This is the first time I've been in Philadelphia for the 4th since moving here in August 2009. I've got to say that this place seems pretty good for the 4th. They've been having events all week, many of which have free food. I've seen fireworks from my place a few nights already, and will see some more tonight. The Roots are putting on a concert right now in the middle of the Ben Franklin Parkway. I guess the historical aspects of the city in regards to the 4th just enhance it that much more.

What are some other good places that you've been to celebrate the 4th?

7/4/2011 8:25:54 PM

I was in Manhattan for the 4th in 2002 (first 4th in NY after 9/11)

good times

7/4/2011 8:41:38 PM

That was probably a pretty emotional place to be. Must have been awesome.

7/4/2011 8:42:59 PM

Yeah it was packed and some of the natives I spoke with were saying it was the first time they felt like the city had been really united since 10 months earlier. The finale of the fireworks display was some red, white and blue smilie faces and everybody went wild. I guess everybody loves smilie faces.

7/4/2011 8:49:17 PM

offtopic

OP, you have abandoned your skyscraper thread... i updated it a week or two ago! please post in it!

/offtopic

7/4/2011 9:39:44 PM

I know! I saw that you brought it back, thanks. Sorry med school has gotten in the way of my posting. Right now I'm studying for my board exam and I even stayed in today to do some studying instead of going to the concert. I love the 4th of July. It's probably my second favorite holiday after Thanksgiving.

This Philly concert/celebration has been pretty good so far. It's being broadcast by the local ABC affiliate. Since ABC doesn't broadcast a national celebration like the way CBS does with Boston and NBC does with New York, they should grab a hold of the Philadelphia one and do it. They just showed an aerial shot and said there were close to 100,000 people on the Ben Franklin Parkway, and it sure appeared that way. Boyz II Men just performed a pretty rocking show. The Roots are the headliners. They kicked it off and have been playing with a few of the acts. They've been MCing it too. Sara Bareilles, Estelle, and Michael McDonald have performed. Earth, Wind, and Fire is supposed to perform later. There may be some other acts that aren't listed on my info box on the cable guide, b/c Boyz II Men wasn't listed. Also DJ Jazzy Jeff has been performing some with The Roots throughout.

7/4/2011 9:56:06 PM

damn... you in med school?! hats off to you!

7/4/2011 10:17:00 PM

Eh after coming here and interacting with not only the people at my school and with some of the other med school students up here (there are a bunch in Philly), the mystique has rubbed off. Sure most of them are fairly smart, but some of them can act pretty stupid sometimes too, or just show that they lack common sense. I'm glad I grew up in one of the poorer areas of Charlotte. Sure I don't have some of the inherent advantages that some of these people had growing up in well-to-do families, going to some of the best schools, etc., but I'm great with the patients, particularly the poorer ones, and I'm better with my hands and tools than a good many of them.

I'm glad to represent NC State, along with another guy in my class, and stand equal right along with classmates that went to elite schools like Princeton, Case Western, UPenn, Duke, Williams, and other small, private schools. I mean there are people here too that went to places like Texas, Cal, Clemson, and UNC, but it's cool to see these people that spent 4 times more than me on undergrad and we ended up in the same place.


Alright back to the 4th, some of the Chinese people around me have been lighting fireworks and they've got nothing on some of the ones you can get in South Carolina.

7/4/2011 10:37:09 PM

bttt, where did you all celebrate the 4th this year?

7/5/2011 9:51:19 PM