How to move the agenda forward and create action? Courage and risk-taking are essential elements of leadership—and nowhere personifies these qualities like Philadelphia, the rebel capital that became the cradle of liberty and birthplace of a nation. Like the church bells that rang out city-wide on July 4, 1776 as official word of the Declaration of Independence broke out, inspiration is in the air in Philadelphia.
Fifth-largest in the U.S. but remarkably compact at its core, the city invites walking, biking and jogging, which makes accessing its diverse product set a breeze. There’s a fresh agenda every time—such as my 36-hour spin this February.
The main event was the opening reception for a Picasso exhibit at the Barnes Foundation, with a stay and tour of the new Logan Philadelphia, the relaunch of the iconic Four Seasons hotel. Plus, dinner at Stephen Starr’s boutique steakhouse Barclay Prime; and first-time tour of event-capable Laurel Hill, the nation’s second oldest rural cemetery.
Describing a “broad array of entry points” for private events, David Perez, director of event operations for the Barnes Foundation, provided a tour of the museum before the Picasso opening. This peerless temple of French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings offers meetings rooms and exceptional spaces such as the Annenberg Court and adjoining terrace, covered by a cantilevered glass light box. Slated to open this fall, the current Garden Restaurant is being transformed into a dynamic event-capable concept named for Barnes’ wife Laura.
Credited with transforming the city’s now transcendent culinary scene two decades ago, Stephen Starr has since expanded his high-concept dining empire from New York City to Florida. With some 19 restaurants, Philadelphia remains his seat, and for high-quality steak, Barclay Prime, on historic Rittenhouse Square, is a (USDA) prime choice. Highlights include private dining for 40 with custom menus—and for the adventurous, the $120 Barclay Prime Cheesesteak, featuring Wagyu beef, foie gras and truffled cheese whiz.
After 32 years, Philadelphia’s Four Seasons is relocating to the new $1.2 billion Comcast Innovation and Technology Center rising nearby. An early 2018 opening is projected for the new 222-room property, to be located on the top floors of the new 59-story tower.
Assuming its premier Logan Square location, the 391-room Logan Philadelphia debuted last December following a multimillion-dollar renovation. Part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, the property offers 12,700 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space, including a 500-person grand ballroom, junior ballroom in the former Fountains Restaurant, as well as 12 versatile meeting and event rooms. There’s private dining in the adjacent Urban Farmer Philadelphia steakhouse—and targeting a spring 2016 opening, the hotly anticipated Assembly rooftop lounge.
The Logan is filled with art—including images of Grace Kelly on each floor. The late legend grew up in East Falls, just above Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River, which the founders of Laurel Hill Cemetery chose for their place of rest in 1836.
With its cheery mantra of “we might be a cemetery, but our social life isn’t dead,” this 78-acre National Historic Landmark offers hundreds of yearly programs for a wide range of audiences. These include guided, themed and private tours, holiday happenings including “Love and Lust” on Valentine’s Day, and customized events for groups. Notable residents include Civil War generals, Titanic passengers, Phillies broadcaster and NFL voice Harry Kalas—and the fictional grave of Adrian Balboa, from 2006’s Rocky Balboa.
Before departing, I ran the “Rocky Steps” of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which will be getting a multiphase Frank Gehry makeover in the years ahead, and stood in Rocky’s footprints at the top facing Center City. Interviewed at the same spot last November by CBS Sunday Morning, Sylvester Stallone called it his “favorite place ever,” adding “I feel like, you could do anything from up here.”
That, in a nutshell, is Philadelphia.
Philadelphia CVB
215.636.3327
Pennsylvania Tourism Office
717.787.5453
