Shopping in Pittsburgh

Hello,

I will be in Pittsburgh for a conference in October and will be staying at the Westin downtown. I do not have much time, but I would like to do some shopping. What is close to the hotel? How far is THE WATERFRONT at 113 W BRIDGE ST SPACE E-14? Is this a good place to do some shopping?

Thank you,

Hammy

Shopping in Pittsburgh

Southside Works has really great shopping. There are a bunch of nice stores (REI, Sharper Image, Steve Madden, Puma, ect..) there. Also has some nice restaurants like Cheesecake Factory. It would just be a short cab ride from downtown.

Shopping in Pittsburgh

The Waterfront is nice but you would pretty much have to have a car. South Side Works is a great suggestion, you can also wander down Carson Street to see some of the quirkier places. Directly downtown there is a huge Macy%26#39;s and a decent Saks Fifth Avenue. It would also be fairly easy for you to catch a bus to Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, both nice shopping areas.

Thank you both. But how far is Waterfront from my hotel? Could I take a taxi there? And would I have a problem getting back to the hotel? That is, how/where would I get a taxi at the Waterfront?

The reason why I wanted to go to the Waterfront is that I want to go to Lane Brayant and DSW...

From Westin Convention center to 113 W. Bridge St. Homestead, PA

it%26#39;s 6.8 miles and should take about 15 minutes to get there by car.

Have a wonderful visit.

The Waterfront has the closest DSW, but the cab ride there will be pretty expensive (at least $15 each way). Then, once you%26#39;re there, the Lane Bryant is about 3/4 miles away from the DSW. The Waterfront is basically a series of strip malls along a busy multi-lane road, so it%26#39;s not particularly walker-friendly. Crime-wise, walking should be safe enough, and there are a fair number of teens walking from plaza to plaza on the weekends, but if your time is limited it may not be worth your while. If you do go, be sure to bring a cell phone to call the cab to come and take you back, too, because there aren%26#39;t any cabs you can catch on site and most of the sidewalk payphones do not work.

Oh, you want to go to DSW...now I understand!!! :)

Honestly, I rarely go to the Waterfront, partly because I find it a giant pain to get to. Either you get off the Parkway and go through a residential neighborhood, or drive down a two-lane bleak post-industrial highway. But who knows, maybe I just go at the wrong times.

You might want to check out the bus schedules at the Port Authority of Allegheny County web site, www.portauthority.org. I know a lot of college students take the bus to the Waterfront to shop, so there must be a regular bus route.

How are you planning to get from the airport into town? You will pass a DSW on your way in (you%26#39;ll be able to see the sign from the highway) in Robinson Town Centre. I know there is a bus shelter very near DSW, outside IKEA. That whole area is kind of a shopping extravaganza, there%26#39;s a large outdoor strip mall, an indoor mall (the Mall at Robinson and a ';supercenter'; with Lowe%26#39;s, Target, Best Buy. etc.

I hope we haven%26#39;t confused you too much! Let us know how things work out.

OOPS I thought the other poster looking for a mall was wanting the DSW.

Robinson also has a DSW just not in the mall. It is in the older shopping center area next to Ikea.

I don%26#39;t care for the Waterfront, but it is the closest to downtown.

Hello,

Thank you all for suggestions. Well my primary interest is Lane Brayant, and DSW is a close second.

I will be arriving on Tuesday in the morning and have to rush to the hotel for a meeting until 5pm. On most of the days I will be in meetings until 5pm. Would the Waterfront be open past 6pm? And would it be safe to go there.

Personally, I am looking for a mall not an open air plaza set up - that way its easier to find stores. Also, I am bit concerned about getting back from my shopping expedition - that is where and how do I get a taxi on my way back.

So to sum up my main concerns:

1. I want to go to Lane Brayant

2. Not to difficult to get there and back by taxi...

3. Open past 6pm

Thank you again for any and all suggestions.

Hammy

Hammy, I hope we haven%26#39;t confused you completely.

The thing about Pittsburgh is, it is not a great cab town.

It would be safe for you to go to the Waterfront, or really any shopping area/mall. But when I hear people talk about cabs around here, it%26#39;s either they can%26#39;t get one to go somewhere, or they almost got stranded without a cab to pick them up.

Ask the staff at your hotel what they think about your getting a cab to and from the Waterfront, or anywhere. Maybe they can help you out.

As for enclosed malls, Ross Park Mall has a DSW but no Lane Bryant. The Mall at Robinson has a Lane Bryant and a DSW in a separate shopping plaza not too far away (the one you will pass coming into town from the airport.) Those are the two nicest malls around, in my opinion.

Downtown Pittsburgh has a huge Macy%26#39;s that has clothes in tons of price ranges and sizes. (In regards to the previous post, if you are a Lane Bryant shopper, Chick will not be what you are looking for. Though it never hurts to browse.)

Good luck, let us know how things turn out.

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Which hotel?

Hi, wanting to book a hotel in Lancaster for a couple of nights next week. Would be grateful for advice as so many to choose from!! Preferably one i walking distance to restaurants or with a restauant on site. Thanks.

Which hotel?

Best Western Revere inn. Nice breakfast comes with the room, and there is a nice restaurant Pub/Steakhouse on premises. Rooms are extra nice, and extra modern and clean. Just be sure to ask for main building.

Which hotel?

The Lancaster Arts Hotel in downtown Lancaster is very nice and new. On site is the John J Jeffries restaurant featuring organic and locally grown foods. Portions are small and prices are high, but the food and service are excellent. Within a block is Checker%26#39;s Bistro (my favorite restaurant in Lanc), the Pemberley Tea Shoppe (for a light lunch) and opening this month, Fenz, an %26#39;upscale casual%26#39; restaurant. There are also numerous pizza shops in the area. The baseball stadium is across the street too so if there are fireworks, you%26#39;ll get a prime view.

Good luck!

Ameri Suites for sesame place

I was wondering if the Ameri Suites in Princeton NJ is a nice hotel to stay at for going to Sesame Place. It is alot cheaper than the ones right there like COmfort Inn Levittown. But I don%26#39;t mind spending the money if they%26#39;re that much nicer. Please let me know. I don%26#39;t want a filthy hotel,

Ameri Suites for sesame place

hello. hairspray,i just read your post . i don%26#39;t know if is to late but wanted to let you know that my hubby and i took our daughter last summer to sesame place and stayed at this hotel . yes it%26#39;s really nice we stayed on the first floor next to the pool. they have a great free breakfeast,and the hotel is next to a mall and around to hotel is two or three restaurants. if you need any more infor just let me know, ok

Ameri Suites for sesame place

i%26#39;m interested in this hotel also. they have a great package deal for a suite and 2- 2 day passes to sesame place. i dont mind driving the 15 miles but is it a nice, safe area? the online pics look really nice.

hi, again yes this hotel mis located in a good area. we got the package that encluded 2 nights lus the 2 days for sesame place. we really liked it alot,whenyou walk in the hotel there is a free popcorn stand for the people who are stying in there hotel,fre coffee to. the have a really good restaurant inside the mall facing the hotel . well if you need for more infor let me know. okay,...

UPDATE!!

The Ameri Suites was aquired by Hyatt over the summer and refurbished. It is now called Hyatt Place Princeton. All the rooms have been redone as well as the hallways, etc....

If you go to the Princeton NJ hotel reviews....the most recent review(s) are for the refurbished hotel...and the older reviews are for the AmeriSuites....which do not reflect the refurbished condition the hotel is in.

From what I can gather (haven%26#39;t stayed there yet).....there are great deals (packages) for Sesame Place....we are going to try it later this month of next (Sept. or October, 2007).

wrinkles

State College to Boston

Hi

We are staying near State College late September for a few days, but after that wanted to head up to Boston. Has anyone got advice for the best way to get up there?

dave

State College to Boston

I have the same problem, except I%26#39;m in Boston and want to get to State college for a few days. Nearly impossible. Have to go from NYC to State College; use gotobus.com, greyhound.com, or the Chinatown bus line.

If you figure out an easier way please reply!

out with the guys

Hello All,

Here is the senario I need help with. This friday I am leading a bunch of guys out for a bachalor party. Our main goal is basically just to hit up a few great bars. I really like McGillens so I was thinking of starting there, then maybe heading over to Moriartys. After that there are those in the group who want to see old city so I was thinking Suger Moms and Drinkers Tavern

I was thinking about eating at either McGillens or Moriartys.

After wards I was thinking maybe show and tell since I hear its open till 4.

Any advice on this plan

Are goals are to start earlier in the night at a place with good bar food, then bounce between a few good philly bars, and possibly end at a strip club.

Goals are to hit up some good

out with the guys

Non-drinker/bar hopper here, so can%26#39;t help there, but can recommend the food at Moriarity%26#39;s. I eat there often.

out with the guys

I would definitely start out at Public House. It has a much better bar scene %26amp; the food is decent. You will definitely spot lots of ladies too. You have to make a reservation for dinner though - or else you will be stuck in line trying to get in. PH also offers VIP tables w/ bottle service later on in the night. Arrangements also have to be made ahead of time.

PH is one of the places that you can easily stay the night at. However, if you get tired... Drinkers in Rittenhouse Square is much closer than the one in Old City. Same deal though. Next to Drinkers is Noche, Continental Mid Town, Devil%26#39;s Alley and some new Rum Bar that just opened. If you are looking for more of a pub scene after Drinker%26#39;s I would try Fado. The Mansion is open until 4:00, but it is not a strip club. It is close to the bars listed above though.

Thanks Heather,

However I have a feeling that some of those places may be to posh for what we are looking for. For example '; VIP tables with bottle service'; is def not our style. A good bar for us is basically a fun social place thats not uptight but also not a dive, with good beer specials.

I have heard about ';the mansion'; but never been there. The fact that its open later makes it interesting. What is it like?

I know Public House totally gives the vibe of being posh, etc... it totally isn%26#39;t though! We refer to it as the Princeton ( as in Princeton of Avalon) of Philly. No goofy mixed drinks - everyone is drinking beers. It is a regular looking bar that just happends to draw a great crowd. Yes.. it does have a VIP section, but the rest of the bar does not give off that vibe.

If you want to make reservations, don%26#39;t use Open Table. You%26#39;ll have to call because Open Table only lets you reserve so many spots.

Mansion is probably the best spot for late night that I personally know of.

Thanks! so what are you doing fri night...... hehe j/k

Sorry... I am married and pregnant... Although, you are reminding me of the life I had just a couple of months ago!

well R.I.P your bar self, but congrats on the baby!

Thanks! : )

Hey vega,

Actually I think your plan looks pretty good. I%26#39;d say go one or the other with Mcgillin%26#39;s or moriarty%26#39;s. Then since you mentioned that some want to see old city, head down there and head to a few places. You could start at one end and work your way down.

Lucy%26#39;s hat shop is another place that sounds like your style. It%26#39;s right near drinkers, but much bigger. Kind of a party atmosphere with good music, may be a better option that drinkers since you may have a big group.

Another place is triumph brewery. It is a trendy but laid back microbrwery on 2nd and chestnut, right across from mad river (which is another place that seem your style).

FYI, S%26amp;T is a BYOB, so if you guys wanted to drink, youd have to BYO. Delilah%26#39;s is another more upscale place in that same area that%26#39;s very popular.

Have a blast!

Product Launch Party-- Good Venue??

We are having a product launch party in November. Most of our attendess will be staying at the Convention Center and we would like to host the party within walking distance. Numbers will be about 45-60. We are going to do a butler passed wine service, heavy apps, etc. I want a restaurant that%26#39;s relatively classy, with a comfortable space for the larger group size. Atmosphere is important as well as quality service, food, etc. We cater to pharmacists so I%26#39;m not looking for a swanky or club scene...you get the idea.

Any ideas??

Product Launch Party-- Good Venue??

Although I generally stay away from chains, I really like Maggianos and I think it fits want you want perfectly. Good food, banquet rooms/menus, atmosphere, close to the convention center, etc.

Product Launch Party-- Good Venue??

I was at a private party last month at the Maggiano%26#39;s downtown and thought it was terrible. Service, food all lacking.

One place that came to mind that was close was Sotto Varelli.

http://www.varalliusa.com/

I have also gone to private events at the Ritz, which have always been top notch. Not sure if that is the direction you would like to go in. ( well within walking distance).

Just something to think about - maybe the Downtown Club would be an appropriate venue? They offer a number of rooms to accomodate a variety of capacities and the building itself boasts a wonderful view of Philadelphia. Just an idea...

Suzanne

I was just at the Downtown Club three weeks ago for an event and they did a fabulous job!

I%26#39;ve been to several events at the downtown club, all except one were excellent and the exception would be rated very good (don%26#39;t think it was their fault either, music was too loud!)

Their website is located at: http://www.downtownclub.com/index.html

It would be about a 7 block walk from the conv center? (someone check my math)

Loonbeam~ I think that the acoustics are off in the main room of TDC. A live band had preformed at the event we were at three weeks ago and they didn%26#39;t sound the same as they had previously at other events.

That would make sense then. Was about a year ago, just a DJ but sounded off.

Looking at the chart, they would not need the main room for this..

I had a private party at the KOP Maggiano%26#39;s a few months ago, I thought the food was ok, but I was not impressed enough to want to go back. We had a party of about 40-50. and could have fit comfortably another 20.

Ehh...Maggiano%26#39;s. As everyone here pretty much knows, I am not a fan of chain restaurants, although Maggiano%26#39;s is better than many of its counterparts. But I%26#39;d still give it a miss.

Another option could be the top floor of the Loews Hotel in Philly - my husband had his holiday party there last year. Good food, great views.

Suzanne

THANK YOU all so much. I have never used this type of forum before but being completely unfamiliar with Philadelphia I though I would give it a try and its been extremely helpful.

I am currently making a decision between the Ritz and Varalli. Downtown Club was booked. Both the Ritz and Varalli were two I would have never found and either one will be perfect for our dinner, as well as in walking distance.

So, thanks again. I very much appreciate the input.

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airport parking

We are flying out of PHI in Nov for 4 days, We are looking for a safe place to leave our car. Has anyone ever used any of the lots that shuttle you back and forth to the airport?

airport parking

My family has always used Pacifico valet and been very satisfied. I think they are on the expensive side, though.

Suzanne

airport parking

I am partial to Ampco parking on Island ave, easy to get to and good shuttle service, plus indoor parking is avail.

I strongly suggest ';Express Park.'; The number is 800-930-7275. As soon as you pull in, they direct you where to go and a shuttle bus comes to pick you up at your spot (usually before you even get out of your car).

Upon return you call the line to let them know you are back and they send a shuttle VERY quickly.

It%26#39;s excellent service and safe because their lot is staffed 24 hours a day.

Hope this helps! Have a safe trip.

flyfishing

does anyone flyfish the yough im going to do that and could use some inside information

flyfishing

I may be a little late with this reply, but, .. your fishing options are numerous: Meadow Run, enter the Yough in Ohiopyle 4 miles of great fishing, small stream need a 6 foot rod, Dunbar Creek- 10 minutes from Ohiopyle, another tight space. Laurel Hill and Cassellman Rivers are the major tributaries of the Yough, both have fishing however harder to access and low stream flows can impact. The Yough-- you can fish 18 miles of it for Trout, then it turns to good Bass water near Connellsville. Hatches during the last 2 weeks, Slate Drakes- Big, BWO- sizes varying greatly between hatches, Caddis happen constantly, use a 16 or 14 and you will do well. Upstream of Ohiopyle is easier to access via bike trail, foot paths to water will be evident. Avoid the outflow area inb Confluence, it is the only section that receives much pressure. If you are up for an adventure, explore along the Lower Yough (north of Ohiopyle, but downstream) this is the whitewater section which is loaded with fish but rarely sees people.

Eric Marti, Wilderness Voyageurs Ohiopyle

Vegan/vegetarian eateries

I%26#39;ll be up in Philly for a couple days next week. I am vegetarian and I was wondering where I would be able to recieve some nourishment?

Vegan/vegetarian eateries

burying lamps -

I would very highly recommend visiting Horizons Cafe, at 611 S. 7th St (near the intersection of 7th and South Sts. It%26#39;s vegan, and excellent. They just moved to this location, after being in the burbs for the past 12 years. They have a very loyal following, and a growing following. Here is their website: www.horizonscafe.com

If you get the chance, don%26#39;t miss it - what the chef does with tofu and seitan and vegetables converts even meat-eaters. Desserts are great, and you%26#39;ll never, ever miss the dairy, although you%26#39;ll swear it%26#39;s there!

Enjoy your visit. If you eat there, would love to know what you think...

Vegan/vegetarian eateries

The Reading Terminal Market (12th %26amp; Filbert) has a wealth of food vendors, including Basic 4 Vegetarian. The Market began as a farmers%26#39; market over 100 years ago and now combines those elements with prepared foods. The vibe is great - great diversity and warmth.

Options in Chinatown: Harmony at 135 N. 9th St. and Cherry Street Vegetarian at 1010 Cherry St.

Also,

Core de Roma (Italian)at 214 South St.

Cedars (Lebanese) 616 S. 2nd

Ariana (Afghan) 134 Chestnut St.

Lynn

Also, Charles Plaza on N 10th Street (Chinatown) is supposed to be good - have a friend who likes it alot. Hope that helps!

In the center city area there are alot of choices for you.

I agree with emwimom about the Reading Terminal Market. The place is literally a mosaic of local foods. Many great places that are vegetarian or have good vegetarian options.

Azure (a personal favorite), 931 N. 2nd St.

Kingdom of Vegetarians, 129 North 11th Street

Samosa Indian, 1214 Walnut St.

Cherry Street Chinese Vegetarian, 1010 Cherry St.

Harmony Chinese, 135 North 9th Street

Santa Fe Burritos, 1625 Chestnut Street

Suzanne -

I recently ate at Charles Plaza, and I too can vouch for it. The vegetarian selection is done well, and I never missed the meat. They serve meat/chicken/seafood too, but their veggie selection is large. A very good choice for vegetarians (or flexitarians). Also, the owner is very attentive to customers - they pay attention to detail there. Funny, for all the years I%26#39;ve eaten in Chinatown, I never knew about this place; but it%26#39;s now added to my ';list';.

Terry

I love Kingdom of Vegetarians - I think they have some of the best vegetarian food I have ever eaten and their prices are wonderful for what you get! Nice environment and good service too.

Here%26#39;s another vegetarian place I recently heard excellent things about:

http://www.horizonscafe.com/

I%26#39;d like to warn all vegetarians in Philadelphia, and anyone else, not to go to New Samosa on 1214 Walnut St. I ate there in August 2007 and was stunned at how awful it was, and overpriced. I had the ';curry chicken,'; which, like all the meat dishes there, was made of soy the texture of marshmallow. The curry sauce was sickeningly sweet. STAY AWAY!

Thanks for the feedback!

A place that I like and that is not mentioned on this thread is

Mama%26#39;s on 20th %26amp; Market

www.mamasvegetarian.com

Horizons Cafe has by the the best vegetarian food in the city, and being a vegetarian, I know them all. Horizons is expensive, but well worth it. You MUST have reservations on Friday or Saturday night. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Another Chinese place not mentioned is Pagoda Noodle, on Sansom Walk between Front and 2nd Street. It%26#39;s regular Chinese food, but they have some excellent vegtarian selections. Others have mentioned the other places. Mama%26#39;s is more of a lunch/takeout place, but very good. The menu is very limited and everything is fried, but very good.

highlight

Golf Courses

Will be in Pittsburg for a few days in early October and am looking at some golf course options within about 3/4 hour from the city, and also fairly close to the airport when we fly in. I would welcome any suggestions on the courses or web sites that offer a listing of courses. Thanks.

Golf Courses

Maybe I%26#39;m wrong, but wasnt the US Open just held at Oakmont, about half an hour outside of Pittsburgh?

Golflink.com has a directory where you can look up by state and city. I%26#39;d start there.

Golf Courses

Last year my husband and I and another couple stayed near the airport. When the girls went shopping, the men went golfing to Quicksilver Golf. They really enjoyed it and said it was a nice course.

http://www.quicksilvergolf.com/

From Beaver/Airport

Take Route 60 to Route 22/30 West (Weirton Exit). Proceed on Route 22/30 approx. 7 miles and take the McDonald/Midway exit. Turn right at the stop sign onto Route 980 South. Go 2.5 miles and make a right onto Quicksilver Rd.

Green Fees Off Peak

Off Peak (Oct. - April)

Weekday 18 Holes $45.00

Weekday 9 Holes $25.00

Weekend/Holiday 18 Holes $45.00

Weekend/Holiday 9 Holes $25.00

Includes Cart with GPS

Oakmont is approx. 15 min. north of the city via Route 28.

I believe the Oakmont East golf course is open to the public...someone can correct me if I%26#39;m wrong.

#1 Oakmont CC is private and the most difficult course in Pa to get on.

#2. Oakmont East is the parking lot for Oakmont during events such as the US Open. - Not worth playing.

#3 Play Olde Stonewall if you want a very nice course (125PP)

#4 Cranberry Highlands is a very nice public course for the money 60PP.

From your post, I am not sure as to the type of course you are looking for, but the two public golf courses closest to the airport are the eighteen hole Moon Golf Club (www.moongolfclub.com) in Moon Township (Take Business Route 60 to the Ewing Road Exit) and the nine hole Marada golf course on Route 30 in Findlay Township. Both courses are about ten minutes away from the airport terminal. Also near the Moon Golf Club is Scally%26#39;s Golf Center; which has a driving range, a pitch-n-put golf course and a small par-3 course.

Also close to the airport are Ponderosa Golf Course, in Frankfort Springs/Hookstown, PA, and Marada Golf Course in Clinton, PA. Both are within 15-20 minutes of the airport.

I%26#39;m not a golfer, though, so I can neither recommend nor discredit either course, but both have websites.

Ponderosa Golf Course is a very nice course. I%26#39;ve played there several times. If you happen to play on a Sunday, make sure you go into the restaurant for their Sunday brunch. It%26#39;s fantastic! You can also try Cedarbrook GC in Belle Vernon. It has both a red and a gold course. The red course is pretty easy and the gold course is longer and harder. You could also try Donegal Highlands, which is right off the PA turnpike at Somerset. The leaves should be turning by then. All of the courses that I mentioned have websites for directions, etc.

Also, within an hour of PGH, there are alot of really nice courses in Youngstown, OH. Just look at ';golfinohio'; to get some of the course names and directions. I hope you enjoy your stay while you%26#39;re in the Burgh.

I live in Pittsburgh and just played Grand View Golf Course for the first time. It is a beautiful course and has great views on the Mon River, Kennywood, Turtle Creek Valley, and Pittsburgh. Just search for Grand View Golf Course on google and you can get directions (it%26#39;s less than 10 min. from the Parkway East). I highly recommend it!

is hershey moving out of the usa?

if this is true i%26#39;m all done buying any hershey product. how can the town let this company do this?

is hershey moving out of the usa?

Hershey chocolate will still be made in Hershey PA, but not in the quantity once produced. Some manufacturing will be moved to other parts of the USA and Mexico. How can the town let the company do this? Shareholders want profit and don%26#39;t want to raise prices on chocolate because consumers won%26#39;t patronize. Thus, they keep prices the same and hire cheaper labor, satisfying the shareholders. Capitalism at its finest.

reptiles

here we come pittsburgh

hello we are sooooooooo excited to be comin in for the mnf game vs the ravens. since the game is not till 830 i am looking for ideas of bars for tailgating or any other pre-game fun. we are staying downtown.. any help please as we are just so excited! thank you. go steelers!

here we come pittsburgh

You can go to Ugly and Hi-Tops which is right across the street from PNC Park. Heinz Field is next to PNC Park so it is only a short walk. Ugly has excellent food. The Clark Bar, which is in the parking area of Heinz Field is good too, but there is a $5 cover charge to get in and it gets very packed. I do have season tickets and we always have a pretty big group tailgating, so if you%26#39;d like to join us, please reply to this message, although we are Steeler fans. GO STEELERS!!!!!!

here we come pittsburgh

Jerome Bettis%26#39;s place, Grille 36 is also open right there in the Del Monte building.

Hubby went with a bunch of his buddies and the restrooms have an.......interesting feature I can almost guarantee you%26#39;ve never seen anywhere else.

You will not have a hard time finding something to do in Pittsburgh before a Steelers game. Like others have suggested, there are several bars near PNC Park, and tailgating goes on in just about every parking lot...and on the streets...and just about everywhere.

If you would rather be outside, then pick up a 6 pack or two at Cafe Milano on 6th Street downtown (between Penn Ave and the Clemente Bridge) for about $8.

For a fun dive bar, check out the 222, 1/2 block from Ugly and Firewater and all those.

In the past for MNF games, there have been rallies in Market Square downtown.

Have fun!

Need recommendations for Indian Restaurant

I know about the Taj Mahal on McKnight Road. Any other suggestions? Looking for a place thats a little nicer...

Need recommendations for Indian Restaurant

Try Namaste India on Banksville Road. Here%26#39;s a review from the Post-Gazette a few years ago:

post-gazette.com/dining/20030718dine0718fnp1鈥?/a>

and one from the Pittsburgh India site: pittsburghindia.com/namaste-india-pittsburgh鈥?/a>

I%26#39;ve only been there once, but really enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere.

Namaste India

3101 Banksville Road

Pittsburgh , PA 15216

412-563-1901

Need recommendations for Indian Restaurant

Maybe try Tamarind Savoring India in Greentree (NOT the one in Oakland). They have very good food and the setting is nicer than Taj Mahal. Surprisingly, their lunch buffets have better food and more variety than their dinner menu. I would recommend trying it out on Saturday or Sunday lunch.

Namaste can be really good, but a couple of times I%26#39;ve had really salty dishes here. Their samosa chaat is really, really good, however. I personally didn%26#39;t care too much for Tamarind (thought it was a bit bland) but I%26#39;d give it another try and order something else. The atmosphere at Tamarind is a little nicer than Namaste (though the service at Namaste is very friendly).

My personal favorite Indian restaurant in Pittsburgh is India Garden on Atwood St.: http://www.indiagarden.net/ The food is great and it%26#39;s definitely nicer inside than Tamarind or Namaste. Unfortunately I live in the South Hills and am not in Oakland too often, but if it%26#39;s not too much of a trek for you I would definitely check it out.

Of course I HAD to find this post at 5:30... might need to get takeout from Namaste tonight. :)

My favorite is Taste of India. I think it%26#39;s around 43rd St on Penn Ave.

us air from Phil

We%26#39;re considering a flight to Rome in May on Us air from Phil. I think going over we%26#39;re fine with time but coming home we have a five hour layover in Phil, is there anything to do in the airport.

us air from Phil

Terminal B at the PHL airport has a variety of shops and restaurants. Check out out airport website for more specifics.

Suzanne

Places for Brunch at Philly?

Since my daughter鈥檚 soccer game is delayed on Sunday (9/2) from 1pm to 5:30pm, my National Taiwan University college friends (who I have not seen for years) are driving down from Boston to another friend鈥檚 house in New Jersey on Saturday. Then they will drive from NJ Sunday morning to join me at Philly for brunch.

Is the Reading Terminal Market open on Sunday? If so, where they can find economic parking? Or do you have any other suggestions for casual brunch places that have food unique, delicious, and reasonably priced at Philly (e.g., cheese steak :)?

Thanks in advance for all your advice!

cys

Places for Brunch at Philly?

I did a little research @ this website and www.frommers.com%26#39;s Philly%26#39;s ';Local Favorite'; and its Best :

Marra (best pizza),

Jim%26#39;s Steaks (Best Cheesesteak),

The White Dog Caf茅 (Best Brunch),

The Down Home Diner @ Reading Terminal Market (Best Breakfast),

Bassett @ Reading Terminal Market (best ice cream), ... etc

I also found out Reading Terminal Market is closed on Sunday :(

Here are some recommendations at the Reading Terminal Market:

Reading Terminal Market - 12th and Arch Street M-Sat: 8am -6pm (many vendors close at 5pm, about half accept cash only) - ... Scrapple, mangoes, clam chowder, pretzels -- Amish in the city on their market days (Wed and Sat),.. sticky buns at Beiler%26#39;s Bakery...soft pretzels at Fisher%26#39;s, and individual egg custards ($1) and chicken potpies ($6) at the Dutch Eating Place... Harry Ochs and Halteman Family (great country hams and local honey)...Downtown Cheese Shop (gourmet cheeses)... Salumeria%26#39;s hoagies... The best coffee at Old City Coffee... Termini Brothers Bakery%26#39;s Italian cannoli pastries or Braverman%26#39;s will fill it with an egg challah, Danish, or other pastry... Pearl%26#39;s Oyster Bar - six cherrystone clams for $4.25, and a shrimp platter with french fries, bread, and coleslaw goes for $8.50... Coastal Cave Trading Co. ( great clam chowder, oyster crackers, and smoked fish). Just inside 12th Street, Bassett%26#39;s best American ice-cream at $1.75 a cone. The shakes ($3.75) ... The Down Home Diner (excellent choice for breakfast or lunch) --- The 12th Street Cantina (tasty enchiladas, burritos, authentic ingredients, like blue cornmeal) ---- Rick%26#39;s Philly Steaks%26#39;s cheesesteaks....

Are there any other good eats at the Reading Terminal Market not mentioned here? What kind food (that won%26#39;t get spoiled easily)would you suggest to buy and bring back to my daughter and share with her friends?

Thanks! cys

Places for Brunch at Philly?

Not exactly what you are askng for, but how about a Sunday dim sum brunch in Chinatown? Just a block or two from Reading Terminal Market.. Take your daughter and her friends for a fun time.

Dim Sum is a great, reasonable and fun thing to do. I like to Imperial Inn right on 10th Street.

The Amish don%26#39;t work on Sunday...but the majority of the Reading Terminal Market is open. I know another poster recommended Down Home Diner, but I can%26#39;t stand the place. Completely mediocre food and it%26#39;s just not the cleanest place on the planet. Every single time I went in there, the utensils were dirty. Can%26#39;t tolerate that, in all honesty...

I, personally, like Marathon Grill for breakfast/brunch offering - there are a variety of locations in the city and the food is always good and reasonable. Other places in the city that offer such brunch fare are Fork, the White Dog Cafe, Sabrina%26#39;s, Standard Tap, the Plough and the Stars, the Black Sheep Pub and Morning Glory. They are all in various parts of the city - perhaps check out a few websites to see if their menus/prices are to your liking.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Suzanne

Actually, I just realized you looked up Down Home Diner! Sorry for the confusion, but regardless, I wouldn%26#39;t go there, there are a ton of better places. Also, Marra%26#39;s is great - it%26#39;s in South Philly and their pizza is awesome. Reasonably priced pasta dishes as well.

Suzanne

Thanks for the warning about Down Home Diner!

We already have great dim sum in the other places other than Philly. My college friends and I will probably will check out Marathon Grill, the White Dog Caf茅, or Marra%26#39;s.

cys

I%26#39;d recommend the White Dog Cafe. In addition to tasty food, the restaurant is a co-op, owned by its employees and focuses on healthy business practices and local products.

The Irish Pub ( the location on 20th %26amp; Walnut) has a pretty reasonably priced Brunch for $7.95.

theirishpub.com/Irish_Pub_Sunday_Brunch.htm

Food is generally pretty decent ~ Good spot near Rittenhouse Square. You should also be able to find some meter parking in the area within a couple of blocks.

I also agree with the comment%26#39;s re: Down Home Diner. It is not very good.

Hi - I just got back from the trip to Philly ... Thanks for all the advice ... I printed all the directions to various locations for the Sunday Bruch ... I met up with my college friends in front of Penn%26#39;s College House. However, my friends were too tired to do any more driving after more than two hours drive from New Jersey. So we just walked to White Dog Cafe on campus.

It already had lots of people eating outside open-air at the tables. So my friends said let%26#39;s go in - it cannot be too bad with so many people already eating there :-) The table setting was a little crowded inside, yet it was comfy, and air-conditioned. It was a big relief since we were all hot %26amp; sweaty from walking blocks to find this place.

White Dog Cafe was a perfect place to have a casual Sunday Brunch on Penn%26#39;s campus for us (it maybe a little pricy for the students :-) ... we had lots to catch up for the past 20 years ... the service is good, and most of the food tastes okay, some with really nice flavor. It was also the first time we%26#39;ve ever had ';cold'; soup, and ';pickled'; corn on the cob :)

I was a little disappointed with my Saturday afternoon%26#39;s Reading Terminal Market experience though. Maybe I have too much expectation ... I waited over half an hour to have Rick%26#39;s cheesesteak, and I don%26#39;t think it worths the price and the time I spent to get that famous cheesesteak (i.e., the meat is on a little greasy side with some fat). Also, the Amishes were running out of their bake goods. However, whatever I managed to get, it tastes really fresh %26amp; delicious. Next time, I will try visit there Saturday morning instead :-)

Thanks again for all the great advice!

Thanks for posting back about your brunch experience at the White Dog - I%26#39;d encourage you to write a review for the White Dog Cafe under the ';Philadelphia Restaurants'; section - always helpful to others to read about personal experiences.

So sorry that the cheesesteak didn%26#39;t work out as you had planned - I actually had a lousy cheesesteak (fatty, greasy) at Rick%26#39;s a few years ago and that is why I never recommend the place. But I am glad you were able to enjoy some of the Amish baked goods, although it sounds like they were limited!

Thanks again for posting and good luck!

Suzanne

I agree about Rick%26#39;s. I had their cheesesteak once and once only. I think Pat%26#39;s and Jim%26#39;s are also over-rated. I find the best cheesesteaks are from your unknown neighborhood pizza and hoagie shops.

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Cherry Crest Farm & Shopping

We are traveling to Lancaster and Hershey in October with our boys (9 %26amp; 5). I was looking at Cherry Crest Farm%26#39;s site and it looks like alot of fun. Any comments from those who have been? Also, we don%26#39;t have to be in Hershey until 2pm so I was wondering if there were any farmers markets or nice shopping areas to visit for a couple of hours saturday morning. No outlets please.

Cherry Crest Farm %26amp; Shopping

Bird-In-Hand has a nice farmers market and directly across the street is a very large general store. Just east of there is Kitchen Kettle in the Village of Intercourse. Plenty there to keep you busy for a few hours. We haven%26#39;t been to Cherry Crest for a few years, but there is plenty to do there besides the maze.

Cherry Crest Farm %26amp; Shopping

We just went to Cherry Crest today and did the maize. The theme this year is Wild Wild West. In addition to the maize, there%26#39;s a petting area with goats, sheep, pigs, chicks, etc., a hay slide (the kids can climb a hill and slide through a tube on burlap), a jumping area for the kids, a pumpkin slingshot (it%26#39;s actually tennis balls), pedal karts, a small gift shop, and a few other things. Our daughter is 9 also and really enjoyed the maize. It takes about an hour to get through it.

Here%26#39;s a tip to get through even faster...take a picture of the map of the maize with a camera phone before going through. It was a great reference for us!

Have a great trip!

from keratosis pilaris

Penns Landing/ Festival Pier

Seeing a concert at Festival Pier in a few weeks and am looking for a reasonable place ($150 or so) in the area to stay the night.

Will SEPTA get me from the airport to the penns landing area or is renting a car a must?

Ideally would love to just use public trans from the airport and be able to walk to the show from the hotel. No time to sight see, just there for the show and flying out the next day.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Penns Landing/ Festival Pier

You can often get the Hyatt Penns Landing for that price via hotwire, depending on the date I would check there first. That said, any of the hotels in the historic district or old city is a short to medium walk to Penns Landing.

Septa from the Airport to Penn%26#39;s Landing is probably more trouble than it i worth, as the R1 from the airport doesn%26#39;t come quite that close to the river. I%26#39;d go with a cab, should not be too expensive.

Penns Landing/ Festival Pier

The closest hotel to the Festival Pier is the Comfort Inn Downtown/Historic District, a good choice for what you%26#39;re looking for. If you decide to stay there and want to take public transportation, it%26#39;s possible especially since it sounds like you%26#39;ll be travelling light. You would take the train from the airport to the Market East Station where you would switch to the subway, the Market Frankford line, eastbound to 2nd Street. From there you would have to walk across the bridge over I-95 , descend to Columbus Blvd. and walk the couple of blocks to the hotel. Or you could spend about $30 for a taxi as Loonbeam suggests and enjoy the ride, which would take you about 20 minutes.

thanks for the info loon and tom.... will check out the suggested hotels. septa doesn%26#39;t appear to be the way to go, maybe get lucky and find a hotel shuttle, otherwise looks like a cab.

cheers- t

had a great time in Philadelphia thurs/friday...from the concert at festival pier to the ease of walking the historic district. The Holiday Inn on Arch was also a good spot to branch out from. Was refreshing to be able to see so many historical sites and not be charged an admission fee!

the cheesteak was good at Campos (couldn%26#39;t make it to Tony Lukes..) but it%26#39;s the SoHo brick oven pizza i%26#39;m comin%26#39; back for..

cheers philly- t

Thanks for posting, glad you had a great time in Philly!

Suzanne

The Holiday Inn on Arch is my #1 recommendation for the Historic District, great location, decent prices and always nice people...

I%26#39;m huge on Soho Pizza (the pizza and the great sandwiches). Glad you had a good time.

Just go back from Lancaster

What can I say... Wonderful trip.

We took our little Maltese so needed a pet friendly motel. Red Roof Inn was wonderful. We were given a handicap room with a king sized bed. The bath room had a walk in shower and the room was 12-7 with a pocket door so our little dog had tons of room. We took his pee pads, his crate and water and food so he had a whole room to himself. The rest of the room was very nice and clean. It was packed the two nights we were there. We found the front desk most helpful. Nice area for complimentry breakfast although we didn%26#39;t use it.

We spent the first day on our own but it rained the whole day. We were to get a private tour throught the Mennonite Center but because of the rain we canceled it. I would reccomend that if you want a REAL Amish tour.

Deiners Restruant was our favorite. Millers was too commercial for us even though the food was good.

As for driving around we found ourselves in Nickel Mines. That is where the young Amish children were killed last year. What we did see in that small community was Amish families.

I highly recommend the Sight and Sound Theater. When we left the play, ';In the Beginning'; we not able to even talk. I have no idea how many people can be seated in the place but it was totally booked. If you plan this trip I suggest you get tickets well in advance. We got ours over 2 months ago and at that time there were very few seats left. It was the most touching experience I have had in a long time.

Very nice relaxing trip

Just go back from Lancaster

Glad you had a great trip!

What did you do with your dog when you went places? We always kennel our dog when we go because I don%26#39;t know what to do with her while we are out enjoying the day. I would love to take her with us.

Just go back from Lancaster

Our little Maltese goes with us all the time. Red Roof Inn%26#39;s are Pet Friendly.

We put a do not disturb sign on the door. Most of the time the bathrooms are pretty big. We take his crate, toys, food and water. He goes on a pee pad so it%26#39;s never an issue.

He sleeps most of the time while we are gone. Never had a problem. Earlier this summer we rented a cabin Peigon Forge and he stayed in his x-pen.

If you have a small dog all you need is an x-pen, crate, or baby gate. We make sure he is in a room with no carpet. As I said, he goes potty on pee pads.

Hope you take your dog in the future. We never kennel our dog so he is with us whenever we travel. Hope this helps

Thanks for the reply!

Our dachshund would probably bark the whole time we left her. She hates when we leave her!

We took her to Pigeon Forge with us in June, we also rented a cabin. I put her in her crate while we were gone because she loveto get into things. (she%26#39;s only 16 months old) I loved the cabin and with taking Trixie with us it was a more relaxing vacation because we had to go back to the cabin %26amp; spend time with her instead of being on the go all day %26amp; night.

What is an xpen? I%26#39;ve never heard of that.

We thought Tucker might bark too but once we walked out the door and listened for a few minutes he stopped.

An x pen or exercise pen is what I used when I showed dogs years ago. You can buy all sizes and they can be set up in all configurations.

rabbit.org/chapters/鈥en_living.html

Just type in exercise pen and all kinds will pop up. You don%26#39; t have to get a big one and they also have them at pet stores. The above one shows all the ways you can set one up. I have several sizes but you would only needs a short one cause Doxie%26#39;s can%26#39;t jump out. You can buy all heights and sizes. Love it.

Good luck but it%26#39;s worth a try. It%26#39;s great for outside too.

Where to stay near King of Prussia

Coming to the area (Rosemont College) for family weekend 9/29-30. We%26#39;ve stayed near the King of Prussia mall on previous visits. Any suggestions on which hotel to book near the mall???

I just want CLEAN. We%26#39;ll be needing 2 rooms, but 1 will be smoking and 1 not, so that%26#39;s our only request. Any better suggestions other than King of Prussia area - it%26#39;s just that it%26#39;s easy access to the Turnpike for our trip back home.

Thanks!

Where to stay near King of Prussia

Both the Scanticon and Radisson Valley Forge are pretty decent and not overly expensive, I%26#39;ve stayed there for events.

Where to stay near King of Prussia

I stayed at the Scanticon a few years back and had a terrible experience - but perhaps they%26#39;ve gotten their act together in the last 3 years. I%26#39;m guessing Loonbeam%26#39;s experience is more recent than mine.

I have a friend who comes to the KOP area for business and she at the Crowne Plaza in KOP - or she goes over to the Marriott in Conshohocken (which really isn%26#39;t far from Rosemont College at all.) The Marriott is a nice hotel and close to the highway as well. They also have a Residence Inn in Conshohocken that is supposed to be nice as well. Hope that helps!

Suzanne

A second vote for the Marriott in Conshohocken.

A third vote for the Marriott in Conshohocken. It is very nice, closer to Rosemont, and you will have somewhat less traffic to deal with. Both areas (KoP and Conshy) are at major highway interchanges, but if you stay in KoP, you will hit both of them, plus KoP is much worse anyway.

Marriott in Conshohocken is also a good choice, stayed at the Scanticon 2 years ago last and the Radisson last year one night each. Nothing special, service was so, so, but it was clean.

One note, all Marriotts are NON smoking now, as are Radissons. (For that matter I think Hiltons are too now, correct?

I also agree with the Marriott. My second choice would be the Sheraton in KoP.

I just wanted to say that the Marriott is in West Conshohocken, the Residence Inn is across the bridge in Conshohocken. Either would be fine.

Where to eat?

Considering holding a couples retreat in Strasburg. Any nice restaurant recommendations (all price ranges)?

Where to eat?

Our favorite place to eat in the Lancaster/Strasburg area is Good-N-Plenty. They have the best ever fried chicken!!! It%26#39;s a family style restaurant-all homemade foods like chicken of course, buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, a uniques kind of corn, meatloaf, ham, beef stew, pepperhash, homemade breads with apple butter and whipped butter.......I could go on and on. And the desserts are great-homemade ice creams, puddings, jello, pies, ......... I hope this helps!

Where to eat?

Our favorite place is the Revere Tavern on Rt 30. Nice attmosphere and great food. My wife always gets the prime rib, and loves it. I have tried many dishes and they have all been wonderful. If you order a draft beer they even let you keep the glass.

I like the Bird in Hand Family Inn restaurant and my all time favorite is Millers Smorgasbord.

Deb

I visit this area at least once a year and have probably visited over 50 times in my life (been going since I was 3 in 1976). My favorite places to eat in the area in no particular order are:

Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant (order off the menu, the buffet is OK, but I think it%26#39;s a ripoff. They have incredible chicken corn soup and a side of cucumbers and onions to die for. Their scrapple is the best I%26#39;ve had. Their shoo fly pie is also awesome as is their hot chocolate with whipped cream. My wife is a big fan of their red velvet cake with cream cheese icing.

Dienner%26#39;s

The Family Cupboard on 340 between BIH %26amp; Intercourse (owned by the Dienners)

Jennie%26#39;s Diner just past the intersection of 30 %26amp; 896

Shady Maple in East Earl (I%26#39;m not a huge buffet fan, but I typically go just to go).

I%26#39;m also a fan of Hoss%26#39;s Steak %26amp; Sea (a chain in PA), though the best one I%26#39;ve eaten at is the one in Chambersburg, PA. The one on Lititz Pike is OK, but not as good as Chambersburg.

Hershey Farm (good for a breakfast buffet, don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve eaten there for anything else).

Strasburg Creamery- awesome ice cream.

Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop on Gibbons Road- best value for PA Dutch baked goods.

Need Suggestions For trip this Wed-Fri w/ 2yr and 9yr old

Hello Everyone!

I am a Nanny coming on a trip with my mom boss she is coming for work and me and the children are coming for pleasure. I have never been here. We are flying in to Philly and staying in Mt Laurel. Can anyone offer some fun, cool unforgetable things for us to do? Also, I would like to know of some things I can do without the children. I look forward to all the things Philly has to offer and what you have to share! Thanks in advance!

Need Suggestions For trip this Wed-Fri w/ 2yr and 9yr old

With the kids, it could be tough - 9 year olds and 2 year old are not typically interested in the same kinds of things.

The Philadelphia Zoo should appeal to both, as should Camden%26#39;s Adventure Aquarium.

For the 2 year old, I%26#39;d highly recommend the Please Touch Museum - but be aware that the 9 year old will be bored.

The Franklin Institute would appeal to the 9 year old - but is too advanced for the 2 year old.

Ride the Ducks is seasonal, but if the weather is nice, this might work (depends on how willing the 2 year old is to sit.)

The 9 year old would probably like The Lights of Liberty show as well as the National Constitution Center.

You could also take them both to Franklin Square - there%26#39;s a carousel and mini-golf - nice place to bring a picnic in the city if the weather cooperates.

I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ve forgotten some things, but others with hopefully chime in with additional suggestions.

Insofar as things for yourself without the kids, are you talking about attractions or nightlife? Give us some more specifics about what you like and we are happy to make additional recommendations.

Suzanne

Need Suggestions For trip this Wed-Fri w/ 2yr and 9yr old

Quick question, how old are YOU, so we can point out some activities sans kids :)

Suzanne hit most of the highlights, for the 9 year old, near Mt. Laurel is the FunPlex, an outdoor mini-amusement park with go-carts, etc, not sure what they have for the 2yr old.

If the weather is nice, there is also Sesame Place in Bensalem, PA, but the kids might be too old/young for that.

I%26#39;d file these both under backup plans, though.

Both kids will love the Academy of Natural Science (along with the zoo and the aquarium).

Sorry, I am 33 years old. I am looking for nightlife, scenic and shopping. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

Last question, what kind of transportation will you have available for yourself when not with the kids? One thing about Mt. Laurel, there is no easy public transit into/form Philly late night.

Hopefully car if not I will take a taxi or rent a car.

Taxi%26#39;s can be an expensive trip over the bridge.

Unfortunately, there is not much nightlife that I know of in the Mt. Laurel area. As for others, there are a bunch of clubs along Delaware avenue.

Any particular type of entertainment?

If you are by yourself, I would check out one of the bars/ lounges near Rittenhouse Square. Loie, Rouge, Tria or Continental.

There are also some really great stores - definitely check out Antropologie %26amp; some great people watching the park.

Jenlyn: If you don%26#39;t want to drive into Philly with the kids, you could take them to the Garden State Discovery Museum. It is located on Springdale Road in Cherry Hill, immediately adjacent to Mt. Laurel and within a 5 minute drive of most hotels on Fellowship Road and Route 73 in Mt. Laurel. It would be perfect for an afternoon with both children. My kids loved it at those ages. If you intend to take the kids into Philly, the Please Touch museum is terrific although the 9 year old would likely prefer the Franklin Institute, as Suzanne said, as is the Ducks tour. The Ducks tour would give you the chance to see the major historic sites without much walking. The nine year old especially is bound to love the duck bill whistle so he/she can ';quack'; about town.

Moms

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Dog drinking too much

Should we rent a car or take a taxi

We are arriving at the Pittsburgh airport Friday at 3:30pm and our friends will be waiting for us in Monroeville - they said it was about 40 minutes from the airport.

We will stay in Monroeville Friday night and then go with our friends to the Hampton Inn in Pittsburgh Saturday late day. They said there is room for us to hop in their car at this point. We will stay until Monday moring when we will need to either drive our renatal car back or take a taxi to the airport.

Not sure how easy it is to get around Pittsburgh in a rental car. The only times we really need to drive would be form the airport to Monroeville on Friday afternoon and then from downtown Pittsburgh Hampton Inn back to the airport Monday morning.

Would we be better off just to use taxis for these two trips?

Should we rent a car or take a taxi

On a Friday afternoon at rush hour you will be sitting in traffic for a looooooong time either way. You may be better off looking at the bus schedule - the buses have their own thruway and don%26#39;t sit in parkway traffic. At least on this side of the tunnel - I%26#39;m not sure about the Monroeville side.

Is there any way your friends can meet you downtown Friday afternoon? You can take the airport shuttle into the city.

Should we rent a car or take a taxi

Taxi fare to/from Monroeville would be very expensive. I would guess in the $60-$80 range. Personally, I would rent-a-car and keep it with me. I think you will find a car useful to have in Monroeville.

If you don鈥檛 want the hassle of having a car, there is probably some place that you could drop it off in Monroeville. I think that Enterprise and Budget have rental offices there.

As another alternative, perhaps you could make arrangements with a limo driver for transportation to/from the airport or even just to Monroeville. (I鈥檝e used First Class Limousine in the past, but there are other reputable providers out there.) From Downtown, you could always take the 28x bus to the airport instead of a limo (as another poster suggested). I鈥檝e found the 28x to be very reliable. See www.portyauthority.org for the 28x鈥檚 schedule.

P.S. -- I also agree with the other poster; It will take you much longer than 40 minutes from the Airport to Monroeville on a Friday afternoon.

Tut & Lunch Ideas?

Making a quick day trip with a girlfriend to see King Tut from DC. We should arrive by noon by car and have 1 pm Tut tickets. Is there a decent restaurant near the Franklin Institute? Friend has limited walking and dietary issues so local pizza is out. I suppose we could just eat at the FI, but if something is nearby, for either before or after, I would prefer that.

Tut %26amp; Lunch Ideas?

I like Peacock on the Parkway. Its on the Ben Franklin Parkway at 17th Street.

Lynn

Tut %26amp; Lunch Ideas?

My geography is sketchy - is Peacock near the FI?

Peacock on the Parkway is right down the street from the FI. I have never eaten there myself, but Lynn3 has good taste, so I%26#39;d take the recommendation if the menu suits your friend.

Good luck!

Suzanne

Across from the FI parking garage is Darling%26#39;s Cafe. It is a great little spot %26amp; be sure to save room for their cheesecake.

http://www.darlingscheesecake.com/

Where to eat lunch? In Philly for 1 day!!

Hi there,

My husband, daughter (who is 3) will becoming into Philly for 1 day in Sept. The Reading Terminal looks great, but is it worth it if you only have the day?

So far we will be going to Little Italy in the morning, then we will be needing somewhere to eat lunch. After lunch we will be in the historic areas.

Any ideas? Should we stay down in Little Italy for lunch or should we venture to RT?

thanks so much!

Where to eat lunch? In Philly for 1 day!!

If you find somewhere in Little Italy that appeals to you, go for it. If not, the RTM is great because there are so MANY options for different tastes!

You can always eat in Little Italy and hit the RTM for dessert as well!

Where to eat lunch? In Philly for 1 day!!

Just a FYI, we don%26#39;t really call it Little Italy - it%26#39;s ';South Philly'; to the locals...

In South Philly, I%26#39;d recommend Villa di Roma if you are having lunch on a Friday or Sat - it%26#39;s the only days they are open for lunch. They open Sunday at 2 if you want a late lunch. located right in the heart of the Italian Market on 9th Street, they are classic, red-gravy Italian and the food is very good. Cash only.

Also recommended in South Philly is Ralph%26#39;s, just a few blocks down from Villa di Roma, also on 9th Street. They are open for lunch daily, also classic Italian and cash only as well.

RTM is definitely ';worth it!'; Great venue with a uniquely Philadelphia feel. Many choices for lunch - and dessert as well (as Loonbeam suggested.)

Hope this helps, good luck!

Suzanne

I love Reading Terminal, but it you%26#39;re only in town for a day and are going from the Italian Market to Old City, Reading Terminal is not on the way. Especially with a little one, it might be easier to skip the extra step this time. If you don%26#39;t eat at the Italian Market, I suggest Soho Pizza (counter service) or Rotten Ralph%26#39;s (restaurant), both in/close to Old City.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

A fabulous breakfast spot in the IM is Sabrina%26#39;s Cafe. Depending on what day you are going, there might be a bit of a wait ( it is very small) ~ however, it is worth it!

citypaper.net/food/鈥?/a>

California Steelers fan coming to Pittsburgh!

I am going to be in Pittsburgh for the Steelers/49ers game and am trying to find inexpensive transportation from the airport to Heinz Field and back on Sunday. Can anyone provide any information?

Can%26#39;t wait to cheer on my Steelers!!

California Steelers fan coming to Pittsburgh!

Check out the PAT bus schedule - they have an express that runs between the airport and downtown.

Accomadations in Reynoldsville

My son has a dirtbike race in Reynoldsville on Sun. Sept. 23rd. I am looking for a place to stay over Saturday night. Any places nearby? Indoor pools ?

Thanks!

Accomadations in Reynoldsville

I would suggest either the Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express in Dubois. The Holiday Inn Express is the newer of the two hotels (I think it is about a year old). Both are very nice and have indoor pools. Hope this helps.

Accomadations in Reynoldsville

sac2008

thanks for the info! much appreciated. how far is Dubois from Reynoldsville?

Maybe about 10 miles (15 minutes) away.

Another Question....Have you heard of the Lumberjack XC Woods Racing..I don%26#39;t know exactly where the trail is. The race is an AWRCS Racing Event. All I know is Reynoldsville PA is the location!

Thanks!

ram interrogate

Best Western Revere

Hi. I am coming to Lancaster for one night (a friday in October) with my husband and boys (9 %26amp; 5). Last time we stayed at Willow Valley and loved it but they don%26#39;t allow one night on the weekends. I saw a recommendation for the Best Western Revere and I was wondering what others have to say about this hotel. I don%26#39;t want to be in the Dutch Wonderland area (we%26#39;re not going there or shopping the outlets) and I want something reasonable. We will probably take a buggy ride, and maybe visit strassburg and/or Kitchen Kettle. I looked at staying in Kitchen Kettle but they have no availability. I don%26#39;t mind a little bit of a drive- we are heading to Hershey the next day if that matters. Thanks.

Best Western Revere

It is a very nice place to stay and is located in Paradise, which is just east of Lancaster. I would suggest getting a room in the newer building if possible. The hotel has an indoor pool and hot tub and I believe a continental breakfast is served each morning. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Best Western Revere

You won%26#39;t be sorry with the revere inn. Just make sure you are in the main building , or else you will wind up in the old building which is just a motel unit. The breakfast is very nice, hot, cold cereal, fruit, breakfast sandwiches, and waffles, hard boiled eggs, etc. Not far from kitchen kettle, strasburg, etc.

Thanks for the responses. I booked my room at the Revere and it will work out great as it is very close to Cherry Crest Farms (our friday activity) and Dieners (our friday dinner). Is it also close to Bird in Hand and Kitchen Kettle Village? I want to do some browsing on saturday before we head to Hershey. Thanks.

I forgot to add- I am in the new building as per everyone%26#39;s advice.

enjoy....

Kitchen Kettle is located in the Village of Intercourse, which is at the crossroads of Routes 340 and 772. Bird-In-Hand is also on 340, just a few miles west of Intercourse. You can reach 340 by heading north on either Rt. 896 or 772. They both intersect Rt. 30. Rt. 896 is west and Rt. 772 is east of Paradise. Your boys will enjoy riding the steam train and browsing thru the stores at Strasburg Railroad. The Choo Choo Barn, just west of the RR on Rt 741, has some great stores and a miniture train village that everybody will enjoy. If you have time when you arrive I would suggest stopping at the Visitors Center and picking up a map and checking out the coupons, too.

Enjoy, Steve

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Casinos in the Poconos

Someone in the NJ forum mentioned casinos in the poconos and specifically Mt. Airy Lodge. Does anyone have any more information about this? How many? Where? Are they only slot parlors or full casinos? Links would be fine too. Thanks!

Casinos in the Poconos

Several months ago, Mt. Airy Lodge won a bid to establish a casino, but since it was approved, I%26#39;ve heard nothing about it. I%26#39;m not sure whether it will be a full casino - I know the 1st one that opened in northeast PA is slots only. I%26#39;m assuming it%26#39;ll be quite a while before anything opens. Sorry I can%26#39;t be of more help!

Tent Camping

I would like to go tent camping with a couple friends over Columbus Day weekend and we are looking for a campsite somewhere between New York City and Washington DC. We can car-camp or hike-in, don%26#39;t care about having bathrooms/showers, and are hoping for some privacy. A few that I%26#39;m considering are Locust Lake, Gifford-Pinchot, and French Creek state parks. Does anyone have an opinion on those or another idea?

Tent Camping

French Creek is not bad.

I am a fan of Worthington State Park (it%26#39;s a little out of the way, but not too bad..

There is some great hiking, a nice river, and if you feel adventurous check out the Sunfish Lake site....

Help with dinner, solo traveler

Hello, everyone! I%26#39;m hoping someone can help me narrow down my dinner options. This Saturday, I%26#39;m headed to Philly on an alone-trip (no husband, no kid, just me and my book!). Will be taking Amtrak up Saturday, staying overnight at the Westin, leaving Sunday afternoon after seeing a friend for brunch.

My dilemma is dinner on Saturday. I%26#39;ll be at the Franklin Institute for the Tut exhibit from 6 till probably around 8 pm or so, and eating afterwards. I%26#39;d like to try something in safe walking distance from FI and the Westin. I%26#39;d prefer: casual dress (jeans or business casual if I have to), good service, good food, and comfortable for a solo diner with a book :). Oh, and non-chain... not much point going to Philly and eating someplace that%26#39;s also here at home!

I%26#39;ve been doing some research, and am thinking of Tria, Tinto, The Bards, Monk%26#39;s... I saw something about Dolce Carini also. If anyone has feedback on any of those, I%26#39;d love to hear it! I%26#39;m also open to other suggestions.

Help with dinner, solo traveler

Out of your choices listed, I would personally choose Dolce or Monk%26#39;s. IMHO, Dolce has the best pizza and cheesesteaks in the city. However, it is a typical no-frills pizzeria. Although, you can people watch from the tables in the front or sit and read a book.

Monk%26#39;s I would also choose because they have a great menu. Burgers are fabulous, however, it is a bar. I don%26#39;t know if you would be able to sit there and read a book in peace.

A wonderful little cafe across from the Franklin Inst. is Darling%26#39;s. You could definitely sit there very comfortably. The owner, who is usually behind the counter can%26#39;t be any nicer. They are also known for their incredible cheesecake. I would just check to see what time they close though.

www.darlingscheesecake.com

Help with dinner, solo traveler

The Bards has great food and is pretty inexpensive. If you like beer, definitely Monks for the selection.

You might have a tough time finding a good restaurant that has enough lighting to read by. Many places dim the lights as the evening wears on. I%26#39;d focus on the food.

Lynn

Surprisingly enough, the cafe that has been running inside the Franklin at nights during the exhibit has gotten decent reviews. Might want to check it out if just for conviniences sake.

Thanks for the input, everyone - reading isn%26#39;t a huge priority during dinner, I just like to have something with me when I dine alone.

I didn%26#39;t even realize that the Franklin Institute%26#39;s cafe would be running in the evening. I%26#39;ll look into that, too. If I did that, I might have time to see one of the comedy clubs nearby.... hmm.

Any other suggestions are welcome :). Also, am I crazy to think of walking around after dark in Center City versus cabbing it around?

It%26#39;s not the normal cafe, its a special egyptian themed setup that is only open at night in the museums rotunda area. Wasn%26#39;t open during my visit but they were setting up and it smelled WONDERFUL.

Snagged this off the FI site:

Escape to an Egyptian Dining Experience Only at The Franklin Institute

Open Evenings Wednesday Through Sunday Beginning at 4pm on the 2nd floor off of Key Hallway

See King Tut at The Franklin Institute and Stay for Drinks and Dinner!

Tut%26#39;s Oasis, an exciting and new Egyptian dining experience presented by Frog Commissary!

Frog Commissary%26#39;s award winning staff has developed a menu fit for royalty!

Sample Egyptian classics such as Babaganoush, Hummus, Tabouleh and Fatoush before dining on elegant entrees such as Braised Chicken with Pistachios %26amp; Apricots or Shrimp Tijan with Saffron Cream %26amp; Cilantro.

Complete the experience with an Egyptian-inspired Cocktail such as the Blue Nile, the Cobra or the Red Sea.

Dinner Menu

First Plates

Orange Lentil Soup With Pita Croutons %26amp; Cr猫me Fraiche 7.50

Classic Egyptian Soup With a Contemporary Touch

Babaganoush 7.50

Smoked Eggplant Puree With a Touch of Garlic and Tahini - Served With Pita Crisps

Hummus 7.25

Puree of Chickpeas With Tahini Served With Pita Crisps

Stuffed Grape Leaves 7.50

Homemade and Stuffed With Rice, Raisins, Dates %26amp; Nuts

Tabouleh 7.25

Bulger Wheat Salad Laden With Parsley %26amp; Diced Tomato

Fatoush 7.75

Middle Eastern Crisp Pita Bread Salad With Tomato, Cucumber, Flatleaf Parsley %26amp; Lemon Olive Oil Dressing

Roasted Sweet %26amp; Hot Peppers With Chickpeas %26amp; Feta 8.50

More Sweet Than Hot - Garnished With Dukkah - a Mixture of Sesame, Cumin and Coriander Seeds, Hazelnuts, Seasalt %26amp; Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Queen%26#39;s Three Dish Sampler 17.50

Babaganoush - Hummus - Stuffed Grape Leaves

King%26#39;s Five Dish Sampler 25.00

Babaganoush - Hummus - Stuffed Grape Leaves - Tabouleh - Fatoush

Entrees

Braised Chicken Breast With Pistachios %26amp; Apricots 19.50

Pistachio Gremolata

Slow-Cooked Shoulder of Lamb, Fava Beans %26amp; Pearl Onions 21.00

Minted Cr猫me Fraiche

Jumbo Shrimp Tijan With Brandy Cream, Fennel %26amp; Carrots 22.50

Cilantro Pesto

Salmon Filet With Caramelized Onions, Tomatoes %26amp; Golden Raisins 21.50

Preserved Lemon Relish

One of my favorite places for dining solo is at the bar at Fork in Old City. Seating is around the perimeter of a square and you face the restaurant, rather than facing a wall or a mirror. The restaurant is lovely and very relaxed, the food excellent. See forkrestaurant.com for more info.

Regarding walking around in the evening - most of Center City is okay, just use your smarts. There should be plenty of people walking around but if you%26#39;re out late and far from your hotel then cab it.

Thanks to everyone who had suggestions for me - I had a great time in Philly, and enjoyed some excellent food :). Did Dolce Carini%26#39;s for cheesesteak, then ate at Tut%26#39;s Oasis later that night after the exhibit. The food and service were excellent. I never would%26#39;ve tried it had I not seen the recommendation here on the forum, so thanks again!

Glad you enjoyed it! It got great reviews but good to have a firsthand opinion to relay for the remaining 12 days the exhibit is here.

Before the game on Sunday...

Hey Steelers fans! I am fulfilling a dream I%26#39;ve had since the early 1970s, to see the Steelers play the 49ers in PITTSBURGH! I%26#39;m a Steelers fan who grew up in San Francisco and I can%26#39;t wait! I%26#39;m coming in just for the game, but would like to get to the field early and meet some real Pittsburgh folks! Any advice???

Thanks!

Before the game on Sunday...

What time is your flight? Taking a cab/taxi isn%26#39;t inexpensive but that%26#39;s what I%26#39;d do. Take a taxi from the airport to Station Square, get rowdy with all the other Steeler fans, maybe buy some Steeler ';stuff'; while you%26#39;re there. Then take the Gateway Clipper boat over to the Stadium. That way you get the awesome view of this beautiful city and you will definitly have a good time.

You don%26#39;t want to be sitting in traffic in a taxi trying to get to the stadium. You will have so much fun! Usually the driver%26#39;s carry their card, ask the driver if he can pick you up where he left you off and arrange a set time... you can expect him to be there waiting for you at Station Square after the game.

By the way, we live over in Vacaville but we%26#39;re from the Burgh, when you get back, drop me a p.m., any Steeler fan is welcome in our house! We have NFL Sunday ticket so we don%26#39;t miss any games.

Have fun!

Before the game on Sunday...

Glad you%26#39;re finally coming to Pittsburgh! Tailgating isn%26#39;t what it used to be due to a variety of parking restrictions, but there are a slew of new bars in the area of PNC Park and between PNC Park and Heinz Field...Atria%26#39;s, HiTops, Finnegan%26#39;s Wake, Soho, Bettis Grille 36, Cantina Jack%26#39;s. You should find plenty of fans hanging out before the game.

In response to your other question, the bus you are looking for is the 28X Airport Flyer, and you catch it on the lower level of the airport. It will drop you off on Liberty Avenue and Sixth Street. Cross over the Sixth Street Bridge and you%26#39;ll be right in the vicinity of all the bars. Go Steelers!

Thanks to you both for the input! I%26#39;ll definitely use the advice.

pets

Please help!!

I am celebrating my first anniversary in a few weeks.We were married and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott near city hall.I wanted to rent the room we had then,but the entire hotel is booked.Can someone suggest a nice,romantic evening/weekend in Center City???

Please help!!

Do you want to stay in that area or are you open to anywhere in the city?

Please help!!

Is there a budget here, or can I go way top end on this one :)

Id like to stay in Center City.Money is an option,but I don%26#39;t want to be cheap either

Okay then:

A few ideas, at varying levels of expense:

Rittenhouse 1715 - Boutique hotel, VERY nice, mucho $$$ (figure $400) per night.

Hyatt Regency Penn%26#39;s Landing - See if a water view is avail (play the anniversary card). Sould be about $150 per night maybe a little more.

Penn%26#39;s View Hotel - Same, ask for a water view. about $250 per night with romantic extras.

All have reviews available on TA.

To do list:

1%26gt; Informal dinner: Melting Pot, off Arch street. It%26#39;s fun, great service, good bar. Nothing says love like trying to out-fish the last hunk of meat from the sirloin pot.

2%26gt; Formal Dinner: - Fountain at the four seasons. Pricey, but amazing.

3%26gt; Weather dependent - Carriage Ride thru old city. Anniversary classic, my wife and I do one every time its available on our vacation (we always travel on or near our anniv if possible, for romantic and practical reasons. Telling people its your anniv will sometimes get ya upgrade or other perks).

Let me know which of these appeals, and we might be able to build on it.

Where to spend Columbus Day weekend?

I want to take my family (Mom, Dad, 3 kids ages 16, 14 and 11) somewhere for a 2 or three night getaway over Columbus Day and thought ';How about Penn?'; (We%26#39;ll be coming out of D.C., so we%26#39;re really more interested in southern PA,)

Anybody have a suggested destination? We%26#39;re not really interested in cities this time. We%26#39;d rather do a getaway in the wild somewhere (we love rustic lodges and cabins) and wouldn%26#39;t mind seeing the Amish country.

Any good ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Where to spend Columbus Day weekend?

How about Gettysburg? There%26#39;s history, museums, outdoor activities (try horseback riding through the battlefield), shopping %26amp; dining (casual and fine), and lots of countryside to explore with farm markets/fall festivals (Adams County is famous for its apples). Located within 1/2 hr of a few state parks, it%26#39;s much more ';small town'; than city, but there are many campgrounds (with cabins) and B%26amp;B%26#39;s on the outskirts of town if you%26#39;re looking to go very rural.

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North Side Mansions

I can%26#39;t seem to find any info on this. Does anyone have any info on early 20th century mansions on the North Side. I%26#39;m looking mostly for cross-street names.

Thanks

Tom

North Side Mansions

Hello,

Not exactly sure which part of the North Side you are referring to. Here are two links to info on Allegheny West, which still has many beautiful old homes and would include Beech Street, Western Avenue, Galveston...you should be able to access a map from both sites.

Many of the old mansions are gone, but some remain (including Dan Rooney%26#39;s!) and would date from the early 20th century.

鈥ittsburgh.pa.us/wt/html/allegheny_west.html

http://www.alleghenywest.info/

The Mexican War Streets, obviously, would be a little older and the houses less elaborate but many have been restored and are lovely.

http://www.mexicanwarstreets.org/splash1.html

鈥ittsburgh.pa.us/district6/html/mexican_war鈥?/a>

Finally, Deutschtown is more of a working class area and is slowly gentrufying but has some lovely older homes.

http://www.deutschtown.org/

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions let me know.

North Side Mansions

Try Pennsylvania Ave in Manchester (North Side)

and Beech Ave in North Side.

Also Lincoln Ave and Ridge for more big houses.

And Brighton Rd along West Park.

I don%26#39;t have any details, this is coming from a friend who is also into big houses.

Thanks for your help.

Tom

Just a few hours in Pittsburgh Sept. 22

My husband and I will be driving to Pittsburgh this Saturday to spend an hour or two in the late afternoon visitng an elderly homebound relative. The last few times we%26#39;ve come on this sort of mission, we first went to a CLO matinee or to Oakland for Chihuly at Phipps beforehand. Would this Saturday be a good opportunity to spend 11-3 exploring the Strip District? Any other suggestions?

Just a few hours in Pittsburgh Sept. 22

Have you done the Duquesne Incline? Park at Station Square, ride up, have a nice lunch, ride down and walk around Station Square.

Strip District is a great idea too, loads of things to see.

Just a few hours in Pittsburgh Sept. 22

I grew up in Pittsburgh...left in 1965 for college. Honestly I can%26#39;t remember when I last rode the incline, so I%26#39;ll keep that in mind for a future trip. I%26#39;m interested in the Carson St. area and the Strip District because they%26#39;re parts of Pittsburgh I haven%26#39;t ever experienced.

Carson street is fun for people watching on a Saturday night. Since you%26#39;ll be in during the afternoon, the Strip is perfect.

http://www.neighborsinthestrip.com/

Check out this site for what%26#39;s in and around the Strip!

Thanks, Gypsy, for the link. I%26#39;d actually discovered that myself yesterday. (What can I say? I%26#39;m a retired librarian so research is second nature to me.) Any personal recommendations on a spot for brunch or lunch?

Pamela%26#39;s P%26amp;G Diner.

Or Primanti%26#39;s, if you like their sandwiches. I personally do not, but since it%26#39;s a %26#39;burgh thing everyone should try it at least once.

My favorite place to eat in the Strip is Cafe Richard, which is next to Mon Aimee (fancy chocolates) at the corner of 21st and Penn. Cafe Richard is a little European style deli, with wonderful sandwiches, side dishes, and pastries. Conveniently near Enrico%26#39;s Biscotti (which is diagonally across the intersection, on Penn) which should not be missed. Which is conveniently near Pennsylvania Macaroni, an Italian grocery which should also not be missed. Buy some cheese.

There are plenty of other nice little places around there. I%26#39;m just saying if you have a chance to get the pan bagnat sandwich at Cafe Richard just once in your life, take it!

Primanti%26#39;s and DeLuca%26#39;s get a lot of attention because they%26#39;ve been around a while, but both are bigger on atmosphere than they are on good food, IMHO.

Have fun.

Saturday%26#39;s weather forecast is super for our stroll around the Strip. Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. What other spots in the Strip should we be sure to hit as well?

We%26#39;re tourists, in Pbgh for the first time this week, and walked up the Strip yesterday. Had breakfast at Pamela%26#39;s -- just fine, reasonable prices. We bought fresh-from-the-oven pepperoni bread at Mancini%26#39;s Bakery, 1717 Penn Ave, and it was scrumptious when hot.

A great hand-craft gift shop was Art of Steel, http://www.insiderpages.com/b/12864975094.

Tomorrow we%26#39;re probably going to the Society of Contemporary Craft gallery, 21st and Smallman, a couple blocks off Penn. Probably won%26#39;t have time to post a review before you get here.

The Strip is funky, but a fun stroll.

Safety - Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown area

Have just read a review on Courtyard and was a little concerned by reference to area not being one to just go for a stroll after dark. We are due to stay here for a couple of nights end October and will be without a car and intended to perhaps do some shopping in the evenings.

Can anyone with local knowledge please advise re safety, areas to avoid etc

Safety - Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown area

Most stores in town are not open in the evening, especially in the area you will be staying. You can walk to and from the hotel, but it%26#39;s not much of an area for strolling. What kind of shopping had you planned on?

Safety - Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown area

Aye, its not so much a safety issue as there isn%26#39;t that much in the immediate area....

As the previous posters commented there really aren%26#39;t any downtown stores open at night in that area. We have suburban shopping malls like the King of Prussia mall open at night but you would need transportation out of town to get to one of them.

Lammy ~

You are a block away from Macy%26#39;s. The store is open until 8:00.

In addition, there is The Gallery Mall. The Gallery is a few blocks south. Some people do feel that the Mall is a bit seedy at night - it is also opened until 8:00. http://www.galleryatmarketeast.com/

On Walnut %26amp; Chesnut Sts you will find an assortment of clothing stores~ Gap, Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Urban Outfitters, Antropologie, etc. Most of these stores are usually open until 8:00 %26amp; some do stay open until 9:00 on Fri %26amp; Sat.

I called a few to check.

Gap. Ralph Lauren and UO close at 7PM M-Sa 6PM on Sunday.

Loonbeam is referring to The Gap Outlet ~ which closes at 7:00.

The Gap ( which I was referring to) is open until 8 during the week %26amp; 9 on Fri %26amp; Sat. Urban Outfitters is also opened until 8. As noted, not all of the stores are opened that late ( i.e. Ralph Lauren).

Nope, actually was the Gap itself.. They have changed hours to match the outlet until pre-thanksgiving for holiday sales, at least according to the person i spoke to. Apparently a few stores do that because business is slower between post labor-day and pre-holiday.

Loonbeam ~ I believe you have been misinformed. I was in there last week %26amp; nobody mentioned that the store hours would be changing.

I just called to confirm and I was told that the hours are not changing. Again, open M-Th until 8:00 %26amp; Fri- Sat until 9:00.

Just to clarify, I am referring to the full price store on 15th %26amp; Walnut.

Center City Philadelphia%26#39;s retail sector is limited. Macy%26#39;s is a full-price department store a few blocks from the Courtyard--nice merchandise, but generally not at bargain prices. The Gallery East has stores that are not as nice as Macy%26#39;s, but you may find some real bargains there at Burlington Coat Factory, which has a mix of some nice name-brand merchandise and some more generic merchandise. Also in the Gallery East area you will find a K-Mart, which is a large discount chain where you will find very low prices and quality levels that generally correspond to the prices, but there are always exceptions. I feel safe in this entire area, although there are clearly some poor folks hanging out near the Gallery. You can find some higher-end stores west of Broad Street, with a concentration near Liberty Place, Chestnut Street, and Walnut Street.

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