Top Date Ideas For Art Lovers In Philadelphia
Art evokes different feelings based on your perspective and the intention of the artist. If you enjoy it, you can find a wide variety of styles and techniques throughout the city and art in many forms. Whether you love paintings, sculptures or music and murals, here are some of the top places you can visit in Philly.
The Bourse Food Court
111 S. Independence Mall E.
Philadelphia, PA. 19106
(215) 625-0300
www.bourse-pa.com
Most dates include getting something to eat. For some art with your meal, check out the historic Bourse Building on Independence Mall East. Designed by the Hewitt Brothers in the late 1800s, the Bourse served as one of the original stock exchanges and was converted in 1982 to what it is today. Much of the building has stayed the same, and even with new technology, shops and eateries, the beauty is still there. Stop here for an inexpensive lunch during your art excursion.
Love Park (JFK Plaza)
1599 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 683-0246
www.ushistory.org/lovepark
Love Park is an excellent (and free!) choice for those who love public art and are on a budget. The 1976 Love sculpture by Robert Indiana is a national icon. Couples can enjoy strolling the park, visiting the welcome center, shopping or grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks often parked on site. But the real reason to go, obviously, is to just enjoy each other's company.
Mural Arts Project
The Gallery at Market E.
901 Market St., 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 925-3633
www.muralarts.org
The Mural Arts Project features talented artists from the area and is considered the world's largest outdoor art gallery. Murals that cover buildings or portions of buildings are in locations throughout the city to not only beautify the area but also to inspire residents and passersby alike. This tour gives you many options for viewing the murals, whether by walking, train or trolley. Tours start in various locations throughout the city, so check before you go.
118-128 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 972-7600
www.pafa.orgThe Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is one of the best museums in the city and rivals the Art Museum with its two main galleries and numerous opportunities to see traveling exhibits. PAFA, as it's often referred to, also features some of the world's masterpieces plus art from emerging artists, and the school offers afternoon tours. If you get hungry, there's a café that features gourmet goodies to replenish you.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 763-8100
www.philamuseum.org
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is large, so it can take some time to meander through its historic hallways. It also has tours, performances, permanent displays and traveling exhibits. If you are on a tight budget, you can visit the Art Museum on Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and "pay what you wish." And if you love music, the Museum's Art After 5 program offers both international and jazz music from local and internationally known musicians. This spring, the "Treasures of Korea" exhibit will be on display through late May. From April through November, there will also be an African American fashion exhibit featuring Patrick Kelly.
Related: Top Spots To Paint Your Own Pottery In The Philadelphia Area
Christina Dagnelli is a freelance writer in Philadelphia and the author of Little Squares with Colors: A Different way to look at autism. Her work on examiner can be found here Examiner.com.