Philadelphia News Briefs: 11/25/15
1.) The newest attraction in Center City offers panoramic, sky-high views of Philadelphia spread out all around you. One Liberty Observation Deck sweeps visitors 883 feet off the ground, 57 floors above Market Street and 16th. What can you see from that far up? Early visitors report seeing Wilmington and Trenton, as well as the cooling towers at Limerick, which are 37 miles away. General Manager Evan Evans says that the birds-eye view is especially spectacular at sunset and at nighttime, when the city is all lit up. He says you really begin to appreciate “the architecture, how the city was drawn out, what the Parkway looks like at night.” The Observation Deck is set to open on Saturday. It will be open every day of the year from 10 AM until 10 PM. Tickets are $14 for kids 11 and under and $19 for adults.
A bust of Benjamin Franklin adorns the One Liberty Observation Deck. Photo: Ian Bush/KYW
2.) Black Friday and the start of the Christmas shopping season are upon us, but indicators seem to show that Philadelphians won’t be hitting their wallets quite so hard this holiday season. National numbers show spending increasing by 12.5 percent this holiday season, but Philly is bucking the trend. Bill Park, retail specialist at Deloitte, reports: “National consumers are going to spend, on average, $1,462, compared to Philadelphia folks at $1249.” That’s about $200 less. Deloitte, which does a holiday spending survey every year, found that Philadelphians especially love a bargain, which might contribute to the lower numbers.
3.) The Biotechnology Industry Organization annual international convention will return to Philadelphia in 2019, bringing with it thousands of scientists and researchers. The BIO convention was held in Philly earlier this year. The return visit is thanks to the work of The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, which Christopher P. Molineaux, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association, said made an outstanding case for the event returning to Philly. The BIO convention was previously held in Philadelphia in 1996 and 2005.
