Diversity Rules Magazine

3 Diversity Rules Magazine September 2018 e first time I visited Philadel- phia was for last year's NLGJA conference and to be perfectly honest, I really didn't think much of the city. e main reason for my feeling was mostly because I was stuck in a hotel conference room most of my stay. Apart from brief visits to the Liberty Bell, In- dependence Hall and e Rocky Stairs, aka, the Philadelphia Art Museum, I really didn't have the opportunity to explore the city. Fast forward almost 1 year later and I found myself in the City of Brotherly Love once again. is time was for pleasure, not work, so I knew my experience would be drastically different than my last. And I was right! I stayed at the Cambria Ho- tel & Suites, which is located pretty much in the heart of the city. What I like most about the city is its walk- ability. e property is brand new, and the amenities are very nice. Most rooms offer great views of the city, but its biggest asset is the location. I began my stay in Philly with a trip to the Liberty One Observation Deck. Not only is it atop one of the city's most iconic buildings, but it will also give you the chance to get yourself oriented and familiar with the city. I always like to view a city from an observa- tion tower when I first arrive as it tends to help me navigate easier. I recommend visiting Maison 208 for dinner. e gorgeous, two-floor restau- rant from Top Chef contestant Sylva Senat stands out in Midtown Village's dining scene—and not just because of its spacious design and retractable roof, the only one in the city. Maison's New American menu offers cleverly chic updates on American dishes. e cock- tail list includes delicious concoctions such as the "black rose," made with vermouth-and-blackberry and dressed with rosemary. After dinner, head to the Gayborhood. Yes, that's the actual name of their gay neighborhood. ere are doz- ens of gay nightlife venues in this part of town so and it's almost impossible to visit them all. Usually I like to highlight a few venues that I enjoyed, but Phila- delphia's Gayborhood really offers so many nightlife options that it's hard to focus on just one or two. ere really is something for everyone. If you aren't hungover the fol- lowing morning, I suggest wak- ing up early, grabbing a nice breakfast at the hotel's restaurant Social Circle and then walking up Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Art Museum and the famed Rocky Stairs. You will see dozens of folks reenacting the Rocky scene, so don't be embarrassed if you want to run up the stairs as well. e top of the stairs also offers a great view of the city. e Philadelphia Museum of Art is the third-largest art museum in the country and houses an extraordinary collection that spans 2,000 years of artistic achieve- ment. A one-acre garden features an ever-changing selection of sculpture. During my visit, the museum was exhibiting Keith Smith at Home, the first major monographic exhibition in 50 years of the work of Keith Smith, an American book- maker, photographer and craft-centered artist. Smith's highly personal pieces deal with his home, coming out and change. e museum library's accompanying exhi- bition explores Smith's book- making process. Along the way, swing by the Rodin Museum, home Philly - Con't on page 7 Pride Journeys Philadelphia By Joey Amato

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