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Get To Know: Avenue of the Arts

Posted on January 26, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Brittany Valentine

Brittany Valentine

The Philadelphia Film Center on 1412 Chestnut Street. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

The Philadelphia Film Center on 1412 Chestnut Street. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

The Avenue of the Arts is a stretch of South Broad Street situated between City Hall and South Street. Many nights, the streets are buzzing with theater enthusiasts, orchestra fans, opera lovers, dance connoisseurs and artists themselves.

History: The Avenue was first established in 1993 to attract more Center City tourists. Mayor Ed Rendell spearheaded this revitalization project after walking down Broad Street at night and finding it empty and lacking any activity. 

What To Do:

🍿 Catch a movie at the Philadelphia Film Center on Chestnut Street. Tonight it’s screening one of my favorite films of all time, The Princess Bride.

🎭 See a show at The Wilma Theater. On Jan. 31, you can get tickets to see ‘Kiss,’ which is a play about a group of American actors performing a Syrian soap opera. 

What To Eat:

🥩 Treat your taste buds to shucked oysters, a salmon poke bowl, or Shanghai-style fried calamari at Del Frisco’s Grille. Center City District Restaurant Week runs until Saturday, Jan. 29, so take advantage of a $60 dinner while it’s still available!

Del Frisco’s Grille with an Eagles fan cameo. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

Del Frisco’s Grille with an Eagles fan cameo. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

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