Jaunted

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Get From Cali To Pat's In 6 Hours: Virgin America Goes To Philly

Hollywood screenwriters rejoice. When you are needing an authentic cheesesteak to relieve writer's block you can hop on Virgin America and take one of three daily nonstops to Pat's (or Geno's if you swing that way) starting April 10th.

Furthermore, Virgin America will be offering two daily nonstops from SFO to PHL. So if Niner fans want to make a pilgrimage to the Rocky statue if and when they complete their improbable Super Bowl run, now they can. Here is what the Cusher had to say about the latest VX destination:

When more airlines compete, consumers win – with lower fares and better service. Travelers deserve more options than just the typical legacy airline cattle car, and we hope our unique brand of low fares and inventive service will be a breath of fresh air for Philadelphians.

Here is an interesting line in the release, possibly foreshadowing things to come:

Currently, only legacy carriers serve the West Coast-PHL routes nonstop.  When entering markets that offer little low-fare competition, Virgin America has historically seen fares drop by up to one-third.

Hmm, sounds like a direct assault on US Air and other lagging legacy carriers. We see a possible 2012 scenario where VX launches in CTL (US Air), ATL (Delta), and Houston...all direct to SFO and LAX of course...stay tuned...

In honor of its newest city, Virgin America is also launching a system-wide “The City of Brotherly Love: Just Got Lovelier” fare sale, with PHL-LAX fares from $129 and PHL-SFO fares from $149* (restrictions, taxes and fees applying).  Tickets are available for purchase now at www.virginamerica.com and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN.

Btw, if you guessed the right city on Facebook, start planning your trip because you just won yourself 20 percent off a flight!

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Minute Suites' $30 Nap Rooms Hit Philadelphia Airport

It's a damned shame that no US airport boasts one of the funky, sleep-at-the-airport Yotels. Those things are amazing. Instead, travelers faced with delayed flights and long nights at the airport have to spring for an airport-area business hotel or a Holiday Inn Express when they likely don't need all those amenities. Just a good sleep is all some people want, and luckily a few Minute Suites are slowly popping up at airports like Philadelphia International.

PHL just opened their mini-hotel of 13 Minute Suites and 2 workstation cubicles, the second Minute Suites after the original at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Here's the deal:

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The Price Tag for Philadelphia Airport's Mega-Renovation is 5 Billion Dollars

For better or for worse, we’ve been in and around our fair share of international airports and we definitely have our favorites. Unfortunately Philadelphia’s airport is not in our top five..or ten...or twenty (you get the picture). That’s why we were excited to hear about the $5.2 billion in renovations, expansions, and Sbarro locations that the airport will be getting over the next several years.

Most of the cost comes from all the updates and upgrades that they’ll be adding to the airport’s runways. The Federal Aviation Administration just gave its stamp of approval to the whole project, but unfortunately things will be a work in progress for the next 12 to 15 years. To help decrease congestion and airline delays, two of the airport's runways will be getting additional space, and they’re even planning to build a fifth runway right along the Delaware River.

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One Last Philly Cheesesteak, at Reading Terminal Market

A few days ago, we related to you the results of what could be the most important scientific test thus far this year: our taste test of Philadelphia's best cheesesteak joints. We laughed (at the church groups at Pat's), we cried (over Geno's xenophobia) and we ate some damned awesome cheesesteak (at Jim's), but in all of our fervor to taste these three, we completely forgot that we actually visited a fourth: Carmen's Famous.

Carmen's was our first stop when we arrived off the train in Philly, and it joins a couple other cheesesteak booths inside of Reading Terminal Market. You won't hear folks from the City of Brotherly Love exclaiming their passion for Carmen's like they do for Pat's or Jim's, simply because their cheesesteaks are pretty standard. Nothing to write home about, but edible.

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Our Ultimate Philly Cheesesteak Taste Test: Pat's, Geno's and Jim's

You've seen it on the Food Channel and you've probably heard about it from friends who've visited Philadelphia...it's the battle of the Philly Cheesesteaks!

The City of Brotherly Love isn't so brotherly when it comes to the rivalry between Pat's and Geno's, two local joints serving up classic Philly cheesesteaks for decades, and who happen to be located directly across the street from each other. We stopped by recently, camera in hand and stomach empty, prepared to put these places to the test and declare our favorite cheesesteak.

But we went further than that; we reached out to our followers on Twitter, asking what Philly cheesesteak places they preferred, and we heard of a third location. And so this battle of Pat's and Geno's evolved to include a third contender: Jim's Steaks. So who won?

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It's All Good in Philly's Gayborhood

In the heart of Philadelphia's Center City sits a quaint neighhorhood of shady streets and attractive shopfronts. No, it's not the upscale "Gold Coast"-sort of area, but it is the Gayborhood.

Bordered on the north by Walnut Street, south by Pine Street, east by 11th and west by Juniper Street, the Gayborhood is a village of gay-friendly shops, bars and restaurants. Although it was hopping during Pride Week in June as you can imagine, the real summer action has just begun, with two weeks of this month set aside for the "There's No Place Like Home" two-week-long block party.

From now until July 24th, you can follow the yellow brick road 32 rainbow street signs that were just unveiled this last weekend when we were in town. From there, it's all photo exhibits, special film screenings, and even a discount card for the Gayborhood businesses and bars.

[Photo: Jaunted]

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Philadelphia Has a Flavor, and It's the New Summer Love Ale

William Penn sheepishly throws a toast

There's so much Pennsylvania news today, and all of it good! First, PA became the first state to tap into the travel benefits of Foursquare, and now the city of Philadelphia is tapping into its very own special brew. The beer from Victory Brewing Company will debut on June 4 at the start of Philly's Beer Week, and it's appropriately named "Summer Love Ale."

The release will at first be limited, but you can try hunting for it in the Northern Liberties neighborhood at The Standard Tap, and at Beer Week's Golden Monkey Dance Party on June 10.

So what does it taste like, you ask?

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Is the TSA Pulling More Pranks at Philadelphia's Airport?

Another day, another Philadelphia International TSA agent throwing around his authority for cheap laughs. Last time it was the budding comedian who pranked a college student by planting fake drugs in her luggage, reducing her to tears. This time it's a local sports fan who thinks that pulling aside mothers for wearing Cowboys jerseys is a charming local idiosyncrasy. Now there are two sides to every story and you have to judge individual accusations based on whether they ring true. This kind of rings true:

A Dallas Cowboys fan believes it was her jersey, not security, that led TSA screeners to pull her out of line for additional searches at Philadelphia International Airport... Galen, a mother of three, was on her way to Florida with her husband following the death of a family member. However, she found herself being patted in a plexiglass area in full view of other passengers. The biggest shock for Galen, who never asked TSA officials why she was being singled out, came when a screener walked up to her as she was putting her shoes back on to resume her trip. 'He walked up to me and said "how's it feel to be a Cowboys fan in Philadelphia?" I did tell him "wow,"' Galen said.

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Bomb-Sniffing Airport Dogs Are Failing Bomb-Sniffing Tests

With the new heightened security at airports around the country, it’s likely that you’ll be seeing a few more dogs in the terminal checking things out. We’ve always taken it for granted that they were good at sniffing out trouble, whether it was drug-filled luggage or traces of explosive on a pink bag. Just like their human friends some dogs are a little better than others at their job, but there are some in action that aren’t making the grade.

Three bomb-sniffing dogs based at Philadelphia International Airport actually failed two consecutive tests. Before hitting the front lines, the dogs completed a 10-week training where they learned all about finding the bad guys. Afterward they had to pass a test, and once approved for action they usually need to be re-certified every year or so.

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Football Rivalry Travel: Army And Navy Prepare For Battle In Philly

The weather has gotten cooler, and college football is going strong. Here’s the scoop on just one of the country’s best rivalries to help your sports travel planning.

· Rivalry Match-Up: United States Military Academy vs. United States Naval Academy on December 12
You don’t need to know much about college football or even the military to know that the annual Army-Navy game is a pretty big deal. The two schools representing different branches of the military have been battling each other on the gridiron since 1890. Each team has had winning streaks throughout the decades, but Navy has been having the most success lately. They also lead the all time series, but only by a few wins. If Navy takes this year’s game they’ll also be taking home the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Let’s just hope that Army doesn’t steal Bill the Goat this year to rally the troops.

Stadium Info and tips on where to sleep and party, after the jump.

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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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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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