- I moved to Philadelphia from Chicago three months ago and had never visited before.
- I was shocked at how strict the alcohol laws are here and that Trader Joe's doesn't sell wine.
- Getting around on foot is easy. We don't rely on public transportation as much as we do in Chicago.
After living in Chicago for a year, I thought I had learned everything there was to know about living in a big city before moving to Philadelphia.
I had never been to Pennsylvania's largest city before, but after living here for three months, I found it to be very different from my Midwestern city.
There are a few things I've had to adjust since moving.
Public transportation is good, but I don't rely on it like I do in Chicago.
Philadelphia's public transit system offers more transportation options than the Chicago Transit Authority, but it's not necessarily better than walking.
For example, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) offers trolleys in addition to its train and bus systems. Still, I ended up walking to errands and activities more often than I did when I was in Chicago.
Sometimes it's faster to walk. In my experience, wait times for trains and buses in Philadelphia are often longer than in Chicago, where I rarely waited more than a few minutes for a train.
Pennsylvania has some strange liquor laws.
Pennsylvania is famous for having some of the strangest and strictest liquor laws in the country.
These restrictions have diminished my enthusiasm for buying Trader Joe's wine. that's right. Trader's Joe's stores in Pennsylvania do not sell alcohol due to state regulations.
Other grocery stores in Philadelphia that sell beer and wine still have strict limits on the number of bottles that can be purchased at one time, and alcoholic beverages can only be purchased at stores operated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Commission.
Also, don't forget to check the BYOB policy of each restaurant you visit in Philadelphia. The law makes it difficult for restaurants to obtain a liquor license, so many restaurants are only offering “bring your own bottle.”
This is a city of great gastronomy, but it is also a reserved city.
Please be careful if you are dining casually. If you want to eat dinner in Philadelphia on a weekend night, you should definitely make a reservation.
In my experience, some reasonably popular restaurants here can have hours-long waits for a table on a Saturday night.
I used to be able to get a seat at a restaurant in Chicago without a reservation, but here in Philadelphia, I'm getting hungry and can't wait for a seat, so I'm more likely to order takeout.
Many groups come to school field trips.
Philadelphia is home to many historic sites, many of which are nearby.
I live within walking distance of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and several other museums and attractions related to Philadelphia's Revolutionary War history.
It's nice to live near all these historical attractions, but sometimes the sidewalks can get crowded with groups of kids visiting on school field trips.
I would never have experienced anything like this in Chicago. In Chicago, children's field trips were mostly to museums or other places that weren't particularly close by.
As someone who doesn't really care about sports, Eagles fans can be a little fanatical.
That's true. If you walk down the street in Philadelphia and start shouting “E! A! G!” — a stranger or two will start shouting “L! E! S! EAGLES!” Back to you.
Wearing green and saying “Govers” at every opportunity doesn't just happen on game days. That's the lifestyle here.
Chicago is also a sports city, but the Bears don't have the same passion as the Eagles.
At times, I feel overwhelmed by the Philadelphia fandom, but by leaning into it and being a fan of the bandwagon, I feel more at home.
Quite quiet for a big city
Philadelphia is what you might call a big city with small-town charm.
Although it's large, the city center is smaller than Chicago and the nightlife scene is quieter. Sometimes it feels very quiet.
Although I sometimes miss the loud, bustling streets of Chicago, I have also come to love the narrow cobblestone streets and quaint, quiet row houses of Philadelphia.
Philadelphians may have a reputation for being unfriendly and difficult, but the brotherhood is real.
I thought leaving the Midwest also meant giving up politeness to my neighbors, but the warmth I experienced in Philadelphia (even from strangers) proved I was wrong. proved.
I often encounter neighbors stopping on the sidewalk to chat. I always meet kind and welcoming people at trivia nights, walking clubs, and meet-ups.
I'm not used to living here yet, but I'm having fun getting to know a new city.
Moving to Philadelphia was a big change, but life here is getting better and better every day.
I learned that although much of big city life is the same everywhere, Philadelphia has a unique atmosphere. And I'm glad I got to experience it.
