Colleen DeCesare and her partner, Jennifer Kaufman, are one of the new families who call this increasingly diverse pocket of South Philly home. Attracted by affordable rowhomes, proximity to Center City and safe, walkable streets, the area has become a thriving destination for single professionals, couples, families and Philadelphia’s emerging young gay community. The new East Passyunk Avenue, which diagonally bisects the otherwise strict street grid of South Philly, is dotted with boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars catering to newcomers in an old neighbourhood.
“Old South Philly has been very accepting of ‘New South Philly’,” DeCesare said. “There’s a really nice feel here. You have hipsters, gay people [and] people from different walks of life that have been embraced by the neighbourhood.”
In 2007, DeCesare and Kaufman opened Black N Brew, a coffee shop and café that is located in a unique corner space with a remarkable mosaic exterior. It has become a ubiquitous neighbourhood meeting place, and DeCesare and Kaufman have been very involved in outreach events, even playing host to a weekly social for LGBT seniors, the William Way Community Center’s MorningsOut excursion.
Black N Brew serves local La Colombe coffee, refreshing smoothies, hearty breakfast and lunch plates and features plenty of vegetarian and vegan options
http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20111220-a-new-corridor-in-old-south-philadelphia/2
Mon-Fri 3-5pm IN HOUSE ONLY $1 Mugs of coffee $2 single shot lattes
