I was in Philly this past weekend for the Global Fusion Festival (multicultural music festival). If you haven’t been, the trip is worth it.
Philadelphia is very significant in our nation’s history. The Declaration of Independence was signed there, and Philly was our nation’s first capital. Now, it’s best known for its rich culture, including being a hotbed of black music, culture and educational institutions.
As stepped out of my hotel to explore, I wandered into a Jazz club located @ 1421 Samsom St., called Chris’ Jazz Cafe. 
It reminded me of a classic vintage jazz club in the 1960s. I sat down at the bar and chopped it up with Ed, the bartender who made me a drink called an “Old Fashion” that was excellent. As I sipped and listened to the smooth sounds of the band, I became entranced in the culture as if I had always lived in the city. The people there made me feel as if I was a guest star on “Cheers,” where everybody knew my name. 
The energy of Philly definitely comes from the city’s people, whose spirit fills the many restaurants and bars that seemed to be on every corner.
Kharisma Mcilwaine, a Philly native, agreed with my perception, “The people here are very genuine, whether that’s a good thing or bad thing, they will tell you the truth, brutally, but it’s the truth. I love the realness and I love that there is so much to do,” she said.
Then there’s the food!
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Philly cheesesteak, a delectable delight filled with steak and cheese on a footlong piece of bread that seems to melt in your mouth and not in your hands. 
And then there’s the hoagie. If you haven’t tried an Italian hoagie, I advise you to stop by Geno’s in South Philly and satisfy your taste buds with the freshest meat, cheese and bread the northeast has to offer. 
The music, the food, do I need to go any further? I did seek a little extra input from the locals to fill in what I missed.
Here’s what some Philly residents had to say about their hometown:
Marveta: “I like the culture, it has a nice variety of things to offer, we have museums. Right now [we’re at] Penn’s Landing and just looking at our people just mixing and listening to music [is] bringing out Philly’s finest.”
Amir: “… We are home to the Philly cheesesteak, home of the Rocky Museum, home of the Eagles — even though we struggling right now. … It’s a beautiful place to be, it has multiple attractions, water, the zoo, it’s a great place to live, [it has] great music and entertainment culture.”
So, from the horse’s mouth and mine, make your way to Philadelphia, you won’t regret it. –darryl yates
