Rittenhouse Square and Walnut Street Shops

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.

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!

Cheesesteaks!

I'm sure everyone has seen a "Philadelphia Cheese Steak" listed on a menu from time to time. Well, now you get to try the real thing! All steaks are not created equal though, so it is wise to consider the options! And I also advise having CASH for these places. I don't think any of them take credit cards-- better to be safe.

Pat's King of Steaks (at the intersection of 9th and Wharton, and Passyunk! You'll most likely want to take a cab)-- many people believe Pat's is the best. And then, some people (who like cheesesteaks in general) hate Pat's. Things to keep in mind-- there is a certain way of ordering that is fun to learn. Read the posted signs and listen to the people in front of you when they order. Also, observe that there is one line for steaks and one line for fries and drinks. Split up and get through both lines faster! Getting your steak with cheese whiz may be the classic way to go, but it makes ME sick. I like mine with provolone cheese and no onions. My order would sound like this (money in hand), "Provolone without, please!" Condiments (ketchup, mustard, and delicious peppers) are available for you to fix up yourself at a little kiosk on the sidewalk. Seating is outside, but you are covered by a roof so you won't get rained on.

Geno's Steaks (across from Pat's on 9th Street)-- Geno's, with its neon flames and brightly lit celebrity photographs-- is a formidable rival for Pat's. The ordering system is fairly similar (two windows), and seating is also outside under an awning. I mean, I can't really recommend one of the other. They're both open 24 hours, and when you hop out of the cab, you can pick whichever one you like... or both!

Those are the two everyone knows about. Here are a few other popular places:

Jim's Steaks at 4th and South Streets

Tony Luke Jr's at 118 S 18th Street, not far from Rittenhouse Square. You can see some of the reviews on the linked page. There is an original Tony Luke's on Oregon Avenue, but it is WAY south of center city, and unless you were a real cheese steak fanatic, I don't think anyone would be making the trip.

There are many websites dedicated to Philly cheesesteaks and where to get the best one, etc. Put "Philadelphia Cheesesteaks" into your google search engine if you want to know more!

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!

Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal-- YAY! This bustling warehouse of food vendors, produce stands, and sit down diners is a classic Philadelphia gathering place, and when you're at the Convention Center you are only a hop skip and a jump away. Ask anyone to point you toward Reading Terminal (there'a a little tunnel almost directly opposite the front door of the convention center that puts you out directly across the street from the Market-- it's basically a block north).

There's such a diverse selection of places to eat at reasonable prices. Amish vendors bring in their delicious buttery foods, or you can stop by the Jewish Deli. There's an ice cream counter, candy counters, Middle Eastern stuff-- everything! It will be crowded, I guarantee, and it may be a little hard to find seating inside. If you can't find a spot at a table, you can always go outside to find a table, or grab a bench outside (you may see a little park with funny, pebbly sculptures across the street for the market, on the same side as the convention center--aka the west side of 12th street). It's casual, yes, but yummy and relatively cheap!

Definitely check it out. Everyone at the convention will be-- trust me!

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.

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?

Sansom Street and the White Dog Cafe (3420 Sansom Street)

Oh, how I love the White Dog! For as many times as I have been there, though, I have never actually wanted to sit in the restaurant part of it... for me, it's all about the bar! And not because I drink. On the contrary, I feel that the tastiest things (and most reasonably priced, I may add) are found on the bar menu there. I encourage everyone to check it out, and maybe peek into the adorable shops that are on either side. It's a delightful place, and has the added bonus of being a grassroots activism supporter. The proprietor is the ex-wife of the guy behind the Urban Outfitters stores-- while he went big money, she preferred to keep it local, and keep it real. Who wouldn't want to support that?

When you walk in, you'll see a few tables and the bar. The tables have waiter/waitress service, but you can also eat at the bar. On many a slow afternoon I would go in with some work, sit at the bar, and just order coffee. But if you go in looking for dinner, you may find it lively and crowded... maybe sit outside? They often have tables on the sidewalk in nice weather. Or, if you think it looks good, try the restaurant-- but I'm not a big fan of the big entree style-- their dishes seem a little fussy and are definitely on the expensive side. But that's just me.

My FAVORITE thing at the White Dog is the Veggie Burger with guacamole. Whenever my birthday rolls around, this is always what I want! Add a local beer, like a Yards or Flying Fish, and it is a great meal. Try the creme brulee with a dog-shaped cookie for dessert.

If you want to go upscale, La Terasse is a few doors down, and also is a restaurant with a bar. The New Deck Tavern is where kids in my day would go to get fried foods cheap, but if you feel like something very informal, try them!

Also next to the White Dog is The Black Cat/Saturn Club-- where a gift shop is fused with a salon AND a cafe (I think??). I have always liked checking out the unusual stuff at the Black Cat, and for a while my mom was a big fan of their jewelry.

Avril 50 is a small, sort of overflowing international magazine/paperie type place where I used to go to buy dark chocolate bars-- you know, the serious 90% dark stuff. If you like a European feel for your chocolate and newspapers, it's WONDERFUL!

Though I haven't been in there for a while, Bucks County Coffee still has their flag hanging on Sansom Row. In my day, they had the best frozen coffee with sprinkles. It's also a local establishment-- Bucks County is north of the city-- and perhaps a nice alternative to the same old Starbucks.