Dear FSGA Attendees,

On behalf of myself (Alexandra) and my colleague Matt Musilli, it is our distinct pleasure to welcome you to the City of Brotherly Love….despite what you hear about our sports fans. We are a city of neighbors. We look out for one another, and we deeply care for our own.

Philadelphia fans – especially Eagles/Phillies – are a special breed. We’re diehard. And it wasn’t until I visited so many other major cities in our country that I could understand why…

It is because 8 out of 10 people (if not more) that you meet in Philadelphia will be born and raised here (like me). Philadelphia is NOT a transplant city, like so many others. So it means your parents and your grandparents and great grandparents and so forth were also from here. Thus our fandom is generationally engrained, and why we are perhaps a bit…intense - so forgive us for being a little passionate!

To understand us a bit more, I recommend reading this article about how we grew to love our bizarre Flyers mascot, Gritty: A Gritty Story: How Flyers Mascot Went from Loathed to Lovable Symbol of Philly.

You couldn’t have picked a busier year to visit! We’re hosting the FIFA World Cup games. We’re hosting the MLB All Star game (July 14th). And of course, we’re busy celebrating America’s 250th (semi-quincentennial) birthday. 

The History

Philly is one of the most under-appreciated cities. It is the birthplace of the American democracy and one of the most historically rich, culturally vibrant cities in the nation. The name of “The City of Brotherly Love” comes directly from its Greek roots — "Philadelphia" is a combination of two Greek words: philos (loving or dear) and adelphos (brother). Put them together and you get "brotherly love." This was chosen by William Penn when he founded the city in 1682.

The Declaration of Independence was signed here at Independence Hall (a great historical site to visit), almost exactly 250 years ago on July 4^th, 1776. This is also the same city where the U.S. Constitution was drafted, and the First and Second Continental Congresses were hosted. Philly served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800.

Just a stones throw from Independence Hall you can visit the historic Liberty Bell. It was originally commissioned to commemorate William Penn's Charter of Privileges and was rung to announce significant events, including the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was just the State House Bell until abolitionists dubbed it the "Liberty Bell" in the 1830s as a symbol of the anti-slavery movement. That bell cracked on the first test ring.

The Betsy Ross Flag was created here in 1776 as well. It's named after Betsy Ross, who is credited with sewing the first version of the American flag (though there’s some debate). The design is a Symbol of Unity and Freedom: The 13 stars and stripes on the flag represent the 13 original colonies that fought for independence from Britain.

The Philadelphia Zoo (a drive from downtown), was the first zoo in the country, opened in 1874, and continues to be a leader in animal care, research, and conservation today.

Philly hosted the first stock exchange (before Wall Street) and the first insurance company. The 401k was created here (by my company, JKJ!).

Today the city boasts a population of about 1.5 million people. 

Places to See

• Philadelphia Museum of Art - famous for its "Rocky Steps," this museum houses centuries of global art and culture. This is just a hundred yards from the famous Boathouse Row.
• The Liberty Bell & Independence Hall
• Museum of the American Revolution
• Old City Hall - once home to the U.S. Supreme Court, it's a piece of early American government history.
• Betsy Ross House
• Mural Arts Tour - we have a unique and significant number of mural arts throughout the city.
• The National Constitution Center
• Eastern State Penitentiary - a historic prison that is now a national historic landmark, it once housed famous prisoners like Al Capone and Willie Sutton. Self-guided tours available.
• Reading Terminal Market - one of the most celebrated marketplaces in the country.
• LOVE Statue/LOVE Park - an iconic piece of art in center city.
• Citizen Bank Park - home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Subaru Park - home of the MLS Philadelphia Union (a 30 min drive).

Food/Drinks

We take our food seriously. The most noteworthy cuisines in Philadelphia are our Italian, Steakhouses, Lebanese & Israeli, and of course…cheesesteaks. Fun fact 🧀 A quintessential Philadelphia food, the cheesesteak’s founding is credited to hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri in the 1930s. Initially, the sandwich was a simple creation of grilled beef on an Italian roll, but cheese wasn't added until the 1940s, with provolone being the first choice. Pat's King of Steaks, founded by Olivieri, remains a popular spot for cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, and the sandwich. It is caddy-corner to its biggest competitor, Geno’s.  Be prepared to order yours with “wiz” cheese and “wit or witout” onions.

However….locals don’t go to either of these spots. If you want one of the best Cheesesteaks in the city, head to Angelo’s on 736 S. 9^th Street. Otherwise to stay downtown, hit DiNic’s in the Reading Terminal Market.

For some incredible Italian, go to The Saloon near the Italian Market, at 750 S 7^th Street. Make a reservation in advance.

Looking for something upscale and spectacular, either book a meal or grab a drink at the new Four Seasons, which is on the top floors of the Comcast center skyscraper. The views are remarkable. Also need a reservation in advance, or just hit the bar for a drink (but go early!)

Another incredible dining experience, go to Zahav where you will be served the chef’s tasting menu of award-winning Israeli cuisine.

For an amazing steakhouse experience, hit either Barclay Prime, Alpen Rose, or Butcher & Singer. For great Asian, go to either Dan Dan or Double Knot.

Unlike NYC, Philly does actually sleep. Bars stop serving alcohol by 2am. If you find yourself wanting to go out to a bar with a guaranteed good vibe any night of the week – do yourself a favor and go to McGillin’s Olde Ale House at 1310 Drury Street – which also happens to be the oldest continuously operating bar in Philadelphia (and the fifth oldest in the country). For some good bar food/wings and if you are sick of McGillan’s – hit Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse sports bar. 

Sports Lore: The Curse of Billy Penn

William Penn, our founder, is the statue that stands atop City Hall (at a whopping 37’ tall), placed there in 1894. For the next century, there was a rule that no building was to be built taller than Billy Penn. However, in 1987, the One Liberty Place skyscraper was built, exceeding the height of Billy Penn and starting a sports championship drought in Philadelphia. Philly won no championships in any professional sports for 21 years. During that stretch, the Eagles lost multiple NFC Championships, the Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997, and the 76ers made the NBA Finals in 2001 but lost.

In 2007, when Comcast was building its new corporate headquarters — which would become the tallest building in Philadelphia — a Comcast executive suggested placing a miniature statue of Penn on the highest beam to restore Billy Penn to his rightful place atop the skyline.

It worked. The curse ended on October 29, 2008, when the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series — just over a year after the Penn statuette was affixed to the Comcast Center's final beam.

The same thing happened again, the second Comcast tower was built and finished in late 2017. Comcast again placed a mini-Billy Penn statue at the top. And the Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LII that following February of 2018.

Lesson: don’t mess with Billy Penn. (And maybe build more skyscrapers) 

Pop Culture

We have no shortage of famous people and movies here. Some of our most famous movies include Rocky (duh), The Sixth Sense, Silver Linings Playbook, Witness, Unbreakable, Philadelphia, Trading Places. The biggest TV shows include It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,  and Abbott Elementary. Some of our most famous people include Kobe Bryant, Taylor Swift, Pink, Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Meek Mill, Bradley Cooper, Rob McElhenny, Tina Fey, and M. Nigh Shyamalan. Oh and Ben Franklin -though he wasn’t born here he spent most of his adult life and is buried here. 

We hope this letter gives you a taste of the extraordinary city that will be your home for a few days. For any additional recommendations, feel free to reach out as we really hope you get to enjoy this city that we love so much.

Go Birds,
Alexandra Bretschneider
Vice President, Cyber Practice Leader, Commercial Insurance

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