Tag Archives: philly

Expand Your Scientific Knowledge At The Franklin Institute!

Looking for something fun yet educational?

Visit The Franklin Institute, one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of The Franklin Institute Science Museum serves to inspire an understanding of and passion for science and technology learning. Among other exhibits, The Science Museum holds the largest collection of artifacts from the Wright brothers’ workshop.

The Institute is full of interesting and interactive exhibits, both permanent and traveling. Some of the permanenet exhibits are:
Kid Science, Space Command, The Train Factory, The Franklin Airshow, The Giant Heart and Changing Earth.

The traveling Exhibit, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, runs until April 7, 2013. This exhibit contains more than 300 legendary artifacts conserved from the ship’s debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at this iconic ship and its passengers. The 15,000 square foot exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey through the life of Titanic, from the building of the legend to life on board.

Click here for more information.

Stir it Up

The Nation’s First Zoo in Philadelphia

Located just outside the city limits in West Fairmount Park is a Victorian Garden filled with rare, unusual and exotic creatures from all corners of the Earth. This may sound like the beginning of a fairy tale, but we’re really talking about The Zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo is the nation’s first zoo, opened in 1874, and remains a touchstone of Philadelphia culture and tourism. The Zoo is easy to navigate and great fun for children – especially the Treehouse, which showcases larger-than-life habitats for kids to roam and explore (like the gigantic honeycomb to hang out in). The Children’s Zoo has a baby zoo for the tots and farm animals that like a little more interaction.

New exhibits include the PECO Primate Reserve with 11 different species, and the Carnivore Kingdom that houses the rare white lions, snow leopards and jaguars. The Reptile House and Jungle Bird Walk are both newly renovated and give up close and personal experiences.

Insider’s Tip: Parking is a hot commodity, so either get there early or choose a more overcast day to hang with the furry friends.

Chic Club Fun at Vango

As the warmer months are fast approaching, everyone starts talking about Vango and its uber-sexy Skybar roof deck lounge. Vango offers several different atmospheres throughout the club and lounge. If you’re in for a night of high-rolling and sophisticated fun, order the bottle service and receive top-notch attention in the reserved area. Or if you’re looking for an evening filled with house music and calorie-burning grooving, the dance floors inside will not fail you. The DJs always keep the mood going all through the night – be sure to check out the color-coded calendar on the website so you can choose the tunes you’ll be dancing to.

Vango is more than just a club and killer roof deck (although with 8,000 square feet, it’s a whole lot of club), it also offers an enviable menu. The styles of chef Michael Fee (from Nobu) and owner Dia Sawan (from the family who gave us Philadelphia’s Mediterranean gems Byblos and Fez) meld Japanese and Mediterranean classics wonderfully; there aren’t many places you can begin with hummus for an appetizer, eat a main course of yellowtail jalapeño and spider rolls, then finish off with an order of baklava.

Pig Iron Theatre Company, As Unusual as Its Name

The Pig Iron Theatre Company is a self- proclaimed “dance-clown-theatre ensemble,” proving that this group is as unique as its name. Pig Iron is dedicated to the creation of new and daring performance works that defy easy categorization. Since its creation 12 years ago, the Company has successfully created 22 works and toured all over the world. Philadelphia is lucky that Pig Iron has decided to premiere all of their works at home…how sweet!

One of the most intriguing acts is Miss Martha Graham Cracker, Philadelphia’s most beloved drag queen and alter ego of Pig Iron’s co-creator Dito van Reigersberg. Martha makes appearances all over the city on the cabaret circuit, most frequently at Philly’s cabaret/creperie L’Etage.

With highly-anticipated events like Making Faces: A Deep Dive into Masked Performance with Pig Iron, Pig Iron carries on a conversation that it has been having for over 15 years about masked theatre and how it helps reveal the true actor’s self.

Another Starr: Butcher & Singer

Channeling a time when martinis at lunch were the norm and no self-respecting woman left the home without her coif in full pompadour, Butcher & Singer serves steak and seafood in high fashion. If you are one of those that agree there can never be too much Mad Men in our lives, Butcher & Singer is your opportunity to walk right onto that set and light up a cigarette.

The stars at this Starr restaurant are steaks and seafood, just as any classic steakhouse should. Prime steaks are prepared a la carte from the beautiful open kitchen. Seafood highlights are cold-water lobster, classic surf and turf, freshly caught fish and Lobster Newberg. And for lunch, the Butcher Burger has won Philadelphia battles with its grilled onions, English cheddar, and homemade Russian dressing serving the knockout punch.

Opera Company of Philadelphia Is Toast of “Opera Town”

The Opera Company of Philadelphia, or OCP, knows Philly has always been a town dedicated to the arts, and even more so an Opera Town. Gearing up for its 35th Anniversary next season, OCP is continuing to do exciting full-length operas of traditional and new repertoire along Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts.

OCP performs at the beautiful Academy of Music and in the Kimmel Center’s smaller Perelman Theater, letting patrons see large-scale productions as well as more intimate shows. With a focus on developing talent, the performers in OCP’s productions are all top notch. For example, in 1980 OCP began a long-standing relationship with Luciano Pavarotti, establishing a competition that seeks out the best young voice talent.

In addition to the performances, OCP features pre-concert lectures and Opera-enrichment programs in hopes that the love of opera will carry on through the generations. The Opera also puts on a full-length opera every year with the students at Philadelphia’s renowned music school The Curtis Institute of Music.

Independent Hotel’s Home to Philly’s Finest Mural

The Independent Hotel is a 24-room boutique hotel in Philadelphia’s chic and gay-friendly Midtown Village neighborhood. Like in the best boutique hotels, no two rooms are alike, minus the similarity of the sweet 32” flat panel TV that hangs in every guest room. And like all great things in Philly, the Independent is chock-full of history and belongs to the National Register of Historic Places.

The staff is accommodating and the rooms are like a fine European hotel – chic and comfortable without an overabundance of amenities. The attention to detail was spent on finer things, like the luxurious mattresses and sumptuous toiletries.

Philadelphia is very proud of its Mural Arts program and the over 2,700 murals that are sprinkled throughout the city – the home of one mural by Kim Senior residing at 30-feet tall is in The Independent’s expansive and stunning lobby. It sets the tone for this stylish hotel as soon as you enter the lobby.

Live Music Noon to Midnight at World Cafe Live

The World Café Live is hands down the best place to hear music that’s not getting played on the radio. It was named best club in Philadelphia by NBCphiladelphia.com in 2009 and best new music venue by Philadelphia Magazine when it came out on the scene in 2005. Whether you’re looking for indie singer-songwriters, hip hop artists, or African drumming; The World Café Live is your destination.

world cafe live

One part music venue, one part restaurant, you never know what you’re going to get when walking into World Café Live. Downstairs is a three tiered music hall which seats 300 people in a bistro style set up, and as many as 650 people in the standing room only section. Upstairs is a café on historic Walnut Street. Comfortably seating 100 people, the café features live radio broadcasts and performances every day of the week. It has an extensive menu and the best happy hour specials near the Drexel Campus.

The World Café Live is also home to the annual Beta Hifi Music Festival, and puts on weekly concert series called Peanut Butter and Jams, a lunch time concert for children and their parents every Saturday. It’s safe to say that if you want live music any hour of the day, just head over to World Cafe Live.

Drama Queens and Kings Flock to Philadelphia Theatre Company

The Philadelphia Theatre Company’s performance season is always filled with the best of the best; whether it’s a world premiere, an off-Broadway smash, or a Tony award winner, when PTC productions are coming to town the whole city is buzzing.

PTC was founded in 1974 and has been dedicated to presenting world premieres of major works by contemporary American playwrights, which is quite a feat considering the enormously wide range that is American Theatre! PTC productions take place at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts. The 365-seat theater was renovated in 2008, providing the perks of a modern venue (like generous leg room) in an intimate viewing space.

To go, or not to go? Not even a question! With new shows happening every month, there’s no reason not to visit Suzanne Roberts Theatre for a Philadelphia Theatre Company production.

Brunching Paradise at Sabrina’s Cafe

When you wake up on the weekend and know that the only cure to your wretched margarita-beer-kamikaze-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink hangover is a belly-bursting brunch, Sabrina’s Café will be calling your name. Sabrina’s is located just outside of the Italian Market and offers all the classic comfort food of an all-star brunch menu. The weekly specials are always themed (recently it featured Jersey Shore selections like the “Self Tanner” Mexi Special and the “Situation” burger), which makes it even harder to choose from the already stellar menu.

Tried and true favorites, like the caramelized Challah french toast, stuffed with cream cheese and bananas topped with vanilla bean maple syrup (say what?!), and the “Barking Chihuahua Breakfast Burrito” rolled up with scrambled eggs, black beans, red peppers, and pepper jack cheese (yo quiero!), will send you full and happy to your post-brunch coma…I mean nap. Shuffle on into Sabrina’s in your Sunday sweatpants and that sweater you swore you’d never step out of the house in, because it’s time to hit that sweet, salty, greasy breakfast goodness.

Insider’s Tip: The lines get long and the wait can be too, so be on the safe side and call ahead, they’ll add your name to the list before you get there!

Once you [Absolute] POP! the Fun Don’t Stop

Warhol lovers look no further, because Absolute POP! is the mecca you’ve been looking for for all of your pop art needs. The shop is bursting with vibrant colors and patterns, making it a great stop when visiting Philly’s Midtown Village. Absolute POP!’s two main goals are to be the “go-to” place for affordable decorative art and, to make sure you have great gift options for everyone on your shopping list, both of which they are succeeding.

Absolute POP! sells a huge variety of “art blocks,” glicee prints set in frames that are made from sustainable hardwood grown in North American forests, as well as other art, like tin signs and fine photograph prints. For a unique gift or souvenir, pick up a photo print from the “Absolute Philadelphia” collection, which features quirky architecture and iconic Philly monuments from around town.

The Nation’s One and Only Fabric Workshop and Museum

To say that The Fabric Workshop and Museum is one-of-a-kind is an understatement – there is no other museum in the nation of its kind! This is not a textile museum, it’s shocking and thought-provoking with pieces like “Entrails Carpet” and “Restless Nights/Atomic Shroud.” The FWM’s main goal is to show “design excellence in everyday objects,” and by transforming everyday textiles and objects, like carpets and beds, into channels for social commentary, it pushes contemporary art to another level.

The list of artists represented in the permanent gallery is lengthy, ensuring that you will see a variety of distinctive and creative pieces. Many of these artists also have items available exclusively in the Museum Shop, like canvas bags, scarves, napkins, ties, pillows, umbrellas, and t-shirts.

With an appointment, you can visit the construction and print studios, where you’ll see exhibitions of contemporary art, video programs, pieces from the FWM permanent collections and works in progress.

Get your Couture for Cheap at Second Time Around

If you lust after Oscar de la Renta, but can only really afford Old Navy, then Second Time Around may be your favorite find of 2010. Second Time Around is a consignment shop near Rittenhouse Square that only sells designer merchandise (Dolce, Betsey, Versace, and the like) that is up to snuff with the shop’s high standards. The clothing must be no more than two years old, and in pristine condition, so with standards like that you are bound to find a steal at 30-70% off original prices.

This boutique gives- and receives. If you’re looking to ditch some duds for extra closet space and some weekend martini money, stop into the shop with three or more items and see if your garb is up Second’s alley.

Insider Tip: If you become a member, there’s an added bonus of getting first dibs with the online wishlist!

Veteran Conductor Elevates the Philadelphia Orchestra

3. Eat Well at Philly Restaurant Week 1/17-1/29/10

It’s time to shed those pesky extra pounds you put on over the holidays, but you’ll want to hold off on your New Year’s resolution for at least a month, because the event of the season is coming up. On January 17th, TD Bank will present City District Restaurant Week. More than 40 of Philadelphia’s most popular restaurants will be joining in on the 12-day event to prepare delicious entrees to send your taste buds soaring at prices that will leave you smiling.

4. Get a Makeover at Home Show 1/16– 1/24/10

Has remodeling your home driven you to the point of wanting to tear it down and just start over? The Philadelphia Home show has the relief that you’ve been looking for.

Host Ty Pennington always has helpful hints, and the latest in home décor, but welcomes co-worker Paul DiMeo of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to share his thoughts and opinions as well. There will also be more than 500 experts there to share the hottest trends and tips in home design and décor.

Duross and Langel Savonniers

Duross and Langel’s shop (soaps, lotions, balms, candles) is the kind of place you walk into and involuntarily exclaim “Mmmmmm!” The smells are sensuous and alluring without the overpowering, headache inducing nature of most specialty soap shops. The product is 100% natural, the prices are great, and the shop often gives out free samples with purchases.All-star soaps are: “Mighty Aphrodite” made with scents like patchouli and lavender, and “Ocean,” which quickly whisks you away to an outdoor shower after a day on the beach.

The shop has its own version of Sunday school with hands-on soap making classes. Special events, like gelato tasting paired with inspired soap creations, are scheduled often and listed on the website. Happy smelling!

Authentic Philly Favorites from Campo’s Deli

See & Be Seen at Parc

One of the newest editions to Stephen Starr’s empire- of Buddakan and Morimoto fame- is Parc. This chic restaurant allows a bit of escape while still soaking in the beauty and bustle of Rittenhouse Square. Parc pays homage to the brasseries of Paris, doing so with its own charm and style.

In the upcoming winter, warm up at the large zinc bar inside with one of their signature and delicious cocktails. When the weather starts to warm, you’ll be lucky to snag a seat at the outdoor bistro tables that are prime for people watching.

Parc serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, and with everything from a delicious brioche french toast with apples and hazelnut butter to a classic steak frites, there’s not much you can go wrong with on this all-star menu.

No matter what time or what season, there’s no reason to miss out on this popular, chic café. Vive la France!

10th Annivesary Azuka Season Begins

The 10th Anniversary season of Azuka begins this month and features works from Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paul Vogel and Latvian Society’s Adam Szymkowicz. In celebration of the milestone, the Azuka Theater will be hosting its first fundraising gala, Azuka Lounge: A Happy Hour Event.

Philadelphia Museum of Art ASL Tour

The Philadelphia Museum of Art ASL Tour is a unique opportunity to view art by offering an American Sign Language interpretation of all its featured exhibits.

15th Annual Philadelphia Marathon

The 15th Annual Philadelphia Marathon is one of the most historic marathon routes available. Runners and spectators alike can experience revolutionary history and the Greek-inspired architecture of Philadelphia while cheering on the marathon runners.

12th Annual Phiz Fest

Champagne and sparkling wines aren’t just for New Year’s and weddings anymore. The 12th Annual Phiz Fest continues to highlight the versatility of bubbly beverages as well as food and wine pairings from Philadelphia’s finest restaurants.

Explorations in the Neighborhood

Explorations in the Neighborhood is a unique event featuring local artists. Philadelphia painter and architect Ed Bronstein features pastel and oil works depicting daily life in the city. Any visitor will be able to appreciate the hidden treasures of Philadelphia after visiting this exhibit.