JV and I spent Valentine's - President's Day Weekend with a quick getaway to Philadelphia. Below are 15 photos from our weekend, and quick list of what kept us busy. We enjoyed our quick tour of the city despite the bitter, bitter cold; we could only enjoy everything inside, and had to train and taxi it everywhere, not getting to walk the city at all. We hope to visit again when it is warmer - it's a great little city.
Saturday: A couple of hours at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (the older of the two buildings is beautiful), walkthrough of Reading Terminal Market (Beiler's Donuts are the bomb), a quick warm up at Le Meridien (our hotel), Steve's King of Steaks (for a cheap, crazy dinner) and drinks at Hop Sing Laundromat (the doorman was a trip, right out of Lilyhammer, as JV put it.)
Sunday: FREEZING COLD walk to the Washington Square West neighborhood for brunch at Grace's Trading Company (tomatillo Bloody Mary with mozzarrella was the menu hook, but a great brunch deal and awesome service), the train to tour the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Indepence Visitor Center (all free; we skipped the new Constitution Center because it's not and a bit pricey, if you're down to just a couple of hours) FREEZING COLD walk to Rittenhouse Square's La Columbe (the original, and the best coffee) then back to the hotel to warm up and rest a bit (the EXTREMELY cold is exhausting), and late dinner at Il Pittore (modern take on Northern Italian Cuisine - so so so good.)
Monday: Hotel checkout, breakfast at Sabrina's Cafe & Spencer's Too (long wait, good breakfast), a few hours at the Barnes Foundation (incredible collection of art: Matisse, Renior, Cezanne, Picasso, and so much more), quick shopping stop in South Philly's Italian Market shops on our way home (with ravioli, gnocchi, cheese, and meat all in tow.)