A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

Came to Dave & Buster's during summer break, and the place was surprisingly quiet. With how empty…read moreit was, I expected more attentive service, but our server seemed uninterested and lacked energy. We ordered the double cheeseburger, mac & cheese, and a cheeseburger. The double cheeseburger was good, but nothing particularly memorable. Overall, an average experience. The quiet atmosphere was nice, but the service kept this at 2 stars.

Haven't been to a Dave and Buster's in yearssss. As with many things, we were looking for a place…read morethat would have some fun stuff for our little to enjoy and eat, while also having a place to watch the FIFA match with food and drinks for us. We figured most places would be crowded since it was the Haiti vs. Brazil match which was happening in the city that night - the city was buzzing! My boyfriend suggested D & B and I was game. I made a reservation just in case - glad I did as many people ended up coming in. Now a will say there a couple things that has us making the face of the swaggy p meme: the first escalator going up working but the next one so we took the elevator the steps the rest of the way up to the restaurant; we would've the elevator, but the person passed out/laying on the ground threw our little one off a bit (hope that person is okay!)!; and when taking the elevator down when we eventually left later that night, we weren't sure if it was working since it didn't light up and didn't seem like it was moving at a point - it was fine though. Outside of those things, we had a pretty good time! Lol Food was typically bar food and good for us, though we weren't fans of the Cheesesteak egg rolls. Drinks were made well, and our little one said she enjoyed her food too. Of course, we had to head over to the games after eating and we had a blast! We initially had issues with the card at certain games, but it eventually was fine and we were able to play at every game we wanted. Because of our little one, I think we played and tried out almost every game in there. Overall, we had a good time and would consider coming back.

Amazing artwork you can visit for free. It's in the Curtis Building and is a stunning mosaic of…read moreTiffany glass. The shading and lighting are stunning.

It's a Maxfield Parrish mural made of Tiffany glass, commissioned by the Curtis Publishing Co for…read moreits then-new building. It's an impressive piece of public art and is over 100 years old. It's worth stopping to admire it if you are in the area. The staff understands why you're here; as we peeked through the windows one evening, security waved us in to get a closer look. Years ago, when I worked nearby, I'd stop in for a moment of calm on my lunch hour. It's a soothing, romantic image and truly an historic art treasure in the city.

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.

It was definitely a unique experience, and well worth the admission fee. I found it to be…read moreeducational and creepy, yet in a highly photogenic and artsy kind of way. I couldn't stop taking pictures. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Besides, I don't think I can add anything to this review about its history that hasn't already been said. I'll just give you a few tips before your visit. Bring ear buds so that you can listen to the self-guided audio tour that is narrated by Steve Buscemi. It's 45 minutes long and is included with admission. Otherwise, just do as we did and go through each cell block at your own pace. You can always listen to the audio tour later. There's also a guided tour that can be booked for a higher fee. The best time to go is in the morning. It didn't feel quite as hot inside as I thought it would be. There are a few exhibits that have air-conditioned rooms if needed. One of them is the "Worship Behind Walls" exhibit that was closed off when we we there. Only the outer room was open in that exhibit. One of the cell blocks was closed off for the "Halloween Nights" event that starts in October. We were told that it's an amazing night experience. They even set up a speakeasy at Al Capone's cell for VIP ticket holders. It's just something to think about when planning your visit. It took us about 2 hours to go through it all. It's easy to navigate through each cell block due to the wheel design of the building from it's central hub. It's on the top 10 list of things to do in Philadelphia for a reason. It also gives you a chance to check out the Fairmount neighborhood while you're there. It was a great experience overall!

My wife and I were in Philly for a long weekend and saw that this was a cool spot to checkout…read more I am glad we did. It is an old prison set in a neighborhood, kind of like Wrigley Field is in the middle of a neighborhood. The structure is huge and has a hub and spoke type of detention with 8 cell clocks around a center location. The cells were small, but they did have Al Capone's cell, which was decked out! He was there for a year for an illegal weapon. Nice narration and a great way to spend an hour or two in Philly!

I wanna say that the staff is very helpful and very welcoming…read more I really enjoyed my short time here. This is one of the many wonderful Treasures of Philadelphia

During a recent trip to Philadelphia for Labor Day Weekend, we visited The Franklin Institute after…read morehearing about it for years, and we loved it. We spent close to four hours there and still didn't see everything - this place is huge! What stood out to me was how well they balance the "wow factor" with true interactive experiences, to provide a real educational depth. Walking through the Giant Heart is one of those experiences that sticks with you no matter your age, and touching an actual meteorite in the space exhibit was a unique, thrilling experience. A few highlights: - The Train Factory: seeing the Baldwin 60000 locomotive up close is genuinely impressive. - Your Brain: way more interactive than I expected; lots to see, do, and learn here. The neural network climbing maze that lights up is a lot of fun for kids, and I loved the massive Self Reflected art installation by Greg Dunn[1]. - SportsZone: great for burning off energy between exhibits. - The four-story Foucault's Pendulum at the center of the staircase. If you can, budget extra time (and a few extra dollars) for the Fels Planetarium. We didn't get to it this trip, so that's next on the list. There's also a solid cafeteria on site if you don't want to break for lunch elsewhere, which is a nice perk when you're trying to maximize your time inside, particularly with kids. One tip: we visited over Labor Day weekend and the AC inside was cranked way up. It felt great at first coming in from the heat, but after several hours of walking around in it, we were all pretty cold by the end. Bring a light sweater or jacket, even if it's hot outside. The museum is clean, well staffed, and everything actually works, which isn't always a given at older institutions. It's easy to spend a full day here and still leave wanting more. Highly recommend for families, couples, or solo visitors who just love learning something new. We'll definitely be back, and check out the planetarium next time. ---------------------------- [1] https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/collection/self-reflected

This is such a fascinating place on many levels. I can't remember how I stumbled upon this (maybe…read moreAtlas Obscura), but I'm glad that I made the effort to search it out. Even some people who have lived in Philly most of their lives have not been here, let alone heard of it! This museum is in a now largely lower-middle class neighborhood, but don't let that deter you from experiencing this gem. Housed in an historic, wooden building, complete with creaky floors and stairs, this is the real deal...a throwback to a different era, unchanged in a hundred plus years, and the intent is for it to remain so. Inside, the main draw is the natural history collection upstairs, in original wood and glass cases, which were made especially for this collection. The signage, as ancient as the collection and the building, is handwritten, in ink now faded, and in a case or two, reflects the name known at that time, but since changed. Here you'll find minerals, shells, skeletons, taxidermied animals, insects, some charts, and for the children (or children at heart), scavenger hunt sheets. Downstairs, on the way to the restrooms, you'll see the fabulous, expansive, original, all wood lecture hall. (I would love to hear anything there!) A small gift shop with some unusual items rounds out the experience. Here, I found a very realistic plastic pangolin (my one souvenir from Philly!). I spent at least 2 hours here, but I'm a natural history nerd, and talked to one of the employees a bit to learn more about the place and its mission.

They have birds, and as well, crabs. We came here on a date. Also, there are shells. There are many…read morethings to look at at this establishment. Tapeworms on exhibit!

This place is just amazing! They've been able to physically and socially transform their…read moresurrounding neighborhood. The neighborhood has a long history of artist activism where artist Arthur Hall created the Black Humanitarian Center for people to read, dance, sing and make music. 20 years later, artist Lily Yeh continued the legacy by physically transforming the neighborhood. All of the buildings along the corridor have been painted like one long continuous mural showing unity among all of the businesses ND property owners. There is a beautiful mosaic that shows how special the community is. And, their programming and commitment to the community is unmatched. you can learn more at www.villagearts.org

Small, easy, short touristy trip. Another great free thing to do in the city when you have friends…read moreor family from out of town. I live in Nolibs, so this is an easy walk from my house. Parking is plentiful nearby, too!

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - Philadelphia, PA…read more Boomsauce Score: BS +++ (Amazing location! now that's boomsauce!) Even mid-renovation, this place hits different. Stepping into Poe's former home is like walking through the pages of Gothic literature. The art installations and that surreal raven sculpture outside? Straight out of a dream--or a fevered poem. It's eerie, poetic, and deeply moving. Though the house is currently closed for a utilities improvement project, you can still feel the weight of history pressing through the walls. Poe lived here during one of his most prolific periods, penning classics like The Black Cat and The Tell-Tale Heart. The cellar even resembles the one described in The Black Cat, adding a deliciously creepy layer to the visit. If you're in Philly, this is a must-visit. It's not just a museum--it's a tribute to the tortured brilliance of one of America's greatest literary minds. And when renovations wrap, it'll be even more hauntingly beautiful. --- Boomsauce Scale | Rating | Meaning |---------|----------------------------------| | B | basura (trash) | | BS | basic (come on! Try harder) | | BS + | better (Yo! That's better) | | BS ++ | best (alright! Alright! Alrightttt!) | | BS +++ | Amazing location! now that's boomsauce! |

Good photo spot me and my boyfriend had a great time only thing is wish it stayed on 24 hrs because…read moresome days if I go it's not on

An Instagram worthy quick place to check out if you're in the Passyunk, Termini's Bakery,…read morePats/Genos area. A neon sign art installation on the side of a building, located down a deteriorated alleyway. Go after dark for the full effect, and get your camera ready to snap away! Park nearby on Passyunk, Reed or 9th streets and then walk down Percy Street. You only really need 5 or 10 minutes here, so swing by next time you're in the area!