Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

This summer, as part of the new With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ marketing campaign, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is asking 5,000 Philadelphians to send postcards to friends and family all over the country inviting them to visit Philadelphia and stay over in a hotel.

Philadelphians can write their messages on pre-stamped postcards at a series of postcard-writing booths throughout Philadelphia in June and July. Locations include Sunoco Welcome America’s Party on the Parkway, at Citizens Bank Park and at Suburban Station.* The booths will be adorned with With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ letters, and postcard writers may receive

There’s always a ton of fun and fabulous things to do on any given night in Philadelphia—hip bars, luxurious lounges, indie rock haunts and electric clubs. But visitors looking for more variety in the nightlife scene have plenty of choices as well, such as dance lessons, drag shows, movie showings, museum happy hours and free concerts. What’s more, many of the options are low-priced or free, and with nearly 100 valuable hotel packages available on gophila.com/withlove, including the two-night Philly Overnight® Hotel Package that includes free hotel parking, visitors can spend a couple nights (or more) sampling the region’s

When Philadelphia throws a birthday party, everyone catches the spirit—especially leading up to and during Fourth of July weekend. In addition to the many free events that are part of the city’s annual Sunoco Welcome America! celebration, the region is jamming with dozens of events and festivals that celebrate our nation’s heritage. Here’s a look at a few more activities taking place during America’s birthday party:

In Historic Philadelphia:

• Catch up on the latest up-and-coming artists during First Friday in Old City when galleries and shops throw open their doors for some twilight gallery hopping. July 3. Front to

This is a CBS 3/The CW Philly press release.

Staying close to home this summer? There will be no shortage of ideas for fun things to do thanks to a new partnership between sister stations CBS 3/The CW Philly 57 and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. The stations and GPTMC are teaming up to promote the limitless options the Philadelphia area provides for summer tourists whether they live here or not.

Can’t get to Paris? Visit one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art outside of Paris at the Barnes Foundation Museum. Bored children around the

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.

Special

The following itinerary is available on gophila.com.

LOCATION: Historic Philadelphia, Centennial District, Bucks County, Kennett Square and Camden, New Jersey

TRANSPORTATION: Foot, taxi, bus or car

DURATION: Four days and four nights

This summer, forgo the same old family vacation in favor of a fun and—dare we say—educational trip to Historic Philadelphia. Everyone knows the birthplace of America is chock full of historic attractions, but it’s also home to a one-of-a kind amusement park, a spectacular aquarium, the country’s oldest zoo, breathtaking gardens, only-in-Philly shops, delicious eats and so much more. Best of all, many of the city’s attractions

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) announced today that Julie Coker will join its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Coker is currently the general manager at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, the only city hotel located in the revitalized waterfront area. She occupies one of two GPTMC board seats dedicated to Philadelphia’s hotel industry.

“Julie Coker understands the vital importance of the tourism industry in Philadelphia, and she brings 20 years of valuable hospitality experience to GPTMC’s board,” said Manuel N. Stamatakis, chairman, GPTMC Board of Directors. “We look forward to putting her expertise to good use.”

When foodies hit the road, they take their passion for farmers markets, culinary tours and tasting experiences with them. Whether it’s called culinary tourism or just plain fun, the chance to see, smell and taste the best of local gastronomy is a big attraction, and it’s getting bigger. The 2009 Travel & Tourism Market Research Handbook reports that 27 million Americans—or 17% of leisure travelers—made culinary and/or wine activities part of their trips within the last three years. These activities include everything from taking cooking classes and dining out in a unique setting to visiting farmers markets and attending food

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°

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
October 2010
Ongoing Activities

JUNE 2009

Through June 7, 2009
SOMETHING INTANGIBLE. The Arden Theatre Company presents this play by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. Set in 1940s Hollywood, this story is about two brothers, one an extravagant visionary and the other a plain-speaking numbers man, running a studio on the brink of major movie innovation. (215) 922-1122, ardentheatre.org

Through June 14, 2009
HYSTERIA. Based on an

Those interested in indulging in a few days of luxury and pampering should consider Philadelphia, where living the high life—even if it’s just an escape from today’s penny-pinching practices—is easier to obtain and more affordable than ever. A host of bargains, from prix-fixe dinners at elegant restaurants to overnight stays in five-star hotels to shopping deals at designer consignment boutiques, means visitors can save and still see the city and surrounding countryside in style. Below are just a few suggestions for a first-class visit to Philly:

High-Value Eats:

• The high-end lunches at Philadelphia’s premiere French fine-dining restaurant Le Bec-Fin

After exploring the Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy exhibition, appearing only in Philadelphia, only in 2009 (April 4 through September 7, 2009 at The Franklin Institute Science Museum), visitors are encouraged to spend a night or two and enjoy other exhibitions and events in the region. Here’s a look at what’s going on while Galileo’s in town:

Fun Art And Culture:

• The popular three-day West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival—now in its sixth year—features all types of jazz alongside visual artists, craft vendors and more. This year’s lineup features WAR, Jeffrey Osbourne, Average

The results are in: A sample group of 3,694 people completed a survey about the world’s most famous astronomer Galileo Galilei, and a stunning 50% of respondents said that physicist Stephen Hawking is the modern-day person who best embodies Galileo’s spirit and contributions. People were given a choice of Hawking, Al Gore, Al Roker, Steve Jobs and Captain Kirk—all of whom share common traits with the famous scientist. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) and The Franklin Institute Science Museum conducted the survey to gain a better understanding of what people know about Galileo in order to help shape

When choosing a restaurant in Historic Philadelphia, the key word is choice. In fact, there are so many restaurants, cafés and bistros that discerning diners could eat out all 108 days of summer without ever hitting the same spot twice. After a long day of touring, hungry visitors can take an adventurous turn by sampling Chifa’s Latin/Asian menu, dine in elegance at the new Union Trust Steak House or join the bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) revolution at long-time favorite Chloe. Here are just a few places where diners can please their palates:

Asian And South Asian:

• Aqua – Those in the

Shopping is fun. Shopping in indie and owner-operated boutiques that feature unusual wares and personalized service is even more fun, which means that shopping in Historic Philadelphia is a blast. With dozens of independently owned clothing, jewelry and home furnishings shops, the area between Front and 7^th Streets and Race and Spruce Streets is a shopper’s nirvana. Best of all, in Pennsylvania there is no sales tax on clothing and shoes, leaving room in the budget for that extra bauble. Here are just a few of the places where discerning shoppers can indulge in their favorite pastime:

Trendy Threads

As daylight turns to twilight, Historic Philadelphia turns hip and happening with after-hours fun for the under-21 and over-21 sets. From early evening until the wee, small hours, the area situated between Front and 7^th Streets and Race and Spruce Streets buzzes with family-friendly evening fun and sizzles with decidedly grown-up theaters, nightclubs and dance spots. Find more on the latest happenings, musical performances and theatrical offerings at gophila.com. And, for half-price tickets to arts and cultural events, visit phillyfunguide.com.

Family-friendly Activities:

• 1776: Interactive Movie Musical – The whole family can star in this hysterical, historical classic

Visitors to Historic Philadelphia will find countless options for exploring Historic Philadelphia and its connections to the nation’s early history—whether it’s by land, by sea, by bus or by foot. Early risers can spend the day exploring every inch of America’s most historic square mile, and night owls can do the same by joining tours that feature high-tech storytelling, behind-the-scenes action and even spirits from beyond.

Best of all, thanks to an intensive three-week training course for storytellers and Colonial interpreters, visitors can be assured that the history they are hearing is accurate. Each guide and re-enactor employed by Historic

When it comes to visiting Philadelphia, some of the best things to see and do are free—or close to it. For families and budget travelers eager to explore the region, that’s great news. Check out the city’s many low-cost or no-cost attractions, including historic Independence Hall, free student recitals at the Curtis Institute of Music, the hi-tech production line of Herr’s Potato Chip Factory and the always-colorful Mummers Museum.

Historical Sites:

• Snuggled behind the east wing of Independence Hall is Philosophical Hall, a brick building erected in the late 1780s that was the nation’s first museum, national library and

Los visitantes de la Filadelfia histórica se encontrarán con numerosas opciones—sea por tierra o por mar, ya en autobús o a pie—para explorar la ciudad y su relación con la historia de la incipiente nación. Los madrugadores pueden pasarse el día examinando cada pulgada de la milla cuadrada más histórica de los Estados Unidos y los trasnochadores pueden hacer lo mismo en paseos que incluyen relatos con uso de alta tecnología, acción tras bambalinas y hasta espíritus del más allá.

Lo mejor de todo es que gracias a un curso intensivo de tres semanas para narradores y para intérpretes coloniales

NOTE: Click here for the Sunoco Welcome America! media credential form.

This is a Sunoco Welcome America! press release.

Spirited summer family fun in Philadelphia keeps marching on with the annual Sunoco Welcome America! festival. Visitors to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection will be treated to two consecutive weekends of free, family-friendly activities to ring in our nation’s birthday in grand style, including the culinary delights of the Taste of Philadelphia June 26 - 28 and the grand finale July 4 concert and fireworks on Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

On Saturday, July 4, platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl