One of my dearest friends used to live here more than 15 years ago. Although she visits often, we usually just hang out wherever I’m living and maybe catch a movie in the ‘burbs, so I knew she wasn’t aware how much the city has changed since then.

So yesterday we did the grand tour. We started off with a wonderful breakfast at a great little place two neighborhoods over. (Great garage sale on the way back - I got “The Godfather” Vol. I, II and III for $3!) Then we went downtown to Independence Mall to see the excavation site of the house where George Washington and then John Adams served as President. Then we walked over to the 2nd St. Ritz to catch “Sicko.”

After the movie let out, we walked around a while, and then we had lunch at the Continental on Market Street. We sat and watched the July 4th crowds go by while I nursed an absolutely perfect mojito.

“You know, it really makes me feel good to see that so many people are here for the holiday,” I said. “I love the history of this country, and it’s nice to see how many people still connect with it.”

“Yeah,” my friend said, “but you’ll notice how many of them are from other countries. It’s a shame more native-born Americans don’t feel the same way.”

Well, I have to agree. I can’t believe how many suburbanites refuse to even set foot in the city unless it’s for a sporting event.

After lunch, we headed back. “I can’t believe how this has changed,” she said, marveling at all the crowds and chic restaurants as we walked down Market Street. “When I worked here, this was a bad neighborhood, really desolate.”

“I keep forgetting you haven’t seen this in a really long time,” I said.

On the way home, I pointed out some of the more interesting historic houses in Germantown, and we stopped in front of the Concord School House, where Louisa May Alcott was born. (She thought that was pretty cool.)

Then we watched all three episodes of “John from Cincinatti” (she liked it as much as I do) before she left for home. Nice day!