North Broad Street is a historic, architecturally rich boulevard that was once home to colorful Gilded Age mansions, elegant Victorian brownstones and imposing early 20th-century industrialists’ headquarters. Today, the stretch of North Broad between Philadelphia City Hall and Germantown Avenue is experiencing a thoughtful — and dramatic — transformation that aims to preserve its vibrant and diverse residential and academic communities, while injecting life into old and new buildings that will become homes to modern lofts, hotels, arts and cultural institutions. The longtime home of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Temple University, landmark theaters and deep-rooted neighborhoods, the four-mile section of North Broad is under the purview of The North Broad Renaissance, an organization devoted to community revitalization and economic empowerment.
Public art has long been a part of North Broad’s changing urban-scape. Mural Arts Philadelphia works such as James Burns’ North Philadelphia Beacon Project and Meg Saligman’s Common Threads have become attractions unto themselves. North Poles, a series of 41 55-foot, color-changing light sculptures, dot the median between Hamilton Street and Glenwood Avenue. Along SEPTA’s Broad Street Line, the subway that conveniently runs along Broad Street from South Philly into North Philly, North Broad’s Cecil B. Moore station artfully honors the civil rights activist it was named for with a plaza, sculpture and mosaic. North Broad is also easily accessed by SEPTA’s routes 4 and 16
Recent revitalization along North Broad includes the reopening of a grand former opera house as an intimate concert venue, The Met Philadelphia, and the reestablishment of the grand, once-abandoned 1894 The Divine Lorraine as luxury apartments, featuring destination dining. The Blue Horizon, at one time an international boxing venue, is slated to become a Moxy Hotel, while landmarks like the Uptown Theatre lie in wait. Meanwhile, hidden-gem galleries, quirky museums and outstanding dining — cheesesteaks included — await discovery. Here are spots to explore and enjoy along North Broad Street:
Museums & Attractions:
- Beyond the Seams – Six days a week, this creative space celebrates Philadelphia’s artists with exhibitions, gallery shows, workshops and events for community artists; it also offers embroidery and screen-printing services. In addition, Beyond the Seams sells made-in-Philadelphia items by neighborhood artists. 828 N. Broad Street, (267) 304-4936, btsphilly.com
- CGE Performing Arts Academy – Classes in dance, modeling, music, acting and video production all take place at the up-and-coming studio of Philadelphia singer Cristina Elena Guzman, who’s performed with Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men. The academy is known for its welcoming attitude toward all ages, skill levels and backgrounds, and hosts open-to-the-public dance parties. 684 N. Broad Street, 2nd floor, (215) 236-1300, cegartsacademy.com
- The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection – Temple University’s nationally renowned library of African American history is a destination for scholars of all ages and levels, with first-edition publications by Phillis Wheatley, W.E.B. DuBois, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, correspondence by Haitian revolutionaries, more than 300,000 photos and negatives by John Mosely featuring entertainers, Negro Baseball League players and more. Sullivan Hall, 1330 Pollock Walk, library.temple.edu/blockson
- City Hall – The largest City Hall in the U.S. is also one of the most elaborate. Designed by architect John McArthur Jr. and featuring the work of Alexander Milne Calder, the exterior is covered with sculpture representing the seasons and continents, as well as allegorical figures, heads and masks and topped by a 27-ton sculpture of William Penn. Its observation deck provides a panoramic view of the city, and tours lead visitors into some of the most lavishly decorated rooms in the city. Broad & Market Streets, Room 121, (215) 686-2840, phila.gov/virtualch
- The Divine Lorraine – After a $44 million renovation, the grand 19th-century landmark of yellow Pompeian brick at Broad Street and Fairmount Avenue — originally lavish apartments for titans of local manufacturing, then, in the mid-20th century, Philadelphia’s first racially integrated hotel — has reopened as residences and a restaurant. Already open, is homey Italian bistro Cicala, from chef Joe Cicala (see below); still under construction is a restaurant from Natalie Maronski that will be accessible through an indented, tiled, covered doorway that once led to a speakeasy. 699 N. Broad Street, (215) 647-0699, thedivinelorrainehotel.com
- Masonic Temple and Masonic Library & Museum – Towering and majestic, the Masonic Temple has stood tall near City Hall since 1873, representing a secret fraternity with 14th-century roots and a membership that included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, whose statues pose outside its entrance. The temple’s Freemasonry artifacts and opulent decor wow visitors, while the Masonic Library and Museum’s collection of thousands of books and items teach the Temple’s history. 1 N. Broad Street, (215) 988-1917, pamasonictemple.org
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) – Frank Furness’ unmistakable architecture is the exterior hallmark of PAFA’s Furness-Hewitt Building, which sits across the way from its modern counterpart, the Samuel M. V. Hamilton building. Between them: Claes Oldenburg’s 50-foot-tall Paint Torch, symbolizing liberty and the importance of America’s first fine arts school and museum. Inside is American art by classic and contemporary artists Winslow Homer, Kehinde Wiley, John Singer Sargent, Jacob Lawrence, Edward Hopper, Cecilia Beaux and former students Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt and Maxfield Parrish, as well as PAFA founder Charles Peale. The oldest art school in the country hosts its annual end-of-academic-year student exhibition, where guests can purchase original works by PAFA students. 118-128 N. Broad Street, (215) 972-7600, pafa.org
- Philadelphia Doll Museum – Just north of the Susquehanna-Dauphin subway station is the only museum in the country that specializes in the collection and preservation of Black dolls. Founded in 1988, the museum has been recognized as an educational and cultural center. 2253 N. Broad Street, (215) 787-0220
- Philadelphia Jewish Museum of Art – Inside Congregation Rodeph Shalom, the 1927 Moorish Revival home of the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, this museum shares the Jewish experience through contemporary art. The museum’s permanent collection includes works by William Anastasi, Tobi Kahn, Shelley Spector, Chaim Gross and more; galleries house special exhibitions that range in subject matter and medium. 615 N. Broad Street, (215) 627-6747, rodephshalom.org
- The Rail Park – Phase one of the revitalization of three miles of unused, elevated rail lines has transformed the previously abandoned stretch of unused, overhead space into a quarter-mile public greenway with swinging benches, pathways and Instagram-worthy city views. 1300 Noble Street, (215) 620-0059, therailpark.org
- Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Weaver III Historical Dental Museum –It’s worth letting one’s mouth go agape at the antique (and slightly horrifying) drills, chairs, X-ray machines, photographs, pearl-handled tools and recreated Victorian office at this small yet powerful museum, a repository of more than 150 years of dentistry in America. 3223 N. Broad Street, (215) 707-2799, temple.pastperfectonline.com
Dining:
- Cicala – Joe and Angela Cicala operate their charmingly elegant eponymous Southern Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the newly reopened Divine Lorraine. Chandeliers, white tablecloths and deep red curtains feel apropos for the historic venue, while thoughtful pastas, grilled meats and a 200-bottle wine list draw in diners. 699 N. Broad Street, 267-886-9334, cicalarestaurant.com
- Flambo Caribbean Restaurant – Jerk chicken wings, curried mussels, curry goat, blackened shrimp, oxtail and roti make this Trinidadian and Tobagonian eatery popular among locals. Also popular: peanut punch, passion fruit juice and a bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) policy. 820 N. Broad Street, (267) 639-5179, flamboh.com
- Gabi – Chef Peter Woosley brings an all-day French cafe that’s unfussy and accessible, with most menu items topping out at $20. Standout dishes include escargots, steak frites, croque madame and onion soup gratinée. Add to that: thoughtful French cocktails, French wines and beers, aperitifs and digestifs. 339 N. Broad Street, (215) 377-9407, gabirestaurant.com
- Green Soul – Building on decades of experience in the local food scene, the Bynum brothers’ chic soul food eatery and bar off North Broad Street serves healthy lunch and dinner options. Dishes might include parsnip and carrot fries, buffalo cauliflower tacos and chocolate avocado mousse. 1410 Mt. Vernon Street, (215) 660-9600, greensoulliving.com
- Jimmy G’s Steaks – This cheesesteak joint understands cravings come at all times of day and night, be it 11 a.m. or 4 a.m. Along with classic cheesesteaks “Wiz wit,” pizza steaks, roast pork sandwiches, chicken cheesesteaks, are vegetarian mushroom steaks and veggie sandwiches, fries and sodas. 695 N. Broad Street, (215) 763-2495, jimmygsteaks.com
- Osteria – This Schulson Collective restaurant offers house-made pastas, thin-crust pizzas and wood-grilled meats and fish. The 300 Italian bottle wine list won Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence.” 640 N. Broad Street, (215) 763-0920, osteriaphilly.com
- Santucci’s – This family business of nearly 60 years is known for square pizza served with sauce on top of cheese. This location has a sports bar with drink specials and serves breakfast and brunch on weekends. 655 Broad Street, (267) 639-6014, santuccispizza.com
- SOUTH Jazz Kitchen – Restaurateurs the Bynum brothers return to their roots with Lowcountry cuisine (cheese grits, homemade pickles, gumbo and blackened grouper), live jazz and a wide selection of American whiskeys and local and craft beer. 600 N. Broad Street, (215) 600-0220, southjazzkitchen.com
Theaters & Entertainment:
- Liacouras Center – Originally the Apollo of Temple, this 34,000-square-foot venue holds up to 10,200 people for concerts, family shows, keynote speeches, Temple basketball games and more. 1776 N. Broad Street, (215) 204 2400, liacourascenter.com
- The Met Philadelphia – A 112-year-old opera house created by Oscar Hammerstein II is now a 3,500-person-capacity venue from Philadelphia concert promoters LiveNation. The Met’s inaugural year saw performances by Bob Dylan & His Band, Lizzo, Trevor Noah and even 858 N. Broad Street, (800) 745-3000, themetphilly.com
- New Freedom Theatre – As one of the nation’s most honored Black professional theater companies, the theater has staged productions from celebrated African American playwrights such as James Baldwin, Ossie Davis, Charles Fuller, Ntozake Shange, August Wilson and Leroi Jones. Its alumni include Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men. 1346 N. Broad Street, (888) 802-8998, freedomtheatre.org
- Temple Performing Arts Center – What originated as the Grace Baptist Church is now the Temple Performing Arts Center, a historic building where Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Franklin D. Roosevelt paid visits. Today, the venue hosts jazz bands, touring dance groups, local choirs and more. 1837 N. Broad Street, (215) 204-9860, templeperformingartscenter.org
Hotels:
- Aloft Philadelphia Downtown Hotel – Just north of City Hall, this colorful property is convenient to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Avenue of the Arts. The 179-room Aloft has plush beds, energizing lounging areas and great skyline views from the WXYZ bar. It’s pet-friendly too. 101 N. Broad Street, (215) 607-2020, marriott.com
- Conwell Inn – In the heart of Temple’s campus, this quaint, 22-room Victorian hotel appeals with both modern amenities — onsite parking (paid upon reservation), Wi-Fi — and more old-fashioned perks —afternoon tea and cookies and local newspapers. 1331 Polett Walk, (215) 235-6200, conwellinn.com
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