We're hopefully going to be in Philadelphia for about 7 or 8 hours before our show starts next Friday. What music stores and/or other things should we try to do before it starts? Neither of us has been to Philadelphia before.

It's at the Starlight so I don't want to get too far away from that or I'll probably get lost.

I don't think there's very much around the Starlight at all (8th & Spring Garden?). Center city is pretty easy to drive though- it's all a grid. There are a few decent music stores on South Street around 5th or 6th. there's another good one (name escapes me) on 2nd, in Old City between market & arch (I think). If you're into vinyl, there's a good place on 5th just below South.

If you're into history, there's lot of touristy things near Independence Hall & the Liberty bell (area around 5th & Market). The Constitution Center is actually pretty good and touches on lots of controversial stuff. Rittenhouse Square is our best center city park (18th & walnut).

Sometimes I like just walkling through the neighborhoods- center city is all old row houses- the best are probably just south of & around rittenhouse square (Delancy, Spruce, Pine, etc.).

If you're gonna be in town that early, your best bet is to find a parking lot in center city and walk (or take the bus (or cab) if it's hot - $2/ride or $1.30 for a token, sold at any convenience or drug store), and then pick up your car and drive to the starlight for the show.

Fire away if you have more questions.

heh. you're not gonna wanna hang around the starlight, I can assure you. As far as music stores, AKA records on 2nd is probably my favorite, though I haven't been there since they moved so I might not be the best person to ask about that. This is also where most of the decent art galleries in town are.

Other stuff to do: you're gonna be pretty close to northern liberties, which is probably the most hipsterrific part of town. there's a bunch of good restaraunts and bars, though I'm guessing that's not what you're looking for.

There's also the Mutter Museum, which everyone should visit at least once. I don't really know what you're trying to do, so unless you want a list of the good museums and stores I'll wait until I know a little bit more.

The Phila Art Museam is also really good.

yeah and the Wyeth exhibit is fucking awesome.

i agree that the Art Museum is worth seeing

i have a motto, anytime i see a Van Gaugh in person it was a worth while day.
and Sunflowers scratches that itch

as does the Cy Twomby room in the way back. No matter how many times i go in there it sill gets the heart beating.

griot runs down all the record stores pretty well in here

http://forums.hipinion.com/viewtopic.ph ... ght=philly

Anything, really. Museums, music stores, historical shit, restaurants, etc. I'm just not looking to spend a lot of money because the gas for getting there and back is going to be ridiculous anyway.

get a cheesteak.
Steve's Steaks on 7th and South is my current favorite.

Yes, they are super fucking good.

-Space Boy is a good record store on South Street as well as Repo..

and yet people would rather wait in line for a shitty Jim's, Pat's or Genos

STAY OUT OF CHESTER

I can't walk into Spaceboy without wanting to kick an employee there in the balls. They are sooo fucking annying in their condescension.

It's funny, I usually advise people to visit everywhere but South Street.

and Loogs, Chester isn't as bad as you think. There's some of the best hoagie places on the planet there. Stay out of Gray's Ferry is far more like it.

yeah, the space boy folks are kind of douchy.
but i like to ask them what they are listening to see how they respond. sometimes it's douchy sometimes they are excited to share.

dude, what's wrong with Jim's, Pats or Genos?

ishkabibbles is great too

dude, you do not want to hang around the starlight, get in, get out...though silk city on spring garden is a fun diner/bar

What's wrong with the area around the Starlight? Dangerous, or just boring?

chewy over cooked meat taken from a huge unseasoned lump with over cooked onions and undercooked cheese.

other than that?

never been there, but i'm pretty sure it's surrounded by highway enterances and such.

If it's where I think it is (8th & Spring Garden) there's not much around it. The blocks south of Spring Garden are old/current factory-type places. At 8th, north of Spring Garden is a little sketchy (still gentrifying, I guess), though it's only a few blocks west from the Northern Liberties, which is a cool neighborhood.

well, it's kinda dangerous because there isn't much around it. There's a body shop about a hald block towards spring garden from the starlight that seems to be a hobo junction after dark. I've never heard of any sort of violence or anything from them, but I know they dupe a lot of people into thinking they're parking attendants. If you're going to wander in a direction, I'd head North.

yeah, starlight is in a neighborhood that leaves a lot to be desired. parking around there is a nightmare, as well. and if every other show i've seen there is any indication, you'll be waiting in a 2- or 3-block line while something goes wrong inside and the show is delayed. also, if you're going to the starlight from center city, it's tricky because of one-way streets and the vine e-way separating some of the streets.

another warning

the sign that says "starlight ballroom" is hard to see, its a korean dancehall.

I just know that after I went and saw the doctor one time, he told me to stay outta chester, and then that monday some kid got lit on fire while walking to school

that'll happen.