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uptown_gargoyle t1_ja7fdk4 wrote

I'd like to get some potted plants for my living room. What's a fairly idiot-proof, medium or large sized potted plant that would do well at a sunny, southwest-facing window? And where do I go to buy it?

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sjo232 t1_ja9hk06 wrote

Reposting my comment because automod didn't like the way I did links to stuff

If you're looking for medium/large and idiot proof, I'd say go with an Aglaonema, or the Chinese Evergreen. I got mine at Lowe's years ago and stuck it in a corner that gets maybe 2 hours of bright indirect light in the mornings and it's thriving. There's three of them at my office that get only fluorescent light, and they seem to be fine. Plus I really like the leaf patterns.

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with some of these brown thumb houseplant staples, just be aware of toxicity for pets. All of these should be available at Big Box stores like Lowes or HD, but check out local plant shops like Urban Jungle and City Planter:

  • Snake Plant - Very hard to kill, grows fast in high light conditions, very slow in low light

  • Peace Lily - A little dramatic when not watered, but always pops back. I have one in my bathroom that has looked like death for years but still puts out a few flowers each year.

  • Pothos - The quintessential houseplant. Honestly not my favorite, but you can't go wrong with a nice little trellis for it to climb

  • Monstera Deliciosa - Another quintessential houseplant. They can get pretty big. Here's a picture of mine. They also like to climb and can really get big

  • Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum - Also known as the Tree Philodendron. One of my personal favorites. Can get big and loves light. Here's a picture of mine.

Hope this helps! Would love to see what you pick, I post about my plants in the Tuesday and Friday chat threads on this sub and I love seeing other people's plants :)

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momentums t1_ja8pbq8 wrote

I’ve got a gold dust croton that is gorgeous and dramatic (when it needs to be watered the leaves completely droop and then perk up within a few hours of getting water). Mine’s from IKEA of all places, but Urban Jungle or ILLExotics in Passyunk would have them.

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PassyunkHoagie t1_ja9iv4i wrote

Snake plant.

Looks cool, easy to maintain. Rotate every few days and don't overwater (once per week is plenty).

You can find one at every plant store in the city. Some spots of note if you want a boutique experience: Urban Jungle, Cultivaire, STUMP. You'll pay more but staff is knowledgeable, plants are generally well cared for, and there's a bunch of cool pots and ceramics to select from. You can also find snake plants at any Home Depot, Lowe's, IKEA if you don't care about that other stuff.

Personal Rec: If you've got a car, head to Living Earth in New Hope. Super friendly, great plants, reasonable prices.

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DoGreat_DieGood t1_ja8uspr wrote

Hijacking your comment to ask additional questions: What's the minimum amount of plants needed to make a bedroom feel amazing? Five? 10? What plant stands, etc would you get for a small rental space?

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sjo232 t1_ja9ha01 wrote

> minimum amount of plants needed

if you can see the walls/floors through the plants, you need more plants

> What plant stands, etc would you get

Lowes has some decent cheap plant stands. They're not fantastic quality, but they do the job

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DoGreat_DieGood t1_ja9yb5u wrote

Lol thanks so much for your tips! The plan is to make the room feel like a jungle. Looks like I'm going on a home improvement adventure this weekend.

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sjo232 t1_jaa1y64 wrote

Hell yea, can’t wait to hear how it turns out

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Traditional_Study_48 t1_ja8i81d wrote

I posted this as a stand-alone post, but a mod suggested I also post it here for the traffic. It’s not totally “new to Philly”, but I am seeking local knowledge on building codes/practices/oversight.

The summary is that a high-rise construction site adjacent to us dropped something on our roof and broke our skylight (thankfully it's still intact, just severely cracked and raining glass on us). They are fixing the damage for us. This site is massive and has already done some other stuff that inconvenienced us, like breaking water mains and working outside of noise ordinances. My roommate and I are a bit vengeful, and are fed up, so we're wondering if there are local (or even state) agencies to report this construction site to for violations? We already did a 311 call, but nothing more.

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fritolazee t1_ja8puqn wrote

It sounds like you should file a claim against their insurance....or report to your insurance and then they will go after their insurance for you. If you want money it is probably the most likely route of "revenge" Also definitely report to 311 but that may be more effective if you can round up other neighbors to also file multiple tickets. Additionally you can reach out to your neighborhood RCO and perhaps they can provide advice.

Disclaimer that I have never done the insurance thing before but it's what the people on r/HomeImprovement always say 😂

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cashewkowl t1_ja7q35h wrote

I’ve just moved to Philadelphia and thus I qualify to change health care plans on the exchange. I don’t have any doctors here yet to use as a way to choose.

I’m mid 50s female, generally healthy. I might have 1-2 doctor visits per year other than wellness.

It looks like I can choose between Ambetter, Cigna, independence Blue Cross, and Oscar. I will probably choose a bronze level plan, but which company will give me a reasonable choice of doctors/facilities? Thanks!

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alittlemouth t1_ja7qa47 wrote

Independence covers (I think!) all of the Penn Health system, which is a LOT of docs. I've never had an issue seeing my doc, a specialist, scheduling routine testing within a reasonable timeline, etc.

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momentums t1_ja8obvy wrote

Seconding IBX, the access to the entire Penn system is clutch and makes it super easy to order tests etc.

I haven’t had any weirdness with doing claims through IBX either, which is a bonus.

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Hungree_Gh0st t1_ja7r56g wrote

I'm currently living in Philly but moving a few blocks down. I'm trying to think through the moving permit situation, as I'll need to load up a u-haul and leave it around overnight.

Do I just apply for two separate permits? One for my current address and move out day and that night and another for my move in day at the new place?

Now I feel foolish as the answer seems pretty obvious as I type this...

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cashewkowl t1_ja8mzmt wrote

We had a permit for moving in, but then our movers pushed off delivery a day. Turns out what we really needed/used was friendly neighbors. If you are on good terms with your neighbors, see if they can help you out by moving their cars as needed.

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Hungree_Gh0st t1_ja8nh44 wrote

Part of the reason we’re moving is because of the neighbors and the landlord’s refusal to enforce the terms of the lease. I’m also isolated and weird.

Though I’m also reminded that we didn’t bother with any of this permit stuff when we moved in and got settled without issue. But a slightly shorter walk is what we’re hoping for.

Also, sort of astounded that movers would push off delivery. The implications of that. Madness

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sickPeep t1_ja8btt8 wrote

Wow I didn't know you needed a permit to move. I have moved two times within the city. Just loaded up a U-Haul and moved

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Hungree_Gh0st t1_ja8dq9k wrote

You don’t need one. Just that space for parking can get tight. So not really a moving permit. More like a parking permit to reserve a space.

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rhubarbsnap t1_ja9b565 wrote

Considering moving to Philly but I am disabled. How to find a wheelchair accessible place to rent? Also are any neighborhoods more accessible that I should be looking at? I searched but could only find posts several years old...I'm hoping it's gotten a bit better since then.... Thanks

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UndercoverPhilly t1_jac2sr2 wrote

Stay away from Manayunk and Roxborough. Manayunk has steep hills. I don’t think you can go wrong in Center City, especially if you work there too. You have the buses and it’s relatively flat. There are a lot of hi rises with elevators. You probably should check with a realtor to help you find an apartment. There is one on here “decentChinese food” that you could message.

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Bluegreenmountain t1_jababdv wrote

How is Fairmount for a couple (30 and 32)? Feel free to suggest an alternative neighborhood.

No kids, none planned though if theres an abundance of strollers in the neighborhood, that’s fine. We don’t like clubs or rowdy bars. We do like coffee shops, a neighborhood pub, and need a higher end gym. Preference to be away from young 20’s, and be around people our age +-.

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okjkay t1_jaci0f5 wrote

I recommend East Passyunk as an alternative. The subway is closeby so it's easier to get around, plus it's an extremely cute walkable neighborhood with everything you need.

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demography_llama t1_jaclmru wrote

Chiming in to suggest Washington Square West, Society Hill, and Queen Village. We're early 30s with no kids and you basically described us and our neighbors in Wash West.

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joggle123 t1_ja99ld7 wrote

How far in advance do people typically look for a new place to move to? 2 months in advance sound right?

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Cubazn t1_jaaasm5 wrote

I think 2 is a good amount.

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lostoutland t1_jaakqam wrote

1-2 months. I always start looking too soon (3-4 months out) and I'm panicked there's not much on the market. But take a look 2 months out, and there will be a good selection. Don't panic if you don't nab something then, either, because much more will open up in <30 days out from your lease start date. I got my current apartment 3 weeks before the lease start date.

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AwesomeSauceTen t1_jab3bs4 wrote

i'm about to graduate college and looking to move to philadelphia. what would the best neighborhoods be for a recent college graduate looking to make friends? also ideally would be close to bars/live music venues as i def enjoy going out and seems like philly has a cool music scene

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ColdJay64 t1_jaco8ii wrote

Northern Liberties and Fishtown sound like what you're looking for.

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coolranchplease t1_jacnt2g wrote

Not moving but frequently working with tenants in Harrowgate, Nicetown-tioga, Strawberry Mansion, etc. My actual job would take a while to explain but I'm in different parts of North Philly almost every day and I'm not from the city at all.

I've heard people say that these areas can get dicey, but are they safe during the day? I typically visit these areas on weekdays between 9am and 4pm and haven't had a problem, but there's always a sense of uneasiness if I'm being honest.

I dress down (jeans and a hoodie), stay off my phone, mind my business, etc. I don't want to be overly-paranoid but I also don't want to be naive. I'm a fairly large guy so perhaps that helps, but any tips? Or am I being nervous for nothing? Thanks!

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okjkay t1_jacyrgu wrote

I used to be a social worker and was out in every neighborhood taking SEPTA (including north philly) all the time by myself with no issues. I'm a small white lady and obviously out of place so people either could tell I was a social worker or sometimes thought I was L&I. I always felt safe. The worst that would happen to me would be catcalling or old men offering me rides.

Tips? Know where you're going so you don't look super lost. Say a friendly hi if you're passing by people sitting out on their steps.

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coolranchplease t1_jae4m5b wrote

Thank you for your reply. That 100% made me feel like I'm overthinking it. I'm just not a city guy and I guess I've fallen for the preconceptions like most outsiders.

I'm not usually on foot for more than a block or so, and I never stick around past sundown which I'm sure helps. But kudos to you. That gave me a great perspective, in fact I'm a little ashamed of myself! I wish you the best.

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courageous_liquid t1_jadciwm wrote

I often do work in those neighborhoods (civil engineering) on foot for 8ish hours at a time.

>I dress down (jeans and a hoodie), stay off my phone, mind my business, etc. I don't want to be overly-paranoid but I also don't want to be naive. I'm a fairly large guy so perhaps that helps, but any tips? Or am I being nervous for nothing?

Absolutely normal to make sure you're not being totally oblivious on your phone and the like, just like basically anywhere else. If you're going to be working in the same few places there's probably gonna be some guys outside you should say hi to if you're going to be working in close proximity. Vest/hardhat and clipboard help, but obviously not required if that's not part of your job.

Generally people don't want issues.

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coolranchplease t1_jae3c2v wrote

Thanks, I would agree with that last sentence. Most folks are nice.. I say hi to people who are outside if they look at me but mostly I just look straight ahead and spend as little time between my car and the house I'm entering as possible. Again - maybe I'm over thinking it.

Also there have been times where I've avoided large groups (more than 2 or 3 people) but some part of me thinks that if I cross the street I'll offend someone and start an altercation.

I just want to be as low key as possible and not ruffle any feathers. And for the 100th time - I'm not trying to sound like a total chicken or be insulting to the area

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courageous_liquid t1_jaentte wrote

Yeah it's less of a go out of your way to be nice and more of a what's good acknowledgement.

Crossing the street is meh unless it's a group of like 13 year olds. Any mixed group of 13 year olds is insane anywhere on the planet.

Also if you haven't, learn what a trap house looks like. Was able to get some good looks by knowing what was going on and nipping any issues about why I was there in the bud. A few times that favor was returned by them telling me I should take a walk for a few hours or something if a shipment was late.

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mkc44 t1_ja9jtjj wrote

My husband and I plan to move to Philly soon from CA. I'm originally from the Philly area, and with our first baby on the way, we want to be close to my family. It will also be more beneficial career wise, as our company HQ is in NYC. We're currently remote, but would like to go into NYC office regularly (1-2x week max).

Can you recommend neighborhoods that would be a good place to rent? We're looking for minimum 3 bedrooms, outdoor space for our dog is a huge bonus, and one parking space (garage or private space). We have a healthy budget. We'd like to have easy enough access to 30th St station so we can Amtrak to NYC quickly. We like an area that's safe for us to take long walks with our dog (and soon to be baby).

We are OK with city & suburbs :)

Thanks in advance!

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mkc44 t1_ja9k1ls wrote

u/decentchinesefood I hear you are the one to talk to about this! :)

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decentchinesefood t1_ja9njts wrote

When summoned, I arrive! /u/mkc44, welcome to Philly!

Generally, I'm partial to the Northwest areas if someone says they need parking (Manayunk, East Falls, Mt. Airy, etc.). These areas also have plenty of outdoor space. Parking is just not really a thing in many other 'hoods, but you can occasionally find one in Northern Liberties or Old City.

For suburbs, there aren't a ton of rentals, but rather more listings for sale. My buyers generally like Jenkintown, Drexel Hill, and Bucks County. But that is very, very different than city life. I feel you should nail down first which kind of experience you want before pursuing housing. With keen eyes, you can definitely find some rentals, too.

Let me know if I can be helpful in any other way!

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ashhole613 t1_ja9w6sl wrote

Not the person you're replying to, but when is the best time to look for rental units if I'm targeting July for a move? I've been looking casually but most units seem to be for immediate occupancy and anything further out is substantially more expensive (???)

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decentchinesefood t1_ja9wyto wrote

It's a common misconception that you need to look for rental units 3+ months out. No units will be listed yet - no one's given their notice.

There are two best times to look: 60 days out, then again at 30 days out (definitely keep scouting in between).

The landlord for your future place hasn't even been told it's going to be vacant yet. They won't until May, if not June. While I understand preparedness, you're just far too early.

Hope that helps.

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ashhole613 t1_ja9xqno wrote

Thanks. We're currently in Boston and if you don't have a lease locked down by March for September 1 move in, you're up shit creek over here. Lol. Does there tend to be a lot of competition for rentals in the $3k-$4k range?

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decentchinesefood t1_ja9zj7m wrote

Nah. $3-4K is quite high end in terms of Philly rental budget, with a much smaller pool of competition.

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mkc44 t1_jae7do6 wrote

Thank you! Yeah, ideally we'd like to be in the city or close enough to it. We have a lot of friends that still live in the city, and we love to be able to walk to restaurants, coffee shops, etc. We're also thinking maybe suburbs like Ardmore, which are close to train? But I know that's very popular and getting pricey these days.

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larry_the__lobster t1_ja9v9mo wrote

Fishtown or East Passyunk for a couple in their 20s? Fishtown seems very 30+ year olds with kids and money. I haven't spent enough time in East Passyunk to get a vibe yet. Thoughts?

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KuMcGrew t1_jaa3mgn wrote

There are plenty of bars and restaurants in both areas. To me, Fishtown feels more buzzy, has more new construction.

I might be biased because I live closer to Passyunk, but it feels more walkable to me. The Italian market is nearby. Fishtown feels a bit more isolated from center city because of 95 and the Vine St Expwy—I’ve walked that way and it’s doable, but it feels like a no-man’s land.

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lostoutland t1_jaajwnt wrote

I live in E. Passyunk and the vibe here is pretty solidly "30+ year olds with kids and (some) money." I'd say Fishtown has better nightlife for people in their 20s looking for higher-energy bars. E. Passyunk has GREAT bars (Fountain Porter is a fave), but they're more lowkey and chilled out.

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Venemous-caterpillar t1_jaa7tq8 wrote

Same vibe Passyunk. But it's more connected to the rest of the city. Fish town is kinda isolated in my opinion.

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lapeirousia t1_jacnbko wrote

I live in East Passyunk and absolutely love it! But I’m 35 and about to have a kid. Fishtown seems a lot younger to me. I don’t like it as much personally, but it’s pretty nice. Passyunk is more walkable and better connected to the rest of the city, IMO.

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Chimpskibot t1_jaarlci wrote

Im in my early 20s and both areas are pretty much all young families. I currently live in Passyunk and dont really spend much time going out around here (most of the bars cater to millenials). Honestly, just move to NoLibs, Washington Sq West or Kensington.

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dogblood t1_jabcavt wrote

> Kensington

Pause

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[deleted] t1_jacebz3 wrote

[removed]

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Dryheavemorning t1_jadq3zq wrote

Fishtown was part of the Kensington District 170 years ago. It's been its own neighborhood in the River Wards longer than anyone living today has been alive. It's not helpful or accurate to call Fishtown Kensington.

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ArcticLil t1_ja9zzhc wrote

Is it common practice to request first, last and deposit (deposit is same amount as the rent) as a certified check and mailed overnight with tracking? This would be my second Philly apartment and for the first everything was online, it was the same real estate company (different agent though) but thinking maybe this is a single property landlord and not as big as the other apartment complex?

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demography_llama t1_jaa7zna wrote

Yes. I did the same thing when I moved into an apartment with a private landlord. I then dropped off a rent checks at his office once a month.

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cheetoplzz t1_jaczqo7 wrote

Can anyone share their experience of living in Roxborough? I am (28 M) potentially looking to move there. What is the commute like to CC? Is it easy to have a car while living there? Thanks!

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LowDexterityPoints t1_jaedk2i wrote

Hi! I'm a 24M and I just got a job offer in Philly. I'm still figuring out which neighborhood I want to live in.

I was wondering what the main differences between NoLibs and Fishtown are? Also, what are the main differences between University City and Spruce Hill? Thanks!

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all_akimbo t1_ja81fof wrote

What do you call this space between two row homes? Is it an alley? Breezeway? I ask because I'm trying to figure out how to put a gate here and am not finding a lot with my googling. Incidentally, the bike in this pic is no longer there as someone came by, clipped the cable, and walked away with it. It's kind of my fault for not securing it better - I used a u-lock to lock the cable rather than using it to lock the bike to itself AND to the cable, but live and learn etc..

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BroadStreetRandy t1_ja82oht wrote

It's just an alley. I don't have much info on where to find a gate system. I don't think the measurements are universal, it may need to be a custom job. There are metalworking shops around the city that probably handle jobs like this regularly, reaching out to one may be a good starting point.

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all_akimbo t1_ja83har wrote

Yea that makes sense. I talked to Anvil and they definitely can do it. I was just trying to think of some DIY solutions but because I didn't know what to call it, I wasn't finding a lot. Even searching this sub for "breezeway" didn't really turn up anything. Most of the searches for "alley" referred to an actual alley between two rows of rowhomes on different blocks.

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[deleted] t1_ja84avq wrote

[deleted]

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a-german-muffin t1_ja8rsbo wrote

Alleys in Philly tend to range somewhere between drivable and something like this (although usually if they're this narrow, they punch through the block or connect in a T to one that does).

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NotABot1235 t1_ja9s8ad wrote

As a 30-something bachelor, I'm looking at Philadelphia as a place to move and trying to figure out if it's the right place for me. California raised, been in NC for a few years. I'm in medicine and an educated professional, not looking for kids or marriage. I actually like my current job but am trying to figure out where I want to live and what else I want out of life, and Philly has popped up on my radar as somewhere I might enjoy. Live music, an active singles scene, ease of traveling to other places, and college sports are some of my interests.

Just curious if anyone had any firsthand knowledge. Any input is much appreciated.

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pretzel_enjoyer t1_ja9vg1n wrote

If you can live without a car (and this is very, very possible in Philly it's just a matter of taste) then the city is your oyster. Adding a car to the mix is a limiting factor on where in the city you'd like to live. I have heard that the Lincoln Square apartments at Broad and Washington are full of similarly positioned people.

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NotABot1235 t1_ja9xnuv wrote

I've had a car for over half my life and the thought of not having one is bizarre. I would very likely want to keep it. Very used to living in apartments if that matters.

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Venemous-caterpillar t1_jaa84yj wrote

You're in the right industry for Philly. Lots of jobs in medicine, pharma, education.

The airport is right outside of the city. Big airport lots of flights. And Newark airport is a major international hub and that's only an hour away.

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MedicalHippo t1_jaa8w9p wrote

Just outside of the city, but any recommendations on Conshohocken vs Chestnut Hill? I (mid/late 20sM) have a job offer on Conshy so I'm trying to minimize the commute as much as possible while still having transit options into the city.

Not sure how Chestnut Hill compares to it in terms of things to do - granted I recognize they are both suburbs.

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fritolazee t1_jaapg0u wrote

just FYI Chestnut Hill is still in the city limits so the wage tax ramifications of that may play a role here.

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MedicalHippo t1_jab85wh wrote

Gotcha, thank you for pointing that out. Any insights on how the two compare to one another?

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courageous_liquid t1_jadd31g wrote

Chestnut hill is relatively sleepy and has a lot of families. Conshy proper is a much younger/livelier place. You'll be taking a regional rail if you wanted to get to center city either way.

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NCS_McCallihan t1_jaaurru wrote

Thinking about moving here from Seattle. I don't own a car, so walking is my only option. What parts of downtown are safe? Seattle has a big crime issue and I'd like to get away from that preferably.

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ColdJay64 t1_jaco5f5 wrote

Center City is generally safe. I'd recommend Rittenhouse Square, Logan Square, Fitler Square, Old City, Washington Square West, and Grad Hospital as the best areas.

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demography_llama t1_jacm2hw wrote

What's your budget? Remember that safety is relative and Philly is a bit more block by block compared to other cities. Good neighborhoods to start looking into include Rittenhouse, Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Washington Square West, Bella Vista East Passyunk, Fishtown, Northern Liberties. There are several more.

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NCS_McCallihan t1_jacs46c wrote

  1. I'm looking for a 2 bedroom preferably or a very large one bedroom (at least 750sq ft). Thanks for your input already though.
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TheAvocadoJam t1_ja8p7h2 wrote

My wife and I are moving to Philly to be closer to family and friends from Florida. Got any advice for things to keep an eye out for when looking at rentals?

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lostoutland t1_jaakunr wrote

What are are you looking at? What's your cost range? Are you familiar with the area, or do you need advice on what areas to avoid?

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TheAvocadoJam t1_jabhs7y wrote

Looking to rent for a bit before we start house shopping. I pretty sure we have a good idea of what neighborhoods we want namely either closer to everything Passyunk or a little further out in Manayunk/Roxborough. I work remote and my wife is looking for a new job there but wants to find something after we make the move so commute isn’t an immediate problem.

A concern i do have is what to do about our car and what areas have bad parking and I should avoid.

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Murky_Bath535 t1_jacwzpz wrote

I'm moving to Philly this August. Is touring apartments 3 weeks before move-in too late to get a good apartment near UPenn? Alternatively, is apartment hunting at the end of May/beginning of June too early for an August move-in? I will be out of the country in June and July, so I want to get some advice on when to apartment hunt. TIA!

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