Topic Wiki

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 Info Outdated.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 182009 times)

Offline far rockaway

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #80 on: August 21, 2013, 09:03:39 AM »
They upgraded me to a Bellevue Suite. It was very large.

Just stayed there. I got upgraded to a Bellevue suite and I'm only a platinum member. Was very nice stay.

Offline mochada

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #81 on: August 21, 2013, 11:04:46 PM »
Just stayed there. I got upgraded to a Bellevue suite and I'm only a platinum member. Was very nice stay.

Upgraded to a Bellevue suite on an anniversary night?
Did you contact the hotel prior or was it offered at check in?

Offline mochada

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #82 on: August 22, 2013, 03:23:36 PM »
Anyone been to the eateries in Center City/Downtown Philly lately? Any recommendations? Staying at the Hyatt at the Bellvue for a night over Labor day weekend.

Offline bades

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #83 on: August 22, 2013, 03:38:31 PM »
Anyone stay at the HYatt Penn Landing? were people overall impressed with the Hyatt Bellevue?

Offline MarkS

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #84 on: August 22, 2013, 03:40:45 PM »
Anyone been to the eateries in Center City/Downtown Philly lately? Any recommendations? Staying at the Hyatt at the Bellvue for a night over Labor day weekend.
Center City there's really only two options - Mama's and Burger.org
I'm a fan of Burger.org though they've gotten mixed reviews upthread.

If you can, head over to Citron and Rose for a nicer place.

Online jj1000

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #85 on: August 22, 2013, 03:54:35 PM »
Center City there's really only two options - Mama's and Burger.org
I'm a fan of Burger.org though they've gotten mixed reviews upthread.

If you can, head over to Citron and Rose for a nicer place.
I had a steak sandwich and plain burger at burger.org. Meh :-/
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Offline mochada

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #86 on: August 22, 2013, 04:14:05 PM »
They wouldn't confirm it before checkin, but they sounded amenable to it.

I booked a night using an anniversary night this morning.  Sent an email to the concierge email on the Hyatt at the Bellevue's website and within 2 hours received an email noting per the GM's request I have been confirmed in a Bellevue Suite.
They seem to be very complimentary with the suite upgrades.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2013, 04:51:37 PM by jagstangx »

Offline deals

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #87 on: August 22, 2013, 04:15:13 PM »
Center City there's really only two options - Mama's and Burger.org
I'm a fan of Burger.org though they've gotten mixed reviews upthread.


they are both 2 little old places but liked the food

Offline far rockaway

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #88 on: August 22, 2013, 11:07:06 PM »
Anyone been to the eateries in Center City/Downtown Philly lately? Any recommendations? Staying at the Hyatt at the Bellvue for a night over Labor day weekend.

I drove out to citron and rose. Make reservation in advance. I called a few hours before and they were booked. They let me sit outside tables without reservation. Food was good but not many options on the menu. If you're getting burger.org I would order in from seamless. The Bellevue suite is pretty large and very comfortable to have a nice dinner.

Offline ybeeds

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #89 on: November 24, 2013, 01:54:53 AM »
Anyone stay at Le Méridien or The Westin?
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Offline Smartypantz

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #90 on: January 12, 2014, 11:13:43 AM »
Any recommendations for things to do in philli in this cold weather, with an infant? going for 2 days, staying at Sheraton city center. thanks!

Offline ybeeds

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #91 on: January 12, 2014, 11:24:08 AM »
Any recommendations for things to do in philli in this cold weather, with an infant? going for 2 days, staying at Sheraton city center. thanks!
Don't do the Penitentiary in the cold with a baby...
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Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #92 on: January 12, 2014, 11:36:19 AM »
Any recommendations for things to do in philli in this cold weather, with an infant? going for 2 days, staying at Sheraton city center. thanks!
The Franklin Institute is nice.

Online jj1000

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #93 on: January 12, 2014, 11:41:31 AM »
Constitution rising presentation at the constitution center is a fantastic presentation, if you ever wanted to try and get patriotic goosebumps it's a great show.
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Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #94 on: January 12, 2014, 11:43:37 AM »
Also the Jewish museum is very nice.

Offline JustaHocker

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #95 on: January 12, 2014, 11:52:45 AM »
And you can skip the top floor.
The Zoo is great but not in this weather.
Look around some of the places have a flat rate parking deal with a neighboring garage. So if you go to that museum, you can go other nearby places too for no additional parking. I think the JM is near the mint...
« Last Edit: January 12, 2014, 11:57:26 AM by JustaHocker »

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #96 on: January 12, 2014, 12:02:18 PM »
Constitution rising presentation at the constitution center is a fantastic presentation, if you ever wanted to try and get patriotic goosebumps it's a great show.
I was actually very underwhelmed by this presentation. The rest of the permanent exhibit there was pretty good, and the special exhibit at the time on Prohibition was excellent (don't think they have anything like that now though).

I would also highly recommend the Independence Seaport Museum. The permanent exhibit was excellent, and the special exhibit at the time was even better (Disasters on the Delaware). The current special exhibit is "Tides of Freedom: African Presence on the Delaware River". With an infant though you'll probably have to skip another highlight there - walking through the Spanish-American War Cruiser Olympia and the World War II Submarine Becuna that are permanently docked next to the museum. We went on New Years and were able to watch the fireworks show over the water from the museum balcony too.

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #97 on: January 12, 2014, 12:04:43 PM »
I was actually very underwhelmed by this presentation. The rest of the permanent exhibit there was pretty good, and the special exhibit at the time on Prohibition was excellent (don't think they have anything like that now though).
All depends on the actor you get I suppose. I was there for a private event and it was a very nice part of the evening. Our actor was a very excited lady that everyone seemed to enjoy.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2014, 12:20:18 PM by jj1000 »
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Offline lunatic

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #98 on: January 12, 2014, 12:24:00 PM »
how old is your infant? Please touch me museum is great for kids

Offline metziah

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Re: Philadelphia Master Thread
« Reply #99 on: January 19, 2014, 10:33:46 PM »
anyone know of a minyan for shachris at about 7AM? around downtown area would be great.
Also, is there any kosher food to be had around downtown Philly?