Historic Loews Philadelphia Hotel “Still Cool at 10”

Let’s hear it for Loews Philadelphia Hotel! Break out the champagne, bake a commemorative cake, blow up balloons and put on party hats. The 581-room hotel is celebrating its 10^th anniversary with a year-long birthday bash.

Loews has prepared a special “Still Cool at 10” anniversary package that guarantees significant savings on deluxe accommodations with a second room available for $10 and a birthday celebration amenity.

Patrons can take that guarantee to the bank.

In fact, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which debuted on April 3, 2000, is located in the former Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) bank building, the city’s first skyscraper built in 1932 and the first to have central air conditioning. The site is steeped in history and evokes memories of Philadelphia’s halcyon days in the thirties.

It also was the first skyscraper in the city to have any type of “advertising.” The 27-foot high PSFS sign in red neon letters on the roof served as a beacon in the Philadelphia skyline and still does. It was lit 24 hours a day, even during the Great Depression, and to this day can be seen from more than 20 miles away on a clear night.

“In one of America’s most historic cities, Loews is proud to occupy a building with such special meaning to all Philadelphians,” says Loews Philadelphia Hotel General Manager, Rick Staub. “We believe our celebratory package befits this significant site.”

The “Still Cool at 10” package starting from $189 includes:

• Overnight deluxe accommodations
• Second room (on the same night) for only $10
• Special Loews Philadelphia birthday celebration amenity

As part of its birthday celebration, SoleFood’s cocktail menu will feature a variety of classic and vintage drinks with a modern twist that speak to the history of the building and the lifestyle of Philadelphians in other eras. In that regard, Loews also will offer commemorative swizzle sticks emblazoned with “PSFS” on one side and the Loews logo on the other, an item that surely will become a collector’s edition.

The signature cocktail, “The Lescaze,” is named in honor of William Lescaze, one of the buildings architects. Stefanie Formagoni, SoleFood mixologist, has created a twist on the vintage Rusty Nail cocktail:

“The Lescaze”

2 ounces Johnnie Walker Black

1.5 ounces Drambuie

4 dashes orange bitters

1 lemon twist

Shake well and serve “up” in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a flaming lemon twist that reveals the drink’s natural oils, allowing for a smoky, smooth and refined finish.

“This is a tongue-in-cheek cocktail,” says Formagoni. “This building was built with hammer and nails and a lot of hard work.”

And careful attention to detail and planning have gone into this birthday party. One of the celebration’s most attractive features is that it lasts until December 30, 2010, not just one weekend or one month. That offers patrons a great deal of flexibility in planning a stay.

The “Still Cool at 10” package price starts at $189 based upon double occupancy. The package is subject to availability and change, and is not available to groups of ten or more. For information about Loews Philadelphia Hotel, or to reserve a room, call (215) 231-7333, toll-free at (800) 235-6397 or visit on-line at www.loewshotels.com. Use the promotion code “Birthday.”

For additional information or reservations in SoleFood restaurant, please call (215) 231-7300.