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A Philadelphia Girlfriend Getaway with Rhythm and Soul
A Weekend Of Eating, Shopping, Pampering And Partying In Jill Scott’s Hometown
Press Release
A PHILADELPHIA GIRLFRIEND
GETAWAY WITH RHYTHM AND SOUL
A Weekend Of Eating, Shopping, Pampering And Partying In Jill
Scott’s Hometown
PHILADELPHIA, February 17, 2006 – Girlfriends
visiting Philadelphia can pack a lot into a few days. They can
visit classic landmarks such as the Liberty Bell
Center and also take in the region’s best restaurants,
shops, nightclubs, museums and African American heritage sites,
including the Marian Anderson House. To download
the itinerary, gal pals can log onto gophila.com.
Marian Anderson Historical
Residence/Museum
Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC
LOCATION: Center City Philadelphia and its
surrounding neighborhoods
TRANSPORTATION: Feet, public transportation,
Phlash, taxi
TIME: A long weekend
SUMMARY: A jam-packed tour of Philadelphia’s
attractions, restaurants, shops, spas, nightspots and African
American heritage sites
HIGHLIGHTS: Old City shopping, art at the
African American Museum in Philadelphia, the
Paul Robeson House and a night on the Avenue of
the Arts
ITINERARY:
Day One: Friday
The morning begins with a continental breakfast in Old
City. Settle in with a cup of tea at a locally owned bakery such as
Petit 4 Pastry Studio, where delicately crafted
muffins await.
After eating, the first order of business is checking out
Philadelphia’s oldest attractions. Start at the
Independence Visitor Center, where you can plan
your tours and get familiar with the city and region. (You’ll need
a free, timed ticket to visit Independence Hall,
which you can pick up here.) From there, explore the
Liberty Bell Center, home of the cracked icon that
started out as a symbol of the Abolitionist movement and soon
represented freedom throughout the world. Next, head across
Independence Mall to the National Constitution
Center. While there, check out Freedom Rising, a
multi-media presentation that explores the Constitution’s strengths
and weaknesses. Then, try out the hands-on exhibitions that bring
to life the four little pages that shaped the nation.
When you’ve had your fill of history, explore some of Old City’s
more recent developments. The blocks of 2nd and 3rd Streets between
Market and Race are brimming with high-end galleries and boutiques.
(And, remember, there’s no sales tax on clothing here.) The
wearable wares range from the straight-from-the-runway fashions at
Molletta to the Seven and James brand jeans at
Charles Porter to the custom-designed handbags at
Viv Pickle. Browse the obscure independent jazz,
blues and hip-hop releases at A.K.A. Music, ogle
the sleek furniture and housewares at Minima and
Mode Moderne, admire the art at the
October Gallery and ArtJaz
Gallery or pick up African or Asian home accents at
Indigo Arts Gallery.
Wind down your shopping escapade with lunch at one of the many
restaurants in Old City. Pull up a chair at Cuba
Libre and you might think you’re in old Havana. The
authentic décor is accented by Spanish, African and Latin flavors
that mix to create traditional dishes with a contemporary flair.
Or, try the Asian-fusion cuisine at Stephen Starr’s
Buddakan, where you can gossip with the gals at
the communal table.
After lunch, stroll a few blocks to the African American
Museum in Philadelphia, celebrating its 30th anniversary
in 2006. Wander through the four major galleries here and discover
everything from fine arts to textiles to archeological
treasures.
The rest of the afternoon belongs to the marvelous
Philadelphia Museum of Art, where you can browse
the vast permanent collections of modern, Impressionist and ancient
art. Be sure to stop in the Art Museum’s gift shops and pick up
some interesting additions to your collection of jewelry, hats and
other wearable art. On Fridays, stick around for Art After 5,
featuring a blend of live jazz and international music, food and
drinks.
Or, you could take the afternoon to visit The Barnes
Foundation. Located six miles from Center City, the Barnes
not only has one of the world’s finest collections of Impressionist
art, it also has an amazing collection of native African art with
more than 120 sculptures, masks and objects from Nigeria, Gabon and
the Ivory Coast, among other countries. Several pieces by modern
artist Horace Pippin are on display as well. It’s best to call
about two months in advance for tickets.
Now is not the time to count calories. For dinner,
Gloria’s Gourmet Seafood in Fairmount, is part
restaurant/part nightclub with a casual atmosphere and live
performances on certain nights. Instead, you may want to head to
South Street, where the flavorful meals are served in abundance at
spots like the Jamaican Jerk Hut and
Caribbean Delight. Afterwards, get ready to party
into the wee hours at a nearby nightclub. The atmosphere at
Fiso Lounge is upscale, cool and sleek. Or, laugh
the night away on the other end of South Street at the Laff
House, showcasing the talents of established and
up-and-coming comedians.
Day Two: Saturday
Today is a busy one, so you’ll want to fuel up with a hearty
breakfast at the legendary Reading Terminal
Market, a 19th-century train terminal packed with food
booths, crafts stalls and delicacies of all kinds. Score a booth at
the Down Home Diner, and enjoy farm-fresh eggs,
homemade pancakes or oatmeal. And, be sure to drop by
Delilah’s at the Terminal food stand for the “best
macaroni and cheese in the country,” according to Oprah
Winfrey.
As you make your way west, take a jaunt over to the
Marian Anderson Residence Museum. The famous
contralto owned this home for almost 70 years, and here you’ll find
memorabilia, rare photos and films about her life.
Next, it’s time to head to University City. The
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology is a must-see for enthusiasts of sphinxes,
mummies and artifacts from the ancient cultures of China, Egypt,
Africa, Greece and more. From there, it’s just a short jaunt to the
Paul Robeson House, home of the legendary
overachiever. Athlete, Rhodes scholar, writer, Broadway star,
social activist, Robeson’s accomplishments are recounted in this
modest row home where he spent the last years of his life.
Spend the remainder of your day in full pamper mode.
Total Serenity and Spa Bavu,
Center City’s top day spas for women of color, will rejuvenate you
from head to toe. Get a full body massage or a facial to relax
those muscles after a long day of walking. Enhance your evening
look with a manicure and pedicure before heading out for a night on
the town. Do not forget about your hair. For a fresh new do stop by
Ends Hair Design or Platinum Shears
1, both downtown, to get a touch-up, cut, color or curl.
If all natural is your thing, follow the lead of celebrities Jill
Scott, Sonia Sanchez and Ahmir Thompson of the Roots and head to
North Philadelphia’s Duafe Holistic Hair Care,
offering the latest in locks cultivation, styling and coloring.
Before dinner, take a stroll along the Avenue of the Arts (known
as Broad Street). It’s home to Philadelphia International
Records, a landmark of interest to any soul music
enthusiast and a stop on the Neighborhood Tourism Network’s “The
Sound of Philadelphia” tour offered in spring and fall. Along the
street’s Walk of Fame are stars belonging to John Coltrane, DJ
Jazzy Jeff, Patti LaBelle and other music greats. After that,
you’ll have a dizzying array of choices for dinner. At
Zanzibar Blue, the city’s premier jazz supper
club, both the menu and the music reflect a level of sophistication
that makes for a special night out. If it isn’t dinner without
steak, Ruth’s Chris Steak House or Capital
Grille can satisfy your tastebuds.
To complete your night out, try to score tickets for the
Philadelphia Orchestra or attend a dance performance by Philadanco
(they perform in the city twice a year) at The Kimmel
Center for the Performing Arts. Other options include
performances at the The Academy of Music, the
Merriam Theater or Freedom Repertory
Theatre.
If you still have energy after the show, head to Old City and
groove to the hottest dance tunes at Bluezette. If
only jazz will do, hop a cab to nearby Northern Liberties for a set
at Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, a longtime favorite among
jazz fans.
Day Three: Sunday
Begin your final day in Philadelphia at Beau
Monde, just off South Street with authentic French crepes.
From there, it’s a short walk to the historic Mother Bethel
A.M.E Church, located on the nation’s oldest parcel of
land owned by African Americans. Bring your finest hat and join in
Sunday services or stop in afterwards and visit the museum, which
contains the burial crypt of founder Reverend Richard Allen,
original church pews, artifacts and exhibitions depicting the
church’s role in the Underground Railroad.
If you decide to sleep in late, head over to South Street for a
late lunch at one of the best soul food restaurants in the city,
Ms. Tootsie’s Soul Food Café. Spend your remaining
time—and energy—on Rittenhouse Row. Among the many trendsetting
boutiques are Benjamin Lovell, which specializes
in comfy, stylish footwear; Nicole Miller for her
signature designer threads, Coach for fine leather
goods, and Burberry and Boyds for
the very finest in designer women’s and men’s fashions.
ADDRESS BOOK
Historic Sites And Cultural
Attractions:
-
African American Museum in
Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, www.aampmuseum.org
-
-
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Marian Anderson Residence
Museum, 762 S. Marian Anderson Way (Martin Street), (215)
732-9505, www.mariananderson.org
-
-
-
-
-
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th
Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, www.philamuseum.org
-
University of Pennsylvania Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street, (215)
898-4000, www.museum.upenn.edu
Restaurants And
Nightspots:
-
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Bluezette, 246 Market Street,
(215) 627-3866
-
-
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Caribbean Delight, 1124 South
Street, (215) 829-1030
-
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-
-
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Gloria’s Gourmet Seafood, 2120
Fairmount Avenue, (215) 235-5290
-
Jamaican Jerk Hut, 1436 South
Street, (215) 545-8644
-
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Ms. Tootsie’s Soul Food Café,
1314 South Street, (215) 731-9045
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Petit 4 Pastry Studio, 160 N.
3rd Street, (215) 627-8440
-
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Performing Arts:
Shops:
-
A.K.A. Music, 21 N. 2nd Street,
(215) 922-3855
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Charles Porter, 212 Market
Street, (215) 627-3390
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Spas/Hair Salons:
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing
Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region’s economy and image through
destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the
number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the
five-county region. For more information about travel to
Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the
Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National
Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.
Note to Editors: For photos of Greater
Philadelphia, visit our Photo
Gallery.
CONTACT:
Rosalyn McPherson
(215) 563-6042, mcphersonroz@aol.com
Jeff Guaracino, GPTMC
(215) 599-2290, jeff@gptmc.com
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