Press Release

PHILADELPHIA’S "GAYBORHOOD:" AN UP-AND-COMING GAY DESTINATION
History, Culture And Nightlife Are Among The Enticements For Gay And Lesbian Travelers

PHILADELPHIA, August 18, 2006 - As shown by its high-profile ad campaign, "Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay," and resulting coverage on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, CNN and other national media, Philadelphia has officially "come out" as a gay-friendly travel destination. The region is the place to learn about what it means to be an American by day and a gay American by night. Here, you'll find all the ingredients for a fabulous weekend getaway: a hot restaurant scene, great shopping, lively bars, clubs and cafes and a nine-block "gayborhood," as well as rich cultural attractions and historic sites.

Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Arts, Culture and History
History buffs, art aficionados and culture mavens, be warned: the Philadelphia region is a cultural paradise. Famous for its preeminent role in the founding of the country, the city is the ultimate history classroom. Within the newly redeveloped Independence National Historical Park stands Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Independence Hall was also the site of some of the nation's first gay rights demonstrations, held here for four years, beginning in 1965. Just across the street is the Liberty Bell Center, which provides a more contemplative experience than ever before for this venerable symbol of freedom. Anchoring the northern end of Independence Mall is the National Constitution Center, a major museum celebrating the U.S. Constitution, including its impact on the rights of gays and lesbians through interactive exhibits.

For art lovers, there's no better place to begin your journey than the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where an impressive array of Renaissance, American, Impressionist and modern art live. Prepare to be wowed by the Museum's blockbuster holdings and exhibits. Nearby, you'll find the Rodin Museum. Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the Museum is home to the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of France. The Philadelphia Art Alliance on Rittenhouse Square frequently showcases gay and contemporary artists, while the Rosenbach Museum and Library houses the original manuscripts of James Joyce's Ulysses and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, as well as letters between lesbian writer Mercedes de Acosta and Hollywood legend Greta Garbo.

Extend your cultural experience into the night along the Avenue of the Arts, where exciting performances range from opera to world music and Broadway to local theater at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Academy of Music, Wilma Theater, Prince Music Theater and other venues.

Just outside the city, the art institutions may be smaller in size than their urban counterparts – but the caliber of the work on display here is equally as stunning. The Barnes Foundation in Merion showcases an unparalleled collection of post-Impressionist works, while its arboretum is home to many rare and mature plants not usually found in this region. The Brandywine River Museum in scenic Chadds Ford specializes in works by the Wyeth family and the James A. Michener Museum, with facilities in Doylestown and New Hope, focuses on artists from Bucks County and Pennsylvania.

Restaurants

While in town, don't pass up a soft pretzel with mustard or one of those famous cheesesteaks, but do realize that there is a vast world of culinary options beyond Philly's famous delicacies. In Washington Square West, affectionately known as Wash West, Mixto serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner Latino-style; More Than Just Ice Cream lives up to its name with yummy burgers, salads and sandwiches; Effie's dishes out traditional Greek favorites; Lolita is a cozy, lesbian-owned, bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) establishment with a nuevo Mexican focus; and Valanni tempts the taste buds with creative Mediterranean fare. Also well liked is the Astral Plane, a favorite for 30 years with its mismatched china and vintage photos. The star of the city's dining scene is restaurateur Stephen Starr, and you won't want to leave town without experiencing at least one of his 13 trendy eateries. Options include the Mexican El Vez; the comfort food of Jones; the pan Asian Buddakan; the Continental, a martini bar with two Center City locations; and Washington Square, complete with a happening al fresco scene.

Bars, Clubs and Cafes

Most of the city’s gay and lesbian bars, cafes and clubs are conveniently located in the "gayborhood," located from 10th to Broad Streets and from Chestnut to Pine Streets. Best known are the always-packed Woody's, which has several bars and a pulsating dance floor; Shampoo, a sprawling complex that is gay on Friday nights with drag queens, go-go boys and the latest club music; Pure, an after-hours club where the dancing continues well after 2 a.m.; The Bike Stop, a land of leather and its fans; and Sisters, a bar-restaurant-dance club mostly for women. Also not to be missed are Bump, a luxe-lounge and restaurant, and The Mean Bean, a bustling coffee bar with outdoor seating.

Shops

Wash West fittingly offers a discriminating "Queer Eye" for furniture and home goods, from traditional outlets on Antique Row to a new generation of stores selling more contemporary items along the same stretch. Also in the neighborhood is the 30-year-old Giovanni's Room, one of the nation's most successful gay, lesbian and feminist bookstores; and B3 (Blocks Below Broad), a shopping district on 13th Street between Walnut and Chestnut Streets for the latest menswear, men's and women's shoes, clothing and accessories, housewares and mouth-watering gelato. Best of all, there's no sales tax on clothing in Pennsylvania.

More great shopping awaits along Rittenhouse Row, a tony shopping district on Walnut Street, from Broad to 20th Streets; in Old City, home to dozens of galleries and boutiques; and on funky South Street, where trendy clothing shops and piercing and tattoo parlors rule.

On the outskirts of Philadelphia is the Franklin Mills Mall, a massive outlet mall; and the King of Prussia Mall, complete with eight department stores and more than 400 upscale specialty shops.

Events

The city hosts several major gay events throughout the year. Favorites include OutFest, the National Coming Out Weekend held October 8, 2006; Equality Forum, one of the nation's largest gay and lesbian symposiums and festivals held from April 30-May 6, 2007; the LGBT Pride Parade and Festival held in June; the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival, also taking place in June; the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, held in July.

Additional events of interest to gay travelers are the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, from November 2-5, 2006; The Franklin Institute's Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition, presented by Mellon Financial Corporation, February 3 - September 20, 2007; the Phialdelphia Flower Show, March 4-11, 2007; the Book and the Cook Festival, held every March; and the Philadelphia Film Festival, held every April.

Hotels

Enjoying a weekend in the city is made easy with the Philadelphia Freedom Hotel Package. Available through December 2006 (with extension likely), the package includes overnight accommodations for two adults and continental breakfast. With rates starting at around $99 per night, the package is available at more than a dozen hotels in Philadelphia and The Countryside™.

ADDRESS BOOK
Gay-friendly Philadelphia

Arts, Culture and History

• Academy of Music, 1420 Locust Street, (215) 893-1999, http://www.academyofmusic.org/
• The Barnes Foundation, 300 N. Latch’s Lane, Merion, (610) 667-0290, http://www.barnesfoundation.org/
• Brandywine River Museum, Route 1, Chadds Ford, (610) 388-2700, http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/
• Independence Hall, Chestnut Street between 5th & 6th Streets, (215) 597-8974, www.nps.gov/inde
• James A. Michener Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, (215) 340-9800; Union Square, 30 W. Bridge Street, New Hope, (215) 862-7633, http://www.michenerartmuseum.org/
• The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street, (215) 790-5800, http://www.kimmelcenter.org/
• Liberty Bell Center, Market Street between 5th & 6th Streets, (215) 597-8974, www.nps.gov/inde
• National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, http://www.constitutioncenter.org/
• Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th Street, (215) 545-4302, http://www.philartalliance.org/
• Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, http://www.philamuseum.org/
• Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, (215) 569-9700, http://www.princemusictheater.org/
• Rodin Museum, 22nd Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, http://www.rodinmuseum.org/
• Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2010 Delancey Place, (215) 732-1600, http://www.rosenbach.org/
• Wilma Theater, Broad & Spruce Streets, (215) 546-7824, http://www.wilmatheater.org/

Restaurants

• Astral Plane, 1708 Lombard Street, (215) 546-6230
• Buddakan, 325 Chestnut Street, (215) 574-9440
• Continental, 134 Market Street, (215) 923-6069; Continental Mid-Town, 18th & Chestnut Streets, (215) 567-1800, http://www.continentalmartinibar.com/
• Effie's, 1127 Pine Street, (215) 592-8333
• El Vez, 121 S. 13th Street, (215) 928-9800
• Jones, 700 Chestnut Street, (215) 223-5663
• Lolita, 106 S. 13th Street, (215) 922-1415
• Mixto, 1141-43 Pine Street, (215) 592-0363
• More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust Street, (215) 574-0586
• Valanni, 1229 Spruce Street, (215) 790-9494
• Washington Square, 210 W. Washington Square, (215) 592-7787

Bars, Clubs and Cafes

• The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince Street, (215) 627-1662
• Bump, 13th & Locust Streets, (215) 732-1800
• The Mean Bean, 1112 Locust Street, (215) 925-2010
• Pure, 1221 St. James Street, (215) 735-5772, http://www.pureclub.com/
• Shampoo, 417 N. 8th Street, (215) 922-7500
• Sisters, 1320 Chancellor Street, (215) 735-0735
• Woody's, 202 S. 13th Street, (215) 545-1893

Shops

• Franklin Mills Mall, 1455 Franklin Mills Circle, (215) 632-1500
• Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th Street, (215) 923-2960
• King of Prussia Mall, Route 202 & Mall Boulevard, King of Prussia, (610) 265-5727, (610) 337-1210

Events

• Book and the Cook Festival , http://www.thebookandthecook.com/
• Equality Forum , (215) 732-3378, http://www.equalityforum.com/
• LGBT Pride Parade and Festival , (215) 875-9288, http://www.phillypride.org/
• OutFest, the National Coming Out Weekend , (215) 875-9288, http://www.phillypride.org/
• Philadelphia Film Festival , (215) 733-0608, www.phillyfests.com/pff
• Philadelphia Flower Show , (215) 988-8800, http://www.theflowershow.com/
• Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival , (215) 627-6483, http://www.philagaylesbiantheatrefest.org/
• Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival , (215) 733-0608, www.phillyfests.com/piglff
• Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show , (215) 684-7930, www.philamuseum.org/pmacraft
• Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharoahs , (215) 448-1200, www.fi.edu

Hotels

• Philadelphia Freedom Hotel Package, http://www.gophila.com/

###

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. 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:

Jeff Guaracino, GPTMC
(215) 599-2290, jeff@gptmc.com