From Beantown to Brotherly Love — A Philadelphia Survival Guide

Overall Guides to the Greater Philadelphia Area

City of Philadelphia website
Philly.com
Center City District
University City District
Philadelphia and the Countryside
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Delaware County's Brandywine Conference & Visitors Bureau
Visit Delaware
Greater Wilmington (Delaware) and the Brandywine Valley
New Jersey Travel and Tourism
Visit South New Jersey

Where to Live

Craigslist
Philadelphia Weekly — New listings available online on Tuesdays (day before publication)
Apartments.com

Where to Work

Philly.com
WorkPhilly.com
Pennsylvania CareerLink
Non-profit Jobs

Where to Eat

Most of the overall guides listed above include lists of area dining options. A few other helpful sites include:
Philadelphia Magazine
OpenTable.com — Reviews, menus and online reservations
Philadelphia Dining Guide
Reading Terminal Market

Special Events:
Center City Sips — Summer Happy Hour with free appetizers and drink specials
Restaurant Week
Held twice a year, Restaurant Week is a chance to try some of the city’s best restaurants at a special price.

Where to Shop

There are plenty of fantastic shops and boutiques throughout Philadelphia and the area. Many of the general guides in the list above provide links to area shopping. However, one mall just west of Philadelphia, a shopping complex of more than 400 shops and restaurants, deserves a special mention:
King of Prussia Mall

Philadelphia Arts & Culture

Philadelphia and the surrounding area is rich in historic and cultural attractions. Here is a list to get you started:
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Rodin Museum
Institute for Contemporary Art
Old City Arts — includes information on First Fridays, a monthly arts community open house
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Franklin Institute
Independence Visitors Center
Independence National Park
National Constitution Center
Academy of Music
Philadelphia Orchestra
Kimmel Center
Helium Comedy
Brandywine River Museum
Longwood Gardens
Barnes Foundation
Valley Forge
Comcast-Spectacor/Wachovia Complex — Sports, concerts, and special events venue

Special Events:
Dad Vail Regatta
Penn’s Landing — Summer concert series
Philadelphia International Auto Show
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe
Philadelphia Flower Show
Welcome America

Philadelphia Sports

Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
76ers
Phillies
Citizens Bank Park
Flyers (NHL)
Phantoms (American Hockey League)
Kixx (Soccer)
Wings (Lacrosse)
Soul (Arena Football)

Nightlife

Center City
Old City
Rittenhouse Square
World Cafe Live
Philly2Night.com

Getting Around

SEPTA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
For schedules, maps, and fares for SEPTA Subway, Surface Lines, Bus Routes, and Regional Rail.

Traffic Report
http://www.traffic.com/
http://www.smartraveler.com/

Philadelphia Parking Authority
Find parking, purchase a Smart Card (valid at all meters), or pay a violation.

Amtrak
The Amtrak 30th Street Station is located at 30th & Market. (SEPTA Regional Rails also arrive and depart at 30th Street Station.)

Philadelphia International Airport

PA Turnpike Commission
For information on travel conditions, EZ Pass, and toll estimators

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
For driver and vehicle services

News and information

Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Weekly
City Paper
Mainline Times
ABC
CBS
NBC 10
Fox Philly