Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) recently launched phase two of Philly 360°™, a marketing campaign designed to expand the region’s visitor base by attracting a new group of African-American travelers who are young, affluent, technologically savvy and driven to a destination based on its contemporary cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife and overall buzz factor.

The fall phase of the project focuses on Philadelphia-born artist Barkley L. Hendricks’ Birth of the Cool retrospective at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) from October 17 to January 3 and shines a spotlight on the region’s thriving independent boutique scene. In

Fashionistas in the midst of building their fall and winter wardrobes need look no further than Philadelphia, where a wide range of independent boutiques are wowing shoppers with urban chic apparel, street fashions and vintage finds—all available at affordable prices. In October alone, the style conscious can take in a slew of fashion events, including the first-ever Philadelphia Fashion Week, and hit the city’s hippest neighborhoods to shop for items by cutting-edge designers and young artists of color who are thriving here—despite challenging economic times. Many of these progressive thinkers operate businesses that reflect their international heritage and offer shoppers

From his iconic life-sized portraits to compelling Jamaican landscapes, native son Barkley L. Hendricks’ works come to Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) for an exclusive fall engagement. Birth of the Cool is Hendricks’ first career retrospective, and from October 17 to January 3, art aficionados can visit the artist’s alma mater and browse nearly 60 interpretations of contemporary black identity. Plus, Philly’s wide range of exhibitions, performances and galleries offer fresh ideas to make it a long weekend. Visitors can book their stay at gophila.com, where they can also plan every detail of their trip. Here’s

The following itinerary is available on gophila.com/barkleyhendricks.

LOCATION: Historic Philadelphia, Center City and North Philadelphia

TRANSPORTATION: On foot, by taxi or car

DURATION: Two nights and two days

Note: Locations picked by Barkley and friends are indicated as such. Other places are suggestions of the tourism office.

Philly’s flavors, faces, rhythms and spaces have always been on the cutting edge of cool. Need proof? Acclaimed artist and local son Barkley L. Hendricks is bringing his Birth of the Cool career retrospective home to his alma mater, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), through January 3, 2010—making this

Barkley Hendricks’ fans coming to Philadelphia for the hometown art legend’s first major career retrospective, Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool, can plan their trip at gophila.com/philly360, where they’ll find exhibition details, a Barkley and Friends tour of Philadelphia, a photo slideshow, videos, hotel package offers and more. The exhibition is on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) through January 3.

Here’s a look at some of the cool features found on the Barkley Hendricks page of gophila.com/philly360:

• Exhibition Details: Runs down the who, what, when and where and gives exhibition highlights and

Philadelphians are cheering the arrival of Relish, one of the city’s newest culinary destinations where live jazz accompanies a light and modern Southern menu. Owners Benjamin and Robert Bynum give classic fried green tomatoes a dusting of parmesan, and braised turkey wings and collard greens meet apple cornbread stuffing in a space reminiscent of a 1950s club, thanks to acclaimed Philly designer Kia Steave-Dickerson of TLC’s “Trading Spaces” and “Renovate My Place.” While West Oak Lane is the city neighborhood lucky enough to claim Relish, there are plenty of options for a fantastic night out in many Philly neighborhoods.

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For more than a century, the city of Philadelphia has been home to a number of prominent African-American artists who received academic training and created visual works of all media, contributing to the artistic and intellectual life of the city. Establishments like the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, art schools like Moore College of Art and Design and Tyler School of Art at Temple University and venues like Sande Webster Gallery and ArtJaz Gallery have provided important channels for the career development of African-American artists in Philadelphia. While the African-American art scene has blossomed and waned to varying degrees

In summer 2009, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) debuted a new twist on its African-American tourism marketing campaign. The initiative focuses on expanding the destination’s current visitor base by attracting a new group of African-American travelers who are younger, technologically savvy and driven to an urban destination based on its contemporary cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife scene and overall buzz factor.

Helping to shape the campaign is the Philly 360˚™ Coalition—a name that reflects the group’s commitment to giving potential visitors a 360˚ view of the city’s modern and historic tourism offerings. Here is a look at the African-American

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) will debut PHILLY 360°™, The Book—the newest component of its African-American tourism marketing campaign—at The Roots Picnic on June 6, 2009. The limited-edition, hard-bound book features interviews with some of Philadelphia’s most prominent African-American tastemakers and trendsetters, including The Roots, King Britt and Ethel Cee, and details what these creative ambassadors love most about the city. All of the people featured in the book are part of GPTMC’s Philly 360°™ Coalition, a group of 50 of the city’s African-American thought leaders, cultural entrepreneurs, marketers and other stakeholders committed to promoting a 360°