Philadelphia
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, colloquially referred to as Philly, and known as The City of Brotherly Love (from Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια, /fi.la.ˈdɛl.fɛj.a/, "brotherly love" from philos "loving" and adelphos "brother") is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest in population and area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The population of the city (at the 2000 census) was 1,517,550 though 2005 U.S. Census estimates a population of 1,463,281, [1] making it the second-largest city on the U.S. East Coast and the fifth largest in the country. It is also a major commercial, educational, and cultural center of the nation. Philadelphia is approximately 94 miles from New York, NY (while the downtowns are approximately 96 miles apart), amongst the closest distances between two cities of over 1,000,000 population in the world.[verification needed][1]
Philadelphia is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the United States. During part of the 18th century, the city was the second capital and most populous city of the United States, and the second largest English speaking city in the world after London. At that time, it eclipsed Boston and New York City in political and social importance, with Benjamin Franklin playing an extraordinary role in Philadelphia's rise.
For more information on Philadelphia and its history - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia
Contents |
Meetings
-3rd Sunday Potlucks: Please join us and join the group. We need volunteers for positions and ideas of places to have potlucks. 3rd Sunday Philly CS Potluck group
Tips
If you are looking to move to Philadelphia, refer to http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ - Craig's List.
Another excellent site to learn more about the culture, restaurants, life in the city proper and it's suburbs, and to get help with moving/relocation information is http://philadelphiaspeaks.com./
In particular, this page http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/relocation-moving-philadelphia/ will take you to a section that will give you specific information of each neighbourhood or burb by local residents and realtors.
Guides
Around Philly
Philly Fun Guide
Go Philia- official visitor site for Greater Philadelphia
MacNapier, US CS Ambassador, centre city history, shopping, restaurants, clubs, points of interest.
Rich Murray, CS Philadelphia Ambassador, history, points of interest, etc.
Dana Kenny, CS Philadelphia Ambassador, history, points of interest, etc.
csgroup:910
Getting Here
Philadelphia International Airport
30th Street Station (train station
Amtrak Boltbus pickup and drop off point, luggage storage.
Greyhound & Peter Pan Bus Station at 1001 Filbert St: http://www.greyhound.com/
Chinatown Bus: http://www.chinatown-bus.com/
Megabus: http://www.megabus.com/us/
Boltbus: https://www.boltbus.com/
Gotobus:http://gotobus.com/
Lady Liberty Shuttle: http://www.ladylibertyshuttle.com/
The R1 Regional Rail Line goes to Center City from the airport. It is operated by SEPTA- South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation authority = SEPTA.
R1 schedule oneway- $6 advance, $7 onboard; roundtrip- $11.75 advance, $14 roundtrip
Getting Around
Philly is a great city to walk around. But if you get tired, there are buses, subway, tour buses, and taxis. There is also Zip Car
Philadelphia bus, subway, and train schedules
Philly Phlash tour bus- to get around to more than 20 key locations in Center City
NJ high speed trains to and in Philly
Taxi's:
Olde City Taxi: (215) 338-0838 or 215-AIR-PORT (215) 247-7678 for the Airport
Capital: (215) 235-2200
Quaker City Cab: (215) 728-8000
City Cab: (215) 492-6500
Liberty Cab: (215) 389-8000
All City Taxi: (215) 467-6666
Convention Cab: (215) 462-0200
Yellow Cab: (267) 672-7391
Philadelphia Newspapers and other media
Philly Media, Gossip, Nightlife and Politics
Philadelphia Weekly- free weekly paper
City Paper- free weekly paper
ABC Philly News (there goes that Action News van again!)
Fun Local Attractions
- Eastern State Penitentiary - Tour one of America's most historic prisons (Capone was there for a while). The prison turns into an awesome Haunted House at night during the Fall.
- Philadelphia Magic Gardens - Very cool art installation on 10th and South. The Magic Gardens are an entire mosaic garden you can wander through.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art - The Philadelphia Museum of Art is quite large and has a fairly impressive collection (and, of course, the Rocky Statue). Sundays are 'pay whatever you want' day.
Favorite local establishments
Bars
- Tattooed Moms- $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon 7pm to 11pm on weekend
- Johnny Brendas- great menu, all microbrews, great juke box, plus is one block from my house
- Triumph Brewery - Great bar in Old City with all their own brews. Often a dj or live music.
Clubs
- Silk City Lounge - Fun and popular dance club (pop, hip hop, poppy dance music) with attached beer garden and diner.
- Fluid Nightclub- small, but has some great Djs and great nights. My favorite montly event there is Sex Dwarf
Steak Sandwiches- Philly's specialty
A True Philadelphia steak sandwich:
- is cooked to order on a steel grille in oil
- is served on a freshly baked Italian roll
- served "with" or "without" onions from the grille
- "inside out"- having the soft bread removed from the roll
- Option of being topped with American, Provolone or Cheese-Whiz which makes them a "cheesesteak"
- Add sliced tomatoes & lettuce and you have a "steak or cheesesteak-hoagie"
- Add tomato sauce for a "pizza-steak"
- Add salt, pepper and ketchup for "West Philly style"
- Sweet or Hot peppers if you dare
Steaks were invented in South Philadelphia in the 1930's at Pat's Steaks, located in the heart of South Philadelphia, hence the addition of "Philly" to the name. They were originally topped with a pizza sauce, (now called a pizza steak). The sandwich has evolved with chicken and even vegetarian options available throughout the city.
Where to find the best steak sandwiches is a question that will forever be debated throughout the area. Here are some favorites from local Philly Couchsurfers:
Chickie's Italian Deli: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/review/8991041 Ishkabibble's: http://search.cityguide.aol.com/philadelphia/restaurants/ishkabibbles-eatery/v-113977512/print Primo's: http://www.primohoagies.com/ Pat's: http://www.patskingofsteaks.com/ Cosmi's Deli: http://philadelphia.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=39697&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=20&home=Y Geno's: http://www.genosteaks.com/ Larry's: http://www.larryssteaks.com/menu.nxg Jim's: http://www.jimssteaks.com/ Steaks on South (SOS): http://www.steaksonsouth.com/ Tony Luke's: http://www.tonylukes.com/menu.htm Gianna's Grille (for vegetarian steaks and more!): http://www.giannasgrille.com/index.html
Emergency list
Anywhere in the United States, call 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.
Police stations
If you are really unlucky and manage to land yourself into trouble, here's a list of the local police stations:
Hospitals
There are many hospitals in Philadelphia. Here is a list of some:
- Hahnemann University Hospital, Broad and Vine Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: 215-762-7000
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital 111 South 11th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-955-6000
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399 phone: 215-590-1000
- Temple University Hospital 3401 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA. phone: 215-707-2000
- University Of Penn Health System 3400 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA. phone: 215-662-4000
Poison hotline
National Poison Hotline: 800-222-1222
Walk-in clinics
- Minute Clinic Inside CVS/pharmacy #0780 1301 Rhawn Street Philadelphia, PA 19111 hours- Mon - Fri 8am to 8 pm, Sat - Sun 10am to 4pm (Practitioners take a lunch break from approximately 2 - 2:30pm, Mon - Fri) or inside CVS/pharmacy #0371 6501 Harbison Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19149 hours- Mon - Fri 8am to 8 pm, Sat - Sun 10am to 4pm (Practitioners take a lunch break from approximately 2 - 2:30pm, Mon - Fri)
- Planned Parenthood of Southeast Pennsylvania1144 Locust Street,Phila, PA 19107 ph:(215) 351-5500 (Mostly for women's medical needs, but they do treat men here for STDs and sterilization.
- Mazzoni Center 1201 Chestnut St. Phila., PA 19107 ph: 215-563-0652
Consulates
list of consulates in Philadelphia
Last-minute hostels
Be sure to have directions to your host's home. Get a phone number before arriving. In case of an emergency, your host backs out, or you decide not to stay with your host, here are the hostels in Philadelphia. Please note the operating times.
- APPLE HOSTEL 32 S. Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 phone:(215)922-0222 This is the old Bank Street hostel, but now has new owners! It used to have a curfew but no longer does. It seems to have really cool owners.
- Chamounix Mansion West Fairmount Park 3250 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19131 phone: 215-878-3676 You may check in during the open hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM - Midnight (curfew). There is a daily lockout between 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM. All guests must leave the premises before 11:00 AM each day and may return after 4:30 PM.
-Loftstel The University City Loftstel is located at 4640 Spruce Street on the same block as the B42 bus stop. Take the B42 bus from Walnut Street in Center City to the corner of 46th Street & Spruce Street. The Art Museum Loftstel is located on 3215 Haverford Avenue. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST HAVE A PASSPORT TO MAKE A RESERVATION.
Rape crisis unit
RAINN-1.800.656.HOPE
Philadelphia Police Sexual Assault Prevention
Rape Crisis Centers:
- Jefferson Hospital Sexual Assault Center 215-955-6840 - for medical evaluation and treatment following assault
- Episcopal Hospital 215-427-7287 - Also for medical evaluation and treatment following assault
Rape Crisis Hotline:
- Women Organized Against Rape 215-985-3333, 1233 Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 24 hour hotline to advise on what to do if raped
Also for free follow up care after initial crisis evaluation and hospital care, can meet victims at hospital and facilitate investigation, and have both group and individual treatment for victims, perpetrators, and family of rape survivors
Victims of domestic violence
- Women in Transition
- Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-866-SAFE-014
- telephone counseling: (215) 751-1111
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Legal advice
Last-minute hosts
Philadelphia Last Minute Couch group
Your local CS ambassadors
City Ambassadors:
Nomadic Ambassadors (might be in Philly at this time):
Trivia
- In 1946 Philadelphia became home to the first computer.
- The first daily newspaper was published in Philadelphia on Sept. 21, 1784.
- In Philadelphia in 1775 Johann Behrent built the first piano in America calling it under the name "Piano Forte."
- Philadelphia is the site of the first presidential mansion.
- Philadelphia is home to the cheesesteak sandwich, water ice, soft pretzels, and TastyKakes.
- Benjamin Franklin founded the Philadelphia Zoo, the first public zoo in the United States.
- Philadelphia was once the United States capital city.
- The first U.S. stock exchange was in Philadelphia.
- The first bank in the United States was created in Philadelphia in 1791.
- Bubble gum first originated in Philadelphia in 1928.
- The first beauty salon in the US was in Philadelphia.
- A pencil with attached eraser was invented in Philadelphia.
- The first department store (Wannamaker's) in the US was in Philadelphia.
- In 1884, the taxi was the form of public transportation that first began in Philadelphia.
- The first magazine (The American Magazine) in the US was published in Philadelphia.
- In 1731 the first public library in the US was established in Philadelphia.
- The Walnut Street Theater is the oldest continually operating theater in the United States.
