Give the Gift of Philly This Holiday Season

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoppers making their lists and checking them twice can give the gift of Philly this holiday season thanks to new lines offering Philadelphia-inspired goods. From retro tees and soft pretzel-adorned onesies to authentic sports gear and Liberty Bell-emblazoned chocolates, the gifts are perfect for Philly fans of all ages and persuasions. Here's how gift givers can show some Philly love this holiday season:

• Retrophilly.com: This newly launched online boutique pays homage to Philadelphia neighborhoods, schools, nightclubs, restaurants and more from the 1950s through 90s -- think The Black Banana nightclub, St. Maria Goretti High School, Electric Factory and The Arena for starters. Philly faithfuls can snatch up novel tees, fleeces, hats, bags, pop art and other fun items featuring authentic slogans, graphics and imagery from the Philly of yesteryear.
• We Heart Philly: Midtown Village mavens, Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran recently launched the We Heart Philly line, including fun and charming custom-designed pieces. Among the sure-to-be-popular items: a wine tote sporting Center City street names, a Made in Philly soft pretzel-adorned onesie, William Penn notecards, a sterling silver Liberty Bell pendant crafted by local artist Colleen Heineman and hand-crafted chocolates emblazoned with Philly icons. The line is available online or at the duo's Midtown Village lifestyle boutiques Verde and Open House. Verde, 108 S. 13th Street, (215) 546-8700; Open House, 107 S. 13th Street, (215) 922-1415, weheartphilly.com
• Mitchell & Ness: A haven for sports fans, Mitchell & Ness boasts a wide array of sports jerseys, tees, outwear and accessories for both men and women in its new 2,800-square-foot flagship store. While shopping for an authentic Ron Hextall Flyers jersey (circa 1986-87), a Phillies 1948 varsity jacket or an Eagles training camp hoody, fans are encouraged to peruse the historical sports imagery and memorabilia—a bench from Connie Mac Stadium, a 1980 Greg Luzinski Phillies jersey and a satin Eagles jacket from the 1940s—displayed throughout the store. 1201 Chestnut Street, (267) 273-762, mitchellandness.com

For those who truly want to give the gift of Philly, a hotel or restaurant gift certificate is the perfect choice. Pair a Philadelphia experience with one of the novelty items featured above, and the gift gets that much better. Shoppers can call the restaurant or hotel of their choice, or go to visitphilly.com for ideas.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation