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Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation
East of Cresheim Creek, nestled between Wissahickon Valley Park and Stenton Avenue, Mt. Airy is home to a dreamy mix of leafy parkland, tree-lined streets and stunning 18th-century stone architecture — all surrounding a historic cobblestoned business corridor of chic boutiques and cafes.
But it’s Mt. Airy’s lesser-known history — its Quaker roots, avant-garde art and history of progressive activism — that makes up the neighborhood’s fearless, boundary-pushing foundation.
Read on for a guide on Mt. Airy, curated in collaboration with the Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation.
Known for reimagining the classics, Quintessence Theatre Group has been staging heroic journeys, ambitious battles and epic romances at the Sedgwick — a 1920s-era Art Deco movie palace — for more than 15 years.
And Mt. Airy takes performing arts to new heights with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (offering regular shows and open-to-the-public circus classes) and Circadium (the nation’s only accredited circus school), both housed inside a 26,000-square-foot Gothic church.
Sedgwick Theater — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Mt. Airy is packed with delicious eateries like McMenamin’s Tavern, Bar Lizette, Mount Airy Breakfast Boutique, Toska Restaurant & Brewery, La Trattoria, Malelani Café, Downtime Bakery, and more.
Need the perfect pick-me-up? Try coffee shops like High Point Cafe, Mt. Airy Coffee Co. or Adelie Coffee House.
Toska Restaurant & Brewery — Photo courtesy Töska Restaurant & Brewery
The neighborhood is home to plenty of family-friendly fests throughout the year, including the springtime Mt. Airy Day, the Mt. Airy Village Fair kicking off each fall and the Go Mt. Airy Supper Sessions throughout the summer, when two blocks of Germantown Avenue are closed to traffic for music-filled nights of food trucks and alfresco dining.
Go Mt. Airy Supper Sessions — Photo courtesy Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation
More than 57 miles of forest trails wind through Wissahickon Valley Park, where hikers and cyclists hit terrains of various skill levels, anglers sink lines in the creek, and rock climbers take on the challenge of Livezey Rock.
Enter from Kitchens Lane, and you can hike to Fingerspan Bridge (a footbridge made of steel), or take the White Trail Entrance and see the mystical Toleration Statue. Other sights include the picturesque Glen Fern and Carpenter’s Woods — Philly’s old-growth forest.
Want more options? Grab a book and unwind at quiet community parks like Lovett Park and Ned Wolf Park.
Wissahickon Valley Park — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Mt. Airy is a shopping haven with locally owned boutiques selling products for any occasion.
Check out spots like Sook Vinyl & Vintage (Black-owned record shop and listening room); Rothe Florists (multigenerational florist and gift shop); Weavers Way Mercantile (vintage furniture store), Wild Hand (yarn and crafts store), Pax Flora Goods (vintage clothing and goods boutique); Perennial Refill Hub (sustainable living store); and Big Blue Marble Bookstore (LGBTQ-owned bookshop).
Wild Hand — Photo by K. Luxon for Wild Hand
Philly’s Black history runs deep, and Mt. Airy honors that legacy at places like Allens Lane Art Center, a thriving theater venue and cultural center created to break down racial barriers within the arts, and Mt. Airy Art Garage, which hosts a Black Art Matters exhibition every year.
Nearby, the Johnson House once served as a historic stop on the Underground Railroad, and Cliveden is dedicated to remembering the enslaved people who lived and worked there.
Mt. Airy is a mostly residential neighborhood with few hotels, but nearby options include the gorgeous Chestnut Hill Hotel and the smaller Burbridge Street Bed and Breakfast.
Chestnut Hill Hotel — Photo courtesy Chestnut Hill Hotel
Ready to experience the area firsthand? Here are some tips to get you started:
Philadelphia is a city of vibrant neighborhoods bordered by a region of charming towns, with each area owning a distinctive personality. Explore the neighborhoods and towns in and around Philadelphia — their storied streets, interesting attractions, buzzed-about restaurants and year-round happenings.
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