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AND THE COUNTRYSIDE CITY NAVIGAYTOR GAY TRAVEL GUIDE FREEDOM STARTED HERE Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC EXPERIENCE THE EXPLORE GAY-FRIENDLY GAYBORHOOD PAGE 8 NEW HOPE PAGE 36 TAKE IN ALL THE ART YOU CAN PAGE 20 P THE BEN 676 S c h u y l P k i l l R i v e r T r a i l P R1 Rail Line M 12-13th St Station 9-10th St Station RIT uylkill SPRUC ver ark 25TH ST GRA 25TH ST WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA 4 Welcome to Philadelphia 5 Annual Events 6 Gay Philadelphia 8 The Gayborhood 10 LGBT Sites of Interest 12 Getting Around 14 Freedom Started Here 18 Neighborhoods 20 Arts & Culture 26 Shopping 28 Dining 30 Sports & Recreation 32 Countryside 36 New Hope, Bucks County 40 Atlantic City, South Jersey 42 Photo by A. Nowitz for GPTMC Center City Map CONTENTS Produced by the 1700 Market Street, Suite 3000, Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-636-3300 • www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel City Navigaytor is published by Altus Group 211 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 • 215-977-9900 www.citynavigaytor.com The City Navigaytor is © 2007 all rights reserved Altus Group. Print date 07-2007. Cover inset photos by Jon Perlmutter and R. Kennedy for GPTMC. Love photo by Edward Savaria, Jr. The City of Philadelphia was founded in Washington Avenue. But to fully enjoy the 1682 by Englishman William Penn as a local charm and flavor of this residential “greene countrie towne” based on the city, explore neighborhoods such as principles of equality and freedom of Northern Liberties, Queen Village, expression. More than 300 years later, University City and other areas where this magnificent metropolis continues to architectural surprises, delicious BYOBs welcome residents and visitors from and one-of-a-kind boutiques pop up WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA around the globe and prides itself as one around every corner. And the city is just of the premier destinations for gay and part of the experience. Build time into lesbian travelers. your itinerary to enjoy the wineries, historical sites, Main Streets, retail Famous as the birthplace of life, liberty complexes and natural beauty of the and the pursuit of happiness, Philadelphia surrounding countryside. A short train offers much more than cobblestone ride from Center City can transport you streets and historic landmarks. The city to endless memorable destinations. has emerged as a vibrant center of culture, cuisine, creativity and community. Whether your stay in Philadelphia is for From shopping and dining along leisure, a convention, business or a family Rittenhouse Row, to theater and music visit, one thing is for sure. You will be on the Avenue of the Arts, to the revered amazed at how much there is to do in the history of Old City, there is something for Philadelphia region, and will wish you had everyone here, and too much to do it a couple of extra days here. For these all in one day. reasons and so many more, Philadelphia continues to enjoy popularity as a travel The heart of activity, gay and otherwise, destination, especially for lesbians and gay is Center City – the local term for men who find Mr. Penn’s “city of brotherly downtown, which stretches between the love” well named. Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, north to Fairmount Avenue and south to 4 Visit GOPHILA.COM/GAY for additional information ANNUAL EVENTS New Year’s Mummers Parade January and dining discounts, scenic tours, This uniquely Philadelphian tradition and educational events, DJ dance parties, the oldest folk parade in the United Pride Parade and more. States features 10,000 musicians and gaybuckscounty.com performers dressed head-to-toe in sequins and feathers. Revered by gay Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian and straight Philadelphians, this Theatre Festival June century-old parade started in 1900 and Live performances celebrating the LGBT is not to be missed. experience dominate this multi-venue gophila.com festival, including premieres of works by LGBT playwrights and nationally- Philadelphia Flower Show March recognized artists. Tickets are available The largest indoor flower show in the for individual productions or as world showcases 33 acres of lush multi-packs. gardens, lavish floral settings and philagaylesbiantheatrefest.org inspirational displays as well as speakers, exhibitions, culinary events and an Sunoco Welcome America July on-site marketplace. Celebrate America’s birthday in theflowershow.com America’s birthplace with the oldest and largest Independence Day celebration in Gay Black Pride April the U.S. Enjoy neighborhood festivals, Philadelphia Black Gay Pride promotes live performances, historic reenactment unity among African Americans and and two larger-than-life fireworks Photo by Independence Visitor Center people of African descent who are displays. sexual minorities during this annual AmericasBirthplace.org weekend celebration of educational workshops, social events, parties, and Philadelphia International spiritual brunch. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival July phillyblackpride.org Dubbed the “sexiest film festival in the nation” by OutTraveler, Philadelphia Equality Forum 2007 April/May hosts the largest event of its kind in the The largest national and international Northeast. More than 125 features, LGBT civil rights forum, Equality Forum documentaries and shorts by, for, boasts more than 60 programs, parties and about the LGBT community and special events that attract visitors are screened. from around the world. Highlights phillyfests.com include the International Business Dinner, films and concerts, and Pride Day – SundayOUT!, an enormous block party. LGBT Pride Parade & Festival June equalityforum.com Philly Pride Presents produces the region’s premier Pride Parade and Blue Ball May Festival for thousands of participants Blue Ball weekend, a series of dance and spectators. The parade of floats, event fund raisers hosted at multiple drill teams, community groups and music venues over the course of a weekend, kicks off in the Gayborhood and attracts a diverse cross section of the proceeds to the festival site where local and national LGBT community. the celebration continues with live Held the same weekend as Equality entertainment, food and games. Forum, Blue Ball presents some of the phillypride.org largest and most extravagant gay and lesbian parties of the year. Outfest October blueballphilly.com Philadelphia’s National Coming Out Day block party is the biggest Coming Out Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Day event in the world. Full day-long New Hope Celebrates May festival attracts throngs to the This weekend celebration welcomes the Gayborhood for a day of music, world to New Hope, a scenic riverfront entertainment, vendors, food and gay village north of Philadelphia. Enjoy community. live national entertainment, shopping, phillypride.org Photo by Jim McWilliams Photo by Jim McWilliams Philadelphia is known around the Courageous Philadelphians continued world as the birthplace of American to advance the causes for the LGBT independence and democracy, but the community into the 1970s and 80s. city boasts a long gay civil rights history Activist Mark Segal founded Philadelphia as well. Some of the nation’s first gay Gay News in 1976, one of the first gay rights protests took place here in 1965, and lesbian newspapers in the country. predating the landmark Stonewall Riots. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians The “Annual Reminders” were staged and Gays (PFLAG) and other national GAY PHILADELPHIA GAY in front of Independence Hall through organizations trace their roots back to 1969 with increasing numbers. These Philadelphia. pioneers chose the symbolism of Philadelphia as the site to stage what Today, the Philadelphia LGBT community is now recognized as the beginning of is active and influential in business, the U.S. and international gay civil politics and social circles. The community rights movement. is represented in city and state government, corporate boardrooms and civic organizations. Gay-owned businesses thrive not only in the Gayborhood but also throughout the city and region. Various professional, social and recreational groups foster a strong and healthy network that makes Philadelphia a great place to live for LGBT individuals and families. Philadelphia has also become recognized as a leader in gay meetings and tourism. National associations including the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, and the National Gay & Lesbian Law Foundation have met in Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s award-winning “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®” campaign and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Urban Archives, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA University, Temple Urban Archives, Bureau’s international tourism campaigns On July 4, 1965, forty courageous activists continue to attract visitors from around peacefully demonstrated in front of Independence the world to experience gay-friendly Hall calling for equal rights for gays and lesbians. Philadelphia for themselves. 6 Visit GOPHILA.COM/GAY for additional information Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC The center of the LGBT community is Bob & Barbara’s Lounge the Gayborhood. Centered between 1509 South Street 11th and Broad streets, from Chestnut 215-545-4511 to Pine streets, a collection of gay-owned Bob and Barbara’s welcomes a racially diverse, straight and gay-friendly restaurants, clubs, and gay crowd. Enjoy live music throughout the week. community organizations and retail Thursdays feature a spectacular Drag Night. stores create one of the city’s most Bump colorful neighborhoods. Rainbow-stiped 13th & Locust streets THE GAYBORHOOD THE GAYBORHOOD street signs will alert you that you have 215-732-1800 arrived. Unlike gay districts in most Philadelphia’s luxe lounge for men and women serves cities, the Gayborhood sits in the heart dinner and cocktails daily. Noted for its creative martini of town, a short walk from the menu, garden patio and Sunday brunch, Bump Convention Center, Avenue of the Arts, provides a contemporary fun environment. Rittenhouse Square, Business District, bumplounge.com Historic District and hotels. Key West 207 S.