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Things to do in Philadelphia

I have an interview in Philadelphia next month and will be staying in City Center. Any recommendations for places to eat or things to do? Areas to avoid?

by Anonymousreply 146July 9, 2025 1:18 PM

The Liberty Bell ... the cream cheese.

by Anonymousreply 1June 17, 2025 5:37 PM

I was there last month for work. We ate at a very cool place called Butcher and Singer. You should also check out Franklin Institute, Museum of Art. A couple of us also went to U Bar, which was a lot of fun.

by Anonymousreply 2June 17, 2025 5:38 PM

The Barnes Collection. It's superb.

by Anonymousreply 3June 17, 2025 10:51 PM

It's Center City, OP. Do NOT call it "City Center," you will be laughed at.

by Anonymousreply 4June 17, 2025 10:52 PM

Re: places to avoid, you're not going to see the areas that Fox News call a warzone unless you are specifically seeking them out. Kensington and the worst areas of North Philly are pretty far from Center City. Don't believe the hysteria. All of Center City and the ring of neighborhoods surrounding it are as safe as any other American city. It's doubtful you would venture outside that area for any reason so you have nothing to worry about. Have fun.

by Anonymousreply 5June 17, 2025 10:56 PM

Irvin’s on top of BOK

Eastern State Penitentiary - amazing and unique

Philadelphia Museum of Arts - as good as the Metropolitan

Hers Supper Club

Philadelphia Orchestra it’s easy to get tickets and it’s one of the top five orchestras in the world ,Yannick the gay conductor is a hoot.

by Anonymousreply 6June 17, 2025 10:59 PM

Go see a Phillies game. We have one of the best ballparks in the country and, currently, one of the best teams.

by Anonymousreply 7June 17, 2025 11:11 PM

Reading Terminal Market

by Anonymousreply 8June 17, 2025 11:13 PM

Spend an evening enjoying the popper-scented air of Philadelphia's finest "gentlemen's club", Club Philly

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by Anonymousreply 9June 17, 2025 11:17 PM

What R3 said. The Barnes is unlike any other museum in the world. Go see that, then walk to Reading Terminal for food.

by Anonymousreply 10June 17, 2025 11:19 PM

The Barnes is on the Parkway along with the Art Museum (what locals call the PMA), and the walk to Reading Terminal will take you right by City Hall, which is an architectural marvel up close. Push the button at the cross walk (it's surrounded on all sides by a constant loop of heavy traffic) and trek through the courtyard to the other side. The Parkway itself is also a beautiful walk.

From RTM you're less than a mile from the Liberty Bell/Indy Hall so you might as well head to 6th and Chestnut Sts to gawk at the real touristy stuff.

by Anonymousreply 11June 17, 2025 11:28 PM

Fuhgetabout the Liberty Bell - not worth it.

Hang around Rittenhouse Square, the Curtis Institute and the Equinox Gym. Some fine male specimen to behold. also on Penn Campus. The Penn Museum actually very interesting and under appreciated.

by Anonymousreply 12June 18, 2025 12:24 AM

K&A!

by Anonymousreply 13June 18, 2025 12:35 AM

The Mutter Museum The Fabric Workshop and Museum Federal Donuts South Street-Adjacent (Cute shops right off South Street) Tallulah's Garden Restaurant

by Anonymousreply 14June 18, 2025 1:08 AM

You guys never fail me. Thank you for the great suggestions. Do you know of any great Thai or Japanese restaurants?

by Anonymousreply 15June 18, 2025 1:44 AM

r15 Yelp

by Anonymousreply 16June 18, 2025 1:46 AM

See the body of Saint John Neumam the first American Saint in his glass coffin under the altar at his shrine. They waxed his bones over so he looks like a wax dummy. Also at the bathhouse you might see a lot of young black hustlers like I did. I didn't know the body language and lingo when I was there so it took me a while to figure out they were prostitutes. The Betsy Ross house is a lot more interesting than you would think. Despite what the non binary park ranger says she was not a lesbian.

by Anonymousreply 17June 18, 2025 2:23 AM

The restaurants around rittenhouse square are always good.

by Anonymousreply 18June 18, 2025 2:39 AM

r15, Chinatown is in Center City. You can walk from the Barnes Museum to City Hall to Chinatown to Reading Terminal. I don't think there's a lot of Japanese food there - more Chinese and other southeast Asian places.

Morimoto isn't in Chinatown, but it's not terribly far, if you're going to the Liberty Bell and all those places. It's good (not great) Japanese.

I go most often to places near - and south of - Washington Avenue. It's not Thai or Japanese, but Le Viet on 11th has the best Asian dish in all of Philly: a baby clam and ground beef mix served in a rice bowl that you break apart to scoop up the clams and beef. There's also great Asian restaurants in Fishtown.

by Anonymousreply 19June 18, 2025 11:04 AM

You can do all of the above while singing the theme to Angie.

by Anonymousreply 20June 19, 2025 10:59 AM

Leave. ASAP.

by Anonymousreply 21June 19, 2025 11:26 AM

Yeah, the best part of my interview and overnight stay in central Philadelphia was stress-eating a cheeseburger at the airport on the way home.

by Anonymousreply 22June 19, 2025 12:18 PM

Philadelphia Museum of Arts - as good as the Metropolitan

Tee hee hee 🤓

by Anonymousreply 23June 19, 2025 12:24 PM

We have the Rocky steps and a lot less colonial looted art than the Met.

by Anonymousreply 24June 19, 2025 12:26 PM

“We have one of the best ballparks in the country.”

There are only 30 and your park is perennially ranked at the lower end. You’re lucky the A’s are playing in Sacto right now. Pirates fans are laughing hysterically… and then there’s LA, SF, Boston and so many more.

by Anonymousreply 25June 19, 2025 12:30 PM

my nephew, yeah, go ahead and laugh, just visited with his friend and they had a great time in under 48 hours. first night, I took them out to dinner in the Italian market region and we played pool at a dive bar. they wandered my area late at night looking for spots where "always sunny " has been filmed. Next day they got breakfast at Morning Glory diner, and watched a FIFA cup game at the Lincoln, very straight but they loved it. they got sandwiches from RIcci's. they also went to McGilin's tavern (one of the oldest in the US) and I met them after that at franklin mortgage speak-easy for cocktails, which they loved and called, "very chill". we topped off the night at Dirty Frank's bar where my nephew got in a bro-fest argument with a patron about soccer, of course. I finally dragged them back home around midnight and they just drove off home to chicago just now

by Anonymousreply 26June 19, 2025 12:31 PM

When I think about Philadelphia pro sports venues it’s always snowballs with rocks in them and D batteries flying around.

by Anonymousreply 27June 19, 2025 12:32 PM

^Santa?^

by Anonymousreply 28June 19, 2025 12:34 PM

And riots! Don’t forget the victory riots.

by Anonymousreply 29June 19, 2025 12:34 PM

And Camac is going back to wood!

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by Anonymousreply 30June 19, 2025 12:37 PM

Progress! Philly-style.

by Anonymousreply 31June 19, 2025 12:46 PM

thank GOD

by Anonymousreply 32June 19, 2025 2:50 PM

Eat cream cheese.

by Anonymousreply 33June 19, 2025 2:52 PM

[quote] Areas to avoid?

Avoid Philadelphia.

by Anonymousreply 34June 19, 2025 3:16 PM

Philly is insanely dangerous now. For some reason people are willing to spend half a mil on a row home. Go figure.

by Anonymousreply 35June 19, 2025 3:18 PM

The Lord Estate

by Anonymousreply 36June 19, 2025 3:19 PM

Go to the Rosenbach and ask to see the Ulysses manuscript.

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by Anonymousreply 37June 19, 2025 3:20 PM

Where is the best cheesesteak in town?

by Anonymousreply 38June 19, 2025 4:25 PM

John’s roast pork but everybody has a favorite place

by Anonymousreply 39June 19, 2025 4:36 PM

R37 or go to Dublin and see it all?

Which is better🤔

by Anonymousreply 40June 19, 2025 4:37 PM

Head over to Kensington Avenue to watch the free live show reenactment of The Walking Dead

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by Anonymousreply 41June 19, 2025 4:44 PM

You’re too cheap F off

by Anonymousreply 42June 19, 2025 4:51 PM

No response from Phillywhore?

by Anonymousreply 43June 19, 2025 4:58 PM

Is the Adonis on Sansom street still open?

by Anonymousreply 44June 19, 2025 5:05 PM

R43 philyshore is a cipher who b-s’s his way here.

by Anonymousreply 45June 19, 2025 5:18 PM

The only proper S Street is ye old gay SansomE street

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by Anonymousreply 46June 19, 2025 5:21 PM

Adonis is closed. Pretty sure there are still some DISGUSTING places on Samson where you can watch porn in the “privacy”‘of a closed booth.

by Anonymousreply 47June 19, 2025 5:41 PM

Zzzz it’s always sleepy in Philadelphia

by Anonymousreply 48June 19, 2025 5:49 PM

danny's is still open, I think. so is the baths on chancellor

by Anonymousreply 49June 19, 2025 6:12 PM

Danny’s doesn’t have a theater though. Or play space.

by Anonymousreply 50June 19, 2025 6:14 PM

Philly is not insanely dangerous. I used to visit and hate it but it's gotten amazing over the years. Great neighborhoods and restaurants. The "bad" neighborhoods will never be seen by an average visitor. No wonder people are spending more and more money to live there. It's a great alternative to NYC....lots of culture but not nicer and less frenetic.

by Anonymousreply 51June 19, 2025 6:33 PM

oop I meant ...nicer and less frenetic. Great museums that rival NYC as well. And beautiful cobblestoned streets that put you back in time 200 years. I really like it.

by Anonymousreply 52June 19, 2025 6:35 PM

I love Philly. It still has a scruffy working class vibe. It hasn't been gentrified to death yet. You have to appreciate it for that.

by Anonymousreply 53June 19, 2025 6:36 PM

This thread is full of New York Queens who live in a 250 square feet studio in Hells Kitchen, step on water bugs every night, need to subside on Ramen and McDonals and somehow think they are the center of the world.

by Anonymousreply 54June 19, 2025 7:26 PM

a friend from slovakia, don't laugh, is in town today. he and his niece went to the Barnes, then the Mütter museums. they are now at pat or geno's to get a "steak" and I will meet them at the triangle tavern for a libation in this heat

by Anonymousreply 55June 19, 2025 8:01 PM

Nothing like the Mutter to give you an appetite for steak?

by Anonymousreply 56June 19, 2025 8:23 PM

Right? I joked with them about it

by Anonymousreply 57June 19, 2025 8:29 PM

I know we are not supposed to, but I love both pats and Gino’s.

They taste exactly this same with the cheesesteaks. But Gino’s has better fries.

Pretty fucking hot day, though to be sitting outside shoveling that food down your throat in this heat

by Anonymousreply 58June 19, 2025 8:44 PM

Evacuating to your basement because of tornadoes?

by Anonymousreply 59June 19, 2025 9:12 PM

Child#1 and #2 just left their wine cellars in Chester County.

They sent me their LOVE!!

by Anonymousreply 60June 19, 2025 9:24 PM

The Snoopywhore Travel Promotion Bureau workin’ up a sweat today.

Work harder 😎

by Anonymousreply 61June 19, 2025 9:34 PM

I just drove from Chester County through Delco. That was a nutso storm!

by Anonymousreply 62June 19, 2025 9:35 PM

They told me the same thing, plus the dogs wouldn't come into the thunder started.

by Anonymousreply 63June 19, 2025 9:43 PM

Storm is bad in New York too. The rich old heavily made up ladies with their frou frou dogs are freaking out.

by Anonymousreply 64June 19, 2025 10:15 PM

r62, it just hit philly like a derecho. geez!

by Anonymousreply 65June 19, 2025 10:27 PM

What’s the Fabric Workshop , R14?

by Anonymousreply 66June 19, 2025 10:35 PM

they send their love, r63, you send your money (i hope - let them retire early!)

by Anonymousreply 67June 19, 2025 10:46 PM

I’m in Bucks County, I swear I just saw a cow fly by.

by Anonymousreply 68June 19, 2025 10:51 PM

Kid hit by lightning in Central Park.

by Anonymousreply 69June 19, 2025 10:53 PM

And just like that, Miranda was free of the burdens of motherhood.

by Anonymousreply 70June 19, 2025 10:55 PM

Did Carmen, who owned Carmen’s Cuntry Kitchen (correct spelling) ever open a new place? I always liked going there for at least one meal when I visited Philadelphia.

I second the Barnes Collection. A friend always liked going to Longwood Gardens in Chester County. If you’re into flowers and plants, it’s a must. But you’ll need a car.

Foodwise, any of the Vetri restaurants are good, even though Marc Vetri sold all of them except the one that bears his name, Vetri (very expensive). The pizzerias are quite good and obviously less expensive.

by Anonymousreply 71June 19, 2025 10:58 PM

Is this now a weather thread because we ran out of things to do in Philly?

by Anonymousreply 72June 19, 2025 10:58 PM

The pizzeria in the Divine Lorraine is good.

by Anonymousreply 73June 19, 2025 10:58 PM

I misread OP’s title as Reasons to Avoid Philadelphia

by Anonymousreply 74June 19, 2025 10:59 PM

I'm planning a trip to Philadelphia in November. However I'm finding airline tickets into New York are insanely cheaper to Philadelphia not to mention easier to find a direct flight. I'm thinking of just flying into New York so I can visit a friend there and then taking a bus or train down to Philadelphia. Is that practical? But it sure seems like it looking at it but sometimes in practice these things I concoct in my head turn out to be really stupid ideas later.

by Anonymousreply 75June 19, 2025 11:00 PM

Years ago I used to take a bus from Chinatown

by Anonymousreply 76June 19, 2025 11:01 PM

R75, you don't mention which airport, but from Penn Station to 30th St. Station is ~60-90 minutes, depending on if you catch the Acela. I'm not sure what the commute from airport to Penn is like but I imagine it's doable.

by Anonymousreply 77June 19, 2025 11:06 PM

RR75 it is very practical. Also, insane. You are better off wandering Manhattan with a bright rolling bag….

by Anonymousreply 78June 19, 2025 11:35 PM

R79 no need to take the Acela, NE Regional much cheaper and not more than 90 min.

by Anonymousreply 79June 19, 2025 11:37 PM

New York is a suburb of Philly.

by Anonymousreply 80June 19, 2025 11:37 PM

R77 yes, of course. Fly to EWR. Take the train to Penn Station. Then take Acela to Phila. 🤣

by Anonymousreply 81June 19, 2025 11:38 PM

80 is pretty bad at trolling…

by Anonymousreply 82June 19, 2025 11:40 PM

So they finally towed that big death-ship away?

by Anonymousreply 83June 19, 2025 11:50 PM

R81? I was replying to R75. No one mentioned EWR, but R75 asked if flying to New York and taking the train to Philly was doable, so I'm not really sure what your point is.

by Anonymousreply 84June 19, 2025 11:52 PM

You’ll get it, eventually.

One hopes.

by Anonymousreply 85June 19, 2025 11:56 PM

This is hokey but I get all excited when I see Amish people in Philadelphia. Something about seeing them in a city. I get scared for them.

by Anonymousreply 86June 19, 2025 11:59 PM

Hokey? There’s a few other choice words

by Anonymousreply 87June 20, 2025 12:12 AM

The Amish are increasingly in construction trades in the burbs. They have those dorky haircuts, but they look like they have big arms and legs.

by Anonymousreply 88June 20, 2025 12:24 AM

The Amish are all over Philly and I wouldn't worry about them. They look out for each other and they seem pretty street smart. They're not yokels, and they do business in the city regularly. Saw one at a Phillies game once.

by Anonymousreply 89June 20, 2025 12:28 AM

And big dicks. Are they are uncut?

by Anonymousreply 90June 20, 2025 12:28 AM

The woman who was hired to oversee the Mutter museum was trying to shut it down due to colonialism and racism. They finally booted her last year.

by Anonymousreply 91June 20, 2025 12:32 AM

A few months ago a kid on a bike was jumped and shot 40 times in the face in the middle of the street. There’s a video. They still haven’t solved it.

by Anonymousreply 92June 20, 2025 12:33 AM

Philly is as steamy and boiling hot in the summer as Mama's mussy. Stay indoors.

by Anonymousreply 93June 20, 2025 12:43 AM

And unless you're into the smell of stale piss, stay out of the subways during those same boiling, steamy hot summer months.

by Anonymousreply 94June 20, 2025 12:51 AM

Philly Mussy— stay away!

by Anonymousreply 95June 20, 2025 12:51 AM

Glad to help, OP.

There are many great places to eat in NYC and you can take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the sites.

It's all only a short trip from the hideous Philadelphia!

by Anonymousreply 96June 20, 2025 12:59 AM

you can take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry and instantly return to Manhattan, without a step.

FIFY

by Anonymousreply 97June 20, 2025 1:04 AM

The Philly subway is scary. Don’t use it.

by Anonymousreply 98June 20, 2025 1:05 AM

When I was there for work last year I was really surprised to find that Woody’s seems to have been taken over by straight people.

by Anonymousreply 99June 20, 2025 1:12 AM

Woody’s on Sepúlveda in El Segundo was legendary

by Anonymousreply 100June 20, 2025 1:13 AM

Woody's morphed into a gay-themed straight bar about 10 years ago. It's been over for a long while.

by Anonymousreply 101June 20, 2025 11:51 AM

The New York queens in this thread are so insecure. It's hilarious.

by Anonymousreply 102June 20, 2025 11:52 AM

R71, nope, she hung up her apron and called it quits. No place has ever equaled hers

by Anonymousreply 103June 20, 2025 12:11 PM

Nah, they just have a decent sense of humor.

by Anonymousreply 104June 20, 2025 12:11 PM

R102, NYC queens find Philly depressing. Although what is depressing is that they can’t afford NYC and their lives are going nowhere there.

by Anonymousreply 105June 20, 2025 12:28 PM

The one bright spot: they’re not in Pennsylvania!

by Anonymousreply 106June 20, 2025 12:38 PM

22 out of 106 posts are from one fixated New Yorker. It's hilarious. What a loser.

by Anonymousreply 107June 20, 2025 12:43 PM

We shit on Philly gays too!

by Anonymousreply 108June 20, 2025 12:50 PM

They do. Philly don’t care

by Anonymousreply 109June 20, 2025 1:14 PM

R97, nothing is fixed when the basic rules of English are ignored.

Oh, dear.

by Anonymousreply 110June 20, 2025 1:33 PM

R97 is our fixated New Yorker. She's a bit "touched."

by Anonymousreply 111June 20, 2025 1:39 PM

I find Philly and New York City depressing. So there’s that.

by Anonymousreply 112June 20, 2025 1:43 PM

Good. We don’t want you in Philly anyway.

Enjoy Wilkes Barre!

by Anonymousreply 113June 20, 2025 2:02 PM

R97, blocked her long ago

by Anonymousreply 114June 20, 2025 2:23 PM

For the haters. You fools will never understand us, and clearly you will never get how much your hatred of us powers us, gives us life, and keep us going. Every insult gives us a boost. Every slur makes us double down. KEEP IT COMING!! NO ONE LIKES US AND WE DON'T CARE!!

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by Anonymousreply 115June 20, 2025 2:29 PM

Even YouTube doesn’t like you, r115

by Anonymousreply 116June 20, 2025 2:31 PM

Kelce is our spirit animal for sure

by Anonymousreply 117June 20, 2025 6:37 PM

Try and catch the concrete cowboys in action

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by Anonymousreply 118June 23, 2025 5:25 PM

They are great, but not today, it’s hotter than a little red wagon today

by Anonymousreply 119June 23, 2025 5:34 PM

Things to do: KEEP YO TRASH INDOORS NOW!!!!

by Anonymousreply 120July 2, 2025 1:08 AM

YOOOOOHHHH: Sprint up a bunch of stairs!

by Anonymousreply 121July 2, 2025 1:37 AM

NO POOLS, NO TRASH PICK UP!! BUT THE FUCKING MAYOR IS A TURD!

by Anonymousreply 122July 2, 2025 1:43 AM

Fuck the stupid MAYOR

by Anonymousreply 123July 2, 2025 11:50 AM

R101 What makes a straight bar gay themed? Lol.

by Anonymousreply 124July 2, 2025 12:06 PM

reputation

by Anonymousreply 125July 2, 2025 12:39 PM

Made a brief stop in Philly last week on the way home from Cape May, NJ and had an amazing dinner at Vedge, the fancy vegan restaurant. Better than the comparable ABCV in New York.

Also had some very tasty Georgian food for lunch at Reading Terminal Market, some rare Belgian and New England-style beers at Monk’s, and really good ice cream at Weckerly’s. Philly is always tasty!

by Anonymousreply 126July 2, 2025 1:23 PM

You can help us drop off our garbage at the local landfills, since the city workers are on strike.

by Anonymousreply 127July 2, 2025 1:58 PM

what if I don't hav e a car, like a third of the city doesn't?

by Anonymousreply 128July 2, 2025 2:11 PM

[quote] Fuck the stupid MAYOR

In fairness, this statement is true of every city, town and conurbation on Earth.

by Anonymousreply 129July 3, 2025 12:32 PM

R126, Charlie was a Sinner is also a good vegetarian place.

by Anonymousreply 130July 3, 2025 12:46 PM

Piles of trash in front of it now

by Anonymousreply 131July 3, 2025 1:06 PM

It’s a Vegan place, so at least no rotten fish smell - the worst!

by Anonymousreply 132July 3, 2025 1:08 PM

No garbage pickup in Philly? How can you tell the difference?

by Anonymousreply 133July 3, 2025 1:16 PM

you can tell

by Anonymousreply 134July 3, 2025 1:57 PM

Just in time for the long hot summer 🥵🥵

by Anonymousreply 135July 3, 2025 6:45 PM

Go jogging along the Schuylkill. Lots of hotties there.

by Anonymousreply 136July 3, 2025 6:52 PM

Vegan and vegetarian food --gross.

by Anonymousreply 137July 3, 2025 7:16 PM

there is plenty of food for carnivores, you imbecile

by Anonymousreply 138July 3, 2025 7:26 PM

At least my IQ is higher than 138.

by Anonymousreply 139July 3, 2025 7:32 PM

Trash and fireworks tomorrow

by Anonymousreply 140July 4, 2025 1:30 AM

One of my favourite TikTokkers is Bran Flakezz from Philadelphia. He’s a cheerful, rotund gay who reviews a lot of restaurants.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 141July 4, 2025 3:30 PM

big old poser queen but he does some good reviews. I've seen him twice at little gay pub recently

by Anonymousreply 142July 4, 2025 3:54 PM

R137/R139 is an example of the type of troll who stinks up a thread with idiotic post after post that is of zero value to the thread and zero relevance to the OP. Blocked.

by Anonymousreply 143July 8, 2025 3:17 PM

Lots of trash

by Anonymousreply 144July 9, 2025 12:22 PM

They settled the strike last night.

by Anonymousreply 145July 9, 2025 12:24 PM

unsatisfactorily

by Anonymousreply 146July 9, 2025 1:18 PM
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