Philadelphia – Page 2 – Traveler in Philly

A Beginner’s Guide to Philly’s Subway System

When I first moved to Philly from Jersey City, the most confusing thing for me was the subway system. This seems strange to me now, because really there are only two main lines to the subway system, but, at the time, the only way you could really ride the subway was to purchase tokens from either a teller or a machine.

Coming from New York and Jersey City, where both the MTA and PATH have reusable cards and make it relatively easy to purchase new ones from machines, the idea of using tokens was archaic. The worst part? Almost everything was cash only!

Since then, SEPTA (Philly’s transit authority) has thankfully started to roll out their new tap-to-use SEPTA Key cards and also offer single-use paper tickets from machines, but the system can still be confusing if you’re new, so I’ve written a short guide to getting started.

Navigating the Subway, or “El”

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Cute cats! Cute coffee! It’s Kawaii Kitty Cafe!

My previous adventures around Queen Village (and visit to Plenty Cafe) were all spurred by one goal… a visit to the Kawaii Kitty Cafe!

Part cafe, part cat haven, the Kawaii Kitty Cafe (759 South 4th St.) allows you to enjoy a cup of coffee or an elaborate unicorn milkshake while also hanging out with some seriously adorable adoptable cats.

Continue reading “Cute cats! Cute coffee! It’s Kawaii Kitty Cafe!”

Afternoon cocktails and dinner at Plenty Cafe

On a cool, overcast Saturday, my boyfriend Ray and I decided to stop by the Kawaii Kitty Cafe (759 S 4th St.) in Queen Village (more on that later!) but before our reservation time started, we had a few hours. Instead of sitting around my house, we decided to spend that time walking down South Street and around Queen Village.

Living on the other side of the city, I very rarely spend time in the neighborhood unless visiting Tattooed Mom (530 South St.) for a drink. With the brutal summer heat broken and cute kitties on the horizon, we had the perfect opportunity to explore. After walking around for a couple of hours, stopping at Famous 4th Street Delicatessen (700 S 4th St.) for some cookies and a coffee, we realized we still had over an hour to kill!

We ended up at the Queen Village location of Plenty Cafe (705 S 5th St.) and were immediately impressed by the decor, which felt simple, clean, and modern, but with vintage charms throughout, including a beautiful tiled wall behind the bar. Continue reading “Afternoon cocktails and dinner at Plenty Cafe”

A cheese board adventure at Royal Boucherie

Last Friday, a couple of friends from work and I went to Royal Boucherie (52 S. 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA) for an adventure in cheese boards! Invited along last minute, I was excited about the prospect of checking out the Royal Boucherie for the very first time. Normally, it’s a bit out of my price range for a casual after-work drink, but my friends were on a mission and apparently it was time to check out their cheese board.

We arrived just after work, around 5pm, and were given an option of indoor vs. outdoor seating. Since last Friday had such beautiful weather, it was a no-brainer. The hostess took us upstairs and out onto a beautiful rooftop patio. There were hanging plants, lights criss-crossing across the room, and plants lining the walls and on all of the tables. Continue reading “A cheese board adventure at Royal Boucherie”

5 chill things to do in Rittenhouse Square

There are a lot of touristy things to do in Philadelphia, including countless museums, noteworthy historical sites, and shopping. But if you need a break from the sightseeing, and if the weather’s allows, you could do worse than hang around Rittenhouse Square for the afternoon.

Located in Center City, Rittenhouse is especially ideal if you’re looking for a break from shopping Chestnut and Walnut Streets. But while Rittenhouse has a reputation for fine dining and expensive homes, there are still plenty of less pricey food options around. Continue reading “5 chill things to do in Rittenhouse Square”