5 Things to do in Philadelphia Before Summer is Over

With the beginning of August comes the inevitable end-of-summer blues – it’s time to get ready for the school year and the Labor Day party planning started. At JG Real Estate, our motto is “It’s not over ’til it’s over!” With that being said, here are five things you must do before the summer of 2012 comes to a close.

 

PHILADELPHIA END OF SUMMER COUNTDOWN

Embrace the end of the summer by doing something new every day in Philadelphia! Until next time, your Philadelphia Property management team.

Philadelphia Neighborhood: Manayunk

Manayunk, a Philadelphia neighborhood that is just west of Center City Philadelphia, is known for its intimate restaurants, local shops, and abundance of night life. Manayunk is bounded by the Schuylkill River and the Manayunk Canal. It was, at one point, one of the manufacturing centers of Philadelphia. Over the years, with the decline of jobs in the manufacturing industry and closure of businesses, the warehouse buildings were left empty and storefronts were abandoned. During the 1990’s, there was a huge surge of revitalization and upscale stores and restaurants came to the Philadelphia neighborhood, and those empty warehouses were converted into gorgeous loft spaces. The large lofty spaces are offset by the two and three story single-family homes that also surround the area and give it a quaint and charming feel.

 

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD: WHAT MANAYUNK HAS TO OFFER

One of the most appealing characteristics of Manayunk, also referred to as the “Yunk,” is its abundance of outdoor “play” space. There is the wonderful Schuylkill River Trail which winds through Manayunk on surface roads, with numerous access points to a trail along Main Street. This trail leads out to Valley Forge or to Center City! You can also connect to the hiking and biking trails that Wissahickon Valley Parkfeatures. Here, you can find horseback riding, fishing, biking, and more! For the lovers of water, there are a ton of boating options in this Philadelphia neighborhood. You can kayak, canoe, and even engage in the sport of Dragonboating. Also, Manayunk features the Manayunk Bike Race every year, which is a huge attraction for all ages!

This Philadelphia neighborhood is full of shopping. There are tons of furniture stores like Nadeau andPottery Barn, clothing & apparel stores, jewelry shops, and galleries. This Philadelphia neighborhood is stuffed with wonderful restaurants and their delectable cuisines. Cafes and coffee shops line the streets of this Philadelphia neighborhood, and Manayunk does not fall short when it comes to ice creams shops! If you are looking for a good night out, Manayunk has a different type of bar for every personality-type. In all, I can find 20 bars, and that is not a complete list!

 

THINGS UNIQUE TO THIS PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD

Manayunk has very special long-standing community traditions and great places for people to join together. Whether it is at the Manayunk Roxborough Art Center, the North Light Community Center, or theManayunk Sport and Social club, residents alike

No matter what you’re into, this Philadelphia neighborhood has something for you! If you’re a landlord looking for Manayunk Philadelphia Property Management contact us today!

Philadelphia Real Estate Investment Properties

When deciding to purchase an investment property, you should make yourself aware of the different types of Philadelphia real estate that you can purchase. Remember, an investment property is anyPhiladelphia real estate property that will bring in some kind of rent or income for access to leasehold rights. You can choose to invest in

As discussed in my blog, “Types of Philadelphia Real Estate Property Ownership,” there are different forms of ownership, investment goals, and situations, especially when you are not the sole owner but are investing with partners.  The differing investment situations come when you enter into a Philadelphia real estate investment syndicate. This structure involves a number of individuals who join together to invest in one property/project. With private syndication, there is a small group of investors that usually know each other before a deal is made. Conversely, a public syndication will involve a large group of investors, where interest usually comes in the form of shares/securities. The main difference between the two types of syndication’s when investing in Philadelphia real estate is the type of management control and liability associated with the partnership.

If it all is a little too confusing to you, as it is to most, be sure to contact the experts. With regard to Philadelphia real estate investing, get in touch with a real estate agent, an accountant, and an attorney! This team, including your Philadelphia Property Management professional, will help prepare you for a lucrative and beneficial investment.

Using The Old to Make Your Philadelphia Real Estate New

If you are looking for ways to spruce up your Philadelphia Real Estate, searching through the antique shops along the historic Antique Row.

Antique Row is a wonderful place to shop! It has numerous antique shops, vintage stores, and art boutiques. Philadelphia real estate has strayed away from the antique look and moved towards a more modern and sharp style. Antique Row will remind you of how beautiful the vintage is and purchasing a few knick knacks may really be the solution to making your Philadelphia real estate feel like home.

 

SHOPS ON ANTIQUE ROW:

Here are some of the shops located on Pine St. While browsing, keep your Philadelphia real estate in mind and think about how some of the pieces may fit with your aesthetic.

Philadelphia Neighborhood: Northern Liberties

Every street you walk on in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Northern Liberties offers fun restaurants, artistic havens, and small businesses that are sure to have you coming back for more.  These components, added with the new and updated construction that is popping up all over, make thisPhiladelphia neighborhood one of the most sought after places to live in Philadelphia. Northern liberties is contained from North to South by Girard Ave and Callowhill St, respectively, and from East to West by the Delaware River and 6th St.

 

WHAT THIS PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO OFFER

Northern Liberties is full of deep and rich history; “Northern Liberties… is both a historic region of Penn’s plan of Philadelphia a present day neighborhood of the modern city.” Originated in 1985, The Northern Liberties Historic District was  formulated in order to preserve the architecture that defines the character of the neighborhood. Some of these protected historic places are Integrity Title Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Mifflin School.

 

Northern Liberties is overflowing with artists, galleries, studios, and artistic venues. Art Star, Projects Gallery, and Gallery 908 are all within close proximity to each other and promote fabulous artists. You can check them our during the day, or in the early evening while walking the colorful streets in this Philadelphia Neighborhood. Northern Liberties also has a ton of design and media groups that range in services from urban planning to digital imaging. Even though you are still within the city of Philadelphia, you get the small town feel from Northern Liberties due to the amount of small businesses that exist. From small coffee shops like Cafe Estelle to clothing stores like Duke and Winston, you always get the feeling of small community.

 

Not only can you spend the day walking around the streets enjoying music, art, and shopping, but this Philadelphia Neighborhood has some wonderful restaurants and bars. North Third and Silk City are some residents’ favorites. The Piazza at Schmidt’s, which opened in 2009, features  a large permanent screen that boasts sports games, 35 art galleries and boutiques, commercial & residential units, and five wonderful restaurants all with stunning reputations. The nightlife in Northern Liberties is out of this world no matter what you’re into – you have SugarHouse Casino, Yards Brewing Company, Delilah’s, and theNorth Shore Beach club all within minutes of each other!

 

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD?

We’s love to hear all about your thoughts regarding Northern Liberties, your favorite places to go, your favorite shops, your favorite small businesses, so please feel free to leave us comments!

 

Piazza

Philadelphia Neighborhood: Northern Liberties

Philadelphia Neighborhood: Washington Square

The beautiful tree-lined streets of Washington Square are just one aspect of this Philadelphia neighborhood that make it one of the most alluring and fun places to live in the city. Washington Square is contained from North to South by Market St and South St, respectively, and from East to West by 6th St and Broad St. It is filled with some of the best restaurants, parks, historic monuments, and nightlife that Philadelphia has to offer.

 

WHAT THIS PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO OFFER

Philadelphia is known for its history and Washington Square is one Philadelphia Neighborhood that is full of it. Washington Square was one of the original five plazas that William Penn created. For two centuries it has served different purposes, it now features as a gathering place for families in friends in its lush green park filled with over “60 varieties of trees.” The first hospital in our nation, Pennsylvania Hospital, was founded in 1751 and still operates today in this Philadelphia Neighborhood; it is located between 8th & 9th Sts and Spruce St. The oldest diamond district, originating in 1851, is also located in Washington Square. Known as Jewelers’ Row, this area boasts some of the most grand shops, with over 300 retailers, wholesalers, and craftsmen.

 

In terms of community, Washington Square is known for its large LGBT & Ally Community that lives within its borders, and the large concentration of LGBT related shops and restaurants. Whether you’re shopping for any occasion at PHAG or enjoying the entertainment during a happy hour at Woody’s, thisPhiladelphia neighborhood is aimed at being inclusive and accepting all walks of life!

 

If you are looking to embrace the culture of the city by exploring the arts, this Philadelphia neighborhood has  multiple theaters, including the Forrest Theatre and Walnut St Theatre (America’s oldest theatre founded in 1809), and has the Avenue of the Arts running along its Western border. There are beautiful murals that are part of the international Mural Arts Program, and there are wonderful mosaics by Isaiah Zagar that are along South St.

 

Now, to the most exciting part of this Philadelphia neighborhood, the food, bars, and restaurants in Washington Square are some of the best in the city. Whether you are going to El Vez or Vetri, you are going to taste some of the finest dishes this city has to offer. The truth is, this Philadelphia neighborhood has mostly every type of food, in every price range, for everyone, and the same goes for the nightlife!

 

When you enter into Washington Square area you are sure to get an equal mix of nice people, beautiful history, excellent food, and a fun night scene!