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PHILADELPHIA HIGHLIGHTS
 
(2014 - Spring/Summer Issue)

Writer: CASSANDRA KRIVY



Philadelphia is a city of neighbourhoods featuring seasonal markets and festivals that bring people out.

I love Philadelphia’s many distinctive communities, such as Old City and Rittenhouse Square, with their ever-changing, intimate bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurants.

If you plan to visit this convivial mid-Atlantic city, pick a neighbourhood. South Philadelphia’s Bella Vista tempts you with the Italian Market, America’s oldest outdoor marketplace, dating back to the 1880s. Meanwhile, the Reading Terminal Market in Center City offers everything from local produce and meat to artisanal cheeses and desserts. Create a picnic at the markets to take to a summer concert or outdoor film fest in one of the city’s many neighbourhoods and parks.

Festivals and Entertainment

Here are just a few suggestions if you find yourself in Philadelphia this summer.

The Clark Park Music and Arts Festival takes place on June 21 and September 20. Or consider the XPoNential Music Festival, a memorable three-day treat in late July for music lovers at Wiggins Park and the Susquehanna Bank Center on the Camden Waterfront.

To beer drinkers’ delight, Philadelphia has been nurturing a craft beer industry lauded by GQ, Draft magazine and Forbes, among others. The city’s growing number of bottle shops or beer gardens burst with hundreds of craft beers ready to sample. You can pick adraught and purchase delicious treats to tote with your suds, or dine comfortably on-site.

Arts and crafts seekers love the ManayunkArts Festival, marking its 25th anniversary in 2014 and boasting 300 artistsand crafters from around the country. Thriving with shops and restaurants, this event on Manayunk’s Main Street, one of my favourite neighbourhoods near home, draws crowds.

There are many ways to enjoy the waterfront. Climb aboard the Moshulu, the world’s oldest and largest square-rigged vessel still afloat. Enjoy cocktails and dining on its deck, or sit inside and enjoy the cruise.

For cutting-edge theatre, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, from September 5–21, features 17 days of avant-garde theatre, dance, music and interdisciplinary performances around the city.

Outdoorsy types enjoy Fairmount Park, the largest city park in the country, containing botanical gardens, hiking and biking trails, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. Museums along the flag-lined Benjamin Franklin Parkway include The Franklin Institute, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Barnes Foundation with its famous collection of French Impressionists, and the Rodin Museum.

In 2015, Philadelphia, one of the country’s bike-friendlier cities, will launch its Bike Sharing program. Ride along the Schuylkill River or the historic Forbidden Drive, both popular with joggers, walkers and cyclists. It’s a great way to see the city while gliding under the summer sun!

And I didn’t even mention Philly’s traditional water ice, soft pretzels and famous cheese steaks, long-cherished favourites.

Travel Planner

For more information, go to Philadelphia Tourism at visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com.

 
 
 
 
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