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Getting to the Penn Museum on bike or on foot will be much easier. (Photo courtesy Penn Museum)

After nearly two years of construction, the South Street Bridge is set to reopen on Saturday, November 6.

In honor of the occasion, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology is planning a “Green and Sustainable Day” at the museum to remind people how easily accessible the museum is from neighborhoods across the city.

The new bridge was designed to be more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly than its predecessor (see rendering below) and the Penn Museum wants you to take advantage.

Visitors from both sides of the bridge are being offered half-price admission to the Penn Museum if they forgo their car and go green for the day.

Bikers, joggers, walkers, taxi riders and public transportation users can enjoy $5 admission to the Museum for the day ($3.50 for senior citizens and $3 for children and full-time college students).

To take advantage of the one-day offer, just show your SEPTA return token or pass, your bike helmet or prove you walked from a reasonable distance. The first 100 “green” visitors will also receive a refillable metal Penn Museum water bottle.

Guests can also enjoy 10% off sustainable lunch and snack options at the new Pepper Mill Café at the Penn Museum throughout the day. The deals don’t stop there; Penn Museum eco-tote shopping bags, regularly $3.99 each, will be 20% off at the Museum Shop and Penn Museum backpacks, regularly priced at $30, will be available for $15.

Museum visitors can also experience the latest in green transportation with a short, complimentary bike taxi ride on South Street from velo-parkcabs from 1 pm until 4 pm.

And PECO will be on hand with its “Smart Ideas” outreach team, offering information about ways to cut back on home energy use — and save money while doing so.

Interesting fact: The South Street Bridge handled 85 years of traffic before undergoing the recent $67.4 million makeover. Upon reopening, it will carry an estimated 23,000 vehicles across the Schuylkill River every day.

“Green and Sustainable Day” at Penn Museum
Saturday, November 6
10 am – 5 pm
3260 South Street

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The new hotel will be a Hotel Monaco, and it will be Kimpton's second hotel property in Philadelphia.
(Photo of a sample Kimpton hotel room courtesy Kimpton)

Exciting news: Kimpton Hotels announced yesterday that it has acquired Philadelphia’s historic Lafayette Building on Independence Mall with plans to convert the 11-story office building into a 271-room, four-star Hotel Monaco.

Built in 1906, the Lafayette Building is located directly across from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell on the northeast corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets.

Construction is slated to begin in spring 2011, with a projected opening in 2012.

Upon completion, the new Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will feature a chef-driven, 120-seat restaurant and bar and approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 3,200 square foot ballroom located on the ground floor with windows facing Independence Square.

The hotel’s 271 guestrooms will include 23 suites and 25 King Spa rooms.

The Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will be Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants’ second property in Philadelphia; Hotel Palomar and adjacent restaurant Square 1682 near Rittenhouse Square opened in October 2009.

A pioneer in the hospitality industry for adaptive reuse of historic buildings, Kimpton’s plans call for the renovation and refurbishment of the distinctive building in the prestigious Old City section of Center City.

“Philadelphia continues to grow as a leading tourist destination as well as a hub for local and national
business, which makes it a perfect place to invest and expand the Kimpton brand,” said Kimpton CEO
Michael Depatie. “As with Hotel Palomar here, we’re also thrilled with the opportunity to revitalize such an iconic, landmark building as the Lafayette.”

Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will be Kimpton’s 12th adaptive reuse development, and the 10th Hotel Monaco in the Kimpton collection of boutique hotels.

The largest, most established player in the boutique hotel segment, Kimpton currently operates 51 artfully designed hotels and 54 distinctive restaurants and lounges in the United States and Canada.

Hotel Palomar Philadelphia [Official Site]
Kimpton Hotels [Official Site]

Pasta lovers, now is the time to get excited. On Tuesday, November 9, West Chester’s Avalon Restaurant is offering a five course pasta dinner. That’s right, every single course will feature fresh, homemade pasta (even dessert!).

This special menu is the brainchild of Avalon’s Sous Chef Barry Salop, who has been with the restaurant for more than six years and is responsible for many of Avalon’s favorite dishes.

Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and the cost is $45 per person. Avalon is a BYOB, so bring a favorite bottle or two to pour with your meal. Credit cards will be accepted for this meal. Call 610-436-4100 to make your reservation. The full menu is after the jump.

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There won't be any daylight shining through the cellblocks during your visit... (Photo courtesy Eastern State Penitentiary)

Even with a group of friends at your side, it can be difficult to drum up the courage to enter Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. And for good reason — it’s a legitimately scary attraction.

Well, to up the scary factor even further, Eastern State is now going to allow 13 “lucky” visitors to experience the haunted attraction all alone.

Today, ESP announced a new online contest they’re holding to select 13 individuals who will each get to enter the haunted attraction by themselves. (Winners too terrified to make the trip alone may bring a single guest.)

Each of the 13 winners — one winner for each of the final 13 nights of Terror Behind the Walls, October 20 to November 6 — will also get $50 in Lukoil gas certificates and will be entered into a second drawing for an overnight stay in the prison’s cellblocks.

The winner of the second drawing will get to return to Eastern State Penitentiary with five friends where they will enjoy a gourmet dinner and midnight ghost stories, before spending the night in the abandoned prison by themselves.

To enter this very Halloween-appropriate contest, visit www.easternstate.org.  Winners will be notified by 2 pm on the day of their terrifying tour.

Good luck. (We think you’re going to need it…)

Note: today, ESP also unveiled an all-new website that allows you to swoop in and out of a virtual map of Eastern State Penitentiary, revealing video footage of the six attractions that make up Terror Behind the Walls.

Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary
Runs through November 6
22nd and Fairmount Streets

Okay readers, let’s have a show of hands. Who has used CommonSpace to help you find something fun to do? Goodness, I’m seeing a whole lot of blank stares out there.

First, let’s refresh your memories. CommonSpace is a very cool geo-spatial web app that allows you enter your location, preferred mode of travel and amount of time you’re willing to spend getting there (remember, we told you about it last August). Using that information, it will deliver up a number of fun things to do that are as close or far away as you requested. It also allows you to enter multiple starting points, so that you can find spots that will be convenient for both you and a friend. Truly, it’s brilliant.

The folks who designed CommonSpace really want people to check out the site and then take a short survey on the experience, so that they can continue to make it even better. They’re even offering up the chance to win a $100 gift certificate if you take the time to thoughtfully reply to the survey. The survey and gift certificate giveaway will be up through the end of the month, so make sure to get over there soon and take a look.

Celebrate Halloween with festivals, hayrides and more (Clockwise from the top: photo by G. Widman; photo courtesy of Eastern State Penitentiary; photo courtesy of Linvilla Orchards)

With hayrides, parties, festivals and more, the Philadelphia-region is a Halloween destination sure to scare, surprise and entertain.

From devilish dance parties and peculiar pumpkin patches to eerie explorations through some of the region’s most historic sites, there’s something spooky and spectacular for the whole family.

Check out our top picks to have some Halloween fun for everyone.

Frightening Festivals & Fun-Size Treats:

• Visitors to Peddler’s Village gain a whole new appreciation for hay when they check out the larger-than-life scarecrows at the 32nd annual Scarecrow Competition and Display, where crafty contestants compete for cash prizes (September 6-October 24). Amateurs show off their own clothes-stuffing talents during the Scarecrow Festival while enjoying live entertainment, pumpkin painting and pie-eating contests (September 18-19).

• Things go bump in the day and night at Linvilla Orchards, and ghoulish family-friendly activities abound. During the Pumpkinland Harvest Festival, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins comprise the treats, while a jack-o’-lantern exhibit, annual costume parade for little visitors, face painting, music and pony rides make up the tricks (September 11-November 7). In the evening, bonfires, marshmallow roasting and apple cider follow the Autumn Moon Hayrides (October 1-3, 8-10, 15-30), while treats and storytelling fill the Hayrides to the Witches’ House, where only friendly witches live (October 8-10, 15-30).

• Sesame Place gets even more fun during The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular, when costumed kids trick-or-treat throughout the park, catch special Halloween-themed shows, wind through an interactive maze and enjoy hayrides and story time with the Sesame Street gang (weekends, September 26-October 31). For even more of the Halloween-loving character, families can sign up for The Count’s Dine With Me dinner party, including a buffet, character appearances and sing-alongs (October 9-10).

• Rosenbach Museum & Library’s Dracula Festival features a month-long series of events inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic novel and character, Dracula, including guided hands-on tours of Stoker’s notes, a family party in Fitler Square and a special presentation by Spiral Q Puppet Theater. (October 1-31).

• The perfectly picturesque Franklin Square gets a creepy overhaul when the 18-hole golf course transforms into Spooky Mini Golf with eerie lights, music and surprises at dusk (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October). Pumpkin picking and decorating (October 23-24), the Trick-Or-Treat Trail (October 30-31) and a fun fall train ride on the Lightning Bolt Express (October 16-17, 23-24, 30-31) round out the seasonal action.

Check out more Halloween fun below, including a Pumpkin Playground, “sweet” thrill rides, some ghostly fun at the zoo and much more.

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The temporary nighttime public art display set The Schuylkill River aglow for three nights this past weekend. (Photo by Eric Howeler)

Light Drift was a big success.

Hopefully, it (or something similar) can come back soon.

Also, check out the short video Philebrity has of the installation.

Earlier:
Light Drift, A Temporary Nighttime Public Art Display, To Set The Schuylkill River Aglow for Three Nights, Starting Friday, Oct. 15

If you’re among those who start planning their Halloween schedule well in advance of the day, make sure to mark your calendars for the Cajun Halloween event at Beck’s (inside Reading Terminal Market) on Saturday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This event is for kids and adults alike and will combine Cajun traditions and a touch of voodoo magic for a truly spook-tacular experience. Singer/storyteller Kent Courtney will play the role of the singing and tale-spinning pirate Jean Lafitte, who will send chills down your spin with his yarns of swampland Louisiana.

Visitors will also get to meet the Swamp Man (a traditional Halloween character known to Cajuns as Tainted Keitre), the Voodoo Lady and a bevy of zombies and skeletons. There will also be free mask-making for the kids, as well as a costume contest. Visitors who come in costume and will each receive a free trio of pralines.

Last but not least, there’s the food. Beck’s will offer plenty of devilishly delicious Cajun/Creole favorites, including beignets, jambalaya, dirty rice and a giant cauldron of gumbo. There will also be a good, old-fashioned eating contest, featuring Beck’s world-famous bread pudding. A portion of the proceeds of the event will be donated to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to assist with the important task of rebuilding the Crescent City.

Liberté is a new spot for hand-crafted cocktails in Rittenhouse.
(Photo courtesy the Sofitel)

Today, the Sofitel Philadelphia officially debuts Liberté, a restaurant and lounge serving contemporary, French-inspired food and hand-crafted cocktails in an urban chic setting.

Featuring a flavorful menu from Executive Chef Kevin Levett and extensive beverage selections from head mixologist Marc Yanga, Liberté is set to become a hot new Center City destination.

Guests can choose either to sit at the oval-shaped central bar in the cozy lounge area alongside the working fireplace, or in the stylish dining area, where Chef Levett’s menu of simple-yet-delectable dishes expands the space’s appeal.

The Australian-born Chef Levett has created a menu of modern, French-influenced food, while focusing on using local, sustainable ingredients in classically inspired dishes.

Menu items will include: Charcuterie and Fromage selections, with house-cured, domestic and international offerings; Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with caramelized apples and boudin noir; Seared Diver Scallops with smoked onion puree and pancetta; House-Cured Trout with red lentils, lemon confit and crepe chips; Magret Duck Breast Cassoulet with Toulouse sausage and white beans; Roasted East Coast Lamb Loin with fondant potato and ratatouille; Coq au Vin “Drumstick,” Lancaster County chicken with red wine and smoked bacon; and Grilled Maine Lobster with romaine, ginger butter and fried dill.

A few selections from the dessert menu: Vacherin “Liberté,” with vanilla ice cream, pink peppercorn meringue and bubbled sugar; and Brie Cheesecake with walnut crust, strawberry sorbet and cherry compote.

Menu items will range in price from $7 to $32.

Check out the cocktail list below.

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Relax at the historic Lexington House B&B in New Hope (Photo courtesy Lexington House)

(This post is authored by Susan Mattson.)

If you are looking for a quiet place to escape for a few days, head to the Lexington House Bed & Breakfast outside of New Hope in Bucks County.

Dating back to 1749, the Lexington House is located approximately ten minutes from the center of New Hope and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a two-level pool complete with waterfall.

There are six rooms, each furnished with a queen-size bed and its own bath.

Owners Mike and Ed are there to greet you as you arrive at this quaint and charming countryside inn.

Ed prepares a full, delicious breakfast each day, from an egg casserole one day to pancakes the next. Coffee is ready at 7:30 for the early risers.

After a day of checking out the shops in New Hope or just driving around the beautiful countryside, the Lexington House is a great place to relax and refresh.

Save on your getaway: Mention Lexington House’s Twitter account (@LexHouseBB) and get a two night stay (October 22-23 or November 19-20) for only $169/night plus tax.

The Lexington House Bed & Breakfast
8171 Upper York Road
New Hope, PA 18938
215-794-0811