Philly 101

YIP's Philly 101 program is not currently operating. We hope to be able to offer Philly 101 sessions again soon - stay tuned to this website for more information!

• What are the biggest issues facing Philadelphia today?
• How do city elections work?
• Seriously...who really makes the best cheesesteak in Philly?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Young Involved Philadelphia answers these questions and many, many more with "Philly 101: A Guide to Civic and Public Life in Philly." Philly 101 is a great orientation program for both new arrivals and lifelong Philadelphians who want to learn more about how the city works. From the city's historic roots in Quaker tolerance to the current school reform experiment to upcoming elections, Philly 101 is packed with info on The Place That Loves You Back.

Included in the program are copies of YIP's "Philly A-to-Z", a study guide to today's Philadelphia that covers the city from its "addy-tude" to the "ziti and zucchini" of its famous restaurants and markets. YIP members are available to make Philly 101 presentations at area universities and for community organizations. To schedule a Philly 101 event or for copies of "Philly A-to-Z", please contact Kate Houston at kchoustoun@gmail.com.

 Excerpts from "Philly A-to-Z"
A: Addy-tude... Philadelphians possess a unique attitude towards life. Fierce loyalty, hometown pride and a willingness to let people know exactly how we feel are hallmarks of the Philly addy-tude. A prime example is the city's love affair with Pat Croce, the high-octane former president of the 76ers, who would do just about anything to pump up the city's morale – including scale the Walt Whitman Bridge.

L: Lager... Want to sound like a local? When at the corner bar, simply ask for a "lager." You won't be given any old beer – in Philly, "lager" means one thing: Yuengling lager. Established in 1829, Pottsville's Yuengling (pronounced Ying-ling) is America's oldest brewery and Philly's beer of choice.

Another local favorite is Yard's, the only beer brewed in the city of Philadelphia. Fresh from their historic brewery building in the Kensington section of town, Yard's can be found in pubs and restaurants all over the city.

W: Wage tax... Dubbed "The Tax We Love to Hate" by the Daily News, the wage tax is a quirky local tax that has caused quite a stir. Basically, the City of Philadelphia places a heavy tax on the salary of every individual who works in the city – whether they live in Philly or the 'burbs. The wage tax is often maligned for causing businesses and residents to flee the city, yet the revenue generated supports nearly half the municipal budget and can be viewed as part of the trade-off for relatively low property and sales taxes.