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A feast for the senses on Rittenhouse Row

Saturday, May 18th, 2013
Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival

The forecast looks good today – it’s a great day for a street fair, and there’s a doozy of one on Walnut Street. Photo from Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

As sure as the flowers bloom, the crowds will flock to Walnut Street from Broad to Rittenhouse Square today for another May perennial: the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival.

This annual event brings the city’s premier shopping district outdoors for one fun-filled, flavorful afternoon.

“Flavorful” because the district’s restaurants are the stars of the show. More than 40 Rittenhouse Row restaurants set up shop at the festival, offering inexpensive samplings of their featured fare. If you’re looking for a.bar or a.kitchen to patronize, don’t fret – both of these establishments will have tents at the event. So will the city’s two most prominent restaurateurs. If this year is like last, the Rittenhouse Square block of Walnut will be a Stephen Starr showcase, with demonstrations and booths from his Rittenhouse-area restaurants – Alma de Cuba, Barclay Prime, Butcher and Singer, Continental Mid-town, The Dandelion, El Rey and Parc. Jose Garces will be represented by his Village Whiskey, and you will have one last chance to experience Le Bec-Fin fare on the cheap – the restaurant will close for good in June, but it will have a booth at today’s festival.

There will also be shopping, with merchandise from area retailers, and live entertainment on several stages.

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, noon to 5 p.m. today on Walnut Street from Broad to 19th. Free.

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Posted in Articles, Center City, Food and Drink, Points of Interest, Restaurants, Rittenhouse Square, Shopping | No Comments »

Historic Philadelphia Tours Lined Up for Spring

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Independence Hall after dark

Ever want to see Independence Hall without the crowds? You can do it after dark. Photo from Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Historic Philadelphia, Inc. has officially announced its spring lineup for walking tours, which run through the fall and winter of 2013.  The evening tours, Tippler’s Tour and Independence After Hours, are filled with real people with real stories from Philly’s Colonial days that connect history to modern-day experiences.

What makes these tours particularly unique are their hosts – usually an actor personifying the character of a real 18th-century person. Not to worry – these aren’t some geeks off the street; each performer goes through extensive training to learn thorough details of the time period and their individual persona.  Combined with authentic Colonial locations, HPI’s tours immerse the viewer with a unique, all-access pass to real history come to life.

Tippler’s Tour showcases the city’s Colonial and modern-day watering holes while the Independence After Hours Tour highlights some of the landmarks of Philadelphia’s Historic District and gives tourists and locals wanting to get in touch with their historic side the ability to tour Independence Hall with no crowds.

For more information on Historic Philadelphia and its tours, visit the Historic Philadelphia website.

-Greg Meckstroth 

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Posted in Articles, Old City, Points of Interest, Society Hill | 1 Comment »

Special Mural Arts Tours Coming Up

Friday, April 12th, 2013
Patti Labelle

“Patti Labelle”

In addition to the regularly scheduled Mural Arts tours that will be going on this Spring, the program is set to feature two upcoming special tours. The first, the Music & Jazz Mural Tour, will take place Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The Mural Arts Program and the African American Museum in Philadelphia are joining forces to celebrate Jazz Heritage Month with this special tour, with special tour guide Warren Oree.

The tour will showcase Philadelphia’s rich music history and showcase murals such as Patti Labelle by Peter Pagast, Grover Washington by Peter Pagast, and John Coltrane by John Lewis.  Oree started playing the upright bass 40 years ago and has performed all over the world, both as solo artist and as the lead artist of the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.  In addition to performing, Warren is heavily involved in the music and jazz community in Philadelphia and has produced or co-produced numerous festivals throughout the area, including the 2013 Philadelphia United Jazz Festival and Celebration!

The second special tour, to take place Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, followed by lunch until 1:30 p.m., will celebrate Mother’s Day. The tour will travel through Center City and showcase works such as Common Threads by Meg Saligman, Where Women Grow Strong by Michelle Oritz, and Spring by David Guinn. The two-hour tour ends with a prix fixe lunch at Positano Coast, an inspired Italian eatery in Old City, for a three course meal.

Common Threads

“Common Threads”

For the Music & Jazz Tour, ticket information is as follows:

$30 for adults, $28 for seniors 65+, $20 for children 3-12, children 2 and under free  

Tour leaves from the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

Ticket includes FREE admission to the African American Museum, where you can explore their newest exhibit, Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection, presented by PNC Arts Alive.

More information and tickets at the Mural Arts Program’s tour page

For the Mother’s Day Murals & Meals Tour, ticket information is as follows:

$65 per person

Tour departs from and returns to Positano Coast, 212 Walnut St. (across from the Ritz Five movie theater)

More information and tickets at the Mural Arts Program’s tour page

 -Greg Meckstroth

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2013 Mural Tours Season Unveiled

Friday, March 22nd, 2013
Mural Tours

The Mural Arts Program’s tours showcase some of the best of the 3,600 murals on walls all across the city.

The Mural Arts Program has officially unrolled its 2013 Mural Tours Season for the spring and summer, a huge variety of tours that gives folks the chance to see and experience the country’s largest mural program with 3,600 murals dotting the Philly landscape. Officially beginning in April, additions for the year include new tour routes, interacting with working muralists, and specialty tours.

The new tours will show off some of the newer murals as well as the original classic public art pieces. The tours, which will be experienced by trolley, are called: “Mural Arts Masterpieces” and “Mural Arts New Works.” They join numerous other walking, biking, and trolley tours that give users the opportunity to explore Philadelphia’s neighborhoods off the beaten track where most visitors don’t venture. Also, monthly one-time specialty tours have been added to the 2013 schedule.

Advanced reservations are strongly recommended but not required.  Tickets are available online at www.muralarts.org or by phone at 215-925-3633. For private group tours and specialty tours, please call 215-925-3633×10.

 

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Posted in Points of Interest, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Have a Conversation with an Author at the Central Library

Monday, January 21st, 2013
Free Library, Central Library

The Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia has been stimulating conversation – and readers – since 1999 with its author talks.

Located at 1901 Vine Street on Logan Square, the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Central Library has been educating and enriching Philadelphians since 1927.  With over 7 million items, many special collections, a variety of programs and services, and even its own café, the Central Library is a bustling hub of information and fun.

Since 1993, the Central Library has presented its popular author events, featuring poets, novelists, historians, and activists, lecturing, answering questions, and signing copies of their books.  Several author events are held throughout each year, and many of them are free to the public.  Here’s a look at some interesting and thought-provoking author conversations you can enjoy in 2013.

Monday, February 4, 6:30 p.m.

On the first Monday of every month, the Central Library presents Monday Poets in the Skyline Room on the 4th floor.  In February, Monday Poets features Michele Belluomini and Elizabeth Bodien, both of whom have been published in various literary publications and released their own books of poetry.  This event is free to the public.

Tuesday, February 5, 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with The King Years:  Historic Moments in the Civil Rights Movement, a conversation with Pulitzer Prize winner Taylor Branch.  Branch is known for his three-volume history of the Civil Rights Movement, America in the King Years.  He will be discussing pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement in historical context, from bus boycott to political revolution.  General admission is $15; students are $7.  Buy tickets online at freelibrary.org/authorevents.

Thursday, February 7, 7:30 p.m.

Experience the lives of African Americans during the Civil War era with Envisioning Emancipation:  Black Americans and the End of Slavery, a conversation with historians Deborah Willis and Barbara Krauthamer.  Willis and Krauthamer will examine a series of photographs from their visual book, discussing the public and private lives of free and enslaved African Americans during the Civil War.  This event is free to the public.

Tuesday, February 12, 7:30 p.m.

Have a conversation with three popular novelists, Karen Russell, Claire Vaye Watkins and Amity Gaige.  Russell’s debut novel, Swamplandia! was a New York Times Best Book of the Year, and her new book, Vampires in the Lemon Grove, is a collection of short stories that blend horror with magical realism.  Watkins is an assistant professor at Bucknell University, and co-director of the Mojave School.  Her new collection, Battleborn, features stories set in the Nevada desert.  Gaige has been named one of “5 Under 35 Outstanding Emerging Novelists” by the National Book Foundation.  Her new novel, Schroder, follows the life of a young East German immigrant.  This event is free to the public.

- Jen Heller Meservey

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Posted in Articles, Center City, Logan Square, Points of Interest | No Comments »

Keep Your New Year’s Resolution at One of the Best Gyms in Philadelphia

Friday, December 28th, 2012

The holidays are almost over, and 2013 will be here before you know it.  After a December full of delicious dinners, cookies, cakes, candy, and other treats, you might have put on a few extra holiday pounds.  If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape by 2014, joining a gym will be a great first step.  For a local gym with outstanding service, state-of-the-art equipment, and fun classes that will keep you fit, try one of these top-rated gyms in Philadelphia from the PHL17 2012 Philly Hot List.

AFC Fitness, Northeast Philadelphia

AFC’s four convenient locations are well known throughout the Philadelphia area for their aquatic fitness training and therapy.  They offer personal training, group classes, on-site physical therapy, and a massive double-Olympic pool at their 45,000-square-foot facility conveniently located on Grant Avenue in Northeast Philly.

City Fitness, Northern Liberties

The expertly trained fitness counselors at City Fitness work with you to ensure that you meet your personal fitness goals, either for the new year or for life.  Their state-of-the-art facility on Spring Garden Street is ultra-clean and features award-winning amenities, like personal 15-inch-screen LCD TVs, iPod and cell phone connectivity, and built-in fans on all of their brand-new cardio equipment.

Optimal Sport 1315, Center City

With a combined 40-plus years of experience in the fitness industry, the experts at Optimal Sports can help you “be optimal” with their group classes, personal training, and “Executive Performance,” a training program designed specifically for stressed-out executives.  Their Center City facility is conveniently located in The Philadelphia Building at 13th and Walnut Streets, near subway and PATCO stops, and just a short walk from Market East Station.

Urban Athlete, Mt. Airy

Urban Athlete’s fitness training programs combine old school methods with the latest functional strength training principles.  They provide group classes, personal training, and boot camps at their Mt. Airy facility on Germantown Avenue.  Their expert staff offer personal attention to each member.  They greet all of their members by first name, and look forward to seeing them walk through the door every day.

Keep your New Year’s resolution with training programs and classes at one of these top Philadelphia gyms.  View the full Philly Hot List of “Best Gym” winners here and find the best facility to meet your personal fitness goals.

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Posted in Center City, Mt. Airy, Neighborhood Pages, Northeast Philadelphia, Northern Liberties, Old City, Points of Interest | No Comments »

Science and History Come Together at the Wagner

Friday, December 21st, 2012
A visit to the Wagner Free Institute of Science takes you not only into the world of science and natural history but back in time to the 19th century. Photo from Historic American Buildings Survey.

A visit to the Wagner Free Institute of Science takes you not only into the world of science and natural history but back in time to the 19th century. Photo from Historic American Buildings Survey.

The Wagner Free Institute of Science celebrates science and the history of Philadelphia with free educational programs, historical exhibits, and inspiring events. William Wagner founded the institute in the 1880s as a way to provide free science education to the people of Philadelphia. His original specimens are still on display in their 19th-century cabinets. The three-story exhibit hall features one of the largest collections of natural and scientific artifacts in the country. Mounted birds and mammals, fossils, rocks, minerals, insects, shells, dinosaur bones, and the first American saber-toothed tiger are all displayed in their original scheme, transporting visitors back to the Victorian era.

Visit the Wagner Free Institute of Science and experience one of these upcoming educational and historical events.

Weeknights at the Wagner

This 5-part lecture series features distinguished scientists and scholars discussing current topics in science, history, and art. On February 13, George Armistead of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University explores “The Birds and the Bees,” with his illustrated lecture, “pOrnithology” at 5:30 p.m. On March 14, Alexandra Horowitz of Barnard College, Columbia University, discusses “Observing Dogs” with her illustrated lecture at 5:30 p.m.

Spring 2013 Courses

Learn about science with a free educational course at the Wagner, like “Genetics: From Mendel to Watson & Crick and Beyond,” an informal introduction to genetics. Or “Vertebrate Anatomy,” an examination of the vertebrate body and how it functions. Or try practical course like “How Plants Work: Topics in Practical Plant Physiology for Gardeners,” a scientific study of plant structure and growth to provide everyday gardeners with a better understanding of how to meet their plants’ needs. Spring courses run from January to April. Early registration is recommended, as courses can fill up quickly.

Family Programs

The Wagner offers many free family programs designed for children ages 6-12, but they can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. Each educational program features scavenger hunts, crafts, and other fun activities. On February 23, bring the kids and experience the Wagner Winter Wonderland, featuring winter-themed hands-on activities from 12 to 4 p.m., and a presentation at 1 p.m. On May 4, visit the fifth annual Natural History Road Show, where you can bring your treasures to be analyzed by a panel of experts specializing in shells, insects, fossils, and minerals. A presentation at 1 p.m. will be followed by the Road Show from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Wagner Free Institute of Science of Philadelphia is located at 1700 W. Montgomery Ave. in North Philadelphia, just a short walk from bus and subway stops. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-Jen Heller Meservey

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Posted in Articles, Points of Interest | 1 Comment »

5 Great Things To Do With Your Kids in Philadelphia This Holiday Season

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012
Christmas Village

A German import that Philly has taken to its bosom, the Christmas Village offers fascinating things to see, do, buy and eat for young and old between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.

If you’re like us, you’re probably in a frenzy now in the countdown to Christmas Day. May we suggest you take a break and do something fun with your kids in Philadelphia? The city is at its best this time of year, with both year-round and seasonal attractions that appeal to young and old. Here are five of the top places to go and things to do for kids in Philadelphia:

1. Macy’s Holiday Light Show and Dickens Village display. As the only traditional department store left in Center City, Macy’s has inherited the mantle of both its predecessors, John Wanamaker and Strawbridge & Clothier, honoring their legacies with holiday traditions that have delighted generations of kids in Philadelphia. The Holiday Light Show in the Grand Court has been refreshed and updated; the Magic Christmas Tree’s 34,000 lights now sparkle a little more brightly – and the grand Wanamaker Organ has become an integral part of the show to boot. On the third floor is the animatronic exhibit recounting Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” a classic that was the highpoint of a holiday visit to Strawbridge’s for decades.  Macy’s Center City, 1300 Market St. Light show every hour on the hour, Dickens Village open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 31.

2. Enchanted Colonial Village at the Please Touch Museum. The grand Christmas tradition of Philadelphia’s fourth major department store, Lit Brothers, lives on at the Please Touch Museum in West Fairmount Park. From 1962 until Lit Brothers’ demise in 1975, kids in Philadelphia marveled at the animated “Enchanted Colonial Village” – a trip back in time to America’s early years, featuring scenes of everyday life in the colonial period: a blacksmith shop, a seamstress, a baker, a toymaker (of course), and more. Now in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection, this piece of Philadelphia history comes alive again every December at Philadelphia’s children’s museum. And while you’re there, take a ride on the Red Rocket, the monorail that used to circle Wanamakers’ fourth-floor toy department at Christmastime. At Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission $16, children under one and members free.

3. Christmas Village. This annual outdoor market, our version of the German “Christkindlmarkt,” offers something for kids in PhilHoliadelphia of all ages. More than 50 vendors offer one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, most specially themed for the holiday season. There’s also plenty of wonderful food to eat, including authentic German specialties and pastries. In JFK Plaza (LOVE Park), 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Blvd. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Dec. 24.

4. Franklin Square Holiday Celebration. The newest holiday tradition for kids in Philadelphia is in Franklin Square, at the northwest corner of Independence Mall. The square was transformed a few years ago into a family fun attraction, and right after Thanksgiving, it gets dressed up for the holidays with festive lights and decorations. Even Santa Claus gets in on the fun, riding the vintage Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, playing rounds of Philly Mini Golf with visitors and reading stories from “Patriots, Pirates, Heroes and Spies: Stories from Historic Philadelphia.” At Franklin Square, 6th and Race streets. Hours: Saturdays, Sundays and Christmas Eve, 12 noon to 3 p.m.

5. The Comcast Holiday Spectacular. Now this is must-see TV. The incredible, eye-popping LED video display in the lobby of the Comcast Center has been wowing both grownups and kids in Philadelphia since the building opened in 2008. You and your family will go on an incredible 15-minute journey down ski slopes, through enchanting winter scenes, and even into the sky with this high-tech tour de force. At the Comcast Center, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Shows every hour on the hour through New Year’s Day.

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Posted in Articles, Center City, Points of Interest | No Comments »

Explore Prohibition with “American Spirits” at the Constitution Center

Friday, December 14th, 2012
SEPTA "Speakeasy Silverliner"

Snap a photo of yourself aboard SEPTA’s “Speakeasy” Silverliner V, post it to Twitter or Facebook with the special tags, and you could win two tickets to see “American Spirits” at the National Constitution Center. (Photo: SEPTA)

The National Constitution Center offers many educational and exciting exhibitions year-round, but these aren’t like your typical museum exhibitions: They’re innovative and interactive, featuring live performances and activities designed to engage visitors of all ages.  The main exhibition lets you experience the history of the Constitution with a multimedia theatrical production, an interactive exhibition, and the iconic Signers’ Hall, a display of 42 life-sized bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.

This year the Constitution Center’s feature exhibition is “American Spirits:  The Rise and Fall of Prohibition,” the first exhibition to comprehensively explore this curious time in America’s history.  “American Spirits” follows the story of Prohibition from the dawn of the temperance movement the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, immersing the audience in the era of flappers, bootleggers, and speakeasies through films, music, photos, and multimedia exhibits.

Over 100 rare artifacts are on display, including 1920s fashions, propaganda, a 1929 Buick Marquette, and original ratification copies of the 18th and 21st Amendments.  Travel back in time to the Roaring ’20s in a complete recreation of a speakeasy, where you can explore the culture of the Prohibition era, and even learn the Charleston.  Play a custom-built video game that transforms you into a federal agent tracking down rumrunners.

To promote the event, Philadelphia commuters can ride on SEPTA’s Speakeasy Silverliner V train car covered in Victorian-style décor plastered with life-sized photos of influential figures from the 1920s.  Post a photo of yourself riding the Speakeasy car on Twitter or Facebookand you could win two  free tickets to the exhibition.  Just tag your photo #NCCSpeakeasy on Twitter, or “National Constitution Center” and “SEPTA” on Facebook.

The Prohibition era has always been an oddity of American history that scholars and students alike have struggled to understand.  It’s a time period that shaped law and forever changed lives.  Delve into these strange times and learn about the passions, plans, and power that led to the rise and fall of prohibition through “American Spirits,” now through April 28, 2013.  The exhibition is free on Sundays from 12-5pm.  Weekday tickets are $17.50 for adults, $11.00 for children 12 and under, $16.00 for seniors and students, and free for active military.  Visit prohibition.constitutioncenter.org to learn more and order tickets.  The National Constitution Center is located on Independence Mall at 525 Arch Street, close to subway and bus stops and a short walk from Market East Station.

-Jen Heller Meservey

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Celebrate the Season with Free Holiday Attractions in Center City

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012
Macy's Christmas light display

Macy’s Christmas Light Show has been a Philadelphia holiday tradition since 1955. Photo: Macy’s.

There’s no better place to celebrate the Christmas season than Center City Philadelphia. This December, the area continues its long tradition of Christmas attractions that delight kids and adults alike. These fun and festive holiday celebrations are free to the public, and available anytime throughout the month of December. So bring the whole family to Center City this year to experience the sights and sounds of the holidays at one of these convenient locations.

Christmas Light Show, Dickens Village, and Holiday Windows
Macy’s, 1300 Market St.

Macy’s gets into the Christmas spirit with three popular holiday attractions. The Christmas Light Show is a tradition that goes back nearly 60 years. Over 100,000 LED lights shine, dazzle, and dance to holiday music and famous stories like “The Nutcracker,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Frosty the Snowman.” The Magic Christmas Tree is decorated with over 34,000 synchronized lights that shine in front of the Wanamaker Organ as it plays along to your favorite holiday tunes. Shows run every hour on the hour, now through December 31.

On Macy’s third floor you can experience the Dickens Village, a meticulously detailed recreation of the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” The more than 6,000-square-foot display features more than 100 animatronic figures reenacting 26 of the story’s most beloved scenes, including Scrooge’s humbling visits from the three spirits. The Village runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through December 31.

In the 1870s, Macy’s was the first store to feature holiday windows to celebrate the season. The tradition has continued ever since with new stunning animated displays appearing every year. This year’s displays feature miniature versions of the Christmas Light Show and Dickens Village, as well as tributes to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. See the Macy’s holiday windows during store hours now through December 31.

Holiday Railroad
Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Filbert streets

Have fun with the kids or relive your own childhood with Reading Terminal Market’s Holiday Railroad. This 500-square-foot model railroad display features more than a third of a mile of track and twelve working train lines. Miniature figures surround the track, depicting holiday scenes set in Center City, a Christmas Village, and a snow-covered countryside. You and your family can interact with the trains by pressing buttons to trigger lights and sounds, switch tracks, and move the figures. The Holiday Railroad runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. now through December 31.

Holiday Spectacular
Comcast Center, 17th Street & John F. Kennedy Blvd.

The Comcast Experience Video Wall at the Comcast Center is a unique larger-than-life screen which has been projecting the Holiday Spectacular in the building’s lobby for five years. This year’s show is the “Snowman Symphony,” and it features scenes from the Pennsylvania Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” a riveting sleigh ride through the Pennsylvania countryside, and a swing dance performance by Broadway stars. Kids receive a free “Snowman Symphony” temporary tattoo good for one treat at Termini Brothers Bakery or Di Bruno Bros. downstairs in The Market & Shops. The Holiday Spectacular runs every hour on the hour now through New Year’s Day.

December in Center City is filled with lights, laughter, and joy. Center City’s holiday attractions are a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with the whole family. Take a break from holiday shopping and visit one of these free attractions before December is over.

-Jen Heller Meservey

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