Press Release

EGYPT MANIA MORE THAN MUMMIES IN PHILLY
10 Ways Visitors Can Immerse Themselves In Philadelphia’s Egyptian Side

PHILADELPHIA, September 28, 2006 - With one million visitors expected to tour Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs – the landmark exhibition making its final North American stop at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute from February 3, 2006 until September 30, 2007 – Philadelphia’s attractions, restaurants and shops are ready to welcome patrons to the area’s many long-standing Egypt-related sites. While it’s true that dozens of establishments are designing Tut-specific specials to honor the exhibition, many others offer a taste of Egypt year-round. Whether visitors have 30 minutes to spare before the exhibition, a few hours to spare after the show or an entire weekend to get inspired by the foreign land, these offerings can add dimension and variety to any itinerary:

The University of Pennsylvania Archeology
and Anthropology Museum in Philadelphia 

Photo by B.Krist for GPTMC 

Arts and Culture:

1. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Plan to stay: an hour-and-a-half)
   Philadelphia’s premier facility for exploring ancient Egypt is hosting a Year of Egypt to honor all of the Tut activities taking place in the city. A special exhibition, Amarna, Ancient Egypt’s Place in the Sun, spotlights the royal city of Tutankhamun’s childhood.  Amarna runs from November 12, 2006 through October 2007, and is accompanied by a year of symposia, private tours and bellydancing classes. In addition, the museum will be further upgrading its newly renovated permanent Egypt galleries, which, with more than 42,000 historically significant items, are home to one the nation’s most extensive collections. 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000, www.museum.upenn.edu
   
2. Masonic Temple (Plan to stay: an hour)
   Colorful, intricate and historically accurate, the Masonic Temple contains the city’s prime example of Egyptian architecture. Finished in 1873, the temple is built from Cape Ann syenite, which takes its name from Syne in Upper Egypt, where it was quarried for monuments by the ancient Egyptians. Inside, Egyptian Hall is decorated in the style of the Nile Valley and boasts dozens of symbolic touches that mirror those used in ancient times. All of the hieroglyphics are accurate copies from Egypt, and visits to the Temple are required field study for local scholars of architecture and Egyptian history. Guided visits are offered several times a day Tuesdays through Saturdays. 1 N. Broad Street, (215) 988-1900, www.pagrandlodge.org
   
3. Glencairn Museum (Plan to stay: an hour-and-a-half)
   The spirituality, mystical beliefs and death rituals honored by ancient Egyptians surround visitors to the Glencairn Museum’s Egyptian Gallery. Founded as a place to teach the history of religion through art and symbolic objects from a variety of cultures and time periods, the museum houses more than 1,300 Egyptian artifacts. While many are dioramas and small figurines, one large object to note is an Old Kingdom “spirit” door from the tomb of a priest of King Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid. The Glencairn Museum will offer special tours during the Tutankhamun exhibition and will reduce the price of admission to visitors bearing a ticket stub from that exhibition.
   1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, (267) 502-2993, www.glencairnmuseum.org
   
4. The Philadelphia Zoo (Plan to stay: two hours)
   To gain a deeper appreciation of the smells and sounds of ancient Egypt outside its well-cultivated cities, families can journey through the “wilds” of The Philadelphia Zoo. The nation’s oldest zoo houses dozens of animals that existed in ancient Egypt, as depicted in hieroglyphics. Lions, elephants, hippos, cheetahs, Nile crocodiles, Egyptian cobras, baboons and the ibis bird (often found replicated in decorative accessories) now live at the Philadelphia Zoo, after calling Egypt home for millennia. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, www.philadelphiazoo.org 

Food:

1. Aya’s Café (Plan to stay: an hour-and-a half)
   Authentic Egyptian cuisine comes to Center City by the name of Aya’s Café, where chef/owner Tarek AlBasti concocts food from his homeland with the help of his aunt and uncle in the kitchen, and his two daughters working the front of the house. While the menu is interspersed with selections from Italy and other Mediterranean countries, it’s the homemade Egyptian specialties that shine at this bring-your-own-bottle hotspot: savory lentil soup, shawarma (lamb or chicken with tahina sauce), kofta sandwiches (ground spiced lamb with vegetables and tahina dressing), followed by Egyptian pudding for dessert. 2129 Arch Street, (215) 567-1555, www.ayascafe.net
   
2. Edwards-Freeman Nut Co. (Plan to stay: a half-hour to an hour)
   Kids and adults can enjoy a fun outing at the century-old Edwards-Freeman Nut Co., where they can sample natural snacks grown and eaten in ancient Egypt. Part old-fashioned candy museum, part factory-outlet, Edwards-Freeman sells many kinds of dried fruit, figs, dates, pistachios, pine nuts and walnuts – all of which were cultivated by early Egyptians. 441 E. Hector Street, Conshohocken, (877) 448-6887, www.edwardsfreeman.com 

Spas and Shops:

1. 3000BC (Plan to stay: a half hour to all day)
   Designed with an Egyptian aesthetic and influenced by ancient Egyptian practices, 3000BC day spa specializes as an aromatherapy spa and boutique. It derives its name from history: by the year 3000BC, Egyptians had fully developed a method of beautifying, cleansing, healing and revitalizing the people in their care through the use of essential botanical oils. As such, the staff dedicates itself to using pure essential oils to create comprehensive well-being of body, mind and spirit. 8439 Germantown Avenue, (215) 247-6020; 605 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, (484) 367-1000, www.3000bc.com
   
2. Morgan’s Cauldron (Plan to stay: a half-hour)
   Although Morgan’s Cauldron is a fun and offbeat boutique devoted primarily to items related to the Wicca religion and witchcraft, the shop carries a wide array of books on ancient Egyptian magic, Isis goddess statues and pendants and tarot cards depicting Egyptian scenes. 509 S. 6th Street, (215) 923-5264
   
3. Bauman Rare Books (Plan to stay: a half-hour to an hour)
   This antiquarian bookstore with volumes dating as far back as the 15th century is a treasure trove for collectors in the fields of law, science, literature, travel and exploration. On top of an extensive list of Egyptian photography titles, Bauman’s also has a print and map collection. 1608 Walnut Street, (215) 546-6466

Just Plain Fun:

1. Radisson Hotel Valley Forge (Plan to stay: at least two nights)
   Cleopatra herself might have chosen to stay in the seductive and sensual Pharaoh’s Tomb, one of 20 thematic “fantasy suites” at the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge. Imagination takes over in this private suite, adorned with heavy blacks, golds and tans, with faux stone walls, hieroglyphics and Egyptian figures. Guests can extend the royal treatment to the hotel’s outdoor garden pool, three restaurants and a nightclub.
   1160 1st Avenue, King of Prussia, (610) 337-2000, www.radisson.com
   

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CONTACT:

Cara Schneider, GPTMC 
(215) 599-0789, cara@gptmc.com

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