west philly livin

if you didn't know, i just moved into a house in west philadelphia with some friends. this will be my place of residence whilst i finish my final year at Eastern University. its my first time living in the city (first time having my own place for that matter), and what better way to kick off this child of ambition than with a top ten list of some of my favorite things about this new culture of life. 

1. biking EVERYWHERE- the wonderful feeling of an active lifestyle is one of the best ways to combat narcissism. i haven't felt this healthy in a while. the benefits of physical exercise extend far beyond the realm of the physical. save money, enjoy the summer life. biking is great. 

2. the cafes- enjoying the proximity to some of the best cafes around. ultimo coffee is about a 20 minute bike ride. counter culture espressos and macchiatos. you just cant find stuff this good in the burbs. 

3. having people over- the depths of this desire extend deep into the reaches of my childhood. 

4. cooking- part of this comes from having such a bad-ass kitchen, but this is an art, one in whose familiarity i have recently discovered an enormous amount of value. juxtaposed to this is the feeling of having control over your own food-buying decisions.  

5. the house- its great. if you haven't seen it, you need to. there's no lack of color here. 

6. the neighborhood- who are these people? what are their stories? what incredible dignity they have. 

off to maine soon. hoping to write about it. perhaps a photo essay is in order?