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Tags: Food Travel / Restaurant Week / Restaurant Travel / Philadelphia Travel / Philadelphia Restaurants / Hotels / → All Tags

Some News From Philly That's Not World Series-Related

How do you enjoy Restaurant Week menus and prices without it actually being Restaurant Week? Well, if you're in Philadelphia, all you've got to do is book your hotel stay on withlove.gophila.com, and you'll receive all the details on the hotels where you can dine on discount prix-fixe menus through December 30.

Restaurants featured run the gamut, from super swish 4-course meals at Lacroix at The Rittenhouse to fresh Italian at Positano Coast. And since we promised Restaurant Week prices, you'll be happy to hear the the 3-to-4-course meals are all either $20, $30 or $35 per person. We're guessing that Lacroix is up at the $35 end, but menu choices aren't piddly; think "prime rib, crab imperial, handmade orecchiette and olive oil-poached Scottish salmon."

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Tags: Baseball Travel / Baseball / Sports / Sports Travel / World Series / → All Tags

What To Do Before, During, And After World Series Game 3 In Philadelphia

It's World Series time and things are all tied up at one game a piece after two nights of great pitching for both the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Now the players and fans are driving down the Jersey Turnpike to get ready for game three between the Yankees and Phillies on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park. Loving you just as much we do baseball, we've put together some ideas for ways to stay entertained throughout your baseball-filled evening. Again, feel free to ignore all this advice below if you'd rather just watch the game. After all, that's what you paid for.

· Before The Game
The Phillies newish stadium is located in the middle of a huge parking lot that is shared by the city's other sports teams—so we’re thinking that most fans are going to drive to the game. Standard parking is $12 per car, but we’re a little suspicious that they could increase the charge since it is the World Series. Public transportation is available through SEPTA, but the workers might go on strike this weekend—so a car could be pretty handy. If you want some trains, the Broad Street Line is the best bet, just peep the schedule right here.

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Tags: Tourism Boards / Philadelphia Travel / Diverse Travel / → All Tags

Philly 360 Campaign Hopes To Attract African-American Visitors

When it comes to destinations, the new new thing is for a travel bureau to reach out to you as specifically as possible. Hey, you reading this blog! You want to go here! Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but we always like to see an interesting new campaign at work, like Philadelphia's "Philly 360°" campaign.

Philly 360° puts the city's African-American heritage front and center with videos and guides to jazz clubs and Underground Railroad sites. It's part of a larger micro-marketing campaign that includes ¡Philly Te Ama! (Latino Philadelphia) and We Your People, the LGBT Philadelphia promotions.

While the campaign focuses on black musicians, artists and trendsetters, anyone can enjoy shopping tips from Rakia Reynolds of Vibe Magazine or hear about ?uestlove's favorite hoagie joint. Kudos to Philly for thinking outside the box and outside Black History Month for this; after all, travel happens all year round.

Related Stories:
· Philly 360° Launch Page [GoPhila.com]
· Jaunted Does Lunch With ?uestlove of the Roots [Jaunted]
· Secret Sneaker Shopping in Philadelphia [Jaunted]

[Photo: micholitzii]

Tags: Literary Travel / Bram Stoker / Halloween Travel / Dracula / Vampire Travel / → All Tags

The Vampire Travel Seasons Begins In Philadelphia

Before Edward Cullen swept the field with his skinny sparkliness, Count Dracula was the nonpareil of dangerously irresistible vampires. But Philadelphia wants to introduce you to Dracula this Halloween, if you dare.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library's annual Dracula Festival allows the rare-books vault to bring forth Bram Stoker's original notes on his vampire creation, and in addition, they'll be hosting a free screening of the silent horror classic "Nosferatu" and a visit from Stoker's great-grandnephew to read from his vampire book. (Everyone's written one these days.) Outside Philly, the Tri-County Performing Arts Center will put on a stage version of "Dracula" (October 8-25, 245 E. High Street in Pottstown). If you prefer your vampires dancing, the Brandywine Ballet has you covered there on October 23-25.

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Tags: Top Chef / Top Chef Travel / Philadelphia Travel / Food Travel / → All Tags

Ex-Top Chef Contestant Heats Things Up in Philly, No Seitan in Sight

Pierced and tattooed to the nines, recently booted Top Chef contestant Jennifer Zavala claimed to have a fiery temper on the first episode of this season, but her dish—a disastrous seitan-stuffed pepper—was anything but hot and enticing. It looked and apparently tasted like a mealy, flavorless mess, which ultimately confused the judges and sent her packing.

But Zavala, like many other Top Chef hopefuls, isn't a culinary novice and won't be crying over her Santoku knife now that she's returned to Philadelphia. Hot like fire Zavala, whose cooking, we hope, doesn't always go the way of bland vegan fare, is a sous chef at Philly's Xochitl. Say it with us: so-cheet. There she helps whip up new Mexican cuisine that's familiar, but with a modern, elevated twist.

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Tags: Television Travel / It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia / Philadelphia Travel / → All Tags

Take an 'Always Sunny' Trip To Philadelphia

We're pained to admit that the Philadelphia shown in the F/X show "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" is only slightly realer than the New York of "Friends" or the Miami of "The Golden Girls." Still, even if you can't get a drink at Paddy's Pub, you can follow in their footsteps in the City of Brotherly Love (of the non-McPoyle kind).

If you haven't tuned in, the motley crew of "Always Sunny" run a fictional Irish bar in South Philly, which somehow leaves them time to insult and cheat anyone they possibly can. Philadelphia Tourism suggests Dirty Frank's in Center City (347 S. 13th St.) and the East Side Saloon (1823 W. Moyamensing Ave.), but any kind of dive that you can hang out in without getting thrown out of for saying something offensive would be a good bet.

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Anchors Aweigh: An Endangered Ocean Liner Up For Sale In Philly

Diners at IKEA look out at the SS United States

Buried deep beneath our professed love of air travel is a true loyalty to the history of transatlantic liners and travel by ship. After all, our grandparents came to the US on the liner SS Bremen and relatives later traveled on the grand SS United States, with both ships winning the coveted Blue Riband—an award for fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

Although airplanes have long displaced boats as the preferred means of transatlantic travel, with ships relegated to pleasure cruises (even though Cunard makes a hearty effort to retain the grandeur), even the history of these beautiful behemoths is at stake.

Case in point: Just outside of Philadelphia's IKEA store along the river, sits the dilapidated hulk of the once-grand SS United States, her sleek lines and art deco appeal marred by rust and general lack of upkeep. Plopped in her spot at Pier 82 since 1996, the United States has been waiting and waiting for her owners, Star Cruise of Hong Kong (aka Norwegian Cruise Line) to make good on their promises to transform her into a Hawaii cruise ship.

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Tags: Television Travel / Philadelphia Travel Guide / It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia / Philadelphia Zoo / → All Tags

'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Takes Their Fake Musical On A Real Tour

If you're a fan of FX's cult hit It's Alway's Sunny in Philadelphia, you know all about The Nightman, a character Charlie (Charlie Day) created and sings about when he and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) form a rock band. You may also know that Charlie turned the song into a full blown musical, The Nightman Cometh, in the show's fourth season while trying to win over a girl.

Well now, for all you die-hard fans out there, the cast of It's Always Sunny is taking The Nightman Cometh on a five-date U.S. tour this fall. That's right, they will be performing the entire musical live!

The musical was written by Rob McElhenney (Mac), Charlie Day (Charlie) and Glenn Howerton (Dennis) who will be joined by Kaitlin Olson (Sweet Dee), Danny DeVito (Frank), Mary Elizabeth Ellis (The Waitress) and Artemis Pebdani (Artemis) in the live stage adaptation of The Nightman Cometh.

The full list of tour dates, after the jump.

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Tags: Celeb Travel / Music Travel / Concerts / Reese Witherspoon / Jake Gylenhaal / Elton John / Billy Joel / Philadelphia Travel / → All Tags

Reese and Jake See The Piano Men in Philly

Along with sun and sand and summer cocktails, summertime means great outdoor concerts and lovebirds Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon have been taking advantage of outdoor concerts from coast to coast.

Last month, the ridiculously good-looking duo were spotted at the Van Morrison concert at the Hollywood Bowl and this past Saturday, they took her two kids to the Billy Joel/Elton John concert at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia.

JustJared.com says :

Deacon had the best view in the house, sitting stop Jake’s shoulders. During the 3-1/2 hour show, Elton dedicated the song “Tiny Dancer” to Reese, saying, “Reese, this one’s for you, girl.”

The happy family danced to “Crocodile Rock” with Reese and Jake bumping their hips together.

Bumping their hips together? Well, we guess they were trying to keep it all "kid-friendly."

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Tags: Historical-Battles-Map / Wars / Historical Travel / Philadelphia / → All Tags

Re-Enacting History: Revolutionary Germantown in Philly

Along with the tasty barbeques and popping fireworks of the middle of summer come the re-enactments of historical battles. To help you plan fun excursions to watch guns go off, we're listing our favorite battle re-enactment sites all this week. Any suggestions or questions? Let us know.

So you've seen a little French & Indian War action and even some Samurai swordplay, but nothing's more prevalent in the Northeast when it comes to re-enacting battles than the Revolutionary War, and Philadelphia has your fix.

When the leaves begin to fall in October, war history buffs will get together in the historical quarter of Philly to re-enact the 1777 Battle of Germantown, the only conflict within city limits. Aside from shooting blanks, there will be eight historic sites to visit where you can interact with locals who love their city's olden days. While there is a fee of $10 to visit all of the spots of the festival, it encompasses traditional residences and a shuttle bus between all points. And let's face it; this re-enactment is fare more convenient to NYC-dwelling folk than the Fort Niagara one.

Related Stories:
· Revolutionary Germantown [Official Site]
· Revolutionary Germantown Festival [GoPhila]
· Historical Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: michael feagan]

Tags: Monuments / Tourist Traps / Liberty Bell / History / Philadelphia / → All Tags

Jaunted How-To Guide: The Liberty Bell

If you ever find yourself visiting Philadelphia for the first time, the Liberty Bell is going to definitely fall into that category of "I've got to see it once, but OMFG there are way too many people here!" Fortunately, Jaunted has your how-to guide for checking this must-do tourist trap off your list.

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Tags: Music Festivals / Music Travel / The Roots / Philadelphia / → All Tags

You Can't Take the Roots Out of Philly

When it comes to hometown pride, you gotta hand it to The Roots. Despite all their album sales, Grammys, and even now a steady late night TV gig, the Philadelphia locals won't even consider a move to Manhattan. Most of the band still commutes via train to their Jimmy Fallon gig everyday, and despite that busy schedule, they still save their most exuberant show of the year for a homecoming: the annual Roots Family Picnic, which Jaunted was on hand for this weekend.

The Roots basically performed all day, kicking off the show with a mini-set at 2 p.m., then backing up Public Enemy later in the evening and closing out the show with a second, hour-long set of their own. The day was also a showcase of Philly's up-and-coming hip-hop scene, with homegrown acts like Santigold, King Britt and Written House.

Next up on the Philly music agenda: Check out a ton more local bands at the free Popped! 2nd Street Music Festival in Northern Liberties on June 20. Then Philly brings back its rock-ier side for the Xponential Music Festival, which takes place July 24 – 26 on the Camden Waterfront, with big-name acts like The Hold Steady, They Might be Giants, and Peter Bjorn & John.

Related Stories:
· The Roots Return Home to Philly This Weekend [Jaunted]
· Popped! Music Festival [Official Site]
· Xponential Music Festival [Official Site]

[Photo: Jaunted]