Rittenhouse Square is bordered by Walnut Street to the north, 18th Street to the east and 19th to the west. Rittenhouse is undoubtedly a place to see and be seen! With high-end residences and restaurants all around, not to mention stores like Jones New York, anthropologie, and boutiques like Knit Wit, it's about as "ritzy" as Philadelphia gets.
My favorite thing to do during a visit to Rittenhouse Square is to pick up a pastry from Metropolitan Bakery, just south of the Square on 19th Street, and then head up to La Colombe, north of the Square, on 19th Street, for a cappucino. La Colombe is generally known as having the city's best coffee, and consequently, the cafe is usually filled with many MANY "scenesters". I like to get my coffee to go, and sit in the park with it.
Rittenhouse Square, itself, is a joyous little place, filled with benches, sculptures, a fountain, and flowers. Children are almost always present, along with students, business people, retirees, and yes, even the occassional crazy homeless person. In a word, EVERYBODY is at Rittenhouse Square.
After you take in some people watching, you can look up at the surrounding architecture, too. Buildings old and new surround the perimeter of the square, and you can find walking tours of the area on the Rittenhouse webpage link above. If you're a shopper, stroll down Walnut Street. Directly across from the square you'll find Barnes and Noble and anthropologie. Walk down toward Broad St (in the direction of 17th St-- EAST), and you'll see Urban Outfitters, Tiffany and Co., Kenneth Cole, Ann Taylor, Joan Shepp, The Children's Boutique, Gap, Williams Sonoma, Banana Republic, and Polo, among others! It's a great place to feel fancy, but there are also pizza shops, sandwich places, and a McDonald's if you feel like taking a break from the high-brow.
We love Rittenhouse! I highly recommend a visit.
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
First Friday
I do believe that the convention's dates may mean that some of you are in the city on the first friday of July. If you are, you may want to check out a popular Philadelphia tradition, called (simply enough) First Friday! It is ostensibly a time for the art galleries in Old City to open their doors to an evening crowd, put out some wine and cheese and let everyone take in the work of new local artists. Among the galleries are also theaters, bars, restaurants, and shops... not to mention the artists and students that park themselves on the sidewalk to either display their own art, or to play music, etc. It's a fairly festive time-- so be warned that it will probably be a good size crowd.
If you want to go, the main area of interest is from Market Street to Race Street (Race is 2 blocks north of Market--you can tell there's not much more to see when the crowd thins significantly) on both 2nd and 3rd streets. On 2nd Street BELOW Market there are lots of clubs and restaurants that are usually packed with 20-somethings in their best going out clothes, so you can explore that, too, if you want! The whole thing usually goes on from 5 until 8 or 9pm-- at least, that's when the art galleries close up. Restaurants, clubs, and bars stay open late!
If you want to go, the main area of interest is from Market Street to Race Street (Race is 2 blocks north of Market--you can tell there's not much more to see when the crowd thins significantly) on both 2nd and 3rd streets. On 2nd Street BELOW Market there are lots of clubs and restaurants that are usually packed with 20-somethings in their best going out clothes, so you can explore that, too, if you want! The whole thing usually goes on from 5 until 8 or 9pm-- at least, that's when the art galleries close up. Restaurants, clubs, and bars stay open late!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
The Shops at Liberty Place
The Shops at Liberty Place are in the bottom of the impressive buildings by Helmut Jahn, known affectionately as Liberty One and Liberty Two. Although the shops are what you would find at any high end mall, and not much of an attraction in and of themselves, the buildings are really cool, and you can get a feel for the architecture when you stand in the middle of the courtyard. Although everyone always would rather go to the top of buildings like these, it's not possible unless you have business with one of the high powered firms up there. So if you see the buildings on the skyline (and you WILL) and want to take a look inside, go to the corners of 16th & Chestnut, 17th & Chestnut or the 1600 block of Market Street. Take a little stroll inside-- it's kinda cool. And if you want to pick up some chocolates at Godiva, some lotion at Douglas Cosmetics, or a t-shirt at J Crew, etc., you're in the right place to do it. There's also a food court there with your standard fast food places if you need a soda or some nibbles.
As always, keep an eye on your purse though-- don't put it on the back of your chair in the food court. That's exactly how I had my wallet stolen once!
As always, keep an eye on your purse though-- don't put it on the back of your chair in the food court. That's exactly how I had my wallet stolen once!
The Gallery
The convention center links up (I believe) with a sort of underground mall called The Gallery. I hate to speak ill of any part of Philadelphia, but I really do not like The Gallery. It's typically crowded, loud, a bit dirty, and the stores are nothing special. I would not waste time here. There is a Kmart at one end of the mall, if you absolutely need a discount chain store (Walmart and Target require a car to get to). The larger drug stores, like the Rite Aid at 10th and Market, will probably have anything you might need from the Kmart, and is a block closer, I believe. It also might be nicer, but I can't guarantee that.
If you're looking for a place to eat, The Gallery does have a food court, but it's in the basement, so to speak, and is pretty unpleasant if my memory serves. Go to READING TERMINAL MARKET instead. It's got SO MUCH MORE PERSONALITY, and natural light to boot. There's no contest-- Reading Terminal is the best place around the convention center to eat for variety, quality, and value.
I recommend avoiding The Gallery. Enough said.
If you're looking for a place to eat, The Gallery does have a food court, but it's in the basement, so to speak, and is pretty unpleasant if my memory serves. Go to READING TERMINAL MARKET instead. It's got SO MUCH MORE PERSONALITY, and natural light to boot. There's no contest-- Reading Terminal is the best place around the convention center to eat for variety, quality, and value.
I recommend avoiding The Gallery. Enough said.
Macy's on Market Street
One of my favorite places to shop used to be Strawbridge and Clothier on Market Street, but they were bought out by Macy's and their flagship store was closed. So, the last grand department store left on Market Street in Philadelphia is Macy's at 13th and Market Streets-- very close to the convention center... caddycorner, I think.
The deparment store is called the Wanamaker Building because it used to be Wanamaker's Department store, then was Lord and Taylor, and now is Macy's (if you want a local perspective on the story, check out this article) -- whatever it's called, it's a landmark, and worth seeing since you'll be so close to it anyway.
There's a huge pipe organ on the second floor, as well as a famous statue of an eagle, and also has a little cafe on the third floor that overlooks a huge center court in the middle of the building... which I've heard is a nice place for lunch (but I can't find their menu on the web!). Christmas is the really beautiful time for the store, but I think you'll enjoy a stroll through in the summer, too. Browse the designer labels and maybe get a little something at the cafe... or just take in a little air conditioning.
The daily schedule for the Wanamaker Organ (that I got off it's "Friends of the Wanamaker Organ" page) follows:
Here is the schedule for regular daily 45-minute recitals:
Monday-Saturday 12pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 5:30pm
Wednesday, Friday 7pm
This is one of the better places to shop, preferable over The Gallery... perhaps I should write a little warning post about The Gallery right now...
The deparment store is called the Wanamaker Building because it used to be Wanamaker's Department store, then was Lord and Taylor, and now is Macy's (if you want a local perspective on the story, check out this article) -- whatever it's called, it's a landmark, and worth seeing since you'll be so close to it anyway.
There's a huge pipe organ on the second floor, as well as a famous statue of an eagle, and also has a little cafe on the third floor that overlooks a huge center court in the middle of the building... which I've heard is a nice place for lunch (but I can't find their menu on the web!). Christmas is the really beautiful time for the store, but I think you'll enjoy a stroll through in the summer, too. Browse the designer labels and maybe get a little something at the cafe... or just take in a little air conditioning.
The daily schedule for the Wanamaker Organ (that I got off it's "Friends of the Wanamaker Organ" page) follows:
Here is the schedule for regular daily 45-minute recitals:
Monday-Saturday 12pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 5:30pm
Wednesday, Friday 7pm
This is one of the better places to shop, preferable over The Gallery... perhaps I should write a little warning post about The Gallery right now...
Friday, May 25, 2007
Chinatown
The convention center is just south of Chinatown, and I must admit, I have not explored this area enough. I can tell you that the two restaurants that my friends enjoy most in Chinatown are Penang and Vietnam Restaurant (NOT to be confused with Vietnam Palace, which is across the street but is nowhere near as good, in my experience). Of the two, Vietnam Restaurant is my personal favorite, with fun cocktails and a great BBQ appetizer platter. I'm in love with the crispy spring rolls! I have found that the big entrees with sauces are a bit too heavy for my taste, and getting something lighter on top of rice vermicelli always suits me best.
If you just want to stop in to escape the heat or take a break in the afternoon, try the Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, or the homemade coconut ice cream. These were some of my favorite treats back in the days when I could meet up there with friends to relax after work. Unless you're planning an event/party, they don't take reservations, so be prepared for a bit of a wait if you go at prime dinner hour-- though I've never had to wait a ridiculously long time for a table.
Other than Vietnam Restaurant, the only thing I know about in Chinatown is the arch at 10th and Arch Streets (which is an impressive sight). If you have never been to a Chinatown in New York or San Francisco, etc., then you should definitely take a little stroll into ours. It has lots of Asian gift shops and groceries, and since it is so close to the convention center, why not see what it's all about?
If you just want to stop in to escape the heat or take a break in the afternoon, try the Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, or the homemade coconut ice cream. These were some of my favorite treats back in the days when I could meet up there with friends to relax after work. Unless you're planning an event/party, they don't take reservations, so be prepared for a bit of a wait if you go at prime dinner hour-- though I've never had to wait a ridiculously long time for a table.
Other than Vietnam Restaurant, the only thing I know about in Chinatown is the arch at 10th and Arch Streets (which is an impressive sight). If you have never been to a Chinatown in New York or San Francisco, etc., then you should definitely take a little stroll into ours. It has lots of Asian gift shops and groceries, and since it is so close to the convention center, why not see what it's all about?
South Street
Has anyone ever heard that old song about where all the people meet? South Street! South Street!
Now we're getting close to my home territory. When I walk my daughter to school in the morning, I like to weave around the small side streets and cozy alleys of my neighborhood, but on the way back home, I like to walk down South Street to see the business there "wake up" and get ready for the day.
South Street used to be famous as a kind of "counter culture" scene, and also a place of "shocking" shops-- tattoo parlors next to erotic stores next to piercing places next to bars next to cheeseteak joints. Its feel is changing a bit, though, and while these places are still there, you also see Starbucks, Adidas, and The Gap, arts and crafts galleries, and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Turn any corner and you may find record shops (and I mean vinyl), vintage and boutique clothing stores, natural food groceries, bookshops, fabric stores, and my apartment! You could really walk around there all day, but as no one has that much time to spend, I suggest at least one stroll down South Street in the area of 2nd to 8th street.
If you're up for a longer walk, I would challenge you to come all the way down to where I live and see the "Magic Garden" on South between 10th and 11th streets. Created by local mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, the "garden" is a point of pride for our neighborhood (called Bella Vista), and there's been a real effort to save this wonderland of recycled materials from falling under a wrecking ball to make way for "development" (South Street is prime real estate for expensive condos these days). If you can't make it down there, though, you'll probably see Mr. Zagar's swirling mirror and tile mosaics peeking out at you from alleys and houses all over the place-- lots of people and businesses on around South St. have asked him to put his sparkling touch on their walls.
Just one little warning: like I said, South Street still retains its racey character in many respects. It is a place of many different people, and it can be smelly, crowded, littered-- and don't forget that the erotic shops have windows that could make you blush! (More likely, though, they'll make you laugh or roll your eyes.) Most of the stores are open by noon at the latest, but the evenings get very wild in the summer. Plan to go in the afternoon if you want to have a relaxed time (once again, this is when the stroller types are there)-- and obviously, go at night if you want to see craziness. Whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO DRIVE ON SOUTH STREET FROM 2nd to 10th St. AT NIGHT! Traffic hardly moves since lots of people are cruising and trying to find parking. It's practically at a standstill all night long. Oh, and I don't think you should eat at Johnny Rockets. Though it has a cute retro theme, the food there made me feel gross after I ate it!
Now we're getting close to my home territory. When I walk my daughter to school in the morning, I like to weave around the small side streets and cozy alleys of my neighborhood, but on the way back home, I like to walk down South Street to see the business there "wake up" and get ready for the day.
South Street used to be famous as a kind of "counter culture" scene, and also a place of "shocking" shops-- tattoo parlors next to erotic stores next to piercing places next to bars next to cheeseteak joints. Its feel is changing a bit, though, and while these places are still there, you also see Starbucks, Adidas, and The Gap, arts and crafts galleries, and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Turn any corner and you may find record shops (and I mean vinyl), vintage and boutique clothing stores, natural food groceries, bookshops, fabric stores, and my apartment! You could really walk around there all day, but as no one has that much time to spend, I suggest at least one stroll down South Street in the area of 2nd to 8th street.
If you're up for a longer walk, I would challenge you to come all the way down to where I live and see the "Magic Garden" on South between 10th and 11th streets. Created by local mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, the "garden" is a point of pride for our neighborhood (called Bella Vista), and there's been a real effort to save this wonderland of recycled materials from falling under a wrecking ball to make way for "development" (South Street is prime real estate for expensive condos these days). If you can't make it down there, though, you'll probably see Mr. Zagar's swirling mirror and tile mosaics peeking out at you from alleys and houses all over the place-- lots of people and businesses on around South St. have asked him to put his sparkling touch on their walls.
Just one little warning: like I said, South Street still retains its racey character in many respects. It is a place of many different people, and it can be smelly, crowded, littered-- and don't forget that the erotic shops have windows that could make you blush! (More likely, though, they'll make you laugh or roll your eyes.) Most of the stores are open by noon at the latest, but the evenings get very wild in the summer. Plan to go in the afternoon if you want to have a relaxed time (once again, this is when the stroller types are there)-- and obviously, go at night if you want to see craziness. Whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO DRIVE ON SOUTH STREET FROM 2nd to 10th St. AT NIGHT! Traffic hardly moves since lots of people are cruising and trying to find parking. It's practically at a standstill all night long. Oh, and I don't think you should eat at Johnny Rockets. Though it has a cute retro theme, the food there made me feel gross after I ate it!
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