No city in the United States played a more critical role in the nation's
founding than Philadelphia, and this progressive metropolis of about 1.5
million people has also been a pioneer in gay and lesbian rights. The
Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, formed in 1978, guided passage
of the 1982 Philadelphia Fair Practices Act, one of the country's
earliest gay civil rights measures, and countless other gay-positive
laws and policies have been passed or implemented since then.
Additionally, the city's office of tourism was one of the first to
enthusiastically court gay and lesbian visitors. But apart from a warm
welcome, what else about the "City of Brotherly Love" makes it ideal for
a summertime visit?
Here's a list of just a few notable things to see or do, chronicled in
no particular order, that make Philadelphia so appealing:
1. Rittenhouse Square Park
City-planning guru Jane Jacobs called this tiny patch of paradise the
most successful urban park in the United States; indeed, Rittenhouse
Square is picturesque, socially diverse, highly safe, and largely
unsullied by post-World War II architecture. Off the Square's southeast
corner is the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where Samuel
Barber, Leonard Bernstein, and Ned Rorem studied, as well as the
Philadelphia Art Alliance, which presents outstanding exhibits and art
shows.
The square is also the site of the gay-friendly Rittenhouse Hotel, a
sumptuous 98-room property that hosted the cast of the movie
Philadelphia during filming. Rooms here are downright cavernous,
averaging more than 500 square feet, and all have large windows framing
the park or the city's dramatic skyline. A short walk from the square,
romantic Astral Plane has been a favorite gay-date restaurant since it
opened in 1973 (it's also drawn such fab celebs as Bette Midler, Liza
Minnelli, Barry Manilow, and Tommy Tune). From the eclectic menu you
might choose slow-roasted pork shank with asiago potatoes, or grilled
scallops with lemongrass-and-ginger butter. It's the perfect spot for a
special dinner.
2. Clubbing in the Gayborhood
The city's compact gay district, nicknamed the Gayborhood, contains the
bulk of the Philadelphia's gay bars as well as quite a few gay-popular
shops, restaurants, and hotels. It's right in the center of downtown,
about as convenient to attractions, transportation, and entertainment as
any gay neighborhood in America. Highlights include the city's premier
lesbian club, Sisters, a three-floor establishment with a restaurant and
disco, and long-running Woody's, a youthful video bar that pulls in a
mostly male, somewhat cruisy, stand-and-model crowd. The ultra-swank
Bump Lounge offers a more cosmopolitan ambience and is a great place to
chat with friends, sip martinis, and dine on fine contemporary cuisine.
Serious revelers head to Pure, the city's top gay warehouse disco.
Tavern on Camac is a charming gay piano bar, with a cozy restaurant in
the basement. Other friendly options in the neighborhood include Uncles,
popular with players on Philly's lesbian and gay softball teams; 12th
Air Command, a cavernous cruise bar with fun drag shows and dance
parties; and the Venture Inn, the oldest gay bar in town, set in a
historic tavern.
There are plenty of places to stay nearby. Particularly charming and
well-priced, the gay-owned Alexander Inn is a fine boutique hotel right
in the center of the action. The 48 rooms have a contemporary look with
sleek furnishings and muted tones - other bonuses include satellite TV,
Wi-Fi, and Continental breakfast buffet. Practically across from
Woody's, the Holiday Inn Express Midtown has well-kept rooms and
reasonable prices. Another excellent choice that's just steps from gay
nightlife is the upscale Doubletree Philadelphia, a handsome,
contemporary high-rise whose rooms afford superb city views. The hotel
is a block away from the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, a
magnificent 5-year-old space designed by seminal architect Rafael Vinoly. Continue to page
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