Five Worth Finding: Philadelphia edition

A recent visit to the City of Brotherly Love—my first—brought to light a city that has a lot with Chicago but that also has its own indelible identity (and a mind-boggling 6,000 murals). Aside from the standard but fascinating tourist fare (the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc.) here are a few of the highlights:

—The Independent Hotel (1234 Locust; www.theindependenthotel.com) : I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at this 24-room boutique hotel in the heart of the city’s gayborhood. However, I was totally taken from the start—from the friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff to the spacious yet comfortable room. (An extra benefit for me was the business center that was unoccupied, allowing me to check e-mails uninterrupted.) Add the very reasonable rates to the mix and you’ll see why this hotel is a can’t-miss prospect.

—Food: Of course, you can’t go wrong eating anywhere in this city. Lorenzo & Sons (305 South; www.lorenzoandsons.com) sells slices of delicious cheese pizza that could individually feed a family of four. You should also sample the sweets at places such as Philly Cupcakes (1132 Chestnut; www.PhillyCupcake.com). Sabrina’s Cafe (910 Christian sabrinascafe.com) is a charming restaurant from which you won’t leave hungry, and it’s close to the Italian market, where you can find practically every fresh item imaginable. Lastly, you certainly have to try the cheesesteaks—and there’s no shortage of places, including Jim’s (various locations; www.jimssteaks.com). However, I was warned—after I had one with mayo, cheese and onions—that it was best to have them with Cheez Whiz and onions.

—Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmont; www.EasternState.org) : It may be a surprise to some to see this abandoned facility on the list, but I highly recommend a tour of the world’s first penitentiary—a prison designed to inspire penitence in its captives. Tours spotlight everything from a synagogue to Al Capone’s cell, restored to how it looked when he was there. Also, be sure to check out the exhibt TowerCam!, which places high-definition, remote-controlled cameras in the pentitentiary guard towers.

—The Academy of Natural Sciences (1900 Benjamin Franklin; www.ansp.org) : This facility strikes me as a combination of Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Museum and the Field Museum. Children can pet various animals, view fossils and even walk through a room filled with butterflies. You can also check out some impressive dioramas of large animals native to Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. (By the way, the “Bizarre Beasts: Past and Present” exhibit runs through April 24.)

—The GAYborhood: Philadelphia’s gay neighborhood is in the heart of Center City and just four blocks south of City Hall. Some of the spots that warrant at least a peek are the very sleek Valanni Restaurant & Lounge (1229 Spruce; www.valanni.com), the William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce; www.waygay.org), the lesbian nightclub Sisters (1320 Chancellor; www.sistersnightclub.com), Uncles Bar (1220 Locust; www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107352514312), fun spot Woody’s (202 S. 13th; www.woodysbar.com) and the 12th Street Gym (204 S. 12th; www.12streetgym.com).

Many thanks to Bruce Yelk and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation in arranging this trip.

—Andrew Davis

(Andrew@WindyCityTimes.com)