Caroline Scheinfeld is an 18-year-old Villanova native and a first year student at Drexel University in the class of 2020. She is an interactive digital media major as well as the co-founder and senior creative content director of Phillystreats, an online magazine that covers all things unique to Philadelphia. Caroline runs all of the behind the scenes affairs of Phillystreats. This includes updating social media, keeping the website in good shape and creating new graphics to keep the magazine visually appealing.
The initial vision of Phillystreats was to serve as a food blog in which contributors could write about the food of Philadelphia; which is how Phillystreats got its current name, emphasis on the treats. As posts began to accumulate on the blog, they also began to get more thoughtful as Caroline and her sister explored what makes Philadelphia unique. The small business economy of the city combined with the passion of its people is what they wanted to express in the seasonal magazine that it is today.
The inspiration behind Phillystreats is everything that makes Philadelphia the city that it is. The magazine has local writers and photographers that create content inspired by topics that include more than just local eats. Phillystreats focuses on food, fashion music, fitness and culture that is inspired by all things Philadelphia. The primary goal of the magazine is to show the public the real stories of local Philadelphians who make this city a more vibrant and creative place.
The most rewarding aspect of being a part of Phillystreats is the inspiration that comes with the job. Philadelphia has so much to give and creativity is everywhere. Caroline can explore the city and gain inspiration from it as part of her job. From basement shows in Point Breeze to art galleries in Old City, Caroline feels that there is no shortage of possibilities to learn from, explore and grow.
Having such a huge role in a magazine on the rise is a hard job to manage for anybody, let alone a full-time college student. Caroline admits that the most challenging part of her position is the time management. She finds it hard when she has so much passion and so many ideas for the magazine but has to push them aside to make time for classes for which she is not so passionate. Forcing yourself to focus on physics homework is hard enough, but having to focus on physics while also being aware of the world of opportunities outside your doorstep is even harder.
When asked what she wanted to do after she graduates, Caroline had a similar answer to what most first-year students would say – she does not know exactly where she plans to be after graduation. She does, however, want to keep hearing people’s stories. Caroline wants to keep her options open, and says she would possibly go into a career involving travel or video production. Her ideal goal is to open her own studio right here in Philadelphia.
Caroline’s involvement with Phillystreats has significantly impacted her decisions with her co-op and future career. One specific goal for her co-op career is to be the first student to co-op with Tastemade. She would love to have a position in their graphics or web development team. She admits that she would have leaned toward a desk job, but Phillystreats has inspired her to create for people, with people.
When Caroline isn’t working under deadlines for her magazine or stressing over homework, you can most likely find her exercising her creativity elsewhere. “I have a knack for making things.” She says, “In a few spare moments where I’m not designing, I like to create short films, meticulously decorate my planner, and cry over puppies.”
To check out the current Fall issue of Phillystreats, go to Phillystreats.com and follow their Instagram account (@phillystreats).