At the end of June, I had the opportunity to attend the American Library Association’s 2025 Annual Conference in Philadelphia. This annual event draws nearly 15,000 librarians from across the country to different cities for four days of workshops, sessions, keynote addresses, and networking opportunities. It’s a fantastic way to put what I do as a librarian in the context of a larger picture to learn, inspire ideas, and grow as a professional.
Like many conference trips we’ve done before, Nate was able to tag along, and we took some time to explore the city, do some sightseeing, and find great eats between conferencing programming and during the evenings. I’ll share about the conference over on my librarian blog, so this post will focus on our Philly free time.
Our Favorite Philly Eats & Drinks
A great thing about conferencing in different cities is an excuse to explore local restaurants, breweries, and bars (and be able to expense some of the food!). Here are a few of our favorite finds in the City of Brotherly Love:
Monster Vegan (1229 Spruce Street) – A fun restaurant featuring neon lights, monster flicks on flatscreens, vegan comfort food, and “creepy” cocktails. We were told we had to have a cheesesteak sandwich while in Philly, but we don’t eat red meat, so Nate was happy to see a vegan one on the menu. I tried The Gyro with The Hoagie-tini to drink. I wasn’t sure about the pepperoncini brine in the cocktail, but the gyro was delicious!
Charlie was a sinner (131 S 13th Street) – Another vegan restaurant and bar, this one with a chill vibe in a low-light environment. The curried sweet pea and potato empanadas, caramelized eggplant bao buns, and the zucchini “crabcake” sliders were all so good! We also enjoyed a couple rounds of their signature cocktails. If you’re checking this one out, we’d recommend making a reservation, as the space is small with limited seating.
The Little Gay Pub (102 S 13th Street) – Located in Philadelphia’s Midtown Village and Gayborhood, this pub boasts great drinks, queer-centric decor, and friendly bar staff. We stopped by twice because we liked the vibe so much! It made us long for a place like it in Kansas City.
El Vez (121 S 13th Street) – We can’t go more than a couple of days without margaritas, chips, and salsa, so thankfully we found a perfect Mexican restaurant to satisfy that craving. On our first visit, we enjoyed El Vez (“The Original”) Guacamole, Crispy Mahi-Mahi Tacos, and the Baja Shrimp Tacos with a pitcher of their classic margarita. We liked it so much, we had to squeeze in a second stop!
Touring the Sights
The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (with the “Rocky Steps”), JFK Plaza — there are a lot of iconic sights to see in Philadelphia, but because of the conference, Nate and I only had a chance to see a few of them together.
You hear so much about the Liberty Bell through pop-culture and American lore, so we couldn’t skip a visit to Liberty Bell Center. A small building across the street from Independence Hall, the museum features a permanent exhibit detailing the history of the iconic bell, from its origins as the State House bell to its use by abolitionists and civil rights advocates.
Depending on the time of day, you’ll wait in line to go through a security screening at the entrance, then follow the exhibit to the bell, which is roped off at the end. You can get close enough to see the famous crack, but not touch! The exhibit is free, but there is an opportunity to donate to the National Park Service, which manages the site.
While I was attending conference sessions, Nate took the opportunity to visit more attractions on his own, including the Philadelphia Zoo and The Academy of Natural Sciences museum. I was mostly jealous about missing out on the zoo, because we both love visiting them wherever we go. If we get the chance to go back to Philly, I’ll make sure we get to go together.
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