Exactly this. The steaks I've had there have ranged from like a 2/10 to 7/10. Can be good, but not reliably.

Beyond just spending a few days familiarizing yourself, use Excel for as much in your daily life as you can. Budget tracking, chore charts if you have kids, whatever you can think of in or out of work. The more you use it, the more you'll see opportunities to improve your Excel skills and make life easier.

Check out Passyunk Square/East Passyunk while you're here. Typical demographic seems to be early 30s. Lots of restaurants, some bars, grocery stores, and it is right on one of the main subway lines. I just moved here a few months ago and love it. We rent a 2bed/2 bath for 1750 a month. Also, I have a car but it is more of a nuisance to have than convenience. I can get just about anywhere in the city by train or bus, and that includes the many excellent parks that are here.

Edit to add: detached homes are not common in this part of the city, but some townhouses may have backyards or at least patios. It's a good place to live short term and get a feel for the city before deciding on a more permanent solution.

How much is merch at these places? Wondering if it's worth going out of my way for

That's a great way to sort out the shallow people you wouldn't want to date anyways

>also would like to go from a landlord to a managing company but don’t love the idea of the elevated prices for let’s say a half ass gym the include to raise rent prices

Just moved from one of these "luxury" apartments in Fishtown and it is exactly as you described. Management company sees you as a number. Corners are cut in construction and everything looks nice but is cheap. The gym isn't good enough for a fitness junkie to get a good workout in, and isn't enough to really inspire fitness in someone who wants to get into it. Half the amenities are useless, like common rooms and stuff. It was fine for a first apartment in the city, but I don't feel like the amenities justify the rent.

I've always felt that private landlords actually see you as people and the relationship is more personal. I know some can be absolutely shitty, but I try to sus them out during the apartment tours. Just my two cents though.

Depends on your budget and location, I was looking in summer of 2021 and could find 1br apartments in the 1500 to 1800 range (and higher in the more premier neighborhoods and luxury buildings). Studios iirc were like 1100 to 1600 depending on location.

I ended up in a 2br with a roommate for like 2000. Unless you have had bad experiences living with people, having just 1 roommate will greatly increase your standard of living. Currently in a 2br south philly apartment for 1750 a month.

If commuting to CC I'd reccomend being close to a train or bus line

Recently moved across the city and am now in South Philly. Still getting used to the parking - are there any websites that show which streets aren't permit required streets?

They're very delicious! Could not reccomend trying them enough at one of the many dim sum places in the city.

A soup dumpling is a dumpling that contains soup inside. Think like a gusher, but in the form of a steamed Chinese dumpling