Picture this: It’s July 2025, you’ve just swapped the biscuits and humidity of South Carolina for the pretzels and, well, humidity of Philadelphia, and you’ve begun your Fellowship in a totally new city. You know almost no one, you have no idea what the next two years will bring, and anxiety is a light word to describe how you’re feeling. That was me a year ago, and despite the nerves I felt during my move to Philadelphia for my FAO Schwarz Fellowship position, I came equipped with a mission to explore as much of the city as possible within two years. Since then, my move has come with many new friends, lessons, memories, and moments that have defined my first year in the City of Brotherly Love.  

As I completed my first year and entered my second, I took a trip down memory lane and compiled a list of locations and corresponding moments that were stepping stones on my journey of getting comfortable in the city I now call my home base. Should you be moving to Philadelphia (hello, new Philly Fellows!), or simply curious about how I approached my mission of new city exploration and the lessons that went along with it, read on! 

July 2025 (Month #1) - The Wissahickon Valley Park

My first month in Philadelphia was understandably full of newness. New city, new neighborhood, new job, new everything. I had never lived in a big city before, and while I can now say that Philly’s parks are awesome, when I first moved, I was quite aware of how much less open green space there was compared to the middle-of-nowhere South Carolina where I grew up. Therefore, when I traveled to Wissahickon Valley Park for a hike with my team during my first month in Philly, I was astonished. This park was so green, so beautiful, and so peaceful. While my mind was still spinning, I remember walking along the trail and thinking, “Wow, I’ve got to get back over here.” As I write this, I have plans to head back for a morning hike with some friends this coming weekend. I’m more than grateful that one of my first excursions in Philly was to the Wissahickon, because it was a great first impression. 

The lesson: A good green space might solve everything. At least for a moment. 

August 2025 (Month #2) - Fishtown

If you take the Market-Frankford train (or “the L”) eastbound, you’ll eventually arrive in Fishtown. This is a neighborhood that, as I’ve been told, has been through many phases throughout Philadelphia’s history. However, my introduction to Fishtown started at Johnny Brenda’s, a cool venue where I saw a concert with some new friends in August. Not only was this moment impactful because I was making new friends and checking out new places, but it also started a stream of hopping on the L and exploring the many restaurants Fishtown has to offer on the weekends throughout August. A few spots in Fishtown especially stand out, like Evil Genius Brewing Co., where a new friend and I confided in each other about the worries associated with moving to a new place. Or Thunderbird Salvage, a coworker’s thrifting recommendation that you just must see for yourself. Or Persimmon Coffee, whose persimmon tea comforted me while I wondered if I had made the right decision moving.  

I’m speaking about the universal “you” here, but as you make a new move, there may be doubts associated with that change. However, the things you eat, the strangers you talk to, and the new friends you meet during that time stick with you and define your impression of your new home. At least, they did for me.  

The lesson: If you’re experiencing existential dread about change, at least do it with good food.

September 2025 (Month #3) – Bok Building

If you take Philly’s other train, the Broad Street Line, southbound to Tasker-Morris and walk a few blocks to Mifflin and 8th Streets, you will come across a tall structure with three building-block-like letters at the front that spell “BOK.” Welcome to Bok! This location came as another recommendation from a coworker, and what an awesome recommendation it was. On the ground floors of this old-vocational-high-school-turned-multipurpose-building, you’ll find very cool plant, clothing, and craft shops, plus an awesome bakery called Machine Shop.  

If you take the elevator all the way up to the rooftop, you’ll encounter an amazing view of the city. When I stepped onto the rooftop during sunset in September, I was faced with a large feeling of, “Yeah, I was meant to be here.” Of course, the beautiful sunset and the great ambiance fueled that feeling, but there is something about having a bird’s-eye view of a big city that makes it feel much less daunting and much more exciting.  

While Bok has many cool things to check out, I’ll also shamelessly plug that it is positioned right across the street from one of Trust for Public Land’s Community Schoolyards at Southwark School, so check that out if you’re there! 

The lesson: If you have access to a scenic outlook of your city, go for it! Unless you’re afraid of heights. There’s always Google Images, in that case. 

October 2025 (Month #4) – Fitler Square

At this point in the year, Fitler Square Park was somewhere I had passed through many a time during my commute to work. There was something about the animal statues sprinkled throughout the park that once again brought on that “I’m meant to be here” feeling. However, as summer became fall, Fitler Square became less of a commute landmark and more of an area I really dove into getting to know before and after work. I look back fondly at the crisp breeze hitting my face as I waited in an insanely long line at Mr. Rabbit (some of the best coffee and matcha in the city, depending on who you ask), or at being spoiled for pizza choices with places like Sally and Pizzata Pizza.  

The true gem of the area, in my opinion, is revealed when you keep walking down Pine Street past 24th and end up at Schuylkill River Park. Schuylkill (pronounced skoo-kill… yeah, I messed up a few times) River Park is somewhere I had visited a few times before, but during my deep dive into Fitler Square in October, I found myself detouring from my normal walk back home to get a few extra steps through the park. 

The lesson: While exploring all over a new city is great, lean into what is close to you, as it can help define what your “spots” might be. 

November 2025 (Month #5) – The Discovery Center

Philadelphia was getting colder than I was used to, and the days were getting shorter, so I found there was no better way to fight that seasonal dullness than to ride the 32 bus up to the Discovery Center. I must give a quick nod to my fellow Fellowship host organization, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, as they operate out of this beautiful location. Should you visit during the day, you’ll experience beautiful water access. But my introduction to the Discovery Center came when the sun went down, as I attended an evening sustainability-focused event put on by Green Philly.

This was an attempt to meet like-minded people, and I’ve got to say, I was terrified in that moment. I consider myself quite extroverted, but walking into a club meeting in college, where you have classes with half the people there, is vastly different from walking into a new venue where you know no one. Despite this, I was able to cast my terror aside, meet people, and have some great conversations about sustainability that led to some meaningful connections. I left the Discovery Center with an appreciation for this cool environmental space, and I hopped on that 32 bus back home.

The lesson: Pursue community events and discover a new place while you’re at it, even if it’s intimidating. The bus always comes back to take you home afterward. 

December 2025 (Month #6) – New Jersey

Okay, so I understand it’s a bit funny to list New Jersey on a list of personally impactful Philadelphia spots. However, I was raised in a place where there was barely any public transportation available, so imagine my surprise when I found out you could easily ride a train to the next state over. Where am I, Europe? All jokes aside, I hopped on the PATCO train from Philly to South Jersey in December and stopped in Collingswood, where you can experience the Collingswood Farmers Market. You could also take the train to the Haddonfield stop and eat at the British Chip Shop, or introduce yourself to “Haddy,” the Hadrosaurus dinosaur statue located in downtown.  

Though Philadelphia has a lot to offer, I had to take advantage of its geographic proximity to so many other cool places, and that’s not just Jersey – at this point, I’d taken a few Amtrak trains to D.C., Maryland, and NYC. However, to tie it back to Philly, on your way back into the city via PATCO, I’d suggest getting off at the Franklin Square stop and checking out the park. 

The lesson: Once you generally know the layout of your city, get out of your city.

January 2026 (Month #7) – Chinatown

This month brought the most snow I had ever seen in my life. I put my hiking boots to the test during Philadelphia’s snowy winter, but nothing felt more comforting than trudging through icy streets and ending up with a hot bowl of hand-pulled noodles in Chinatown.  

If you’re in the mood for Szechuan-style cuisine, head to EMei. For Malaysian food, try Penang. Craving a steaming bowl of noodles? I recommend Jei Bei Chuan. And if you want a great plate of green beans, Dim Sum Garden is the place to go. This past January, Chinatown’s restaurants offered a warm reprieve from the bitter cold for me and the new friends I had made. 

The lesson: Laughing with friends over dumplings will help you get through a bleak winter. 

February 2026 (Month #8) – The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

In an attempt to continue to beat the bitter cold that persisted in February, I ventured to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Logan Square for their “Dinosaurs After Dark” event, during which they open their doors later for adults and kids alike to peruse the museum, look at fossils, and enjoy it after hours. The museum is located off Logan Square, which is a park along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Parkway offers many other museums and sites, including a great post-work walk to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the famous Rocky Steps, which offered a sense of whimsy even in the coldest months. It was during this month that two things were confirmed for me: winter is the best time to explore museums (per the advice of one of my coworkers), and I needed to invest in hand warmers. 

The lesson: Try to get outside in the winter, even if it’s during the cold, dark hour of 5PM. 

March 2026 (Month #9) – Old City

March brought many excursions to Old City, Philadelphia’s very historic district. They don’t call this city “The Birthplace of America” for nothing! From Independence Hall to Elfreth’s Alley to the Betsy Ross House, there’s a lot of history to soak up in Old City. Yet, in my experience, it took months to truly dive into the neighborhood and all the historic sites associated with it, including the famous Liberty Bell (which has since become a non-negotiable stop for all my visiting friends). Outside of these sites and cobblestone roads, though, Old City also has a very, very good breakfast food scene, in my opinion. Menagerie Coffee, Tu Rinconcito, FREIDA, Café Ole, and Tomo Sushi (another colleague recommendation) were all spots that became new favorites during my March excursions. 

The lesson: If you ever move to a new place and think to yourself, “I’ll see the touristy spots later,” that is likely a lie, unless you’re intentional about it. 

April 2026 (Month #10) – Fairmount Park

At this point in the year, it felt like the pieces were coming together: I felt in the swing of things with my Fellowship, I had made some really great friends, and I had eaten at some really amazing places across the city. Yet, there were still some key sites I hadn’t visited, and one of those was checked off in April when I took a long stroll with a friend through some parts of Fairmount Park, which is more than 2,050 acres.  

Trust me when I say that this only scratched the surface of Fairmount Park, but similar to the feeling I got while at the Wissahickon, I was just so refreshed wandering through the park. We passed the Philadelphia Zoo, the Please Touch Museum (a place I only previously recognized from an episode of Abbott Elementary), and the Smith Memorial Arch. We took breaks from our conversation to stand in awe of these sites or detour to others we noticed, because wandering around slightly aimlessly is always a good way to explore, I think.  

Even on the way back, when we parted ways at the Zoo, I decided to skip public transit, cross the Girard Avenue Bridge, and make the rest of my journey home along the Schuylkill River Trail. I encountered even more sites along the way, like the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial, Boathouse Row, and Fairmount Water Works. One however-many-miles-long stroll later, and my feet were sore, but my soul was happy. 

The lesson: Make time to take the scenic route.

May 2026 (Month #11) – West Philadelphia

If you take the L (or my favorite, the trolleys) westbound, you’ll end up in West Philadelphia. Up until this past May, my main experience in West Philly had been visiting the Clark Park Farmers Market (which is an awesome park), but I found myself heading back for West Philly’s Porchfest. This musical, neighborhood-wide event, where various bands and musical acts performed from porches throughout the neighborhood, absolutely rocked my world.  

The benefit of living in a much bigger place, as I’ve found, is that even when I thought I had a good sense of what was happening, there was always something new to surprise me. In the same vein, I must also mention the great event that is the Dollar Stroll, during which many shops price select items at $1, $2, or $5 along Baltimore Avenue from 40th to 51st Street twice a year. 

The lesson: Even when you think you’ve gotten to “know” your city, you probably haven’t yet. Keep pushing outside of your comfort zone, keep eating at new places, keep meeting new people, and keep doing new things.

June 2026 (Month #12) – Passyunk Ave

Wow, almost one whole year in Philadelphia! And what better way to celebrate than with thrifting, ice cream, great food, and an Italian Market all in one walk? This took the form of a stroll down Passyunk Ave in South Philly, which starts at Philly AIDS Thrift and goes all the way down to the Snyder and Broad St. SEPTA stop, totaling approximately 1.5 miles on a diagonal route. Pair this with a nice, sunny June day and a few detours to grab a bite at the Italian Market, a scoop of ice cream at Milk Jawn, and a few records at Beautiful World Syndicate (among other great stops), and you’ve got a great stroll ahead of you.  

I was told in school that when you’re able to learn about a topic and successfully teach it to another person, you truly have a grasp of the topic. Similarly, when I took a few visiting friends on this stroll and was able to talk about the city, its layout, and even some parts of its history, it really cemented the feeling that I was comfortable here. 

The lesson: Never take a walkable city for granted. 

There is a lot of Philadelphia I left out of these moments, but I don’t think there’s a more accurate depiction of my first year in the city: full of awesome experiences, people, and places, but still with so much more to see. I’ve realized that getting comfortable in a new place doesn’t mean you’ve finished exploring it. If anything, it means you’re finally comfortable enough to keep exploring. 

Here’s to the next chapter of Philly adventures. Go Birds.