On Sex and the City, when Kirsten Johnston — in one of her best moments — declared “New York is so over!” it sent a shudder through the assembled masses. Was it an observation or a portent? Could the City That Never Sleeps be a victim of its own center-of-the-world success and have peaked, and be on a decline (or at least a holding pattern)?
I gotta say, there’s some truth to it. With the closing of the iconic Splash, I couldn’t help but think of Johnston’s line. And it was really driven home when I took a road trip two hours south to Philadelphia. True, Philly is a lot smaller than NYC, a geographical fact its gay section, the Gayborhood, parallels, and spaces close earlier, but when it comes to the variety, quality, and vibe of its clubs and bars, I’m going to be blunt: as a party-town, Philly outdoes New York. And I’m just as surprised as you.
Woody’s, the Tavern on Camac, Voyeur, iCandy, Stir, the Bike Stop, UBar, the Westbury, Tabu — the list goes on, and it’s a pretty extensive list. With drinks about $2 cheaper than in the Big Apple, who’s to complain about a 2 PM closing time?
So here’s the lay (!) of the land: The Philly Gayborhood is smack in the middle of town, and encompasses everything from Chestnut to Pine streets between 11th and Broad streets, and is around the corner from the swanky Loews Hotel. Top draws like the Barnes Foundation, Rodin Museum, and Philadelphia Museum of Art (that’s the one whose steps Rocky ran up) are all a short distance away on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Also close by is Independence Mall, wherein resides the Liberty Bell—and don’t even think of not seeing it.
Moving from there, it’s time for food — you’re going to need to fuel up for all those bars. Meritage is a gay-owned and operated paradise for foodies, and if you really want to go high on the hog, XIX at the Hyatt and Lacroix at the Rittenhouse Hotel are tops. But visit Philly and never have a cheesesteak is about as wrong as you can get, but here’s the big secret: Get a cheesesteak from a street vendor. Restaurants always try to up-market the thing, and it never comes out right. When it comes to cheesesteaks, low-brow is the way to go. Also try something called a “hoagie” (hoe-ghee), which is Philadelphian for a sub sandwich, only a lot bigger.
“Get your history straight and your nightlife gay” is the official gay motto of the City of Brotherly Love, and the Philly PR team isn’t above plastering that all over to snag a few day-trippers. I gotta say, once I was snagged, I was hooked. Contact Steele Luxury Travel to assist you with all of your Philadelphia travel arrangements at 646-688-2274.