So I’m moving this weekend. Again.

It’s been interesting living in Philadelphia. I’ve had the rare opportunity to live in three separate neighborhoods in the span of 11 months. University City, Rittenhouse Square, and Chinatown / Center City. Unfortunately for me, I’ve had to move out of every apartment I’ve been in due to ridiculous circumstances beyond my control. We’ll see what this new place brings.

There are little things I loved about each neighborhood and each place. Let’s take a look.

My current place was amazing. I moved here at the end of April. I had two awesome roommates with two awesome kitties. While living here, I learned about the glorious Reading Terminal Market and Space 1026, both of which were practically across the street.

I’ll definitely miss the easy walk to work and the daily strolls through Reading Terminal in the morning and after 5PM. The smell of fresh bread and coffee in the morning always helped wake me up, and coming home, the delicious smells of all kinds of tasty looking dinners. I’ll miss my fun roomies and those crazy cats who constantly found their way into my bedroom in attempts to eat my chinchilla and/or bunny.

I’ll even miss the guy who always slept on the sidewalk steam vents outside, who I constantly mistook for a zombie.

From February til the end of April, I lived in Rittenhouse Square with a Temple student named Gary. Gary didn’t like me much. I made a lot of noise. I watch a lot of movies, play video games, and listen to music while doing homework. He liked to sleep. On his bare floor in the loft. No furniture.

The apartment was basically mine. My roommate kept to himself in the upstairs loft and I had the entire downstairs to do whatever I wanted with. I decorated the living room to the best of my Ikea ability, and frequently had large groups of friends over, as pictured. While living here, I learned a lot about Rittenhouse nightlife.

Most of my time was spent in Rittenhouse Square Park and at the Barnes & Noble up on 17th, and my dining / drinking establishments of choice were Fado, Rouge, Good Dog, Fox & Hound, and Rita’s Ice. The corner of 15th and Spruce was a happening place. I met a wealth of cool people, and discovered the joys of Trader Joes.

I don’t have a picture of my place in University City, but this about sums it up. Only my place was two stories.

My first experience living in Philadelphia was an attempt to get lunch with my best friend who had helped move me here. We walked to a nearby Chinese food take-out place, where the chef was surrounded by thick Plexiglas. While we waited for our food, a large intimidating man walked in, came up to me, and demanded a hug.

Me: Wait, what?
Man: A HUG, let me get a hug.
Me: Um… no dude…
Miguel: Maybe you should just do what he says.
Me: I’m not giving him a hug!
Man: You better let me get my hug, bitch!

I almost caved and gave the man a hug, until I noticed the large refrigerator in back of me, that was filled with sodas, Snapples, and… Huggs, those little quarter juice drinks in plastic bottles. Relieved, I smiled, stepped away, and tried to laugh with the guy, explaining that I thought he wanted me to give him an actual hug. After he threatened to punch me, he paid for his drink, and left.

I moved about three weeks later.

This Saturday, I’m off to Queen Village, right along Fabric Row. I’ll be living with a med student and a grad student who works for Comcast, both of whom I’ve done some partying with over the past two weeks. Here’s hoping I’ll be there longer then a few months.