Jessimae Peluso is a stand-up comedian and TV personality who currently hosts Surviving Paradise on Netflix.

We spoke with Jessimae during a recent stay at The DWIGHT D.

We are a hotel that loves design and inspiration. Tell us what design means to you and where you find inspiration?.

Most of my inspiration comes from walking around a city and seeing the crossroads of original architecture against the backdrop of modern design. A gothic church in front of a Chase bank or a beautiful brownstone around the corner from a CVS. Human beings are capable of so many amazing works of art. But it always humbles me to see a building built before I was born and to imagine the hands that laid it brick by brick. Mother Nature is also a pretty bad ass artist and design. Look at the human body, for instance, that’s quite a design! Really beautiful design can feel like a message from the past or future. And I love when I discover a place that is telling a story. We all have a story to tell.

Congrats! Tell us more about your Surviving Paradise on Netflix-

Surviving Paradise is if Survivor, Big Brother and Love Island had a baby. It’s streaming NOW on Netflix so go binge so I can get sent to another beautiful location and watch beautiful people battle it out for $200,000. There’s a ton of twists and turns-you never know how the game will evolve. And you can’t predict what will happen next. Plus it’s shot so beautifully in the mountainous region of Lefkada, Greece.

Having spent a few days with us in Philadelphia, tell us about your ideal weekend here; what’s not to miss?

After spending a couple days in Philly I can honestly say it made me want to own a brownstone in Rittenhouse Square. I’m sure you’re saying “Of course!” I loved feeling like I was time traveling while walking down the street, lined with brownstones that are centuries old. I found out that the area was named after David Rittenhouse. Who was a clock maker and a noted astronomer who has a lunar crater named after him. That’s what I love about traversing a beautiful city like Philadelphia, I get to learn facts. And now I want to be named after a comet. Not a crater. I feel like a comet is an upgrade

Tell us about your experience staying at The DWIGHT D Hotel from the perspective of a comedian who finds fun and whimsy throughout your travels

From the moment walking into The DWIGHT D Hotel, I felt safe and secure. I was greeted at the door, (which was locked from the outside god bless because being a chick on the road can feel unsafe), like I was the Queen of England. I immediately LOVED the hotel because of the lighting. Being photosensitive, I appreciate a nice dim and warm lighting situation. So I felt calm as soon as I walked into the ornate hallway, lit perfectly by beautiful fixtures all along the hallway. The rich colors and textures drew you in. Beautiful leather couches, with a deep navy blue wall, decorated with finely curated lamps, artwork, and other touches made this hotel stand out from any other hotel I stayed at. This ain’t a Travelodge, ya’ll. But I do enjoy finding places just like The Dwight D, you can tell someone breathed magical life back into its flooring and walls. It feels like it has a secret to tell. You know a lot went down inside of these walls throughout history. I whispered into a hall closet asking for The DWIGHT D to dish the Tea, but she wasn’t giving up the goods. A lady never tells. I’m not even sure how the hotel Identifies…but I’m going to call The DWIGHT D a classy lady, with a real knack for design, architecture while maintaining a deep respect for her roots. I’m writing this from inside of a hallway nook I found, to hopefully get squatters rights because I do NOT want to ever leave! I have traveled the world, I’ve stayed in EVERY kind of hotel, from a one-room motel in Alaska, that opens up directly to the parking lot, to a renovated school bus on a hot spring’s commune in Monroe, Utah, and even stayed in a shed surrounded by peacocks in West Virginia. I’ve also been lucky enough to stay in places like Aman and Four Seasons and I never felt like I was home the way I did while staying at The DWIGHT D. Can someone bring me a bagel and coffee to my nook?