TrinaLynne

In the lower Northeast portion of Philadelphia you will find a traffic circle, where the streets and flow of traffic seemingly form a circle. The circular flow of traffic is the reasoning behind the naming of Oxford Circle, the neighborhood that surrounds.

Major roadways in the area include Roosevelt Boulevard, Oxford Avenue, and Cottman Avenue, which are the neighborhoods borders Also, Bustleton Avenue and Frankford Avenue lie in the vicinity. Oxford Circle is also surrounded by three creeks; Wissinoming, Tacony, and Pennypack.

The brick and stone row homes in Oxford Circle, built by the Hyman Koman Company, were erected between the 1940's and 1950's. These single-family houses attractively sit cozily along the blocks with beautiful lawns out front.

Some of the features of Oxford Circle are the Tarken and Max Meyers Playgrounds, Bushrod Library and the shopping district of Castor Avenue. Speaking of Castor Avenue, you can find just about any and every thing you may need along the avenue. There are many restaurants that feature American, Jamaican, Albanian, and Asian cuisines. Also, a number of pizza places can be found as well.

Oxford Circle offers four elementary (one which is one the National Register of Historical Places list), one middle and one high schools that serve the neighborhood. They include public, Catholic and charter schools. There are over a dozen day cares in Oxford Circle with most residing along Castor Avenue.

Transportation is a breeze whether you drive or take public transportation. There are many SEPTA routes in the neighborhood, some of which lead to the Margaret-Orthodox station of the Market-Frankford Line, which can shoot you straight into the city. Driving, being right by US Route 1 helps get you get to different parts of the city quickly (if there's no traffic).

Oxford Circle, like many of the Northeast neighborhoods, receives a bad reputation because of the neighborhood integration. Many claim that the area is no longer safe, but to be honest, it's just as safe as any other part of the city. It's just the change in the times. The area is still worthy of living with all the perks it has, especially for young families.

Located by the Delaware River, Wissinoming was name for the creek that runs through. With a park of the same name, including two playgrounds, the neighborhood has always been prided for its nature.

The area isn't really accessible through public transportation. Especially since the Trenton Line no longer stops in the vicinity. However, if Interstate 95 is right in the neighborhood, so its a quick drive to other portions of the city.

The homes in Wissinoming are generally row single-family and townhouses. Many are one- and two-story abodes. Prices range to 102,000 on an average, with 86,000 being a median.

There are two elementary public schools run by the School District of Philadelphia. The third elementary school was taken over by Mastery Charter. Middle and high school students are zoned to schools in nearby Frankford. For smaller children there are around 5 daycares.

The neighborhood has some pretty cool bars and restaurants. If you check out reviews from restaurants in the area, Wissinoming is said to have the city's best cheese steak. There aren't any real shopping options and there's one gym in the area.

Recently, Wissinoming formed a Town Watch to help assist in deterring the pockets of crime within the neighborhood. While there are crimes, the numbers are very low compared to other portions of the city.

The neighborhood came from modest farmers who nurtured the park to a resident filled neighborhood filled with different people. Wissinoming isn't the most lavish area in Philadelphia but it does have tons of potential, with awesome neighbors and beautiful landscape.

Long ago Bridesburg was called Kirkbridesburg after Joseph Kirkbride; a man who, not only operated a ferry to New Jersey, but also built a toll bridge in 1811. After a while, however, dwellers of the area decided the name was too long and it was shortened to Bridesburg.

Some notable landmarks in the area are: The Dow Chemical Company, Besty Ross Bridge, and Bridesburg Recreation Center. Frankford Creek runs out into the Delaware River through Bridesburg.

The Bridesburg Recreation Center is a 9-acre facility that offers many activities for the whole family. They have After School Programming for children, as well as gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and summer camp. The facility also offers bowling, scrapbooking, aerobics, ceramics, and much more for adults. The building has meeting rooms and areas for drama club. It's a perfect place for the family to stay busy.

Homes in Bridesburg range up to around $231,000 with $134,00 being the median. Most of the structures are row townhouses and single-family. There are a couple multi-family homes and apartment in the area as well.

The School District of Philadelphia operates one elementary school in the area. Students in middle and high schools are zoned to schools outside the neighborhood. The area does have two charter schools. As of 2012, there are no longer Catholic schools in the area. The closest Catholic school is in Mayfair.

Major roadways include Richmond Street. Interstate 95 and the Betsy Ross Bridge make it is to, not only get to other portions of Philadelphia, but gives a way into our neighbor state of New Jersey. Parking can be problematic sometimes, but not always on all blocks. There is a SEPTA station in the vicinity but Bridesburg is not substantially stocked with public transportation, so it is better to have access to a vehicle.

There aren't many shopping and restaurant options within Bridesburg. However, Aramingo Avenue is right outside of the neighborhood and the strip holds the majority of shops and restaurants that most people look for.

Bridesburg neighbors tend to know each other by relation or by merely growing up in one of the smaller neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The area is as quiet as you could expect from an inner city neighborhood. There isn't much of a nightlife, but the area has so many activities through the recreation center that it isn't needed.

Prior to the 1920's, Juniata was mostly farmland. Row homes were first built in the neighborhood around the mid-1920's, except for the western portion which wasn't developed until the 1950's. The area, first populated by working class Irish Americans, is now predominantly a middle class Hispanic neighborhood.

One of the most notable places in the neighborhood is the Juniata Golf Course, an 18-hole course designed by Ed Ault in 1930. The course actually includes the Frankford Creek as a water hazard in six of the 18 holes.

The commercial and retail portions of the neighborhood are divided on 4 major avenues; Castor Avenue, Hunting Park Avenue, Kensington Avenue and Erie Avenue. There are convenient/drug store throughout the neighborhood. Also, major retailers, such as Burlington Coat Factory and Kmart, are in the vicinity. Juniata is also the home of the Coca-Cola Bottling company in Philadelphia.

Homes in the area are generally row homes, with some townhouses, single-family homes and condos here and there.

Schooling in the Juniata section of Philadelphia includes four schools within the area; one public, one charter and two Catholic schools. There are day-cares in the area for children who are not yet school age.

The Juniata Action Committee has been working diligently in recent years to produce a more green neighborhood. Juniata does include Tacony Creek Park but it is only the northern portion of the area. The committee is trying to include more community gardens inside the neighborhood. They also hold meetings and such to assist the neighbors of Juniata in the landscaping of their homes.

Juniata gets a bad rap just like many of the neighborhoods in the lower portions of the Northeast due to integration and changes in economy. The neighborhood has crime as does any other part of Philadelphia, however there is a neighborhood committee that cares. That's what makes the difference in areas that have bad reputations; the ability of the people to make it better than what it is perceived to be. And Juniata is one of those places where the people are trying desperately to give a better name to their home.

Port Richmond is a neighborhood in Philadelphia known for its large Polish and Albanian communities. The area is very close knit with many of the current residents having parents, grandparents and/or great grandparents having lived in this same neighborhood. Mostly working class, the neighbors are job oriented, with many residents being able to walk to work.

Row homes dominate the housing style in the area. However, there are townhouses, single-family homes and a few condos in the vicinity. Most homes built in the earlier 20th century are smaller than those built in the latter part of the century.

The major streets in the area are Allegheny Avenue, Aramingo Avenue and Richmond Street. Interstate 95 runs parallel to Allegheny Avenue making it easy to get inside the city by car. Parking in Port Richmond isn't ideal, however, with many of the streets being rather narrow. SEPTA offers service throughout Port Richmond via bus, train and trolley; all of which reach other sections of the city.

Port Richmond's Aramingo Avenue has seen a lot of construction as well as additives over the past few years. Any need you may have, you can find it on this strip of stores, banks, restaurants and gas stations. From mom and pop convenience stores to major chains such as Target, there is something for everyone in the "shopping district" of the neighborhood. Port Richmond also has a few sports bars, pubs and karaoke places for nightlife activities.

Many schools in the area are on the National Register of Historical Places. There are options for public, private, parochial, and charter schools ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. The neighborhood also has a nice amount of day-cares for children who aren't quite old enough for school.

Port Richmond is best suited for families, especially those of the larger persuasion, mostly because this neighborhood screams family ties. All are neighborly and willingly to help their fellow man. It's a great neighborhood to raise children. It also has become one of Philadelphia's premiere shopping districts. Totally worth it.

Frankford is a neighborhood in the beginnings of Northeast Philadelphia. The area is a melting pot of many different nationalities and lifestyles due to the neighborhood's location.

This section of Philadelphia is the bee hive of SEPTA transportation, aside from Center City. The Frankford Transportation Center, which houses numerous buses and the last (or first) stop on the Market-Frankford Line, is the focal point of the neighborhood.

Convenience stores, music shops, sporting goods, eateries and furniture stores surround the transporation center. There are also catering places and restaurants for a nice night out to eat.The area is always buzzing with activity being the place you must come through if you are heading into the northeast section of the city or beyond especially if by public transportation.

Branching away from the business of the Frankford Transportation Center, the neighborhood is filled with residential architecture. The homes are mostly single-family houses with porches raised slightly above the sidewalks.

The neighborhood has a Catholic, a couple of private and several public schools. They range for children in Kindergarten to 12th grade. There are several daycares as well for children not yet old enough for school.

There is not much of a nightlife here. The area tends to slowly shut down as it gets later into the evening. Once the last El trains leave heading for and come in from 69th Street, Frankford gets as quiet as any other sleeping neighborhood.

Frankford gets a bad rap sometimes because of the amount of foot traffic that filters through the neighborhood. It also can sometimes be rumored as a "bad" place due to the fact that the vicinity isn't as clean as other premiere places in Philadelphia.

However, you cannot be fooled by rumors or even your first glance of the neighborhood. Frankford is actually a very interesting place to live and be, with opportunities to meet all kind of different people.

Fox Chase is a suburban area in Northeast Philadelphia. The name comes from the Fox Chase Inn, opened in 1705, which catered to huntsmen out for fox.

In the earlier centuries, Fox Chase was a vacationing spot for the artistocrats from the city. Once people realized the surburbia feel to Fox Chase they began to move to the area, building mansion style homes. Now, much of the real estate are single family and twin homes. The structures feature well manicured lawns and are beautifully built, two- and three-stories high.

The neighborhood is comprised of gorgeous homes as well as the Pennypack Park and Burholme Park. The Pennypack Park, composed of woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, is place for serenity. Pennypack Creek runs through the park all the way to Delaware River. Both parks include playgrounds, hiking/biking trails and Pennypack also has paths for horseback riding.

The neighborhood has a few notable and rather historic structures. Fox Chase Farm is one of the only farms remaining in Philadelphia County. There are also three other notable locations deemed as historic - The Knowlton Mansion, The Verree House and The Ryerss Mansion.

The area's largest employer is the Fox Chase Cancer Center. It serves as a research facility, as well as a treatment center. The facility's researchers have received numerous Nobel Prizes for their contributions.

Fox Chase has 5 schools, including Fox Chase Elementary, and a number daycares. There is also a library in the area. The Fox Chase Recreation Center has tons of activities and events for adults and children. These include, but are not limited to indoor/outdoor soccor, baseball, drama club, and Zumba.

Public transportation includes the Fox Chase Line for the regional rail. SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) also has a couple of bus routes in the vicinity. Not having a vehicle is not a great option due to the lack of public transporation.

Fox Chase is a beautiful neighborhood with good schools, great medical facilities and abundance of nature. It's a great place to raise a family or retire. In the very least, the neighborhood is well worth the visit.

The Spring Garden/Art Museum section of Philadelphia is a very historical and interesting place to be. The abundance of museums, historical landmarks, and educational institutions make the neighborhood ideal for young professionals and growing families.

Homes within Spring Garden consist of brick and brownstone townhouses, as well as terrace styles with garden plots raised in front. The Art Museum portion includes 2- and 3-story rowhomes, condos and apartments.

The areas are both beautifully populated with greenery. Trees line the streets, with a community garden within the neighborhood. Parks, playgrounds and a baseball field provide places for recreation.

The neighborhood includes a variety of educational options. There are three public schools run by the School District of Philadelphia including Julia R. Masterman School, which is one of the top ranked schools in the city and state. Two private schools are in the area as well, with another one right on the outskirts. Community College of Philadelphia resides in the Spring Garden section.

The area also provides children with assistance to access charter and boarding schools and colleges. It even includes help with uniforms, books, transportation and homework. There is a summer camp which provides lessons and trips the stimulate children.

Various shops, stores, galleries and studios occupy the Spring Garden section. There is a diverse amount of restaurants, cafes and coffee houses that offer delivery, takeout and outdoor seating. Historical buildings and museums also make for a wonderful venture through the neighborhood.

The neighborhood is accessible by the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, Martin Luther King Drive, I-676 and many other major streets such as the areas namesake Spring Garden Street. Parking can be somewhat of a problem to be totally honest. Public transportation runs in and around the vicinity in all directions, including the Broad Street Subway. Bike lanes have also been added to the Spring Garden/ Art Museum section.

Aside from the sports complex in South Philly, this neighborhood has the most rocking events. From the annual July 4th fireworks display to the more recent Made In America concert. It gets really packed with people but there is no denying it's a good time.

While the neighborhood is becoming expensive, it is vastly due to the alluring nature of its features. The sights and sounds make the area perfect to live in. At the very least it is definitely worth the visit.

Fishtown, named for once being the center of the fishing industry on the Delaware River, is a mostly working class neighborhood. Directly northeast of Center City, Fishtown is gradually becoming home to the more artistically professioned. The neighborhood is also trying to rid itself of the rumor that minorities were not welcomed.

There are three public, a private and a charter school in the area. Two of the schools are listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

The area also includes Penn Treaty Park. Here, families can play in an open space, with a jungle gym and swings on the premises. There is also a few cool spots to sit and look onto the Delaware River, skip rocks, or just watch the different size boats float by.

Fishtown's architecture include cottages and colonial townhouses. The exteriors feature red brick and wood-frame.

Fishtown is close the expressway and offers nice parking. Public Transportation is not a problem with the Market-Frankford Line in the neighborhood. There are also a couple of buses and a trolley.

When in Fishtown, you are close to all types of shops, galleries, bars and restaurants. The neighborhood offers all these things, but because of its closeness to Center City, its double the amount of things to do.

Recently, Fishtown became the sight of the SugarHouse Casino. While the structure is quite beautiful, views are split in the region. Some feel the casino brings jobs and acceptable business. Others believe that crime and addiction will rise because of it. Thus far, the casino seems to prove the pros and cons on the issue.

Fishtown used to be a part of the city that seemed "off limits". However, in recent years the neighborhood seems to be softening up and welcoming other races and lifestyles. With a growing artistic feel to the area it will allow for the section to become even more diverse.

East Falls is a beautiful portion of Philadelphia. It was named for the once gorgeous waterfalls on the east side of the Schuylkill River. The waterfalls have long been gone but if you travel the bike trails of the Wissahickon Creek, part of the Fairmount Park system, you will see a couple small waterfalls here and there.

The area was once forgotten and the property value steadily dropped. However, in recent years, there have been many redevelopment projects allowing the neighborhood to flourish again. One of these projects was the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center, which is a gorgeous structure that offers instruction to children in the Philadelphia School District.

Also, in the redevelopment of East Falls many homes have been built or reconstructed forcing the property value to raise a large percentage. The homes, before and after redevelopment, are a beauty to the beholder with well manicured lawns. There are mini-mansions, Victorian and Colonial-style structures giving the architecture a little diversity.

Regardless of the lack of waterfalls, the streets in East Falls seem to actually fall. Most streets in this neighborhood are hills, which makes for awesome sledding in the winter when it snows. If you stand at the top of any block you can look down and see the beginning of East Falls, which is Kelly Drive, and the Schuylkill River.

The area is home to Philadelphia University and Drexel University College of Medicine. The Falls Center holds many dormitories, as well as some businesses, for Philadelphia University. There is also one public school and two private schools in the East Falls area for school-age children.

Public transportation is scarce within the neighborhood, but a few buses ride along the edge of East Falls. Most folks in the area drive, but due to the hills parking is hard to come by.

East Falls is a wonderful place for growing families. The neighborhood is thriving more and more with new businesses but still manages to remain peaceful. It is a real hidden gem.

University City is a part of town that is what it says it is. This neighborhood encompasses 3 major universities - University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. The area also houses Community College of Philadelphia West District, Lincoln University - Urban Center and the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. Aside from its universities the area includes 9 public schools, 5 private schools and 1 parochial school for families with school-age children. This neighborhood boasts education.

University City is also famous for its extensive medical and science community which include the coveted Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

There are organizations such as the Philadelphia Elwyn for the mentally disabled and Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House for children with illnesses who are in the area for medical attention. Philadanco calls University City home as well. This is Philadelphia's most prestigious dance company having performances all year round and also offers instruction for children, as well as a summer camp.

Aside from the student atmosphere, the neighborhood has beautiful Victorian-style homes for families and those who have been turned into apartments for working individuals. These blocks are relatively quiet and seem like they aren't even a part of the hustle and bustle of the college part of the neighborhood.

There is tons of public transportation that can get you to most parts of the city. A special line called TheLoop takes students around the area so they can get to classes that aren't in walking distance. Traffic is pretty hectic during the morning and evening rush hours. Parking during the day is not great but at night it's not hard to find a spot.

The nightlife in this area is somewhat quiet with a few bars in secluded areas as to not frustrate the inhabitants of the neighborhood. There are also University security that ride through the area and are around to help students out late and visitors who need directions, making the area very safe.

There may be a lot of students due to all the schools, but University City is a place that will take your breath away if you've never entered it before. Just being in this neighborhood makes you feel like you can be just about anything. It oozes culture, enlightenment and refinement.

Old City is exactly what the name says - the old city. This area houses some of the city's most historical buildings. With its colonial-style architecture, the neighborhood is a tourists' dream. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Betsy Ross House are just a few of the many attractions that brings hundreds of thousands of people to the city every year. Old City is also home to the National Museum of American Jewish History, the only of its kind.

Public transportation is sufficient in Old City with buses and trains that can get you to
many parts of the city. If you drive, however, parking can be a little hard to come by unless you want to pay for it. No worries, most apartment and condo complexes have garages.

During the day there are many galleries, boutiques, tech cafe's and coffee shops that line the streets. To be honest, aside from tourist season, Old City is only moderately busy during the daytime hours with most traffic accredited to working folks and kids on class trips.

At night is when the magic begins. For instance, once a month the art, design, and fashion galleries open their doors during the evening as a cooperative open house. Visitors can walk the streets going from gallery to gallery seeing some of the latest works and enjoying some pretty cool refreshments. This is mostly appreciated by the artistically inclined and their fans.

If a more upbeat environment is what you're looking for than Old City has a hugely popular nightlife. Along with restaurants which stay open late, there are tons of lounges and bars to visit if you just want to experience the scene. All these places are culturally diverse via music, food, and drinks. Whatever your style, you'll be able to find it in Old City.

By the way, if you just want to grab a bite to eat after dancing the night away, there are pizza shops throughout the entire nightlife area that stay open as late as 5 a.m. There is also a cool taco bar off of 2nd street where the guy will whip you up a chicken taco in no time flat. There is also a convenient store on Market Street that stays open until about 3 a.m. for emergency needs.

Don't let the hoopla of the nightlife make you nervous. The "club scene" is only about a 3 block radius of Old City and is on the far side of the neighborhood beside Penn's Landing which runs along the Delaware River. Also, the larger crowds are confined to Fridays and Saturdays. The rest of the week is pretty average.

Old City is a taste of Philadelphia history and an awesome place to live. There is always a learning experience for people of all ages. It allows folks to see where our country started and how far we've come.

Cobbs Creek sits on the west side of Philadelphia. It features a creek and park of the same name, which are both part of the Fairmount Park system.

The neighborhood lost a lot of its wonder as a result of the 1985 bombing of the MOVE compound, which caused a fire that consumed two city blocks. In recent years, however, there has been a lot of construction which is resulting in the neighborhood coming back to life.

The Cobbs Creek Parkway lines the outskirts of the east side and is the busiest portion of the neighborhood. On the one side is Cobbs Creek Park which has the creek, basketball courts, playgrounds, plenty of space for picnics and it hosts tons of activities in the Spring and Summer. There is also a pretty cool ice skating rink. On the other side of the Parkway is a retirement hospice and a huge pediatrician's office next door, which is affiliated with the legendary Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This side is also lined with Tudor and colonial style homes with pretty lawns.

Transportation is totally not an issue in Cobbs Creek. With a plethora of buses, trains and trolleys, it is very easy to travel to most parts of the city and the surrounding suburbs. It also features the newly renovated El train's 63rd Street Station. Having a car is great but not necessary in this part of town.

For families with school-age children there are many types of schools in the area. The School District of Philadelphia has elementary, middle and high schools in this neighborhood. There is also a Catholic school. A couple of charter schools which have replaced a few of the public schools have popped up in recent years. There are also tons of day cares for younger children to attend and after-school care for children whose parents work late.

This neighborhood is a diamond in the rough. It is actually more peaceful than most people perceive it to be. As time progresses, Cobbs Creek is slowly but surely forming into the essence of its former self and a place that shouldn't be overlooked.

In the northwestern part of Philadelphia, right above Wissahickon Creek, sits Chestnut Hill. This portion of the city features beautiful architecture, which includes the newly restored Belgian blocks along the main street of Germantown Avenue.

Aside from a long stretch of shops and boutiques, Chestnut Hill features beautiful homes with vast lawns and gorgeous flowers aligning most properties. These mini-mansions, created by some of the world's famous architects, are alluring and inviting to most visitors. The property value is one of the highest within Philadelphia but it is well worth the investment.

For families with children there are two types of education available. If public school is the way for you, the School District of Philadelphia zones Chestnut Hill students to a K - 8 and a 9 - 12 in the area. If a private school is more your style, there are 4 in the neighborhood. Chestnut Hill College is the only post-high school institution in the area.

Chestnut Hill is also a place to enjoy and explore. The Wissahickon Valley portion of the Fairmount Park system is a great place to take a walk along one of its extensive trails. Morris Arboretum, home to the only remaining free-standing fernery in North America, is full of gardens and a great place for a wedding. There is also the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wissahickon Skating Club, the Woodmere Art Museum and the Chestnut Hill Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, public transportation is not abundant in Chestnut Hill. There are two regional rails that move in and out the area if you want more of an adventurous view, but they only stop at stations which are sometimes miles apart. There are, however, 5 buses; 2 that head out to the suburbs and 3 that head into the city. One of the buses, the 23, used to be a trolley, but was discontinued completely by 1996. However, the tracks still remain within the area.

Driving is the best option for this area to avoid the long waits for public trans, but do be warned that parking is very limited due to the popularity of the Germantown shopping strip.

Chestnut Hill has been the home for many important individuals including two former Philadelphia Mayors, a couple US Senators, an abundance of architects, actors/actresses, and the CEO of the Comcast Corporation.

With its array of beauty and history, Chestnut Hill is the perfect place for growing families.