Philadelphia is one of the nation's largest cities, and it's had a tremendous influence on America from day one. Even those from as far away as Portland, Sacramento, or Albuquerque can claim to understand a few things about life in the City of Brotherly Love. Now, we know there are a few rumors about Philadelphia that may not be true... like that it's dirty, dangerous, and never going to win a Super Bowl ring... but what does the rest of the country really know about Philadelphia? Well, here are a couple of things that come to mind when anyone talks Philly:
1. The founding of America.
The Boston Tea Party may have lit the powder keg for the American Revolution, but we all know the country was founded in the streets of Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were all written by delegates hanging out in the City of Brotherly Love.
2. How we'll buy a pretzel from anyone.
Why question it? Just please, don't hand me a microwaved SuperPretzel.
3. Our Italian neighborhoods.
Rocky Balboa made Philadelphia's Italian heritage known to the world. Now, the city is known for our vibrant Italian neighborhoods where even the fountains sing Sinatra all day.
4. The Philly vocabulary.
To tell you the truth, I don't like this billboard, but I've seen to so many times and it's just about the best example of someone not really knowing how to use the word "jawn." I blame Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for letting the rest of the country get a taste of the Philly vocab.
5. Our "made-up" foods.
Try explaining water ice to someone from out of state. It just doesn't seem to make sense to them.
6. How seriously we take our food.
Iron Chefs love Philadelphia, the best sandwich in the country is made at Reading Terminal Market, we'll fight you over the use of the word "sub," and Zahav's lamb shoulder is continually called the best meal in America. Philadelphians are really, really passionate about their food.
7. Our love for cheesesteaks.
Real cheesesteaks! Don't even get us started. If you haven't had an authentic steak sandwich, you can't comment on whether you love or hate them. Come to the city, we'll show you the difference between your local pizza shop's "Philadelphia Cheese Steak" and the real thing.
8. Our famous zoo.
The Philly Zoo is small and old, but it remains one of the most important zoos in the country, dedicated to its conservation work. Oh, and it was the first one in America, so we've got that going for us.
9. Philly's stunning street art.
There's no city in the country quite like Philly when it comes to art. From the enormous murals on thousands of buildings to the origin of Toynbee Tiles, Philadelphia's urban art scene is incomparable.
10. America's greatest inventor.
I think it's safe to say that Ben Franklin had some of the best ideas in history. The first lending library, the first firefighting company, the first person to willingly learn to swim in the Schuylkill... okay, maybe that last one isn't such a good idea, but Ben Franklin left such a mark on science that he's considered one of the best inventors of all time, and yes, he was a Philly boy.
11. Our... reputation.
Philadelphia has a bit of a reputation for being a rough city. Yes, we threw snowballs at Santa Claus... but it was justified!
12. Our fierce loyalty.
Year after year, we flood the Eagles, Sixers, Phillies, and Flyers with support. We'll defend their failures and celebrate their wins. Our fans' loyalty is something nobody could ever question.
Of course, all of these things are just what we love about our home city. We know the ins and outs, the mom and pop shops, the culture and events that those who don't live here rarely see. After all, if you don't spend time in a city, how can you really get to know it? That's why it's so nice to spend time in Philly, visiting some of the most Amazing Places in the City of Brotherly Love.
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