Concluding our amazing series on why Manhattanites should visit Philadelphia is essentially where you should go to see what makes this city so damn special. So far we have covered food and travel for you, but outside of that, where are the best places to go that will leave you satisfied upon your return to your destination city? We have found some super interesting and unique places to try out when you are in the City of Brotherly Love. Check out what we think you would enjoy the best.
The Philadelphia Flower Show- Pennsylvania Convention Center
If you find yourself to be a very visual person as well as someone who likes the botanical and floral world, well then you have come to the right place in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Held annually in the month of March at the historic Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Flower Show is the place to be to experience the best of the best in the range of horticulture in the nation’s landscape.
The 2016 event took place a couple of weeks ago, and was a visual sight for sore eyes in many different ways. This year’s theme was called “Exploring America”, and was a grand adventure for each person who attended. Per the site’s description– In the Flower Show’s acres of trails, exhibits and attractions, guests will discover the range of horticulture in the national landscape, including the rainbow of wildflowers, desert blooms, coastal flora, verdant meadows, fragrant pinelands, and ancient redwoods. The Flower Show will also tell the diverse stories that forged the United States with exhibits inspired by the nation’s monuments and places where history happened. “Explore America” will spotlight Independence National Historical Park, Lincoln’s birthplace, Liberty Island, and other sites honoring our national heritage.
Tickets are already available for the 2-0`167 show, happening March 11th to 19th. For more information, check out their official site.
The Barnes Foundation- 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
If there was ever an opportunity to experience the best of the best in the art world and get a vast education on the history of it, then The Barnes Foundation is the place to go. Established almost a hundred years ago in 1922 by Alfred C. Barnes, whose goal simply was to promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture”, The Barnes Foundation is a fantastic location to discover and visualize some of the most iconic art pieces that have shaped our history into today.
With audio/visuals to help you along your journey inside, you can find divulge yourself in the fine pieces by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Henry Rousseau, Henri Matisse and more, all hung up on gorgeous walls that makes Barnes a fine establishment of the arts that any person should go to. A current exhibit that i would highly recommend going to, as I just experienced it while in Philadelphia, is Picasso: The Great War, Experimentation and Change. Happening until May 9th, The Barnes Foundation partners with The Columbus Museum of Art to examine how Picasso’s art changed during the first World War from 1912-1924. It is a fantastic representation of one of the most historic artists of our times, and something that I would definitely get a ticket to the next time you are at the foundation. They also have fantastic plant collections as well, if you haven’t gotten enough from The Flower Show.
For more information on The Barnes Foundation, check out their official website.
Gay Bars Galore- Woody’s & U Bar
The quintessential gay man will not visit a city without experiencing at least one gay bar upon their stay in whatever city they are at. Luckily for you, Philadelphia has a great range of gay bars for you to experience, depending on your mood. Woody’s, pictured above, is located in the heart of the Gayborhood on S. 13th Street, and happens to be one of the most popular gay bars in town. if you are looking for a very energized place with a roaring crowd, then Woody’s is the place to be. With two levels to it, one for the bar and one upstairs devoted to some of the best dance parties I have ever been to, this is the one place you should try if you are looking for a loud night out on the town with your friends. For more information on Woody’s, check out their official site.
If you are looking for a more relaxed vibe to just enjoy a drink or two with people, then I would recommend either U Bar. U Bar is located down the street from Woody’s on Locust Street, and is a great place to go for after work or a quick drink or two before heading out for a great night on the town. Not the biggest in size, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be as it makes up for it with its great ambiance, tasty drinks and hot bartenders. For more information on U Bar, check out their official site.