Unleash your inner Rocky in Philadelphia
Michelle Jackson visits Philadelphia and discovers that Mr Balboa is just the latest in a long line of brave fighters
Mention Philadelphia to most people and they may well burst into the theme tune from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic movie, Rocky. I took a direct flight with American Airlines from Dublin and it doesn’t cost as much as you might think to travel business class with AA. With flat beds, silver service and incredible personal TVs it really is the best way to begin your holiday.
And Philadelphia is perfect for a minibreak. With an abundance of history, art and unique museums, I visited the Museum of Art at the top of the Rocky steps which boasts some of the finest European and American masters. Van Gogh, Dali and all the Impressionists hang on these walls but on the parkway close by is The Barnes Collection which houses one of the largest and probably best collections of 19th and 20th century European masters in the world. Even the most reluctant art viewer will be blown away, with 180 Renoirs hanging here alone and a huge collection of Cezannes, Matisses, Modiglianis et al.
Philadelphia is decorated with spectacular murals on every street corner. Art comes in many guises and one of the city’s best-kept secrets, which will appeal to all car nuts, is located a short ten-minute drive outside the city and only ten minutes from Philadelphia airport. The Simeone Foundation houses over half-a-billion dollars worth of cars from the earliest days of car manufac-
ture right through the peak of 20th-century car racing. A one-off Ferrari car, winners of the Mille Miglia and Bugattis rub fenders together and with an entrance fee of only $12 it is no wonder that it has been voted best worldwide Vintage Car Museum.
Cuisine doesn’t begin and end with the famous Philly cheesesteak although I strongly recommend trying it, and the place to sample the city’s culinary delights is all together at Reading Terminal Food Market.
If you’d rather savour some traditional US cuisine take a stroll to the old town and find City Tavern where chef Walter Staib proudly boasts a cabinet full of Emmy Awards for his TV show A Taste of History. Here you can drink from hand-crafted pewter goblets and dine on dishes that have been around for over two-hundred years.
The staff serve guests while dressed in traditional 18th century uniforms and with a little baroque music playing in the background I prepare to be transported back in time. The passion and detail which Chef Staib serves up everyday makes it a favourite for tourists and locals. You can enjoy a taste of Parisien cafeculture at Parc restaurant and Bistro on 18th Street, close to the beautiful Rittenhouse Square. Perfectly coiffed madams and their poodles, sit at tables outside, overlooking a spacious green. Inside the atmosphere is electric and menu equally so. The proprietor, Stephen Starr, has seven restaurants in Philadelphia and each is uniquely different.
Philadelphia was once the capital of the US and home to Benjamin Franklin. An all-round overachiever, Franklin was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, while also a scientist, diplomat, author, inventor, and the list goes on.
His resting place is at Christ Church Burial Ground, close to the house where Betsy Ross lived, sometimes credited as the maker of the original Stars and Stripes flag.
If it’s more history you seek, then The Liberty Bell is on display in the city centre. Make time to visit the Museum of the American Revolution and home to the original tent which was used by the country’s first President George Washington, displayed in a surprise and spectacular fashion.
Atop them all is Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn who looks down on the city from the peak of City Hall.
A great way to see the old town is with a tour guide. You can pick one up at Philly Tour Hub on Arch Street or you can choose a Segway tour of the citiy’s murals which are dotted on every street in the city. Boasting over 4,000 murals, the initiative was started to prevent
graffiti and has turned the city into a living breathing art monument.
For Irish visitors it is worth paying a visit to The Irish Memorial, sculpted by Glenna Goodacre and lovingly cared for by the friends and patrons of the statue − it will touch the heart of anyone of Irish descent.
Great pubs abounded in the Old City around the corner from my hotel at The Sheraton Society Hill, so I popped into The Plough and The Stars, owned by an Irish couple and situated in an old bank. It’s filled with Irish accents and great craic. Across the road I found cosy watering holes filled with atmosphere and an alluring mish-mash of cultures from Brazilian to French. Clothing and shoes are taxfree, making Philadelphia a great spot for shopping. Just 35 minutes north-west of the city is Premium Outlets which has every brand name you will desire from Michael Kors to my favourite bath and bodyworks.
Philly is easily reached by train from New York in one and a halfhours or 2 hours from Washington DC and with direct flights from Dublin there are plenty of reasons to get to know The City of Brotherly Love – I’m glad I did!