lot of specials though. Everything else is cheaper. Philly is no strain on your pocket book. And there are grocery stores and plenty of restaurants in walking distance of anywhere you would want to live.
Outdoor Rec: See all the parks I listed above.... plus the ones I forgot or don't know about of course.
Politics: Which way does Philly vote I assume you mean? Philly usually votes democratic. It's been a while since there has been a Republican Mayor. PA as a whole is pretty 50/50. could go either way. City Council is pretty good. The Nutter Administration has really stepped things up and has turn this city around. They are doing great things and they are the best Admin we have had in a LONG LONG TIME.
Which is better for a family? There are plenty of great family friendly places in the city. From the Fairmount/Poplar/Spring Garden/Museum District neighborhoods of lower North Philadelphia (yes Lower North Philadelphia has some great neighborhoods). To Most of South Philadelphia (except for Point Breeze... that place sucks). To Fitler Square, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Logan Square in Center City. To anywhere in the Northeast (for the most part) and anywhere in the Northwest (for the most part). If the city isn't your thing with a family, hit the suburbs. Plenty of amazing places in the PA suburbs with some of the best school districts in the US.
Which is better for a Lawyer? Philly of course! Philly has a HUGE lawyer base... it has tons of firms. It is the 5th largest city in American and the 4th largest media market. We need us some lawyers.
Which do I prefer? That's a given... Philly.
Philly is great... come check it out. See how you like it. Stay in Old City or Rittenhouse Square in a Hotel and enjoy the sites. Get a feel for the place. I fell in love with it at first sight.
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1706 Rittenhouse Square Street - YouTube
09-04-2010 kelly to banks in 15.MPG - YouTube
Community Video: University City, Philadelphia - YouTube
Manayunk, Pennsylvania - YouTube
Old City Philadelphia - YouTube
Community Video: Northern Liberties, PA - YouTube
Random Road Trip, Center City, Philadelphia - YouTube
Community Video: Center City, Philadelphia - YouTube
Pics by VZ,LSyd and Giovanni Sasso from Skyscraperpageforum
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Hope this helped
if you come to visit... enjoy!
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most of these pics are not mine and I gave credit to their photographers above. I also posted videos which are a lot better and offer more reality than pictures. 
