Philly art highlights

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:

If you're not going to a show here, the site is at least worth a walk-by. Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar, whose mosaics can be found on walls throughout the city (particularly around South Street), made the exterior of this building as noteworthy as the events that go on within.

Description:

The outside of the building indicates that patrons are in for a unique experience – and (thankfully) the inside lives up to the expectation. This visual art and live performance gallery has long been a revered institution for those looking to avoid the mainstream, and hosts the city's longest continually running Jazz series. Free admission to the gallery is available Tuesday through Saturday. Live performances inside the center's 250 seat theatre take place at various times.

Description:

Come by if you want to know more about one of the lesser exhibited arts. This non-profit organization aims at giving print art its due. Have a look at contemporary work in print and photography since 1915 on display. Various events take place throughout the year, and one worth the visit is the Annual International Competition: Photography. You can also purchase artwork from the store located at the gallery. With the work of 90 artists on sale - including artists, such as Art Spiegelman, Katja Oxman, Katja Oxman – you are sure to find something that appeals to you.

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:

A sophisticated and contemporary BYO, just off Rittenhouse Square, Matyson offers New American cuisine in a casual setting. Innovative weekly tasting menus spotlight Matt and Sonjia Spector's creativity of fresh, local ingredients.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fergie is perhaps the most well-known Philly bar owner, with a hand in several popular bars downtown. Fergie's places are known for their great beer selection and fine pub-style food.

Description:

Nestled in the heart of Center City, Fergie's Pub is home to all the best of a real Irish pub: warm, friendly atmosphere and creamy Guinness on tap. Recently voted the Best Neighborhood Bar in Philadelphia, Fergie's is a great place to unwind with friends. The traditional Irish menu includes favorites such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and burgers. Tuesday and Thursday nights showcase the local favorite Quizo game, a trivia contest. A variety of live music can be heard here Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at no charge. Close proximity to the Convention Center and the Marriott.

Description:

The Ancestry Inn Homestay, is a private home nestled at the end of Historic Germantown with cobble stone street, only20 minutes by train to center city 1 block away.The Ancestry Inn features accommodations of the Victorian era, rooms are charmed with an unique elegance. The main level has a spacious romantic parlor with crystal chandler and fire place that's great for reading, chatting or just for quite thinking. The upper level houses four breath taking suites. The RoseWood, The Ancestry, The Country Willows and The Ravenell Suite. MORE THAN INTRIGUE AND NURTURING IS THE WARM HOSPITALITY PROVIDED BY YOUR HOST KENNETH & CYNTHIA.

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Description:

The Awbury Arboretum is 55 acres of horticultural mastery located in the historic Germantown district of Philadelphia. Wildflowers, ferns, serene fields and woodlands combine to create a formal garden along Victorian standards. The land was purchased in 1852 by the wealthy Cope family as a summer home; it became an arboretum in 1916. Programs for inner-city children and guided nature walks are also available. Admission to the park is free.

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:

Jack's Firehouse offers Jack McDavid's nationally renowned cuisine serving fish, meats, seafood and vegetarian dishes, a spirited bar with Philadelphia's finest Bourbon collection, 60 bottle Wine List, 15 different beers, private rooms or casual elegance in the 120 Year Old Fire House setting. It's a perfect choice for taking out an important client, favorite relative or special someone.

Our Local Expert Says:

In his lifetime, Albert C. Barnes gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of art in the world. What is most notable about this museum is the way Barnes arranged paintings and decorative pieces to highlight the forms and colors within the paintings.

Description:

The Barnes Foundation is a remarkable museum that reflects the genius of its founder, Albert C. Barnes. Barnes began displaying his collection in 1922 in order to "promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts." The collection was meant to instruct, with paintings and decorative arts strategically grouped to enhance viewers' understanding of what Barnes believed to be the most important elements of the pieces. The collection focuses on Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, with an impressive number of holdings by Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Cezanne, and others. The audio guide to the collection is quite useful, as the narration explains important pieces and the rationale behind Barnes' groupings of pieces.

Description:

Decked out in shades of amber, gold, and light-brown leather, with richly textured fabrics on the cozy booths, this 20-year-old fine-dining spot is Manayunk's upscale destination for dinner or brunch. Owner Bruce Cooper is famous for his crab cakes and wonderful spring roll and tuna tartare appetizers. Meats and dishes are inventive and perfectly prepared. Jake's Sunday brunch omelet is a voluptuous beauty, with asparagus and home fries. In 2008, the restaurant annexed the spot next door and opened Cooper's Brick Oven Wine Bar (tel. 215/483-2750), serving lunch, dinner, and a late-night menu of gourmet -- pear, hazelnut, and Roquefort; Benton's ham and egg; margherita -- thin-crust pizzas, salads, small plates, and vino.

Description:

The Grape Street Pub is a mandatory stop for live music when in the Manayunk district. Rock, alternative, jazz, and fusion bands play six nights a week. Typically, the nightly lineups include three bands from the local and regional music scene. There is a cramped bar and stage in the front, with more room (and air) in the back. Seventy-five brands of imported and domestic beers are served along with appetizers and sandwiches all at reasonable prices.

Description:

"Best tiny romantic restaurant" - Philadelphia Magazine "at F.F.S. the focus is on intimate conversation & splendid food" - Philadelphia Weekly "still satisfying after all these years" - Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer Wine lovers: Every bottle of wine just a notch over cost.

Description:

This brew pub with a dimly lit interior, dark wood tables, and antique-style collectables hanging on the walls makes for a cozy atmosphere. But if you're looking for a bottle of one of those well-known beers, you'll have to go elsewhere. This neighborhood bar only serves local microbrews on draft such as the Slyfox Pikeland Pils or the Victory Hope Devil either of which goes perfectly with the Standard Tap Burger. Weekend brunch is popular with entrees such as the ham & cheddar omelet or French Toast with raspberry puree. The first Saturday Brunch of the month features something for the whole family. Parents can relax while children are entertained with the live music in the upstairs bar. -Dawn Harvey

Description:

Silk City is actually two places joined together. The diner was built by the Silk City company in the 1930s. On the other side of the entrance is the lounge. It opens around 5pm for happy hour, and after 7pm there are DJ parties and the occasional live performance. Latin, hip-hop, 80s, disco; call for schedule. The diner stays open all night on Fridays and Saturdays. Try the grilled cheese, the catfish fingers, the meatloaf, or the pie. Or stay up for an early breakfast of huevos rancheros or eggs and scrapple.