Phood and Phun in Philadelphia: The Perfect Girls' Getaway

January 29, 2007

Phood and Phun in Philadelphia: The Perfect Girls' Getaway

By Sheree Bykofsky and Caroline Woods

Philadelphia has way more to offer than colonial history, settings from the Rocky movies, and South Street. From anywhere in the mid-Atlantic, you can jet to Philadelphia for some fun shopping, dining, and luxury spa excursions. Philadelphia as an escape...who knew?

The Westin is a splendid hotel in the very heart of downtown Philadelphia, located in the tony Rittenhouse Square. The lobby with its old world décor, chandeliers and grand piano will make the most tired traveler feel tranquil, welcomed and special. Relax on your famous Westin Bed or have a glass of wine in the gorgeous bar with its wood-paneled walls and fireplace before setting out to enjoy all that Philly has to offer. Attached to the Westin are the marvelous upscale Shops of Liberty. Connected by a walkway to the hotel, the shops are open late and include Coach, Aveda, J.Crew, and Nine West stores. There's also delightful vintage shopping in Rittenhouse Square. Shops like Sophisticated Seconds, Richard Kenneth, and Craig Drake offer the best in consignment shopping and estate jewelry. You won't believe some of the finds you can bring home here, and Rittenhouse Square takes out some of the frustration that usually accompanies vintage shopping: all the stores are right in the same place, so you don't have to travel far and wide.

Imagine taking a rainy girls' weekend to Philadelphia...you'll feel like princesses when you step into the stately Westin hotel, and you don't even have to step out in the elements to reach your posh dream stores!

After you shop up an appetite, head over to 18^th and Sansom (right down the block) for a light bite at Tria, a restaurant renowned for wine, cheese, beer and more. Tria revels in its "champagne and blue jeans" atmosphere, and you will too. Choose from the delectable menu or put yourself in the server's capable, caring hands. The helpful server will pair your truffled mushroom with just the right wine or beer, and you'll be pleased to find that all glasses of wine are under $15. The intimate and small tapas restaurant is bustling with life, but it's still a perfect place to linger over some wine and enjoy the pleasures of a first date or a friendly conversation. At Tria enjoy the kind of food that will make you close your eyes to savor.

Properly satiated but with some room for a beer or two, head on over to the Helium Comedy Club, two blocks away on Sansom. The club features national headliners regularly, who will likely make you laugh your heads off. You won't be disappointed by the show, and if you still have some room in your belly, sample the tantalizing comfort food on their menu.

Park Hyatt Philadelphia Pennsylvania Vacation

Start the second day of your spa retreat with breakfast at the Westin and a hot stone massage at Pierre & Carlo European Salon and Spa. The spa is located downstairs at The Shops at the Bellevue in the historic Park Hyatt Philadelphia. The Park Hyatt, which is one of the most celebrated hotels in Philadelphia, has a more Zen-like, orchid-inhabited feel than the stately Westin. Let the décor put you in a tranquil mood as you glide down to Pierre & Carlo for your spa treatment. The lovely staff at Pierre & Carlo, which is a full-service salon and spa, know their stuff. Be sure to ask for Nina, who is a genius at hot stone massage. Or if you need a manicure, Robin will polish your nails to perfection.

Another option is to immerse yourself in tranquility at the Rescue Rittenhouse Spa Lounge. Rescue's interior is plush, with shiny hardwood floors and crystal chandeliers. It has a traditional haven feel, but the staff, headed by Polish skin and massage guru Danuta Mieloch, have an almost scientific accuracy in their treatments. When you leave you'll feel dramatically less stressed, especially if you've just taken the red eye into the city. One of the spa's specialties is the Jet Lag Rescue. Keeping in mind that every time zone crossed requires a day of recovery, Mieloch prescribes a steam shower with the signature "Rescue Therapeutic Massage" to soothe your body into feeling like you've had days of sleep. You'll quickly see why Rescue was voted "Best Massage in the City 2006."

After you've rescued your sense of relaxation, indulge in a tapas dinner at Amada in the Old City area. While Tria's charm lies in its casual elegance, dinner at Amada is more of an event. Be sure to bring a date or group of friends so that you can sample as many of the tapas-style dishes on the menu as you can. Introduce your friends to Amada and they'll be thanking you for treating them to the best meal they've had in years! The restaurant has a social atmosphere, with its open kitchen, cool music, and hip minimalist décor. Twice a week, flamenco dancers entertain the guests, giving the modern restaurant more of a traditional Spanish feel. Here's a tip: don't miss the cheese selection on the menu, each of which is served with its own homemade sauce.

Though Amada serves small plates, the menu begs you to try everything, and you may find yourself feeling full when you leave. A good way to work off that extra food later is to take a class at the Society Hill Dance Academy. Don't worry about making an appointment or signing up. The Academy, located on South 2^nd Street, offers drop-in group classes in ballet, ballroom, foxtrot and more. Bring your girlfriends and evoke your old tutu days as you plie and tendu, or hit the floor with your significant other and learn to glide across the floor a la "Dancing With the Stars." Drop-ins start at 7:45, so you can plan your dinner accordingly.

If you want to further entice your palate, visit the Naked Chocolate Café. Their critically acclaimed café menu offers everything chocolate. If you're a chocolate lover, you'll love every dish at this pink and brown European-style café, but the drinking chocolate is truly outstanding. Go for the Aztec drinking chocolate, which has a bit of spice mixed in, to warm yourself inside and out. You also might want to try the DiBruno Brothers' House of Cheese for a luxurious sampling of the world's best cheeses, a cappuccino bar, and freshly smoked salmon varieties. The DiBruno family business has been in operation in Philadelphia for years, having originated in the Philadelphia Italian Market.

That's just another way that Philadelphia allows you to experience history through the senses-which is just the way we and our girlfriends like to do it the most.

IF YOU GO:

The Westin Hotel

17^th & Chestnut Streets at Liberty Place

Philadelphia, PA

215 563 1600

Tria

123 S. 18^th Street

Corner of 18^th and Samson

Philadelphia, PA

215 972 8742

www.triacafe.com

Helium Comedy Club

2031 Sansom Street

Philadelphia, PA

215 496 9001