(ot) Philly things to do downtown?

[bolen]

I will be in downtown Philadelphia this week at a meeting. Could someone recommend a good place to eat or something fun that I could do if I wanted to skip out of the meeting for an hour or so.

 

[Mallus]

If you don't mind me asking, where are you staying {Center City?} and what's your idea of "fun"?

For starters, you can't go wrong w/lunch at Reading Terminal Market or at one of the fancier resturants in town. Lunch at Morimoto will run you a little over $20 sans drinks, and its a great way to sample their fabulous cuisine.

Do you like the booze? I could recommend some fine establishments...

 

[bolen]

The meeting is at the hotel Loews. frankly I have no idea where that is other then downtown. I don't have time to go out and go to a club or anything. (this is work) I was just interested in doing someting which a "local" would know and would not be on the tourist notes.

 

[heirodule]

Reading terminal market is good to go to for lunch/shopping. Its near the convention center.

Check out the old Wanamaker's building, which now houses a Lord and Taylor's

Many of the fun things in philly are already on the tourist maps, because they are fun!

You can go 8 blocks south and 4 blocks east to South Street. Much funkyness. There is a friendly gamestore/comicstore there (showcase/atomic city)

Chinatown is near the hotel too.

You could poke around City Hall. It should be fairly clean

Take a bus to the Art Museum or subway to Penn's Landing.

 

[dravot]

There's all of the history stuff too: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross' House, and several museums with 18th century history.

 

[Mallus]

Again, Reading Terminal Market. In particular, D'Nics Sandwiches and the Pennsylvania Dutch place --look for the bonnet-wearing women. The make an apple-dumpling desert thing that clocks in at about a kilogram...

Have one drink at the Ritz Carlton. Its opposite City Hall. The building is a replica of the Parthenon, and you can sit on a comfy couch directly beneath the huge marble dome...

Get a pork Italiano sandwich at Tony Lukes on 18th {?} and eat it in Rittenhouse Square park, if the weather's nice...

Play a round of darts and drink a Belgian beer at Nodding Head, or get seafood at the Sansom St. Oyster House {both on Sansom between 15-16th}. You want local? Go to Dirty Franks on 13th and Pine for happy hour....

Or get Indian food at Minar Palace, also on Sansom {great little hole-in-the-wall}...

Walk up to the Art Museum, if you have time. Start from Love Park {opposite City Hall, NW corner}.

Avoid the Liberty Bell, unless you like annoying barricades.

If you have any time in the evening, get bar food at Fergie's {Sansom, between 11th and 12th??} and stay for Quizo...

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Well, I'd suggest going to Veteran's Stadium after work. Go root against the Phillies, and be greatful that they're removing that eyesore of a stadium after this season.

Eat some cheese-steaks. Mmmmmm.

 

[Sialia]

If you're going to Reading Terminal Market, do not miss the soft pretzel stand. Easy to find--usually a line wrapped around the market. Don't worry, the line moves fast and it's well worth it.

Fresh, hand-tied pretzels dipped in butter.

mmmmmmmm.

The Art Museum is a fine, fine thing too. Lotsa arms and armor, as I recall.

 

[mmadsen]

There's all of the history stuff too: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross' House, and several museums with 18th century history.

Independence Hall is closed momentarily, now that they've reopened Chestnut Street -- for security reasons.