The written word's been my forte ever since I cut my teeth on journalism with my high school newspaper. I've launched newspapers and newsletters that have won seven awards for excellence; more recently, I've won a Philadelphia News Award for Real Estate Reporting in 2025.

My latest venture is a Substack publication, “Sandy Smith's On the House,” launched after I left the Philadelphia staff in April 2025. I got hired there in November of 2015 and served as the mag's Home & Real Estate Editor from February 2016 until my departure. (You will still see my byline there on occasion.)

My freelance work has also appeared in Next City, Hidden City Daily, University City Review/Weekly Press, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. I have also written for the late Philadelphia CityPaper, for the late Philadelphia Weekly back when it was called the Welcomat, and several other print and online publications.

Among the subjects that float my boat: Cities, the built environment, music (I sang in a local chorus), food (I enjoy both cooking in and dining out), travel, and transportation. Especially trains. Especially mass transit. If you see me on the Broad Street Subway or at the Reading Terminal Market, say hi. Do the same if you see me biking or walking around Germantown, where I now live.

Oh, and if you're looking for an outstanding writer for your project, no matter where you are, drop me a line.