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It’s clear from all the Instagram pics and Twitter flexing that folks want to spend their summer days in hot spots such as South Beach, Venice Beach, or a more tropical place overseas—and there’s nothing wrong with that. In case you’re not making a trip to any of these places and find yourself in Philadelphia, you should be able to make the most of a summer day without much accommodation. And, no, you do not have to spend all your time eating cheesesteaks or visiting tourist attractions such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Here are 10 aspects of “The Illadelph” that will hold your summer day down.
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Belmont Plateau
In Will Smith’s anthem, “Summer Time,” he spat, “A place called ‘the Plateau’ is where everybody go.” This is indeed true. Although, most from back in the day would know The Plateau as the site of the ratchet Greek Picnic, Philadelphians from North, West, Southwest, and South sides gather at the picturesque oasis with a large parking lot surrounded by rolling green fields and trees on summer afternoons and evenings to do what they do. Some come to sip brews or vibe out to music in their whips. Some may bring a grill out and hold an impromptu cookout. Others break out the remote control airplanes or Nerf footballs to take advantage of the spacious fields and baseball diamond. No matter what it is that you do, “The Plat” is a chill, peaceful spot to do it. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy the summer sun, this is it.
Phillies Games
Though it’s going on six years since the Phillies graced the city of Philadelphia with its first major sports championship in decades, the team still draws some of this biggest, most animated crowds in the country. A Phillies game is usually a nice respite from the regular summer schedule. The Citizens Bank lots are the life of the sports complex while its neighbors, the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field and the Flyers’ and Sixers’ Wells Fargo Center lay dormant. Fans adorned in maroon and sky blue tailgate and get amped up for the game whilst enjoying the pre-game festivities. After that, if money’s tight and you can’t really do the stadium seating at the time, you can purchase a standing room ticket for around $20 which gives you access to every part of the stadium that one can stand in outside of the seated area. Another alternative would be hitting the Xfinity Center next door where you can enjoy the game at one of the bars with other fans.
Water Ice and Ice Cream
Water ice and ice cream are must haves in the summer. A vanilla cone with rainbow or chocolate sprinkles off the ice cream truck is a Philadelphia staple. What is water ice? A lot of folks say, “Oh, we have that.” They think they know, but they have no idea., Water ice is like a crosspollination of a slushie and a snow cone; a happy medium between the two frozen treats. It’s a sweet, icy treat that has to be eaten with a spoon, whereas it’s too thick to be consumed by straw and too runny to be eaten by mouth. While there are popular water ice franchises, the treat can be found in virtually any corner store where you can get right for under $1. If you can’t choose between ice cream or “wooder” ice, you can always combine the two for a gelati.
First Fridays
The Philadelphia art scene is one of the nation’s more burgeoning ones. From the murals that make the urban terrain more scenic to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, connoisseurs of all tastes find something that tickles their fancy. To help them quench their thirst for art, Philadelphia holds First Friday events where patrons get their fill wandering in and out of galleries, eat and schmooze with each other between Front and Third, and Market and Vine Streets on the first Friday of every month. The Old City tradition has become one of the city’s highlighted events.
Penn's Landing
Penn’s Landing is yet another chill spot to spend an afternoon in Philadelphia. On a normal day, Penn’s Landing is good for a nice stroll in the sun along the shimmering Delaware River. During the summer, however, it is the site of various cultural festivals and concerts like the annual Roots Picnic. This year, from June 27 to August 31, Spruce Street Harbor Park will give folks even more of a reason to go. This new feature will have a floating pop-up restaurant (complete with a bar made up of three barges and a lily pad water garden), a hammock lounge, fire pits, boardwalk, mister walk, and urban beach for that “down the shore” feel. Regardless, if you just need to get away from everything and unwind, Penn’s Landing is the spot to do it.
Casinos
One of the newer features to the city of Philadelphia in the past years is gambling. While it’s not always pretty, a trip to one of Philly’s casinos may quench the desire to get out and about on summer days or nights. You can try your hand at table games, play the perimeter on the automated games, bet on the ponies, partake in one of the eateries on the premises, or catch a show. You could also go to just grab a drink and meet some new people out of the diverse range of people that the casinos attract. Though the ride home after blowing your hard earned cash on a game of chance or two is among the worst rides ever, fun can still be had with some self-restraint.
Odunde
Ever wanted to celebrate New Year’s during the summer instead of during the cold winter? Philly’s Odunde Festival has you covered. In fact, “Odunde” means “Happy New Year” in the Yoruba dialect. This African festival is one of the more vibrant events during the Philadelphia summer and serves as a display of the city’s cultural diversity. Much “brotherly (and sisterly) love” is shown for blocks scented with the smell of cooking from vendors representing various nations as participants enjoy each other as well as wares from across the globe. These things along with musical performances make for a day well-spent.
South Street
Miley Cyrus said recently that her new “style” was influenced by South Street. Though some Philadelphians don’t want to shoulder that burden, South Street is always a good move on a nice summer day. Philadelphians throw on their best duds and stroll up and down the street seeing what the boutiques, jewelers, head shops, art stores, tattoo parlors and each other have to offer. At night, the bars, clubs, and restaurants turn up until the wee hours, making South Street Philadelphia’s premier “party district.”
Fourth of July
While Jay Z’s Made in America concert gets all the national buzz, it’s a free show that happens on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway months before that Philadelphians clamor to. For the past few years, The Roots have headlined the Fourth of July Jam, delivering classic performances in front of the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art (site of the Rocky steps). While folks come from miles around to pay for MIA, The Roots rock for free and have been joined in the past by J. Cole, John Mayer, Ne-Yo, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and others. Last year’s show was broadcast live on VH1, but before that, Philly got exclusive performances like when The Roots brought out the late, DC go-go legend Chuck Brown for an awesome set. Following the memorable shows is the nationally-renowned fireworks display which can be seen from anywhere in the city. Folks can be seen for miles around sitting out on their porches or on the side of the road on their cars to watch the show in the sky. This year’s festivities will be broadcast on VH1 once again and The Mighty Roots Crew will be joined by Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Ariana Grande, and Vicci Martinez with more to be named.
Block Parties
Though folks fire up the grills on their porches whenever the urge strikes, a block party can be found on any given weekend during the summer in Philly. Usually landmarked by taped off streets and moon bounces, residents of the block take to the street with a veritable smorgasbord of dishes, brews, and home-concocted cocktails. A DJ is usually rocking as attendees dance in the street and mingle with their neighbors exchanging smiles and laughs. Always good times.