International Student in Philly

**mardybumbum** · 06-29-2012, 10:15 AM

Hey Guys,

I'm a medical student from Ireland and I'm carrying out a 4 week elective at UPenn.
I'll be staying at ihouse during my trip and I was wondering if there was anything fun nearby.
I love live music (especially blues), enjoy a few beers and good food.

I was wandering around Chestnut Street on Google Maps and it appears pretty barren.

Where are all the clubs and bars at?
Also, any areas I should avoid?

Thanks a lot,
Mardybum

**Hospitalitygirl** · 06-29-2012, 10:31 AM

Barren?

Look on Walnut Street, a block south of Chestnut for one.

**brucewmcc** · 06-29-2012, 01:27 PM

Fáilte! I assume you'll want to skip our faux-Irish bars.

http://www.universitycity.org/ will give you some information about the immediate area, including the upcoming University City Dining Days. Philadelphia Cultural Events and Organizations | Phillyfunguide.com and Uwishunu - Philadelphia Blog About Things to Do, Events, Restaurants, Food, Nightlife and More have information about Philadelphia events.

Philly is a great beer town. City Tap House, in the 3900 block of Walnut Street, is close to I-House and has a wide beer selection.

**Kevin** · 06-29-2012, 01:58 PM

A couple of decent music venues right by campus:

The Blockley

World Cafe Live | Philadelphia, PA

**annie** · 06-29-2012, 02:48 PM

Fiume at 45th and Locust has live blues on Sunday.

**lewblum** · 06-30-2012, 09:08 AM

Twisted Tail would be well worth a visit. It's a blues joint on 2nd St near South St. Their mint julip is to die for on hot days like this.

Most of the bars and clubs are in Center City. Anything near ihouse is going to have a lot of college students (maybe that's what you're looking for).

If you're speaking in terms of safety when you say "avoid", I think you will be fine. Pretty much anything worth going to is located in a safe area.
If you're speaking in terms of douchey bar and club scenes, avoid Old City and anything called "Irish Pub".

**mardybumbum** · 06-30-2012, 12:19 PM

Thanks a lot folks,

I'm getting in tomorrow so hopefully I will get to check out a few of those spots during the 4 weeks.
I have a relative near Philly and he actually recommended "The Irish Pub".
Will probably give the Irish Bars a miss as theres plenty of them at home.

Mardybumbum

**darthsinatra** · 06-30-2012, 12:30 PM

Bard's at 20th and Walnut is as authentic an Irish pub as you'll find in Philly, and I only even mention it because it's staffed by Irish expats whose company you might enjoy. Cheers!

**Dave** · 06-30-2012, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by mardybumbum

I have a relative near Philly and he actually recommended "The Irish Pub".

We have at least two of those, one of which is right next to "The Bards"

**boognish** · 06-30-2012, 02:16 PM

Dude, I lived in Asia for years and years when I was younger and finally ended up here. I think you'll really enjoy this area.

West Philly is pretty great. Wonderful walks and good people. Check out the Victorian architecture and flora west of 38th (and south). Pretty decent food & drink in general, but it gets better the further west you go. Local 44 is a fantastic bar for sampling rare-ish American beers. Distrito is a fun place for Tex-Mex grub and margaritas. And Penn has quite the urban campus.

Please check back in with us. Oh, and dress for the weather. Philly in the summer can be brutal. It's only 91 today and I almost had an aneurism walking a few blocks today.

**Ptolemy** · 07-02-2012, 05:28 PM

If I was an American abroad, I wouldn't want to hang out in American-themed places. No, I did not eat out in McDonalds in Moscow, Tokyo, New Delhi or Tel Aviv.

Here is my recommendation: take a stroll along Baltimore Avenue and mingle in places like The Queen Of Sheba, Dahlak, Elena's Soul, and the Dock Street Brewery.

July 19th is the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll. Take several dollar bills and sample some of foods the local merchants are offering.

**mardybumbum** · 07-02-2012, 10:08 PM

Would you believe it, I actually ended up in The Bard yesterday having not seen the recommendations here. I was walking around the city and I just went in to quench my thirst with an ice cold coke. I made a note of the address as I told myself I must go back for a pint. It seemed like a lively spot.
Will hopefully get to see a bit more of Philly on wednesday as the doctors have given my the day off. Does anybody know if there's a firework display on that night?

Thanks again,
Mardybumbum

**Ptolemy** · 07-02-2012, 10:52 PM

All kinds of events, parades, concerts, etc. on July 4th. A lot of festivities on the Parkway and also Independence Mall. The National Museum of American Jewish History will be open all day free of charge.

The place to see the fireworks is on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, between 20th Street and Eakins Oval, right in front of the Art Museum.

**seand** · 07-03-2012, 12:42 PM

Though if you are not going down for the concert, Eakans Oval in front of the the Art Museum gets really, really crowded.

Just to watch the fireworks, coming from University City you can get a half decent view from the park at 31st and Powelton or for a better view take your bike and pedal up to 34th and Girard, cross Girard and take the first right (Sweetbriar Road) down to MLK Drive on the west bank of the Schuykill. Come back under the Girard bridge and you have your pick of spots viewing Boathouse Row and the back side of the Art Museum, which is a really nice view of the fireworks and never very crowded at all. Here's a Google map view of how to get to MLK while avoiding the really dense crowds.

34th and girard - Google Maps

**OffenseTaken** · 07-03-2012, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

If I was an American abroad, I wouldn't want to hang out in American-themed places. No, I did not eat out in McDonalds in Moscow, Tokyo, New Delhi or Tel Aviv.

(You should at least once: McDonalds in other countries tend to be better. They spend more money on ingredients and devote more labor to preparation, since really no one has lower standards than U.S. McDonalds customers.)

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

Here is my recommendation: take a stroll along Baltimore Avenue and mingle in places like The Queen Of Sheba, Dahlak, Elena's Soul, and the Dock Street Brewery.

You'll find a whole collection of restaurants along 40th up to Chestnut, not one of them expensive or bad. They tend to look much sketchier than they really are. (In fact, you'll find that almost everything in Philadelphia looks totally sketchy, but don't let that deter you from anything.)

**mardybumbum** · 07-06-2012, 10:18 PM

Thanks for all the recommendations.

I went to the "Jam" at Benjamin Franklin park. Ended up in a condo right across from the art museum and had the most amazing balcony view of the fireworks.
I'll try to check out some of those blues bars over the weekend. The dollar bill walk on the 19th sounds like a treat but I reckon I'll be in the hospital all day. >

**boognish** · 07-07-2012, 11:17 AM

If you want to see something pretty unique, check out Furthur (ex-Grateful Dead) at the Mann Music Center today. You'll see some hippies melting.

I have no idea how one gets there without a car or bike though....

**BarryG** · 07-07-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by boognish

If you want to see something pretty unique, check out Furthur (ex-Grateful Dead) at the Mann Music Center today. You'll see some hippies melting.

I have no idea how one gets there without a car or bike though....

Several bus lines go there including a special shuttle.... From UC best way is probably the 40 bus.

**mardybumbum** · 07-28-2012, 06:30 PM

Hi again,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all. I have been really busy working and partying over the last two weeks.
I have enjoyed Philadelphia so much I am going to stay an extra 4 weeks.
Thanks for all your recommendations so far. Anything of interest on over the next four weeks.
I know that there will be concerts in Rittenhouse every Wednesday beginning the 15th of August so I will definitely make it to one of them.

Thanks
Aaron

**Hospitalitygirl** · 07-28-2012, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by mardybumbum

Hi again,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all. I have been really busy working and partying over the last two weeks.
I have enjoyed Philadelphia so much I am going to stay an extra 4 weeks.
Thanks for all your recommendations so far. Anything of interest on over the next four weeks.
I know that there will be concerts in Rittenhouse every Wednesday beginning the 15th of August so I will definitely make it to one of them.

Thanks
Aaron

Now there's a ringing endorsement of Philadelphia if ever I've read one. Glad you're enjoying your time here.