The violent, the brutal and the criminally insane!! Even though this historical prison has been closed for decades some say the souls of its inmates still linger waiting to strike fear into the hearts of those who enter. This is probably why Eastern State Penitentiary has one of the most celebrated haunted houses in the country. Each fall ESP opens its doors in the evenings to let in the thrill seekers who are looking to get the socks scared off them.  Terror Behind the Walls opened its doors on September 17th and will be open to patrons until November 6th. Tickets are available online for anyone who is interested in experiencing nightmares.

However, if you’re a bit of a scaredy cat and don’t think you can handle the haunted house side of it, you’re not alone. Eastern State Penitentiary is open to visitors during the day. You will learn all about this notorious prison’s history as well as the famous people who stayed there. ESP is still a little creepy even in the daylight so make sure you bring someone you can hold on to.

For more information visit the website below:

http://www.easternstate.org/

As the leaves start to change and the temperature starts to drop, spirits begin to rise because that can only mean one thing…Bloktoberfest!

This unique celebration combines the spirit of Oktoberfest with the soul of a genuine Philly block party. Not only is this event going to be loads of fun but the proceeds are going to the preservation of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Is there any higher calling than drinking for a good cause?  I didn’t think so.

Trying unique oktoberfest brews from the eleven breweries represented will be fun, but if you think that’s the only thing to do then you are sadly mistaken my dear friend. There will be food available from Philly’s finest food trucks and music you can rock out to.

If you need a place to rest your weary head then come to the Independent Hotel and we’ll set you up with a comfortable bed and a good night’s sleep. Both the Independent and Bloktoberfest are close to public transportation so you don’t have to worry about driving and parking on those crazy South Philly streets.

When: October 16th,  12pm-8pm

Where: Christian Street between 20th and 21st Sts

How Much: Free admission, a beer pass is needed to drink ($10/$12 for three drink tickets)

For more information check out the website below: 

http://www.bloktoberfestphilly.com/2010/

Come on down to Outfest 2010! Organized by Philly Pride, this block party celebrates National Coming Out Day with music, dancing and events for everyone. Oh and guess what…The Independent Hotel is right at the heart of it!!

The main stage will be set up at the intersection of 13th and Locust Sts so we will have a front row seat to some of the most entertaining and exciting LGBT acts. Outfest is one of the biggest LGBT events in the city and provides community members with an opportunity to connect and network with each other.

When: Sunday, October 10, 2010 between noon and 7pm

Where: Philadelphia’s Gayborhood (between Walnut & Pine Sts and Juniper &12th Sts)

Check out the Philly Pride site and get more details about the event.

http://www.phillypride.org/events.html

Just when you thought Philly couldn’t get any more interesting…they open a casino!

Sugarhouse officially opened its doors on September 23rd and being located at 1001 N. Delaware Ave makes it Philly’s first casino. For those of you new to the gaming scene you can try your luck with one of it’s many slot machines. But for the rest of you who are on a first name basis with Lady Luck there are table games galore.

They’ve made it so easy to visit them that they’ll even pick you up from several locations in center city and bring you right to their front door via the Sugar Express. So if you’re out to dinner with some friends and don’t know what to do next. Head over to one of the Sugar Express stops and make your way up to the casino for some drinks and a chance to win big.

Feeling Lucky? Come to Philly and stay for a while. Winning big can be exhausting so stay overnight at the Independent Hotel and relax.

Still not sure about coming down? Well, let me sweeten the deal for you…

Follow the link below to the Independent Hotel’s website and receive 20% off your stay when you come to town and visit Sugarhouse Casino.

http://reservations.SugarHouseCasinoGrandOpening.TheIndependentHotelExclusive

For more information on Sugarhouse Casino and the Sugar Express visit their website posted below:

http://www.sugarhousecasino.com/

The New York Times has done it again. They took a bustling city filled with hundreds of attractions and broke it down so that even the busiest of people can experience the things locals do everyday.

Lucky for you they came up with an itinerary for the City of Brotherly Love. And lucky for us we are featured! The link posted below will bring you to the NYT article that highlights some of Philly’s most fun and interesting spots.

We hope to see you soon!!!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/travel/10hours.html

This summer, Philadelphia is celebrating its vibrant “Gayborhood” with two weeks of events, taking place from Saturday, July 10 through Saturday, July 24. Dubbed There’s No Place Like Home, the two-week celebration features a ribbon-cutting ceremony, block party, photo exhibit and over 20 special offers. The celebration will take place concurrently with QFEST – Philadelphia’s LGBT Film Festival.

Since its inception in the 1970s—when the gay community began migrating from west of Broad Street near Rittenhouse Square to its current location on the east side of Broad around 12th Street—Philadelphia’s “Gayborhood” has developed into an impressive cultural, retail and dining destination. Over the last two years, the neighborhood has welcomed many new businesses, renovations and developments, and July’s celebration will recognize the efforts of the business owners, non-profit organizations, public officials, residents and visitors who invested time, passion and resources to make the ‘Gayborhood’ a dynamic, thriving city enclave.

Special Events:

• Southwest Airlines’ “Grand Reopening” Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Saturday, July 10, 4:00 p.m., in front ofThe Independent Hotel (1234 Locust St). Featuring a press conference and an appearance by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, this is the official kick-off of the “Gayborhood” celebration.

• Opening Reception: Celebrate at Q Lounge + Kitchen immediately after the press conference on Saturday, July 10th.

• QFEST Film Screening: Following the press conference on Saturday, July 10 at 6 PM, bars throughout the “Gayborhood” will play the documentary film “Welcome to the Gayborhood” simultaneously.

• Gayborhood Photo Retrospective: Opening Saturday, July 10 and running through July 24 at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street. This photo exhibit will display images from phases in the historic evolution of the “Gayborhood.”

• Wells Fargo’s “Gayborhood” Block Party: Sunday, July 11 from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - 13th Street between Locust & Walnut Streets and Camac Street between Locust & Spruce Streets. Local businesses, organizations and vendors will participate in this entertaining and unique, outdoor community-building event.

• Re-Launch T-Dance with Dj Roland Belmares: Sunday, July 11 from 4:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. at Voyeur Nightclub – 1221 St. James Street.

Rainbow Discount Pass Deals:

• Voyeur Nightclub: Save $5.00 on admission to “Re-Launch with Dj Roland Belmares” on Sunday, July 11th – 1221 St. James Street – voyeurnightclub.com

• Absolute Pop: Save 15% on purchases – 137 S. 13th Street – absolutepopart.com

• IHOP: Save 20% on your bill – 1320 Walnut Street at Juniper Street – ihop.com

• Ettore Salon & Spa: Save 25% off any service (not valid with any other discount) – 1201 Market Street at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel – ettorespa.com

• Q Lounge + Kitchen: Save 15% on dining bill and $2 off all Happy Hour drinks (excluding existing happy hour specials) – qphilly.com

• T Bar: Save 15% on food and drink – 117 S. 12th Street – tbarteas.com

• Woody’s: Free admission to the dance floor before midnight, save 20% on food, save $2.00 on all call and premium Happy Hour drinks – 202 S. 13th Street – woodysbar.com

• 12th Air Command: Free admission to the dance floor on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights – 254 S. 12th Street – 12thair.com

• El Vez: Save 10% of your food - 121 S. 13th Street – elvezrestaurant.com

• Blue Lotus Gallery: Buy one and save 50% on the second item of equal or greater value – 111 S. 12th Street – bluelotusgallery.com

• Fruits, Flowers, Incredibly Edible Delites: Save $5.00 on your purchase – 135 S. 13th Street - fruitflowers.com

• Stir Lounge: Save $2.00 on drinks (excludes Happy Hour specials) – 1705 Chancellor Street – stirphilly.com

• The Independent Hotel: Save $40 on all available room rates – 1234 Locus Street – theindependenthotel.com

• Philadelphia Movie Sites Tour: Save $7 or 20% on all tours booked – departs at the Independence Visitors Center - 6th & Market Streets – moviesitestour.com

• Duross & Langel: Save 25% on all Duross & Langel hand made soaps – 117 South 13th Street - durossandlangel.com

• XIII on 13: Save 13% on all purchases – 211 South 13th Street

• 13th Street Pizza: Free large fountain soda with any purchase – 209 South 13th Street – 13thstreetpizza.com

• Giovanni’s Room: Save 10% on purchases (not in addition to any other equal or greater discount) – 345 S. 12th Street – queerbooks.com

• K Salon: Save $5.00 on haircuts ($25.00 - $35.00 range) and receive a complimentary bottle of shampoo or styling product – 1216 Locust Street

• Tabu: Save 20% on food and $3.00 drafts all day/every day – 200 S. 12th Street – tabuphilly.com

• Valanni: Save 10% on your bill (excludes tax & gratuity) – 1229 Spruce Street – valanni.com

• Charlie Salon: Save 40% on haircuts – 203 S. 12th Street

• 12th Street Gym: Purchase 1 day pass and get a 2nd pass FREE – 204 S. 12th Street – 12thstreetgym.com

• Soleil Tanning Salon: 20% off one Advanced Tan – 202 S. 12th Street – soleiltanningservices.com

• Holiday Inn Express Midtown: $119.00 rate (plus tax), includes a deluxe continental breakfast, passes to Bally Total Fitness and free wireless internet – 1305 Walnut Street – himidtown.com

• Solefood at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel: Save 15% on lunch or dinner (excluding alcohol and tax) – 1200 Market Street – loewshotels.com

• Tavern on Camac: Save $2.00 on all drinks (excluding Happy Hour) – 243 S. Camac Street – tavernoncamac.com

• Andre Richard Salon - Save 10% off haircuts - 1218 Locust Street - andrerichardsalon.com

• Jake’s Sandwich Board: Save 10% off you order – 122 S. 12th Street - jakessandwichboard.com

• The Wardrobe Boutique: Save 10% on one item in the store (excludes designer items) – 1822 Spring Garden Street

For more information, please visit:

www.facebook.com/visitgayphilly

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to resolve their stress which has worned them down, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to vacation!!

…and Vacation you shall!

Come to Philadelphia to celebrate our Nation’s birth in the only true way it can be celebrated…in the location of it’s actual birth!  While visiting the city, and staying with all of us here at The Independent, you’re only a few steps away from the Independence Mall National Park, and Philadelphia Art Museum, and Rittenhouse Square (the prime locations to celebrate the parturition). 

Wawa presents welcome AMERICA Philadelphia, the official celebration of the 234th Birthday of the United States of America.  From June 25th, 2010 - July 5th, 2010, there is just a revolutionary-size amount of cool things to do.  The 25th kicks of “Taste of Philadelphia”, followed by an amazing night on the 26th, when the city will provide free fireworks, and a free concert that boasts Morris Day & The Time (funk included).  Join Morris Day, Jellybean Johnson, and the others of the iconic band as they run down their hits from the ’80s and ’90s to give you a funkadelic time.

Over the next few days, relax and enjoy the city, and during the next three evenings, enjoy a movie under the stars at Rittenhouse Square, the Art Museum, or Penn’s Landing, where movies such as Grease, Rocky, and Avatar will be screened for the crowds.  Guess what?!?!  They’re free…

Then, on the 3rd and 4th, really get in the patriotic mood and have fun at the city block party in Chinatown, all culminating with Goo Goo Dolls providing the star-power to the celebration on the night of the 4th, followed by probably the most impressive fireworks display presented anywhere from sea to shining sea.

Sooooooo, what are you waiting for?  If you have finished reading this and have not yet booked your stay with us you better start moving…we’ll wait…

…

…all booked and ready to go?  Good.  We’ll see you soon! 

Book a 10-day Advanced Purchase for a discounted rate (please note, Advanced Purchases are non-refundable, non-canceable, and non-changeable reservations that are pre-paid and charged on the day they are booked).  Time is running out for that great rate, so hurry!!

For more information on welcome AMERICA Philadelphia, please visit:

www.WelcomeAmerica.com

Advancing GLBT Rights.

1964 marked an extremely imporant milestone in American History, and the world, for rights of human beings.  First lauded by the late President John F. Kennedy as new era for America, the Civil Rights Act was a major legislative accomplishment for the country, and it continues to this day as one.  Began by Kennedy, and seen through by the late President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was, and still is, missing an extemely imporant part of equality within its wording in America…sexual orientation.

It wasn’t until October 28th, 2009 (not even 6 months) that the Matthew Shepard Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama.  Although this law challenges the legality of hate-crimes as extended to the GLBT community, it still doesn’t challenge the inequality of rights for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Americans pertaining to discrimination.  Technically, a person of homosexual orientation can be denied services within an establishment, and there is no legal backing oppossing such acts of discrimination.  Members of the same sex are not legally allowed to enter into a marital agreement (with the exception of a few states, but not on a federal level), and up until this Census, there was no choice for a citizen to identify his or herself as a homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered individual.

Enter the Equality Forum in Philadelphia.  For a few days in the middle of spring, healthy debate, initiatives, idea-sharing, and overall fun is shared amongst the GLBT community.

From April 26th until May 2nd of this year, visit Philadelphia to support equal rights for the GLBT community.  Join community leaders, organizers, fellow members and supporters of the GLBT community, politicians, artists, and be witness to one of the most peaceful, organized, and interesting forums in the world.

Experience a special GLBT art exhibit, a special performance by Brian Sanders, panel discussions, fun parties around town, and mingle with the city’s GLBT community during this week. 

Situated within the “Gayborhood” of Philadelphia, and near every single location involved in the forum, The Independent Hotel is the perfect place to stay during this impressive gathering of GLBT supporters.  Stay with us and enjoy the greatness of Center City, complimentary wine and cheese Mondays through Thursdays, complimentary internet, phone calls, DirecTV, and complimentary breakfast while visiting.  We’ll have you prepared, from start to finish, for each event, meeting, panel, and party the Equality Forum has to offer.  You’ll be steps away from every event the forum has to offer.

You’ll have to hurry, because our rooms won’t last long.  Book your room today, and enjoy the 2010 Equality Forum how it’s supposed to be!

For more information on the 2010 Equality Forum, please visit:

http://www.equalityforum.com

To review availability, rates, and book your room, visit our website:

http://www.theindependenthotel.com

Spring is a peculiar time of year.  This season has many traditions and generational meanings attached to it, and that means there is always something new to discover.  Before it was known as Spring, this particular season was known as Lengten, or, Lenten.  This word literally means “Lengthen”.  As the days get longer, and the ground starts to sprout new life, the season moves steadily along, helping all of us forget the misery that sometimes is Winter.

As the Winter season comes to a close, the snow melts, and the ground begins to sprout, there is a buzz in the air around the city of Philadelphia.  Sure, that could just be the harassing bee announcing his presence in your ear, but it could also be the City of Brotherly Love whispering to you:”Visit Me”.

We, here at the Independent Hotel, know all too well how many great specialties the city has to offer during this season of rebirth.  That is why we would be ecstatic to welcome you to the city of Philadelphia during this most beautiful of seasons.

Island life is great in the winter, but in the Spring there is just too much the city offers for you to pass over.  In just a few short weeks our boys of summer, the Philadelphia Phillies, will be officially kicking off their season on April 12th at 3:05P.M. at Citizen’s Bank Park against the Washington Nationals for their home opener.  Staying in the heart of the city, enjoy a walk, some shopping, and some breakfast or lunch, and then in the late afternoon head down to the ballpark to witness the defending National League Champions in action!

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=phi

Miss the flower show earlier in the year?  Have no fear, Macy’s will come through for you for only the second time in its history as it hosts its 2nd Annual Flower show between March 28th and April 11th.  With Macy’s just a few short blocks away from the Independent, it’s almost too convenient!

Take advantage of one of spectacular packages.  The Ancient Rome and America exhibit at the National Constitution Center (also located almost too conveniently from the Independent) is appearing through August 1st.  This package will truly make you feel like a V.I.P.  This includes accommodations at the Independent, two V.I.P. Passes to the Ancient Rome and America exhibit, which includes access to the award-winning theatrical performance “Freedom Rising” and Singer’s Hall.

http://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/p_prod.cfm?HotelID=15322&ProdID=264764&killcookie=1&LanguageID=1

Feeling charitable?  On April 29th, what many consider the busiest restaurant night of the year (and the most important) is Dining out for Life.  With most of the city’s greatest and most popular restaurants within walking distance of the Independent, make a night out of it and help fight A.I.D.S. by dining out within the city.  Every participating restaurant will donate 33% of the cost of your meal to help fight the virus.  For a list of participating restaurants, and to discover which ones are closest to us, please visit:

http://www.diningoutforlife.com/philadelphia/participating

Located right off Broad Street, the Independent is a great place for you to relax and prepare for the annual Broad Street Run.  This 10-mile run will allow the most competitive, and leisurely runners to enjoy the great sights and history of the city while jogging down broad street.  After you’re finished, unwind with us at the Independent on May 2nd!

Want to the see the Olympians of tomorrow?  Visit the city and stay with us while you attend the Penn Relays.  The Penn Relays are the single most important amateur track and field event in the country.  Witness the athletes who may one day wear the gold right here in our backyard.  Join us during April 22nd through the 24th.  After becoming tired with all the daily activity, unwind with us on property for the complimentary Guest Reception that features our wine picks and cheeses.

Even though it is now known as ‘Spring’, this great season boasts a lot of great opportunities to explore new things.  Philadelphia can be an old friend, or a new acquaintance…no matter, visit the beautiful, historic city and ‘Lengten’ your senses to something truly wonderful.  The Independent is here to welcome you with open arms.