most overrated thing in philly?

**ras** · 06-21-2012, 07:40 PM

Tacconelli's Pizzeria

**Ray K.** · 06-21-2012, 11:01 PM

Without question they do what they do well.. they are fantastic representations of what they are suposed to be... though perhaps a bit too antiseptic and devoid of authentic charm... they still deliver a near perfect focus group ideal of an original idea. Not to mention every out of town guest or suburbanite that visits needs to indulge at least one night in a Starr Restaurant despite whatever other charms the City may have to offer.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 06-21-2012, 11:05 PM

Most overrated thing in Philadelphia?

Michael Nutter.

EOS

**Volanova** · 06-22-2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by FKD19124

I think the gallery is overrated!

Wait...someone rates the Gallery highly? I suppose any rating of it would be an overrating though.

**DCnPhilly** · 06-23-2012, 10:11 AM

I know I'll be yelled at for this: The Jersey Shore.

It's crowded, the water's cold, the people are rude, and if I want to go to a beach even remotely clean, I have to pay? Oh, and then I can't have a Corona once I get there. I'll gladly make the trek to the Carolinas if I want to see the ocean. Friendly people, bonfires, Brew Thru and NO "BEACH TAGS." For a relaxing day trip, I'll opt for Jim Thorpe.

**Malloy** · 06-23-2012, 10:29 AM

You've been to the wrong shore points. (though, water temp is pretty consistent)

Originally Posted by DCnPhilly

I know I'll be yelled at for this: The Jersey Shore.

It's crowded, the water's cold, the people are rude, and if I want to go to a beach even remotely clean, I have to pay? Oh, and then I can't have a Corona once I get there. I'll gladly make the trek to the Carolinas if I want to see the ocean. Friendly people, bonfires, Brew Thru and NO "BEACH TAGS." For a relaxing day trip, I'll opt for Jim Thorpe.

**BarryG** · 06-23-2012, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by DCnPhilly

I know I'll be yelled at for this: The Jersey Shore.

It's crowded, the water's cold, the people are rude, and if I want to go to a beach even remotely clean, I have to pay? Oh, and then I can't have a Corona once I get there. I'll gladly make the trek to the Carolinas if I want to see the ocean. Friendly people, bonfires, Brew Thru and NO "BEACH TAGS." For a relaxing day trip, I'll opt for Jim Thorpe.

Ive been curious about Jim Thorpe... what do you do there?

**DCnPhilly** · 06-23-2012, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Ive been curious about Jim Thorpe... what do you do there?

Glen Onoko Falls is an amazing hike and a pretty grueling one if you make it all the way up. Mauch Chunk Lake has kayaking, fishing, and swimming. You can tube, raft, orkayak on the river. Other than the outdoorsy stuff, the town is beautiful. It feels a lot like New Hope but more Victorian and nestled in a valley, and not much further away. Its a little crowded in the summer, but I'm always surprised it doesn't attract more people from Philly.

**guzzijason** · 06-23-2012, 11:34 AM

The loss of the Sunrise Diner in Jim Thorpe was heartbreaking. I used to head out early on a Saturday, and take a motorcycle ride up to Jim Thorpe for breakfast. Miss that.

__Jason

**BarryG** · 06-23-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by guzzijason

The loss of the Sunrise Diner in Jim Thorpe was heartbreaking. I used to head out early on a Saturday, and take a motorcycle ride up to Jim Thorpe for breakfast. Miss that.

__Jason

Any other food suggestions for Jim Thorpe?

**thoth** · 06-23-2012, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by DCnPhilly

Glen Onoko Falls is an amazing hike and a pretty grueling one if you make it all the way up. Mauch Chunk Lake has kayaking, fishing, and swimming. You can tube, raft, orkayak on the river. Other than the outdoorsy stuff, the town is beautiful. It feels a lot like New Hope but more Victorian and nestled in a valley, and not much further away. Its a little crowded in the summer, but I'm always surprised it doesn't attract more people from Philly.

I'm not talking **** on Jim Thorpe, but it's a little far...I mean it's almost 2 hrs. Remember most of the popular shore points are around an hour. I think that's kind of an informal cutoff for a lot of weekenders. Probably why there aren't as many phillyites at DE beaches or why Cape May is a bit more upscale than say Wildwood.

**PASnow** · 06-23-2012, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

I'm not talking **** on Jim Thorpe, but it's a little far...I mean it's almost 2 hrs. Remember most of the popular shore points are around an hour. I think that's kind of an informal cutoff for a lot of weekenders. Probably why there aren't as many phillyites at DE beaches or why Cape May is a bit more upscale than say Wildwood.

?? Per google maps Jim Thorpe is 1 hour 46 minutes from 19101. Wildwood is 1 hour 33 minutes. 13 minute difference?!

Personally I don't think the shore is overrated though, but to each their own opinion. I kinda like it & what it offers people. Both singles & families.

**thoth** · 06-23-2012, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by PASnow

?? Per google maps Jim Thorpe is 1 hour 46 minutes from 19101. Wildwood is 1 hour 33 minutes. 13 minute difference?!

Hm, for some reason I the drive was shorter than that, but I dunno what to tell you. Maybe a 90 minute drive is the cut off or Philly people just don't like the mountains.

**raider.adam** · 06-23-2012, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by PASnow

Personally I don't think the shore is overrated though, I kinda like it & what it offers people. Both singles & families.

I think a lot of it depends on originally being in the area generationally. I know so many people that their shore migration is something that has been done in their families for generations. They even go to the same spot (they book their rooms at the same place at the end of the week for the following year). A lot of the shore migration is just a hugely cultural thing I think. It's part of the region's DNA.

**Dayman** · 06-23-2012, 03:26 PM

Do not get me started on the fail that is Philadelphia's historical sites. Because this city has an utterly amazing history and fascinating story behind it. One problem is that for some reason we have the federal government manage our historical sites, or as grojlart calls it, "The Independence Historical Grass Lot Collection." Utterly true. Why would you bulldoze history?

Something that Italy given me is perspective on how they value their history. There are still buildings dating to the life of Augustus still in use. 2000 years old. Now, they're not common, but they still exist. When Mussolini destroyed ancient Roman (and medieval and Renaissance buildings too) for his Via Fori Imperiali, he deserved his fate of being shot and hung upside down. Ed Bacon, who orchestrated the destruction of most of our historical goodness for a f*cking highway deserved the same fate. All of that historical goodness - the docks, the wharves, warehouses which were the lifeblood of this city for 300 years, were obliterated. We could have the Marines parade here every year at a rebuilt Tun Tavern. Currently that site is underneath 95.

Our historical sites are so neglected. They're abstract, ugly, and pointless. Franklin Square looks like pillboxes on Omaha beach, and the museum is a waste of time. Independence Hall is beautiful and underutilized. The weird 1970s bicentennial architecture really took a giant dump on what could be an utterly beautiful area. One only needs to go into the neighborhood south of it to see what it could look like.

Our history is not overrated, it's underrated. The birth and development of an urban identity through the 17th and early 18th century, being the second largest English speaking city in the world and a hub of commerce and shipbuilding. Being the de facto capital of the United States and where Congress met (for a reason). Then the subsequent industrial revolution and amazing transformation into a cosmopolitan town of money, finance and industry, and then the insanely powerful manufacturing city we were until America shifted towards post-industrialism.

The way this city presents its history is a crime. A bunch of odious park rangers and idiots in inaccurate "period dress" spewing bowdlerized history and outright lies (must make Herodotus proud!) is not presenting history. We should revel in our importance and build our image. Not just Rocky and sports games and 20 years when the Continental Congress met here.

But, I digress.

Overrated Scheiße:
1. Aforementioned "historical Philadelphia".
2. Pat's & Geno's. They're tourist traps, overpriced, and slightly above average pizzeria cheesesteaks.
3. Philadelphia Waterice. Sugar and water, frozen. I'll take Capogiro, Bassett's or PhillyFlavors any day of the week.
4. Sports Complex/xfinity Live. While the stadiums are nice and I like the teams, everything else surrounding them is a commercialized, overpriced travesty. There should be a law against the price gouging that goes on down there.
5. Northeast Philadelphia. There are certain parts that strike a nice blend between urban and suburban (I guess low density urban?) the rest is just stripmalls and people who think they're better than you because their are only 3 black people in their neighborhood. Note that I exempt the more distinct neighborhoods like Mayfair from this.
6. Soft pretzels - they're okay.
7. Love Park - loose tiles and homeless! And I hate that statue.

**PASnow** · 06-23-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by thoth

Hm, for some reason I the drive was shorter than that, but I dunno what to tell you. Maybe a 90 minute drive is the cut off or Philly people just don't like the mountains.

Probably the latter, but there may be some mindset to driving up north as 'against the current'. Come to think of it, I wonder if any studies have been done which show people would prefer to drive south vs north, as if it's a downhill drive?!

**DCnPhilly** · 06-23-2012, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

I think a lot of it depends on originally being in the area generationally. I know so many people that their shore migration is something that has been done in their families for generations. They even go to the same spot (they book their rooms at the same place at the end of the week for the following year). A lot of the shore migration is just a hugely cultural thing I think. It's part of the region's DNA.

As much as I love Philly I guess I'm just small-town at heart. The convenience of the shore is nice for what it is. I've never found the NE beaches that relaxing. I know they have to police them because of the crowds due to their proximity to the cities, but I love the beaches in the south because you're pretty free to do what you want at your own risk. That's just me. I'm sure the shore points are great for kids and i probably would have loved them 30 years ago. Now I just want to have a beer, do some fishing and be left alone.