Parks
Fairmount Park
(http://fairmountpark.org/) consists of 63 regional and neighborhood parks, spanning both center city and part of western north philly. when you want to get away from the city's hustle and bustle, there is always somewhere green to go.
Fitler Square
Fitler Square neighborhood has some good restaurants and pretty tree-lined streets. The charming 2400 block of Panama, supposedly, has been re-created on a Hollywood lot for the show "Cold Case." Fitler Square (http://fitlersquare.org/) itself doesn't show up on MapQuest, but it's at 23rd and Pine. A Saturday morning farmers' market runs spring-fall.
Rittenhouse Square
(http://rittenhouserow.org) is as close to a central park as one can get in philadelphia. only 4 blocks west of broad st and the main business areas, it is an oasis in the heart of the city. it is surrounded by tall buildings, and there are many nice restaurants in the area. summer concert schedules are listed in the park.
Schuylkill River Park
The newest of the city's parks, but already becoming one of the most popular. for a century, philadelphia's waterfronts were cut off from its residents by industry and an extensive system of railroads. now gone for decades, the waterfront is a kaleidoscope of residential development, recreation, and good living. center city's ongoing renaissance is being charged by new amenities such as this urban river-side park (http://schuylkillbanks.org), which carves its way deep into the city, culminating in south philly.