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Philadelphia Insiders Guide
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2014-09-23
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INSIDER'S GUIDE TO PHILADELPHIA
A true city of neighborhoods, Philadelphia is a terrific town
for exploring. Aside from the historical sites, we have a wealth
of gems for those who relish traveling off-the-beaten-path.
INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Of course, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Carpenters'
Hall are all musts for the first-time visitor to Philadelphia. We
are proud to be the birthplace of our nation, and a tour of these
sites provides background on the events of that time. Walk down
Elfreth's Alley, the oldest street in the States. When you've
tired of walking, horse-drawn carriage rides are available
throughout the area, with a slice-of-life commentary by the
knowledgeable drivers.
After sightseeing, you may want to do a bit of shopping in the
historic Bourse Building at 5th & Market Streets, directly opposite
the Liberty Bell. Or, walk West on Market Street to 9th Street to
browse through The Gallery, the largest urban mall in the country.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays don't miss the thriving
Reading Terminal Market at 12th & Market Streets. Here, the Amish
farmers, butchers and bakers join dozens of produce, fish, deli,
book and flower vendors to create a bustling spectacle for your
senses. The sights and smells will make your mouth water. There
are dozens of tables and chairs for sampling the taste treats,
although you'll have a hard time deciding what to try first. There
are also numerous "sit-down" restaurants in the down-home diner
tradition, some with counter service, like the 12th Street Cantina
(a favorite of mine for Mexican food). The market occupies the
first floor of the historic, Victorian-era Reading Railroad
Terminal. (Renovation to the huge 90-foot high train shed has just
been completed as part of our new Convention Center, and it is
spectacular with marble flooring and steel "tracks" inlaid in the
floor where the old train tracks were.)
You may want to picnic in Independence National Historical
Park with your market purchases or dine in one of many restaurants
in the food court at The Gallery or one of the dozens of
restaurants in this area, such as:
Ouzo (Greek food), on 3rd Street, just North of Chestnut St.
(try the moussaka - outstanding!)
DiNardo's Crabs, 312 Race Street
Azalea, Omni Hotel, 4th & Chestnut (great American dishes!)
Siam Cuisine (Thai), 925 Arch Street
(try the daily fish special with curry cream sauce)
PENN'S LANDING/SOCIETY HILL
The Penn's Landing area is located along the Delaware River on
Delaware Avenue from Race Street south to Spruce Street, with
Society Hill occupying the adjacent area along Front Street.
You'll find many historic sites in Society Hill; Penn's Landing is
a recreational park with a marina, water taxis, great nightclubs
and a ferry crossing the river to the New Jersey State Aquarium.
Nearly every weekend in the summer, we have a concert or
festival in this area. Check Friday's "Weekend" section of The
Philadelphia Inquirer for current listings. For example, every
Memorial Day weekend, we have Jambalaya Jam with dozens of bands
from New Orleans. We also have German, Italian, Polish, Irish and
Greek festivals. The Fourth of July fireworks display along the
river is always spectacular and well worth a visit.
Restaurants abound within walking distance of Penn's Landing,
including some of those listed under Independence Park area:
The Chart House, 555 S. Delaware Avenue
Downey's, Front & South Streets
Middle East Restaurant, 126 Chestnut St.
Pizzeria Uno, 511 S. 2nd St.
The Monte Carlo Living Room (fine dining), 2nd & South Sts.
Bridget Foy's, 200 South Street
MUSEUM AREA
Beginning at 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Philadelphia has a concentrated collection of great museums, such
as:
* Academy of Natural Sciences (dinosaurs and fun science
exhibits), 19th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
* Please Touch Museum (great place for children, especially on
a rainy day), 210 N. 21st Street
* Franklin Institute Science Museum (great fun for the entire
family - let kids walk through the heart and be sure to see a
show in the Planetarium and in the Omniverse Theater), 20th &
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
* Rodin Museum (excellent collection), 22nd & Ben Franklin Pky
* Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th & Ben Franklin Parkway
(children love the Armor rooms, complete with suits of armor
for both man and horse, as well as various weaponry). Be sure
to walk through the Japanese Tea House, Chinese temple and
Persian rooms. There is a very nice restaurant and cafeteria
in the museum.
* Free Library of Philadelphia, 19th & Ben Franklin Parkway.
There is a little-known cafeteria on the top floor of the
Library.
Restaurants in the museum area include:
Mezzanotte, 1701 Green St.
London, 2301 Fairmount Avenue (casual, contemporary)
Morton's Restaurant of Chicago, One Logan Square
(excellent steaks, expensive)
Four Seasons Hotel, Fountain Restaurant, One Logan Sq.
(great service, great meal, expensive)
Four Seasons Hotel, Swan Court - good for afternoon tea
evening cocktails
ITALIAN MARKET
The Italian Market is a one-of-a-kind sight to see: begin your
walk at Ninth Street & Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia.
This is a definite stop if you want to purchase foods for a picnic
lunch. Right on the corner is Giordano's for produce; continue
walking North on 9th Street, passing meat, poultry, bread and
cheese shops. This is the market scene from the movie "Rocky".
Mangia! Philadelphia abounds with scores of wonderful Italian
restaurants, each with its own special attraction. I'll list some
of my favorites, keeping in mind that you may have to use
transportation to get to some of them:
LaGrolla, 782 S. 2nd St. (Expensive, fine dining; excellent
veal; famous for game)
Felicia's, 1148 S. 11th St. (Moderate prices; lively, fun
atmosphere with homemade pasta dishes)
Osteria Romana, 935 Ellsworth St. (Expensive, fine dining;
call ahead to find out about their porchetta night)
Victor Cafe, 1303 Dickinson St. (for fans of opera, this is
the place to dine - they play old recordings through-
out the evening, and the waitstaff sing arias; fine
dining)
CentAnni, 770 S. 7th St. (casual atmosphere, what I call
red-sauce-Italian)
Melrose Diner, 1501 Snyder Ave. (a South Philadelphia
institution for good, homey food)
Mara Brothers, 1533 S. 11th St (BYOB, good food, moderate)
Villa Di Roma, 936 S. 9th St. (good red-sauce-cuisine)
CHEESESTEAKS - Decades of competition linger still between the
famous Pat's King of Steaks, 1237 E. Passyunk Avenue, and
Geno's Steaks at 1219 S. 9th Street. Decide for yourself
who makes the best cheesesteak.
PHILADELPHIA ZOO
Don't miss a visit to the zoo at 34th Street & Girard Avenue,
the oldest in the U.S. We have several new habitats and exhibits,
including two white lion cubs. Young children love the Treehouse
with its live presentations aimed directly at the under-7 crowd.
The outdoor polar bear pool is always a treat for kids and adults.
MANAYUNK
Follow the Schuylkill River Northwest via East or West River
Drive to the old milltown of Manayunk, which is where many of the
yarn and woolen mills were located. A working class neighborhood,
this area has experienced a renaissance within the past 5-10 years,
offering many upscale boutiques and excellent restaurants. This is
the section of Philadelphia famous for the "Manayunk Wall", a steep
uphill climb for the racers of the Corestates Professional Bike
Race, held every year in early June. Held the same weekend is the
"Main Street Stroll", a marvelous, fun evening with many people
dressed in Victorian costumes and many more people just strolling
along Main Street. Two other well-organized, fun events are the
Manayunk Canal Day Parade in mid-May and the Manayunk Art Festival
in June.
You could dine at a different restaurant every night and never
be disappointed here. Try any of the following:
Sonoma, 4411 Main Street- the hottest spot in town
Le Bus, 4266 Main Street- fun, noisy crowd - kid menu
United States Hotel Bar & Grill, 4439 Main Street - try their
corn crab chowder - out of this world
Casa Mexicana, 111 Cotton Street - good Mex food
Siamese Princess, 4421 Main Street - unusual Thai dishes
Main-ly Desserts, 4249 Main Street - the place to indulge