Help instill a love of nature and intellectual curiosity in your little one with this hour long encounter where children can learn about maple trees and their delicious sap. Wissahickon Environmental Center – Tree House.
A free night of poetry featuring Sean Lynch and Amber Renee, followed by an open mic for anyone interested in sharing their poems. Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Anyone with an interest in the development that is happening across Roxborough is encouraged to attend this town hall meeting at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
If you haven’t been to Bourbon Blue, you are missing out. And now they have a special Valentine’s Day special running February 13th through the 15th, with a prix-fixe menu. Bourbon Blue, 5:00 pm.
Luckily, we’ve had a mild winter but everyone still needs to get out of the house. Time to grab a margarita, some queso, and let the kids rock out. Adobe Cafe, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
One of the coolest and most unique aspects of the area is the annual toad crossing. If you want to get involved, toad crossing training is taking place at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
If you are a guy who loves to sing, this might be your thing! Established in 1923, the Roxborough Male Chorus is preparing for it’s 2020 Spring Concert and is inviting interested neighbors to their open house. Leverington Presbyterian Church, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
If you are interested in getting involved with and helping support the library, here is your chance to gather with other volunteers to discuss services provided and upkeep for the library. Roxborough Branch of the Free Library, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Ok, so it isn’t technically in the neighborhood, but the yoga at Wissahickon Brewing Company in East Falls is well worth the five minute drive, plus you get a a complimentary pint at the end. Wissahickon Brewing Company, 6:30 pm.
Venice Island Performing Arts Recreation Center has a new name and a new performance offering! The Center, now known as the Manayunk Performing Arts Theatre at Venice Island, is hosting its first theatre concert series. The evening will feature Jesse Gimbel, Bazmati Vice, and Adventure Lost. Venice Island, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Are you due for a date night but the cost of a sitter is a hurdle? Take advantage of the YMCA’s Parents Night Out! Drop them off and the YMCA does the rest. You can even have them get the kids into their jammies before pick up! Roxborough YMCA, 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Are you fascinated by these nocturnal hunters? Here’s an opportunity to learn more about owls and go on hike to see them (or at least hear them) in their natural environment. Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Enjoy a crisp winter evening under a full moon at the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Families will go for a quick walk around the tree house while adults participants will hike the meadow.
If you would like to help keep our schools and neighborhood looking beautiful, please join the Cook-Wissahickon HSA at school playground, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
On the second Tuesday of every month, the congregation of St. Alban’s opens their doors to all in the community for a free meal. The Church of St. Alban’s Roxborough, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
It really feels like the dregs of winter and we haven’t even made it out of January yet. Kill the winter blues with these fun things to do in Roxborough & Manayunk this week!
Join Bob Kelly live at IHM! You know Bob from Fox 29’s Good Day Philadelphia and he’ll be on the scene celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Immaculate Heart of Mary, 8:00 am.
If your 1st through 3rd grader could use a little practice reading, sign up for a 10 minute read-aloud session with a certified therapy dog at the Andorra Branch of the Free Library, 4:15 pm.
Starring Jackie Jonas, celebrate a night of songs of praise, dancing and storytelling. Playing both Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st at the Venice Island Performing Arts Recreation Center, 7:00 pm.
Help support the Wildlife Clinic while enjoying face painting, winter hikes, nature talks and crafts for attendees of all ages. Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Martin Selzer will guide you on a two hour walk along Forbidden Drive and into the meadows to identify and enjoy our wintering feathered friends. Wissahickon Environmental Center Tree House. Visit site for details and registration.
Have you ever been curious how they turn tree sap to a delicious pancake topping? Here’s your opportunity to find out at this class provided by MALT and hosted at the Wissahickon Environmental Center. Visit site for details and registration.
Based on the story of the same name, participants will bring a vegetable to share in the soup which will be cooked over a campfire. While the soup is simmering, everyone is encourage to go on a nature walk, then come back for soup and bread. Wissahickon Environmental Center. Visit site for details and registration.
Things To Do This Week in Roxborough & Manayunk
Each week I post the best things to do in Roxborough & Manayunk here on my website and on the Roxborough & Manayunk Facebook Page. Be sure to sign up for the weekly email so you don’t miss a thing.
Want to cook your lunch over a roaring campfire on a chilly winter day? You can bring your own food or choose from the menu, plus you will learn some new recipes to use on your next camping adventure. Wissahickon Environmental Center, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
If you want to explore Roxborough and find some great things to do, check out my list of 17 fun things to do in Roxborough, Philadelphia. The neighborhood has a great variety of things to do including great restaurants, places to get out and enjoy the outdoors, and some unique attractions that are worth checking out. Have fun exploring the neighborhood and be sure to sign up to get the weekly list of the best things to do in Roxborough & Manayunk.
Take a Hike in the Wissahickon
One of the great things about living in Roxborough is the easy access to the Wissahickon Valley Park from just about anywhere in the neighborhood. Be sure to visit the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, the fingerspan bridge, Devil’s Pool, and Valley Green Inn while you’re there.
Take the Kids to the Playground
There are plenty of neighborhood playgrounds in Roxborough so it’s easy to get the kids out to play. There are playgrounds at Montgomery Field, La Noce Park, Wissahickon Neighbors Park, Kendrick Rec Center, Hillside Rec Center, Gorgas Park, Kelly Park, and Houston Playground. You can find spraygrounds at Houston Playground and Wissahickon Neighbors Park.
Visit Leverington Cemetery
Leverington Cemetery is located in Central Roxborough along Ridge Avenue. The cemetery is open to the public during daytime hours. As you walk through you’ll notice a lot of names of neighborhood streets in the area. The cemetery dates back to 1645. It was almost sold to developers soon after WWII. A local family purchased the property and still operates the cemetery today.
Roxborough is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia that offers easy access to the Wissahickon Valley Park, plenty of smaller neighborhood parks, a growing number of diverse restaurants, a wide variety of homes at various price points, and unique areas to choose from. The neighborhood also offers easy access to both Center City Philadelphia and the suburbs. If you’re thinking about moving to Roxborough and want to explore the area, check out this home buyer’s guide to Roxborough PA for a list of things to do and places to visit as you make your decision about buying a home in Roxborough.
Living in Roxborough
If you’re new to the area, or just not very familiar with Roxborough, you can start by getting to know the lay of the land. Roxborough is bordered on one side by Manayunk and The Wissahickon Valley Park on the other side. The neighborhood stretches for several miles between the lowest point in the Wissahickon Valley Park near Kelly Drive and Ridge Avenue and the Montgomery County line further up Ridge Avenue.
Neighborhoods in Roxborough include Wissahickon, Central Roxborough, Upper Roxborough, and Andorra. Many locals say that Wissahickon and Andorra are their own separate neighborhoods apart from Roxborough but they all share the same 19128 zip code so we’re lumping them together in this post. When buying a home in Roxborough it’s important to explore each of these areas to see which is the best fit for you.
Wissahickon Neighborhood
The Wissahickon Neigborhood is the southernmost area in Roxborough. The neighborhood is served the The Wissahickon Train Station and Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School. It’s a mostly residential area however, like much of Roxborough, you’ll find a number of local businesses within the neighborhood. When you’re here, be sure to check out A Tutti Pizza and Terrace Street Bakery. You’ll find shopping nearby at Acme and Target, both are just short drive of 5-10 minutes away. You’ll find parks and playgrounds at La Noce Park, Montgomery Field (formerly Daisy Field), and Wissahickon Neighbors Park where you’ll also find a sprayground for kids in the summer. Of course, you’ll also find easy access to the Wissahickon Valley Park where you can enter at the 100 Steps, the corner of Sumac Street and Vicaris Street, or through a number of other trailheads in and around Montgomery Field.
You’ll find a variety of homes in the Wissahickon Neighborhood including a number of beautiful Victorian homes. Many of the homes were built in the late 1800’s but you’ll also find a number of Airlites built in the 1940’s and 1950’s and several new construction homes, as well. Homes on the west side of Ridge Avenue tend to be smaller and closer together, very similar to homes in Manayunk.
Central Roxborough
Central Roxborough is home to the main business district in the neighborhood and landmarks like Leverington Cemetery, The Roxborough Pocket Park, and Gorgas Park. There are a number of great places to eat in Central Roxborough including Lennie’s Hoagies, Nikki’s BBQ at Tavern on Ridge, Taylor’s Cafe, Bob’s Diner, and The White Yak Tibetan Restaurant. In 2020, a new brewery is scheduled to open here, as well.
There’s a wide variety of styles of homes in Central Roxborough though the majority are rowhouses and Victorian Twins. There’s a growing number of new construction homes in the area, as well. You can find a number of Airlite style homes behind the Acme grocery and in the Wissahickon Hills neighborhood across Ridge Avenue from Gorgas Park.
Upper Roxborough
Upper Roxborough has a more suburban feel than most of Central Roxborough. The business district in Upper Roxborough includes a ShopRite and a Target Express. There are also some great local businesses in Upper Roxborough like The Secret Garden and R&R Produce. W.B. Saul High School is located in Central Roxborough on Henry Avenue. It has to be one of the very few places in Philadelphia where you’ll find a cow pasture. The school runs a farm share program and also has a farm stand where you can buy local produce. When exploring Upper Roxborough be sure to visit the Upper Roxborough Reservoir Preserve.
The majority of the homes in Upper Roxborough are detached singles and twins. Cape Cod and Colonial Style homes are common in the area, especially between Henry Avenue and Ridge Avenue.
Andorra
Andorra is the most suburban part of Roxborough. Much of Andorra was developed in the 1940’s and 1950’s and the area was annexed by Philadelphia around that time. The Andorra Shopping Center is the neighborhood’s central shopping destination. The shopping center has an Acme grocery store, Kohl’s, Staples, LA Fitness, and more. Houston Playground is located in Andorra. The playground features a sprayground, ball fields, and tennis courts. The Roxborough United Soccer Club hosts their practices, games, and events at Houston Playground.
Most homes in Andorra are single/detached homes and twins. You’ll find a number of suburban-style subdivisions in the area. It’s a popular area for those who want the suburban lifestyle but want to stay within the city limits.
Homes for Sale in Roxborough PA
Roxborough is a large area with a lot of different styles and sizes of homes. Home prices in Roxborough can range from the $100,000’s to over $1,000,000. The average home price is about $300,000. Check out the newest homes on the market below.
If you’re thinking of buying a home in Roxborough and want to learn more about living in Roxborough be sure to sign up for our weekly emails. The emails include the best upcoming events in Roxborough & Manayunk plus features on places to go and things to do in the the neighborhood. Sign up below.
My daughter and I have been making the rounds at local breakfast spots in Roxborough and Manayunk and one of our favorites is Taylor’s Cafe on Ridge Avenue. Though we’ve been a number of times I never got around to writing about Taylor’s, why we love it, and why you should check it out if you haven’t been yet. Taylor’s has been a mainstay on Ridge Avenue since it opened in 1960. The cafe has been under a number of owners since then. In 2011, the space was bought by Jay and Si Soon. The restaurant closed for three months for a complete overhaul. The cafe is now a bright and contemporary space with a diverse menu of diner classics and contemporary brunch fare.
Managing a good Facebook Page is a constant learning process and there’s always some second-guessing about whether or not a page is taking the best direction. In 2019, I started a Facebook Page focused solely on living in Roxborough & Manayunk as a resource and guide for residents and newcomers. It turned out to be a fairly successful and fun project but it was a little overwhelming to manage that page and others. So, I decided to incorporate that page into one of my other pages in the hopes of being able to manage everything in one spot.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t happy with that move. It was too difficult to get the right information to the right people . . . those who live in, or want to live in, Roxborough & Manayunk. The other page was too broad. It was a mistake to delete the original page (a lesson learned the hard way).
As we start a new decade, I figure that the best thing to do is to start a new Roxborough & Manayunk Facebook Page from scratch and to make it better than the last one. The new page will include a weekly list of the best things to do in Roxborough & Manayunk, profiles and recommendations of local businesses, places to check out in the neighborhood, and more. As a resident who loves living here, I’m looking forward to sharing insights and info about the neighborhood and connecting with other residents and fans of Roxborough & Manayunk. Please take a minute to visit (and Like) the new & improved Roxborough-Manayunk Facebook Page.
Jon Miller is a Philadelphia Realtor with Compass Real Estate. Jon has been working with home buyers and sellers in Philadelphia and Montgomery County since 2010.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the BrightMLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Keller Williams Center City Philadelphia are marked with the IDX logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. The property information being provided is for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers and such information may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Keller Williams Center City Philadelphia shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless.
Jon Miller is a Philadelphia Realtor with Compass Real Estate. Jon has been working with home buyers and sellers in Philadelphia and Montgomery County since 2010.
