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Feel like letting loose during the week? Check out Brasil’s, a Latin nightclub in Old City.

Every Wednesday, those with dance fever can learn sexy salsa moves taught by La Luna Dance Studio. The lessons, which go from 9pm – 10:30pm, cover basic steps, turns and partner dances. It’s a great way to break the ice and meet new people— partners are changed every few minutes through a circle rotation. And the cover is only $5!

No need to worry about your dance expertise, people of all skill levels crowd the floor for beginner-based instruction. In the diverse crowd you’ll find couples, friends, singles and dance enthusiasts, all just there to have a great time.

After the lessons are over, guests can show off new moves to hot Latin music on the dance floor or head over to the bar and refresh with one of many drink specials.

Wednesday night specials include $3 tequila shots and $4 margaritas. The bar also offers $3 Coronas every night before 11pm.

So go shake it up!

Brasil’s Nightclub and Restaurant
112 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3009
(215) 413-1700
www.brasilsnightclub-philly.com

The Philly Phlash, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

You know that cute purple shuttle bus that zips around to a number of historic attractions and cultural institutions, and only costs $2? It’s called the Philly Phlash, and we’re giving all you Twitter-users out there a chance to win a fantastic Phlash Prize Pack.

What can you win? Well besides a one night at the wonderful Hotel Palomar, you’re looking at tickets to the Please Touch Museum, gift cards to El Vez and Bistro 7, and a lot more. Check out the full list of prizes below!

One (1) night’s stay at Hotel Palomar
Four (4) GPS tours of Independence National Historical Park
Two (2) adult and two (2) child tickets to all-you-can-eat Breakfast with Ben
Two (2) Family One Day Independence Passes for SEPTA
Four (4) Adult One Day Independence Passes for SEPTA
Eight (8) tickets for Philly Mini Golf in Franklin Square
Eight (8) tickets for the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel in Franklin Square
Family Four Pack for the Please Touch Museum, including museum admission and complimentary carousel rides
$10 gift certificate at either Independence Visitor Center café
$50 gift certificate at Bistro 7
$50 gift certificate at Starr Restaurants’ El Vez

The contest runs today and ends at noon on June 1st. How do you enter? Simply tweet about how you plan to use the Phlash this summer, and you’ll be entered. Make sure you include the #Phlash hashtag in your tweet, so we can find your entry! It’s that simple.

Good luck!

Philly Phlash Tweetaway [ visitphilly.com ]

Upper Merion Farmers' Market promotions (photo courtesy the market)

Suburban farmers’ market lovers, have we got good news for you! A new market recently joined the Saturday morning fray and it’s a stunner. The Upper Merion Farmers’ Market opened on May 15th and it’s already getting rave reviews. Located behind the Upper Merion Township Building, it plays host to 20 vendors and producers each Saturday morning between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

You’ll be able to purchase seasonal produce, pastured eggs, grass-fed meat, an array of dairy items, baked goods and much more. You’ll find produce from the Livengood Family Farm (Earl Livengood can often be found in Reading Terminal Market), goat cheese from Shelbark Hollow Farm and those gorgeous, hand-painted chocolates from John & Kira.

In addition to the array of groceries and treats you’ll be able to pick up, the market is also planning on offering both entertainment and education. Click here to see the full schedule of events that will be taking place.

The market runs through November 20, 2010, so don’t miss it!

The Trax Restaurant & Cafe in Ambler

The Trax Cafe is a quaint little restaurant that used to be the home of an old train station, and is now the location of a warm and cozy spot where people come to enjoy great food and take in the old town feel of Ambler. One unique feature that the Trax cafe offers is that the restaurant is right next to the R-5 train tracks, which are still active. I enjoyed my meal outside on a lovely Thursday evening and got to see the trains go by full of people coming home from work and going back into the city.

Aside from the history of the location, the food at Trax is definitely something worth talking about too. Executive Chef Steve Waxman creates a menu filled with classic American favorites like Barbecued Baby Back Ribs as well as popular selections like Crab Cakes, Rack of Lamb and Veal Chops. There is something for everyone on this menu with new specials added regularly.

Inside Trax

With the recent lovely weather and summer right around the corner, I love a restaurant that offers indoor and outdoor seating options. I opt to sit outside whenever possible, but the inside of Trax Restaurant is just as unique as the outside seats.

Sitting outside you get more of the train-rushing-by-you experience. Sitting inside, you get dim lights, a massive fireplace and romantic nooks to sit with a friend or date, and enjoy a great meal after a long day.

Crab Cakes

For dinner I enjoyed the crab cakes, which were amazing, the sauce was out of this world! My date enjoyed the Barbecued Baby Back Ribs, but at our server’s suggestion for the nightly special, the ribs were topped over a piece of chicken!

It was a meal full of delicious meat. As a rule of dining out – always listen to your servers suggestions. I’ve never been led astray.

Delicious Desserts @ Trax

Our evening ended with some delicious desserts, which were just as good as the rest of the meal.

Trax is a BYO establishment so make sure to hit up the Wine & Spirits store for a nice bottle of wine before you come for dinner. Everything on the menu goes splendidly with wine!

Trax Restaurant & Cafe
27 W Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 591-9777
www.traxcafe.com

In anticipation of Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt — making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute on June 5 — several area journalists are visiting Egypt to get an up-close-and-personal look at the search for one of history’s most enigmatic women.

In the below video, Action News’ Sarah Bloomquist previews her trip to Alexandria, giving us a sneak peek at some of the artifacts making the trip from the ocean floor to Philadelphlia. (Spoiler: these are some ginormous statues.)

To learn the story of Cleopatra, browse exhibition artifacts and purchase tickets, check out visitphilly.com/cleopatra.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt [visitphilly.com]

For its season-ending performance, the Arden Theatre has chosen Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning musical will run for approximately one month starting June 2nd. Sunday in the Park marks the twelfth Sondheim production in the company’s history and the first time the Arden will use Sondheim’s complete original orchestrations, led by Barrymore Award-winning musical director Eric Ebbenga.

Arden director Terrence J. Nolen admits that the works of Stephen Sondheim have been central to the Arden’s artistic identity over the past two decades and is thrilled to present Sunday in the Park. The beautiful musical of color and light has two acts set centuries apart. Act One watches Georges Seurat’s famous painting Sunday on La Grande Jatte literally come to life with the help of projections, lighting and live actors.

Act Two follows a struggling artist who happens to be Seurat’s great-grandson as he debuts a color and light machine. To create the world of Sunday in the Park, the Arden called on set designer James Kronzer (Barrymore award winner for Something Intangible and The Baker’s Wife), costume designer Rosemarie McKelvey (Barrymore award winner for Something Intangible and Caroline or Change) and lighting designer Justin Townsend.

You may recognize some of 80-year-old Sondheim’s previous works such as West Side Story and Gypsy, as well as his music and lyrics for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Sweeney Todd and more.

The final dress rehearsal of Sunday in the Park with George will be held on Wednesday, May 26 at 8pm and is open to the public as a Pay-What-You-Can performance, with all proceeds collected donated to The Fleischer Art Memorial. Tickets for the rest of the performances are on sale now.

Arden Theatre Company
40 N. 2nd Street, Old City Philadelphia 19106
(215) 922-8900
www.ardentheatre.org

Outside the Piazza, Photo by M. McClellan

Starting this Thursday, 102.9, Philadelphia’s classic rock station, will begin their classic rock-themed movie series, Rockin’ Reels at the Piazza.

They’ve teamed up with the Philadelphia Film Society to screen some great flicks, including The Last Waltz, Almost Famous, Shine a Light, Song Remains the Same, and Stop Making Sense.

It’s a monthly series, and movies will air select Thursdays on the Piazza’s enormous 26x16ft LED screen. Admission is free, and the Piazza is planning plenty of activities surrounding the event.

I’ve got the full schedule after the jump! Check it out, and enjoy some free movies in the Piazza.

Piazza at Schmidt’s [ visitphilly.com ]

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A jazz group performing at last year's Winery Festival, Photo by S. Legato

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Chaddsford Winery is hosting their annual Brandywine River Blues Festival, featuring a number of local musicians, delicious BBQ, and of course, plenty of local wine.

Admission includes wine tastings, a souvenir glass for each participant, and of course, access to the concerts. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic basket full of food, though Pace One Restaurant will be at the festival, selling a number of picnic-worthy nibbles.

As for the music, groups performing include the Roger Girke Band, John DeFrancesco’s Power Trio, the Jeff Washington Band,and more. For a full list of performers, visit Chaddsford’s official website.

Tickets are only $25 a day, per person, for the festival.

Chaddsford Winery
632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 388-6221
www.chaddsford.com

This Sunday, May 23rd, join Philadelphia’s Jewish community in celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the State of Israel at the annual Israel Independence Day Festival. There will be a live concert by the Idan Raichel Project, activities for kids, an Israeli marketplace and a number of food vendors in case you get hungry.

The festival runs from 1 to 5 p.m. and is being held on Penn’s Landing. Currently, the Sunday forecast is calling for a mix of sun and showers. The festival will take place rain or shine, so if the skies look cloudy, make sure to pack a piece or two of rain gear.

For more information about the Israel Independence Day Festival, click here.

Kennett Square Omelette @ White Dog Cafe

The White Dog Cafe was founded in 1983 by social activist Judy Wicks as a coffee and muffin take-out shop. Their mission: “serving our customers, serving our community, serving our earth and serving each other.”

Over 25 years later, nothing has changed, except for its expansion into a full-service restaurant housed in three Victorian brownstones. The commitment to civic engagement and environmental awareness is as strong as ever, from kitchen to front-of-house.

White Dog’s chefs serve contemporary American food made from local sustainable farms’ pasture-fed livestock, American vineyards’ wine, and sustainable seafood. The walls, tables and bathrooms are adorned with the trappings of snarky political and social wit. And the food, as well, is prepared with that extra flair that sets White Dog cafe apart from its culinary competitors.

White Dog’s brunch is perhaps the meal most exemplary of this singular dining experience. Start with the Harvest Bread Basket, a generous assortment of house made pastries and breads (think sugary blueberry scones and cushy sourdough) served with local honey, apple butter and pear butter. You might as well continue the carbo-load with the Big Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes, complete with caramelized local heirloom apples, cinnamon spiced candied pecans, vanilla bourbon mascarpone (so unique and so delicious) and gooey warm local maple syrup.

Another sure bet is the Kennett Square Omelette, made with three large organic eggs, wild local mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, sharp Lancaster smoked cheddar, and served with fresh-from-the-garden baby greens and and salty fingerling potatoes.

White Dog, true to its mission, is vegan and vegetarian friendly, with asterisks highlighting dishes that fit the bill. The prices are right, the staff is pleasant, and the occasional wait (best to come at noon or before) just makes the meal that much more scrumptious.

When just reading a brunch menu makes your mouth water, you know it’s going to be a good one.

White Dog Cafe
3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3404
(215) 386-9224
www.whitedog.com