• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Accessibility Statement

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on YouTubeRSS Feed

Kimberly Howell Properties

San Antonio Real Estate

office@kimberlyhowell.com
(210) 493-6888
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Agents
  • Buyers
    • Neighborhoods
    • Relocation Information
  • Sellers
  • Listings
    • Available Rentals
    • Homes for Sale
    • McNair Custom Homes
    • Open Houses
  • Contact
  • Rental SearchHomes for Rent
  • REALTORS®Find an Agent
  • McNair Custom HomesNew Construction
  • Property SearchHomes for Sale
You are here: Home / Archives for philadelphia

philadelphia

July 4th – Independence Day and Philadelphia

July 3, 2013 by Matt Stigliano Leave a Comment

Independence Hall - Philadelphia

Independence Day and Philadelphia

As tomorrow is Independence Day (July 4th), I thought I’d take the day to reflect on my youth growing up in suburban Philadelphia. America declared its independence from British rule in what is now known as Independence Hall, a Philadelphia landmark. The declaration was actually made on July 2nd and John Adams fought to have the official holiday on this date, but he lost out and the date was moved to July 4th. Many people aren’t aware that the actual Declaration of Independence wasn’t fully signed until August of 1776 (and some historians believe some of the signatures actually weren’t there until later in November). Regardless of the details, the 4th of July holiday remains one of my favorite traditions and with it, I always look back to my days growing up in and around Philadelphia. With that in mind, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things about the City of Brotherly Love in case you ever find yourself there with some time to kill.

Matt’s Favorite Places in Philadelphia

  • Independence Hall – It’s still standing amidst all the modern buildings of downtown Philadelphia. Pretty cool tours through the building with lots of history lessons. You’ll recognize the building and interior from many of the famous paintings made about the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Liberty Bell – The most famous broken bell on earth, it resides just across the street from Independence Hall. It’s usually a long wait to see it, but something about it is kind of cool, so in my opinion I’d wait it out.
  • City Hall – Planted smack dab in the middle of the city (15th and Market) this building always fascinated me. When it was used as a location for the movie 12 Monkeys, I loved it even more (I even went down to see them film it). The statue atop City Hall is of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, and up until the 1980s, no building was built taller than the statue.
  • 30th Street Station – Located across the Schuylkill River from downtown, this massiva train terminal is one of my favorite spots to buy an ice cream and people watch for hours. The architecture alone is worth the trip. Cross the street and you’ll find one of the largest post offices you’ll ever see as well..
  • The Art Musuem – If you’ve ever watched the movie Rocky, you’ll want to visit the art museum, even if you never step foot inside to view the fantastic collection of art. Yes, these are the infamous steps that Rocky climbs with all the children cheering him on while “Gonna Fly Now” plays in the background. Truly a magical moment in film, but also fun to replicate. If you have the time, it’s definitely worth it to visit the museum and the sculpture gardens behind the museum.
  • Reading Terminal Market – Located right along the edge of Chinatown close to one of Philly’s best clubs, The Trocadero, this enormous former train station has been transformed into a farmer’s market and culinary hot spot. From pig roasts to gourmet coffee and beyond, Reading Terminal Markets is always a great place to grab a bite and peruse the local farmer’s wares.
  • The Italian Market – If you love prosciutto as much as I do, then this is the place for you. Stalls and stands line the streets with people selling everything from imported Italian goods to fresh produce and seafood. You’ll hear plenty of people still speaking their native tongue, as well as hearing plenty of words like “youse” (Philly version of y’all).
  • South Street – Similar in some ways to Austin’s 6th Street. Boutiques, bars, and restaurants line the street where lawyers in suits, punk rockers, and rap stars co-mingle in a fascinating place to people watch. Also home to Lorenzo and Sons, the finest pizza place on the planet. Order a slice (they’re huge) and don’t ask for any toppings, because a cheese slice is the only way they sell ’em.
  • Cheesesteaks – The sandwich of Philadelphians that we crave wherever we are, but we all know there is only one place to get them. Philadelphia. Many will argue about who has the best and the leading contenders are always Pat’s and Geno’s (or for the more urban trendy set, Tony Luke’s), but my recommendation is to find yourself a small mom and pop pizza/sandwich shop and grab one from there. My advice? Don’t call it a Philly Cheesesteak when you order one. Please.
  • A few other delicacies – Cheesesteaks are obviously the greatest thing ever invented, but I suggest you try a few other things: soft pretzels (they’re not exactly soft, but man are they delicious), Tastykakes (you can get them in Texas now, but if you haven’t had a Peanut Butter Kandykake, I think you need to experience it now), Yuengling beer (America’s oldest brewery and one of my favorite beers on the planet), hoagies (call them subs, heroes, or grinders, but I think the Italian in me prefers the hoagie), and water ice (kind of like shaved ice or raspas, but smoother in consistency and super tasty).
  • King of Prussia Mall – Not in Philadelphia, but if you’re a shopoholic you should take the twenty minute drive to the suburbs where I grew up. Once the largest mall in America, “the mall” as it is known locally was surpassed by the Mall of America, but it still has plenty to offer. They were still expanding when I left Pennsylvania, so I imagine there’s even more than when I visited last.

image courtesy of digitonin

Filed Under: Local Events Tagged With: 4th of july, independence day, philadelphia

Primary Sidebar

Open Floorplan

Is An Open Floorplan The Right Style For You?

Open floorplan living is often billed as the perfect floor plan, bringing family together in a single room where cooking, conversation and the screen share the same space. It has been a popular feature of a … [Read More...] about Is An Open Floorplan The Right Style For You?

New Kitchen

Nine Mistakes To Avoid With A New Kitchen

No room carries more influence with a buyer than the kitchen because it’s where the everyone gathers and many memories are made. The kitchen can represent up to 20% of the entire value of a property, so it’s … [Read More...] about Nine Mistakes To Avoid With A New Kitchen

House Fire Safety

9 Ways To Avoid Housefires

A fire in your home can happen at any time of the year, but with colder months upon us it’s easy to see how the danger increases with the setting of wood-burning heaters and the use of candles to create a cozy … [Read More...] about 9 Ways To Avoid Housefires

Call A Plumber

Is It Time To Call A Plumber?

As a homeowner, you’ll inevitably have to call in a Sydney plumber to deal with plumbing problems at some stage. It’s one of the ‘pleasures’ of owning property! Choosing the right contractor can feel a little … [Read More...] about Is It Time To Call A Plumber?

First Time Homebuyer

8 Tips For First Time Homebuyers

Being a first time homebuyer can feel quite intimidating – you’ve got to deal with agents, sellers, rival buyers, banks, and title companies. And it’s not always clear what role each of them plays in the … [Read More...] about 8 Tips For First Time Homebuyers

Search Our Site

Real Estate Topics

  • Buying a Home
  • Homeowner Tips
  • KHP News
  • Local Events
  • Local Laws
  • Miscellaneous
  • Mortgages and Financing
  • Open Houses
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Market
  • Renters and Landlords
  • San Antonio Places
  • Sell Your Home
  • Technology
Our real estate agents can help you with properties anywhere in Texas. If you need assistance finding agents in other parts of the country, please contact us.

Search Homes

Explore Cities

  • Alamo Heights 27 Listings
  • Bandera 364 Listings
  • Blanco 150 Listings
  • Boerne 546 Listings
  • Bulverde 266 Listings
  • Canyon Lake 330 Listings
  • Castle Hills 14 Listings
  • Castroville 60 Listings
  • Cibolo 269 Listings
  • Comfort 53 Listings
  • Converse 537 Listings
  • Fair Oaks Ranch 59 Listings
  • Floresville 223 Listings
  • Garden Ridge 14 Listings
  • Helotes 188 Listings
  • Hill Country Village 2 Listings
  • La Vernia 150 Listings
  • Lakehills 117 Listings
  • Leon Valley 26 Listings
  • Live Oak 48 Listings
  • Mico 110 Listings
  • New Braunfels 1198 Listings
  • Olmos Park 8 Listings
  • San Antonio 8779 Listings
  • Schertz 249 Listings
  • Seguin 574 Listings
  • Selma 48 Listings
  • Shavano Park 13 Listings
  • Spring Branch 302 Listings
  • Terrell Hills 23 Listings
  • Universal City 69 Listings
  • Windcrest 22 Listings
  • Hollywood Pk 3 Listings

Stay up to date with the latest from Kimberly Howell Properties.

San Antonio real estate and property information provided by Kimberly Howell Properties. Kimberly Howell Properties does not assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of any of the linked resources, nor for any of the interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

KJH Properties, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas, Equal Opportunity Employer, and supporter of the Fair Housing Act.

TREC Information About Brokerage Services | TREC Consumer Protection Notice | Privacy Policy

All content © 2009-2020 Kimberly Howell Properties, unless otherwise noted.