It’s crazy to think it has been nearly two years since I wrote this blog about getting familiar with Philadelphia. We moved from New York City earlier that summer, and though we have been constantly in and out visiting family and friends, we wanted to make Philly feel like home.

Needless to say, we didn’t keep our word to make it a habit to explore the city every month; we were both getting used to our new work/life balance, then the holidays rolled in and, before we knew it, a lockdown.

Anyway, now that things are returning to normalcy (whatever that means), we want to make sure we’re spending just as much time in our home city as we do everywhere else. This past Sunday we hosted two of our friends, took advantage of the nice weather and visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its neighboring areas to spend an active and lovely afternoon.

After finding some street parking a few blocks from the museum, we confidently strode up the famous “Rocky stairs” and up to the front doors, only to find them locked! After reassuring ourselves they were indeed open through a quick Google search, we made our way around to the North Entrance and into the museum. Although my boyfriend had been there before, it was my first time exploring the artwork and strolling the grounds. It felt nice to be surrounded by so much beauty on such a pleasant day. The exhibit featuring on the second floor of the museum was a unique and emotive experience I highly recommend to anyone.

The views of Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River eventually lured us outside, and we decided to make our way down to take in the storybook atmosphere. We almost stopped at the Parks on Tap beer garden but chose to patronize Cosmic Café & Ciderhouse instead. A live reggae band played on the outdoor patio as we enjoyed a few snacks and some ice-cold drinks while taking in the vibrant spring scenery.

Philadelphia has yet to disappoint whenever I have visited. Sometimes I almost think it’s trying to prove it can be every bit as captivating as its big sibling, New York City, but whatever the case, I cannot wait to keep exploring different neighborhoods and their many gems.

— Yasser Ogando, production & advertising coordinator