Activities

Welcome to Philadelphia!

We are so excited to have everyone here in Philadelphia for the weekend. If you haven’t been in a while, Philadelphia may have changed a lot. Center City offers tons to do, to eat, and to drink. Almost all of it just an easy walk from the hotel.  

Things to do:

There’s a lot going on in the city this weekend. Saturday is the finals of the Penn Relays, the oldest track competition in America. The events are being held on Franklin Field on the Campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Michael and Audrey’s Alma mater.

Also this weekend is the closing fair of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, a huge performing and visual arts festival that has been going on for last month. For this event, Broad Street south of City hall is closed with (more info). The street fair is centered around the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts at Broad and Spruce Streets. In the lobby of the Kimmel, you’ll find a giant time machine art installation which reflects the festival theme of ‘time travel’.

Right around the hotel are a couple of great sights. If you want to get a quick lay of the land, take the hotel elevators to the 30th floor and check out the panoramic view of the city.  Check out the City Hall (M-F only) tours which include a trip behind the faces of the clocks to the top of the tower at City Hall. If you’re feeling hungry, take a trip up 12th Street to the Reading Terminal Market. The market features almost a hundred vendors, selling everything from cookbooks to cheese steaks. Try the roast pork sandwich at DiNic’s and ice cream at Bassett’s or down home Amish cooking at the Dutch Eating Place. The Roast Pork at DiNic’s was recently named the best sandwich in America by the Food Channel.

Also close by and centered around the Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch is Philadelphia’s Chinatown.  There are lots of chinese bazaars, restaurants, and traditional Chinese herbal apothecaries. Good restaurants to check out include Banana Leaf, Fuzhou Noodle House and Yakatori Boy for karaoke and sushi.

Philadelphia is probably best known for it’s history.  Independence Mall, home to the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and the Liberty Bell is about 6 blocks east of the hotel. Start your visit at the Independence Visitor’s Center where you can get tickets for Independence Hall tours.  No tickets are required for the Liberty Bell, just get in line and be ready to go through security.  There’s a lot more to Old City than just Independence Mall.  Take a walk to the South and East to discover more Hidden Treasures.  Definitely worth a trip is Elfreth’s Alley, the longest continually inhabited residential street in the US.  Betsy Ross House is at 3rd and Arch and you can get a Betsy Ross style flag or just about any other flag for that matter across the street at Humphry’s Flag Company.   If you’ve come this far, pop out to Race Street Pier for views of the Delaware River and the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The best way to see the city is really just to go for a walk.  Check out some of the old narrow streets just south of the hotel in the Washington Square West neighborhood.  We especially love Quince Street. West of Broad on Walnut Street is the city’s shopping mecca. An absolute must for your visit is a trip to Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut Streets. The neighborhood around the square offers some terrific small streets, shops and restaurants. Bibliophiles will enjoy the Rosenbach Musuem at 20th and Delancey, the former home of famous book collectors which always features interesting literary exhibits. If you’re looking for something different, check out the Mutter Museum, a 19th Century collection of medical oddities. Don’t go right before the wedding, you’ll ruin your appetite.

Anchored by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is lined by some of the finest museums and cultural institutions in the world.  The Art Museum itself is always worth a visit but the Rodin Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and Franklin Institute all offer formidable collections of their own.  The latest addition to the Parkway is the Barnes Foundation which has brought the collection of an eccentric millionaire to the heart of the City. Behind the Art Museum, you’’ll find some fascinating garden follies leading down the hill to the Water Works and great views of the iconic Boathouse Row.

Much of Philadelphia’s character is in its neighborhoods.  The South Street district has changed a lot since it’s 1970s hippie heyday, but still offers an eclectic and youthful mix of shopping and people watching.  If you’re in the area, Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens certainly merits a visit. Over a lifetime Zagar has covered several lots and buildings with his trademark found object mosaics.  The 9th Street Italian Market running from Christian past Washington Avenue is a gourmand’s delight.  Asian and Latin influences have joined the Italian stalwarts to create the vibrant curb market of today.  It’s hard to find a real outdoor market place like this in the US today.  If you’ve got a hankering for Tacos try La Veracruzana, head to Pho 75 for Vietnamese or Paesano’s for mind-blowing Philly inspired sandwiches.  

Farther south is the hip Passyunk Square neighborhood. Running along Passyunk Avenue and anchored by Cheese steak meccas Pat’s and Geno’s at 9th and Wharton are lots of cool bars, restaurants and unique shops lining this street.  If you find yourself here try P.O.P.E., Stateside or the always interesting dive, Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar.  North and East of downtown are Northern Liberties and Fishtown which are hipster havens with many interesting bar and restaurant options including Memphis Taproom, Frankford Hall, Standard Tap and Johnny Brenda’s.  

The neighborhood closest to our hearts is Graduate Hospital, where we live. It’s a quieter area but it’s known for great restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood and along South Street West.  If you have wondered this far south and west, check out The Sidecar, Grace Tavern, and Honey’s Sit ’n’ Eat.

Getting Around:

Traffic will be terrible this weekend, due to the PIFA fair and Penn Relays. We discourage driving if it can be avoided: roads are narrow, drivers are aggressive, and the parking authority is ruthless. For travel to the wedding, try one of these options:

a) Walk - it’s about a mile down Chestnut Street to the venue. Wear your dancing shoes over there and see the sights along the way. (Free, 20 minutes)

b) Cab - The hotel can hail you a cab at the stand on Market Street. South of City Hall will be a mess because of the fair, so ask them to take JFK or Arch to 23rd and Market. The Armory is just south of Market. (~$7, 10 minutes)

c) Subway/Surface Trolley - If you enter the 13th Street SEPTA station on Market Street, you can take any Westbound trolley two stops to 22nd Street, and walk 1 and a half blocks to the Armory. We’ll have lots of tokens at the Welcome cocktails, or you can buy tokens from the attendant or pay $2 cash ($2, 15-20 minutes)

Eating:

Philadelphia is about a good of eating town as you can find. The food here is diverse, hearty, cheap, and made with a lot of love. From high to low it’s always easy to leave the table happy. One unique aspect of the dining culture here are BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) restaurants.  Scattered across the city, these places pack people in and emphasize the quality of their food to compete. So grab a bottle of wine from the State Store at 12th and Filbert Streets and hit the town. Note that our weird liqour laws will require you to visit a second store for beer, but the folks at the hotel or the state store will be happy to help.

Here are some of our favorite BYOB options:

La Viola- cozy, classic Italian with two locations across the street from each other on 16th Street.  If one is closed, walk across the street and try the other one.

Audrey Claire- Contemporary American food in a bustling but beautiful space.

Marigold Kitchen- You’ll need to take a cab out to West Philly to try this rowhouse-located molecular gastronomy experience.  Come hungry in preparation for several courses and countless amuse-bouches.

Indian Restaurant-  One of our favorite standbys, dishing tasty Indian on South Street West.

La Vientiane- Unparalleled Thai/Lao food in West Philly.  Try the sticky rice and papaya salad.

Lolita- Just around the corner from the hotel, you’ll find this excellent Latin restaurant with a boisterous atmosphere and great pitchers of mix for BYOT (Tequila!) margaritas.

There are also plenty of places that offer full bars as well, usually staffed by helpful and friendly waiters and barstaff. For non-BYOB restaurants, we’d recommend:

Monk’s Cafe- This place has the largest selection of Belgian beers outside of Belgium, along with stellar bar food and tasty fries.

Sampan- Behind this place’s cool wood facade, you’ll find a wonderful ambiance with great Asian fusion food.

Mixto- Great Mexican and good margaritas close by the hotel. Excellent guacamole with plantain chips and a great weekday happy hour.

20 Manning- Much-loved and gorgeous little restaurant in the Rittenhouse Square area known for great cocktails, atmosphere, and people watching.

Memphis Taproom- A bit of a cab ride, but great food and a pleasant adjacent beer garden.

Good Dog- Excellent food, especially the burgers, spread over three levels with always great beer selection and a bustling atmosphere.

The Sidecar- Just a block from our house, this place is a favorite of ours, and is our regular brunch spot. The Cajun-inspired menu joins a stellar beer list.

Grace Tavern- If you make it on a weeknight, say hi to Rees, the best bartender in town. Whenever you go, enjoy the great burgers, sausages, and spicy blackened green beans.

Zahav- For a special treat, this Mediterranean fine dining place is one of the best restaurants in town. Or for a quicker taste of the cooking of chef Michael Solomov, try...

Federal Donuts- They make the following items: 1) fried chicken, 2) donuts, 3) coffee. Trust us, it works. They do all three about as well as one can.

Any Steven Starr Restaurant- The best known local restaurateur holds a stable of great restaurants that are among the best splurges in town, Buddhakan, Butcher & Singer, and many others.

***Capo Giro- Just down 13th Street you’ll find Capo Giro. They always offer unique ice creams, gelatos, and coffees. To boot, National Geographic Traveller named theirs the best ice cream in the world. The WORLD.

Drinking:

Philly knows how to have a good time. There is a thriving local brewery scene and a knowledgeable and thirsty drinking public. From classy cocktails to local brews, there’s tons of options.

XXI (Nineteen)- Located on the 19th floor of the Bellevue Hyatt hotel, the little bar in between the ballrooms and dining rooms offers great views and incredible atmosphere. Great place to start a great evening.

Ranstead Room- This tiny speakeasy is tucked away on a back alley. Have a drink around the corner and wait for a table in the small, dark room with super cocktails and Mexican snacks.

McGillin’s- Just around the corner from the hotel, tucked away on tiny Drury Street is McGillin’s, the oldest operating bar in Philly, where the taps have been running since 1860. It can be a little rowdy late.

One Tippling Place- Catering to a more sophisticated and mature set than a lot of bars, this comfortable space around the corner from the Armory has a great cocktail list and friendly, helpful staff.

Farmer’s Cabinet- Another great spot for a cocktail with lots of atmosphere, in this case, the feeling of a Depression-era barn-raising.

Bob & Barbara’s- A legendary dive. Always a diverse and fun crowd. The walls are lined with a museum’s worth of historic PBR marketing, and $3.50 will get you a “Citywide,” - a shot of bourbon & a can of PBR.

Stateside- Stellar food and great cocktails make this place worth the trip out to Passyunk Square.

Nodding Head- Upstairs from busy Sansom Street, Nodding Head offers tasty food and house-made beers.

Village Whiskey- Superior burgers and tasty drinks.

Parc- When the weather is fine, join the in-crowd at a sidewalk table facing Rittenhouse Square, get a glass of white wine and take it all in.

Oscar’s Tavern- Another classic dive bar, Oscar’s cocktail menu is on the paper placemat in front of you, but stick with the enormous and dirt cheap draft beers.

Frankford Hall- If you’re thirsty for a liter or two of beer out in the open, head over to this near-perfect German beer garden. With a courtyard full of Lindens, ping-pong tables, fire pits, and giant pretzels, there’s no better spot to while away an afternoon with friends.