From Wikitravel

Center City is in Philadelphia.

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Center City is the "downtown" section of Philadelphia. It is bounded by South Street to the south, the Delaware River to the east, the Schuylkill River to the west, and Vine Street to the north. The 2005 Center City population, at approximately 90,000, makes it one of the more populated central business districts in the United States.

The Market East Station is an underground station that is located on Market Street between 9th and 12th Streets. It is one of three core Center City stations on the SEPTA Regional Rail system. There are several entrances, but the main one is on 12th & Filbert Street.

[edit][add listing] See

• Chinatown extends from approximately 8th Street to 11th Street east-west, and Vine Street to Market Street north-south. Despite the name, Philadelphia's Chinatown has a variety of Asian ethnicities and has recently become one of the most popular neighborhoods for young people. The streets of are dominated by homes, restaurants, and boutique stores. Chinatown's symbol is its "Friendship Arch", an ornate paifang in the heart of the neighborhood. Though it is commonly found in many North American Chinatowns, the Arch Street incarnation is more elaborately rendered than most.
• The Fitler Square neighborhood has some good restaurants and pretty tree-lined streets. The charming 2400 block of Panama, supposedly, has been re-created on a Hollywood lot for the show "Cold Case." Fitler Square itself doesn't show up on MapQuest, but it's at 23rd and Pine. A Saturday morning farmers' market runs spring-fall.
• Society Hill A posh residential area south of Old City. Other than the stately row-houses and gleaming condominiums, there are some quality drinking and dining establishments, two of the artsy Ritz movie theaters, and a seasonally open market.
• Washington Square is composed of several distinct neighborhoods and is convenient to America's most historic square mile. Washington Square West is a lively neighborhood, while east of the park is a bit more sedate. Antique Row, Pine Street between about 13th and 9th Streets, is full of interesting shops, not all of them antiques-oriented. Washington Square itself is worth a visit to see the tomb of the unknown Revolutionary War soldier. This neighborhood is a good place to see Philadelphia's native style of house, the "trinity" -- two, three, or four floors, one room per floor, connected by spiral stairs. The small streets above Pine, such as Quince Street, are lined with trinities. WalkPhiladelphia offers several interesting tours of Wash West.
• The Gayborhood is Philadelphia's gay-friendly area overlapping the officially designated Washington Square West neighborhood. The Gayborhood is most strongly associated with 12th and 13th streets, especially from Pine in the south to Walnut in the north, but spills out to the surrounding areas. Most straight-owned Gayborhood businesses, are friendly to queer and straight alike regardless of orientation.
• The Philadelphia City Hall is unofficially the center of Center City at Broad and Market Street. The building is topped by a 36 feet, 4 inches, bronze statue of William Penn. Under a gentleman's agreement, City Hall remained the tallest building in the city until 1987.
• Penn's Landing is the waterfront area popular all year-round with an ice skating rink, concerts, and various city events. There are also many restaurants, hotels, and even a museum. Penn's Landing
• Old City is filled with art galleries, restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges. It is between Front and Fourth Streets to the east and west, and generally bounded by Race Street to the north and Walnut Street to the south. Old City is easily where Philadelphia goes to party.

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[edit] Parks

• Fairmount Park is Philadelphia's park system consisting of 63 regional and neighborhood parks. When you want to get away from the city's hustle and bustle, there is always somewhere green to go.
• Rittenhouse Square Rittenhouse Square is as close to a central park as one can get in Philadelphia. Only 4 blocks west of Broad St and the main business areas, it is an oasis in the heart of the city. It is surrounded by tall buildings, and there are many nice restaurants in the area. Summer concert schedules are listed in the park.
• Schuylkill River Park. The newest of the city's parks, but already becoming one of the most popular. For a century, Philadelphia's waterfronts were cut off from its residents by industry and an extensive system of railroads. Now gone for decades, the waterfront is a kaleidoscope of residential development, recreation, and good living. Center City's ongoing Renaissance is being charged by new amenities such as this urban river-side park, which carves its way deep into the city, culminating in South Philly.

[edit] Arts

• Philadelphia Museum of Art. 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, [1]. Regular special exhibitions, and an impressive permanent collection that's especially strong in Asian and medieval art, impressionist paintings, and furniture. The museum sits on a hill overlooking the Schuylkill River at the end of The Ben Franklin Parkway, which was modeled after the Champs Elysees in Paris. There's an impressive view back toward City Hall from the top of the "Rocky steps."
• Rodin Museum. 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 568-6026, [2]. Displays the largest collection of Rodin's work outside of Paris.
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. A school that has had an impressive roster of artist alumni in the past 200 years, including some of the best-known names in American art. Its museum shows works from past and present PAFA students and faculty, as well as regular special exhibits.
• Barnes Foundation. A few miles outside Center City, a few hundred people a week get to see a one-of-a-kind collection of art ranging from the primitive to the post-Impressionist, arranged together in a mansion in the middle of a 12-acre arboretum. Many works here, although by famous artists, have almost never been exhibited elsewhere. The Foundation is only open to the public 3 days a week, and advance reservations are required. Depending on the time of year, reservations can fill up weeks or months in advance.
• The Avenue of the Arts is on Broad Street containing many of the city's cultural institutions, especially the theater and arts area south of City Hall. The Avenue is a becoming more residential, but the main attractions include the Kimmel Center, Merriam Theatre, and the Academy of Music.
• First Fridays is a monthly open house for galleries in Old City on the first Friday evening. This event attracts a diverse crowd who appreciates art and people-watching. First Friday involves the neighborhood’s 40-plus galleries, most of them open from 5 until 9 p.m.

[edit] Museums

• Mutter Museum, 19 S. 22nd Street, (215) 563-3737, [3]. Open 10AM to 5PM everyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Originally open only to medical students, this collection of medial oddities is quickly becoming one of the city's most popular attractions. Not for the faint of heart, this museum includes lots of items in formaldhyde, lots of skeletons, and one of the only men to ever decompose into soap. $12 General admission, $8 for children 6-18, senior citizens, and college students.

• The Please Touch Museum, 210 N. 21st Street, (215) 963-0667, [4]. Open 9AM to 4:30PM daily, closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. A fantastic place to take young children. As the name says, everyone is encouraged to touch the exhibits. Admission $9.95.

• The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, [5]. Open daily 9:30AM. to 5PM, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day, and New Year's Day. This museum attracts some of the top scientific exhibits in the world. Be sure to walk through the giant-sized human heart, a favorite with kids. This museum is incredibly popular with as a field trip destination for local schools, so be advised that mornings and early afternoons on weekdays may be crowded with schoolchildren. Base admission $13.75 for adults, $11 for children 4-11 years old and senior citizens.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Walnut Street starts near Rittenhouse Square (at 18th St) and extends eastward to Broad St. It is known as an upscale shopping district featuring a variety of world class shopping and dining destinations.
• Giovanni's Room an LGBT bookstore. [6]
• The Shops at Liberty Place, on 16th and Chestnut, is an elegant shopping center with stores like Nine West, J.Crew, and Express. Many professionals stop by to get a bite to eat at its large food court and some quick shopping during the lunch hour. [7]

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Alma de Cuba, 1623 Walnut St, ☎ +1 215 988-1799, [8]. M-Th 5PM-11PM, F-Sa 5PM-12AM, Su 5PM-10PM; happy hour M-F 5PM-7PM. $50 (entrees at $25).  edit

• Capogiro, 13th and Spruce; 20th and Sansom, [9]. Artisanal gelato that reflects seasonal and local ingredients. Sample flavors: La Colombe cappuccino, Campari and grapefruit, muscat grape, hot pepper. edit

• Friday Saturday Sunday (FriSatSun), 261 South 21st St, ☎ +1 215 546-4232, [10]. M-Sa 5:30PM-10:30PM, Su 5PM-10PM. A good neighborhood restaurant with regularly updated menu and good, reasonably priced wine list. FriSatSun was a a key contributor to Philly's 'restaurant renaissance' in the 70's, and is still going strong. Reservations recommended. Entrees $20-29.  edit

• Le Castagne Ristorante, 1920 Chestnut St, [11]. A sophisticated Northern Italian Restaurant owned by the Sena Family. edit

• Los Catrines & Tequilas Restaurant, 1602 Locust St, ☎ +1 215 546-0181, [12]. Featuring over 100 tequilas. Entrees $20-26.  edit

• Mama Palma's Gourmet Pizza, 2229 Spruce St (at 23rd), ☎ +1 215 735-7357. M 4PM-10PM; Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 2PM-10PM. A cozy neighborhood gourmet pizzeria. This casual restaurant serves delicious pizza concoctions from the wood-fired brick oven.  edit

• Matyson, 37 S.19th St, [13]. Entrees $18-26, Tasting menu $45.  edit

• Barclay Prime, 237 S 18th St, [14]. Luxury boutique steakhouse. edit

• Le Bec Fin, 523 Walnut St, ☎ +1 215 751-9913, [15]. 5-star French restaurant. A fine dining experience to rival anything New York has to offer.  edit

• Reading Terminal Market, [16]. America's oldest farmer's market on 12th and Arch with virtually every type of cuisine present. Be sure to make some time to stroll around and sample as much as you can. edit

• Scoop DeVille, at the corner of 18th and Chestnut. a wonderful ice cream and sweets shop. edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Woody's - a gay bar with 3 different rooms to satisfy everyone. [17]
• Sisters - a lesbian bar. [18]
• Monks - one of the largest beer varieties in the area, especially Belgian beer. with the right food to go with it. [19]
• Denim - one of Center City's most popular lounge with great DJs and a fashionable crowd. [20]
• Old City Coffee - one of the two branches is located inside the Reading Terminal Market serving good coffee. [21]
• Spruce Street Espresso - services coffee specialties at 1101 Spruce Street.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Bank Street Hostel - hostel. [22]
• Hilton Garden Inn - budget. [23]
• The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia - luxury. [24]
• Hotel Sofitel - romantic. [25]