Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

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

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 LGBT-friendly nightlife scene. Women’s parties and exclusive nightclubs have put Philly on the map for lesbian life after dark. Here’s a look at where the girls eat, drink and party:

Bars & Nightclubs:

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

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares on Penn’s Landing, a celebration of the fall season in Midtown Village, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street or a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue, there’s always a reason to celebrate in neighborhoods in and around Center City. The following are some mark-the-calendar happenings for 2013:

CENTER CITY

Benjamin Franklin Parkway:

• For the third year running, the Philadelphia Science Festival will unleash 10 days of exploratory exhibitions, lectures, debates and hands-on activities on campuses, museums and other venues around the city, culminating

After receiving a perfect score on the Human Right Campaign’s first-ever Municipality Index, Philadelphia continues to prove that it’s still one of the best destinations for LGBT travelers looking to get their history straight and nightlife gay.

“The heart of Philly’s Gayborhood may be centered on 13th and Locust Streets, but there are plenty of LGBT-friendly reasons to visit throughout the region,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), which in 2013 will commemorate the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking LGBT advertising campaign with the memorable tagline Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight And Your

As if making an international name for itself in the 19^th and 20^th centuries with an underdog championship boxer movie character, dueling cheesesteak purveyors, the Mummers and, well, a cracked bell didn’t make Philadelphia quirky enough, it seems the 21^st century will continue to propagate that fun-loving mystique with strange and wonderful annual events held every month of the year. Here’s a look at the city’s quirky side:

January:

• Setting the standard for quirky events, the Mummers Parade kicks off every New Year with more than 15,000 men, women and children spending thousands of dollars on

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today debuted a new personality quiz on facebook.com/visitgayphilly that will help LGBT visitors figure out which Philadelphia neighborhood best suits them and give them a chance to win a weekend stay in Philadelphia, including tickets to a Lady Gaga concert. A part of GPTMC’s popular Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® campaign, the fun Facebook-based quiz asks questions about participant’s dining, shopping and nightlife preferences and then determines which of five Philly neighborhoods—the Gayborhood, Old City, Rittenhouse Square/Benjamin Franklin Parkway, East Passyunk and New Hope—meshes best with their mood.

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, athletic events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2013*.

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2013. phillymummers.com
• The region gets revved up in the 2013, thanks to the Philadelphia Auto Show. The Pennsylvania Convention Center transforms into a car lover’s dream, with 700

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) recently debuted content on Foursquare, Foodspotting and Pinterest for LGBT travelers planning a trip to Philadelphia or residents who want to get to know their city better. On the various social media apps, those with an interest in Philadelphia’s gay-friendly offerings can get the scoop on must-try restaurants, popular bars, top shops and more.

1. Foursquare Lists: These new curated guides give LGBT visitors the scoop on how to eat and drink their way through Philly:

• Gayborhood Grub: Though small, the Gayborhood contains a burgeoning food scene full of delicious options. Readers will

Offering everything from eye-popping art and organic soaps to trendy housewares and statement jewels, the gay-owned stores of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood offer a boutique shopping experience. And since the shops share the streets with lively restaurants, bars and clubs, it’s easy to make an entire day and night out of any Gayborhood excursion.

• Business and life partners Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have helped transform 13^th Street—in an area known as Midtown Village—in the last several years. Their flagship shop Open House offers a hand-selected assortment of gifts ranging from accessories and furniture to apparel and housewares, while Verde, just

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

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is proud to announce five partnerships that aim to reach gay and lesbian travelers as part of its groundbreaking Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® marketing campaign. In 2012, GPTMC will work with two Philadelphia-based events, Equality Forum and the Philadelphia International Flower Show; two national companies, R Family Vacations and Miss Richfield; and one international organization, OutServe.

These novel marketing partnerships tie Philadelphia, a popular gay-friendly destination, with well-known entities within the LGBT community, and use advertising, public relations, social media, contests and special events to get the

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recently dedicated a state historical marker to LGBT bookstore Giovanni’s Room, giving Philadelphia two markers that commemorate significant milestones in the LGBT community.

Giovanni’s Room is the longest continuously running LGBT bookstore in the United States, and its historical marker sits right outside the shop at 12^th and Pine Streets in the heart of the Gayborhood. The trailblazing bookstore opened in 1973 and served as a refuge and cultural center at the onset of the modern LGBT civil rights movement. Today, Giovanni’s offers an extensive collection of gay literature in a welcoming setting.

As if making an international name for itself in the 19^th and 20^th centuries with an underdog championship boxer movie character, dueling cheesesteak purveyors, the Mummers and, well, a cracked bell didn’t make Philadelphia quirky enough, it seems the 21^st century will continue to propagate that fun-loving mystique with strange and wonderful annual events held every month of the year. Here’s a look at the city’s quirky side:

January:

• Setting the standard for quirky events, the Mummers Parade kicks off every New Year with more than 15,000 men, women and children spending thousands of dollars on

Gay and lesbian travelers have plenty of options when choosing gay-friendly hotel accommodations in the Greater Philadelphia region. More than a dozen hotels have identified as gay-friendly, letting gay and lesbian travelers know they are welcome and can be assured friendly service. With chic accommodations and budget-friendly options, the Philadelphia region is the perfect place to Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay. Here’s a look at some of the great gay-friendly hotels in town:

Gayborhood:

• Alexander Inn: Nestled in the heart of Washington Square West, popularly known as the “Gayborhood,” The Alexander Inn is one of Philadelphia’s

Philadelphia’s countryside boasts a welcoming array of fun and easy side trips, all within an hour’s drive or train ride from the city’s Gayborhood. Spend the day enjoying lunch and a stroll along the Delaware River in New Hope, perusing the iconic landscapes of Andrew Wyeth at the Brandywine River Museum, hiking the miles of trails at Valley Forge National Historical Park or shopping for high-end goods at the King of Prussia Mall. (Don’t forget: There’s no sales tax on clothing or shoes in Pennsylvania.)

Here’s a look at eight close-by excursions to consider:

Destination: New Hope
Directions: One-hour drive

Philadelphia’s LGBT visitors looking for a fun night out may choose a bar or restaurant in the city’s Gayborhood, or they may decide to venture out to a mainstream spot frequented by gay and lesbian locals in the neighborhoods of Northern Liberties, South Philly or Rittenhouse Square. Whatever their mood, Philadelphia has a nightspot to satisfy it.

With so much late-night fun to be had during their trips, visitors will want to stay over. One popular deal is the two-night Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, complete with free hotel parking and available at more than 30 hotels throughout the region. Dozens

Philadelphia, which recently marked the 40^th anniversary of its vibrant Gayborhood, continues to come out as one of the nation’s top travel destinations for gay and lesbian visitors. As reflected in its award-winning Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® campaign, the region has become the place to learn about America’s past by day and to experience a little of the party life by night. Philadelphia is now tied for the #9 spot on the list of most-visited gay and lesbian destinations on Community Marketing, Inc.’s annual LGBT Tourism Study, and it’s tied for #2 among

The heart of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood may be centered on 13^th and Locust Streets, but there are plenty of gay-friendly destinations throughout the region catering to crowds looking for fun. From weekly parties to annual gay pride events, visitors are sure to find something lively going on in Philly every week. Here are just 34 of the reasons to visit in 2011:

Get Your Nightlife Gay Seven Days A Week:

1. As one of the most popular gay nightclubs in Philadelphia, Woody’s keeps the crowds coming with its sprawling dance floor and friendly downstairs bars, open from lunch until late

Philadelphia broke into the top 10 U.S. destinations visited by gay and lesbian travelers in 2010—just seven years after the launch of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s (GPTMC) groundbreaking Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® campaign. According to expert gay and lesbian research company Community Marketing, Inc.’s annual LGBT Tourism Study, Philadelphia tied for the #9 spot on the list of most-visited destinations and tied for the #2 spot on the list of the destinations most effectively promoting to LGBT travelers. Before GPTMC’s gay and lesbian tourism marketing campaign kicked off in 2003, the region

Philadelphia is a foodie’s kind of town, and gay-friendly visitors can be sure that they’ll eat well and eat comfortably while in town thanks to dozens of restaurants offering a world of choices at a variety of price points. Here are 15 of the city’s newest gay-friendly spots located in the Gayborhood and beyond:

Good Eats In The Gayborhood:

• Italian maestro Marc Vetri of Vetri and Osteria fame has gone back to his Washington Square roots and opened Amîs, an authentic Roman trattoria specializing in rustic small-plates like lamb sausage and fried artichokes, a small but focused wine list