Mar 8, 2005
By George Linkletter
In just about two months, as many as 30,000 managers from more than 20
countries will arrive in Philadelphia to attend the AIIM On Demand
Conference at Philadelphia's Convention Center.
The Show is the leading professional event for the HVTO industry and
offers an immense array of learning and networking opportunities. This
year the May 16-19 event showcases more than 300 educational sessions,
12 general sessions and five Keynote speeches. Also included are
exhibits, demonstrations and presentations from roughly 600 solution
providers.
It is a business event not to be missed. But all work and no play and.... well, you know the rest. So here are some insider tips to help you
'get out and about.' (Many of these 'insider' suggestions were provided
by a knowledgeable source who has lived in Center City Philadelphia for
more than two decades.)
Restaurants
Even if you can't get away from the Show to experience some of the
history and culture of Philadelphia (see material below), you'll want to
sample some of the city's outstanding cuisine ? especially if you're
hosting a dinner gathering or entertaining important associates. Here
are a few 'can't miss' selections for you to consider.
The Best Top-Drawer Restaurant ? According to those who know such
things, the best of the best is the Lacroix in The Rittenhouse Hotel,
which is located at Rittenhouse Square, a quaint nearby park. Lacroix
offers a unique and substantial tasting menu that I'm told is just
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. You can get wine flights to match,
too.
The Best Restaurant in South Philadelphia ? It's called Kristian's,
which is located at 11th & Federal Streets. Kristian's offers osso buco,
risotto, and I'm told by reliable sources that everything on the menu is
'fabulous.'
(Keep in mind that Kristian's is not a 'red sauce' restaurant. It
specializes in Northern Italian cuisine.)
The Best Nearby Restaurants ? All are just a short cab ride from the
Convention Center. In alphabetical order, they include: Bridget Foy's
on South St.; Fork in Olde City; Friday Saturday Sunday near Fitler
Square; Jack's Fire House in the Art Museum area; the Third North in
Northern Liberties Street; and the White Dog Cafe, which is located on
the campus of the University of Pennsylvania just across the Schuykill
River.
The Best Hotel Cocktail Lounges ? Everybody's schedule is jam-packed at
On Demand, so a good way to connect with a key buyer, vendor or
associate is to arrange a pre-dinner meeting. Here are some 'the best
of the best'
locations for enjoying a relaxing conversation and beverage: The Four
Seasons Hotel; the lobby bar in the Ritz Carlton Hotel (plus the
cigar-friendly Vault bar/lounge for cigar aficionados; the Omni Hotel;
and the Sofitel.
The Best Ethnic Restaurants ? One of the benefits of traveling is
sampling something new. If you want to try the out-of-the-ordinary,
consider the
following: Pasion, at 15th and Walnut Streets, for South and Central
American cuisine: Django, a BYOB restaurant on 5th and South Streets,
for Middle European fare; and Susanna Foo, at 15th and Walnut, for
elegant Chinese food.
The Best Steak Houses ? If you like steak, you'll like these two choice
restaurants: The Prime Rib (and its bar) at 17th & Locust and The
Capital Grille at Broad and Chestnut.
Sightseeing
May is gorgeous in Philadelphia, so if you want to get some fresh air
and a little exercise, consider some of the these very worthwhile
attractions.
All are within easy walking distance of the Convention Center.
The National Constitution Center is a 'can't miss' attraction for
history buffs. It offers a fabulously entertaining live performance and
multi-media show on the history of the U.S. Constitution and early
Philadelphia. It also features a terrific interactive museum.
Other nearby historic sites are Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the
Betsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley (a collection of early American homes
and shops), Christ Church, Benjamin Franklin's Burial Plot (he was,
after all, a key factor in the early days of the U.S. Post Office) and
Old St.
Joseph's Church.
Museums
The Philadelphia Museum of Art features a world-class Impressionist
collection and many other exhibits. Also nearby are the Rodin Museum,
the Franklin Institute, and the Please Touch Museum for children. (Need
a souvenir of your trip for the kids? You can get it here.)
Penn's Landing ? The Delaware River Front, where Penns' Landing is
located, offers several worthwhile exhibits. You'll find the city's
Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials; an Irish Memorial; and a ferry
boat to the Camden, NJ side of the river and the New Jersey Aquarium.
You can also enjoy a meal or beverage at the Mosholu Restaurant and Bar,
which is located on a tall ship (anchored on the Philadelphia side of
the river) that features outdoor service.
Other Enjoyable Sites
If time allows here is a selection of other sites and activities: The
Reading Terminal Market, directly across from the Convention Center,
offers a wide variety of food stalls. Be sure to check out the pastries
at the Metropolitan Bakery and the coffee at Olde City Coffee if you
want a quick breakfast.
Rittenhouse Square is a favorite spot to take a break. You can walk
through the Park or sit on a bench and people-watch. You can enjoy
jewelry shopping at Lagos The Store on Walnut St. (just one door off
18th on the northeast corner) or take a sidewalk table at one of the
restaurants overlooking the square. Or head to Le Colombe, on 19th St.
just north of Walnut St., for coffee with a French influence.
Before you head out of town you can visit Antiques Row, located on Pine
Street between 9th and 13th St., which features several quaint shops
with antiques and gift items. A highlight is the shop called Show of
Hands.)
Jewelers Row is located at 7th through 9th St. between Walnut and
Chestnut St.. You'll find Olde City, which features a collection of art
galleries and other shops, in the area bordered by 2nd through 4th St.
and Chestnut and Race St.
Society Hill is a well-known neighborhood that features many
200-year-old homes and extends from Chestnut St. on the north, South St.
on the south, 8th St. on the west, and Front St. on the east. You can
walk through the neighborhood and easily see how Philadelphia looked
during the War for Independence. If you go, be sure to visit the 200
and 300 blocks of Delancy St. between Pine and Spruce St.
An added bonus? If you're flying into Philadelphia International
Airport, you'll likely save some money. Low-cost carrier Southwest
Airlines initiated service in Philadelphia last May and has already
doubled the number of flights to the city.
The New York Times reports US Airways, the dominant carrier at the
airport, responded by lowering fares, capping last-minute fares ? the
ones favored most by business travelers ? and eliminating the Saturday
night stay requirement. Thanks to the heightened airline competition,
you may well have extra money available at On Demand for the
entertainment portion of your T&E budget.
Do you have a tip to share about Philadelphia? Send it to
georgeol@ntplx.net.
George Linkletter
PO Box 186
Sherman, CT 06784-0186
(860)350-4043