Manayunk, Philadelphia

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Manayunk is a historic neighborhood in western Philadelphia. Originally owned by William Penn, the first house was built int he early 1700s at the site of Green Lane and Silverwood Street. The areas was originally called Flat Rock, and as it grew, it later took on the name Manayunk, derived from a local Indian word. With the construction of a dam and canal in the 1800s, the area became an industrial hub. Once a separate town, it was combined with the rest of Philadelphia County's towns to become the greater city of Philadelphia in 1854.

Today the neighborhood retains its small town feel, that certainly seems separate and distinct from Philadelphia. Its Main Street near the river is packed with trendy bars and restaurants, and the hillsides above the river are full of historic buildings, steep alleys, and limited parking.

I love Manyunk! It's an eclectic, funky area with great food and fun shops. Main Street runs along the Schuykill River and is a great place to wander on a Saturday afternoon. There are independent boutiques and some big-name stores and a lot of restaurants and bars. The crowd is a mix of yuppies, college students (St. Joes University is nearby) and locals.

Warning: Parking can be tough on Main St. Go up the hill a few blocks (away from the river) to find a spot. Read the signs, though, you'll deifnately get a ticket or get towed if you're in a no-parking zrea.

Great little neighborhood outside of the inner city, but not far. It's on the subway line, and would be a great place to live and commute to work in town. The main street has some great old bldgs. from the 20's, 30's, 40's. It's pretty upscale with all the coffee houses, specialty shops, restaurants and beauty shops.