Philadelphia  is my City.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is through

Independence Hall. To live in a democracy where we can exercise

our freedom, we have to visit the site where our Declaration of

Independence was signed- It is the hall of our independence!

 



When I crave chocolate I always go to the Naked chocolate cafe

–voted as one of the top ten places in the World by USA TODAY to 

enjoy chocolate.





To escape city life I head to Fairmount Park 9th times the size
of Central Park in New York and filled with historic mansions,
numerous bike trails, and the first zoo in the country



 
If I want to sing karaoke I go to McGillin's Olde Ale House
Philadelphia's oldest continuously open tavern where every Wed evening,
 ringers, rejects and American Idol wannabes come to belt out tunes 
for the cheers and jeers of the happily drunk crowd.

 
 For complete quiet, I can hide away at Old City Coffee
on Church Street. 


 
Tucked away on a little side street in Historic Philadelphia., 

its coffee is invigorating and the atmosphere surreal. You

 could hear noise but you have to find it first!



If you come to my city, get your picture taken with 

the Love Statue 



Located at JFK Plaza or better known as "Love Park," this art piece 

provides a solid example of the definition of Philadelphia- 

the City of Brotherly Love translated in Greek.








If you have to order one thing off the menu from Le Bec Fin 

Philadelphia's premiere fine dining restaurant it has to be from 

all you can eat dessert cart! The entire cart!










The Reading Terminal Market is my one-stop shop for 

great food, flowers and fun! 



Opened in 1893 as the market for the Reading Railroad (think Monopoly)

 you can get everything from fresh cuts of beef from the butcher,

 red red roses from the florist  and macaroni and cheese that Oprah 

herself swears by.

 



Locals know to skip Maggianos and check out Villa Di Roma 

instead.  No one beats your grandmother's home cooking 

but this neighborhood restaurant sure comes close. 

Where do you go to enjoy Italian! Villa Di Roma where 

its called gravy and not sauce!

 

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I visit all 

free historical sites at the Independence National Historical Park  

and the free monthly entertainment at the Kimmel Center 

home to the Philadelphia Orchestra 

 
For a huge splurge I have Sunday brunch at Lacroix  At $65 dollars 

a person it's quite steep but what can you expect from a menu that 

serves foie gras squares, squid ceviche,hand-rolled gnocchi,

wild king salmon and has a flowing chocolate fountain right 

at your fingertips.  It's not everyday you can dine like 

royalty. But after enjoying this all you can eat buffet, 

how would you have room?

Photo ops in my city include beautiful skyline shots and 

the best vantage points are on the top of the Observation Deck 

underneath the feet of William Penn at City Hall and on top of 

the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

If my city were a celebrity, it'd be Will Smith- always classy,

 always remembering his roots and always stylish. 

 Yeah, that sums up Philadelphia.  Did I mention he is from here?

The most random thing about my city is Philadelphia Cream Cheese 

was never invented here but by a dairy farmer in New York.

 

My city has the most sports crazed men I've ever 

seen in my entire life!

 

My city has the most stylish
and educated women in the entire country!

 

In my city, an active day outdoors involves 

running through the Art Museum Loop, 

sculling through the Schuylkill river, 

hiking on the Wissahickon and 

mountain biking on Forbidden Drive

My city's best museum is without question, the 

Philadelphia Museum of Art considered  the third largest in 

the country, its collection spans over 2000 years containing 

not only Van Gogh but a medieval armor collection and a Japanese 

tea house. 

It is the real center of our arts and culture.

My favorite jogging/ walking route is the Schuylkill Banks Trail 

where its beautiful scenery is only enhanced by all the good 

looking people training alongside.

For a night of dancing, go to

the 700 Club where there is no dress code, no cover, 

no haters and just good hip hop and funk. Everyone and I mean 

everyone comes to dance. Or, for live music, check out World Cafe Live 

with live performances every night!

Genos Steaks is the spot for late night eats. Open 24hours,

its where wedding parties, proms, sports fans as well as 

partygoers go to feast on chopped rib eye steak, fried onions,

and American cheese on a kaiser roll- the world famous Philly 

Cheesesteak and there is nowhere better. 

To find out what's going on at night and on the weekends,

 read the blog site uwishunu.com  Your inside guide to Philly

 
You can tell a lot about my city from

 all the murals that adorn our neighborhoods

 With over 2,700 murals we are the largest outdoor art gallery 

in the world. 

Each mural is a collaboration of both artist and 

community and the end result is a masterpiece loved by many, 

shared by all.

 

You can tell if someone is
from my city if they call it water ice rather than Italian Ice! 

We pronounce it Wudder ice. Seriously

 

In the spring you should see The Philadelphia Flower Show which 

is the world's largest indoor flower show. The Penn Relays- 

the nation's oldest track and field relay and the Dad Vail Regatta  

the oldest and largest regatta in the nation every Mother's Day weekend

 

In the summer you should see the Welcome America Celebration our kickoff 

to July 4th which includes an all you can eat ice cream festival, 

a ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell and even a screening of

Rocky on the very steps he made famous!

Bastille Day @ Eastern State Penitentiary where we recreate the 

storming of the Bastille as our own Maria Antoinette screams 

"let them eat cake" with a 1,000 butterscotch

krimpets flying through the air. 

Summer Solstice Festival  @ the Kimmel Center- The only way to countdown to 

the first day of summer is with an all day/ all night party! 

Enjoy classical, jazz, pop and modern dance performances with fortune 

tellers, jugglers and a drum circle at sunrise! And enjoy America's 

pastime with a game at Citizen Bank Park with the World Champion 

Philadelphia Phillies 

In the fall you should catch a Philadelphia Eagles game Philadelphians love our 

football because we bleed green and we really know how to tailgate!

Run; don't walk into Terror Behind the Walls, an haunted house inside Eastern 

State Penitentiary- just voted the Top Haunted Attraction in the Nation. 

What's scarier than walking through a real prison? And watch art 

imitating life with the Philadelphia Fringe Festival!

 

In the winter you should catch student recital series  at the

Curtis Institute of Music, Philly's version of Juilliard. Enjoy that 

warm Christmas feeling with the annual Holiday Light Show with 

the  stories of the Nutcracker, Frosty and who can forget Rudolph the 

Red Nose Reindeer played to the sounds of the world's largest pipe organ. 

One visit guarantees a lifetime of returns! 

And learn the mummers strut as you watch the Mummers strut down Broad Street at the

oldest New Year's parade in the country!

A hidden gem in my city is the magic gardens Located on 1022 

South Street, there is no easy way to explain this work of art. 

Imagine an  empty parking lot filled with broken beer bottles, 

bicycle rims, and ceramics wielded together to form a mosaic garden

all telling the story of one artist's life. 

Yep… This is the work of Isaiah Zagar whose imprint 

is unmistakable and seen all throughout Philadelphia. 

Well worth the visit but don't forget to bring the camera!

For a great breakfast joint
try Morning Glory Their buttermilk biscuits are always homemade and so
delicious! Well worth the wait! 

Don't miss the 9th Street Italian Market Festival in May
where food, wine and song are just the beginning. This Annual festival
celebrates the traditions of the Italian culture but also the rich diversity
that surrounds our community. From aged cheese to toe tapping rhythms, if it
May's it's time to hit 9th Street!

Just outside my city, you can visit home of the Amish in Lancaster County.  

In only 90 minutes, you can truly experience the simple life where 

electricity is a no no and horse and buggies not cars are the 

way to get around. 

The best way to see my city is on foot because it's the perfect size! 

Stretching from the Delaware to the Schuylkill River, 

this 2.8 mile stretch of land provides the perfect blend of 

history and  culture with world class restaurants and shops 

filled in between. Blink and you'll miss it!

If my city were a pet it would be a puppy dog because 

we're so friendly and irresistibly cute! We

promise not to slobber all over you.

If I didn't live in a city,

I'd live (where?) in the little village where my father was 

raised in China-Home to water buffalos and lychee trees.  

The best book about my city
is Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell  Our parking 

lots, our abandoned warehouses, our barren walls are the canvases 

from which we bring new life, a new sense of community and a new 

love of who we are as citizens of this great city called Philadelphia. 

This is their stories. This is their identity. This is our 

community. To live it is to love it!

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind 

is Summertime by Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff.   No matter what 

the weather is outside, we're always chilling at the Plateau!  

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Please Touch Museum. 

 Now in its new 80 million dollar home, it is the premiere east coast 

children's museum dedicated to our littlest visitor. From Alice to Wonderland 

to a rocket launcher, you could only learn by playing!

Wing Bowl could only happen in my city. On the Friday before 

the Superbowl, up to 27 individuals, men and women have a chicken wing 

eating contest whereas up to 20,000 people have attended to witness this 

"true spectator" sport while cheerleaders or "wingettes" lead them on. 

 Amazing how it has already celebrated their 17th year!!!

My city should be featured on
your cover or website because with its unparalleled history, 

world class cuisine and thriving arts and culture, Philadelphia has far

 outgrown the shadow of New York and is ready for the main stage. 

Are we truly the next great city? Far and beyond!