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The Franklin Institute has an exciting new exhibit in store called Design Zone that incorporates art and math and shows how people create cool stuff like video games, laser light shows and more.

Go behind the scenes and see how creative problem solvers like skate park designers, music producers, roller coaster engineers and others use math to do the awesome things they do.

Organized into three interactive areas, the exhibit highlights the relationship between math and the creative process in art, music and engineering.

You can build skyscrapers, design a video game, spin tracks like a DJ, throw a dance party, make your own instruments, construct a roller coaster and compete in a virtual bike race.

Design Zone opens January 28 and runs through April 1.

Design Zone at Franklin Institute
When: January 28-April 1
Where: 222 N. 20th Street
Cost: Free with general admission tickets
More info: www.fi.edu

Chinatown gets festive this weekend with a Lion Dance Parade this Sunday, just one of many festivities happening in Philadelphia.
(Photo by Christian Carrollo of PicturePhilly)

Tons of great stuff going down this weekend, from the bigger-and-better-than-ever Philadelphia Auto Show to the grand opening of PAFA’s latest blockbuster exhibition, Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit.

Feast to your heart’s content on a budget at Route 6′s Lobster Week, Pizzeria Stella’s Pizza Week, Tashan’s awesome $50 for $35 deal and any of the hundreds of Center City Restaurant Week participating restaurants.

Check out all our top picks for how to spend your weekend in Philly, below:

Friday, January 27

Our guide to restaurants and bars with extracurriculars, from ping pong and shuffleboard to Jenga and Pac-Man

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Jrue Holiday Bobblehead Night: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Pig Iron Theatre Company’s The Aporkalypse

Arcadia Boutique’s Winter Attic Sale & Spring Pre-Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Bus Stop Boutique’s Warehouse Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Pearls of the East: 10th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration at International House

Wok ‘N Walk tour of Chinatown (Fri, Sat, Sun)

2012 Lambertville*New Hope Winter Festival (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Philagrafika presents “Doing Time | Depth of Surface” at Moore College (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Tashan Restaurant Week $50 for $35 deal (Fri, Sun)

Center City Restaurant Week (Fri, Sun)

Frankford Hall Late-Night Menu (Fri, Sat)

Lobster Week at Route 6 (Fri, Sun)

Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Pizza Week at Pizzeria Stella (Fri, Sun)

Saturday, January 28

Doug Collins Bobblehead Night: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons

Philadelphia Auto Show (Sat, Sun)

Valentine’s Day Retail Roundup: Top Picks For Philadelphia Card and Gift Shops

Jerry Blavat at the Kimmel Center

Iron Hill Brewery’s Belgium Comes to West Chester 2012

155th Anniversary Concert of the Academy of Music

Continue reading, below.

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XFINITY Live!, now opening eight days earlier than anticipated, will add a much needed dining, shopping and entertainment destination to the Sports Complex neighborhood in South Philly. (Image courtesy Xfinity Live)

XFINITY Live!, Philadelphia’s new dining and entertainment district under construction on the former Spectrum site in South Philly, is opening earlier than planned.

Originally slated for an April 5, 2012 grand opening, XFINITY Live! will now open in time for the two upcoming Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concerts, coming to the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29 that we shared with you yesterday.

Concert ticketholders will have exclusive access to XFINITY Live! Philadelphia on these nights beginning at 4 p.m.

XFINITY Live! will then have its grand opening celebration, featuring a live concert with a national headlining act (to be named), on Friday, March 30. That means three straight days of XFINITY Live! festivities.

A quick recap of what the complex promises: there’s the XFINITY On Demand Theater, an outdoor 24-foot LED video wall; the NBC Sports Arena, featuring an indoor 32-foot Sony LED screen and the NBC Sports Field, a 300-foot turf field.

Food-wise, the Philly MarketPlace will feature a VIP lounge, custom draft tables, a raw bar, world class sports viewing and the Comcast SportsNet Ticker, over 100-feet of LED ribbon showing live sports scores and top news; that’s in addition to the Victory Beer Hall, The Spectrum Grille, Broad Street Bullies Pub and PBR Bar and Grill complete the food and drink offerings.

Tickets to see Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, which includes exclusive access to a preview night at XFINITY Live! Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29, will go on sale on Saturday, January 28 at 9 a.m. exclusively though ComcastTIX online, by phone at 1 (800) 298-4200 or at the Wells Fargo Center box office.

We can’t wait for Bruce to return to the streets of Philadelphia, and for this incredibly exciting addition to the sports complexes to open its doors. March can’t come too soon!

XFINITY Live!
Opening March 28, 2012
11th Street & Pattison Avenue
More info: xfinitylive.com

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Philly
When: March 28-29
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad Street
Cost: Tickets
More info: www.brucespringsteen.net

Discover the life and art of pioneering African-American artist Henry O. Tanner at PAFA's major new exhibition Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit, on display starting January 28. (Photos by T. Scheid for GPTMC)

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

This winter and spring, PAFA complements its luminous collection with , an exhibition of more than 100 works by the PAFA-taught artist Henry Tanner (Eakins was one of his instructors; Tanner studied at PAFA from 1879-1885).

The collection includes 12 paintings never shown in a Tanner retrospective, the only two known sculptures Tanner completed as well as his career-making Resurrection of Lazarus from the collection of the Musée d’Orsay which has never before crossed the Atlantic.

Visitors can purchase the most complete scholarly publication on Henry O. Tanner to date as well as the first-ever children’s book about Tanner, written and illustrated by renowned artist-author Faith Ringgold and published by PAFA.

After its premiere at PAFA, Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit will continue on a national tour, with stops in Cincinnati and Houston.

Keep in mind PAFA has free admission on Sundays and extended hours every Wednesday evening.

Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit
When: January 28-April 15
Where: Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts, Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street
Cost: Adults $15, Seniors (60+) and students $8, Youth (13–18) $6, Children (12 and under) Free
More info: www.pafa.org

 
On last week’s episode of 30 Rock, Liz Lemon shared a theory about the Phillie Phanatic, mentioning America’s most beloved mascot in the dialogue of the episode. On this week’s episode, Tina Fey and 30 Rock both upped their Philly cred to an entirely new level when the Phillie Phanatic made an actual guest appearance in the episode, clip above.

A little context: Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) got his boss, Hank Hooper of Kabletown (the company on 30 Rock that is a stand-in for Comcast) a “Business-versary” gift, to mark the one-year anniversary of them working together. Long story short, a day with the Phanatic was part of the gift. Unfortunately, it was delivered to the wrong floor and hilarity ensues.

The Phanatic even speaks(!!); 30 Rock translates the Phanatic’s squeaks into subtitles, and well, you’re going to have to watch for yourself.

Liz Lemon got a big kick out of it. And so did we.

30 Rock [Hulu]

This adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends.
(Photo by Joan Marcus courtesy Kimmel Center)

Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, the internationally acclaimed Beatles concert, RAIN! A Tribute To The Beatles, returns to Philadelphia at the Academy of Music for eight shows only from January 31 to February 5 as part of the Kimmel Center’s Broadway Season.

As “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!”, according to the Associated Press, RAIN! performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed live for an audience.

Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally note-for-note, infectious performance.

Rock out to everything from the early hits to later classics (I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hard Day’s Night, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be, Come Together, Hey Jude and more).

Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 731-3333, online or at the Kimmel Center box office.

“Rain! A Tribute To The Beatles”
Where: Academy Of Music, 1420 Locust Street
When: January 31-February 5
Cost: Tickets range from $20-$100
More info: www.kimmelcenter.org

Enjoy a delicious barbecue meal tonight at City Tap House, just one of many options for spending your evening. (Photo courtesy City Tap House)

[Evenings in Philadelphia are always action-packed, and we want to help you cherry-pick from all the events and activities going on. On certain days that promise particularly bustling evenings, we round up our selections for the most can't-miss pursuits with which to fill your schedule. See you out there!]

• Our top picks for weeknight indoor fun in Philadelphia

• Spring Arts Preview at International House Philadelphia: The free season-opening party will feature food, drinks, a live performance by musical duo Blues Control, spotlighting a unique combination of keyboards, guitar and tape manipulation, as well as a multimedia presentatin of upcoming events at The International House.

Where: 3701 Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, January 26, 7 p.m.
Cost: Free

• Tashan Restaurant Week Deal: In honor of Restaurant Week, the geographical bounds of which Tashan is outside, this buzzed-about Indian spot on South Broad is offering an awesome dining deal: order anything you want off the menu, and pay only $35 for $50 worth of food and drinks.

Where: 777 S. Broad
When: Now through January 27 and January 29-February 3
Cost: $35 on the first $50

• “Homesick Texans” Supper at City Tap House: This winter at City Tap House, Executive Chef Ralph Kane is dishing up special cold-weather-perfect hearty Suppers, a range of themed specials for every night, Monday through Saturday. Tonight’s is “Homesick Texans” for barbecue lovers, boasting Kane’s sweet and smoky specialties.

Where: 3925 Walnut Street
When: Thursday, January 26
Cost: Suppers range in price from $24 to $36

• Krispy Kreme Family Night to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters: Head out to the Bensalem or Fox Chase Krispy Kreme locations to chow down in support of a great organization. Kids will receive a free glazed donut to dip in the dipping station, and can enjoy a coloring station and more activities.

Where: 1729 Street Road, Bensalem; 7855 Oxford Avenue, Philadelphia
When: Thursday, January 26, 6-9 p.m.
Cost: Pay as you go

• Experience the Wines of France & Chile at the Independence Visitor Center: Enjoy business casual networking, appetizers and wonderful wines from France, Chile and the US. Bring business cards to exchange and a drawing for prizes.

Where: 6th & Market Streets
When: Thursday, January 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Cost: $60 non-members, $40 FACC members and their guest

• Rhythms of Time Sharing at AUX at Vox Populi: Continuing AUX’s Art Writing event series, London based KIOSK collective presents the latest installment of their project Rhythms of Time Sharing, which explores the current shift in contemporary art practice towards participatory and performative work.

Where: Vox Populi Gallery, 319 N. 11th Street
When: Thursday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

• Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at the Walnut Street Theatre: Agatha Christie, the mistress of mystery, brings her most popular creation, The Mousetrap, to the Walnut Street Theatre’s hallowed main stage. Here’s how the story goes: when a group of strangers are trapped together at a manor house during a snowstorm, they soon discover one of them is a murderer.

Where: 825 Walnut Street
When: Thursday, January 26, 8 p.m.; show runs through March 4
Cost: Tickets start at $61.25

Take an insider-led tour of Laurel Hill every fourth Friday in 2012. (Photo courtesy Laurel Hill)

This Friday, January 27 at 10 a.m. marks the first Fourth Friday tour of 2012 at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Head to Laurel Hill for an informative overview of the site’s long and colorful history, including many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views and legendary stories that afford the cemetery its wow factor.

Fourth Friday tours, titled “The Hot Spots and Storied Plots,” are a great option for first-time visitors to Laurel Hill, in addition to anyone who’s into beautiful art and stimulating history,

January’s walking tour will be led by Victorian-era historians and Friends of Laurel Hill board members, Ed and Mary Quinn.

The tours are $8 general admission, $5 for members. Tickets can be purchased at the door, in advance online, or by calling (215) 228-8200.

Fourth Friday Tours at Laurel Hill
When: Friday, January 27 at 10 a.m.; fourth Fridays in 2012 thereafter
Where: 3822 Ridge Avenue
Cost: $8 general admission, $5 for members
More info: www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org

Enjoy gooey make-your-own grilled cheese at Wedge + Fig all winter long. (Photo courtesy Wedge + Fig)

The ultimate cure for the cold weather blues is best served hot and cheesy with a touch of flair.

We’re talking grilled cheese.

Luckily, the folks over at Wedge + Fig agree and are now offering a full-on grilled cheese bar stocked and primped with loads of fixin’s to accommodate your own savory style.

Choose from a variety of different cheeses like gouda, fontina, manchego, blue and brie to melt between white, wheat or pumpernickel loaves and indulge in extra toppings of avocado, apple, bacon, caramelized onions, olive tapenade, chutney or sauerkraut.

Plain-Jane’s (just cheese + bread) start at $7.95 while additional dollars and cents will be tacked on depending on cheese selection and number of toppings.

What goes better with grilled cheese than soup? Add a cup with your ‘wich for $2.95, and you have yourself a solid cure from the winter ‘haps.

And according to Wedge + Fig, sandwich artisans will be rewarded: really cool combos will get Panini of the Day status. Pressure’s on.

Wedge + Fig
160 N. 3rd Street
www.wedgeandfig.com

Philadelphia is a superior brunch destination, exemplified by two hot spots, Garces Trading Company and Jones, just acknowledged by Travel + Leisure. (Left photo courtesy Garces Trading Company, right courtesy Jones)

List-lover Travel + Leisure has given Philadelphia’s brunch scene serious cred with the inclusion of two restaurants on its recent roundup of America’s Best Brunches.

Jose Garces’ Garces Trading Company and Stephen Starr’s Jones were both included in the lineup among serious national stars like New York’s Locanda Verde and Charleston’s Hominy Grill.

The article refers to Garces Trading Company as a “Center City hot spot” and suggests you try the sliced hangar steak, served with a single poached egg with béarnaise and heirloom potato salad.

May we also suggest the $25 per person option, which includes choice of one main, one side and one dessert and unlimited Garces Trading Company coffee (swoon)?

Of Jones, the magazine writes, “If you’ve ever dreamed of tucking into Carol Brady’s home cooking, look no further than Jones restaurant.” It’s true that the retro dining room is as fun as the food is delicious.

T&L suggests the brunch cocktail menu with “hangover-quelling drinks,” but we’d be remiss not to mention the famed monkey bread.

Call (215) 574-1099 to make reservations at GTC, and (215) 223-5663 to reserve a spot at Jones.

America’s Best Brunches [Travel + Leisure]