The Ultimate Philly Bucket List

If you haven’t heard, I’m going to rip the bandaid right off and let you know that I’m leaving Philly in 100 days. (I’m allergic to feelings, so please hold back your tears, but know that I’ll miss you, too.)

In looking back on my 8 years living in this city, I realized there are quite a few things that I’ve always talked about doing, but somehow still haven’t actually done, and a ton of things that I wouldn’t mind doing over and over and over again before I leave. So here’s a short list of some of the things I’ll be doing during my last 100 days in Philly, and some other things that you definitely should not miss throughout the year…

A BIG Philadelphia Bucket List

Or, 100 things you must do in Philadelphia before you die leave.

1. Walk on the Schuylkill River Trail at sunset.
2. Lay in a hammock at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
3. Get fried chicken & donuts from Federal Donuts.
4. Eat a giant piece of cake at Bud & Marilyns.
5. Scour Philly Aids Thrift for the best vintage finds.
6. Go to Sampan for happy hour on a Saturday.
7. Tour the Magic Gardens. So insta-worthy!
8. Have a cheesesteak from my favorite spot, Jim’s on South Street.
9. Get a gelati from Philly Flavors. Black raspberry water ice & vanilla soft serve will forever be my favorite combo.
10. Picnic in Washington Square Park. Far less crowded than Rittenhouse!
11. Take a nice long look at the “Dream Garden,” the Tiffany mosaic in the Curtis Center.
12. Get crabfries while watching a Phillies game at Citizen’s Bank Park.
13. Wander through Reading Terminal Market. Be so overwhelmed with options that you end up leaving empty handed. Does this happen to anyone else?
14. Smell the roses at the Philly Flower Show.
15. Cheer on the FlyGuys at the Wells Fargo Center.
16. Stop by Cafe Crema (aka King Cannoli) for cannoli. My pick for best in the city!
17. Take a picture from the observation deck on City Hall.
18. See the liberty bell. You have to do this at least once, right?
19. Walk the halls of the contemporary exhibits at the Art Museum. Don’t forget Wednesday nights are pay what you wish!
20. Sit under the stars during a show at the Mann Center.
21. Go to the Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square. Bonus: Get a cake shake from SquareBurger when you’re there. It’s totally worth the calories, promise.
22. Tour Eastern State Penitentiary during the day.
23. In the Fall, get scared silly walking through Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. Opt-in to the more “intense” experience. Don’t be a wuss!
24. Go to Night Market and try food from as many trucks as possible. Bring friends!
25. Go to the Christmas Village in December.
26. Try a cheesesteak from Pat’s & Geno’s and pick your favorite. There can only be one… 
27. While you’re in that neck of the woods, happen by the Electric Street & snap a pic for Instagram.
28. Go for a walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge.
29. Get macarons from ICI Macarons in Old City. The caramel macaron will change your life.
30. Order the cheesesteak eggrolls at Continental Midtown. This is where the bf & I had our first date!
31. Lace up your skates at the Blue Cross Riverrink.
32. Go to Zama, get the calamari salad with avocado and all the sushi your bank account can handle.
33. Walk inside the giant heart at the Franklin Institute.
34. Drink one of the crazy milkshakes at Craftman’s Row.
35. Visit the Pizza Museum and grab a pie from Pizza Brain. Bonus: After dinner head next door to Little Baby’s Ice Cream. Kill your diet in 1 night flat!
36. Catch a show at World Cafe Live.
37. Dine in the garden at Talula’s Garden.
38. Order a pie from Magpie.
39. Battle friends in old school video games at Barcade.  
40. Order a beer and get a chef’s choice entree for only $5 during Shut Up & Eat at Bridgid’s in Fairmount. Weeknights after their kitchen closes. 
41. Grab dessert in a jar from The Baker’s Jar.
42. Sample all the different flavors of gelato at Capofitto Forno.
43. Support the home team at the Linc. Sorry Philly, I will never call myself an Eagles fan, not even for a day, but in a quest to visit every NFL stadium (that’s not just us, right?), this one has to be done.
44. Order the eggs benedict for brunch at Hickory Lane in Fairmount.
45. Sit under the twinkle lights at the PHS Pop Up Garden on South Street.
46. Get a pitcher of guava margaritas and a plate of spicy pork nachos from Jose Pistolas.
47. Go to mass at the Basilica on the Parkway. Even if you’re a catholic who hasn’t been to church since you lived at home with your parents…
48. Grab a bowl of mac & cheese goodness from Mac Mart and have lunch in Rittenhouse Square.
49. Tour Independence Hall.
50. Instead of ordering delivery, go pick something up from Di Bruno Bros prepared case. While you’re there, try not to drool over all the fancy meats, cheeses and desserts. 
51. Be a spectator at the Kensington Kinectic Sculpture Derby.
52. Get cookies delivered late night from Insomnia Cookies.
53. See Balanchine’s Nutcracker at the Academy of Music during the holidays.
54. Go to Jones for bottomless mimosa brunch.
55. Order the bagel special from Knead and have breakfast in Washington Square Park.
56. Try your hand at the circus arts at Kaya Aerial Yoga. Then figure out how to afford classes on the regular!
57. Get a tub of the homemade salsa from La Calaca Feliz. It’s like Tostito’s chipotle salsa but 1,000 times better.
58. Sing Karaoke at McGillin’s on a Wednesday night. Did you know it’s the oldest bar in the city?
59. Bring a bottle of bubbly to dinner at Mercato.
60. Swoon over the art at the Rittenhouse Craft Show.
61. Treat yourself to a dessert from Sweet Box Bakery. They also have a food truck!
62. Wait until a 90+ degree day, play in the Logan Square fountain.
63. Do date night dinner in the perfectly mood-lit Sassafras. Best fish & chips in the city!
64. Listen to Jazz while dining on inventive Southern cuisine at South.
65. Order every flavor of wings from Urban Saloon.
66. Do your own mural walking tour. Check out this post from Kendall at Buttons and Blossoms for inspiration!
67. Tour Yards Brewery.
68. Support a local artist at the Art Star Craft Bazaar.
69. Catch the tail end of the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day, then head to 2 Street for the real party. Don’t ask me why it’s called 2 Street and not 2nd Street. Also don’t blame me if you get so caught up in the party that you don’t get home until 2 am… Not that it’s happened to me, or anything…
70. Watch people try to climb a greased pole at the 9th Street Italian Market Festival. Make sure you eat all the Italian pastries you can fit in your stomach while you’re there.
71. Stroll down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the 4th of July and take part in the Wawa Welcome America festivities.
72. Try your hand at axe throwing at Urban Axes in Kensington.
73. Do puppy yoga at Sweat Fitness. Bonus points if you actually adopt one of the puppies from Morris Animal Refuge!
74. Keep an eye out for the amazing street art stylings of Amberella, Nero and Aubrie Costello, among many, many others.
75. Slurp all the noods at Cheu Noodle Bar.
76. Play pool for free on the weekends at the diviest of dive bars, and one of my absolute favorite places in the city, Green Room in Fairmount. Cash only!
77. Secure a spot at one of Cake Life Bake Shop’s cake and frosting tastings.
78. Stand in the crowd in front of Eastern State Penitentiary and get pelted with Tastycakes by “Marie Antoinette” on Bastille Day.
79. BYO blanket for a Summer outdoor movie screening on the Schuylkill Banks. BYO booze, too- our lips are sealed.
80. Visit Philly’s oldest street, Elfreth’s Alley.
81. Check out the stunning 30th Street Station. 
82. Try one of Weckerly’s ice cream sandwiches. 
83. Wash down a pot of mussels with a self-made drink combo of chimay & lambic at Monk’s Cafe. Hunker down, the food & drink is worth the wait.
84. Drive down Columbus Ave to see the Ghost Ship (aka the SS United States).
85. Go to Jerry’s Bar for Jazz brunch on a Sunday. Worth the wait!
86. Check out the Macy’s Holiday Light Show during the holiday season.
87. After that, head to South Philly to see the Miracle on 13th Street.
88. Drink bubble tea in Chinatown.
89. Get creeped out at the Mutter Museum.
90. Grab a late-night slice from Lorenzo’s. Open until 3 am, slices as big as your head (we’re only exaggerating a little) and they’re only $3.50. It’s not the best pizza, but it’s so Philly.
91. Take your date to Chris’ Jazz Cafe.
92. Get the best falafel at Mama’s Vegetarian. Cash only!
93. Figure out where the entrance to Ranstead Room is & go have them make you up a special craft cocktail.
94. Shop at the Franklin Flea, held in the old Strawbridge’s building, for unique holiday gifts.
95. Visit the Penn Museum.
96. Try as many kinds of cheese from Tria as you can. Pair them with wine, obviously.
97. Devour Big Rube’s chicken & waffles at Toast. Weekend nights only!
98. Get an oversized pretzel & beer at Frankford Hall. Sit on a picnic table outside and challenge your friends to a game of Jenga.
99. Get ice cream to-go in a chinese food container from Franklin Fountain.
100. Sit on the steps of the Art Museum with your friends late at night. Try not to get too philosophical…

Honorable mention: Go to Rembrandts in Fairmount one last time before it closes (after 32 years!) on July 30, 2017.

Anything I missed that I absolutely must do during my last 100 days in the City of Brotherly Love?!

The post The Ultimate Philly Bucket List appeared first on Broke Girls Go Out.