Theo tin visitphilly.com
Background On Philadelphia’s History, Art & Culture, Food, Neighborhoods, Parks, LGBT Scene, Beer, Music Legacy, DNC Players & Ben Franklin Obsession
Philadelphia hosts the 2016 Democratic National Convention, July 25-28—and this city has stories to tell. VISIT PHILADELPHIA, the region’s official destination marketing organization, can provide interview subjects for morning shows, ties to other states, interesting convention stories, tours around town and other colorful locals who can speak about the below scenes in Philadelphia.
History:
Philadelphia provides a poignant backdrop for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. It is the birthplace of the United States and the country’s first and only World Heritage City.
Our Founding Fathers met, discussed, debated and formed a new country in Philadelphia. The two most important documents in our history, the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, were drafted and signed here. Independence Hall, one of only 20 World Heritage sites in the country, stands just steps away from the mighty Liberty Bell, a symbol of the abolitionist movement.
The independent streak that forged a new nation lives on today. It’s a distinctly Philly attitude and a forward-looking promise that’s obvious in the city’s independent shops, owner-run restaurants, artist collaboratives and grassroots innovation and tech movements.
Art & Culture:
Philadelphia bursts with beauty inside and out. The region is home to one of the country’s top five art museums (Philadelphia Museum of Art); the world’s greatest collection of impressionist, post-impressionist and modern works (Barnes Foundation); an internationally lauded public arts initiative (Mural Arts Philadelphia); and under-the-radar gems.
Museums and institutions house collections devoted to science, animals, literature, African-American culture, Jewish-American history, chemistry and even medical oddities.
Food:
There should be a convention just for Philadelphia’s food. Chefs choose Philadelphia for their passion projects; it’s where they can run their (usually small) restaurants and fully commit to their vision. As such, there’s a lot of good food to eat here, and there’s a story behind every dish.
What makes up Philly’s diverse dining scene? Street food, 300+ bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurants, sidewalk seating reminiscent of European cities, bars with great food, craft pizza spots, vegetarian and vegan eateries (that aren’t just for vegetarians and vegans) and the storied Reading Terminal Market and Italian Market. And of course, cheesesteaks.
Neighborhoods:
Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods—personality-packed districts inside and surrounding the downtown Center City. Each neighborhood has its own history, storied streets, buzzed-about restaurants, artistic expressions, parks and festivals.
In 1998, the long-established Rittenhouse neighborhood saw Philly’s first restaurant with sidewalk seating (Rouge), a trend that’s now ubiquitous in this district and beyond, with nearly 400 alfresco establishments all over Philly. The Old City success story started nearly 20 years ago when Ellen Yin opened Fork just a couple blocks away from America’s most historic square mile. Midtown Village, which includes the Gayborhood, forged its personality thanks to a small-business influx concentrated along 13th Street. Fishtown has become a destination all its own for new families, cool young professionals and artists. Graduate Hospital experienced a similar boom, with most of its public and retail space located along South Street.
Recently, Kensington and Point Breeze have grown into newer development stories thanks to the momentum from neighboring Fishtown and Graduate Hospital, respectively.
Parks & Public Spaces:
Residents and visitors are heading outdoors in huge numbers thanks to the activation of many under-utilized spaces in recent years—think Schuylkill River Trail, Dilworth Park, Race Street Pier, The Porch at 30th Street Station and Spruce Street Harbor Park. Much of the development action can be spotted in Center City and on Philadelphia’s two rivers, the Schuylkill and Delaware.
Started in 2015, Indego bike share further boosted Philadelphia’s reputation as a bicycle-friendly city, where a grid layout, mostly flat terrain and 435 miles of bike lanes make it ideal for two wheels.
Ben Franklin, Colonial Re-enactors & Historic Storytellers:
The city’s favorite Founding Father? No contest. In his adopted hometown, Benjamin Franklin founded institutions, discovered new concepts and invented products still in use. He’s as relevant today in Philadelphia as he was back in in the 18th century. Residents and institutions—notably, the Benjamin Franklin Museum—invoke the spirit of Franklin to make the world a better, Franklin-approved place.
In addition to uncovering Ben’s spirit throughout Philadelphia, VISIT PHILADELPHIA can arrange interviews with the man himself, as well as other Colonial re-enactors, such as Harriet Tubman, Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross and George Washington, and professional storytellers who regale visitors with funny, sad and inspirational stories at 13 benches located throughout Independence Mall.
LGBT:
The first major U.S. protest for LGBT rights took place more than 50 years ago in front of Independence Hall. An historic marker at 6th and Chestnut streets commemorates the event. Since then, Philadelphia has become one of the country’s best LGBT destinations travelers. Nearly 70 rainbow street signs, rainbow crosswalks and LGBT bars and restaurants populate the Gayborhood, located right in the downtown Center City area.
Fun fact: In 2004, Philadelphia became the first destination in the world to air a gay-themed television commercial, part of VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s campaign, Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®. The resulting Daily Show With Jon Stewart segment is worth the four and a half minutes. Trust us.
Beer:
It was in Philadelphia taverns that the American Revolution took hold (see City Tavern for proof), and 100 years ago, Philadelphia was known as the greatest brewing city in the Western Hemisphere, or the “Cradle of American Libation.” In the mid-19th through the early 20th centuries, 90 breweries operated in Philadelphia proper, and another 100 operated in its environs. Prohibition in 1920 brought the brewery boom to an end, and the decline—and near demise—of virtually all of Philadelphia’s beer producers.
Today, craft breweries have reclaimed the region’s reputation by brewing some of the world’s best beer. Victory, Sly Fox and Yards produce and distribute some of the Philadelphia region’s most well-known and accessible craft beers, and in recent years, they’ve been joined by newer microbreweries and brewpubs, such as Tired Hands, Forest & Main and Round Guys.
In the warmer months, beer lovers head outside. The seasonal Independence Beer Garden offers a beer break right on Independence Mall, while Spruce Street Harbor Park and Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest attract people to the Delaware River waterfront with food, beer, hammocks, games and a roller-skating rink. Pop-ups including The Oval and the PHS Pop Up Gardens activate underused spaces, much to the delight of beer fans and urban dwellers. In summer 2016, Philadelphia will be home to more beer gardens than ever before.
Music Legacy:
There would have been no 1970s soul, no R&B, no disco, without Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the inventors of the Sound of Philadelphia. One of the most important moves Gamble and Huff made was to differentiate their sound from Motown’s by incorporating strings, horns and harps—courtesy of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world’s greatest classical music organizations and one of the most prolific recording acts in history.
Other major music names have hailed from Philadelphia. Think Chubby Checker, Hall & Oates and Patti LaBelle, and more recently, The Roots, Will Smith, Pink, The Dead Milkmen, Chill Moody and Kurt Vile.
The city also has played host to big music events in the past, including Live Aid in 1985 and Live 8 in 2005. Today, artists of all genres entertain crowds at large and intimate venues and during music events, such as the Roots Picnic and Wawa Welcome America’s free Fourth of July concert.
DNC Players:
We’re all in. Elected officials from both parties, the hospitality industry, community and civic groups and citizens have pledged their enthusiasm and support for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. They understand the tremendous positive effect that a political convention can have on a city’s reputation across America and around the world.
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.
On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.
Contact(s):
Cara Schneider, (215) 599-0789
Donna Schorr, (215) 599-0782
http://press.visitphilly.com/releases/backgrounder-what-s-the-deal-in-philly