1. The Liberty Bell In Independence Hall
In the 19th century and through the first three-quarters of the 20th, the Liberty Bell lived in Independence Hall. While this seemed the most suitable place to so many, the National Park Service was always plotting to move it, perpetually spewing some nonsense about needing it to be easier to care for and easier to be seen by large numbers of visitors.
In 1976, they finally got their wish, and the Bell was moved to the newly built Liberty Bell Pavilion. This steel and glass structure on Market Street would house the cracked copper and tin ringer until 2003, and it was demolished in 2006.
Since 2003, the Liberty Bell's been in the Liberty Bell Center across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall.
2. And Speaking Of Relocated Hunks Of Metal... The Rocky Statue Outside The Spectrum
Sylvester Stallone commissioned Philly's famous statue of Rocky Balboa to help promote “Rocky III”. It was originally placed at the top of the “Rocky steps,” the large stairway leading up to the
Philadelphia Museum of Art.
When lots of people complained about a movie ad prop being at the world-renowned art institution, it was relocated to The Spectrum, an arena where Rocky had many of his fictitious bouts in the ring.
In 2006, the Rocky statue went back to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it's intended to stay permanently. In a compromising move, the statue was placed off to the side of the bottom of the steps, rather than atop them.
3. And Speaking Of The Spectrum... The Spectrum
They knocked it down for good in 2011.
Between its opening in 1967 and its final event—a Pearl Jam concert on Halloween, 2009—this arena hosted numerous sporting, concert, and other events. It went through a few names, ending as the Wachovia Spectrum, but was always just “The Spectrum” to city residents.
Many of the biggest names in music played the arena, and the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers once called it home, too.
4. And Speaking Of Sports Arenas... Veterans Stadium
From 1971 to 2003, “The Vet” was home sweet home for the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. When it was built at a cost of around $60 million, it was one of the most expensive stadiums anywhere.
You've never seen so much cash go so fast as when The Vet was imploded in 62 seconds flat in March of 2004.
Today, the Eagles play in Lincoln Financial Field and the Phillies play in Citizens Bank Park. Until they're razed too, of course. Philly kinds of has a thing for knocking down and building new stadiums.
5. Billy Penn Atop City Hall As The Pinnacle Of The City
Philly's city hall is the largest municipal building in the U.S. With its statue of city founder William Penn on the top, it was the tallest habitable building in the world between 1901 and 1908. It was the tallest building in Philadelphia—a record maintained by a gentleman's agreement—until the mid 1980s, when One Liberty Place was built.
Once the new tallest structure was finished in 1987, all four major sports teams in Philly stopped winning championship games, giving way to “The Curse of Billy Penn” talk.
Then, in 2007, the Comcast Center was finished in Center City, becoming the new tallest building in town. A small statuette of William Penn was attached to the top, and lo and behold, Philly sports teams started winning championship games again as of the Phillies' World Series victory in 2008. Adios, curse.
6. Will Smith Shootin' Some B-Ball Outside Of The School
Like the Fresh Prince said, “In West Philadelphia, born and raised...”
West Philly was indeed home to Will Smith, plus he lived in Northwest Philly and Germantown. But the city's native son skipped town to pursue rapping, acting, and producing. At this point, Philadelphians are unlikely to spot him spending most of his days on the playground, chillin' out, maxin', or relaxin'.
7. 350 Lobsters Crawling Around In The World's Largest Lobster Tank At The Old Original Bookbinders
It's sad when a restaurant that was around since the late 1800s closes up shop 116 years later. But imagine being the guy at the helm when that ship went down.
He was John E. Taxin, grandson of John M. Taxin, who bought the restaurant in 1945. It stayed in the family all that time, until about $2 million in debt forced the restaurant's closure in 2009.
The Old Original Bookbinders was an undisputed landmark in Philly. Popular local chef Jose Garces is soon to reopen it as of this writing, but under a different name and with a different menu. So, that's not exactly “reopening” it, is it?
8. Andy Reid On The Sidelines
Ah, Andy. Sure, you had a decent record, but in the end, Philly had plenty of reasons to want you gone. And gone you are.
Reid was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2012, when he was the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. He's now the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and just a distant memory to Philadelphians.
9. And Speaking Of Sports Dudes... Charlie Manuel
Philadelphians were sadder to see the Phillies' manager of eight seasons get canned than they were when it happened to Reid. The well-liked Manuel was fired in 2013 (by considerably less well-liked general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.) on the day after winning his 1,000th game.
It wasn't unforeseen that Manuel would be out soon. However, fans were particularly irked because he wasn't permitted to finish out the season, which had only 42 games left, which just seemed tacky and ungrateful on the part of Amaro.
10 . Peanut Butter Mousse At Le Bec Fin
In 2013, Philly's favorite, most famous really expensive, really fancy French restaurant stopped turning out meals. After 43 years in Center City, Le Bec Fin is no more, and the unique experience will certainly never be recreated.
It's worth pointing out, though, that many consider the restaurant's run to have ended in 2012, when founding owner/chef Georges Perrier retired from the business.
11. Hoards Of Indie Rockers Packed Into The Khyber
In a former incarnation, The Khyber was one of the most important venues for the local indie rock scene, though it pulled in nationally touring acts, too. The dingy, dive-y spot was transformed into a better-lit bar and restaurant sans live music, Khyber Pass Pub, back in 2010. It hosted some music upstairs in 2013, but the original place is just a fuzzy drunken semi-recollection now.
12. The Country's First LGBT Bookstore
Giovanni's Room was a Gayborhood institution and beloved LGBT community center in Philly. After almost 40 years, it closed down in May 2014.
Ain't that just like a brick-and-mortar bookstore?
13. And Speaking Of The Gayborhood... Sapphic Celebration At Sisters Nightclub Source: sistersnightclub.com
Back in 2013, Sisters Nightclub shut down after a 17-year run. This beloved bar was really the only player in the lesbian-specific bar scene in town.
14. Naughty Brunch At Carman's Country Kitchen
As 2012 came to an end, so did one of Philly's favorite brunch spots: Carman's Country Kitchen. For more than 20 years, outgoing owner Carman Luntzel and her establishment's racy sense of humor (penis mugs anyone?) were as popular as her delicious food.
15. The Sun Ra Arkestra Dancing Around The Room At Tritone
Tritone was an eclectic bar and live music venue at South and 15th. It showcased lots of exciting and unique jazz, rock, and other genres. Plenty of legendary visiting and local musicians took the small stage in this intimate spot over the years, until it closed in early 2012.
16. Jumpin' Jazz Jams At Ortlieb's Jazzhaus
Sure, Ortlieb's Lounge is still around, but the venue's primarily for rock music now. It's nothing like its smoky, smokin' former incarnation of 23 years, Ortlieb's Jazzhaus. Things will never be the same for Philly jazz fans.
17. Fancy Threads Or An Organ Shop At Wanamaker's Department Store
In 1876, John Wanamaker opened one of the country's first department stores—and Philly's first—in a former Pennsylvania Railroad station at Market and Juniper Streets. It included more than 12 stories of all sorts of shopping and services, counting underground levels. It was one of two flagship stores (the other was in NYC) of what would become a 16-store chain.
In 1995, Wanamaker's was taken over by Hecht's, which has since been consumed by Macy's.
Today, the Philly site is a Macy's. You can still see some of the cool features of the original Wanamaker's, including the world's largest playable pipe organ, the 2,500-pound bronze eagle statue, and a modernized version of the Christmas lights show that stretches up several floors and was started back in 1956.
18. Meredith From The Office
Specifically, Kate Flannery's family owned, tucked-away-but-beloved Center City bar, T.A. Flannery's, until they sold it in 2011. So, if you're skulking around in the alley shadows waiting to catch a glimpse of Meredith and maybe to lean in to smell her hair a little (oops I’ve said too much), you're probably wasting your time.
The S. 21st Street location is now a bar and restaurant called Rogues Gallery.
19. Hy Lit... Though That's More Of A Never-Hear-Again Thing
From the 1950s through to his retirement in 2005, Hy Lit was one of the most famous voices on Philadelphia radio. He was at WOGL (formerly known as Oldies 98.1) from 1989 up till he bowed out.
With his retirement (and subsequent death in 2007), an era came to a close for oldies and classic hits fans in Philly.
20. Ghostface Killah, The Mickey Hart Band, Or Anyone Else At The Blockley
In just five years, West Philly's The Blockley established itself as a major live music venue by pulling in top local acts and nationally known names. But as 2103 came to an end, so too did the music after the bar and performance space lost its liquor license.
The Blockley briefly occupied a longtime hot spot for the local music scene. Before The Blockley, the location was home to the popular Pegasus Showcase and before that, the Chestnut Cabaret from 1978 to 1995.
21. Oprah Scoring Mac & Cheese At Delilah's
Oprah declared the mac and cheese at Delilah's to be the best in the country. While this was a highly contentious claim, the local soul food favorite had a stand in the Reading Terminal Market since 1984 and one in 30th Street Station since 1993. They both shuttered in the first quarter of 2012 due to bankruptcy.
22. Bumpin' And Grindin' At Shampoo Nightclub
Shampoo was an essential place for the Philly raver kids in the late ’90s, and it went on to become a ridiculously popular nightclub in the early 2000s. Its LGBT dance party, “Shaft Fridays,” was famous. The club even landed a Lady Gaga performance in 2008.
But, in 2013, the pulsating lights and music went dark and silent. And everyone around it grew up. Or headed over to Blurr.
23. The String Bands' Show of Shows...?
I'm ending on one that's too soon to call, and hopefully it's not really over.
February of 2014 marked the first time since 1938 that 16 Mummers string bands didn't put on their annual Show of Shows. Lack of funding and a venue were blamed.
Fingers crossed this was just a hiccup, and not the end of a tradition that's spanned nine decades. That would be sad for Philly (even if the event was held in Atlantic City the last several years).
