Phillyworker

Old York Rd. is the main street through the suburb of Abington and is also known as Pennsylvania route 611. Although the street has sidewalks, it is best to avoid on foot because the traffic is heavy and fast throughout the day and drivers are generally not looking out for pedestrians. The centerpiece of the road is Abington Hospital, which is a rather major hospital in suburban Philadelphia. There are several mediocre restaurants that serve hospital visitors. There is also a nice, remodeled library with several community programs. The best shopping is a Target, Barnes and Noble, and a Trader Joe's.

Glenside Ave is home to the Glenside Station, built in the 1870s, where passengers can head to Philadelphia, the airport, and other suburban towns. Inside Glenside Station is Elcy's Cafe, where the coffee is good and the service is friendly. On Saturdays, a fledgling local farmer's market is held. Glenside Ave is also home to the well-known Rizzo's Pizza, which has fallen on hard times and serves lousy pizza. There are an interesting mix of shops on the street, but they have limited hours and are overdue for a remodel. The exceptions being Dovetail Forest, an interesting art gift shop, and Primex, a popular and pricey garden center. With some creativity and energy from the business community, this street could become a gem again.

Keswick Ave. is best known for the Keswick Theater, which holds concerts featuring major artists and other events often more than once a week. The theater crowd will pack the nearby bars, a small brewpub, and restaurants, which are all nothing special. The street has good pizza, hoagies (subs), and soft pretzel shops. There is an eclectic mix of shops, with Gerhard's Appliances being the most prominent, and personal services, including the popular Ralph's Barbershop, in business since the 1920s.

Oakdale Avenue contains an interesting mix of homes from the early 20th century that range from modest to elegant. The area is safe with neighbors keeping close watch and children can play safely outside. On nice days, you will see many people on the sidewalks with their families heading to and from nearby Keswick Avenue to browse the shops.