Do I have any Philly/former Philly people on my friendslist?

[aithne]

We're spending a day in Philadelphia in September on the way to Greece.  (Long story having to do with flight changes.)  We figure since we're going to be there anyway, we might as well, you know, See Stuff.

Other than the mandatory Liberty Bell, is there anything else that's a must-see?  Anywhere good to eat?  (We have two mostly-vegetarians and omnivore me in the party.)  History is good, but Pretty Stuff is also good.  We'll be there from the evening of 9/10 to early afternoon on 9/11.

(And heck, if anyone i know is there and wants to see stuff with us, that would likely be cool too.  :)

Comments

[ivy]

King Tut!

If you like Japanese food, Iron Chef Morimoto has a restaurant in Philly. (I would suggest making reservations for that. It's very popular.)

I will unfortunately be just back from New Orleans, and will have to work, or I'd drive up and hang. (Philly is 2.5 hours north of me.)

[silenceleigh.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, King Tut looks like fun, we all like Egyptian stuff!

[silenceleigh.livejournal.com]

I just bought King Tut tickets for the three of us. :)

[ms-monkey.livejournal.com]

Climb the museum steps...like Rocky did!

South Street used to be a fun strip of shops...no idea if it still is...with a trannie femme store and lots of neat clothing places.

There was also a great Moroccan restaurant (can't remember the name) just off of South Street...if you're down for belly dancers and the like.

[panther.livejournal.com]

Yeah, South Street is still what it was! (I moved here 13 years ago, but I have a ton of friends still there.)

If you had time to leave Philly and could get up to New Hope, the best ice cream in the world (with flavors like Lavendar and other wonderful things) is there, but that is a stretch on a lay over. Philadelphia has some great walking around areas, too....may be just the thing if you want to get some stretching in before the long flight.

I'll think of good things to see later tonight, I'm at work and brain dead at the moment.

[waysofseeing.livejournal.com]

Other people already mentioned South Street, which I'll second, though it isn't what it used to be--a lot of the old funky stores that made South Street cool have since closed.

Rocky aside, the Philadelphia Art Museum is one of the wonders of the city. Make sure to see Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' (http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/59202.html) and Monet's "Japanese Footbridge and Water Lily Pool" (http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/59194.html). They also have an impressive collection of textiles and armor if you're interested in such things.

The Rodin Museum (http://www.rodinmuseum.org/) is just down the road from the art museum and is one of the two finest collections of Rodin's sculpture in the world. I'm particularly fond of The Gates of Hell (http://www.rodinmuseum.org/collection/103360.html).

The other really incredible art museum in Philly is the Barnes Foundation (http://www.barnesfoundation.org/c_main.html), which is a ways out of town but still a marvel.

Fairmount Park is a wonderful place to walk along the river or through some trees, if the weather cooperates.

The obvious places for history are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Less obvious but fun are the Declaration House (http://www.nps.gov/inde/declaration-house.htm), where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and Christ Church (http://www.christchurchphila.org/), where almost all of the Founders attended services. Skip Franklin Court (http://www.nps.gov/inde/franklin-court.htm); the exhibits are badly in need of updating.

I've had dinner at Morimoto (http://www.morimotorestaurant.com/), which is amazing but a bit overpriced and overcrowded, IMHO. I've never been to this Chinatown vegetarian place (http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/info.php?tag=PHRES99348-01&code=PH) but am told it's good. Of places I've been in the last couple years, I recommend Fork (http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/info.php?tag=PHRES9977&code=PH).

[allicat42.livejournal.com]

Edgar Allen Poe house...