Gothadelphia

Ah the "City of brotherly love", if you've never been here, here are my favorite things about my home town and reasons to visit. First off, if you are not from the north east, Philly can be a bit of a culture shock. This city has a personality all its own. Maybe its an inferiority complex gone a rye from being the little brother to New York it's whole life, but Philadelphia has a certain attitude you wont find anywhere else in the country. It's very sarcastic and tough. Not the kind of place you're going to get jumped or held up on the street, but a random person MAY come up and make fun of you. This place doesn't have a frown or a smile, Philly has a constant smirk on its collective face. It's a very ethnically and culturally diverse place and that shows constantly, it melts together nicely while still keeping its own sections as well for you're ill' flavors of culture. The Italian Market, Chinatown, Olde City, are all very unique and each have their own draw for someone that just wants to walk around and travel through American history. Some streets still lined with cobblestones and fake oil lamps (now electric) this place has a vibe that sends you back to early America instantly while still being one of the most modern cities in the world. The architecture is amazing. On any given weekday you can still walk through Olde City and hear the sounds of "Fur Elise" or "Green sleeves" being played on a Recorder.

That being said, of course you can go to Independence Hall or go see the Liberty Bell or any one of a number of historical American landmarks, however I figured I'd write more about what there is to do for the Gothic Industrial crowd.


The Muter Museum: For all you sickos out there, this is your home. This is a medical mistakes and errors museum located in center city. Two floors of diseases, plague, failed fetus's, and conjoined twins. Oversized Giants and the smallest human skeletons ever found line the glass cases. This is a very unique experience that everyone should check out at least once.

South Street: This famous shopping area is a great place to meet up and to find that odd or obscure item you've been searching for. The main stores to check out are

Digital Ferret (5th street off south) : This is your dream store, they stock almost exclusively Gothic and Industrial (Ebm, Synthpop, you know the deal) Compact Discs, Vinyl, Books, Magazines, T-shirts, and Dvds/Video.

Armed and Dangerous (4th street off south): This somewhat overpriced store is not for everyone wandering around on the street, however does make a good place to just walk through and look at stuff. Mostly jewelry and clothing of a very ubergothy nature. Good place to buy that expensive unique gift for that special ghoul or rivet in your life.

Zipperhead (between 3rd and 4th on South): PUNK RAWK! This store is THEE Zipperhead mentioned in the famous 80s song "Punk Rock Girl" by the Dead Milkmen. This is a punk rock icon and a must stop place for any proper tour of Philadelphia. Great place to find that obscure Dead boys or Alien Sex Fiend shirt you've been looking for or to get a purse covered in rubber spikes to match the feather boa you bought down the street.

Space boy Music (between 3rd and 4th on South):: A small CD and Record store next to Zipperhead, this place isn't the best in the world but the Vinyl section upstairs is known to often house some real gems none the less and their prices are good. I've personally found Cure, Sisters, Specimen, Sex Gang, Virgin Prunes, Tones on Tail, Bauhaus, and even Skinny Puppy records mixed in upstairs. So it's a good place to stop by.

Pizzeria Uno( 2nd street off south): Good pizza, descent prices, good atmosphere. Thursday Nights they have an Open Mic night which is free and they serve alcohol so if you find bad poetry and acoustic live performances interesting, it's something to do, however going to Conduit in Trenton is a better idea for Thursdays.

South Street Diner (between Front and 2nd street on South): Descent food, high prices, however this is the place to be after a club during the summer as the entire scene tends to descend on this place around 2am. The diner just went from being 24hrs to closing at 3am however, I'm not sure that will last once the weather is warmer and the kiddies aren't in school.

Fetish Boutique (5th street off south): Corsets and sex toys galore. Expensive but unique items can be found here as well.

Manayunk Diner (Mainstreet Manayunk) Though not goth, best diner in the city and a great place to hang out. Im there all the time.

Everything else you can just find by walking up and down the street, make sure to go down the side streets too especially between 2nd and 6th for more stores.

THE REST OF THE CITY
The Rodan Museum: Ill review this as soon as i remember to go.

The Art Museum: Walk around outside for hours, down by the water or boathouse Row, or go inside and look at eons of masterpeices and history of the worlds finest art.

Boathouse Row: another area near the Museum, not exactly "gothy" but just very pretty to walk around and look at, especially while driving on 76 west. This is a line of Victorian houses on the Schukille river that have been lit up with white lights (like Xmas Lights) year round and they reflect beautifully in the water to bring you back to a magical time that may or may not have ever existed.

New Hope: Suburb of Philly about 25 minutes north of the city, Great place for walking around and shopping in the summer.

Medieval Gallery
20 S Main St
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-4800

Things you cant actually GO to but were proud are Philly based:

Metropolis Records

Dancing Ferret Records

Isolation Tank Mail order.

Concert Venues :

Electric Factory (7th between Callow hill and Spring garden) - Medium Sized venue, good for bands that are too big to be playing there and are doing an "intimate show", some of the best Manson and Tool shows I have seen were here as well as the phenomenal shows by Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy in the late 90s.

The Trocadero: I hate this place now due to their no smoking policy and try to avoid it whenever possible, however… When you're favorite band is playing the Troc, they're may not be a better venue in the country to see them in. Mindless Self Indulgence wrecked this place in one of the better shows I've ever seen earlier this year.

The Theater of the Living Arts (TLA): A great place to see a medium sized band, no frills venue located conviently in the middle of South Street across from Zipperhead.

E-center: Great place to see an outdoor show during the summer, completely useless during the winter due to its general shittyness indoors. This is where you go to see Area 2. Bowie and Moby both were incredible.

Pontiac Grille and others: small little venues for unknown's, local's or soon to be HUGE acts, check the Citypaper to see whose playing where and when. Tool, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hole, Korn and Rasputina all played Pontiac Grill before they were anyone.

Clubs:

PA law prohibits bars from staying open past 2am, so most close early except Evolution which fluctuates due to being a private members club (which means nothing other than it can stay open later, you don't need a membership)

Shampoo (Nocturne, 7th and Willow across from the Electric Factory): --Weekly all ages, 21 To drink WEDNESDAY nights. --Our Main club, resident DJ's are DJ Knobbhead (djknobbhead.com) and DJ John Gill with occasional guests now and then. This is the club you want to go to first and foremost if you want to experience the Philly scene. Upstairs is all ages with a main floor as well as the 80s room (Outside tent during the summer). Downstairs is 21+ and is much plusher and more conducive to conversation. A Dancing Ferret Event. http://www.ferret.com/nocturne/nocturne.htm

Emerald City : Knobby Monday Nights (More info coming ) http://www.emeraldcityphila.com

Ulanas: 2nd and Bainbridge, 21+ SATURDAY NIGHTS "Dark Corner". I personally dread this place like a disease, so I go to NYC on Saturdays whenever possible. If there's nothing else to do, its usually better than going to a movie but just slightly. A good place to go if you're one of those over 21 types that hates all the 'kiddies' in the scene, whom I tend to love and prefer. They do a good job trying to make this night good, I just never seem to have any sorta fun there, I guess it's me that sucks, you go and decide for yourself. A Thirteenth Child Event

Tribecca: www.phillyrevolution.com

That other new Night.

Monthlies and Quarterlies:

The Gathering (1-5 so far): bi monthly special event at Evolution, not that much different except more people, vendors and performances. A good time always.

Dracula's Ball: Tri monthly Dancing Ferret Event, bands, vendors, tons of people, always fun and worth a visit. Sometimes held at Club Egypt, sometimes Shampoo, sometimes the Troc. The ones at Egypt have been the best so far.

Shock Therapy: First Friday of every month at TPDS Club (12th and Sansom), Over 21, very fetish oriented gothic industrial night run by Octavio. Fun sometimes, good for people watching and girls in bondage. Humor Value is high here.

Vesago: random, also run by Octavio, usually all ages, last one was at Shampoo, usually a very good time and worth checking out if you're around when there is one. VERY diverse music lineup ranging from glam to punk to industrial to Deathrock and Goth.

Dark Arts: Never been, No clue.

Revolution: www.phillyrevolution.com

Weekly Schedule:

Monday: Emerald City

Tuesday: Nothing, rent a movie or go get laid.

Wednesday: Shampoo (Nocturne)

Thursday: ???? Pizzeria Uno's Open Mic

Friday: Oddly Nothing exciting on a regular basis, every first Friday of the Month is Shock Therapy.

Saturday: Go to New York, Tell Anthony at Downtime you're a friend of Jeff's and you want to be on the reduced list to get in. Or stay in Philly and go to Ulanas. Always check flyers from Shampoo or Citypaper to see if there is a better option or special event first.

Sunday:
Fast Cheap and Outta Control ( Free punk-y, at Fluid)

 

MORE INFO AT

http://www.phillygoth.com