CONTACT:

Caroline Bean

GPTMC

(215) 599-7433

caroline@gptmc.com

 

REAL FUN, REAL YOUNG, REAL PHILLY: REAL DEAL
Philadelphia’s Best Spots For Saving Bucks Without Sacrificing The Good Times

The BYOB Boom

Philly eaters’ favorite four-letter word? BYOB. It translates into Bring Your Own Bottle, which translates into big savings when you buy your preferred with-dinner libation beforehand — whether that’s a $10 California Cab, a six of microbrew or a bottle of Sauza. BYOBs are usually smaller, friendlier neighborhood spots — and the city’s best-kept dining secrets. South Philly is famous for its Italian BYOBs. Some require an adventurous spirit in order to find them. But, spots like L’Angolo, Mr. Martino’s Trattoria and Tre Scalini are so worth the effort. Further north is petite Café Sud, for excellent Moroccan tagines, salads and royal mint tea service. Even trendy Old City has its share: artsy Chlöe and classic Italian La Locanda del Ghiottone are two popular bistros. For modern flair (and BYOB prices), try B3’s (that’s short for Blocks Below Broad) chic Lolita, a nouveau Mexican spot that offers fresh margarita mix to go with your tequila, or Rittenhouse-area’s Matyson for modern-American food that you'd pay a lot more for in places with a bar. Further out in the ’burbs are gems like up-and-coming Conshohocken’s Fayette Street Grille and the exuberant Alison at Blue Bell.

Fancy Food At Rock-Bottom Prices, Must Be Restaurant Week

A relatively new bargain dining phenomenon in Philly, Restaurant Week lets the financially challenged among us sample 80 of the city’s finest eateries with fabulous prix-fixe menus at a low, low price of $30 for a complete dinner. This year, from September 26 to October 1, the event emanates from posh Restaurant Row stalwarts like ¡Pasión! and Alma de Cuba, ultra trendy hotspots like El Vez and Valanni and special-occasion eateries such as La Famiglia and Brasserie Perrier.

Big-time Bargains At The Bar

Want to know the secret to sampling Philly’s finest cuisine on the cheap? Have a seat at the bar. Even Le Bec-Fin, they city’s finest French restaurant, offers the first-come, first-served option of dining downstairs in its Le Bar Lyonnais — where the menu is a la carte and the prices are cut in half. Along the Avenue of the Arts, Bliss has become popular as an after-theater spot for shrimp and crab spring rolls at the bar. Between lunch and dinner, Old City’s Fork offers patrons seated along the zinc small plates. Center City’s Happy Rooster has long been a haven for excellent soups, sandwiches and martinis. And, at Le Mas, Georges Perrier’s outpost along the Main Line, a beautiful Provençal-style lounge serves wallet-friendly pizzas and salads.

When it comes to stellar pub grub, Northern Liberties’ Standard Tap and its Standard burger can’t be beat. Along Girard Avenue, it’s off to the hip dive Johnny Brenda’s for lamb kabobs and local microbrews, while South Street’s Tritone offers amazing Creole cuisine and fried candybars — that’s chocolate candy (think Mounds, Almond Joy, Twix, Milky Way, Reese's Cups) dipped in a thick waffle-style batter, deep fried and topped with ice cream, hot fudge and lots of other goodies. (You have to taste it to believe it.)

Shows For A Steal

The locals’ trick for impressing a first date with a little culture (without breaking the bank): Logging on to www.phillyfunsavers.com for information on the best half-price tickets for the coming week. Posted every Thursday, these bargain orchestra or dance performances, Latin concerts, museum exhibits, original plays and more make the good life accessible to all. Old City’s edgy Arden Theatre hosts $10 per ticket “college nights,” for college students with valid identification. Known for its modern architecture, amazing acoustics and world-class performance schedule, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts hosts free concerts in its Commonwealth Plaza, usually a couple of times per week. The Philadelphia Orchestra sells last-minute tickets for $10 apiece. Seats to concerts and cutting-edge dance performances are available to students for a steal, five days before show times at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in University City.

Can’t swing the arts scene? Snag a seat on the Broad Street subway and head to a Phillies home game at the brand-new, ultra-intimate Citizens Bank Park. Once at the ticket window, ask for the cheap tickets, and pay only $10 ($5 off during game days) for “Standing Room Only” tickets to see Bowa and his boys.

Everybody Loves A Discount On Shoes

It’s no wonder that one of the city’s most-visited attractions is Franklin Mills Outlet Mall. An easy ride from Center City into the Northeast, the long stretch of discount stores is the nation’s first 100% on-sale shopping complex. Kenneth Cole, Off Fifth Saks Fifth Avenue, Last Call Neiman Marcus, Aldo, Banana Republic, Gap, Ralph Lauren and way too many more to name sell their stuff for less here.

Don’t tell, but many a Manhattanite has been known to make a southern pilgrimage for Philadelphia’s premium vintage shopping. The next old thing is always on display at the South Street area’s Decades Vintage. Around the corner at Retrospect, cowboy boots, ’80s mini skirts and grandma-chic overcoats are a seriously fun business. On the sophisticated Main Line, Bryn Mawr Hospital Thrift Shop is known for stocking $50 Italian tuxes and never-worn Gucci loafers.

Even The Hotels Are Affordable

There’s no need to stay with friends or relatives when visiting Philadelphia. The popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package offers guests two nights’ accommodations, along with free hotel parking and gifts upon check-in. (Now, that’s a deal.) The package is available from November 19, 2004 through March 26, 2005 at more than 50 hotels. To make reservations, visitors can call their favorite hotel or visit www.gophila.com.

ADDRESS BOOK

The BYOB Boom

Fancy Food At Rock Bottom Prices

Big Time Bargains At The Bar

Shows For A Steal

Shopping Discounts

Even The Hotels Are Affordable


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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