SAVOR THE FLAVOR OF PHILADELPHIA’S NEIGHBORHOODS
Food Is The Focus Of Two New Neighborhood Tours On The Menu This Summer

Philadelphia, April 1, 2005 — Food is the focus of two new tours being offered by the Neighborhood Tourism Network (NTN) when it launches the spring/summer season of its Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours program on April 16, 2005. Both University City: Ethnic Dining and From Farm to Table take tourists deep into culturally diverse neighborhoods to discover another side of Philadelphia’s restaurant renaissance. NTN rounds out the schedule of nine Saturday morning immersion experiences with the always-popular Sound of Philadelphia tour and Latin Soul, Latin Flavor, among others.

The first new tour, University City: Ethnic Dining, done in partnership with University City District, takes participants on a “dine-around” to a trio of international restaurants, where they’ll taste three different types of ethnic cuisine and learn about West Philadelphia’s history. During the excursion, taking place on June 18, 2005, they’ll also find out why this diverse enclave is considered Philadelphia’s most unique cultural “melting pot.”

The second new addition, From Farm to Table, set for July 9, 2005, kicks off Philadelphia’s “Buy Local Week,” an initiative of the White Dog Cafe Foundation’s Fair Food Project. The tour will follow the path of food from the field of Somerton Tanks, a popular urban farm located in Northeast Philadelphia, to the table of a South Philly restaurant dedicated to the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” philosophy. Here, participants will sample cuisine made from locally grown products.

“The NTN tours take participants to meet the people, experience the cultures and taste the cuisines that contribute to Philadelphia’s communities and their unique sense of place,” said Patricia Washington, vice president, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, the organization responsible for the creation and operation of the tour program.

The Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours program debuted in fall 2002 and features nine different tours throughout its spring/summer season. Here’s a look at the roster:

• Latin Soul, Latin Flavor (April 16, 2005): The rhythm is gonna get visitors to El Centro de Oro. While in the heart of Philadelphia’s Latino community, they’ll enjoy live Latin music from AMLA, the Latin American Musicians Association, and browse the art gallery and bookstore at Taller Puertorriqueno.

• Voices of Chinatown (May 7, 2005): This walking tour through Chinatown highlights the neighborhood’s rich Asian American cultural heritage. During a stroll through its busy streets, participants will learn about the political and social forces that shaped this thriving community. They’ll also listen to music played on traditional Chinese instruments and sample some of the neighborhood’s best dim sum.

• Urban Oases: The Gardens of West Philadelphia (May 14, 2005): Squeezed between row houses, plotted on corner lots and tucked in city parks are the beautiful community gardens of West Philadelphia. Garden enthusiasts will meet some of the residents who work together to beautify their community through gardening.

• Fishtown & Kensington: Traditions of Art & Industry (May 21, 2005): The renewed vitality of Fishtown and Kensington is on full view during this trip through the city’s River Ward neighborhoods. Guests will visit the artist studios at the Rocket Cat Café, get a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of Yards Brewing Company and browse the farmers market of Greensgrow Farms’ hydroponic garden.

• Philadelphia’s Civil Rights Struggle (June 4, 2005): North Philadelphia was the epicenter of Philadelphia’s civil rights struggle. This tour will take visitors to Girard College, where they’ll learn about the dramatic protests that brought about the integration of a school that once only admitted poor, white, orphan boys. The three-hour excursion also includes a stop at Church of the Advocate for a look at some stunning murals that celebrate the leadership of local civil rights icons.

• Taking a Stand for Freedom (June 11, 2005): During visits to Mother Bethel AME Church and the Johnson House Historic Site, visitors will experience first-person accounts that evoke the moral and spiritual battles of conscience waged by black and white Philadelphians who risked their lives and personal liberty as station masters on the Underground Railroad.

• University City: Ethnic Dining (June 18, 2005): See details on page one.

• The Sound of Philadelphia (June 25, 2005): Philadelphia’s musical legacy is an impressive one. From bebop to hip-hop to rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues, the Sound of Philadelphia has influenced music worldwide. This exploration of the city’s expansive music scene features a stop at Philadelphia International Records, where musical pioneers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff “laid the tracks” that defined a generation, and a tour of the American Bandstand studio, where countless legends graced the stage during the 1950s and 1960s.

• From Farm to Table (July 9, 2005): See details on page one.

Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours depart from the Independence Visitor Center, located at 6th and Market Streets, at 10 a.m. on select Saturdays in May, June and July. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors over 65 years old, $25 for individuals purchasing two or more tours, $20 for children ages 8-12 and $20 per person for groups of 10 or more. For reservations, call GPTMC at (215) 599-2295 or e-mail ntn@gophila.com.

# # #

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

2005

Back to News Release List