Ho adventuring gamers! We are on the eve of PAX Unplugged in downtown Philadelphia. After a few years of plague I have managed to shove a fist through the loose grave I was buried in and make my way last year. There were some changes, and what advance information I have suggests that things will be mostly the same. A few years ago I did a primer on attending, as I happen to live in the general area. For the most part, things in general remain the same but there are a few key differences in getting there from when I tried to dispense wisdom back in…2019? Oof. 

Without further ado, this is the wisdom and knowledge I have gained.

---

Getting there

So, you’ve decided to attend, and now arrived in town (or are already living here) to face the minor question of “how the hell are we going to get there”?

For those of you who managed to stay within walking distance of the Philadelphia Convention Center, good on you! Enjoy it. For the rest of us, here’s some pragmatic advice: if you can avoid driving there, I would do so. The con site is in downtown Philadelphia, and while traffic isn’t anywhere as bad as say, midtown Manhattan, you are likely to have a slow go of it dealing with traffic, especially when it comes to parking. Street parking will be near impossible to come by on the days in question, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority are notoriously swift and merciless to those who thought they could pull one over.

In the end, I would bite the bullet and pay to park in a nearby lot. Most lots will be charging event pricing that will cover the day. If you need to, I would consider moving deeper into Chinatown in the search for parking, as the neighborhood borders right up against the con location, and is well equipped for events. I know the general area well enough that I feel like I can maneuver there and find parking, and $20-30 for the day is worth the peace of mind. The closer you get you will get gouged and traffic will be higher, but if you are carrying a lot of gear it might be worth it for you.

Ideally though, I would recommend public transportation if possible. The convention center is in the heart of Center City, and despite what certain politicians yammer about, this part of Philadelphia is as safe as any city I’ve been to. While not necessarily on the level of NYC, Philadelphia transit runs mostly on time at non-peak rush hours and the convention center runs along a nexus of various routes. 

Here we have a handy graphic from the con about entrances and times (If you’re coming here from IPR’s 2024 page for PAX Unplugged, first of all hello, and good news, the image is the updated 2024 map, as the entrances and times have changed since ’23. – Ed.):

This puts the closest hub at Suburban Street station and then hoofing it a block or two north. Keep that in mind if you are parking as well.

Finally, Uber and Lyft are fully active in the city, and there are still taxis. I would recommend these only if you are going somewhere besides the con and you have no other options, but they are still options. Be wary though: it’s the weekend, and in one of the busiest parts of the city. Be prepared for raised fares for the convenience and immediacy in a bottlenecked area. 

Event Signup

To put it bluntly, if past experience has taught me anything it is that events fill up fast. Registration opens on the PAX app electronically at 8 AM and last year it was immediately flooded with registrations. Pick out your primary event, maybe a backup. Group sizes appear a bit larger this year, but it’s anyone’s game.

If you have some flexibility, or might want to try something new, I would look more at the Games on Demand option, where volunteer GMs will be offering different indie games starting every hour for 2 to 4 hour oneshots. It can be a great option if you find yourself at loose ends but a deep desire to roll some dice. (Insder info, GoD at Unplugged ’23 has the potential to sit 1,000 players over the course of the con. – Ed.)

For those you coming for collectible card games or miniature events…well, I have less personal experience there. However, the friends who I came with were able to get into events in the afternoon without running into too much trouble without lining up at the door. Some of these are qualifier events, so people looking to play competitively should absolutely keep an eye on ensuring that they make their times.

Food and Relaxation

There is hot food and cold drinks offered within the convention center itself, and if you find yourself unable to break away from the action, those are viable options, but it’s mostly standard cafeteria fare and it will be priced like a sporting event. If you are hanging around I would recommend heading up the third floor of the convention hall. It’s a bit quieter, and there’s some room to spread out and sample some of the wares you have just purchased. 

If you can though, get out a bit for food. The con is flanked by two locations packed with a variety of high quality food: Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown. Reading Terminal is packed with small stands that are small restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries (among other) while Chinatown is open for most hours of the day and has some of the best food in the city for dollars spent. It seems like a shame to eat convention food while such good eats are so close at hand (and you can bring in outside food) but if you are running to pack every moment at the con I understand.

However, you guys are here for a con! Portable, quick, and close at hand are the name of the game. Fortunately, you don’t have to go very far. The Reading Terminal Market, within a few minutes walk maximum, is one of the oldest markets in the country, and its a destination all by itself. It’s full of food stands for quick bites, including a large number of goodies from Amish country (a person in a bonnet tallying up your order on a register is a sight to see) along with doughnuts, breads, sandwiches, hot bars and coffee. There are a bunch of tiny restaurants where you can squeeze onto a counter and order. There’s a pretty good variety of all types of cuisines, so even the picky should be able to find something to eat.

For people who want to bring in something portable, I would take a look at some of the DiBruno Brothers locations nearby. Known for a delicious selection of meats and cheeses, the locations in Center and Old City also have great sandwiches and snacks, and you can easily prepare a breakfast or lunch for yourself for the upcoming day.

However, I would really encourage people to take a walk through Chinatown,. Despite the name, there’s a lot of variation that you’ll find: ramen, hotpot, bakeries, bubble tea, noodle shops, peking duck and bbq pork, Thai, Korean Barbecue, Sushi…just to name a few. Most locations in Chinatown prize flipping tables, which bodes well for people who might be looking for something at the last minute. They can be cash only, so be cautious as you arrive if you’re interested.

As a couple quick highlights: Dim Sum is a weekend brunch tradition, and it great for groups because it’s easy to share, and the cost for a full meal often works out to less than $20 a head. There is a neat market, a smaller version of the Redding Terminal, at Chinatown Square, which also has burgers, cocktails and a Halal Boys for those who aren’t feeling as adventurous.

In the aftermath, if you want a little something more, or want to try something special for the rest of your meals, you’re in luck: Philadelphia is a great food city, and you are smack in the middle of a very active section. I’ll keep my advice contained to options that are in close proximity to the convention center, but for those who wish to explore, Yelp and OpenTable are your friends, as is the list of 50 best restaurants in the city. The con location is within a short drive (or Uber) to the Old City, Center City, and Fishtown neighborhoods, so if you want to adventure for dinner, those are prime locations to look. 

 All in all, there are plenty of options, and I would encourage people to try something new.

---

I’ll be trying to post updates on each day of the con, keeping up on what’s going on and describing what I’ve run into. If you want advice, or just to say hi, drop by our Discord. I’ll try to be putting up pictures on the day of and drop me a line if you want to say hi!