Psst — I'm new here too!
New to Olde Kensington? Start here.
A short, honest guide to the businesses and basics worth knowing in your first few months — picked by someone who lives here, not paid placements pretending to be recommendations.
Pick a pin
Start with a category
Every category is part of one guide to Olde Kensington: what to set up first, who to call, and where to go.
1. The basics — set these up first
Internet & Utilities
How to set up electric, gas, water, and internet service when you move to Olde Kensington, and who to contact for each.
Read →🚗Parking & Transit
Getting a residential parking permit, street sweeping, reserving curb space on moving day, and getting around Olde Kensington by SEPTA train, trolley, or bus.
Read →🗑️Trash & Recycling
Find your trash and recycling collection days by address, plus the City's rules for set-out times, bins, bulk items, and illegal dumping.
Read →2. Getting to know the neighborhood
Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters
Dog walkers and pet sitters who serve Olde Kensington.
Read →📦Movers
Licensed movers who serve Olde Kensington.
Read →🔑Locksmiths
Locksmiths with real storefronts that serve Olde Kensington.
Read →🔧Handyman Services
Handyman services that work in Olde Kensington.
Read →🚿Plumbers
Plumbers who serve Olde Kensington.
Read →💡Electricians
Electricians in and serving Olde Kensington.
Read →🌡️HVAC
Heating and cooling companies in and serving Olde Kensington.
Read →🧽House Cleaning
Home cleaning services that work in Olde Kensington.
Read →🐜Pest Control
Licensed pest control companies that serve Olde Kensington.
Read →🏗️Contractors
Contractors and remodelers in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →🖌️Painters
House painters in and serving Olde Kensington.
Read →🛒Groceries
Where to buy groceries in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →🔨Hardware Stores
The nearest hardware stores to Olde Kensington.
Read →🍺Breweries
Breweries and taprooms inside Olde Kensington.
Read →🩺Primary Care
Primary care doctors in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →🦷Dentists
The nearest dentists to Olde Kensington.
Read →🏥Urgent Care
Walk-in urgent care centers near Olde Kensington.
Read →💊Pharmacies
Pharmacies near Olde Kensington.
Read →👓Optometrists
The nearest eye doctors to Olde Kensington.
Read →🏋️Gyms & Fitness
Gyms and fitness spots inside Olde Kensington.
Read →✂️Hair Salons
The nearest hair salons to Olde Kensington.
Read →💈Barbers
Barbershops in Olde Kensington.
Read →🐾Veterinarians
The nearest vets to Olde Kensington, plus 24/7 emergency care.
Read →🐕Dog Daycare & Boarding
Dog daycare in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →✂️Pet Groomers
The nearest pet groomers to Olde Kensington.
Read →🏠Realtors
Realtor teams that work in and around Olde Kensington.
Read →🚙Auto Repair
Auto repair shops with PA state inspections in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →🗄️Storage
Self-storage in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →📬Mailbox & Package Receiving
Mailbox rental and package receiving in and near Olde Kensington.
Read →🧸Childcare & Daycare
Childcare centers and early-education programs inside Olde Kensington.
Read →🎨Artists
Working artists and galleries in Olde Kensington.
Read →🏺Classes & Workshops
Ceramics, making and printmaking classes in Olde Kensington.
Read →📞Who to Call
Who to call in Olde Kensington for emergencies, police, city services, utilities, and your local representatives.
Read →🏫Schools
Which public schools serve Olde Kensington, how to look up the school for your address, and where to find charter, private, and pre-K options.
Read →The Newcomer Guide
If you only read one page on this site, make it the guide — it links to everything else.
Second Thursday
the second Thursday of every month
On the second Thursday of every month, galleries and studios along N. American Street open their doors.
See who's openHow well do you know Olde Kensington?
Ten questions on Olde Kensington. Go from Bareheaded to Master Hatter.
Play Hat TrickTakes about 3 minutes.
Snapshots
Olde Kensington, in five pictures
Engine Company 29 answered calls from this firehouse from 1895 until 1979, when modern fire trucks no longer fit through its arches. Look for the dragon carved above the northern arch. Today it's apartments.
More Olde Kensington trivia →The Crane Company built this as a plumbing warehouse in 1905. Today it's full of galleries and studios, and on the second Thursday of every month they open their doors at night.
The Second Thursday walking map →Palestinian immigrants founded the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in 1989 in a rented storefront. Its home today is a former furniture warehouse, covered in "Doorways to Peace," a Mural Arts project of Islamic geometric art and calligraphy, with tiles made by local students.
More Olde Kensington trivia →Charles Maas opened a brewery here in 1859. The building later made candles and repaired Girard Avenue trolleys. Since 2008 it's been the MAAS Building, an arts space, and its garden was dug out of an asphalt lot.
Where to get a beer today →Five artists started The Clay Studio in Old City in 1974. In 2022 it moved into this building, with a gallery, a shop of handmade ceramics and classes.
Take a class →
Jasonon his block
Page 2: the backstory
Hi! I'm Jason. I'm new here too.
I moved in right next door in January 2026 and immediately had all the normal questions that come with moving somewhere new:
- Where do I buy groceries?
- Who's a good vet?
- How does parking work?
- Who do I call when something breaks?
The answers were scattered everywhere. So I started building the thing I wanted when I got here. We can figure out the neighborhood together.
— Jason
Read the full story →Free · One page · No spam
Your first 30 days in Olde Kensington
A one-page list of everything to set up after moving to Olde Kensington: utilities, parking permit, trash day, and the places worth knowing. Plus a few short emails over your first weeks. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
- Right away
the checklist PDF and every setup link, all at once. - Day 3
what to find before something breaks — shutoff, breaker panel, detectors. - Day 7
the deadlines that started the day you moved — PennDOT, permits, insurance. - Day 12
the block's rhythm — trash slides, snow routes, recycling rules. - Day 18
how to stop being the new person. - Day 25
making it home — furniture, pet groomers. - Day 32
one month in — what did we miss?
Picks are chosen on merit
Not paid placements pretending to be recommendations.
Paid Partnerships are always labeled
Some businesses sponsor a category to meet new residents. You'll always see it marked.