Events for October
Simply Delicious
A month long celebration of Pennsylvania foods and wines held at Reading Terminal Market. Attend “Meet the Producers” on October 7 from 10am – 4pm and enjoy exhibits on cheese-making, honey-making and aquaculture; wine tastings hosted by four PA wineries, and various cooking demonstrations and samplings. Yum! You can find the market on 12th Street between Filbert and Arch Streets.
Italy Is Back in the Park
A fall festival of wine and food benefiting St. Agnes Medical Center. Experience some of the best wine and Italian food in the city – over 50 of the finest restaurants and food vendors in town are participating. Festivities begin at 1 pm in historic Girard Park (S. 21st and Porter & Shunk Streets). For info call: (215) 339-4323.
Radnor Hunt International Three-Day Event
A blue-blooded excuse to get outside and enjoy the fall colors. Located minutes outside of Philadelphia, this international level eventing competition has the elegance of Dressage (held on October 14 & 15) the thrill of cross-country jumping (October 16) and the nail-biting excitement of show jumping (October 17). Over 20,000 spectators are expected to attend. Besides horses, you can also visit the food vendors, shop for antiques and crafts, or visit the trade fair. Daily admission runs from $6 to $12, and a 4-day pass is $20. For info call: (610) 647-4002.
Terror Behind the Walls
Do Not Miss This One! 40 minutes in an abandoned turn-of-the-century penitentiary, at night. Need I say more? This place is spooky enough when it’s not all gussied up for Halloween. Will you find your way out? Tickets run $15-20 for adults, and $8-13 for children. It’s a good idea to buy tickets ahead of time – they get scarce the week leading up to Halloween. For info call: (215) 236-3300.
Van Gogh: Face to Face
This show of Van Gogh’s work promises to “focus, for the first time, on Van Gogh’s evolving approach to the portrait throughout a tragically brief life.” Tickets are on sale now, and range from $8 to $20, dependent on age of purchaser and day visited. For info call: (215) 235-SHOW.
Get Out! (While You Still Can)
Here comes fall – the cool temperatures, changing leaves and school uniforms are all reminders that summer passes by much too quickly. Therefore, now is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the mild weather, before Old Man Winter and daylight savings time strike. What to do, you ask? Well, let me tell you!
First of all, Philly is a great walking town, and even a great running town if you’re brave enough to take on cobblestones and sketchy taxi drivers here and there. Secondly, there are some beautiful places to cruise along on a bike, if that’s more your speed.
Bike rentals are available throughout the city – just pick up the yellow pages to find the location nearest you. One shop that is centrally located is Trophy Bikes on Market Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. They offer bike tours of the historical portions of Philadelphia starting at $30 a day, as well as hourly and daily bike rentals. Also, if you plan on visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art, there are bike rental vendors located directly behind the museum, near the Azalea Gardens.
Here is an idea for a decent bike ride, which you can tailor to meet your needs and abilities. Take a camera – there’s usually something interesting enough to click the shutter for. Also, wear a helmet! City riding is never easy…and I believe I’ve already mentioned our cab drivers! I’ll start you off at Independence Hall (Chestnut Street, between 5th and 6th), since that is a landmark most people (even locals) can find…
Geography
Philly is located on the Eastern Coast of the US, a short distance from Washington D.C., New York City and Atlantic City, NJ.
Accommodations
A wide variety of hotels at all price ranges may be found in Center City. I am myself a B&B lover, especially in such a historical city, so here are a few to choose from:
Old City, a private residence since 1828 w/a private city garden. (215)413-0669
A beautiful European-style B&B centrally located. (215)545-1755
The highest rated B&B in Philly (AAA 3-diamond). An all suite B&B, with many amenities in a townhouse dated to 1836. (215)923-8144
In the Art Museum district, featuring artwork by local artists. Rooms have private baths. (215)567-2484
Transport
Airport
The cheapest method of transportation between Philadelphia International Airport and Center City is the SEPTA Train. The train picks up from all terminals, and runs to 3 Center City stations :
30th Street Station (N 30th St. between Market and Arch Sts.)
Suburban Station (JFK Blvd. between N 16th and 17th Sts.), and
Market East Station (N 11th and Market St.).
A one way ticket costs $5, and trains run every 30 minutes from 6:10am to 12:10am. The ride takes 20-30 minutes. Most areas of the city are accessible from these stations by bus, subway or cab.
Cab fare from the airport to most Center City locations runs about $20, and the ride can take 15-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Train
30th Street Station is the main Amtrak station, with service to and from most major Eastern U.S. cities.
Money
US currency is standard.
Per diem costs can range from $50 and up, depending on your tastes!
Weird Facts
The term "United States of America" was used for the first time on July 6, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was published in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Evening Post.
Philadelphia’s first corrupt politician was William Penn’s cousin, Col. William Markham. Markham served as Penn’s deputy governor from 1693 to 1699. During this time he offered a safe haven to pirates (including Captain Kidd) for the sum of 100 British pounds per crew member.
The Author
I am not a native Philadelphian by any means…however I have lived here now for over a year, and have come to appreciate all it has to offer!
Other Philly Links
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