Old City: or where Hipsters, Tourists, and the Overindulged Unite

Facts:

• I used to live in Old City until I could no longer handle hearing "American Woman" blaring out of the Big Bus tour, or the loud obnoxious blowing of the Duck tour kazoos, or the sound of bongos playing on First Friday.
• Actually, I also had a tiny bit of concern about the people hanging outside of the drug rehab center next door to me.
• Old City formally extends from Spring Garden Street, 4th Street, the Delaware River, and Walnut Street. But I never go as far as Spring Garden - maybe Race street.
• Old City has galleries, historic buildings (ie the Liberty Bell Center), shops and the aforementioned hipsters, tourists, and people with lots of money and a sense of entitlement (much like the main line).

Do:

• Check out Lost and Found - an affordable shop (unlike many of the surrounding boutiques) for men's and women's fashions/accessories at 133 N. 3rd St.
• Go to nearby Cafe Ole at 147 N 3rd St. for great hummus and ice tea.
• Visit PAWS at 100 N. 2nd street to volunteer and/or adopt a sweet cat or dog.
• Walk and visit historic spots like Elfreth's Alley, Franklin Court, and Independence Hall.

Don't:

• Forget to visit the Betsy Ross House (next to the former Real World Philadelphia house).
• Try and engage the guy playing a cittern in conversation at the Visitor's Center at 599 Market St. as he is a jerk.
• Miss First Friday, where galleries show new art and provide some nibbles and wine on the first Friday of every month (but you may have to suffer through pretentious patrons and the overlymonied)
• Pass on Franklin Fountain -which has awesomely extravagant ice cream creations made from local Bassetts ice cream. Though the owner's handle-bar mustache is a little off-putting.

Reading Terminal Market - or where there is the occassional good looking Amish guy in suspenders

Facts:

• The Reading Terminal Market opened in 1893.
• The last train departed the Reading station on November 6, 1984.
• The terminal is now part of the Pennsylvania Convention Center (It's kind of a depressing area as far as other things to see).
• The train shed is the oldest in the world. (I'm not really sure what a train shed is).
• The Reading Market has over 80 different merchants.

How to Get Here:
Walk, you lazy fools!
Located on 12th and Filbert (or near enough - just pass the guy in the wheelchair asking for money)

Do:

• Visit the Fair Food Farmstand (local, organic food including dairy, meat, and produce and open 7 days a week)
• Visit the Amish food stands like Miller's Twist for the best Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels. Or try Lancaster Co Dairy which has delicious strawberry lemonade (and a gorgeous Amish grandson).
• Try Bassetts ice cream (America's oldest ice cream company!) - especially the banana flavor.
• Produce at Iovine Brothers (if you can avoid the geriatric rush)

Don't:

• Try to visit the Amish stands from Sunday to Tuesday (they're off tilling the fields or something).
• Go on weekends (it's all tourists who mill around bleating like sheep)
• Go hungry if you're there to shop. (You may find yourself walking out with a pound of cherry dream whip or chocolate pudding when you came in for some spring onions.)