Midtown Village is a flourishing Center City neighborhood that connects Rittenhouse Row’s shopping district with major Philly tourist attractions like the Liberty Bell and Independence Mall.
In the heart of the neighborhood, on 12th and Chestnuts streets, Benjamin Franklin was said to have conducted his infamous kite-flying experiment, which allowed him to make the connection between lightning and electricity ⚡💡
In 1861, John Wanamaker revolutionized the retail industry when he built his massive department store at the corner of 13th and Chestnut. Speaking of electricity, this was the very first store to use electric lights, allowing locals to shop after dark.
Today, Midtown Village has a significant portion of Philly’s murals, including one of my favorites which is called “Philadelphia Muses” by artist Meg Saligman. You can also find some quirky murals, like the “Philly Chunk Pack” located above Graffiti Bar.
Philly Chunk Pack mural above Graffiti Bar on S. 13th Street. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)
The area is also home to some fabulous restaurants. But we simply can’t talk about Midtown Village eateries without mentioning the dynamic duo that is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran.
In 2004, the local restaurateurs opened up the modern, elegant Mexican restaurant known as Lolita. Since its opening, it has received many accolades, including Best Margarita by Philadelphia Magazine.
In May 2009, the pair opened up Verde, a chocolate bar which sells jewelry as well as Marcie Blaine artisanal chocolates.
A few years later, Turney and Safran expanded their empire with the popular Mediterranean kitchen Barbuzzo, followed by the Spanish restaurant Jamonera, and then the Italian eatery Little Nonna’s in 2013.
