'MO - October 2008 - (Page 15)

travel Philadelphia Is All About the Love By Aefa Mulholland and Andrew Bender If history is all you’re expecting to discover in Philadelphia, think again. This cultural capital, home to a constellation of museums and performance venues and a plethora of colleges, also boasts a smorgasbord of thrilling restaurants and a vibrant gayborhood. The City of Brotherly Love uses the fabulous marketing slogan, “Get your history straight and your nightlife gay,” and has dozens of historic spots and LGBT venues to help you do so. offers 48 rooms, attentive service, a 24-hour ﬁtness center, high-speed Internet access, cable TV, and a well-rounded continental breakfast to start your day. EAT Some of the country’s hottest plates are served up in the Olde City neighborhood. Design tops the bill at Buddakan (325 Chestnut St; 215-574-9440; www.buddakan.com; $1833), a festive spot where Asian-inspired cuisine means reserving months ahead to be in with a chance of a seat. If you want history as a garnish on your meal, stop by the gayborhood’s venerable, 19th century Venture Inn (255 S. Camac St; 215-545-8731; www.viphilly.com; $15-22), once a stop on the Underground Railroad. A few minutes’ walk away, Valanni (1229 Spruce St; 215-790-9494; $19-29) offers plenty of art on the plate and in the crowd around you. Look for Caribbean and South American cuisine and, in fair weather, an open-air perch. Serious foodies won’t want to miss the Italian Market, on 9th Street between Fitzwater and Wharton Streets in South Philly. Dozens of vendors from butchers to bakers and grocers sell all manner of exotica and implements. Amid the fray, Sabrina’s Café (910 Christian St; 215-5741599; $7-13) is a small, friendly joint with a gay following. At the southern end of the Italian Market, Geno’s and Pat’s have had a decadeslong, low-key rivalry for the title of King of Cheesesteaks. This local—and now national—favorite sandwich of sliced steak “wid or widout” (onions), was invented and perfected right here in South Philly, and nothing quite compares to a cheesesteak after a night on the town. Geno’s and Pat’s are catty-corner to each other at South 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue. PLAY After dark, duck behind the big red door of Woody’s (202 S. 13th St; 215-545-1893; www.woodysbar.com) for a crash course in Gay Philly 101. It’s a multilevel dance bar in the heart of the gayborhood, with a standand-model, gym bunny crowd. Weekends are generally mobbed, but there’s mellower twostepping to C&W music on Sunday nights. Behind Woody’s is the lesbian bar Sisters 15 PHOTO BY B. KRIST FOR GPTMC Philadelphia’s City Hall, the largest municipal building in the country, is a landmark along the Avenue of the Arts, the cultural hub of Center City. (1320 Chancellor St; 215-735-0735; www. sistersnightclub.com). Sisters’ three stories host more events and activities than all other clubs combined: performances, contests, open bars, karaoke, and a Sunday brunch popular with both gay men and lesbians. SEE You’ll ﬁnd many historic sites at Independence National Historical Park (bordered by Arch & Walnut Streets, 5th and 6th Streets), in Olde City. As for gay history, Independence Hall (Chestnut Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets) was not only where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, but where the city’s ﬁrst gay rights demonstrations were held, every July 4 from 1965 to 1969. See if time has taken its toll on the famous Liberty Bell (Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets). Catch up on your art history over an amble past Philadelphia Museum of Art’s (26th St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy; 215-763-8100; www.philamuseum.org) half million works. GETTING THERE US Airways and United ﬂy direct from SeaTac to Philadelphia International Airport in ﬁve hours. Aefa Mulholland is Editor at Large for the Out Traveler. Andrew Bender is a contributor to OutTraveler.com. PHOTO BY K. CIAPPA FOR GP TMC Standing directly across the street from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center at 6th and Chestnut Streets, this historic marker was erected to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the ﬁrst Annual Reminder, a demonstration led by gay activists on July 4 from 1965 to 1969. STAY About ﬁve blocks west of the Gayborhood, the Rittenhouse (210 W. Rittenhouse Square; 215-546-9000; www.rittenhousehotel.com; $325+) is tops in town, with an indoor pool, extensive spa and top-notch personal service. Design fans won’t want to miss Loews Philadelphia Hotel (1200 Market St; 215-627-1200; www.loewshotels.com; $199+), 583 rooms in the PSFS Building, the ﬁrst modernist skyscraper in town, built in 1932, and an icon of the style. The Art Deco-inspired interior offers a handsome bar and restaurant area, and the gayborhood is just two blocks south. With a primarily gay and lesbian clientele on weekends, gay-owned, gay-managed, seven-story Alexander Inn (Twelfth and Spruce Streets; 215-923-3535; www.alexanderinn.com; $99+) moseattle.com issue 20 | october 2008 http://www.buddakan.com http://www.viphilly.com http://www.sistersnightclub.com http://www.sistersnightclub.com http://www.rittenhousehotel.com http://www.loewshotels.com http://www.philamuseum.org http://www.woodysbar.com http://www.OutTraveler.com http://www.OutTraveler.com http://www.alexanderinn.com http://www.moseattle.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - October 2008

'MO- October 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices ’mo-BIZ: MGS Consulting Services GLAAD To Be Aboard Pet Project Instant Activist Sports: Jet City Hoops Tips Off Pro-Equality Candidates Philadelphia Is All About The Love Parenthood Form & Function: Strip It Off For The Holidays Gay City Health Project: Gay Men’s Health Summit The 13th Annual Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Capitol Hill Guide SceneOut: People@Places Q&A With Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark ’mo-Single Q&A

'MO - October 2008

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