CONTACT:

Caroline Bean

GPTMC

(215) 599-7433

caroline@gptmc.com

 

REAL FUN, REAL YOUNG, REAL PHILLY: REAL DARK
 Movies, Munchies, Goth And Gore — All After Dark, All In Philly

Pass the Popcorn
You can catch a movie every night in Philadelphia, not just in the local cineplexes, but also in dark corners of restaurants and bars, grand old auditoriums and luxury theaters. These offbeat movie venues feature eclectic programming that runs the gamut from avant-garde to amateur. Scores of hipsters stream in for a dose of beer and pop culture on Monday movie night at The Trocadero. The paltry $3 admission at this old burlesque theater, which serves as a live music venue the rest of the week, not only gets you in the door, but also includes a drink or snack. A showcase for short, locally made films, Fancypants Cinema is held on Tuesdays at homey N. 3rd, where the motto is “You bring ’em, we show ’em that night.” That’s, of course, if they’re under 20 minutes long. The food-drink-and-flick formula seems to have caught on, and two other restaurant/bars in Rittenhouse Square, Marathon on the Square and Twenty Manning, put on their own regular movie nights.

Don’t be ashamed if you can’t resist the need to indulge in a sappy romantic comedy (think J.Lo) or a fight-to-the-finish action adventure (think The Rock). Just be sure to do it in style at The Bridge: Cinema De Lux, where a truly unique movie-going experience awaits you. Located in University City, The Bridge is the future in movie viewing, featuring a lounge, restaurant, cappuccino bar, free wireless Internet access and a state-of-the-art media room for local films and shorts. Both the Ambler Theater in Ambler and the County Theater in Doylestown are restored old-fashioned movie palaces that bring art house, foreign and classic Hollywood fare to the suburbs in high style.

In the warmer summer months, Lawn Chair Drive-In screens free outdoor movies on Wednesday nights in Northern Liberties. Held in venues around the city, Secret Cinema specializes in lost and obscure works; programs are often curated by theme and sometimes include live music or a DJ. Reflecting the West Philadelphia tradition of do-it-yourself art, punk rock and social activism, the Lost Film Festival returns to the city each summer for its annual event that eschews mainstream media for radical politics and documentary films.

The Dark Side Of Sight-Seeing
For visitors with a taste for the macabre, the Philadelphia region has a range of eerie offerings, from ancient cemeteries to body organs in jars. (We’re serious.) It’s night every day at the Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute Science Museum, where visitors can gaze at the stars under the recently upgraded dome. Even in broad daylight, Eastern State Penitentiary, which served as a set for the thriller 12 Monkeys, is scary—the deserted cells and stories of the city’s earliest prisoners make it a creepy but fascinating attraction. Come autumn, the Penitentiary gets even scarier with its Halloween haunted house, Terror Behind the Walls, taking place this year from September 24 through October 31, 2004.
 
Specializing in medical oddities, the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has been creeping out visitors for decades with pathological specimens like “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng’s liver. The city’s supernatural territory is explored by candlelight on the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, and visitors can check out the graves of prominent Philadelphians at the historic Laurel Hill Cemetery.

It’s 3 a.m. Do You Know Where Your Cheesesteak Is?
When the bars let out, the people line up for late-night eats at the famous cheesesteak corner where dueling vendors Geno’s and Pat’s King of Steaks grill up the sandwiches that have become synonymous with Philly fare. The bargain — and the experience of ordering — alone are worth the wait. All-night diners are no strangers to customers who’ve blown their dough during a night on the town but still crave down-home cooking. On weekend nights, Silk City Diner (attached to hip little Silk City Lounge) is as much a see-and-be-seen spot as any hipster bar — don’t miss the chocolate bread pudding. And, you can’t beat the no-nonsense service and blue-collar attitude of 24/7 spots like South Philly’s famous Melrose Diner (recommended that first-timers slide into a shared booth) and the Oregon Diner (smoking encouraged). Chinatown, too, is a great place to fill up after a night out. Shiao Lan Kung and Ocean City are two of the Center City neighborhood’s most popular spots. In University City, it’s tradition to head to Taco Lou’s truck around 3 a.m. for Tex-Mex grub that’s best enjoyed curbside.

Night Provisions
For those with a predilection for dark lipstick and an interest in alternative culture, the region’s many offbeat stores can provide the right accoutrements. The epicenter of Philadelphia’s thriving Goth and punk scene, South Street is home to the legendary Zipperhead. This independently run store has been selling spikes, hair dye, leather clothing and rock memorabilia for more than 20 years. Nearby is Digital Ferret, a Goth music store with a wide selection of underground, new and used CDs—they also have their own record label featuring Goth and industrial bands. In New Hope, Gothic Creations has a wide collection of gargoyles and grave images for sale, while Against the Grain sells apparel and accessories with Celtic and Medieval influences. At Kindred Spirit in West Chester, patrons can buy tarot cards, herbs and other goods for this life and the next.

There are plenty of places for sci-fi and horror fans to indulge in Philadelphia. On South Street, Atomic City Comics has a vast selection of comic books. A local chain and national mail-order business, TLA Video has a Danger After Dark section entirely devoted to foreign, rare, late-night, horror, fantasy and cult movies for sale on VHS and DVD.

ADDRESS BOOK

Pass The Popcorn

The Dark Side of Sight-Seeing

It's 3 A.M. Do You Know Where Your (Late-night) Cheesesteak Is?

Night Provisions


The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), Philadelphia's regional tourism marketing agency, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to building the region's economy and positive image through tourism and destination marketing. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676, or visit www.gophila.com. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, click on the CultureFiles link.

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Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit the photo gallery of gophila.com/pressroom.  

September 2004

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