I had my first heat migraine in Philadelphia… and home base is in Phoenix, Arizona now! Crazy, right?! It was the weirdest experience. I went downtown for a meeting on one of the hottest days recorded in Philly, made a silly little video near City Hall where the wind was trying to make my dress moon people in my granny panties nearby and went back to West Philly via the Septa trolley. I cranked on and down the AC, turned the lights off and took a couple Motrin. I couldn’t think straight and everything was confusing to someone who is usually smart as a whip. So I lay down hoping the throbbing would subside and eventually just passed out. I felt better when I woke up, ate and chugged a lot of water. So when my friends at Loews Hotel confirmed a media visit on three of the hottest days in the city, I was beyond thankful. Super cool AC for the win! And ironically it’s always been like that… Philadelphians escaping to the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) buildings air conditioning for centuries.
And even extra grateful as Septa let me down yet again (total deja vu from my Manayunk days) with the trolley tunnel from West Philadelphia being closed for service the second half of the month I was visiting (of course). I hopped on, asked where we were going (in the opposite direction) got off two blocks later, speed walking until I was dripping sweat and getting delirious, then called an Uber (cheaper on the East Coast, Lyft on the West Coast) who thankfully cranked up the air conditioning for me. I forgot that this Gritty city life is tough without a car – or even with one as it is bound to get scratched, beat up and bounced around in deep potholes. With an extremely early checkin time of 10 a.m., the hot sweaty summer was already thick as thieves outside. Walking in was literally a breath of fresh air. I realized quickly I was looking very West Coast with my trucker hat, space shirt and hot pink biker shorts with sneakers and stood out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, I had a tour arranged upon arrival to sort of center myself first and reacquaint myself with this amazing structure. There are also more things to explore in the area if you have time!
The coolest part of this story though? That myself, a woman in the totally wrong attire – and probably attitude as well, was admitted to the prestigious 33rd floor where only old, rich white guys used to be allowed. It felt like a huge middle finger to the patriarchy and if you know me well, that is my favorite kind of language. It was also a nod to ending racism as well because the man leading on me on the tour had more melanin that me and we sort of nodded to each other in quiet recognition. Times are a changing so buckle up, buttercups of America!
Arriving at Loews Hotel Philadelphia on the other side of City Hall where I spent years in press parking spots. Septa’s bus drives by to the right but that city route via bus structure perplexes me more.Looking straight up, you can almost see the very top of the tower at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.The entrance to Loews Hotel Philadelphia awaits you! La Colombe coffee is available in the grab and go shop inside and is a city staple.The lobby of Loews Hotel Philadelphia. If you want early checkin, choose early in the week when it’s less busy and enjoy the fresh orchids!Now those are some views you won’t see every day at Loews Hotel Philadelphia from the 31st floor.Philadelphia to the right looking out from Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Philadelphia to the left looking out from Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Great event spaces at the top of these floors at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Jefferson is where I had my scoliosis fusion surgery done with views of City Hall in 2016, life has come full circle!A Cartier clock perched in the hallway during my tour at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.We shimmied over to some of the luxury suites at Loews Hotel Philadelphia for this view. The presidential suite was being used and I’m still curious who was staying there.
You can still catch see the glowing red neon sign of The Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) from miles away. It was the first savings bank in the United States! The bank commissioned the construction in 1929 of an over 30 floor, 491-foot skyscraper that would house the banking and office activities for the upper class society.
Architects William Lescaze and George Howe perfected every detail including boasting it was the world’s second skyscraper to have air-conditioning for a grand total of $8 million during the Great Depression. Today’s standards would be priceless on what it contains.
Loews Hotels & Co Chairman Jonathan Tisch and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell (who I met in a cat woman costume party ironically) announced in 1997, that the PSFS building would be converted into a Loews Hotel. Slightly controversial at the time, the brand aimed to keep as much as the original structure as possible. Officially opened in April 2000, the three-story bank room is now a banquet space featuring the bank’s safe, Cartier clocks, and original marble. Loews Philadelphia has 581 luxury rooms inside one of the most historic buildings in the country.
The mail system remains just like it was at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.And so does the original bank vault at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Another Cartier clock, this time with the telltale black and white marble style at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Philadelphians coming into deposit money at what was PSFS bank at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Notice only one man smiling here.One of the spaces to rent for events at Loews Hotel Philadelphia with window shades that open to the city and the Cartier clock behind me.Soon it was time to check in my room and I was more than ready to just relax in bed, crack open the laptop and get some work done at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.My comfy marshmallow bed at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. I was in a corner room on the 30th floor.I was sad to see just a shower but squeaky clean marble and hot as you like in the cool AC at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Some rooms boast bathtubs.A desk to work at that I didn’t really use at all at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. If you flip the chair around, it makes for better views.Very nice toiletries at Loews Hotel Philadelphia, this potion worked magic on my curls.The coffee station I was obsessed with and TV I also barely used at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.The view out my window at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. The buildings like to compete with who’s is the tallest (cough, cough) and I think Comcast is winning or a close call.To the right in my room at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.And to the left at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. I soon got to work as much as I could as my brain was finally shutting down after the heat.After working from bed, I got a nice, everything shower, put on music, got ready for dinner at Bank and Bourbon and started dancing. Realizing things have changed a lot since I lived in Philly but I’m OK with that, I made a little dancing video at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. This vintage dress I scored at The Second Mile Center in West Philadelphia for a steal. I became fast friends with the owner who was a rad lady doing good deeds in the community!After dinner, we ran back up and put the leftovers in the fridge at Loews Hotel Philadelphia just in time to catch this sunset city pic.Going back down to the bank area, we decided to do a fun photoshoot since we had run of the space at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Remember the Cartier clock earlier at Loews Hotel Philadelphia? It was purple that night.A view of the art deco vibes at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Of course I had to jump in for a photo at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Photo by Kevin Loreaux, one of the first photographers I worked with when I moved to Philly. It’s a little blurry but so were we after our tasty drinks!We then started playing with the mail section at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. Great lighting for portraits here!And I actually caught Kevin smiling for once as he poses with a key at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.In classic Kevin Loreaux style, he captures Cassie circa 2024 at Loews Hotel Philadelphia on the couch.Located back in the lobby, a stunning bank door fit for photography at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. It remains as an homage to the building’s history and art installation.
The bed was so comfy that night however I was unfortunately rooming next to an angry door slammer and yelling on the phone man. So at around 6 a.m. the show began and I didn’t get much work done – if at all. That’s the price you pay to travel though which is why I do my best writing work at home in my office where it’s whisper quiet and you can hear a pin drop. But since Loews Hotel Philadelphia was being so awesome to me, they secured me a spot at the spa for a treatment that I have never experienced before.
Welcome to the Joseph Anthony Salon and Spa at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. There used to be a swimming pool this way as well however it is closed.A friendly and helpful staff awaits at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.This hallway leads to the large gym that boasts views at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.If you need your hair cut, they’ve got you at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Or just a blowout too at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.And this whole hallway has product galore to get you glowing at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Loving on the artwork at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.Into the lady’s locker room we go at Loews Hotel Philadelphia. I wore my room and slippers from my room which is a time saving hack.In the lady’s locker room at Loews Hotel Philadelphia, a true priceless piece of art.A sauna and steam room at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.But first a foot bath at Loews Hotel Philadelphia for about 30 minutes with sea salts in different scents.Fresh water, tea and homemade cookies were also available at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.First the lady scrubbed me down with exfoliant, then I got a hot steamy shower and climbed into this bed at Loews Hotel Philadelphia.This is what I call a Cassie Burrito or better known as a the Float Spa with Swiss Goat Butter Creme where you are lifted into a cocoon much like a womb for a half hour. It is supposed to replace a massage and relaxation which it certainly did I was in a deep meditation the whole time.
After that amazing experience at Joseph Anthony Spa, I was floating and it was pointless to fight sleep. The angry man had checked out and all was quiet on the Eastern front… so I took a much-needed nap. Woke up, ate some leftovers and did some work but allowed my body the rest it needed. The timing was great too as a thunderstorm rolled through finally breaking the heat! There’s nothing quite like it being so high in the sky, I was a bit afraid at one point but realized how long this building has been around it can totally take a beating.
The next morning I was refreshed and ready to go create some more art in Manayunk at the Mill Artist Studios. So off I went on another adventure to explore some more but will always remember Loews for giving me the reprieve I needed! If you want to learn more and see more on this historical space, we have tons of links on the Explore website.
