Do people find Philly to be boring? (Philadelphia, York: home, university)

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Of all its problems, I would never call Philadelphia boring. I have friends visit regularly and they all seem to feel the same way. I find Philadelphia enjoyable because i am curious. I love the history but I also enjoy the art whether its the Barnes or the Magic Gardens. I enjoy visiting the many ethnic enclaves and their delicious restaurants. I love people watching and Philly gives me the chance to do so without always being in the way like NYC. I love the world class restaurants popping up all over the city and I like that I can actually get a table and afford to pay the bill. I like that this time of year you can meet friends at a bar in center city and some mummers will show up and play a couple songs. I like that I can go for a hike in the Wisahickon and forget that i'm in the city. I love the Philadelphia's organic weirdness. I love that I can do all this without having to get into a car.

Some people are not into exploring and are more into feeling fancy or prestigious. If that is your thing then Philly would certainly be lacking compared to NYC, DC or even Boston. It is not a velvet ropes kind of town.

Philly is also pretty unfashionable. I am originally from Kansas City and there is no meaningful difference between the way citizens of KC/Philadelphia dress. Conversely, if you go to NYC, you are suddenly surrounded by extremely fashionable and well dressed people. Similarly Philadelphia is also lacking if you are really into shopping. The retail scene is pretty bad for a city of over 1.5 million. None of these things are important to me (I am part of the problem when it comes to the decline of retail) but it does matter to others.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by Pennsport

I would propose that for one to feel that Philly is boring, that individual must in fact be the boring part of the equation. He/she must have literally no passions or interests. You can be a foodie person, a history person, a sports person, an art (both performing and static) person, a park person, a water person, an architecturally-loving person, a drive bar/sports/high-end bar person, a nightlife person, a transit person, a high-rise person, a neighborhood person, a music person, an urban person and even a suburban person to name a few. The only two aspects that Philly doesn't offer are beaches and mountains. Of course this isn't a Philly matter, this is a geographic situation, and one that the majority of large metros don't include. However, in Philly, you're only an hour from the beautiful Jersey shore and a little more than that to the Poconos.

I'm not saying Philly should be everyone's first destination (I for one would always take the beach over any locale), but if you find yourself in our city and are unable to indulge your passions/interests, I would encourage to actually develop at least one passion/interest.

Totally.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by KansastoSouthphilly

Of all its problems, I would never call Philadelphia boring. I have friends visit regularly and they all seem to feel the same way. I find Philadelphia enjoyable because i am curious. I love the history but I also enjoy the art whether its the Barnes or the Magic Gardens. I enjoy visiting the many ethnic enclaves and their delicious restaurants. I love people watching and Philly gives me the chance to do so without always being in the way like NYC. I love the world class restaurants popping up all over the city and I like that I can actually get a table and afford to pay the bill. I like that this time of year you can meet friends at a bar in center city and some mummers will show up and play a couple songs. I like that I can go for a hike in the Wisahickon and forget that i'm in the city. I love the Philadelphia's organic weirdness. I love that I can do all this without having to get into a car.

Some people are not into exploring and are more into feeling fancy or prestigious. If that is your thing then Philly would certainly be lacking compared to NYC, DC or even Boston. It is not a velvet ropes kind of town.

Philly is also pretty unfashionable. I am originally from Kansas City and there is no meaningful difference between the way citizens of KC/Philadelphia dress. Conversely, if you go to NYC, you are suddenly surrounded by extremely fashionable and well dressed people. Similarly Philadelphia is also lacking if you are really into shopping. The retail scene is pretty bad for a city of over 1.5 million. None of these things are important to me (I am part of the problem when it comes to the decline of retail) but it does matter to others.

I wish Philadelphia would change in this regard

Most of America isn't really fashionable, but one of the many reasons why I love Manhattan, the elevated level of appearance and non weird looks if you choose to dress to the nines.

Last time I was in Philadelphia I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of well dressed people in around Rittenhouse and when I dined out at The Love and a few other places, but that is a very small enclave.

However, I don't consider DC to be much better, I see the same disappointing attire there (people wearing flip flops and yoga pants to a nice restaurant). I do see a lot more overweight people in Philadelphia though.

As for retail, Philadelphia is certainly bad from a practical and luxury standpoint, the metro area is much better due to King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, Willow Grove, Limerick, etc. We've gone over the reasons why many times.

[kyb01]

OP, there's an active thread with the topic name: Phila. #1 Best trip 2020, National Geographic. So obviously there a sufficient number of people who don't think Philadelphia is boring. Personally I find beaches and sand boring so you won't find me going to any city(unless it's Miami) that features those prominently.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by 1ondoner

Guilty as charged. I've stopped by the rocky statue a couple of times and only once gone up the steps but did not venture into the art museum.

That said, I'm not an art museum guy. The only art museum I've been to was in the middle east if you don't count the National Gallery in London.

Not everyone likes or must like art. It does not tickle my fancy and I don't see this changing soon.

The Rocky statue is movie prop from one of the Rocky movie. Most people don't care or know about that apparently.

It's your loss that you don't know that the PMA is more than just the galleries. There's a fantastic Friday evening music series that's been going on for years. There are wonderful programs for families with children especially young children. The PMA also manages three of the Fairmount Park Historic houses. Holiday time is the best time to see these via trolley tour.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Sammy215267

This is a good question. I think for alot of people who live here it will become boring because they have been here for all their lives. Me on the other hand ,29 yo guy...Love my city..I think there is plenty to do, there is always something going on. Philly is a GREAT MIX OF EVERYTHING. I've been traveling alot lately...and i still love Philly to the fullest. I dont think i could live anywhere else.

Native here. No, not boring at all. It was never boring you just had to dig deeper years ago to find the things that were special.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I wish Philadelphia would change in this regard

Most of America isn't really fashionable, but one of the many reasons why I love Manhattan, the elevated level of appearance and non weird looks if you choose to dress to the nines.

Last time I was in Philadelphia I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of well dressed people in around Rittenhouse and when I dined out at The Love and a few other places, but that is a very small enclave.

[...]

As for retail, Philadelphia is certainly bad from a practical and luxury standpoint, the metro area is much better due to King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, Willow Grove, Limerick, etc. We've gone over the reasons why many times.

You grew up in suburbs, right, and only lived in the city while you were going to college. So I guess you were not exposed to how some Philadelphians dress over a long period of time There have always been good dressers here. Boyd's? Couldn't exist without fashion conscious people. Botany 500, After Six, Albert Nipon, Sidney Kimmel, PBM Pincus Bros. We have stellar legacy here wrt clothes...well, at least making them.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

You grew up in suburbs, right, and only lived in the city while you were going to college. So I guess you were not exposed to how some Philadelphians dress over a long period of time There have always been good dressers here. Boyd's? Couldn't exist without fashion conscious people. Botany 500, After Six, Albert Nipon, Sidney Kimmel, PBM Pincus Bros. We have stellar legacy here wrt clothes...well, at least making them.

Yes and yes, except I lived in the city for an extra year, so 6 years in the city.

Obviously there are fashionable people in Philadelphia (and wealthy, in order to shop at Boyds), and big fancy events that require nice attire.

And, I am not singling Philadelphia out, most of America is not fashionable, especially nowadays, New York is more of an anomaly than the norm.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by cpomp

And, I am not singling Philadelphia out, most of America is not fashionable, especially nowadays, New York is more of an anomaly than the norm.

And even then, New York is only more fashionable than other American cities. There are still a great many a slob. London and Paris are more fashionable when you take into account the entire spectrum of social class, occupation, etc.

[eureka1]

Well, I didn't.