# Philly Prison Dopefest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180 "2006-09-18T15:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/1 "2006-09-18T15:25:52Z")
I’ve been wanting to check out [Eastern State Penitentiary](http://www.easternstate.org/index2.html) for years. At the time of its construction (1829), it was a progressive model of prisoner treatment – i.e., that everyone did solitary confinement. It was in use until 1971. (See the “History” page in the link.) Al Capone was imprisoned there. Etc. I’ve heard it’s very cool. And it seems eminently Doperific. Anyone interested? I’m thinking either a Saturday or Sunday in mid-October – 14th, 15th, 21st, or 22nd. There are restaurants in the area for a meal after – it’s also extremely close to the Art Museum, if people want to do a day of it. (The Art Museum is “let your conscience be your guide” admission price on Sundays.) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/2 "2006-09-18T15:35:29Z")
If it’s a Sunday, it’s possible. I’ve always wanted to see it, too; I’ve seen documentaries and such on historic prisons. Robin ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/3 "2006-09-18T15:38:24Z")
Damn, I’d be jumping right in and saying, “Me, me, me!” because I know where it is, and could squeeze in a visit with my Philly-collegebound daughter, but I have class nearly every Saturday in October. I may check back in once you settle on a date. Pencil me in as a **very** tentative Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/4 "2006-09-18T15:41:22Z")
[QUOTE=BiblioCat] Damn, I’d be jumping right in and saying, “Me, me, me!” because I know where it is, and could squeeze in a visit with my Philly-collegebound daughter, but I have class nearly every Saturday in October. [/QUOTE] What about a Sunday? That seems to be better for Robin anyway. (Though I guess there are some football fan types who wouldn’t prefer it.) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/5 "2006-09-18T15:51:04Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] What about a Sunday? That seems to be better for Robin anyway. (Though I guess there are some football fan types who wouldn’t prefer it.) [/QUOTE] Aw, screw the football types. 😉 Robin ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/6 "2006-09-18T16:14:09Z")
Go ahead and plan it, and see what works the the actual Philly Dopers. If I can make it, I will. I’m just an out-of-towner who’s gonna crash it. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/7 "2006-09-18T17:21:16Z")
I vote for Sunday as wel. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/8 "2006-09-18T17:23:36Z")
Okay, so Sunday it is. Does anyone have a preference between the 15th and the 22nd? ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/9 "2006-09-18T17:27:46Z")
I have no preference to either date. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/10 "2006-09-18T18:01:39Z")
**Twicks** you and **Eve** know how to plan some classy dopefests. Cemeteries and prisons. All the fun places! 😃 I’m also extremely jealous that I’m not nearby to go. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/11 "2006-09-18T21:03:28Z")
Just want to jump in and say we visited once, a while back, when there was an exhibition of art about political prisoners placed in some of the cells. It is an awesome place - have fun! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/12 "2006-09-18T21:51:03Z")
I like how they have “alumni reunions”. There’s a certain _je ne sais quoi_ about that. Robin ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/13 "2006-09-18T22:22:39Z")
Aw, geez, this sounds so cool! But it’s over 3 hours away, and I’ve got classes in Oct, so I can’t take a Monday off. And Saturdays won’t work because of my ceramics class. I love living in the boonies except when cool stuff like this comes up. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/14 "2006-09-19T00:33:35Z")
I can make it on the 15th; I did have a book discussion on the 15th, but this sounds more interesting. On the 22nd I’ll be at Capclave, so that’s out. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/15 "2006-09-19T00:41:29Z")
The 22nd is better for me. I am pulling a boat out of the water the week before and going to a small clam festival. I will not be in any shape fora drive out to Philly that Sunday. Approximately what time of the day? Jim ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/16 "2006-09-19T01:09:02Z")
y’all do know that october is the big shindig month for the prison? halloween at the prison? big crowds. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/17 "2006-09-19T02:35:03Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] y’all do know that october is the big shindig month for the prison? halloween at the prison? big crowds. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I saw that – seems like it would be more for the evening haunted house tours, though. A Sunday afternoon should be okay. You gonna mosey down the street and join us? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/18 "2006-09-19T19:00:02Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] Aw, screw the football types. 😉 [/QUOTE] [Easy for you to say](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=382937). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/19 "2006-09-20T00:51:14Z")
Marvellous! A dopefest I don’t need a ride for! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180/20 "2006-09-20T01:20:19Z")
depends on date and time. i know i have a work dinner one of those sundays… i’m not sure which. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-prison-dopefest/373180.md?page=2)