Hotel, Travel and Tourism Information

Here's some information and links for those of you unfamiliar with Philadelphia.

Hotel

You can find out more about the Sheraton Society Hill at their website.

For reservations at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel (One Dock Street, Philadelphia), phone toll-free at 800-325-3535 (or 215- 238-6000). Ask for the special NABE-GIC Annual Meeting room discount of $159 per night single or double occupancy. Room rates are guaranteed through September 17, 2004. If you want a room with high-speed Internet access, please make the request
while making your hotel reservation. (Approximately 50% of the hotel rooms
have high-speed Internet access.)

Transportation

Parking lots/garages near the hotel: Society Hill Sheraton garage; Front and Walnut Street (open lot); Delaware and Walnut - open lot; Second Street between Chestnut and Walnut.

Airport information at the PHL airport website; at the World Airport Guide

Bus/subway information at SEPTA

Tourism

Our meeting is in the heart of America’s most historic neighborhood, within minutes of the Philadelphia Fed, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. You'll discover streets filled with world-class restaurants, shopping galleries, theaters and museums—all just steps away from our meeting hotel.

Short of time?

Here are four top suggestions from the local NABE chapter:

Independence Hall — Need to get timed tickets. NABE will have 20 tickets--for Sat., Oct. 2 afternoon--to distribute on a first-come, first-served basis.
Liberty Bell—include a stop in your Independence Hall visit
Take a walking tour of the City Center. Two ideas: The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia—a free self-guided walking--www.TheConstitutional.com or Walking Tours for a fee: www.walkphiladelphia.com
US Constitution Center

Evening events to consider

Lights of Liberty—a sound and light spectacular outdoors through the Independence National Historical Park, Oct. 2, http://www.lightsofliberty.org, 877-462-1776
Baseball—Phillies vs. Florida, 7:05 PM, Oct 2, http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com. Note that this may be a crucial game, so tickets may be limited.
Wilma Theater—Night and Day by Tom Stoppard, Oct. 2, 215-893-9456
Philadelphia Orchestra—performs on Oct. 2, The Kimmel Center, 215-790-5800
Comedy Club—Laff House, 215-440-4242

Have more time?

Other great things to see or do in Philadelphia

You can also download the Pocket Guide to Philadelphia (PDF 1.75 MB) for more information.

Updated information is available on the Travel Page at Philly.com or their Historic Philadelphia page, or the Philadelphia Inquirer

Dining Out

Local members of the Philadelphia Council for Business Economics and the Global Interdependence Center have compiled a list of restaurant recommendations. (Thanks to Elinda Kiss for compiling the list)

Expensive but good (food rating above 24 in Zagat survey)

Price indicated is for dinner with one drink and tip (Restaurants listed alphabetically):

Buddakan, 325 Chestnut St; 215-574-9440; Asian Fusion; ($47)
Cuba Libre, 10 South 2nd Street, 215-627-0666; Zagat ranks 19 on foos, 26 on decor; price with one drink and tip $38. great mojitos. fun place.
Django; 526 4 th Street; 215-922-7151; European; seasonal menu; ($32)
Fork, 306 Market Street; 215-625-9425; New American; fare is innovative, but not weird; ($39)
La Famiglia; 8 S. Front Street; 215-922-2803; Italian; ($57)
Monte Carlo Living Room; 150 South St; 215-925-2220; Upscale Italian; ($56)
Overtures; 609 E. Passyunk Ave; 215-627-3455; French-Mediterranean; BYOB ($44)
Tangerine, 232 Market St; 215-627-5116; Mediterranean; romantic; ($48)
The Continental; 138 Market St; 215-923-606; Retro diner; eclectic tapas; ($30)
Vetri, 1312 Spruce St; 215-732-3478; Italian; reservations necessary; ($62)

Other recommendations (for less money)

Chinatown: area bordered by 7 th, 11 th Arch, Vine. Reasonably priced meals.

Lakeside Chinese Deli; 207 N. Ninth St; 215-925-3288; Great dim sum, dumplings and noodle soup; many Asians eat there; no atmosphere but great food for little money; no credit cards; ($17)
Sang Kee Peking Duck House; 238 N. Ninth St; 215-925-7532; Shrimp dumpling noodle soup is excellent; best Peking (Beijing Duck) in Philadelphia; other entrees are also good; (rated 23 on Zagat – best in Chinatown); ($19)
Vietnam; 221 N. Eleventh St; 215-592-1163; Great Spring rolls. French colonial; ($21)

Cheesesteak

The traditional are Pat’s King of Steak and Geno’s, both are at Passaynk and 9 th Streets, but not really walking distance from the hotel. Pats is 215-468-1546; Geno’s is 215-389-0659; both will cost under $10 – no credit cards.
Jim’s Steaks; 400 South Street; 215-928-1911.The best cheese steak place that is close to the hotel.
Traditional order is with cheese whiz and onions. Other options are American cheese or Provolone; do NOT order Swiss cheese. You can add hot or sweet peppers; mushrooms usually cost extra. Do NOT add tomatoes or lettuce. ($10)

Recommendations by cuisine (excluding the expensive ones listed earlier; also excluding Chinatown and cheesesteak).

Eclectic:

Django (see above)
The Latest Dish; 613 S. Fourth St; 215-629-0565

Indian:

Café Spice; 35 S. Second St; 215-627-6273 ($30) – fancy decor
Minar Palace; 1605 Sansom St; 215-564-9443 ($12) – “cafeteria” décor

Japanese:

Kisso Sushi Bar; 205 N. Fourth St; 215-922-1770 ($31)
Hibachi; Pier 19; 325 N. Columbus Blvd; “chain” teppanyaki prepared in front of you while you look at Delaware River; ($26)

Mexican:

El Azteca; 714 Chestnut St; 215-733-0895 ($17)
Taco House; 1218 Pine St; 215-735-1080 ($11)

Middle Eastern:

Alyan’s; 603 S. Fourth St; 215-922-3553 ($13); Recommend falafal and hummus.

Seafood:

Philadelphia Fish & Co. 207 Chestnut St; 215-625-8605 ($34)Excellent fish.
Chart House; Penn’s Landing; 555 S. Columbus Blvd. ($38); Great view of Delaware and good salad bar. I like the mud pie dessert.
Dinardo’s Famous Seafood; 312 Race St; 215-925-5115 ($30)

Steak house:

The best are Broad Street and west:

Prime Rib;1701 Locust St; 215-772-1710 ($55)
Morton’s of Chicago; 1411 Walnut St; 215-557-0724 ($55)
Capital Grill; 1338 Chestnut St; 215-545-9588 ($49)
Palm; 200 S. Broad St; 215-546-7256 ($49)

Touristy American –

City Tavern; 138 S. Second St; 215-413-1443 ($36); Replica of 1773 tavern where cute costumed waitstaff offer pepperpot soup and other colonial fare to tourists.

Philadelphia has many excellent restaurants; you cannot go wrong walking along Chestnut or Second Street or South Street. You may wish to go to South Philadelphia and walk the Italian market area and sample restaurants there.

National Association for Business Economics
1233 20th Street NW #505
Washington, DC 20036
Phone 202.463.6223 Fax 202.463.6239
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