A sampling of Philly's art and culture

Our Local Expert Says:

Be prepared to encounter crowds at Philadelphia's most well-known tourist destination. View the Liberty Bell that only rang once, stand where the signers of the Declaration of Independence once stood, and read up on history in the newly built Constitution Center. When you're ready for some peace and quiet, take a horse and buggy ride around the site and through the cobblestone streets of Society Hill.

Description:

Independence Hall, completed in 1753, is known to many as the birthplace of America. This building is where the nation's founders issued the Declaration of Independence; where they drafted and signed the Constitution; and where, oddly enough, the new city's stray dogs were kept (in the basement). Independence Hall is located in the heart of the city's historic district and is an essential stop for anyone visiting the city's historic sites or hoping to learn about the founding of the United States.

Our Local Expert Says:

While you may have to wait in line a bit, this is the essential place for a Philadelphia visit to begin. Learn about Philadelphia history and see some of the most important sites of the colonial era.

Description:

Independence Hall, completed in 1753, is known to many as the birthplace of America. This building is where the nation's founders issued the Declaration of Independence; where they drafted and signed the Constitution; and where, oddly enough, the new city's stray dogs were kept (in the basement). Independence Hall is located in the heart of the city's historic district and is an essential stop for anyone visiting the city's historic sites or hoping to learn about the founding of the United States.

Our Local Expert Says:

Anyone touring important U.S. history locales should stop here, where Betsy Ross sewed the flag that became the official flag of the United States. The house small brick house is a relic of old Philadelphia; nearly all of the buildings around it were torn down and replaced by factories.

Description:

The Betsy Ross House in Old City is where Betsy supposedly sewed the flag that became the official flag of the United States. The building at the time housed several small businesses, and Betsy's descendants claimed that she (and perhaps others) also lived there. The building might have been torn down in the late nineteenth century, as most others on the block were, had it not been for the efforts of concerned citizens hoping to preserve some of America's history. Today, the small colonial house is an anomaly in a neighborhood of large factory and warehouse buildings, just a few blocks away from Independence National Historical Park.

Description:

Unlike many museums, the Liberty Museum addresses a current problem instead of documenting the past. Three floors of displays and multi-media presentations are intended to reflect America's roots in freedom and equality and how it can be used today to confront bigotry and hatred. Glass is the medium used in many of the works on display to reflect the delicate balance between freedom and persecution. The most notable piece of the art collection is "The Flame of Liberty," a 20-foot glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. See their website for further information.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Liberty Bell stands out as one of the most important symbols of American freedom. Its prime location in Independence National Historical Park makes it an easy stop on a tour of historic Philadelphia.

Description:

The Liberty Bell, located in Independence National Historical Park, rang in 1776 as a summons to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was to be read publicly. What started as a small crack became an irreparable chasm, and the Liberty Bell never rang out again. While the Bell initially symbolized America's independence from Britain, abolitionists adopted it in the mid-19th century as a symbol of freedom for all Americans, no matter their race. Today, it represents different things to different people, but it is inarguably one of the most important symbols of our nation, and well worth a visit.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on

Description:

Opened with tremendous fanfare in December 2001, Rafael Vinoly's dramatic glass-and-steel vault along the Avenue of the Arts encompasses Verizon Hall, a 2,500-seat cello-shaped concert hall built specifically to house the Philadelphia Orchestra; and Perelman Theater, a 650-seat hall for chamber music, dance, and drama with a turntable stage. Other features at Kimmel include an interactive education center; "black box" theater space; a daytime cafe and gift shop in the plaza along Spruce Street; and parking and restaurant facilities. Above all, there is space, acres and acres of it -- space designed to sparkle and amaze, unlike anything else in the area.

With its comfortable mahogany interior, four levels of seating, and excellent acoustics, Verizon Hall is a pleasure. Perelman's design is also nice, with a metal-clad exterior and light woods and warm fabrics within.

Most of the jewels in Philadelphia's cultural crown -- the city opera, orchestra, and ballet companies -- perform either at Kimmel or at the historic Academy of Music (which is affiliated with Kimmel and located 1 block north). Visiting talent in music and dance and an incredible jazz series presented by the Kimmel Center...

Description:

Devon Seafood Grill has a great menu, featuring fresh seafood, steaks and more. With options such as the Chef's Tasting Menu, a wide variety of starters and entrees; you'll be sure to be impressed. The restaurant also has a gluten-free menu. Pair your meal with a drink from their impressive wine list or have one of their creative cocktails. The restaurant has an chic, yet casual atmosphere with helpful and friendly service.

Description:

Eulogy Belgian Tavern is Philadelphia's Premier Beer & Dining Institution featuring 21 drafts & 300 different bottled beers. The food is award winning & noted for plump, juicy mussels in a variety of beer & other sauces, as well as the city's best hamburger made with seven secret spices & the only authentic double fried Flemish Belgian style fries found in Philadelphia. The restaurant is owned by a Belgian American family from Brugge Belgium & staffed with a few employees on visas from Belgium, two other attributes which make this the authentic Belgian experience. Rated as the fifth best beer restaurant in the United States by ratebeer.com & winner of numerous awards on citysearch.com with friendly & knowledgeable staff, Eulogy Belgian Tavern is a dining experience you must see to believe.For the more adventurous call for a seat in the "coffin room", a small room in the back of the second floor where the three tables are coffins. In high demand so call early.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is an excellent way to view the historic sites of old Philadelphia. Tour guides will lead you through the distinctive sites and beautiful cobblestone streets of Philadelphia's most historic neighborhood.

Description:

There's no better way to see historic Philadelphia than to see it from a horse-drawn carriage, operated by 76 Carriage Company. Drivers wait for passengers at 5th and Chestnut Streets, right by Independence National Historic Park, and offer tours of varying lengths. Carriage drivers are well versed in Philadelphia history. They'll take you down the cobblestone streets, of Society Hill, pointing out and explaining important historical sites as they go. The carriages operate year-round, with blankets to keep you warm in the winter.

Our Local Expert Says:

This square is one of the best places in the city for people-watching. Grab an outdoor table at one of the upscale bar/restaurants lining the Square, and you'll be set for hours. Jane Jacobs even cited this Square as one of the most successful urban green areas in her classic book, The Death of Life of Great American Cities.

Description:

Rittenhouse Square was one of five squares (only four of which exist) in William Penn's original plan for the city, and it has always been the busiest and most happening square. Jane Jacobs wrote about it in The Death and Life of Great American Cities as an example of a truly successful urban green space. There is hardly a time of day or night when Rittenhouse Square isn't packed with nine-to-fivers taking a lunch break, loungers reading a book or newspaper, people watchers, children, dogs, squirrels, and sometimes a juggler or acrobat. Fashionable restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and high-end hotels surround the Square; a visitor to Philadelphia will have much to look at and explore in and around the Square.

Our Local Expert Says:

Philadelphia is famous for its murals. Take an informative walking or trolley tour for a sampling of the city's nearly 3,000 murals.

Description:

Philadelphia may be the world's mural capital, with over 2500 outdoor and indoor murals, most of them done since 1989, when the city's Mural Arts Program began. Mayor Wilson Goode began the program, then called the Anti-Graffiti Network, as an effort to dissuade graffiti artist from tagging and instead encourage them to create murals that would beautify the city. The program took off in the ensuing years, and its artists have painted Philadelphia's walls into modern history. The Mural Arts Program offers trolley tours of different neighborhoods of the city and the murals that beautify those neighborhoods.

Tours and Prices:
Trolley tour: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays at 10 am. Prices are as follows: Adults - $25, Seniors - $23, Children (under10) - $15. There is a daily walking tour at 11:30 priced at $17.

Description:

Located on the ground floor of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this restaurant specializes in offering a 'tailor-made' menu to its visitors. Executive Chef Tracey Hopkins expertly presents 'exhibit-related' dishes for the restaurant's guests. So if you have already been to a Parisian exhibition on the first floor, you know which cuisine to expect downstairs. Moreover the restaurant also provides a regular American cuisine with some local specialties - try the 'inventive' seasonal soups and meaty crab cakes. Reservations are necessary, as the restaurant is always bustling with the 'museum crowd'.

Our Local Expert Says:

As one of the East Coast's premiere museums, the PMA is certainly worth a visit. Whether or not you have children with you, be sure to check out the vast collection of medieval armor.

Description:

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is notable for both its collection and its architecture. The museum's original home was a building in Fairmount Park, built in 1876 as part of the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia (the space is now home to the Please Touch Museum). The museum's current home was built in 1928. The grand staircase leading to the entrance offers a fantastic view of City Hall and the Ben Franklin Parkway. It also offers many tourists the chance to run up to the top in imitation of Rocky Balboa. The Museum's collection is extensive; highlights include Asian decorative arts, Rodin sculptures, Picasso and Duchamp paintings, and an extensive collection of medieval armor, which was donated to the Museum by Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch.

Description:

Big, full-bodied, balanced beers (brewed on the premises by the renowned Brandon Greenwood) served along with a dozen of the world's best beers, fine wines and a full-service bar. Savor the likes of venison stew, lemon sage roasted chicken, grilled salmon, vegetarian shepherds pie, or enjoy one of their unique, yummy sandwiches or burgers with fresh cut frites. Located above the Sansom Street Oyster House in Center City.

Description:

This finger-snapping hip café is nestled just around the corner from the Bellevue Hotel and just a few blocks walk from the Convention Center in Center City. It is a perfect stop for relaxing and enjoying live jazz six nights a week. Winner of two "Best of Philly" awards, this is a serious jazz club featuring serious talent-the place jazz musicians go to hear jazz. It also serves an outstanding dinner menu which includes crab cakes and grilled ahi tuna.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on

Description:

This Famous 4th Street Delicatessen has lived up to its moniker by remaining a staple of Philadelphia local cuisine since 1923. This deli is primarily known for traditional Jewish cold cuts and sandwiches like corned beef, roast beef, roasted turkey and brisket. Fish is also available, from lox to gefilte to whitefish. Finish your meal off with an award-winning chocolate chip cookie. Sometimes they give you a cookie as a treat when you're paying your bill. Delivery available. The cookies are also available in the Reading Terminal Market, 13th and Arch streets.

Our Local Expert Says:

There's never a shortage of sights at the Italian Market. Come here to buy meat, cheese, vegetables, and delicacies, or come just to observe the sounds and smells of the crowded marketplace. Don't leave without sampling some cheese at DiBruno's and a fine Italian dessert from Isgro's.

Description:

As the name suggests, this tour takes you through the stalls and shops of the oldest ethnic market - the Italian Market. Get acquainted with Italian cold cuts like Sopresseta and Prosciutto and sample Italian savories. Guests receive discount cards for shopping and authentic, traditional Italian recipes. Find cheeses, oils, and other imported items displayed in a riot of colors. Students and groups receive discounts. Reservations are necessary. Tour groups must have at least four people.

Description:

Geno's Steaks has been a key member of the famous Philadelphia Cheesesteak triad (Geno's, Pat's, Jim's) for as long as memory serves. A typical topic of conversation among Philadelphians is which one of these masters of the rib eye reigns supreme. Some say Geno's sandwiches are bigger but Pat's are better. Truth be told, any of the three do justice to the city's signature sandwich. Located across from arch-nemesis Pat's in South Philadelphia near the Italian Market. Outside seating only.

Description:

A trip to Turkey might be a stretch on your wallet and imagination; however getting to its cuisine certainly isn't. The Divan Turkish Kitchen in Philadelphia's General Hospital area invites you warmly into its Middle Eastern confines. Mellow lighting, pretty, hand-painted tiles and a casual atmosphere set you at ease, as does the varied menu. Kebobs, chops, calamari, soups and more feature in extensive list of veg and non-veg entrees and appetizers. Expect dashes of mint and yoghurt, a variety of red meat or eggplant dishes and a gamut of tastes and flavors.

Our Local Expert Says:

PAFA is the place to go to see the work of promising young artists.

Description:

In the 19th century, the Academy was the American equivalent of the best European art schools. A host of genres and mediums from the most prominent names in American art are constantly on display, with new pieces rotating their way into the collection. Some of America's best artists either taught or were students here, including Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassatt. The building itself is a work of art designed by Frank Furness, an influential 19th-century American architect.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on