MAZEL TOV! PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS
ADD JEWISH OFFERING TO FALL ROSTER
Tours Explore Neighborhoods From Chinatown To Germantown

PHILADELPHIA, September 4, 2003 – After a successful pilot season last fall, eight Philadelphia neighborhoods are preparing to welcome tourists again when the Philadelphia Neighborhood Tourism Network begins its fall programming on September 6, 2003. This time around, visitors will have a new tour option to choose from: Philadelphia’s Jewish Heritage, offering a taste of borscht and blintzes in addition to a large serving of Philadelphia Jewish history. The Jewish tour, along with The Sound of Philadelphia tour added in the spring, round out the offerings for the program. A different three-hour tour, developed by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), will be offered every weekend from September 6 through October 26, 2003.

“We added the Jewish heritage tour because we felt that it was an essential part of Philadelphia history,” says Patricia Washington, vice president, GPTMC. “We worked very diligently with the Jewish community in order to provide an accurate portrayal of their Philadelphia experience and we feel that this new tour addition enriches our tour offerings.”

Since the tours began in Fall 2002, more than 360 people have journeyed beyond the colonial icons of Center City to Philadelphia’s historically rich and culturally diverse neighborhoods, including North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, Chinatown, University City, Germantown, Northern Liberties, North Philadelphia’s Latino community and Society Hill. Ethnic food samples, interactive demonstrations with local artists and social history told by neighborhood guides ensure an authentic experience for tour participants. Here’s what’s on for fall:

• Mummers & Mozzarella (September 6, 2003) – Join in the traditions that make South Philadelphia one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods: savor the sights, sounds and smells of the Italian Market and learn the Mummers Strut at the Mummers Museum.
• Exotic Cuisine & Esoteric Culture (September 13, 2003) – Experience a feast of the senses during this visit to University City, where avant garde artists, Amish farmers and a Laotian restaurant are all part of the incredible diversity of cultures found here.
• Latin Soul, Latin Flavor (September 20, 2003) – Learn about the roots of Latin American music and sample authentic Caribbean coffees and pastries during this trip to
  North 5^th Street in the heart of Philadelphia’s growing Latino community.
• Philadelphia’s Civil Rights Struggle (September 27, 2003) – Recount the moments when racism was challenged in Philadelphia’s streets, classrooms and churches during this visit to the North Philadelphia neighborhood that was the epicenter of the city’s Civil Rights struggle. Hear about the dramatic demonstrations at Girard College and join in a performance at Church of the Advocate.
• Voices of Chinatown (October 4, 2003) – Get caught up in the excitement of a lion dance, taste dim sum specialties and learn about the curative power of herbs during a visit to a traditional Chinese pharmacy in Chinatown.
• Taking a Stand for Freedom (October 11, 2003) – Witness moving first-person accounts and musical presentations that evoke the drama of the Underground Railroad during visits to two documented Underground Railroad stations.

• The Sound of Philadelphia (October 18, 2003) – Listen to an array of musical styles and innovations and learn about the social and cultural trends that have contributed to Philadelphia’s African American musical heritage. A musical journey covering classical, gospel, jazz and rhythm and blues, the tour culminates with a behind-the-scenes visit to the recording studios of Gamble & Huff.
• Philadelphia’s Jewish Heritage (October 26, 2003) – Explore the Jewish religious, social and business traditions that took root first in Center City and South Philadelphia and eventually spread throughout the region. 

Philadelphia Neighborhood Tours depart from the Independence Visitor Center, located at 6th and Market Streets, at 10 a.m. most Saturdays through October 25, 2003. Tickets are $32 for adults, $27 students and seniors over 65, $27 for individuals purchasing two or more tours, $22 for children 8-12 and $22 for groups of 10 or more. Price includes refreshments and performances. Call GPTMC at (215) 599-2295 for reservations or e-mail ntn@gophila.com to make a reservation and receive $5 off.

This year, more than 871 news stories have appeared about Philadelphia. GPTMC is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.

Note to Editors: For story angles and photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit gophila.com/pressroom.  

September 2003

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