Things to do in Philadelphia, PA?

[David Gilbert]

My daughter is now living in Philadelphia and I will be visiting her several times a year. So far my visits haven't allowed me any time to explore any woodworking sites in the area and I'm curious about what there is to see and do. Any suggestions will be appreciated. She lives in the Rittenhouse area so it is pretty central although the traffic has always been terrible.

Cheers,
Dave

[John Shuk]

I would try to take a course at Creeker Alan Turner's woodworking school.
I can't recall the name but I would love to get there someday.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Alan's Woodworking school would be very high on my list of "Must Sees"!

[John Shuk]

Oh here it is.
http://www.philadelphiafurnitureworkshop.com/

And I agree with Ken. I would call this a must see.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

David,
Do a search of 'Philadelphia' in the Off Topic forum. There was a pretty comprehensive thread last summer or so.
-Jeff :)

[Larry Fox]

Alans would be tops on the list.
Make your daughter haul you out to Hearne Hardwoods at least once
Nice furniture display in the Museum of Art in center city

[Rob Will]

I went by Alan Turner's shop when I visited Philadelphia two years ago. If I lived closer, I would take a class.

Southwest of Phily in Oxford PA is machinery dealer Bill Kerfoot. I don't think he's running a visitor's center or anything but if you are interested in old iron, he's usually got some of everything.

Jim Becker can probably tell you if the Nakashima operation is open to the public. I think there are also some interesting lumber dealers in that area.

In Phily, see the Liberty Bell, tour Independence Hall (excellent tour guides) and walk down the street to Franklin Court. There is an underground museum in Franklin Court with some outstanding period furniture.
Also:

Betsy Ross house
Philadelphia Museum of Art (Do your rendition of Rocky Balboa on the front steps)
Battleship New Jersey (across the river)
Ben Franklin Bridge
Rob

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Here's two links:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=43463&highlight=philadelphia

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=12274&highlight=philadelphia

-Jeff :)

[Scott Rathburn]

The Woodturning Center is a very interesting place to visit if you are interested in Turning. http://www.woodturningcenter.org/toc.html Take a look at the site.
Scott

[Bryan Berguson]

It's not woodworking but the Masonic Temple is an absolutely amazing building well worth seeing. The Reading Terminal is another fun stop and make sure you get an authentic Philly Cheese Steak, or two.

Bryan

[George Morris]

Nakashima woodworking shop has a great web site, on saturdays they do tours if you can hook up with a group you get to see many more buildings. Mira Nakashima does the tours she is great!!

Also they are near new hope ,PA great artsy town.
The Philadelphia Furniture Workshop would be a great place to visit call in advance to see Alan or Mario . Great shop great people!!
Vally Forge ,Longwood Gardens,Brandywine River Museum, Lots more around City. George

[Rob Will]

and make sure you get an authentic Philly Cheese Steak, or two.

Bryan

Wit or Witout?

Rob

[Jim Becker]

The Woodturning Center downtown, The Warton Eshrick museum is a "must visit"...just outside of King of Prussia/Valley Forge...Nakashima Studios (already mentioned)...all the historic sites and museums in Philadelphia (you'll never have free time...LOL) etc. Plenty of 'Creekers around, too... ;)

[Russ Sears]

Wit or Witout?

Rob

Wit!!

No offense but I'm a country boy. My favorite thing to do in Philadelphia is get out.

[tim harris]

Take the downtown horse and carriage ride and see the building that George Washington gave his inaugural address from, or the outside balcony. And marvel that the shape the woodwork is in!:) Somewhere there is a large cracked bell too, but the metal did not hold up as well as the woodwork;)

[Eric Gustafson]

About an hour west of Philly is Talarico Hardwoods. Kind of Pricey stuff, but everything he has is exotic.

http://www.talaricohardwoods.com/

[Gordon Harner]

Don't forget the Winterthur mueseum down the road in Delaware. They have the Dominy workshop and all kinds of period furniture. You might also want to go to the Brandywine valley mueseum.

Don't forget Villanova! Go Wildcats!:)

[Ellen Benkin]

I was in Philly for a brief visit and had a wonderful time. The "interpreters" at all the historic sites were just first rate and even taught an old history teacher a thing or two. The area around Philadelphia is filled with things for woodworkers to see and do. See a couple of things on each visit and you probably won't run out while your daughter is living there.

[Prashun Patel]

Philly has a surprising # of good restaurants.

You can take a day trip up to Bucks County (abt 40 mins N) / New Hope. Beautiful up there.

[Stan Welborn]

Wit or Witout?

Rob
Wit, prov, and a lager for me please. Dang, I can just about smell Jim's.:p

[David Gilbert]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I've already seen some of these already (the cracked bell and Independence Hall, etc.) and a Philly cheese steak must be "Wit". The museums and the wood sources are very welcome. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

[Bryan Berguson]

My wife reminded me that South Street is a good walk.

Bryan

[Larry Fox]

Wit or Witout?

Rob

Definitely Wit. Also, in all the cheessteak buzz don't forget about Tony Lukes. Their roast pork with sharp prov and shrooms is pretty darn good.

["Gary Brewer"]

Hi Dave: It is nice to see you on the creek. How is your work bench going?
Gary

[Alan Turner]

Wit, prov, and a lager for me please. Dang, I can just about smell Jim's.:p

Most certainly "wit". Jim's has perhaps the best meat, but Geno's the best bread. I find the bread to be a bit more important. The hot sauce at Geno's (and Pat's) is great, but do use it with caution!

[Brian Patterson]

GENO'S !!

http://www.genosteaks.com/

[Mark Patoka]

Not woodworking but if you like sculpture art, the Rodin Museum is interesting (and free certain days).

http://www.rodinmuseum.org/

The Italian Market on 9th St can make for a nice stroll also.

http://www.phillyitalianmarket.com/index.html

[Quesne Ouaques]

Hi Dave:

If you are talking about woodworking "things-to-see", then the most important, by far (even more important than George Nakashima's IMHO) is the Wharton Esherick house in Paoli (30 minutes from Center City).

It is an absolutely stunning museum of the home/workshop of Wharton Esherick, one of the most influential American woodworkers of the 20th century. Some folks do not recognize his name right off the bat, but you will recognize many aspects of his work when you see it, I guarantee.

If you let me know when you're in town, I'll be happy to join you for a tour. It's been two or three years since I've been there.

http://www.levins.com/esherick.html

[John Viercinski]

Pat's is better than Geno's!! I prefer my cheesesteak greasey and runny, none of that clean stuff across the street. Either way, the way to order it is "Cheese Wit" or "Whiz Wit."

[Jim Becker]

You can take a day trip up to Bucks County (abt 40 mins N) / New Hope. Beautiful up there.

Yea, I'd agree with that... ;)

[Kevin Godshall]

Go see the Sixers!.. wait, they suck.

Go see the Flyers!... wait, they suck.

Go see the Phillies!... wait......

Better do the cheesesteak and........... have to do the Scrapple!

[Christopher Haag]

Be sure to enjoy a Yuengling lager while you're there. Oldest American brewery. And a darn fine beverage. :D

And if you're up for a road trip, the brewery is in Pottsville, 100 miles away.

[Jeff Craven]

The Warton Eshrick museum is a "must visit"...just outside of King of Prussia/Valley Forge

I'll second the Wharton Esherick Museum. He was an incredible woodworker.
http://www.levins.com/esh7.html

[Louis Rucci]

Here, Here.
I'm from Philly and can attest it's the best, I've been around the world, in the Navy, and never found anywhere that can duplicate Philadephia's cheese-steak distinct flavor.

Going to have to schedule a long visit with my sister.