Philadelphia/Center City

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Center City is in Philadelphia.

[edit] Get in

Center City is the "downtown" section of Philadelphia. It is bounded by South Street to the south, the Delaware River to the east, the Schuylkill River to the west, and Vine Street to the north. The 2005 Center City population, at approximately 90,000, makes it one of the more populated central business districts in the United States.

The Market East Station is an underground station that is located on Market Street between 9th and 12th Streets. It is one of three core Center City stations on the SEPTA Regional Rail system. There are several entrances, but the main one is on 12th & Filbert Street.

[edit] See

• Chinatown extends from approximately 8th Street to 11th Street east-west, and Vine Street to Market Street north-south. Despite the name, Philadelphia's Chinatown has a variety of Asian ethnicities and has recently become one of the most popular neighborhoods for young people. The streets of are dominated by homes, restaurants, and boutique stores. Chinatown's symbol is its "Friendship Arch", an ornate paifang in the heart of the neighborhood. Though it is commonly found in many North American Chinatowns, the Arch Street incarnation is more elaborately rendered than most.
• The Fitler Square neighborhood has some good restaurants and pretty tree-lined streets. The charming 2400 block of Panama, supposedly, has been re-created on a Hollywood lot for the show "Cold Case." Fitler Square itself doesn't show up on MapQuest, but it's at 23rd and Pine. A Saturday morning farmers' market runs spring-fall.
• Society Hill A posh residential area south of Old City. Other than the stately row-houses and gleaming condominiums, there are some quality drinking and dining establishments, two of the artsy Ritz movie theaters, and a seasonally open market.
• Washington Square is composed of several distinct neighborhoods and is convenient to America's most historic square mile. Washington Square West is a lively neighborhood, while east of the park is a bit more sedate. Antique Row, Pine Street between about 13th and 9th Streets, is full of interesting shops, not all of them antiques-oriented. Washington Square itself is worth a visit to see the tomb of the unknown Revolutionary War soldier. This neighborhood is a good place to see Philadelphia's native style of house, the "trinity" -- two, three, or four floors, one room per floor, connected by spiral stairs. The small streets above Pine, such as Quince Street, are lined with trinities. WalkPhiladelphia offers several interesting tours of Wash West.
• The Gayborhood is Philadelphia's gay-friendly area overlapping the officially designated Washington Square West neighborhood. The Gayborhood is most strongly associated with 12th and 13th streets, especially from Pine in the south to Walnut in the north, but spills out to the surrounding areas. Most straight-owned Gayborhood businesses, are friendly to queer and straight alike regardless of orientation.
• The Philadelphia City Hall is unofficially the center of Center City at Broad and Market Street. The building is topped by a 36 feet, 4 inches, bronze statue of William Penn. Under a gentleman's agreement, City Hall remained the tallest building in the city until 1987.
• Penn's Landing is the waterfront area popular all year-round with an ice skating rink, concerts, and various city events. There are also many restaurants, hotels, and even a museum. Penn's Landing
• Old City is filled with art galleries, restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges. It is between Front and Fourth Streets to the east and west, and generally bounded by Race Street to the north and Walnut Street to the south. Old City is easily where Philadelphia goes to party.

[edit] Do

[edit] Parks

• Fairmount Park is Philadelphia's park system consisting of 63 regional and neighborhood parks. When you want to get away from the city's hustle and bustle, there is always somewhere green to go.
• Rittenhouse Square Rittenhouse Square is as close to a central park as one can get in Philadelphia. Only 4 blocks west of Broad St and the main business areas, it is an oasis in the heart of the city. It is surrounded by tall buildings, and there are many nice restaurants in the area. Summer concert schedules are listed in the park.
• Schuylkill River Park. The newest of the city's parks, but already becoming one of the most popular. For a century, Philadelphia's waterfronts were cut off from its residents by industry and an extensive system of railroads. Now gone for decades, the waterfront is a kaleidoscope of residential development, recreation, and good living. Center City's ongoing Renaissance is being charged by new amenities such as this urban river-side park, which carves its way deep into the city, culminating in South Philly.

[edit] Arts

• Philadelphia Museum of Art. Regular special exhibitions, and an impressive permanent collection that's especially strong in Asian and medieval art, impressionist paintings, and furniture. The museum sits on a hill overlooking the Schuylkill River at the end of The Ben Franklin Parkway, which was modeled after the Champs Elysees in Paris. There's an impressive view back toward City Hall from the top of the "Rocky steps."
• Rodin Museum. Displays the largest collection of Rodin's work outside of Paris.
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. A school that has had an impressive roster of artist alumni in the past 200 years, including some of the best-known names in American art. Its museum shows works from past and present PAFA students and faculty, as well as regular special exhibits.
• Barnes Foundation. A few miles outside Center City, a few hundred people a week get to see a one-of-a-kind collection of art ranging from the primitive to the post-Impressionist, arranged together in a mansion in the middle of a 12-acre arboretum. Many works here, although by famous artists, have almost never been exhibited elsewhere. The Foundation is only open to the public 3 days a week, and advance reservations are required. Depending on the time of year, reservations can fill up weeks or months in advance.
• The Avenue of the Arts is on Broad Street containing many of the city's cultural institutions, especially the theater and arts area south of City Hall. The Avenue is a becoming more residential, but the main attractions include the Kimmel Center, Merriam Theatre, and the Academy of Music.
• First Fridays is a monthly open house for galleries in Old City on the first Friday evening. This event attracts a diverse crowd who appreciates art and people-watching. First Friday involves the neighborhood’s 40-plus galleries, most of them open from 5 until 9 p.m.

[edit] Buy

• Walnut Street starts near Rittenhouse Square (at 18th St) and extends eastward to Broad St. It is known as an upscale shopping district featuring a variety of world class shopping and dining destinations.
• Giovanni's Room an LGBT bookstore. [1]
• The Shops at Liberty Place, on 16th and Chestnut, is an elegant shopping center with stores like Nine West, J.Crew, and Express. Many professionals stop by to get a bite to eat at its large food court and some quick shopping during the lunch hour. [2]

[edit] Eat

There are many restaurants throughout Center City and a listing on this page would hardly do justice to their variety. However, here are some favorites from the maintainers of this page:

• Scoop DeVille - a wonderful ice cream and sweets shop at the corner of 18th and Chestnut.
• Mama Palma's - Gourmet pizza prepared in wood-burning ovens with great beer at 23rd and Pine.
• Ocean Harbor - a popular place to grab dimsum during the lunch hours on the weekends with the local Asian community. Located on Race Street between 10th and 11th. [3]
• Reading Terminal Market - America's oldest farmer's market on 12th and Arch with virtually every type of cuisine present. Be sure to make some time to stroll around and sample as much as you can. [4]
• Capogiro Gelato Artisans - Om 13th and Samson, the gelato here is the best. With more than 25 flavors of gelato and sorbet made fresh every day, you might ignore their delicious soups and sandwiches. [5]

[edit] Drink

• Woody's - a gay bar with 3 different rooms to satisfy everyone. [6]
• Sisters - a lesbian bar. [7]
• Monks - one of the largest beer varieties in the area, especially Belgian beer. with the right food to go with it. [8]
• Denim - one of Center City's most popular lounge with great DJs and a fashionable crowd. [9]

[edit] Sleep

• Bank Street Hostel - hostel. [10]
• Hilton Garden Inn - budget. [11]
• The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia - luxury. [12]
• Hotel Sofitel - romantic. [13]