Tag Archives: Philadelphia

Underground History

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Aboveground at Philadelphia’s famous Independence Mall visitors discover an impressive collection of monuments to American history. Often called the “Cradle of American Liberty,” the popular tourist site contains sculptures of Founding Fathers, buildings inside of which the U.S. Constitution was … Continue reading →

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Hope Lines

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Philadelphia can be a difficult place to live even in the best of times. Although it can be a wonderful destination for visitors, America’s “cradle of liberty” also suffers from one of the nation’s worst poverty rates and has been … Continue reading →

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Philly becomes electric

Posted on November 28, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Just in time to brighten up our gloomy holiday season, Philly’s newest street art mural has been unveiled. Electric Philadelphia! was created by muralist David Guinn and light artist Drew Billiau with help from Mural Arts Philadelphia and Visit Philadelphia. The 8,500-square-foot art installation can … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism Philadelphia

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

It took a big leap of faith for the New York City bookshop Shakespeare & Co to open a branch in the high rent Philadelphia Center City Rittenhouse Square neighborhood two years ago. Somehow they’ve managed to hang on during these crazy … Continue reading →

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Sometimes You Just Have To Listen To Oprah

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t think that I’ve ever actually read O, the Oprah Magazine, but I recently heard about an issue that featured “17 Black-owned bookstores in America that amplify the best in literature.” It also recommended the favorite bookshops of renowned … Continue reading →

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Virtually Macabre in Philly

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Like many folks self-isolating these days, I have been spending way too much time on virtual video tours. I have taken train rides through the Swiss Alps, long car journeys around New Zealand, hikes in Icelands, and much more. Some … Continue reading →

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Cover the Walls with Hope

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Recently a new multi-artist street art project called Fill the Walls with Hope has popped-up on walls and boarded up windows across Philadelphia. Organized by Mark Strandquist and created with submissions from local Philadelphia and national artists, the project incorporates … Continue reading →

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Philadelphia Story

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

This past week, Philadelphia has used a number of those plywood panels on boarded up businesses around the city to post messages of gratitude to Philly’s essential workers. The project is from the tourism folks at Visit Philly, who created … Continue reading →

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What Every Traveler Needs

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

One thing that all travelers have in common is the need to find toilet facilities in a timely manner. These days, even when one can discover convenient facilities, a numerical code is necessary to use the bathroom. Then there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Street Smart

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Andrei Kashcha’s City Roads tool will draw you a map of just the roads in any city around the world. Beware map geeks: Down the rabbit hole.  

Posted in apps, Art, Maps, Tech | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment