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This Sunday, February 14th, several couples will say “I do” in Reading Terminal Market’s Center Court. A Valentine’s Day tradition since 2002, each year the market selects a handful of couples to be part of this fun and low-key wedding day.

This year, the ceremonies will be officiated by Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart. In previous years, it was Judge Goodheart who presided over the weddings. After the ceremonies, the couples (and just the couples) will be treated to a complimentary dessert reception hosted by RTM merchants. The entire ensemble will be serenaded by violinist Elizabeth Cary.

These weddings are open to the public, so if you’re a sucker for romance, or could use a good, happy cry, head over to Reading Terminal at 12 noon to be an observer.

Suite at the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel

Right now, the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel is running an auction on eBay for a special ‘Love is Priceless’ Valentine’s Day Hotel Package, valued at $4000.

The winner will receive a VIP welcome, in room Valentine’s Day dinner with butler service, and a one night stay in the Sofitel’s Prestigious Presidential Suite, which features a king size bed, two living rooms, a dressing room, and a huge marble bathroom. The one night stay begins on February 13th, 2010.

Bidding opened at just $599, a steal for a $4000 package.

Go bid now! You can read up on the terms and conditions of the auction on visitphilly.com. Happy bidding!

Sofitel’s VIP Valentine’s Day Hotel Package Auction
http://bit.ly/cB0LMg

Photo by K. Ciappa for GPTMC

With Winter Olympics quickly approaching, the Franklin Institute is getting into the spirit of things, and hosting their own competition… the 2010 Brain Olympics.

During the Brain Olympics, visitors will learn about the Rubik’s Cube, play the giant Operation game (recently built by Hive76 and MakePhilly), and participate in interactive games like Big Brain Academy, trivia, and brainteasers.

Special guests include former Olympic figure skaters and U.S. Champions Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn. They’ll be signing autographs from 11am to 1pm, and posing for photos with visitors.

The event is free with general museum admission. For more info, stop by the Franklin Institute’s official website.

2010 Brain Olympics @ the Franklin Institute
Friday, February 12th, 2010, 10am – 2pm

The Franklin Institute
222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 448-1200
www.fi.edu

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is hosting a special event this Thursday, entitled Cougars, Playas, and Baby Mama Drama in the Ancient World. You heard me.

Hosted by the Young Friends of the Penn Museum, Thursday’s event asks the question, “was love (and sex) really so different long ago?” Dr. Jennifer Weger, one of the Penn Museum’s scholars and associate curator of the Egyptian section, and Dr. Brian Rose, curator of the Mediterranean section of the museum, will be at the event, telling wild tales of ancient romps.

The Young Friends will be dishing out prizes, and the event will feature cocktails and a cash bar. Everything starts at 6:15pm, this Thursday. Visit the Penn Museum’s official website to register.

Cougars, Playas, and Baby Mama Drama in the Ancient World
Thursday, February 11th, 2010, 6:15pm
$10

Penn Museum
3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-4001
www.museum.upenn.edu

Creating dinosaur art @ Paleopalooza, Photo courtesy the Academy of Natural Sciences

Paleopalooza is back at the Academy of Natural Sciences this weekend, bringing a weekend full of drawing lessons, rare fossils, prominent lecturers, and trilobite races with it.

The Academy is bringing out some of their rarest fossils for the weekend, including fossils that belonged to President Thomas Jefferson. Saturday guests can meet the Academy’s paleontologist and acting President Dr. Ted Daeschler, for a talk on his discoveries and fossil hunting adventures.

The weekend long festival is free with regular museum admission.

Paleopalooza @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
Saturday and Sunday, February 13th & 14th, 2010

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

Smith's Playplace in the Park, Photo courtesy Smith's

This weekend, the Philadelphia Zoo is stopping by Smith’s Playplace in the Park for a  mini Valentine’s Day celebration.

On Saturday, February 13th, from 1am to 1pm, the Philadelphia Zoo’s ‘Zoo on Wheels’ program is setting up a booth with a traveling naturalist, giving visitors the chance to interact with live animals. Children can join in conservation-related Valentine craft-making, and can send them to their favorite polar bear.

The event is totally free and open to the public.

Philly Zoo @ Smith’s Playplace
Saturday, December 19th, 10am – 1pm

Smith’s Playplace in the Park
33rd St & Oxford St, Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 765-4325
www.smithkidsplayplace.org

Elizabeth Pitcairn, Photo courtesy the Kimmel Center

On Valentine’s Day, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra kicks off a three-part concert series at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall.

The group will perform Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7, and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Famed violinst (and PYO alumna) Elizabeth Pitcairn will join the orchestra for the Concerto, performing with the legendary 1720 “Red” Stradivarius. It’s the real-life instrument that is said to have inspired the film The Red Violin, which stars Samuel L. Jackson and… a red violin.

Tickets are $16 to $30, and available online. Check out the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s official website for more information on the group.

Kimmel Center
300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

Smak Parlour is hosting a great First Friday sale, complete with drinks and nibbles

Friday

First Friday!
LOTS going on this First Friday. A sale at the Smak Parlour, new photography exhibits through out the city, and more. Have a look at the round up, here.

Cupcakes & Champagne @ Pileggi Boutique
Get some shopping done while nibbling on cupcakes and toast champagne at this charming boutique on 7th and Walnut. Lots of sales on high fashion items.

The Women of Pop Art @ the University of the Arts
Open now through March 16th, the University of the Arts’ latest exhibit, The Women of Pop Art, is the first exhibit to “solely collect and examine the contributions of female Pop artists.” Phillyist has all the details on the opening and symposium tonight and tomorrow.

Evan Dando @ the M Room
Frontman of the Lemonheads brings his acoustic tunes to the M room tonight. Phillyist has a write up.

Saturday

Free Museum Admission
Well, if you’re a Bank of America cardholder, that is. Lots of Philly museums are dishing out free admission to those of you with a Bank of America debit / credit card this weekend.

Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia
The film festival kicks off today, screening films now through the 20th. For screening times and tickets, check out their official website.

February Beer Brunch @ McGillin’s
The new beer brunch, which features a number of drink specials, kicks off today at McGillins. Uwishunu is sending a blogger there this weekend to try it out. Say hi if you see him.

Sweet Honey in the Rock @ the Kimmel Center
The Grammy award winning all-female group comes to the Kimmel Center for a special early (3pm) performance.

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Gallery in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Photo by G. Widman for GPTM

On Tuesday, Jaunted wrote up an article directed towards you lucky Bank of America cardholders.

Have a Bank of America credit or debit card in your wallet? This weekend you can get free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, National Constitution Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Please Touch Museum, and the African American Museum.

Please note that it’s just for the cardholder, so there’s no +1, but still, you save some money.

Thanks for the heads up, Jim!

[ via Jaunted ]

Forget spending your Sundays leisurely laying around. Come on now, don’t be lazy, get out of bed and put on those yoga clothes!

Every Sunday morning, from 10am to 11am, Lululemon Athletica offers a complimentary yoga class to the Philadelphia community. The class, which has been offered since the store opened in November 2008, is a surefire way to start the new week focused, centered, and relaxed.

Instructed weekly by Nadja Eisenberg, the class welcomes yoga lovers of all levels, so don’t be embarrassed if you’re a yoga newbie. Don’t own a yoga mat? No problem, they’re offered free of charge.

Waking up early on a Sunday to work out deserves a reward. Lululemon offers an extensive range of yoga-inspired attire for both males and females. Don’t forget to take a look once class ends and the store opens to the public!

Check out their online calendar for other store happenings on their official website.

Lululemon Athletica
1527 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 563-4806
www.lululemon.com

Brunch!

This weekend, McGillin’s starts serving their new Fe-Brew-Ary Beer Brunch.

The brunch, which is available Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 3pm, offers up some great drink specials, with mimosas, Ithacan mimosas (with Apricot Wheat), and select micro brews for only $3.

Menu highlights include banana stuffed French toast, and lots of plates for about $7.

For more information and a full menu, visit McGillin’s official website. And be sure to follow them on Twitter!

McGillin’s Olde Ale House
1310 Drury Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5562
www.mcgillins.com

Clockwise from top left: Baby Jesus, housemade vanilla soda and the Fratello pizza (all photos by M. McClellan)

Zavino, one of the newest dining spots along the 13th Street corridor (known in marketing parlance as the Midtown Village), opened several weeks ago to warm praise. This wine bar serves a tidy menu of small plates, salumi (it might sound like sacrilege, but make sure to try the Baby Jesus–a fatty, meltingly good salami), handmade pastas and perfectly blistered pizzas (they’re topped with restrain and creativity).

The only thing they’re not selling right now, due to a glitch with their liquor license, is wine (or beer). Certainly a problem for a restaurant that named itself (at least, in part) after the grape. Thankfully, they’re not asking their customers to stay dry. Instead, they’re skirting the issue by offering complementary glasses of red, white or brew to go along with your food order.

I ate there last night with friends, and I’m happy to report that both the red and the white were highly drinkable (certainly a step up from the house plonk you get some places). Additionally, those of you looking for a booze-less option will be pleased by their housemade sodas. While they’re not free, they are sold by the quart (and served in a customized milk bottle) and runs just $4. Last night, you could choose lemon, orange or vanilla (the vanilla is intensely fragrant, refreshing and not-too-sweet).

Know also that they only take reservations for groups of five or more, so if you’re a smaller party, be prepared to wait. Worry not though, the food (and free booze) is worth it.

Zavino
112 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
215.732.2400
www.zavino.com