One of the things that has always baffled me about Philadelphia is why visitors appear to like the city more than its residents do.Some of this is just the basic culture of negadelphia, a hangover from the days when the city was somewhat less than awesome. But the city expends a lot of effort (and money) to attract visitors, who often just drive in for an event and then drive out, and has let quality of life issues for people who live here go by the wayside. Residents to a great degree aren't a priority. We're the nuisance.
When I moved here in 1980, Steve Poses' Frog restaurant and the Commissary - both a few years old - were inspiring the city's Restaurant Renaissance, but I cannot remember frequenting a single sidewalk café.
Um, because they were illegal until 1995?