November 12, 2009
(Clockwise from bottom left) Valley Forge National Historic Park; Independence Hall on the Fourth of July; and City Hall. (Photos by B. Krist and G. Widman)
What our Founding Fathers did in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 spawned the birth of our nation. So thankful are we that, on this fourth installment of our Giving Thanks series, we’re extending the Fourth of July celebration all the way to Thanksgiving. Philadelphia, ’tis of thee!
Dear History Buffs,
I have some doozies for ya. Declaration, bell, hall, encampment…the gang’s all here.
1.  William Penn founded our city way back in 1682 and chose the name Philadelphia, which is Greek for “brotherly love.†(And that’s Penn standing atop City Hall — not Ben Franklin, as often thought.)
2.  The two most important documents in America’s history were written and signed in Philadelphia. Copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution live in the West Wing of Independence Hall.
3.  Among his many gigs, Ben Franklin held the position of Postmaster General of North America. Today, Franklin fans can get their postcards or letters hand-stamped with his “signature” at the B. Free Franklin Post Office.
4.  The blood of General Agnew, who died from a British sniper’s bullet in the Revolutionary War, still stains the floor at Grumblethorpe in Germantown.
5.  At Valley Forge National Historical Park, visitors get the inside scoop on the harsh winter General Washington and his troops spent there.
6.  After the Constitutional Convention, George Washington and the other delegates celebrated with a banquet at City Tavern, where they consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, seven bowls of spiked punch and 22 bottles of porter, beer and hard cider.
(From left) The Liberty Bell in its new home across from Indpendence Hall; and Elfreth's Alley. (Photos by K. Ciappa and E. Savaria)
7.  George and Martha Washington celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at the Powel House. Sally Bache, Ben Franklin’s daughter, wrote about the festivities in a letter, which is on display there.
8.  Five signers of the Declaration of Independence — including Benjamin Franklin — rest in the Christ Church Burial Ground at 5th and Arch Streets.
9.  Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited street in the U.S.
10. Carpenters’ Hall hosted the First Continental Congress, and it was the site of a secret meeting between Ben Franklin and French spy Julien Archard de Bonvouloir that led to the French Alliance during the American Revolution.
11. Congress Hall was the site of the presidential inaugurations of George Washington (his second) and John Adams; the ratification of the Bill of Rights; the establishment of the First Bank of the United States, the United States Mint and the Department of the Navy; and the ratification of Jay’s Treaty with England.
This Thanksgiving, We’re Thankful For… [uwishunu]
The Official Philly Brag Book [gophila.com]
November 11, 2009
The Arroz de Langosta dish at Jose Garces' Amada, Tacconelli's Pizza and pie at Reading Terminal Market: Delicious from start to finish. (Photos courtesy of Amada, by J. Smith and G. Widman)
For the third installment of our Thanksgiving series, the spotlight’s on: Food, glorious food! Thanksgiving isn’t just about what’s on the dinner table — but boy, are we thankful for it. And we thank our lucky stars that Philadelphia is sheer gustatory paradise.
Dear Foodies,
Two words. Come hungry.
1. The James Beard Foundation has awarded Best Chef honors to Susanna Foo, Georges Perrier, Jose Garces, Marc Vetri, Jean-Marie Lacroix and Guillermo Pernot.
2. Kennett Square, the mushroom capital of the world, produces about 25% of the nation’s entire mushroom crop.
3. Taking advantage of ideal growing conditions, 27 wineries flourish throughout the Philadelphia region.
4. The Italian Market is the world’s oldest and largest outdoor market.
(From left) Open-air dining at BYOB Mercato; and the fried cauliflower at Zahav. (Photos by G. Widman and by J. Varney for Zahav)
5. One of the nation’s oldest and finest working farmers’ markets, Reading Terminal Market houses more than 80 merchants, including Amish farmers.
6. Old City’s Zahav was named one of the “50 Best New U.S. Restaurants 2009†by Travel + Leisure.
7. Diners can eat in the fresh air in Philadelphia, where more than 150 alfresco restaurants serve patrons in the sidewalk seats, courtyards and patios.
8. In 2008, Bon Appétit magazine ranked Bella Vista’s Little Fish third on its list of the nation’s 10 “Best Seafood Restaurants,†and then included Marigold Kitchen in its list of the “Top 10 Brunch Spots†in the country in 2009.
9. Girl Scout cookies, bubble gum, licorice and ice cream soda were all created in Philadelphia.
(Clockwise from bottom left) Grapes on the vine are a common site in the Countryside; outdoor dining at Parc; and microbrews, paired with upscale pub grub, at Johnny Brenda's. (Photos courtesy of Crossing Vineyards, courtesy of Parc and by G. Widman)
10. Making Philadelphia the largest gluten-free zone in the tri-state area, more than 30 local eateries have completed Gluten-Free Resource Education Awareness Training and offer gluten-free items on their menus.
11. ForbesTraveler.com put Tacconelli’s Pizzeria on the top 10 list of “America’s Best Pizzerias†in 2008.
12. Visitors love to eat their way through the nation’s third-largest Chinatown, filled with more than 50 restaurants and 15 grocery stores.
13. The folks at Gourmet magazine know where to rock out. In 2009, the Web site listed Johnny Brenda’s as one of the “Eight Great Rock Venues with Great Food†in the U.S.
This Thanksgiving, We’re Thankful For… [uwishunu]
The Official Philly Brag Book [gophila.com]
November 10, 2009
(Clockwise from left) A mural at the Free Library of Philadelphia; the Maurice Sendack Gallery at the Rosenbach Museum and Libary; and the Free Library's facade. (Photos by J. Smith, M. Edlow and K. Ciappa)
In honor of Everything is Illuminated author Jonathan Safran Foer’s lecture tonight at the Central Branch of the Free Library, today’s Thanksgiving spotlight belongs to Philadelphia’s publishing and literary legacy…for which we’re forever thankful.
Dear Bookworms and Media Mongers,
Free speech never sounded so good. The Birthplace of Independence can really get the creative juices flowin’.
1. Ben Franklin wrote and published the famous Poor Richard’s Almanack. Franklin Court exhibits an example of the printing press he used.
2. The detective and mystery novel was created by Edgar Allan Poe when he lived in Philadelphia. Some of his most famous (and eerie) works include The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
3. The Philadelphia Inquirer has churned out several top-selling authors. Jennifer Weiner (author of blockbuster bestsellers Good in Bed, In Her Shoes and Certain Girls), Steve Lopez (author of The Soloist) and John Grogan (author of Marley & Me) all wrote for the newspaper.
4. Monster alert! The Rosenbach Museum & Library holds the world’s largest collection of works by Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak.
(From left) A bookish gallery at the Rosenbach; and a mural of Edgar Allan Poe. (Photos courtesy of the Rosenbach Museum and Library and courtesy of B. Krist)
5. The title of the nation’s oldest African-American newspaper belongs to The Philadelphia Tribune.
6. Before Vogue, Elle and Bazaar, there was Godey’s Lady’s Book, the first successful women’s magazine, published in Philadelphia beginning in 1830.
7. The Curtis Publishing Company, founded in Philadelphia, became one of the largest and most influential publishers in the United States during the early 20th century. Its publications included Ladies’ Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post, among others.
8. Philadelphia Gay News, established in 1975, is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected gay newspapers.
9. The Rare Books Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia boasts 100,000 books and manuscripts, including works by Charles Dickens, A. B. Frost, Munro Leaf and Howard Pyle.
This Thanksgiving, We’re Thankful For… [uwishunu]
The Official Philly Brag Book [gophila.com]
November 9, 2009
(From top) Pennsylvania Hospital and the Philadelphia Zoo: Both firsts in their fields. (All photos by B. Krist)
Between the city’s museums, outdoor activities, restaurants, rich history and cultural quirks, Philadelphia is quite the catch. So, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, we’re going to shine a light on all things Philly for which we’re thankful. (There’s a lot.) Today, it’s Philadelphia’s lengthy list of historical firsts.
Dear Trendsetter,
I feel you — it’s nice to say you were the original. Philly boasts some notable firsts, too.
1. One-man invention factory Benjamin Franklin developed the first bifocal glasses, Daylight Savings Time and the Franklin Stove. He also established the first public hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, in 1751 and the first fire department in 1736.
2. The first Congress of the United States met in Philadelphia in Congress Hall, adjacent to Independence Hall.
3. The nation’s first stock exchange started here in 1790 as the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
4. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones founded the Free African Society, the nation’s first black self-help organization, in 1787.
5. In 1805, Charles Willson Peale founded the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, making it the nation’s first art school and museum.
6. The United States Mint, the country’s first mint, opened in Philadelphia in 1792. (Does the coin in your pocket sport the letter P? If so, it was minted in Philly.)
7. The first hot air balloon in the U.S. was launched in 1793 from Washington Square, one of William Penn’s original green squares.
8. When its gates opened in 1874, the Philadelphia Zoo became the nation’s first zoo.
(From left) Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade; and Independence Hall, where it all started. (Photos by J. McWilliams for the PCVB and by G. Widman)
9. When Philadelphia opened Water Works in the 19th century, it was the country’s first municipal treatment center and became an international tourist attraction. Today, the architectural icon houses an environmental education museum and an upscale restaurant.
10. ENIAC, the world’s first computer, was developed more than 50 years ago at the University of Pennsylvania. Modern, easy-to-transport laptops seem light years ahead of this 150-foot-wide computer.
11. Wanamaker’s (now Macy’s) opened as the nation’s first department store.
12. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, commonly called “CHOP,†opened as the first children’s hospital in the U.S. in 1855.
13. Mother’s Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia in 1907.
14. The first Jewish congregation in the city, Mikveh Israel was established in the 1740s and remains one of the oldest in the nation.
15. Founded in 1791 by Reverend Richard Allen, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church was the world’s first African Methodist Episcopalian Church. It’s set on the oldest parcel of African-American-owned land in the country.
16. Philadelphia held the nation’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1920.
All selections taken from The Official Philly Brag Book.
The Official Philly Brag Book [gophila.com]
