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Warning! This wiki is not complete. Please read through the thread for more info.. Info Outdated. Check before you go!

Attractions
Franklin Institute
Please Touch Museum
National Constitution Center
US Mint
Adventure Aquarium (just across the river in Camden, NJ)
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA (about 45 minutes south-west of the city)
Eastern State Penitentiary
National Museum of American Jewish History
Philadelphia Zoo
Independence Seaport Museum
Smith Playground
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
One Liberty Observation Deck
Liberty Bell (plus a bunch of other historical sites nearby)
Independence Hall
Trolley tour bus

For discounts on admission, consider the Philadelphia Pass or the Philadelphia City Pass (if your visiting enough attractions), or buy the Entertainment book for the coupons. If you order it online, you should be able to print out all of the coupons you need immediately.

Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton located near City Center was originally a Bank and worth a visit.
Sheraton Society Hill is near the Liberty Bell area and the River. (probably the best place to stay for shabbos)
the Westin is by Rittenhouse Sq and City Center is North of City Hall area closer to Museum Row.
The Westin on 17th & Liberty. has some Old World charm to it
Sheraton City Center - was fine. clean, neat, pool and fitness but nothing special
Le Meridian across from city hall
Hyatt at the Bellevue on Walnut and Broad st.
Hyatt Penn's Landing
Homewood Suites City Avenue

Westin a plain hotel over the River in Mt Laurel , NJ
Aloft - Mt Laurel. (Aloft is  not your typical hotel. Very young crowd. Relaxed staff. Place is nice and new).

Restaurants

Center City:
Burger.org - 1901 Chesnut Street CLOSED
Mama's Vegetarian CLOSED
Center City Soft Pretzel Co. - unusual hours

University City:
Kosher Dining at the University of Pennsylvania - check hours/dates, only open during academic year

Lower Merion (20-25 min from center city, but up to 45 in traffic):
Shalom Pizzeria
Citron and Rose - more upscale. Make reservations in advance. Closed but recently reopened (as of May 17, 2017)
The Dairy - very nice dairy restaurant. CLOSED

Star of David Kosher grill- 942 Montgomery Ave, Narberth, PA 19072. Cheaper option for meat, Chinese, sushi
Nana's kitchen in the JCC-Address: 45 Haverford Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096 Phone:(703) 586-3103- Call before, but usually open in the daytime with seating. Don't have to be a member to attend. Excellent dairy food options and very reasonably priced.

Northeast (35 min from downtown):
Holy Land Grill-permanently closed
Espresso Cafe

Cherry Grill in Cherry Hill, NJ is just across the Delaware River (via Ben Franklin Bridge.). Fairly classy ambience, better than decent food. 3/5 stars. Hechsher by the O-K and the Cherry K Vaad Hakashruth.

This is a pretty good list of the generally accepted kosher restaurants in Philly.
This is the website for the generally accepted community hechsher: http://www.keystone-k.info/

Shuls
Orthodox Jewish Philadelphia Directory
www.phillyshul.com (actually 2 shuls which they alternate between). Run by a very nice chabad rabbi.
Sephardi shul (www.mikvehisrael.org)
Mekor Habracha

Lower Merion (15 min drive from downtown):
Lower Merion Synagogue
Young Israel of the Main Line
Philadelphia Community Kollel - next door to Citron and Rose

Northeast (35 min drive from downtown):
Congregation Ahavas Torah

Bensalem (10 min drive from Sesame Place)
http://www.bensalemoutreach.org/

Eruv Maps
http://www.philly-direct.com/frum/eruv.html


Author Topic: Philadelphia Master Thread  (Read 181794 times)

Offline mercaz1

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #20 on: April 10, 2012, 09:29:28 AM »
Easter state penitentiary
+1
 was just there, very interesting

Offline plainbachur

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #21 on: April 11, 2012, 04:07:59 PM »
i just was in philly for chol hamoed went to aquarim very nice the imax there very stupid its fiction nothing realy elese to do i stayed in sherton downtown got an upgrade to a deluxe room its a little bigger then a regular room we made a minyan in conference room

Offline bubbles

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #22 on: April 11, 2012, 04:25:53 PM »
anyone know about the aloft in Mount Laurel?

Offline plainbachur

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #23 on: April 11, 2012, 04:27:33 PM »
aloft always more hippe more mordern but nice
how many ppl u need to fit in a room?
are u spg gold?

Offline bubbles

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #24 on: April 11, 2012, 04:29:30 PM »
aloft always more hippe more mordern but nice
how many ppl u need to fit in a room?
are u spg gold?

2 ppl plus a baby

nope

Offline plainbachur

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #25 on: April 11, 2012, 04:39:52 PM »
are u planing on going to philly the next day?

Offline bubbles

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #26 on: April 11, 2012, 04:44:18 PM »
are u planing on going to philly the next day?

not there fr pleasure. just need to be there early in the morn so its easier sleeping over. just going to be hanging out in the hotel

Offline plainbachur

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #27 on: April 11, 2012, 04:55:08 PM »
stay there or in the westin across the street and try to get a spg gold maybe u will get a upgrade

Offline bubbles

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #28 on: April 11, 2012, 05:22:02 PM »
stay there or in the westin across the street and try to get a spg gold maybe u will get a upgrade

thanks. turns out a late change of plans and Im not going after all

Offline Avid Reader

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #29 on: April 11, 2012, 05:35:44 PM »
There is a new museum 'National Museum of American Jewish History'. I heard it's good, but never been there. I would love if someone who's already been there can comment on this place.

"In celebration of the holiday of Passover, the Museum will have evening hours for the first time on Wednesday, April 11, when it will be open until 8 p.m. From 5 p.m.-8 p.m., visitors to the Museum can pay what they wish."

Offline myr707

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #30 on: May 06, 2012, 01:38:46 PM »
Anyone know the deal with kosher restaurants? Which are good (and kosher)?

Offline dd321

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #31 on: May 06, 2012, 01:56:06 PM »
Max and David's closed down, there is however a new burger place call burger.org. Web site is burgerorg.com

Offline myr707

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #32 on: May 07, 2012, 07:00:34 PM »
Thanks a lot. Anyone know of a milchig place?

Offline dd321

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #33 on: May 07, 2012, 09:00:14 PM »
Thanks a lot. Anyone know of a milchig place?
moms vegeterian and shalom pizza

Offline Bendemeer

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Adventure Aquarium-Camden
« Reply #34 on: July 31, 2012, 10:45:36 AM »
Where can I get discounts/coupons for the Aquarium in Camden?

Offline vintastic16

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Re: Adventure Aquarium-Camden
« Reply #35 on: July 31, 2012, 12:35:34 PM »
Sign up for Philly.com newletter and you'll usually get $2 off offer shortly after.

Offline Avid Reader

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #36 on: July 31, 2012, 07:34:37 PM »
Anyone here check out the National Museum of American Jewish History yet?

Offline BrooklynCPA

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #37 on: August 21, 2012, 12:54:44 PM »
I will be in Phili tomorow for about 5 hours with my 2 older kids. I need one good place to go and one convenient place to eat. My kids don't like typical museums but I was thinking to either go to Eastern state penitentiary or possibly to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Franklin Institute (if I can convince them they'd like it).

Can anyone tell me if the Easter state penitentiary is interesting and how far is it from downtown. Also, any good lunch recommendations within an easy drive or walk from downtown?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #38 on: August 21, 2012, 01:02:59 PM »
Penitentiary is really cool. Google the distance, but I don't remember it being too far. Not more than an hour/hour and a half activity
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline mercaz1

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #39 on: August 21, 2012, 02:25:17 PM »
Eastern State is a very good place to visit