Charlene and I will be visiting Philadelphia for the weekend starting Feb 21-- going to see an art exhibit on Degas, plus a ballet based on his life ( ya don’t suppose Degas played the whistle, do you?).
Other than the fact that the Liberty bell is in that city and that a lot of American history transpired there, I know nothing at all about the place. Any restaurant recommendations ( other than cheese steak) would be welcomed, as well as nice , reasonable hotels. For the on-topic part: anyone know of a good session on Sat night? Thanks
Hi Paul, don’t know much about Philly, but my companion and I caught the Degas exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It’s a fabulous exhibit ended up going twice!
MarkB
When does the exhibit open? Is it going to be at the Philadelphia Museum of Art?
Loren
Thanks Mark 
Michael Copeland has his woekshop just outside Philadelphia, in NJ. I’ll be there (jewelry show and bonus visit to Copeland Woodwinds) in a few days, but I’m leaving on the 17th.
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On 2003-02-08 09:27, MarkB wrote:
Hi Paul, don’t know much about Philly, but my companion and I caught the Degas exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It’s a fabulous exhibit ended up going twice!
MarkB
Funny cooincidence here. My wife Charlene and I were in the Detroit area over Christmas, and planned on seeing the exhibit there on Christmas Eve day. However, we followed the dire weather forecasts back home in the Albany NY area, and wisely decided to leave a day early, thus avoiding traveling in what would become a 24" snowfall. Later, Char found out about the exhibit and ballet in Philly, which is only a 4+ hr trip, making a nice weekend vacation.
(Sorry for all the edits. I kept remembering stuff.)
I live in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. There are two nice places to stay in my neighborhood. I hear good things about Anam](http://www.anamcarabandb.com/index.html%22%3EAnam) Cara B&B. The Chestnut](http://www.chestnuthillhotel.com/%22%3EChestnut) Hill Hotel is also quite nice. I have stayed there, as it happens, during a time when my family was living in DC but visiting here.
CH is one of the nicest sections of the city, with lots of great little shops and stores, and wonderful restaurants and pubs within walking distance. Also within walking distance are two SEPTA train lines, either one of which can take you into the center of town. About a 20-minute ride.
While in Philadelphia, you might visit the Manayunk](http://www.manayunk.com/%22%3EManayunk) section, an old factory district now very funky. A lot like Georgetown, I think.
In town, I’d visit the Reading](http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/%22%3EReading) Terminal Market. (Everything from fresh fruit to ethnic food to chocolates. Restaurants in town worth visiting: Plough](http://www.ploughstars.com/">Plough) and the Stars, which bills itself as upscale Irish. Not far from the Liberty Bell, and it hosts what is supposed to be a pretty good session on Sundays. Fergie’s](http://www.fergies.com/">Fergie’s) Pub hosts a session on Saturday nights, though I haven’t attended it. You can find a listing of all the area’s sessions here</a](http://es45.hslc.org/~gormley/cce/sessions.htmlx">here</a)>
And don’t avoid the cheesesteaks. (Resistance is futile.) Resist, however, the temptation to try a cheesesteak at Gino’s or Pat’s in South Philly. They’re supposed to be the best, but I think they’re just the best at sucking in unwary tourists. Lots of better places to get an authentic cheesteak. I’d go to D’Allesandro’s</a](http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/8973883/">D’Allesandro’s</a)> in the city’s Roxborough section. A dump, yes. A small dump, also. But a small dump with the gold standard in cheesesteaks.
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[ This Message was edited by: Flamman on 2003-02-09 23:15 ]
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[ This Message was edited by: Flamman on 2003-02-09 23:22 ]
Addendum to food in Philadelphia: Try Astral Plane, near Society Hill, a survivor from the 70’s restaurant renaissance and still very good, nice atmosphere, also Montserrat, South Street. And stop by the City Tavern for a drink - it’s also in the historic district, near Independence Hall. If you make it over the Schuylkill to the U. of Pennsylvania campus, try the White Dog Cafe and/or la Terrasse. Don’t forget, Philadelphia is the home base of Solas!
Paul you and your wife were fifteen minutes and an international border from were I live. I live right downtown Windsor five minutes from the tunnel exit and twenty stories up.
Dang we could’ve had a coffee
MarkB