mission: MUSE - "where i live"
by guest muse holly
Manayunk is a neighborhood in the Northwest city limits of Philadelphia, and I’ve been living here in between travels for the past 12 years. Originally a mill town built up a hill, Manayunk is an eclectic mix of renovated warehouses and row homes intermixed with new construction, imposing power lines, old railway paths and corner parks.
I live in a 107 year old worker home that is big on charm even if it is a little quirky. Like how there isn’t a straight line in the whole house. Or how the whole block seems to be sinking into the ground! Here is the view down my street.
Living in a neighborhood that is over 100 years old means there are many nooks and crannies to explore. You never know what might be around the corner.
When I first decided to move here, I was drawn to the idea of having Fairmount Park, the largest intercity park system in the United States, at my fingertips. I’m just a five minute walk to the historic Manayunk Canal with its bike and walking path connecting Center City Philadelphia all the way out to Valley Forge National Park. We can often be found here walking our dog Major.
Although we live in an urban setting, one of the things I love most about my neighborhood is the ability to have a garden and to grow flowers, veggies and herbs! I get to indulge my green thumb for three seasons out of the year, and dream about what to plant next all winter long.
In fact, in the summertime, our garden is a little paradise and an outdoor extension of our home.
I also love that from my front doorstep, Main Street is only a short walk away. I can go shopping, get a cup of coffee or go grab a bite to eat.
After all Manayunk technically means “the place one goes to drink.” And with over 30 restaurants and bars, you can be sure there is a lot of drinking to be had, although I think watering their horses is what the original natives had in mind!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour around my neighborhood. Thank you for stopping by to visit. Cheers!
Holly- soupatraveler on flickr
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We would love to see where you live. If you would like to join in, send an email to mortalmuses [at] yahoo.com.
