Getting around Philadelphia on foot at night

Cab is prolly your best option, as it's really not very far...maybe 20 blocks? As a data point, one night in 2000 I walked from @ 5th & Market to @ 30th & Spring Garden, alone at @ 11pm b/c I had time to kill. Took me about an hour. I had some interesting conversations, including one with a nice gentleman who dropped a crack rock on the sidewalk and asked me to help him look for it. (We couldn't find it.)

1) I'd jump on any SEPTA train going east (toward Market East)--it will be one stop to Suburban. Or you could take a cab. It would be very cheap. 2) I'd cab it, just because it is a schlep. 3) I'd cab it, just because it is a schlep.

If I take a cab to/from the theater, how much would that cost, including tip?

IMO, it's not going to be a dangerous walk if you keep your wits about you. If you're easily skeeved out, don't do it. Just take SEPTA. Not sure about the cab fare...try http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Philadelphia? I'm sure someone else will weigh in, though.

Last time I checked, cabs in Philly were pricier than NY. Say $15 bucks to get from hotel to TLA? Pure guessery.

If the TLA still has the angled floor it did years ago (I heard there have been renovations in recent years), your feet will be killing you after the show and you'll need a cab regardless of the distance to the hotel.

I'm with Admiral Haddock. Philadelphia is, typically, a very walkable city and it's not a dangerous walk through Center City. It's just a real hike from the Ben Franklin Parkway all the way down to South Street. Even when I was a teenager and went to school in the BF PKY area and lived in the South Street area, I never walked the whole distance. I took the bus at least part of the way. The 17 bus could cut down on the amount of walking, traveling up and down 19th and 20th streets and intersecting South Street and Market Street. But, that still leaves you about 16 blocks of South Street to walk down on your way to the TLA. If you get tired of walking, you can catch the 40 bus that runs down South Street. If you plan on taking the bus, leave early and leave yourself plenty of time to get to the show. The bus is kind of slow and traffic is a variable. Get some cheese fries at Ishkabibble's across the street from the TLA after the show and cab it back to the hotel.

If you want to walk to the TLA, maybe in one direction, this is the route I would take. The Windsor Suites is at 17th and the Parkway. Walk up 17th St. (heading south) towards Market. Proceed to Walnut, about 6 blocks, turn left and walk until Broad St. (3 blocks). Walnut is a very nice street, lots of restaurants and people. Turn right at Broad, so again you're heading south. This is a very busy street with lots of theaters, restaurants, a few hotels. Walk 2 or 3 blocks and turn left at either Spruce or Pine. Both are nice residential streets. Walk until about 10th St (4 blocks) and turn right. Again you're going south. Go 3-4 blocks and you'll hit South St, which is where the TLA is. Corner of 10th of South are two supermarkets, one is Whole Foods. Turn left, you're heading east and the TLA will be a few blocks down. You'll get a flavor of South St, which is quite busy on a Saturday night. All total I'm guessing it's about two miles. This is much easier than I've made it sound, basically you're just zig zagging to pick the nicest streets. Constantly heading South then East then South again, etc. I've walked this route many times and if the weather's nice you will enjoy this walk.

It's been 5 years since I lived in Philadelphia, but I feel pretty confident in saying that it's going to be a challenge getting a cab after a show at TLA, especially if it's either cold or raining. You may have to walk a few blocks just to get away from the hordes of other people trying to do the same thing. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a good place nearby to catch a cab, but I seem to remember that my friends and I used to do OK just walking a few blocks in the general direction in which we were heading and trying to hail a passing cab on the way.