Jaunted

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Forget the Survey: Embrace the Ugly

So we were being a little cheeky yesterday when we brought up the "least attractive American city," Philadelphia. Just because some folks think it's an ugly city doesn't mean you should avoid it. In fact, you can plan a whole trip around the hideous. And, hey, by the end of the day, you'll feel like a supermodel.

Start with a stop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see Sir Jacob Epstein's Social Consciousness. This bronze sculpture depicts human empathy while looking fairly ghastly. You'll find it just outside the museum, free to all, like so many of Epstein's public works.

Next, head to Foster's Homeware on Market Street. They have tons of pretty stuff for your kitchen, your living room and your bedroom, but that won't fly on an ugly tour. Instead, shop for an Ugly Doll, those appealing-yet-horrifying plush critters from designers David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim.

Wrap up the day with a stop at the Mutter Museum, the city's answer to Thailand's Museum of Forensic Medicine. With sliced sections of a human head, evidence from 19th century forensic labs and other medical oddities, this is not the kind of place you come looking for statuesque perfection.

Related Stories:
· Philadelphia Museum of Art [Official Site]
· Foster's Homeware [Official Site]
· Mutter Museum [Official Site]
· Survey Says: Don't Visit Philadelphia For The People [Jaunted]

[Photo: Vince Brown (attila)]