PhlashGuide Philadelphia October 2017

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

where® MAGAZINE

PHLASH Guide YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING AROUND CENTER CITY

P H I L A D E L P H I A

Fall & Winter GUIDE

PHLASH map

INSIDE

Special Holiday Service! Ride the Holiday Houses Loop (pictured) to get to the historic mansions in Fairmount Park. Details page 7.

MICHAEL PEARSON FOR IVCC

FIND PHLASH ON-THE-GO! Use RidePhillyPHLASH.com to track the next vehicle to arrive at your stop in real-time.

Holiday Happenings

From shopping at local boutiques to ice skating on outdoor rinks, Philadelphia offers plenty of ways to fill up on holiday spirit. And with access to 22 stops located near many of the city’s must-see holiday attractions, the Philly PHLASH is the most affordable and convenient way to experience the magic of the season in the City of Brotherly Love. Here’s where to go and what to do.

NOVEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 31 Soak up the magic of the season with traditions old and new at the Franklin Square Holiday Festival. Marvel at the lights of the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show, presented by PECO; warm up with comfort food, local beers, and hot beverages at Ben’s Sweets & Treats; and shop at the Holiday Market. Kids (and kids at heart) will love Santa Saturdays, rides on the Lightning Bolt Holiday Express train around the Square, and a family-friendly Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown and Dance Party.

NOVEMBER 10 - FEBRUARY 25, 2018 Back again this year, the Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park in Center City offers a fun break from holiday shopping. Visitors can lace up for a spin around the rink or take lessons. Warm up in the Rothman Cabin and Air Grille, which provides a cozy reprieve with rustic décor, food specials, and seasonal drinks by Brûlée Catering.

Rothman Institute Ice Rink

NOVEMBER 18 - JANUARY 1, 2018 For its 10th year, Christmas Village returns to LOVE Park. This authentic German market brings more than 80 vendors from around the world, plus wine tastings and European sweets.

While Christmas Village carries international goods, Made In Philadelphia Holiday Market in Dilworth Park highlights products made by local artisans and designers. Both shopping exchanges offer unique finds for that special gift.

NOVEMBER 23 - JANUARY 1, 2018 The Comcast Holiday Spectacular brings the traditional holiday light show into the 21st century with a 15-minute production projected onto The Comcast Experience video wall, one of the world’s largest and highest resolution LED displays. The larger-than-life show takes viewers on a magical sleigh ride high above the city and features performances of Carol of the Bells, Jingle Bell Rock, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and The Nutcracker by the renowned Philadelphia Ballet, plus a singalong.

Experience this special presentation daily at the top of each hour, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 31 The Macy’s Christmas Light Show is a Philadelphia tradition that dates back half a century.

The famous Center City store located inside the historic Wanamaker Building hosts this daily production, which uses more than 100,000 LED lights to project snowflakes, ballerinas, and reindeer onto a four-story-high velvet curtain, accompanied by festive music from the worldrenowned Wanamaker Grand Organ. Upstairs, visit SantaLand®, featuring Dickens Village,

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Macy’s Christmas Light Show Christmas Village

Comcast Holiday Spectacular

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) ©JEFF FUSCO FOR HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA INC.; ©G.WIDMAN/VISIT PHILLY; ©J. FUSCO/VISIT PHILLY; COURTESY OF COMCAST; ©J. FUSCO/VISIT PHILLY

Franklin Square Holiday Festival

Countdown2Noon at the Please Touch Museum

Philadelphia City Hall & Dilworth Park

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ©J. FUSCO FOR VISIT PHILADELPHIA©; ©G.WIDMAN/VISIT PHILLY; ©M. FISCHETTI FOR VISIT PHILADELPHIA©; M. PEARSON FOR IVCC; ©J. FUSCO FOR VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Macy’s holiday window display

which transports visitors to 1840s London. Walk through 6,000 square feet of space, featuring 26 heart-warming scenes from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

NOVEMBER 24 - DECEMBER 31 Kids and adults alike delight in the Reading Terminal Market Holiday Railroad, an ornate model winding its way through five magical interactive vignettes, celebrating the history of the iconic market and the joys of the holiday season.

NOVEMBER 24 - MARCH 4, 2018 At Penn’s Landing, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is a winter wonderland complete with a ski chalet-style heated tent called The Lodge. Here, look for tasty bites, a beer garden, a nightly holiday light show, outdoor fire pits, and an ice skating rink on the water.

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 31 Enjoy A Very Philly Christmas in Fairmount Park with holiday tours of the historic houses and four special days of programming and activities (December 2, 3, 9, 10). Ride the Holiday Houses Loop — this special transit service will be provided by the PHLASH to Fairmount Park on select days.

DECEMBER 2, 3, 9, 10 Philadelphia Zoo members are invited to celebrate the magic of the holiday season and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet with Santa Claus as he travels the globe to visit America’s first zoo. Breakfast with Santa registration includes a breakfast buffet (served from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) and a chance to meet jolly old Saint Nick himself. Tell Santa all your holiday wishes, and be sure to bring your camera to capture the memories at this exclusive festive celebration.

DECEMBER 25 On Christmas Day, the National Museum of American Jewish History invites families from all backgrounds to fill in the blank during its annual Being ___ at Christmas event. This year’s programming is full of fun-filled activities for everyone, including live music, crafts, storytime, gallery explorations, and delicious treats.

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market in Dilworth Park

DECEMBER 31 The little ones may not be able to stay up until midnight, but they can still get in on all the New Year’s Eve excitement with the whole family.

Please Touch Museum’s annual Countdown2Noon has children ringing in 2018 with live music and a theatrical countdown performance leading to the ball drop at the stroke of noon.

A Very Philly Christmas in Fairmount Park

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THE GUIDE

PHLASH Ride the Philly PHLASH The Philly PHLASH is your quick, convenient, and affordable connection to Philadelphia’s popular attractions. Hop on and off at 22 stops, with service every 15 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Purchase a single ride for $2.00 or an allday pass for only $5.00. Children 4 and under, senior citizens, and SEPTA pass and key card holders always ride FREE! Weekend service (Friday to Sunday) is available from September 8 to November 19. Daily service runs from November 24 to December 31.

Purchase passes onboard with exact change (cash only) at any Visitor Center location or online. PhillyPHLASH.com, 800.537.7676

STOP 1: PENN’S LANDING (CHESTNUT STREET OVERPASS)— Penn’s Landing, the popular waterfront area where Center City Philadelphia meets the Delaware River, is named for William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania in 1682. The site features magnificent views and unique attractions, such as Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, home to ice skating and seasonal programming on the waterfront. A walking path to the water leads visitors to the Independence Seaport Museum, which showcases Philadelphia’s nautical history and welcomes visitors to explore the submarine Becuna and warship Olympia.

STOP 2: 3RD AND MARKET STREETS—In Philadelphia’s oldest neighborhood, aptly called Old City, hip boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants are located alongside colonial sites. Hear the stories of the first lady of the Stars and Stripes at the Betsy Ross House and stroll through Elfreth’s Alley, the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street.

STOP 3: INDEPENDENCE VISITOR CENTER (6TH AND MARKET STREETS)—Located at the corner of 6th and Market sts., the Independence Visitor Center is a great one-stop-shop for any visitor to the Greater Philadelphia region.

Friendly, multilingual Visitor Services Representatives provide travel planning assistance and advice. Here, you can pick up free maps and

SACRED GROUND Visit Historic Christ Church, on Second and Market streets, an active place of worship that many Founding Fathers attended.

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©M. EDLOW FOR IVCC

Westbound

Check PhillyPHLASH.com

brochures; purchase tickets to more one of the city’s original five squares, is for available parking discounts than 100 tours and attractions; enjoy located just 2 blocks north of the Visitor when you ride Center and is home to Spooky Mini a quick bite to eat inside at Café PHLASH Golf and the Franklin Square Holiday Independence; or purchase souvenirs Festival at the Independence Gift Shop, the Festival. official gift shop of the region. It is also the STOP 4: READING TERMINAL MARKET exclusive location to pick up free, timed tickets AND CONVENTION CENTER (12TH AND to tour Independence Hall, located just a block MARKET STREETS)—More than 250 small away. This World Heritage Site is often referred and international events take place every year to as the “Birthplace of America,” because it at the two million-square-foot Pennsylvania is the location where both the Declaration of Convention Center, located on the north side of Independence and Constitution were debated Market Street. Conventioneers, attendees, and and signed. Across from the Visitor Center, locals love to shop and dine across the street at the Liberty Bell Center offers a free look at Reading Terminal Market, the nation’s oldest the revered international symbol of freedom. continuously operating farmers’ market, which Down the block, at 5th and Market sts., the displays the interactive Holiday Railroad for the National Museum of American Jewish History holiday season. is the only museum dedicated exclusively to STOP 5: 16TH STREET AND THE BENJAexploring and interpreting the American Jewish MIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY—Explore the experience. One block away, at 6th and Arch great spots in this area, like the Pennsylvania sts., the National Constitution Center is the Academy of the Fine Arts. The nation’s oldest first museum dedicated to expanding awareart school and museum includes the historic ness of and bringing the U.S. Constitution to Frank Furness museum, contemporary Samuel life through interactive exhibits. One block V. Hamilton Building, and outdoor works on northeast, free, self-guided tours are available at Lenfest Plaza. the United States Mint, where visitors can view actual coining operations from 40 feet above the STOP 6: 18TH STREET AND THE BENJAMIN factory floor. Or, visitors can choose to drop a FRANKLIN PARKWAY—One of the original coin of their own at 5th and Arch streets across squares in William Penn’s plan for the city, from the U.S. Mint inside Christ Church Burial Logan Square is surrounded by cultural Ground, Benjamin Franklin’s final resting place. institutions and features the majestic Swann Legend has it that those who drop a penny on Fountain by Alexander Stirling Calder. Sister his gravesite receive good luck! Franklin Square,

THE GUIDE

Cities Park features a café and Children’s Discovery Garden.

STOP 7: THE BARNES FOUNDATION (20TH STREET AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY)—The Barnes Foundation is home to one of the finest collections of Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings in the world.

Purchase discounted tickets at the Independence Visitor Center located at STOP 3.

STOP 8: RODIN MUSEUM (22ND AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY)— Another must-see cultural institution on the Parkway is the Rodin Museum, which houses the largest collection of works by renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris.

Rodin’s best-known work, The Thinker, sits outside of the museum in the entry courtyard.

It features more than 140 of the artist’s bronze, marble and plaster works of art.

STOP 9: EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY (22ND STREET AND FAIRMOUNT AVENUE)— Once considered a highly advanced prison of its time, Eastern State Penitentiary was home to some of the most infamous and dangerous criminals. Although the prisoners are long gone, today the historical site provides an inside look at the prison system’s past and present and transforms into the country’s largest haunted house for the Halloween season, Terror Behind the Walls. Stroll along Fairmount Avenue to find neighborhood restaurants and taverns in the historic Fairmount neighborhood.

STOP 10: FAIRMOUNT AND PENNSYLVANIA AVENUES—The Philadelphia Museum of Art Perelman Building, a landmark Art Deco building once known as the “Gateway to Fairmount Park,” now acts as the gateway to the future for the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s main collection. It houses works intended to modernize and expand upon the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s main collection, with galleries dedicated to contemporary design, prints, drawings, photographs, costumes, and even rare books and documents. This stop is also a great launching point to explore historic Boathouse Row and the Fairmount Water Works along the Schuylkill River.

STOP 11: PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART— The “crown jewel of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,” the Philadelphia Museum of Art presides over Philadelphia’s Museum District, both literally and figuratively. The landmark building, which sits at a rise at the end of the Parkway, is the third largest art museum in the country. With vast collections of world-class European and American paintings, it is visited by more than 800,000 people annually. Available on select days November 30-December 31, here, you can hop on the Holiday Houses Loop to visit the historic mansions in Fairmount Park and celebrate A Very Philly Christmas. Rider Tip! This is the TRANSFER STOP to access the PHILADELPHIA ZOO & PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM.

Philadelphia Zoo/Please Touch Museum Loop STOPS 12 & 14: PHILADELPHIA ZOO (LANSDOWNE DRIVE AND GIRARD AVENUE; 34TH STREET AND GIRARD AVENUE)—Situated on the west bank of the Schuylkill River, the Philadelphia Zoo was the

first zoo in the United States. Originally chartered by the state in 1859, the Zoo’s opening was delayed by the Civil War until July 1, 1874.

Spread over 42 acres, the Zoo houses more than 1,300 animals, including several rare and endangered species. Other features include pony rides, a children’s zoo, and seasonal activities like Boo at the Zoo and Breakfast with Santa.

STOP 13: PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM (AVENUE OF THE REPUBLIC)— The Please Touch Museum is located in Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall, the last major building remaining from the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Aimed at children ages seven and younger, the museum focuses on teaching through interactive exhibits and special events, like the kid-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, Countdown2Noon. The nearby Shofuso Japanese House and Garden represent 17th-century style structures that were built in 1954 as a gift from Japan to America.

Eastbound STOP 15: ROCKY STATUE & STEPS OF THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART—Many visitors will recognize the entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art due to its exterior stairwell’s prominence in a pivotal scene of the American classic film, Rocky. Affectionately known as the “Rocky Steps,” these 72 stone steps provide an important rite of passage for many visitors to the city, who trace Rocky Balboa’s run up to the top for a victory dance, photo opp, and unparalleled view down the Ben Franklin Parkway. A two-ton, ten-foot-tall Rocky Statue atop a pedestal at the bottom right of the steps also pays homage to the film.

STOP 16: THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE (20TH STREET AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY)—The expansive Franklin Institute features innovative kid-friendly exhibits; a 79-foot domed IMAX theater; high-tech planetarium; rooftop observatory; and an epic 20-foot-high marble statue of Philly’s favorite founding father, Benjamin Franklin Memorial. This area is also home to the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which houses a rare book department and special collections and exhibits.

STOP 17: 18TH STREET & BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY—The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the nation’s oldest natural science research institution and museum, which is home to towering dinosaur fossils, an indoor tropical butterfly garden, and special traveling exhibits.

STOP 18: 17TH STREET AND JOHN F. KENNEDY BOULEVARD—In the heart of Philadelphia’s central business district stands the Comcast Center, an office building that is open to the public and features an open plaza, dramatic fountain, eight-story “Winter Garden,” and an energy-saving “glass curtain” that wraps around the building. A must-see is The Comcast Experience, a 2,000 square-foot HD video wall that is the largest LED screen in the world. Located in the main lobby, The Comcast Experience plays a digital video display yearround and the seasonal Comcast Holiday Spectacular. Also nearby is Suburban Station, an underground transit hub in an ornate Art Deco historic building, which provides access to SEPTA’s subway system and suburban rail lines.

PHLASH

STOP 19: ONE LIBERTY OBSERVATION DECK (16TH AND MARKET STREETS)—Located in the middle of Center City, The Shops at Liberty Place feature more than 55 shops, boutiques, and restaurants at the base of Philadelphia’s iconic One and Two Liberty Place towers, the city’s first skyscrapers. In the Shops’ grandiose Rotunda, special performances and the city’s largest holiday tree make everyone’s holiday shopping festive. High above, on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place, One Liberty Observation Deck offers visitors 360-degree views of Philadelphia. The Observation Deck includes interactive experiences and installations, including a two-story-tall Benjamin Franklin and interactive, multilingual touch screens.

Also nearby, the College of Physician’s Mütter Museum showcases a vast collection of anatomical and pathological specimens like the tallest skeleton in North America. Walk west on Market Street for 6 blocks and take a left on 22nd Street to get to the Mütter Museum. The walk is approximately 10 minutes (0.6 miles).

STOP 20: 12TH & MARKET STREETS— Heading south on 13th Street is Midtown Village, one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city, known for its wealth of hip restaurants, clubs, and boutiques. On the south side of Market Street, one block west, Macy’s is located in the historic Wanamaker Building, the first department store in the country and home to the Christmas Light Show and SantaLand® featuring Dickens Village. A must-see for all visitors is the iconic and historic City Hall. This ornate structure is the world’s tallest masonry building and is regularly ranked as one of America’s top architectural feats. Visitors can take a tour of the interior and observation deck by purchasing tickets at the City Hall Visitor Center, located in Room 121 in the building’s east portal. The holiday spirit surrounds City Hall this year, with outdoor programming like the Dilworth Park Wintergarden featuring Rothman Institute Ice Rink.

STOP 21: 6TH AND MARKET STREETS— The Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent is located south on 7th Street.

Here, you will discover over 400 items promoting, celebrating, and honoring history of the “City of Brotherly Love.” If you head north on 7th Street, you will arrive at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the nation’s first institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the history and culture of the African American community.

STOP 22: MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (3RD AND CHESTNUT STREETS)—Visit the newest addition to Philadelphia’s Historic District, the Museum of the American Revolution, which dynamically tells the story of the American Revolution. Enter Franklin Court on Chestnut Street to visit the Benjamin Franklin Museum and 18th-century printing office. Also, on Chestnut Street, visit the National Liberty Museum, Museum at Chemical Heritage Foundation, and walk south on 2nd Street to historic City Tavern for an authentic colonial dining experience.

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Independence Visitor Center 6th & Market Streets City Hall Visitor Center City Hall, Room 121

Location

PHLASH® Discounted Parking Rates*

AutoPark at 2nd & Sansom Streets

$8.00

2017 Fall/Winter Service Schedule: September 8 – November 19 Weekend Service (Runs Friday - Sunday)

November 24 – December 31 Daily Service (Runs 7 days a week)

PHLASH® runs 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

AutoPark at Independence Mall, $11.00 5th & Market Streets Parkade on 8th Street 801 Filbert Street

$8.00

AutoPark at Jefferson, 10th & Ludlow Streets

$8.00

AutoPark at The Gallery, 10th & Filbert Streets

$8.00

Service every 15 minutes • Children 4 and under and Seniors ride FREE

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* Rates are subject to change. All patrons with a PHLASH® ticket must go to the parking facility’s management office to receive discounted parking rate.

You must enter the parking garage after 9 a.m. and depart by 7 p.m.

The Philly PHLASH® Downtown Loop seasonal transit program is managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC). PHLASH® vehicle service is provided by Krapf Group.