According to Teri Hatcher, Philadelphia has everything you need.
Let’s be very clear: Teri Hatcher is not, nor will she ever be, desperate. With an unstoppable show, a beautiful daughter (Emerson, eight), and a smart new memoir (Burnt Toast: And Other Philosophies of Life), this former Love Boat dancer, Bond girl, and Lois Lane is, in fact, the opposite of desperate. She is living the very, very good life. When enjoying her success, there’s no place she’d rather do it than Philadelphia, where she hunkers down several times a year to visit extended family. Here’s Hatcher’s perfect day in Philly, which includes cheesesteaks (of course), a little piece of history, and a martini bar of which even James Bond would approve.

Okay, first up: I’m famished. Where are we headed? The best way to start your day in Philly is to wake up early and get an amazing breakfast down on Ninth Street at the Italian Market. It’s over 100 years old and very warm and inviting, and it’s also fun and low-key. You can get some of the best espresso, cappuccinos, and Italian pastries you’ve ever tasted. The street is packed with a remarkable selection of bakeries and cafés. Oh, and they have yummy egg frittatas too.

Excellent. Armed with a good double-espresso, we’re set to give the credit card a bit of a workout, right? Yes. I like to wander around for some girl time, shopping at Rittenhouse Row along Walnut Street. They seem to have all the stores a gal could ever want. Although I’m not typically a big shopper, when you’re on vacation, it can be fun, and there are plenty of classics in the area. Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Third Street Habit, which has hip, contemporary clothes. And of course I love to indulge in a little chocolate treat for myself from Godiva. Best of all, I found out on my first shopping excursion that there is no sales tax. So, of course, I would encourage anyone to spend more to make up for what you would have paid in sales tax.

Is your style more like Susan from Desperate Housewives or glitzy, like the pictures we see in In Style? It’s very much in the moment; I find that I am a chameleon. There are days when I dress like Susan — taking my daughter to school and baking for the school fund-raiser of the moment — and then there are nights where I have fun glamming it up and feeling like a princess, like at the Golden Globe Awards.

Is Philly really the City of Brotherly Love?
Well, let me just say that for some reason, everyone I meet from Philly is fabulous. I’ll meet a new friend and be talking at a party for a while, and, inevitably, when I ask where they are from, it’s Philly. So that’s a reason to go there in itself. Nice, creative, passionate, real folk. They’re always a pleasure, really.

After we’ve shopped our hearts out, we have to refuel. Which can mean only one thing …
Yes, lunch in Philly is easy. There is only one thing you should do: get a cheesesteak at either Pat’s or Geno’s. I learned fast how to “correctly” order a cheesesteak. You will really sound like you are in the know if you add this tagline to your order: “I’ll have it with” or “I’ll have it without.”

So how do you have it? With or without? I go for the “Whiz pizza with or without” at Pat’s. Which, translated, is a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz, tomato sauce, and with or without fried onions. I get mine without fried onions.

Wow, my stomach hurts just hearing about it. I promise you that sandwich will change your life. I love to eat, and I think visiting different cities is completely defined by where and what you eat. I’ve taken my daughter all over this country, and one of my favorite things was a book I used on a road trip, called Eat Your Way Across the U.S.A. It allowed me a peek into diners where [the locals eat]. By seeing this, you understand our diversity, and hopefully that understanding brings tolerance. I think that is what travel can bring you.

So, clearly, after inhaling a cheesesteak, we now need to get the blood flowing and burn off a few calories. What’s up for the afternoon? An interesting place, one of my favorites, is Independence National Historic Park. It’s where the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Graff House, where Thomas Jefferson lived and the Declaration of Independence was written, are located. It’s an amazing part of our country’s history. It is so good to be able to see and feel this history. To understand and remind ourselves what America is and what we want it to be. To remember the passion that people had hundreds of years ago to create this country and to use that passion to fight for what you personally believe in. Also, if it’s nice outside, a trip to Valley Forge, where Washington’s troops camped, is always fun.

After such a good history lesson, I think it’s time to refresh and relax. What hotel is fit for the founding fathers and television stars? I’d head to the Ritz-Carlton. They have amazing rooms, and the service can’t be beat. And after a quick nap — hopefully — we’d head back out to kick off the evening.

And where would we do that? You’re a former Bond girl, so I’d venture a guess that we’d have to start off with a good martini. Yes, I’d kick off the evening with a delicious martini at the Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar in Old City. They have the biggest martini menu anywhere in the city. I’ve also enjoyed having cocktails with friends at Marmont and at 32 Degrees, where they have ice cubes that light up. It makes the drink a novelty, but it’s still a fun and adult evening out.

So what’s your favorite drink? Oh, a pomegranate margarita or a grapefruit martini.

Sounds delectable. But we don’t want to drink on an empty stomach. Where do we head for delicious grub? Depending on who is coming with me, there are two great options: Vetri, which is near the Rittenhouse Square area, for a small and intimate dinner where you feel like the chef and staff are taking specific care of just you. Or the Barclay Prime steak house, which is a great local favorite. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is perfect, and it is everything you would expect from a hip steak house in an old-time American city. Vetri does the best gnocchi I’ve ever had. It’s light, fluffy, and delicious, and you can combine it with different sauces. And at Barclay Prime, I get a rib eye — medium rare — and whipped mashed potatoes, with a nice Bordeaux.

You were named “Most Likely to Be a Solid ­Gold Dancer” in high school. Any good spots to get your groove on? Well, Philadelphia primarily has a lounge and hip-hop scene, but there are a few really great dance scenes. The best is a Saturday-night party that’s thrown all summer, called Mojito, and hosted by Tommy Up. The party is in the courtyard of an office skyscraper in Commerce Square with a huge fountain, great live house music, and guest DJs like the now world-famous King Britt and Josh Wink. A small restaurant, Marathon Grill, supports the party. It’s a great time and a great crowd. For more good nightlife, I would also try Fork or Bar Noir or Alma de Cuba.

But since Philly is such a comfortable city for you, you could always stay at home with a book. Maybe even your new memoir, Burnt Toast. What was the inspiration behind writing the book? When I was on the Barbara Walters special post-Oscars show last year, I mentioned the phrase burnt toast to her, and how my mom thought she was doing the best thing by giving her all to my dad and me, but she actually, in a backhanded way, taught me that I didn’t deserve the best. I’ve felt guilt about striving for the best ever since then. Turning 40 allowed me an opportunity to reassess how I treat myself and ask a big question about how I want to do it for yet another decade. Well, when I said that, Barbara’s producers were all in the background and began saying, “Oh my, that’s me, that’s how I am.” So we knew I had a relatable idea. As I began working on it, it just became broader and ultimately turned into what I hope is a fun and enlightening insight into me as well as women in general.

What exactly is burnt toast? Burnt toast is a syndrome that I think most women can relate to, in that, we, as wives and mothers, tend to give the best away and have trouble taking care of ourselves, putting ourselves first — which we deservedly need to do at least some of the time.

Sounds like a perfect Mother’s Day gift. You don’t have to be on the cover of People to understand that juggling act. I think that is so true. The book tells the story of my successes and my struggles with happiness and self-acceptance. But mostly, I wanted to encourage other women, as I encourage myself, to not eat the burnt toast anymore. Even metaphorically, to understand that a woman, a mother, doesn’t always have to put herself last and can, without guilt, choose good things in life for herself.

She Said... Where Teri Hatcher puts herself first in
Philadelphia

LODGING
The Ritz-Carlton, very expensive, (215) 523-8000, www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/­philadelphia

DINING
Barclay Prime, very expensive, (215) 732-7560, www.barclayprime.com

Geno’s Steaks, inexpensive, (215) 389-0659, www.genosteaks.com

Marathon Grill, moderate, (215) 568-7766, www.marathongrill.com

Ninth Street Italian Market (from Wharton Street to Fitzwater Street), inexpensive, www.phillyitalianmarket.com

Pat’s King of Steaks, inexpensive, (215) 468-1546,
www.patskingofsteaks.com

Vetri, Italian, very expensive, (215) 732-3478, www.vetri
ristorante.com

NIGHTLIFE
32 Degrees, (215) 627-3132, www.32lounge.com

Alma de Cuba, (215) 988-1799, www.almadecubarestaurant.com

Bar Noir, (215) 569-1160, www.barnoir215.com

Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar, (215) 923-6069
Fork, (215) 625-9425, www.forkrestaurant.com

Marmont, (215) 923-1100, www.marmont.net

SHOPPING
Burberry, (215) 557-7400, www.burberry.com

Godiva, (215) 963-0810, www.godiva.com

Polo Ralph Lauren, (215) 985-2800

Rittenhouse Row,www.rittenhouserow.org

Third Street Habit, (215) 925-5455, www.thirdstreethabit.com

ATTRACTIONS
Graff House

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell

All three of these attractions can be contacted at (215) 965-2305 and www.nps.gov/inde/

We Said... Where we put ourselves first in Philadelphia

LODGING
Shippen Way Inn, inexpensive to moderate, (215) 627-7266. Philadelphia is steeped in so much history, we thought this cozy Colonial inn dating back to 1750 (but recently renovated) would be an ideal home base near Penn’s Landing. And it was, from the charming innkeepers and ivy-covered garden to the working fireplace and four-poster bed in our room.

DINING
Haru, moderate, (215) 861-8990. Haru means “spring” in Japanese, so May is an ideal month to visit this new outpost of the famed NYC sushi joint. But you’ll come to love executive chef Shingo Inoue’s creative combinations (succulent lobster rolls with avocado, cucumber, mango, and caviar, anyone?) no matter the season.

Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse, moderate, (215) 331-3112, www.sweetlucys.com. Feeding the whole family? Or taking your entire team out after clinching that big contract? Consider this northeast barbecue spot, whose Pig Out platters fill a famished clan for a lot less than you might think. For instance, for $66.95, you get a meal for six, including rotisserie chicken, two pounds of meat, one and a half racks of ribs, three pints of sides, and a pint of barbecue sauce. A sweet deal, indeed.

ATTRACTIONS
Eastern State Penitentiary, (215) 236-3300, www.easternstate.org. The world’s first penitentiary, Eastern State dates back to 1829. A tour of the site includes a look into Al Capone’s former cell (he spent eight months there in 1929) as well as at a newly discovered secret tunnel through which a dozen prisoners escaped some 60 years ago. Note: No children under seven allowed.

Wharton Esherick Museum, (610) 644-5822. If you’re trekking the 20 or so miles to visit Valley Forge, make a point to stop into this little-known treasure. Esherick, originally a painter, was one of the twentieth century’s greatest woodworkers, as displayed in his hillside home turned museum. Reservations are required for Saturday or Sunday group tours.
FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

ONE SPECIAL DAY

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