Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Dining is big business in Philadelphia, with visitors spending $1.4 billion on food and beverage in 2010, according to Tourism Economics. Those in search of healthy choices are thrilled with the region’s vast and ever-evolving dining scene. From upscale white tablecloth with inventive vegetable creations to raw foods and gluten-free dishes, Philly’s veg-friendly scene offers possibilities aplenty. Here are some spots worth checking out:

Destination Dining:

• Blackbird Pizzeria, an entirely vegan pizza shop experience right off of South Street, serves up can’t-resist favorites like the nacho pizza, with caramelized onions, jalapeños, avocado and dairy-free cheese, and sandwiches including the

The days are longer, the weather’s warmer, and the Philadelphia dining scene has come into bloom this spring. Options range from creative bistro-inspired dishes to comfort food eats to all sorts of new vegan options. The following are just a few of the latest good-eating additions to the city’s inspired food scene:

Talk-of-the Town Openings:

• Matt Levin’s “diner-inspired” Square Peg upgrades the staples of Americana with his quirky, fun-loving sensibility, and the result is inimitable invention: white chocolate-habañero chicken wings, cheesesteak pot pie and carrot cake sundae with cream cheese ice cream. 929 Walnut Street, (215) 413-3600, squarepegrestaurant.com
• A

A city reveals itself through its street food, and Philadelphia has always had a bountiful spread of on-the-fly options. Locals and visitors can taste food truck fare en masse at Night Market Philadelphia, scheduled for two Thursday evenings this season, May 24 in Northern Liberties and June 28 along Washington Avenue, or at Philadelphia’s second-annual Vendy Awards, in which the city’s best food trucks vie to be the best, this July. Of course, foodies can always taste the yummy creations the original way, on city streets. Local food trucks run the gamut from student grub in stainless steel

The hub of Latino culture and life in Philadelphia, El Centro de Oro is home to several international non-profit organizations, many third- and fourth-generation family-owned businesses and residents descending from almost every Latino country across the globe. Visitors to this lively enclave—just a short cab ride from Center City Philadelphia—can feast on authentic Latin/Caribbean dishes at Isla Verde, get inspired by the work of Puerto Rican artists at Taller Puertorriqueño or feel their way through a flamenco dance lesson at Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas. Here are some suggestions for those who want to get a taste of the Latin flavor in

Those interested in indulging in a few days of luxury and pampering should consider Philadelphia, where living the high life is easier to obtain and more affordable than ever. A host of bargains, from prix-fixe dinners at elegant restaurants to overnight stays in five-star hotels to shopping deals at designer consignment boutiques, means visitors can save and still see the city and surrounding countryside in style. Below are just a few suggestions for a first-class visit to Philly:

High-Value Eats:

• At Rittenhouse Square’s Audrey Claire, guests experience an intimately set, open-air Mediterranean bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurant without breaking the bank.

Philly may be best known as the City of Brotherly Love, but sisters from Center City to New Hope have plenty of reasons to celebrate the gay nightlife scene for women. An exclusive nightclub and monthly parties have put Philly on the map for lesbian life. Here’s a look at where gay women come out to play and where they stay after the festivities end:

Venues:

• Sisters – Philadelphia’s longtime lesbian nightclub attracts women of all ages Tuesday through Sunday with live entertainment, DJs, karaoke and some of the best happy hour specials in the Gayborhood. The tri-level club

Long-considered one of the toniest neighborhoods in the city, Rittenhouse Square isn’t just an enviable address. Along its sidewalks—many of which boast seating for alfresco dining and drinking in the warm months—residents and visitors find high-end stores; locally owned boutiques; small cafes; beer, wine and cocktail bars; and restaurants of all kinds. And, of course, the one-block Rittenhouse Square is more popular with sunbathers, readers, families, artists and even dogs than city founder William Penn ever could have imagined. With a number of hotels also in the area, this neighborhood remains an out-of-towner favorite.

Restaurants, Bars And Entertainment:

• 500°

Located just next to Independence Mall, where the country’s Founding Fathers declared liberty and built a free nation, Old City still boasts charming cobblestoned streets and plenty of 18^th-century charm—along with an independent streak that’s evident in everything from its owner-operated shops to its edgy art scene. People love the neighborhood for its fashionable boutiques, great restaurants, eclectic galleries and theaters and vibrant nightlife. Its proximity to the Liberty Bell, Penn’s Landing and the Ben Franklin Bridge make Old City a favorite for out-of-towners as much as for the residents who call it home.

Restaurants & Bars:

For years, insiders have flocked to East Passyunk Avenue for its restaurants—particularly its red-gravy Italian spots. Recent revitalizations in the neighborhoods surrounding the thoroughfare have created a renaissance for the avenue itself, evidenced by a recent New York Times article. Visitors who stroll down Passyunk—pronounced pashunk by those in the know—find eclectic boutiques, coffee shops, vintage clothing stores, gastropubs, excellent Mexican and sushi fare, as well as the amazing Italian eateries that first made this street famous.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry:

• Adobe Cafe – This Southwest-style, vegetarian-friendly abode features house-made sangria, generous happy hour specials and karaoke every

Historical Sites & Attractions:

• Wannabe sailors can spend the night in the nation’s most decorated battleship, the Battleship New Jersey, and take tours of the officers’ and crew’s mess halls, communications center and high-tech command center. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, (856) 966-1652, battleshipnewjersey.org
• America’s most famous flag maker greets guests in her interactive 18^th-century upholstery shop at the Betsy Ross House. Visitors learn about Betsy’s life and legend from the lady herself. Summer brings a free Once Upon A Nation storytelling bench in the courtyard and the annual Flag Festival. Also, every morning at 10:00 a.m. in

With spring about to spring, diners are eager to enjoy their meals alfresco, and fortunately, Philadelphia and The Countryside® is flourishing with plenty of green-minded eateries. Whether it’s dinner in an urban courtyard, brunch in an antique greenhouse or beer and pizza on a green roof, there’s an abundance of options for taking in the local flora. Here’s a look at just a few of the region’s restaurants that boast flower power:

• The enclosed veranda at The Brick Hotel’s Restaurant overlooks lush, well-tended flower gardens, which are a visual complement to the New American cuisine like line-caught salmon over saffron

Spanning from Broad to 10^th Streets and from Market to Pine Streets, Midtown Village is the lively center of downtown Philadelphia. Other neighborhoods converge here, but Midtown Village—a new but buzzing city enclave—maintains a distinct personality thanks to a business boom that includes independent shops and restaurants, small cafes, alfresco tables along every sidewalk and a rainbow street sign-lined Gayborhood. On the neighborhood’s western border lies a district appropriately named for its place as Philadelphia’s performance hub: the Avenue of the Arts, which runs along Broad Street from City Hall to Lombard Street. The wide stretch is home to

A review of the nation’s top magazines—Esquire, Bon Appétit, Saveur and Travel + Leisure—makes it clear that Philadelphia is for food lovers, and the city’s restaurant scene is also a very gay-friendly one. New eateries in the Gayborhood and around town serve up everything from pub grub to gourmet goodies, alongside a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all of their guests. Here are some of the city’s newest restaurants popular with the LGBT community:

Gayborhood:

• Inspired by farm-fresh ingredients, The Farmers' Cabinet, a 1920s-inspired supper club, focuses on the classics. The speakeasy-style restaurant and club serves a

Graduate Hospital goes by many names (Center City South, South of South, G-Ho), which is fitting for a neighborhood that draws its personality from the people inside it: young transplants, born-and-raised neighbors, hip urban professionals, craft beer crowds and more. In recent years, the area stretching from Lombard Street to Washington Avenue and from Broad Street to Gray’s Ferry Avenue has accumulated a healthy dose of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and markets that reflect the area’s residential and cool vibe.

Restaurants & Bars:

• Balkan Express Restaurant – This family-run bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spot serves up Mediterranean fare that’s both wallet-friendly

Weekends were made for brunching—chatting with friends, digging into a stack of syrupy pancakes, lingering over a cup of a coffee and a few refills. No one knows this better than Philadelphians, who have a wide array of fantastic brunch options to choose from every Saturday and Sunday. Whether the craving is for a five-star buffet with caviar, a Latin feast of plantains and agua fresca cocktails or fresh granola and locally grown blueberries, Philadelphia foodies have plenty of go-to spots for a late morning or early afternoon meal. The following are some of the region’s best brunch options:

Brunch

Throughout Philadelphia and The Countryside®, museums, gardens and performing arts centers are serving visitors enticing meals, from delicate French cuisine to juicy burgers to kosher snacks. Here’s a look at a few of the region’s best bets for a complete cultural day (or night) out:

• Inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Stephen Starr’s contemporary French eatery Granite Hill dishes up museum-quality plates of olive oil-poached tuna with a white bean purée and marinated grape tomatoes, and roasted branzino meunière with capers and lemon brown butter. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, for dinner on Friday and for

Reading Terminal Market Expansion
A favorite of residents and tourists alike, Philly’s preeminent indoor market and local food hub has been around since 1892, but in 2012 the Reading Terminal Market is getting bigger and better. With increased sales, a growing city population and the recently enlarged Pennsylvania Convention Center stretching its capacity, the market—housing all of Philly’s classic foods (cheesesteaks, hoagies, soft pretzels and more) under one roof—is in the midst of a $3.5 million revamp. Storage has been moved to the basement, opening up stalls for five new retailers, and bathrooms are getting a needed update, in addition

Sure, Philadelphia is an exciting place to visit on the weekends, but it’s also a happening spot Monday through Thursday. Visitors can dig into a great meal, catch a concert at a major music venue, dance it up at a club or watch one of the hometown teams do their thing in South Philly. They can also opt for something a little more off-the-beaten path: happy hours at museums, open-mic nights, poetry readings, cooking classes, dance lessons, drag shows and more. In fact, there’s so much to do, visitors will want to book a hotel deal at visitphilly.com/hotels, and

Philadelphia, aptly dubbed the City of Brotherly Love, caters to lovers looking to re-energize their relationships at cultural sites, romantic eateries, outdoor attractions and other swoon-worthy spots. Couples can make it a weekend—or longer—by booking special hotel packages, some of which are romantically themed, on visitphilly.com/hotels. One popular deal, the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package comes with two nights and free hotel parking.

Here are a few suggestions for embracing the region’s romantic side:

Cozy Cuisine:

• Tucked in a corner brownstone a few blocks off Rittenhouse Square, Friday Saturday Sunday has long been a local favorite of amorous couples craving

New year; new restaurants. Philly’s dining scene is ramping up for its most exciting season yet. This winter signals an emphatic return to fine dining with a spate of fresh options from high-profile chefs, plus great cheap eats, sequels to blockbuster hits and plenty of new ways to stay nourished no matter what neigborhood is nearby. Whether it’s artisan pasta, a magnificent mess of ribs or a tasty tart frozen yogurt, there are all sorts of interesting flavors to sample. The following are just a few of the most recent additions:

Leadoff Openings:

• Philly superchefs Jason Cichonski and Chip