Point Breeze - Philadelphia, PA

Point Breeze was not developed until around 1843. The area was established as an oil refinery in the 1860s, and gentrification began from then on. Point Breeze Ave. was named by 1895, which lent its name to the neighborhood around that time.

Although Point Breeze doesn't have an established museum, it is not lacking in arts and culture. Point Breeze is home to many murals by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Flavors of the Avenue is a foodie festival put on every year to taste test small bites from local restaurants along Passyunk Ave. Point Breeze also hosts the Summer Jazz Fest to bid farewell to summer each year with jazz-inspired tunes and a relaxed vibe.

This area serves up an array of good eats and drinks due to a diverse population and trendy nightlife options along the 15th and 16th Street areas. For your morning fix, Brew Ultimo is a popular spot, as well as OCF Coffee House. Brew Ultimo also offers boozy options and has a great atmosphere for studying, while OCF has notably nice teas and a great music playlist. Rave reviews are given to the colorful vegan/vegetarian joint Breezy's Cafe, and for good reason. Its sandwiches, fries, and kombucha selection keep locals healthy and coming back for more.

Point Breeze also holds many Indonesian places, such as Hardena and Cafe Pendawa Lima. Hardena serves no-frills fare that vegetarians go nuts for, while Cafe Pendawa Lima is a self-serve mecca of street food that also sells packaged ingredients for cooking your own Indonesian meals. The neighborhood also boasts restaurants with Thai, Italian, and Mexican cuisine. Locals love Circles Contemporary Asian for delivery as well as dine-in due to its on-the-mark Pad Thai, spring rolls, and curry.

Point Breeze's nightlife is affordable and laid-back. South Philadelphia Tap Room is ideal for brunch, dinner, or drinks. It serves a short but out-of-the-box menu and pours craft drafts. Residents praise the Wild Boar Tacos and unbelievable happy hour ($2 to $3 pints and $2 late night tacos). A more traditional pub is American Sardine Bar. Its salt and pepper fries, beer list, and backyard area are noteworthy reasons to pay a visit. Hoppy beers and Indian-meets-American food can be found at Madira Bar and Grill. It's a great change to hip joints with a dive bar atmosphere and attached bottle shop. For dancing and clubbing, hop on the train to Washington Square or Market East.

On the edge of Point Breeze near the 611 sit three SEPTA stations: Ellsworth-Federal, Tasker-Morris, and Snyder. This train runs north and south, and can take you through the center of Philadelphia all the way to the Delaware River. Apart from the convenient train, SEPTA also runs frequent buses. Some bus trips call for short walks, but overall, it is a useful mode of transport. Walkscore rates the neighborhood at 89 for walking and 82 for biking. There is plentiful street parking as most homes have garages. Traffic is not usually an issue, but can get congested on Broad Street. Point Breeze has the advantage of easy access to the 611, 95, and 76 highways to travel to the rest of Pennsylvania. Hailing a cab or Uber isn't difficult.

Wharton Square is the main greenery in the neighborhood. It has a large stretch of grass for kids, grills, and lights for late-night visits. Other than this park, you will have to travel to nearby Newbold to the east or Grays Ferry to the west to enjoy playgrounds and outdoor recreation. DiSilvestro Playground houses basketball courts and play equipment and Columbus Di Prospero Playground's open spaces are just on the other side of the 611. Chew Park has a recreation center and city-run sports off of Washington Ave.

The neighborhood is very affordable, especially in comparision to other parts of Philadelphia. Its cost of living index is four percent lower than the city. The cost of gas is around $3.47, which is the same as most of the city, but seven percent higher than the national average. Transportation and your average beer are affordable, only $2.25 to get to the city center and $5 for a pint. The median household income is about $28,000. The median price for a one bedroom apartment in Point Breeze is $802 per month, eight percent less than the city average.

Find a few shops of interest down Point Breeze Avenue or Broad Street, and select from a few art galleries that dot the area, as well as art supply stores, cosmetic shops, and florists. Check out Broad Street Beautyland for beauty needs, Grandiflora for flower arrangements, and the Pharmacy for local art. These small stores help the local populace with fantastic customer service. For men and women's fashion, a quick trip to nearby neighborhoods like Graduate Hospital or Newbold is recommended. If you're looking for high-end shops, head to Center City.

Grocery options remain plentiful. Santos Groceries, a small grocer, remains a favorite due to the friendly owner, fresh produce, and regular specials. Nearby Julian Abele Park Farmers Market in Graduate Hospital and 9th Street Italian Market in Bella Vista are very close and have an abundance of quality vendors.