If you are willing to trek, 12th Street Gym is the bomb.

Recently moved to Graduate Hospital area, possibly the best area for professionals in their late twenties who can't necessarily afford living in Rittenhouse.

For bars, a.bar and opa are pretty trendy right now. Ranstead Room if you're going on a date. Vernick is probably the best restaurant in the city, up there with Vetri.

Will be posting my complete list sometime soon..

Thanks, I'm going to check a bunch of them out in the next few days.

Yeah, Ranstead and Franklin Mtg are both solid if you're into those kinds of places. Got slowly bombed at FM for about 4.5 hrs recently.

Reading this thread has made me feel old. Its the "I'm 24 and like to drink 4 nights a week in Philly" thread.

So I visited like every major gym in the center city area.

Not sure if anyone has been to, but the Bellevue Sporting Gym is really nice. Saw Jason Thompson (NBA player) there which was cool. Think I may end up at Cityfitness or PSC due to proximity. I did like 12th but it's far and very mazy.

Yeah I used to play ball at the Bellevue, pretty fancy for casual weeknight basketball. I think the 6ers practice or practiced there, so the facilities are top notch. I imagine the membership prices are pretty high though

195 up front, 107 a month (so like ~120 a month for the first year).....PSC allin is like ~80, City is like ~60. PSC gives a little more flexibility.

Hell, I'm like many many years older than that and 2 nights a week makes me feel old.

Had some delicious tequila at R2L for Nat'l Tequila Nite. Great views.

12th street gym is in the gay area, right? Not that I would care that much, but it might sway someone's decision.

Vernick is excellent. Not in the same league as Vetri, though. Plenty of places to drink in the entire center city area. I usually go to bars/dive bars as upscale places are a bit too much trouble for me in the last few years. I usually stay in the rittenhouse area (walnut, same street as Vernick) because old city and anywhere "clubby" is just too much of a hassle.

Art museum is cool, you should check it out. If you ever get a chance, hang out in Rittenhouse Square on a nice summer day on Saturday or Sunday. You'd be surprised how much you enjoy yourself just getting a soda or some ice cream and sitting on one of the benches in the park.

Center city Philly is great. Just be wary of the neighborhoods you might wander into on occasion and you'll have a great time here. Atlantic city, NYC, DC are all close. Beaches, mountains/skiing all within 1-2 hours drive. Plan your free time accordingly.

Yah it's right in the gayborhood. Always assumed it was a mostly gay gym.

What's the best pizza place in Philadelphia? Ideally, close to Newtown Square/Media.

Vernick is awesome. But Vetri is amazing.

Serpico on South St. is excellent... top 5

Just moved to Rittenhouse. Loving it.

I was thinking about organizing a little 2p2 meetup/happy hour. Maybe after work on the 17th somewhere in Center City? I'll announce a date/place/time if there's enough interest.

Would attend

I'll be in Vegas or would attend.

What bars/places do you like the most? I'm go to a place near the corner of 19th and Walnut 2-5 times a week.

I could possibly be interested. I'm unsure how something like this may go, as I could seeing it both being fun and being awkward.

I dunno I have a favorite spot yet: Parc, R2L, Dandelion, several others, 20 Manning, etc.

Any recommendation on a NYE party in the city?

Vetri looks fantastic. Thanks.

Vetri is hard to get into.

yeah, I realized he wasn't replying to me after I posted. Still looks next level, though.

Right now, I'd say Zavino has the best pizza. It's really really good. Like, flaky crust, "gourmet" small pizzas. They are excellent.

My favorite "traditional neighborhood type" pizza is Lorenzo's on south street. If you're looking for a big thick heavy doughy pizza, it's pretty good.

The difference between the two is pretty large. You'd have to have had both to understand. I recommend you try both.

http://www.zavino.com/

POLPETTINI 16
ricotta stuffed veal meatballs, mozzarella, crushed tomato, basil, shaved provolone
THE JOEY.15
berkshire pork sausage, mozzarella, crushed tomato, spinach, garlic, chili flakes, provolone
MARGHERITA.13
mozzarella, crushed tomato, basil
KENNETT15
oven roasted crimini, shiitake and oyster mushrooms, mozzarella, béchamel, roasted onions, rosemary
THE STACHE.16
whole wheat crust, pistachio pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, lemon vinaigrette, baby arugula
DIAVOLO14
sopressata, mozzarella, crushed tomato, chili flakes, oregano, parmesan
GARDEN 14
chef’s seasonal inspiration


The Diavolo is amazing. So is the Polpettini. Try it.

I ate at Pizzeria Beddia in Fishtown the other night, pizzas are made to order, hours are really tight, no phone no delivery, order in only. Anyway, the pizza was pretty damn good. Not sure if it's worth the inconvenience to get there and deal with the wait and all that but if I lived closed by I'd probably go pretty often. In Rittenhouse, I really like Dolce Carini on 19th and Chestnut, they make solid pies. Again though they have weird hours such as not open on Sundays. Also, Little Italy on 9th and South Street is a pretty good "standard" pizza, nothing fancy just normal pies. The rest of their food is kind of sub par though. Zavino has decent food but I can't see how it's best in Philly. I do love to go there though.

Also, I went to a Chicken Pho spot on Kenzington Ave the other day. Would recommend. Really good chicken pho where they use whole chickens for meat/broth etc.

Love Twenty Manning. Good food and good drinks and love the atmosphere.

Has anyone gone to The Tavern near Vedge on Camac street? Such good bar food and open after 2 am.