- Reading Market – my absolute favorite part of the city, it’s host to more good eats than you can handle even in a long weekend. Must haves include Dinic’s for the pork sandwich w/ rabe and provolone, Spataro’s for a steak and cheese, Carmen’s for an Italian sub (get the one w/ prosciutto), Hershel’s Deli for an overflowing pastrami on rye, Flying Monkey for the butter cake, S’mores bars, and Fruity Pebbles marshmallow squares (eat several of all of them), Beiler’s Bakery for the apple fritters, maple bacon donuts, and caramel apple donuts (again – all of several), the Dutch candy shop for all sorts of old time favorites (including 20 types of fudge), the Dutch Eating Place for the apple dumpling, Martin’s for all sorts of meats and sausages to take home, and Old City Coffee for pounds and pounds of beans. (The French roast, Old City, Balzac, and 1893 blends are all faves.) And that’s leaving out a bunch of equally solid other spots — the Thanksgiving sandwich from Original Turkey, the cajun food from Beck’s, cannolis and pig’s ears (not literally – sweet ones) from Termini Brothers… Basically you could eat here every meal and not have wasted your weekend.
- Jose Garces’ restaurants – he’s got a bunch, but Amada might’ve been one of the best meals I’ve had, and Buena Onda was a great little taqueria. Try the former for dinner and the latter for lunch.
- The Dandelion – knockout British pub. Feels like you got transported across the pond – solid food and beers.
- Frankford Hall – solid German beer garden. Great outdoor space, solid sausages, and killer pretzels. Tons of good beers, too. Worth a stop if you’re up in Fishtown.
- The Dive Bar – winner of the truth in advertising award, this is just a super solid dive over near the Italian market. Walk through that and then recharge when you’re done – dirt cheap w/a great jukebox.
- Beer – Yards Brewery had a nice spread on the water, while Tired Hands’ myriad spots offer an array of killer beers. Drink a bunch now and buy plenty to stock up the cooler.
- Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell museums – both interesting looks back on our country’s history. The bell itself may not be worth the long line to see it – it’s a bell. With a crack in it. – but the rest of the museum has some interesting stuff and the Independence Hall tour is worth it. Stop in National Mechanics nearby for a build-your-own-bloody to recharge.
- Eastern St Penitentiary – decaying old prison that housed Al Capone for a spell. You can see his old cell, as well as the incredible rest of the building, on the daily tours. Feels like you just showed up at Shawshank. Super cool.
- Masonic Temple – part lodge, part temple, this place is actually a really pretty building, aside from the questionable secret society/cult bit. Definitely worth a tour to hear about both if you’ve got time.
Musical musings from the mind of Sunshine