Local information for the 143rd Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, January 5-8 2012
The local co-chairs for the meeting are Professors Jeremy McInerney of the University of Pennsylvania and Robin Mitchell-Boyask of Temple University. They welcome suggestions for information that APA members need about Philadelphia.
First, a few words about transportation. Parking at or near the Marriott is expensive. We strongly urge travelers to use our local transportation system, SEPTA. SEPTA has a local train running from the Airport directly to the Market East local train station, which is adjacent to the Marriott; you can enter the hotel without even stepping outside.
Amtrak's 30th Street Station is due west of the Marriott and all of the SEPTA train lines run directly from there to Market East, two stops and approximately 10 minutes away. Your Amtrak ticket stub is good for passage between 30th Street and Market East.
Second, a few words about subjects near and dear to the hearts of APA members: cheap good food and free WiFi. Immediately to the east of the Marriott on Market Street is a wonderful institution called the Reading Terminal Market. The Market, below the old Reading train shed (now part of the convention center), is a mix of produce stands, butchers, and a wide range of smaller eateries. In the middle of the Market is an open area with tables where you can sit, eat, and surf for free.
A few more blocks (honest!) will take you to Philadelphia's Chinatown. Just wander eastwards on Arch Street, which is one block north of Market.
One block south of the Marriot, mainly along 13th Street, you will find Midtown Village, where there are many exciting eateries as well as fabulous cocktail and wine bars.
General information on Center City (that’s what is called ‘downtown’ elsewhere)
The Philadelphia Orchestra is performing Beethoven’s Fifth during the convention, under conductor David Zinman, with Choong-Jin Chang as soloist on Walton’s Viola Concerto. The Orchestra performs now at Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Center, on South Broad Street, one block past the Academy of Music that some may remember, and about a 10-minute walk from the Marriott.
Broadway sensations Hairand Jersey Boys will also be playing at the Forrest Theatre and the Academy of Music respectively. These venues are also a short walk from the Marriott.
More about food
- philadining.blogspot.com/
- The Philadelphia Inquirer's (somewhat notorious) food critic
- Philadelphia Magazine's reviews
- Menu Pages Restaurant Search
- Open Tableis a great way to see menus and make free reservations.
- And no trip to Philly would be complete without a visit to Penn Food Trucks!
Philadelphia Fun
- The Philly Fun Guide is a fantastic recourse for arts and culture in Philadelphia. Their listings include free events, kid-friendly events, and more.
- SEPTA is our local public transportation. It is $2.00 per ride and $1.00 to transfer. You can purchase tokens and passes for a less expensive fare at both Market East and 30th Street Station..
- The Academy of Natural Sciences is America's oldest natural history museum and is a world leader in biodiversity and environmental research. For nearly 200 years, the Academy has carried out its mission to encourage and cultivate the sciences, exploring the remarkable diversity of our natural world and sharing these discoveries with the public through innovative exhibits, publications and educational programming. The Academy is located on the corner of 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which is a beautiful thoroughfare where you can also find the “Love” statue, the Free Library of Philadelphia (main branch), The Rodin Museum, the Moore College of Art as well as…
- The Franklin Institute! In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. If it is a nice day, you can walk from the Marriot to the Parkway, where you can walk from the “Love” statue to the Art Museum. It is a long walk, but one can easily spend a day along the Parkway and enjoy its many offerings. If it’s too cold for walking, a cab would be about $7.00, or so.
- The Italian Market is the oldest and largest working outdoor market in the United States. Though still predominantly Italian, it has the best of many cultures and cuisines to offer the shoppers. Gourmet cooks and tourist alike can explore and discover the depth and breadth of the multitude of products available here. The Italian Market is located in South Philadelphia, which is a short bus ride on the #47 bus. Board on 8th street heading south, get off the bus at 8th and Washington streets and walk one block west to 9th street.
- The Mütter Museum is a medical museum within the College of Physicians located in Center City. It contains a collection of medical oddities, anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment. The Mutter Museum is located on 22nd Street by Chestnut. The best way to get there would be a trolley. You can catch the trolley on 13th and Juniper (about one block away from the Marriott.) Your stop is located at 22nd and Market Streets. From the stop, walk south on 22nd Street against traffic. The College is halfway down the block, on your left.
- The National Constitution Center is America's most interactive history museum and is the only museum devoted to the U.S. Constitution. Located just two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (if you wish to visit Independence Hall, you will need a timed ticket. These are free and available at the Visitors Center). The Constitution Center is located on Independence Mall, and is in the same general area as Christ Church Cemetery, the U.S. Mint, and the new National Museum of Jewish History. This area is about 8 blocks from the Marriott.
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art overlooks one of the nation's most culturally vibrant cities, the Philadelphia Museum of Art welcomes nearly a million visitors each year, encouraging them to embark upon a walk through time that extends across two millennia and six continents. Year round, tourists (and locals) relive Rocky’s triumphant jog up the famous Art Museum Steps and then have their picture taken with the one and only Rocky Statue.
- The Philadelphia Zoo’s 42-acre Victorian garden is home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Zoo is open year round (except for Thanksgiving, New Year, and Christmas). The best way to get to the zoo during the winter is a cab. The ride will cost about $15.00, but there is no direct shuttle during the winter months. The #38 bus running west on Market Street outside of the Marriott will take you to the back of the zoo, but you will need to walk a long block to reach the entrance.
- The Please Touch Museum is a unique facility that allows young children to learn through interactive exhibits. It’s a fun place for kids to run around and explore, plus they have a beautifully restored early 20th century carousel and a café that offers healthy lunch and snack options. The Please Touch Museum is accessible by SEPTA by taking the #38 bus west on Market Street.
- The Rosenbach Museum and Library’sadjacent 1860s townhouses provide an intimate setting for an expanding collection of nearly 400,000 rare books, manuscripts, and fine and decorative artist objects, dating from the 6th century B.C.E.to the present day. The collection also includes the manuscript of Joyce's Ulysses and a collection of drawings by Maurice Sendak. The Rosenbach is located on 20th and Delancey Place, which is about 5 blocks away from the Mütter Museum, or about a 20 minute walk from the Marriot.
Last updated November 15, 2011.
