STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

littlebean · Kate Spade

Philadelphia Suggestions

Metric · Gucci

1.) The Good Dog pub has amazing food. (Sorry Relrel if you were keeping this a secret) Best burger in Philly and amazing sweet potato fries. Its on South 15th Street

2.) I had so much fun shopping on Walnut street (Anthro, Lucky brand, UO etc) and South street for funky stuff. I really wanted to go to the Mutter museum but we ran out of time. (if you haven't heard of it Mutter is the museum of medical oddities, I'm weird like that) I also just really liked walking around, Philly is such a beautiful city, it has so much interesting achitechture and so many stautes all over- Rocky, the Love statue, the Irish memorial by Penn's Landing, Charles Dickens- there is amazing art everywhere. Also the Reading Terminal market is a definite not-to-miss if you are a foodie person.

I'm jealous, I had such a good time there

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Hmm..

Restaurants: The Good Dog is amazing, simply amazing. But it is a bar so it's not really a "special" place but you should go there anyway. I would go around 5:30 and see if the upstairs dining room is open then because it gets crazy busy. Morimoto is wonderful. I've never been there but I know people who have been and they said it was the best sushi ever but it is very very very pricey. There is a fantastic place called Rangoon that serves Burmese food which is amazing. Lemon Grass in University City (easily accessed from Center City by train, about ten minutes) has the best Thai food. I love Monk's or Eulogy for Belgian beers and mussels. What kind of food are you really into? Let me know and I bet I can find a place for you to eat.

Places to go? Well, the Mutter is a great option. It's really cool. And well, I highly suggest walking up and down every block from about 2nd to 23rd (N and S) and to South to Market (that's about seven blocks between the two, running E and W). This would be the Olde City to Rittenhouse area and has the most beautiful houses and architecture. Checking out Pine (which is about midway between South and Market) between 10 and 13th is a must, lots of wonderful little antique/vintagey places. The Art Musuem is a good stop as well- duh, run up and down the stairs, everybody does it.

Hmm, what else should you know? It's probably gonna be cold and windy- really really windy. The cupcakes at the Flying Monkey Patissierie (sp?) in the Reading Terminal Market are to die for. Gino's cheese steaks are way better than Pat's- and Pat is a Hispanic-hating xenophobe anyway. Chestnut doesn't have much in way of good shopping but Walnut has lots of trendy, boutique type places as well as chain stores like Urban, Anthro and H&M. While in Center City (which is the downtown area) I would make sure to walk up and down the smaller streets, those are where the gems are. Oh, and perhaps see if a good band is playing at somewhere in Center City- there's a ton of places to see live music.

Just PM if you have any questions or anything else. If you just wanna let me know what hotels you are thinking about I can fill you in on the area where they are at and if they are convenient or not.

shkitty · Nine West

Philly...hmmm what can I say about this great town...

Things I recommend...other than the traditional Liberty Bell, Constitution Center stuff..

1. Reading Terminal Market - just go and suck it in...if you're there on a Friday or Saturday - stop at any of the Amish stands for anything from strudel to honey..get some coffee at old city coffee and maybe stop at Downtown cheese to try some of their cheeses. And if you have fridge in your hotel room - take some home..

2. Mutter museum - crazy, medical wierdness, but there's nothing else like it...

3. Run the "Rocky" steps at the art museum - I know its cliche, but there's something about huffing and puffing your way up those stairs that makes you appreciate how fit Stallone was...is... And while you're there - there's always neat exhibits - or if you walk behind the art museum down Kelly drive - its a beautiful walk down the river. Many people run, bike, picnic...whatever...

4. First Friday - depending on when your trip is - this is a fun time - browsing in and out of the galleries and shops in Olde City and listening to the street musicians. Was ruff to deal with when I lived in Olde City, and had to work the next day but really fun if I didn't.

5. Rittenhouse park - packed during the summer with sunbathers and anytime of the year people just sitting on the benches just watching other people...great place to hang out after a long shopping day and with a cup of coffee from La Columbe on 19th just above Walnut. And if its too cold just sit in the big La columbe window...or at one of the sidewalk cafes on 18th with heat lamps...

6. Pats and Genos - you may not be into eating cheesesteaks - but if you're gonna try it - at least go to the best. Personally I prefer Genos steaks and Pats french fries..many will argue to the contrary - I think the best time to go is after a Philadelphia sporting event..its packed - but experiencing it with all the die hard fans - well its just an experience...

7. Shopping...I can highly recommend walking third street between Chestnut and Race. Many cute boutiques (Vagabond, Lost+Found, and others) and some galleries. Also on market street between 2nd and 4th have Charles Porter, etc... kinda like walking a plus sign + . Walnut street between 14th (aka Broad St - no one calls it 14th - just Broad St) and 20th has some botiques and more traditional shops (kenneth cole, bebe, banana, maxstudio, anthropologie, arden b)... Also in that area - wander up to chestnut and down to locust - looking for many small botiques on the number streets between especially on Sansom. I wouldn't recommend south street, other than to people watch some strange characters...Pine Street between 6th and 13th has many home stores and antique stores - nice afternoon stroll... wouldn't recommend - the "Gallery" - you'll see why if you walk by. And take a stop in Macys - previously Lord&Taylor, previously Wanamakers and see the pipe organ and the place where Kim Catrell came to life as Mannequin :)

AND MOST IMPORTANT- REMEMBER NO TAX ON CLOTHING IN PHILLY

8. Food - probably the single best thing about Philly- the food selection... I live in Northern Liberties now and I love all my local bars - Standard Tap, North 3rd, Liberties,etc...they maybe bars - but they serve way more than bar food. There's a specialty beer store on 2nd and poplar called The Foodery that has beer tastings on thursday nights - so tasting there then going to Standard Tap across the street for steak frittes and then bowling @ North Bowl is slowly becoming my Thursday night tradition.. its an amazing building

I copied/edited this from an earlier post of mine...

There are soooo many excellent resturants in Philly, it all depends on what type of food you like. Continental is asian-influenced and there is a continental 2 now on chestnut street...I like the original Continental better...Alma di Cuba is a great place to have drinks in the lounge downstairs, food is good but not worth the $$. Friday,Saturday, Sunday is a cute local place with excellent food (menu changes) and their wine is only $10 over cost. Fantastic Spanish food- tapas style - Amada or Bar Ferdinand. If you like BYOBs.... some of my favorites are Little Fish, Dimitris (on 4th- and New Wave Cafe across the street is great too- they have a bar), Raddichio, La Boehme, Pif, Pumpkin, La Viola, Audrey Clarie, Matyson,....Wine bars (and limited French bistro cuisine)- Vintage and Tria. I can go on and on (there a decent liquor store on Chestnut below 12th- in case you need...I think... I go to Jersey for alcohol).. If you want a great burger and some good muscles in smoky bar, try Monks....for Brunch...there's Sabrinas (huge portions for the price), Morning Glory Cafe, Beau Monde (if you like crepes), Fitzwater Cafe....unfortunately Blue and Green on 3rd street went out of business- man they were the best in the city...if you're gonna do brunch after 11am be prepared to wait..cause what the city has in dinner options it lacks in brunch options :(

If you're milling around town and need lunch - you can't go wrong with Marathon Grill - there are several locations in center city..

9. Nightlife- there's so many options - just depends on what you like check out http://www.philly2night.com/ www.philly.com - there are some other websites I can't think of - but Paperstreet hosts many parties..

10. Hot chocolate - The Naked Chocolate cafe comes close (but in my heart can't beat) to Maribelle in NYC ... especially after walking around on a cold day - I think its at 13th and Chestnut...I should mention so many other pastry shops - but my brain is tired...

That's all I can think of for now...I hope you have a great time!

-- Edited by shkitty at 08:30, 2006-12-27

littlebean · Kate Spade

Thank you for all of these great suggestions! I only wish that I were staying longer in Philly to see and do everything.

Keep the ideas coming, they are so helpful.