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Music + nature + summer = Wednesday nights at Penn Treaty Park

Penn Treaty Park’s weekly concert series, Waterfront Wednesdays, kicks off on July 15.

All shows are free (will the deals never stop?!) and offer great views of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge.

This summer’s lineup has been announced:

July 15: Charanga (with pre-concert salsa lessons)
July 22: John Clark Little Big Band
July 29: Jack Rose & The Black Twig Pickers / Watery Love
August 5: War On Drugs / Hunter Gatherer
August 12: Porkroll Project / Third Degree
August 19: Espers / The Oubliette Ensemble

All shows take place on Wednesdays between 7 and 9 p.m. — so you can hop on over to the Park right after Center City Sips (5 – 7 p.m.).

CLICK HERE to visit the Waterfront Wednesdays official site.

Photo courtesy of Please Touch Museum

Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park is one of two buildings still standing from 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Ever since the Please Touch Museum restored and moved to the historic Memorial Hall, many of us grown-ups wanted to check out the building and what they’ve done with it. Now here’s our chance.

The Please Touch Museum is now hosting a Stuff for Grown-Ups Tour at the museum, which includes a self-guided tour of a restored Memorial Hall. Adults will be able to scope out the Centennial Exploration exhibit, which features a scale model, built in 1889, depicting the more than 200 buildings erected for the Centennial. There’s also the museum art collection, which includes two indoor murals created by Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program and a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty’s Arm and Torch created out of toys, games and other ‘found objects,’ gathered and assembled by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell.

While you’re there, check out the museum’s collection of artifacts of childhood memories, which include The Rocket Express, the kid-sized monorail from the John Wanamaker department store, and the set and costumes from the children’s TV show Captain Noah and his Magical Ark. They probably won’t mind if you break into the “send your pictures to dear old Captain Noah” song. And even if they do mind, I’ll probably do it if the mood strikes. If they rename it to the Please Don’t Sing Museum, blame me.

Go today, go right way. Relive your childhood at dear old Please Touch Museum.

Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

Campbell's Field on the Delaware River Waterfront; Photo by D. Brady

The Camden Riversharks host two games this weekend that boast post-game fireworks displays. One on Friday night, July 3, at 7:05 and the second on Saturday night, July 4, at 5:35.

The fireworks displays will be over the field, with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Philadelphia Skyline as a very picturesque backdrop.

Plenty of tickets are available for both games.

And tickets start at just $9.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Camden Riversharks official website.

Camden Riversharks [gophila.com]

My favorite gayborhood bookstore, Giovanni’s Room, looks to sizzle this July with some must-attend events and readings taking place through mid-month. And what better way to cool off from the summer heat than an evening with your favorite queer author. (FYI – Giovanni’s Room has air conditioning too!)

Join Evan Fallenberg, author of Light Fell, Wednesday evening July 7th, at 5:30 PM as he reads excerpts from this highly regarded first novel! Twenty years have passed since Joseph left his family and his religious Israeli community when he fell in love with rabbi Yoel Rosenzweig. Now, for his 50th birthday, Joseph prepares to spend Sabbath at his Tel Aviv penthouse with his five sons and the daughter-in-law he never. Doesn’t this scenario just spell drama?

On Friday, July 17th, Kimberly “Q” aka the Lesbian Goddess will read passages from Lesbian Funk. The Funk, is based on the untapped core of a woman’s attitudinized nature – it’s just waiting to be unleashed. Watch out, they are women, hear them roar!

James Roberts, Hal Tarr, Thom Nickels, and Victoria Brownworth are former members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and have contributed to Smash the Church, Smash The State: The Early Years of Gay Liberation. This anthology captures the essence, the history, and the spirit of the revolutionary time following the Stonewall riots in NYC. This was s time when thousands declared their sexuality, and queer resistance coalesced into a turbulent, joyous liberation movement – one with a lasting influence. Readings from this anthology are slated for Saturday, July 18th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

For more information on these scheduled events please visit www.queerbooks.com. See you there!

Giovanni’s Room
12th and Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 923-2960
www.queerbooks.com

Philly’s a tattoo, town, all right. Just throw a rock (or a can of PBR) and you’ll probably end up bruising someone who’s sporting ink. It’s only fitting, then, that the Independence Seaport Museum is hosting “Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor,” an exciting exhibit that examines the tradition of tattoos among the seafaring Americans who introduced skin art culture to the masses.

Visitors will learn all about tattooing tools and methods and hear recorded stories told by the tattooed sailors themselves. There’s also an extensive display of flash and other tattoo-related art, historic photographs and mementos from way back, including a reproduction of an old school tattoo parlor.

The exhibit is complimented by additional programming, such as a fall screening of the documentary “Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry,” which was directed by Philly native Erich Weiss. And if your trip to the museum doesn’t inspire you to go under the needle yourself, there’s no need to feel like a poser. The gift shop stocks plenty of temporary tattoos, posters, tee shirts and more so you can take the plunge without the commitment. Your mom will be so proud!

Skin & Bones, Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, runs through January 3, 2010 at The Independence Seaport Museum, Penn’s Landing. Hours are 10 pm-5 pm daily.

Independence Seaport Museum
211 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3199
(215) 925-5439
www.phillyseaport.org

Oh boy, it’s that time of year again. Get ready to experience some of the best dining University City has to offer, when University City Dining Days strikes at the end of July. Running from July 23rd to the 30th, UCity Dining Days dishes out an excellent array of restaurants, each serving up specialty courses for three fantastic prices; $15, $25, and $30.

If you visit the University City District’s official page for Dining Days, you can check out menus from Slainte Irish Pub, Vietnam Cafe, Bridgewater Pub, World Cafe Live, Marigold Kitchen, and Penne Restaurant & Wine Bar, however over a dozen more establishments are participating in dining days. So go check out the list!

Looking forward to visiting a specific restaurant? Tell us all about it.

University City’s Dining Days
July 23rd – 30th, 2009
www.ucityphila.org/diningdays

Derek's has a great location along Main Street in Manayunk; Photo courtesy of Derek's

This just in:

Derek’s on Main Street in Manayunk is introducing a great summer offer for dinner: a three-course prix fixe menu for just $18 all summer long. A selection of wines by the glass will be offered at $5.

More details and the full prix fixe menu after the jump.

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Photo by K. Ciappa for GPTMC

It’s America’s birthday! And what better way to celebrate our independence then partaking in the Feel the Freedom Festival at the National Constitution Center this July 4th weekend in beautiful and historic Old City!

The three-day festival will honor Abraham Lincoln and other revolutionaries like Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. It’s a festival that depicts freedom on all levels…from a fledging nation of 13 colonies seeking independence from England, to the bloody battlefields of Gettysburg during the Civil War, and pictures of our favorite iron-jawed angels who introduced women’s suffrage in the mid-19th century.

During the festival, a Civil War enactment will take place on the Center’s front lawn, featuring living history interpreters portraying Civil War generals, soldiers, nurses, civilians and political leaders. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the actors and observe demonstrations of Civil War era medicine and equipment.

Guests will also have the chance to take a closer look at a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln! Through an interactive presentation, visitors to the Center will learn about the history of the Civil War as well as the background on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

For more information, check out Philly Fun Guide and the official Constitution Center website. See all you history buffs out on the field!

The National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.constitutioncenter.org

Chima is located at 20th and JFK. (215) 525-3233.

CLICK HERE to visit the Chima Brazilian Steakhouse official website.

$19.95 for a 1 lb Maine lobster. July 2 – 5, 2009 at McCormick and Schmick’s at 1 S. Broad St., right across from the south side of City Hall. (215) 568-6888

CLICK HERE to visit the official McCormick & Schmick’s website.