Karrie Gavin comes from a long line of Philadelphians, beginning with her great-grandparents, who immigrated from County Mayo, Ireland, over a century ago. Born and raised in Germantown and Mt. Airy, she now lives in South Philly with her husband Damian, their toddler Dylan, and their beagle Dottie.

As the Philadelphia/South Jersey Guide for About.com, Karrie keeps her readers informed on local happenings year-round. Her writing has appeared in numerous regional and national magazines, including Philadelphia magazine, Philadelphia Wedding, Philadelphia Home, AAA World, and US Airways magazine, and in the anthology PS: What I Didn’t Say, published by Seal Press.

Karrie earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Penn State University and a master’s degree in journalism at Temple University, where she also taught public speaking. Her interest in writing about Philadelphia was sparked during her time as editor of Campus Philly, a local nonprofit where she was responsible for creating online and print guides and a magazine for local college students.

When she isn't writing, Karrie uses her extensive local knowledge to help people find their dream homes as a real estate agent for Elfant Wissahickon. In her spare time, she assists adults with special needs on vacations and local outings through Special Vacations, an organization founded and directed by her mother.