Fitler Square – Neighborhood Profile

The tight boundaries (the Schuylkill River to the West, 21^st Street to the East, Locust Street to the North, and South Street to the South) keep in the center a little park with a timeless Victorian fountain guarded by a few animal sculptures – turtles, a Grizzly Bear, and a ram. Its reduced size makes this area one of the very stylish ones in the City of Brotherly Love, looking a lot like a yard, lucky those who can call it their own, right? It has a strong reputation, the portion of Center City around Fitler Square and nearby Rittenhouse is sometimes referred to as “Rit-Fit” and a second nickname – “Fittenhouse Square” was given by local comedian Niraj Shanbhag in the ‘90s. The co-editor of the popular film The Sixth Sense, Hojun Li, appears to have found inspiration looking at the children playing in the park.

Image via Flickr

On Saturdays, at 23^rd and Pine Streets, a small but invaluable farmer’s market displays its goods, providing to its residents high-quality products, meats, cheeses, bread and other baked goodies. The market is operated by the non-profit organization The Food Trust, whose primary goal is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. Picnicking has become very popular in this park, but if you’re looking for a more formal place to enjoy your dinner (and your drinks) rest assured that you won’t have to leave the area –  Dmitri’s, Mémé, Mama Palma’s Gourmet Pizza, are just a few places to enjoy delicious meals. Have your coffee at Good Karma Cafe while catching up on the media, or getting lost in some book, because although the pulse of the city beats all around, Fitler Square is the perfect spot to do so.