After a subtle but unexpected change of plan I will now be staying in Philadelphia next weekend!
Can any Philly Dopers recommend:
a) Some interesting tourist sites in the city
b) A Pittsburgh Steelers Bar (might be asking too much!)
c) A well stocked PC store - I want to take advatage of the Dollar/Sterling rate and pick up some PC hardware (CPU, RAM etc) for my new Home Theatre PC.
If no one replies then I will have to assume that no one in Philly is qualified to be a Doper! (Whatever that means!!!)
As an aside I wanted to see my NFL team the Steelers live in at Heinz field for their confercence game, however schedules and $$$$ for the tickets said “no”.
Appreciate any thoughts!
You’ll probably get a better response in IMHO – I’ll ask a mod to move.
Don’t know on sports or computers. As far as interesting sites are concerned, we’ve got 'em by the bucketload – what are your interests? Musuems? (art, technology, medical curiosities, historical… ?) U.S. Colonial history? (walk around Old City/Society Hill) Architecture? (there are special walking tours, I believe) Checking out music, dance, the theater, etc.? Give us a little more info and we can give you better advice.
steelers may be a bit tough as eagles fever has taken over philly.
where about in phila will you be? center city? old city? burbs? that would narrow down sport bars, places of interest, etc. will you have a vehicle? delaware is a hop, skip, and tax free jump from phila. your money will go much further tax free. pa is tax free for clothes and some food products. all else is 7% tax.
Actually there are tons of interesting things to see in every imaginable category. I consider us America’s best kept secret. What are you interested in?
The Steelers game is naturally televised nationally, any bar with a TV will show it; no such thing as a Steelers bar in the city. (Are there any Eagles bars in P-burgh?)
If all else fails, shoot me an email.
You just missed the Mummers Parade, and you’re a week early for Wing Bowl. Out of season for Eastern State Pen tour. I believe the Dali exhibit at the PMA will be open by then though.
Be sure to get a decent cheesesteak. And we call it “soda” here, not “pop.” Have fun.
Actually there are tons of interesting things to see in every imaginable category. I consider us America’s best kept secret. What are you interested in?
The Steelers game is naturally televised nationally, any bar with a TV will show it; no such thing as a Steelers bar in the city. (Are there any Eagles bars in P-burgh?)
If all else fails, shoot me an email.
You just missed the Mummers Parade, and you’re a week early for Wing Bowl. Out of season for Eastern State Pen tour. I believe the Dali exhibit at the PMA will be open by then though.
Be sure to get a decent cheesesteak. And we call it “soda” here, not “pop.” Have fun.
I’ve only been to Philly once, but I fell in love with the Italian market (on 9th Street, I think) that ran into Pat’s and Geno’s. (Having gone to two of the big Three cheesesteak joints in the city [Pat’s and Jim’s], I must say that Pat’s was the better of the two. Some guy at a bar in the U Penn neighborhood told me that Pat’s was where it’s at. While it was hopping—that whole section of South Street seemed perfect for exploring the night life—the steaks weren’t as tasty as Pat’s. Hey, judge for yourself.)
Keep em coming kids, I’ll be in Philly in April. I already had the Mutter Museum recommended.
I think I shall have to buy an Eagles shirt as part of being a tourist too. Best place to grab one? I will also be taking advantage of the weak dollar vs the pound.
You’ll have to watch for threads (usually in MPSIMS), as twickster et. al. have a habit of starting dinner get together threads. On the 29th of January there’s this mini-dopefest as Philadopers are a subset of MADs.
I’ll also recommend the Mutter Museum, along with the Insectarium, which may or may not be of interest to you.
It’s out towards the edge of the city, fairly far from downtown, and run by an exterminating company. I hear it’s the largest insect zoo in the country, though it’s not extremely large; it occupies two floors. It’s been a few years, but by memory I’m guessing it’s in the neighborhood of 5000 square feet.
They have various insects (and other critters, such as spiders) on display, some alive, some dead (I distinctly remember being impressed with a large display of dead, colorful, metallic looking beetles).
One thing that sticks out in my mind is the cockroach display. They have this kitchen set in the middle of one of the rooms, partitioned off by glass or plastic walls. The kitchen is a mess, and it serves as the natural cockroach habitat. Neat, but may be kind of disgusting.
The Italian Market is at 9th and Washington – lots of food shopping, etc. – of more interest to those who are going to head home and cook, I think. (And more fun in the summer.) Down at 2nd and Washington is the Mummer Museum – our home-grown walking, banjo-playing, feather-bedecked New Year’s strutters.
Definitely check out the Mutter Museum – you’ll note the “medical curiosities” reference in my first response. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is worth a visit, if you do art museums. I’m also very fond of the University Museum out at Penn – archaeology, etc. very cool.
One favorite historic site is Ben Franklin’s house, on Market between 3rd and 4th. Another place I take a lot of out-of-towners is the Reading Terminal Market – an indoor farmer’s market now in its second century – at 12th and Filbert. If you need a break from the noise and activity there, and none of the 538 food stands appeal, there’s a good brew pub right across the street.
I apologize for not offering to organize a dinner for you, jim – as dances says, we have one on for the following weekend. Paul – let us know when you’re coming, and we can probably get a few Dopers together for you, if you’d like to meet some locals.
Once I know what i’m doing, I will do, cheers. I’m actually staying in Delaware, but its not that far up to Philly to do for the day, but it depends on my mate that i’m staying with and her schedule etc. Otherwise, cool. Be April 8th to the 16th I think.
Tony Luke’s for a chopped pork sure… but at 4am after one too many I stumble to Pat’s over Geno’s (I’m 8 blocks from Pat’s & 2 from the Mummers Museum).
Do the City Hall tour (11:30 am weekdays) & then cross the street for the Masonic Temple; apparently the only other ones on its scale are in London and Stockholm.
Chinatown is the 4th largest in the country, great food.
South Street has seen better days, but still a laugh on a warm weekend night. Get a slice or two at Lorenzo’s after the bars close.
I should think that any ***FORRRRRRRRRRRMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN MILLLLLLLLLLLS ** * outlet will have overstock Eagles stuff by April… (annoying radio ads, but great prices…)
If you’re a sports fan, check out 610 AM. I picked it up out an Allegheny Natl Forest last month; maybe you can get it now in P-burgh?
I grew up in the Insectarium neighborhood in the Northeast. There’s nothing else of interest in the area (well, apparently the oldest continuos-use bridge in N amer, but not much to look at) & it’s well removed from Center City so I wouldn’t burn the time if you only have a weekend… I’d go if you had a week though.
And don’t forget the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts or the Rodin Museum.
First off, though I’ve never eaten at Pats or Geno’s, I’ve heard most people tell me it’s for tourists and they don’t really have that great of a cheesesteak. That’s why I never tried them. Can get a cheesesteak at any of the million pizza joints or from a vendor. I’d get a little variety. Another must try is a stromboli. For that I’d either have to recommend Dolce Carini in between 19th and 20th ond Chestnut or Tower Pizza at 20th and Samsom.
If your a history buff there are a million things to see. Betsy Ross house, Ben Franklin house, Liberty Bell, Independance Hall, etc…
If your a museam buff then there is the Mummers, Art, Franklin Institute (great if you have kids), Academy of Natural Science, amoung others.
If you like theater, we have about 3 of them.
There are comedy clubs, jazz clubs, and just about everything else.
