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Hey party-goers: Look to the sky at 6 p.m. and 12 midnight to catch Philadelphia's two (yes, two!) fireworks displays heralding the New Year. (Photo by G. Widman)

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display [gophila.com]

Steve Forbert, performing live

In the mood for a bit of music on New Year’s Eve in a small, cozy venue, but still hankering for a classy meal? Serrano & the Tin Angel might be your best bet.

Tonight Steve Forbert, known for his hit Romeo’s Tune, will be performing at the Tin Angel with Chris Schutz opening. Forbert is playing two acoustic shows in support of his new album, The Place & The Time, one at 8pm and another at 10:30pm, with tickets priced at $35 and $45.

Downstairs, Serrano is serving up a delicious looking, $85-per-person special prix fixe menu. I’ve posted the menu after the jump. The selections are mouth watering.

For more info on the Tin Angel & Serrano, visit their official website.

Tin Angel At Serrano
20 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2802
(215) 928-0978
www.tinangel.com

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Still no plans for tonight’s festivities? Smiths Restaurant & Lounge has a great New Year’s Eve package, and it’s still available.

For $50, guests can indulge in an open bar from 8pm to 1am, featuring Absolute vodka drinks, well drinks, local draft beer, wine, and free appetizers. There’s even a champagne toast at midnight… all for $50.

Smiths will also have a DJ in the lounge area, spinning the night away. No reservations are required, so last minute party planners are more than welcome.

Smiths Restaurant | Lounge
39-41 S. 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 546-2669
www.smiths-restaurant.com

Scapin @ the Lantern Theatre, Photo by Jeffrey Stockbridge

The Lantern Theater’s hilarious re-imaging of the Molière classic, Scapin, has been extended an extra week.

The show, which we previously announced would be closing this weekend, will now be running through Sunday, January 10th, 2010.

Tickets are available and range in price from $20 to $35. And if you’re a student, you can score $10 rush tickets ten minutes before the curtain, with a valid ID of course.

For more information on the Lantern Theater and for show times, visit their official website.

Scapin @ the Lantern Theater
Now through January 10th, 2009

Lantern Theater Co @ St. Stephen’s Theater
10th & Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
www.lanterntheater.org

Still no plans for tomorrow night? Maybe you’re searching for the exact right way to usher in the 2010. Well, for you dramatic types, I think that the New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Party at Bistro Romano might just be the key!

Something is awry at the Boddy estate.  Stanley Boddy, world famous film director and producer, was found dead in his home on the evening of what was to be his greatest success Gone With the Wind II, Wham Bam Give A Damn.   While the cause of death is still unknown there are six unlikely suspects each with their own sordid past.

Have dinner, play the part, hunt for clues, and solve the crime.$59.95 a person (not including tax and tip) covers pre-dinner nibbles and entertainment in the piano bar, dinner and the performance. For the complete dinner menu and more information about the evening, click here.

Photos courtesy the Academy of Natural Sciences

Tomorrow, the Academy of Natural Sciences is hosting Bug Day, a celebration in honor of creepy crawlers everywhere.

The Academy’s naturalists and animal handlers will be walking the halls of the museum, carrying insects with them, offering up a rare chance to get up close with some of these unique creatures.

They’ve got activities galore planned; a puppet theater show at 12:30pm and 3:30pm, live animal shows at 11am and 2:30pm, and an arts & crafts workshop, where kids can make their own insect noise maker.

For more info on the Academy and their live-animal programs, visit their official website.

Bug Day @ the Academy
Thursday, December 31st, 2009

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

Inside North Bowl, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Northern Liberties’ North Bowl rings in the New Year with a special event for the whole family.

From 5pm to 8pm, bring the kids out for plenty of activities; face painting, live music (thanks to Alex & the Kaleidoscope band), and of course, bowling.

The party is only $10 and includes all the activities, a buffet, and a special New Year’s toast at 8pm. Bowling is also included, but limited due to availability. Here’s hoping North Bowl’s amazing tater tots are included in that buffet. I could eat $10 worth of those in a second. Mmm!

North Bowl
909 N. Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-BOWL
www.northbowlphilly.com

Catch the fireworks at the Independence Seaport Museum!

Thursday

World Cafe Live: Two Concerts
That great two-story music venue in University City has two concerts lined up today, featuring Davy Knowles and Slo-Mo. Ring in the New Year with great music and champagne.

Birthday Toast & New Year’s Celebration @ Laurel Hill
The cemetery celebrates New Year’s early, with a special party and toast at noon. Guests can also tour the cemetery, weather permitting.

ComedySportz @ the Adrienne Theatre
One of Philly’s most popular improv troupes is hosting two special New Year’s Eve shows at the Adrienne, one at 7:30 and another at 10:30.

New Year’s @ McGillins
The popular Center City pub is hosting an affordable $5 party for New Year’s, and hosting another celebration on Friday!

New Year’s Eve Sale @ Bus Stop Boutique
Didn’t pick up those heels for that special New Year’s Eve party yet? Don’t worry, Bus Stop is open all day for your shopping needs, with 15% off party shoes.

Countdown to Noon @ the Please Touch Museum
The Please Touch Museum is hosting two early countdowns for those of you with kids, one at noon, and another at 1pm.

Boathouse Row Run
Run around in your tuxedo for New Year’s Eve. No, seriously.

Bug Day @ the Academy of Natural Sciences
The academy’s naturalists will be walking the halls of the museum with lots and lots of bugs. Live animal shows at 11am and 2:30pm, a puppet theater show at 12:30pm and 3:30pm, and plenty of bug-themed arts and crafts.

Fireworks & More @ the Independence Seaport Museum
Ring in the New Year at the Seaport, with fireworks and a special late night tour of the Museum’s exhibits.

Philadelphia Orchestra @ Verizon Hall
The Kimmel Center hosts a special New Year’s Eve performance from the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ticket prices range from about $50 to $140.

Friday

New Year’s Day @ the Kimmel Center
Ring in the New Year in a nice, big, warm building. The Kimmel invites you to listen to live music and watch the Mummer’s Parade from their balcony. Free!

Pajama Party @ White Dog Cafe
This pajama party is in its 26th year. Stop by for a delicious brunch made from locally and organically grown produce, and keep your jammies on.

The Mummers Parade!
Go watch it! Check out some of these videos here and here. It’ll give you an idea of what to expect.

Convergence @ the Plays & Players Theatre
Not up for parades or partying? Stop by the Plays & Players Theatre for their First Friday New Play Reading. For $10 you can experience a new work in the comfort of this Rittenhouse Square theater.

Saturday

Intro to Wine @ the Wine School of Philadelphia
Perhaps after drinking a lot of wine over New Year’s Eve, you’ve decided to learn a bit more about the drink. The Wine School of Philadelphia’s Intro to Wine class will help you do just that.

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Within the walls of the newly opened Simeone Foundation Museum — the only museum of its kind in North America — you'll find 60 of the world's rarest and most famous race cars, dating back to 1909. Pictured here is a 1938 Alfa Romeo, winner of the Mille Miglia. (Photo by M. Hurst)

Simeone Foundation Museum [gophila.com]

The Wilma Theater is ringing in 2010 with Becky Shaw, a critically acclaimed romantic comedy with a bite, which will run throughout the month of January.

It’s more of a comedy of errors, actually: Suzanna sets up her best friend Max on a blind date with Becky, a co-worker of Suzanna’s husband. A chain of catastrophes is inadvertently set in motion, with long-lasting effects. The play is cutting and witty, and so suspenseful that it feels like a psychological thriller.

Becky Shaw is hitting Philly with high expectations – it just finished up an off-Broadway run in New York, where The New York Times called it “ferociously funny.” It was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and both the director (Anne Kauffman) and the playwright (Gina Gionfriddo, of “Law & Order” fame) are Obie Award winners. Gionfriddo will even be popping by for a special conversation on January 10th.

Shows at The Wilma never disappoint, so make sure to catch “Becky Shaw” for some quality theatre and post-holiday laughs.

Becky Shaw
December 30th – January 31st

The Wilma Theater
265 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org