Philadelphia questioins

[Agoodnap]

I booked rooms at DoubleTree. Thank you for that recommendation. Looks perfect...affordable, on Broad Street, and right down the street from City Hall (which we want to visit).

If we were to drive straight to the hotel, it looks like we would take I76 coming from the west, to 676 and so forth. However, I'm open to suggestions on parking elsewhere and taking the rail to the hotel.

Just to clarify, the main PA Turnpike is I-76 from Ohio to the King of Prussia exit, and it is I-276 from New Jersey to the King of Prussia exit. If you take the exit, I-76 continues to the city, but is no longer considered the PA Turnpike (it is called the Schuylkill Expressway). So, where are you coming from, the West, East, or some other direction? Most regional rail lines charge $2.00 per day, but some have very limited parking and don't allow overnight.

If coming from the:

West, catch the train at the Malvern Train Station, which is about 3.5 miles from the Malvern exit on I-76

East, catch the train at the Neshaminy Train Station, which is about 2 miles from the Bensalem exit on I-276

If you change your mind and decide to drive into the city, you should consider taking the Kelly Drive exit off the Expressway. It's a left exit about 10 miles from King of Prussia. Kelly Drive winds along the Schuylkill river and past Boat House Row and dumps you right at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's the nicest way to enter the city.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, take the train to Suburban Station which will dump you around 16th and Market Street.

 

[Cstroke]

Safe travels Hawks...
If you didn't arrive yesterday you might have missed out on all the fat bottomed girls.. Looks like Warner is already there.

 

[Squarehat]

Walk around in full Steeler gear

 

[Cstroke]

Probably safer with Cowboys stuff..

 

[MacwoodFleetPsu]

Walk around in full Steeler gear

The rivalry really isn't like that since they never play. The Steelers aren't a top 5 hated team in Philadelphia.

 

[Brian LB-U]

The Gatehouse at the Navy Yard is a nice option for dinner and/or beers. My son and I go there when Villanova is playing at the Wells Fargo Center. It’s only about a mile from the sports complex. https://www.gatehousephilly.com/

 

[CMMG Banshee]

You wouldn't happen to work for Pat's or Geno's or both, would you? The way you are selling them goes a tad above and beyond!

Many cheesesteak aficionados think they’re overrated . Your assessment seems accurate .

 

[pennstaterincarolina]

Many cheesesteak aficionados think they’re overrated . Your assessment seems accurate .

I’ve heard Jim’s is very good. Never had it myself. If you have car access and really want to try their cheesesteak, trust me on Mama’s Pizzeria in Bala Cynwyd. Short drive off of the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76).

 

[Aardvark86]

Trump apparently attending. Get there early. Really early.

 

[Agoodnap]

I’ve heard Jim’s is very good. Never had it myself. If you have car access and really want to try their cheesesteak, trust me on Mama’s Pizzeria in Bala Cynwyd. Short drive off of the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76).

Giving advice on a place you've never been??

If someone were to drive to Bala Cynwyd for a cheesesteak they'll probably pass forty places on the way that are just as good. There are no bad cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. Some are better than others, which is merely an opinion, but they are all good. For example, I like the meat to be sliced very thin, but I'll eat a cheesesteak from a place that slices on the thick side. Some places season their meat while cooking and others have no seasoning at all, but both are good.

 

[el dub]

Giving advice on a place you've never been??

If someone were to drive to Bala Cynwyd for a cheesesteak they'll probably pass forty places on the way that are just as good. There are no bad cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. Some are better than others, which is merely an opinion, but they are all good. For example, I like the meat to be sliced very thin, but I'll eat a cheesesteak from a place that slices on the thick side. Some places season their meat while cooking and others have no seasoning at all, but both are good.

Y’all take this cheesesteak bidness seriously…

 

[CMMG Banshee]

I’ve heard Jim’s is very good. Never had it myself. If you have car access and really want to try their cheesesteak, trust me on Mama’s Pizzeria in Bala Cynwyd. Short drive off of the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76).

I live in the Northeast Pa. We have great places here. I buy grass fed beef from a local farmer fried up myself with some seasonings and put it on a fresh bun with some Cooper sharp cheese. Not that whiz Wiz is for what we call retards. Processed cheese food. Hell no.

Cooper sharp ? Hell yeah. I’ll also say I ate at Tony Luke’s very good.

 

[CMMG Banshee]

Y’all take this cheesesteak bidness seriously…

You have no idea, I lived in Iowa for sometime. The first thing I knew were observed in the town? The pizza was absolute garbage.
Dominoes was the best pizza in the quad cities in the early 80s. I did find a pretty good New York style pizza place in Iowa city around that time, I thought it was excellent.

However, the normal red hot peppers that you sprinkle on your pizza? These were like super terrible fire, not like the normal stuff in Pennsylvania.

I don’t get me wrong the deep dish pizza around there was excellent, but we’re not used to wait that long to get a pizza pie.

As for cheesesteaks? I don’t recall ever eaten one out there. From what I remember, I think rib nights were big so why would I get a cheesesteak sandwich when I was getting a lot of excellent pork ribs for a pretty decent price?

 

[HawkeyePA]

1. When I think of Philly, I think of two things: morbid obesity and untreated psychosis. And I say that as a native Pennsylvanian.
2. Cheese steaks? Jim's on South Street. NOT Pat's and Geno's, which are tourist joints. Even though you will be tourists.
3. Breakfast food - scrapple. In match snack - soft pretzels. Empty calories - Tastykake.

I wholeheartedly agree with the Jim's Steaks for cheesesteaks !! Its on South Street and is ABOVE all the others in town. Great sliced steaks and provolone is the start for their great sandwiches.

 

[el dub]

You have no idea, I lived in Iowa for sometime. The first thing I knew were observed in the town? The pizza was absolute garbage.
Dominoes was the best pizza in the quad cities in the early 80s. I did find a pretty good New York style pizza place in Iowa city around that time, I thought it was excellent.

However, the normal red hot peppers that you sprinkle on your pizza? These were like super terrible fire, not like the normal stuff in Pennsylvania.

I don’t get me wrong the deep dish pizza around there was excellent, but we’re not used to wait that long to get a pizza pie.

As for cheesesteaks? I don’t recall ever eaten one out there. From what I remember, I think rib nights were big so why would I get a cheesesteak sandwich when I was getting a lot of excellent pork ribs for a pretty decent price?

That’s weird. Even rural Iowa had pretty good local pizza joints when I was growing up. (Towns of at least 5000 people.)

 

[praguehawk]

You have no idea, I lived in Iowa for sometime. The first thing I knew were observed in the town? The pizza was absolute garbage.
Dominoes was the best pizza in the quad cities in the early 80s. I did find a pretty good New York style pizza place in Iowa city around that time, I thought it was excellent.

However, the normal red hot peppers that you sprinkle on your pizza? These were like super terrible fire, not like the normal stuff in Pennsylvania.

I don’t get me wrong the deep dish pizza around there was excellent, but we’re not used to wait that long to get a pizza pie.

As for cheesesteaks? I don’t recall ever eaten one out there. From what I remember, I think rib nights were big so why would I get a cheesesteak sandwich when I was getting a lot of excellent pork ribs for a pretty decent price?

Dominos was better than Happy Joes, Harris, or even Pizza Hut? In the early 80s in Davenport? No, no it wasn’t. Categorically false.

 

[el dub]

Dominos was better than Happy Joes, Harris, or even Pizza Hut? In the early 80s in Davenport? No, no it wasn’t. Categorically false.

I lived in Iowa for decades and ate dominos a couple of times.

 

[Aardvark86]

I wholeheartedly agree with the Jim's Steaks for cheesesteaks !! Its on South Street and is ABOVE all the others in town. Great sliced steaks and provolone is the start for their great sandwiches.

What? You don't agree with the morbid obesity and untreated psychosis reference?

Seriously though, when Jim's burned down a couple years back, I was watching live, and despondent. So glad that they rebuilt, and my buddy who lives on Pine confirmed that the appropriate coating/film of grease has reformed in the rebuilt location so as to generate an appropriate steak. Beyond that, here's what he said, for those who are interested, when a friend's kid was visiting recently:

"Jim's is the best. 4th and South. My kids, who are actual Philadelphians, both say Ishkabibble's is the best. They are both wrong. Tourists go to Pats or Genos."

EDIT: When Aardvark Jr was in high school, he had a youth hockey tournament (goalie) in the tri-state area. After an early morning game somewhere north of Wilmington, we drove into the city to go to Jim's. Waited at least an hour as the line was well out the door (NCAA lacrosse tourney was that weekend so big crowds in town), but the boy downed two (2) full size cheese steaks (whiz-wit). Came back to SE PA to play a 400pm game. Not sure how he did it as he looked a little comatose, but managed to pitch a shutout. Very evocative of Ovi's "Mamma Lucia's" nutritional practices - https://russianmachineneverbreaks.c...brooks-orpik-finds-diet-borderline-inspiring/

 

[Agoodnap]

Here is the 2025 cheesesteak guide:

Cheesesteaks in Philly: Your 2025 Guide

The rivalries, the classics and the up-and-comers ...

www.visitphilly.com

 

[el dub]

Here is the 2025 cheesesteak guide:

Cheesesteaks in Philly: Your 2025 Guide

The rivalries, the classics and the up-and-comers ...

www.visitphilly.com

Only 29 cheesesteak joints in Philly?

 

[Agoodnap]

Only 29 cheesesteak joints in Philly?

My son lives in the Fairmount neighborhood and there are 5 places to get a cheesesteak within 200 yards of his house. Every bar, pizza shop, and hoagie shop in the city make good cheesesteaks.

BTW, we haven't even discussed hoagie's.

 

[el dub]

My son lives in the Fairmount neighborhood and there are 5 places to get a cheesesteak within 200 yards of his house. Every bar, pizza shop, and hoagie shop in the city make good cheesesteaks.

BTW, we haven't even discussed hoagie's.

I’m in the dark with hoagies as well.

 

[CMMG Banshee]

That’s weird. Even rural Iowa had pretty good local pizza joints when I was growing up. (Towns of at least 5000 people.)

Well, around here in Pa. vs what I saw there was a big difference.

 

[1stplacehawk]

Well, around here in Pa. vs what I saw there was a big difference.

PA has a plethora of New York style pizza places that are every bit as good as most places in New York City. I’d be getting slices, and not even messing around with overrated cheesesteaks.

 

[CMMG Banshee]

PA has a plethora of New York style pizza places that are every bit as good as most places in New York City. I’d be getting slices, and not even messing around with overrated cheesesteaks.

You can do both. 😎

 

[Agoodnap]

You can do both. 😎

Yes you can, and if you're smart you'll order an Italian Hoagie from the same place.

 

[OILCHECKER]

So it looks like there is nothing in walking distance from the arena for in between sessions

 

[Agoodnap]

So it looks like there is nothing in walking distance from the arena for in between sessions

Check out this map. If you zoom in and out you'll find others right nearby as well.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Inthecircle]

Giorgio on Pine. There is a Giorgio II attached, same menu/kitchen, but it has no character. BYOB which will save a bunch of money.

Excellent recommendation!

 

[Agoodnap]

Excellent recommendation!

Thanks, glad you liked it. Did you grab a couple of bottles of wine to have with dinner? Also, did you get into Giorgio or Giorgio II?

 

[CMMG Banshee]

Yes you can, and if you're smart you'll order an Italian Hoagie from the same place.

Don’t get me started on them .

 

[ping72]

Does anyone know: can you park at the arena in the morning and leave your car there all day (both sessions)?

You can prepay, but it lists each session separately. But surely they don’t clear the parking lot, right?

Bump if anybody knows.