By Hunter R. Slaton

1

Le Méridien Philadelphia www.lemeridien.com /philadelphia

Philadelphia has more than 10,000

hotel rooms in Center City alone—and 202 of the most stylish of these are claimed by Le Méridien Philadelphia, housed within a 10- story, Georgian Revival structure that was origi- nally aYMCA.Situated less than one block from the Pennsylvania Con- vention Center, this vibrantly elegant bou- tique hotel has 5,000 square feet of meeting space all its own.

2

Distrito www.distrito restaurant.com

In its appearance, Distrito is all piña-

ta hot-pinks and -blues, featuring a full wall of shiny luchador (Mexican wrestler) masks—yet the décor still doesn’t overshadow the restau- rant’s addictive “modern Mexican” cuisine:The mahi mahi tacos with chipotle remoulade are one local favorite. Distrito has a variety of spaces available for a private dinner or reception.

3

ReadingTerminal Market www.reading terminalmarket.org

The Pennsylvania Convention Center

has an ideal next-door neighbor in ReadingTer- minal Market,a bustling indoor farmer’s market that originally opened in

4

Mural Mile Walking Tour http://muralarts.org /tour

One of Philadel- phia’s nicknames

1892.Today, the market ishometo more than 80 vendors, offering every- thing from Pennsylvania Dutch breakfasts to some of the best Cajun and Creole food outside of Louisiana, atBeck’s Cajun Cafe.

www.pcma.org

is “the City of Murals”— and you’ll see why on this walking tour of “Mural Mile,” which visits 17 Center City murals that run the gamut in terms of style and subject matter. From a tribute to Jackie Robinson to an iconic Buffalo Soldier on horse- back, with the setting sun behind him, these murals are an artful way to experience the city. Private group tours are also available.

5

Independence National Historical Park www.nps.gov/inde

Independence National Historical

Park,hometo the UNESCOWorld Heritage Site Independence Hall, is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were hammered out and ratified.This 55-acre park—dubbed “Ameri- ca’s most historic square mile”—also encompasses Benjamin Franklin’s grave and the Liberty Bell.

pcmaconvene January 2012

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MAP BY JIM McMAHON

June 25–July 4, 2012

WawaWelcomeAmerica www.welcomeamerica.com WawaWelcomeAmerica is a two-week-longparty incelebrationofAmerica’s independence.Culmi- nating inaparade,concert,andfireworksdisplay onJuly 4, the festival inyearspasthas featured otherhighlights including“WawaHoagieDay,”dur- ingwhich150 employees fromthe festival’s con- venience-store sponsorbuilt a 4.5-tonhoagie sand- wich—half Italian,half turkey, forpicky eaters.