Page 28 - Guide to Greater Philadelphia

post-impressionist and early modern paintings in the world, including significant works by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse,PicassoandModigliani.
Of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (phil- amuseum.org) is home to the famous Rocky Steps,
but it’s also a world-class arts venue. The museum features the world’s largest collection of works by Marcel Duchamp, the finest public collection of Auguste Rodin’s sculpture in the United States, and superb impressionist and post-impressionist paintings.
Longwood Gardens (longwoodgardens.org) consists of more than 1,000 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows. After an extensive renovation, Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden re-opened in 2017, providing yet another spectacular reason to visit this scenic attraction.
For those whose taste runs a little more toward the unusual, The Mütter Museum (muttermuseum.org) is
a must-see. The museum’s collection of bones, plaster casts, medical illustrations and other pathological artifacts was donated by Philadelphia physician Thomas Mütter. While you’ll see unusual skeletal formations and diseased organs, you’ll also encounter important artifacts of science, such as Marie Curie’s electrometer.
The Please Touch Museum (pleasetouchmuseum. org) is intended for the younger members of your family. Its mission is to create learning opportunities for children through play. Founded in 1976 by Montessori educator Portia Sperr, the museum’s permanent exhibits include opportunities for children to build their STEM skills, financial literacy, gross motor skills and prob- lem-solving abilities.
Valley Forge National Historical Park (nps.gov/vafo) is the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army. Visitors can use trails through-
out the park to explore key monuments and historic structures, such as the National Memorial Arch and the Muhlenberg Brigade’s recreated log-cabin barracks.
If your visit to Valley Forge inspires you to get
a more comprehensive view of the Revolutionary
War, make sure to visit the Museum of the American Revolution (amrevmuseum.org). The museum’s exhibits explore each phase of America’s quest for indepen- dence, from the 1760s to the founding of a new nation.
In Delaware, notable cultural attractions include the DuPont family mansions such as Nemours and Winterthur (visitdelaware.com/things-to-do/his- tory-heritage/dupont-mansions-gardens) and the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington (delart.org).
Just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, take in the Battleship New Jersey (battleshipnewjersey. org), or venture a little further into the Garden State to visit Grounds for Sculpture (groundsforsculpture.org), a one-of-a-kind sculpture garden in Mercer County.
Also Notable:
• • • •
James A. Michener Art Museum (michenerartmuseum.org) AfricanAmericanMuseuminPhiladelphia (aampmuseum.org)
Camden Children’s Garden (camdenchildrensgarden.org) Delaware Children’s Museum (delawarechildrensmuseum.org)
Nightlife
Discerning lovers of beer, wine and other adult beverages will find a burgeoning bar scene in Philadelphia.
Dining
The iconic culinary expertise of Greater Philadelphia–hoagies,cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, Tastykake, Goldenberg’s
Peanut Chews, Asher’s Chocolates, Bassett’s Ice Cream, Habbersett’s Scrapple, salt water taffy, water ice, blueberries, corn and tomatoes from the Garden State (New Jersey), Frank’s sodas, and so much more – has evolved into one of the most notable and sophisticated dining experiences in the country. For that special hoagie or cheesesteak, visit John’s Roast Pork, Tony Luke’s and Jim’s on Philadelphia’s famous South Street – or any corner pizza shop in neighborhoods across the region for some of the best.
James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov offers modern Israeli cuisine at Zahav (zahavrestaurant.com). The restaurant’s name means “gold” in Hebrew, and the centerpieces of its menu include wood-fired flatbread, creamy hummus and skewers of meat grilled over hardwood charcoal.
Another culinary star is Stephen Starr, who
has been named an Outstanding Restaurateur by
the James Beard Foundation. His Philadelphia-
area restaurants include upscale Asian-fusion spot Buddakan (buddakan.com), Barclay Prime, Jones, Parc and Butcher & Singer.
At Vernick Food & Drink (vernickphilly.com), chef and owner Greg Vernick serves up a carefully selected menu of small and large plates that has earned the restaurant a #2 ranking in Philadelphia from Zagat, and has seen it named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by Bon Appétit.
Trained in Bergamo, Italy, by some of the region’s most noted chefs, Marc Vetri is the chef and owner of Vetri Ristorante, Osteria, Amis, and Alla Spina, which collectively make up the apex of fine Italian dining in Philadelphia (Vetri is now part of Urban.)
Another leading light in Philadelphia’s dining scene is nationally known chef Jose Garces. To date, he has opened nine restaurants in Philadelphia — including Amada, Tinto and Volver, among others — transforming the city’s dining scene in the process.
In the Main Line and New Jersey suburbs, you can’t miss the highly successful restaurants of the Dave Magrogan Group — including Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, Red Star Craft House, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster Bar and Kildare’s Irish Pub.
The Wilmington area also has a lively restaurant scene, with that city’s Riverfront home to at least 40 restaurants, many with outside dining in the warmer months.
The many small towns and historic sites throughout Greater Philadelphia also provide many dining options, whether it’s Haddonfield, NJ, New Hope, PA, or tucked into the Brandywine Valley. Likewise, wineries and craft brew houses — several award-winning leaders, such as Yards, Victory, and Sly Fox — abound.
• National Constitution Center
(constitutioncenter.org) •
• National Museum of American Jewish History (nmajh.org)
26 | Guide to Greater Philadelphia
Just steps from Independence Mall, Independence Beer Garden (phlbeergarden.com) features two bars with 40 taps, plus an outdoor rock garden with cozy Adirondack chairs and picnic tables.
Meanwhile, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (kimmelcenter.org) is a world-class venue that is home to the “famous Philadelphians” of the Philadelphia Orchestra (philorch.org) and hosts several other resident companies, including the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and PHILADANCO.
Members of the LGBT community have access to
a cornucopia of options in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, which runs from 11th to Broad streets and from Chestnut to Pine streets. Popular spots include classic gay bar Woody’s (woodysbar.com), Voyeur Nightclub (voyeurnightclub.com), and Tavern On Camac (tavernon- camac.com), a piano-bar-meets-dance-club.
Philadelphia offers a diverse and growing theater community. Enjoy major works at the Philadelphia Theatre Company, and one the nation’s oldest performance halls
– the Walnut Street Theatre – or discover new artists at the Prince Music Theater (princetheater.org).
Lovers of independent and classic cinema will feel at home at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (brynmawrfilm. org), a non-profit, community-owned theater famous for showing a wide selection of art house and foreign films, as well as retrospectives.
For high-profile Broadway shows, head to The Playhouse on Rodney Square (duponttheatre.com) in Wilmington. The theater’s beautiful Victorian stage is located at the luxurious Hotel du Pont.
Cowtown Rodeo (cowtownrodeo.com) is the coun- try’s oldest weekly running rodeo, and it’s located not in the heart of Texas, but in New Jersey’s Salem County.
For live music by nationally and internationally famous acts, you can’t do better than the BB&T Pavilion (bbtpavilion.org) in Camden. The pavilion’s large outdoor amphitheater transforms into an indoor venue for the winter season.
Also Notable:
•
The Fillmore (thefillmorephilly.com)
The Mann Center (manncenter.org)
The Tower Theater (venue.thetowerphilly.com)
•