It feels bizarre to think I’ve been living in Pennsylvania for a year today. I spent twenty-one years living in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, and some days I can hardly believe I’m not waking up there instead.
My pursuit of a graduate degree brought me to the western suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and my year in the area has been an incredible and life-altering one. While I generally spend my time working, writing, and doing schoolwork, I’m lucky enough to have had the chance to explore the area, and these are a few things I love about the area where I live and work.
Comics & More
Of all the stores in the gigantic King of Prussia Mall, I spend the most time in Comics & More, one of two locations the small chain has in the Philly suburbs. (The other one is in the Plymouth Meeting Mall.) My first concern when I visited, like with all comic shops I visited, was how the shop workers would treat me – I’ve been in comic shops before that weren’t really comfortable with the fact I happened to be female. Lucky for me, the staff at Comics & More is incredibly friendly, and when I ask for recommendations (as a person relatively new to comics), they’re not elitist or rude but actually very helpful.
Main Point Books
This is actually quite a new thing I love about the western suburbs. Main Point Books opened in Bryn Mawr around June 2013, and it’s becoming something of a regular haunt for me. (Which is good for my mood, but horrific for my wallet.) I love all bookstores, but indie bookstores are especially perfect, and Main Point has a nice curation of titles in a small space.
Reading Terminal Market
Unfortunately, I don’t get the opportunity to hit up this open-air market in Center City Philadelphia very often. But I do love visiting the Terminal Market, where a person could find almost everything imaginable in terms of food or produce. Old City Coffee has a location there; I’ve tasted crepes for the first time at one of the stands. Delicious and a very fun place to explore, especially on a rainy day.
While I still miss Toledo every now and then, Pennsylvania’s not so bad – especially when I have great places to hang out, meet new people, and learn new things.
What do you love about the place you live?
Feliza Casano 